We’ve all seen images with the sun’s rays shining through a forest, streaking through clouds in religious artwork, and gracing a child’s drawing of the Sun. These are known as crepuscular rays. They are most often seen at twilight (as the sun is rising or setting), but can be seen
Read DetailsTemperatures and dew points across southwest Florida finally dipped below 70 degrees Fahrenheit (F), yesterday morning (Oct. 25, 2017); this is a sure sign that the area has finally entered the autumn season. The last 70-degree temperature reading at Naples Municipal Airport (call sign APF), that did not involve cooler
Read DetailsThe Naples area has had a plethora of rainfall during the past 35 days. Locally, amounts have topped 25 inches at many locations, with one report in the Piper Cove area (of north Naples) in excess of 30 inches. Lakes levels are up; mosquitoes are swarming; snails are heading for
Read DetailsMost will agree that Naples (located in southwest Florida, just south the Fort Myers area, for some of my readers who might not be familiar with where I live) is a cloud watchers paradise, especially during the warmer and wetter months. The daily cycle of morning thunderstorms over the Gulf
Read DetailsA few days ago, I noted that southwest Florida “rainfall for June 2017 (now almost only half over) was at rarified levels.” Since I’ve had a chance to compare observed rainfall to longer-term records (using the NOAA Regional Climate Center data base), it is clear that the deluge so far
Read DetailsRainfall for June (now almost only half over) is already at rarified levels. Many locations across southwest Florida have logged 15 to 20 inch values. And more rainfall is anticipated. In fact, for the Naples area (my home base), the official National Weather Service (NWS) forecast is calling for 50
Read DetailsAt around 7:30 p.m. E.D.T. this Friday evening, my wife and I spied a well-formed funnel cloud west of our location in North Naples, FL (Fig. 1). The funnel was likely near or just offshore from Vanderbilt Beach. Radar images showed a developing shower or thunderstorm near the funnel’s location
Read DetailsLate Thursday, Apr. 20, 2017, two wildfires of unknown origin broke out in the Golden Gate Estates area of east Naples, FL. Although fire fighters jumped into action quickly, dry and windy conditions allowed the fire to spread. By this morning, the combined blazes had grown to about 2,500 acres.
Read DetailsDiscovered on Mar. 30, a relatively small brush fire in South Florida’s Big Cypress National Preserve (eastern Collier County) grew slowly during the following week. By Apr. 8, the Cow Bell fire (so named, because it is near the Cow Bell Strand within the Big Cypress National Park – Fig.
Read DetailsAcross Louisiana, Mississippi and parts of far East Texas, torrential rainfall occurred Sunday and Sunday night. Widespread one to four inch rainfall amounts were reported, with some locations noting amounts of six, eight and even ten inches (Fig. 1). Alexandria, LA, in the west-central part of the state, reported more
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