Eco Alley

Living Green with Connie Pumphrey

Weather observation has been with me forever.  My father, a retired railroad foreman, has kept meticulous weather records for 50 years in regions where few people ventured.  The National Weather Service (“NWS”) coveted (and copied) his records and he still reports local weather to them.  My family gathered weather statistics using a thermometer, ruler and mason jar but (thankfully) takes advantage of today’s higher tech systems that measure for us.  Following tradition, I signed up for e-warnings from the NWS and forward them on to my co-workers.  My “Gloom & Doom Reports” carried big news this year about record snowfall, significant rain and excessive heat; but last Sunday’s deluge surprised even me.
In 15 minutes, the temperature dropped from a record high 100° to 73° and the wind and rain damage left nearly 500,000 households without power.  Horribly, four people died, hundreds of trees toppled, car wrecks and property damage were significant.  Something (lightning?) produced a huge hole on Route 97 that mangled every car that hit it - lining them up on both sides of the road.  Washington’s water filtration plant (serving 2 million people) went down so restrictions were necessary.  Summer school programs and camps closed and cooling centers were set up for residents.  Four days later, there were still 30,000 households without power.  This mini-storm is being compared to Hurricane Isabel.
WHAT IS THIS?  Is our infrastructure frail or are we experiencing different (scary) storms?  The answer, I think, is probably both.  A 15 minute storm that can do the damage of a hurricane (minus the storm surge) might be a new record – the shortest “hurricane” in history?  I am researching the facts about this storm because I am interested and because Dad will want to discuss it.

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Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 07/29/10 at 07:41 PM

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