Insolation - Insolation is the amount of solar radiation that reaches the earth and the atmosphere. The amount of insolation at a specific location varies due to the length of day and the angle of the sun. During the winter in the northern hemisphere, the shorter days compiled with the lower angle of the sun results in much lower insolation compared to what is received during the summer months.

Computer Model - A system of computers which run complex physics equations on meteorological data to produce mathematical forecasts. Forecast models are first initialized with the current conditions in the atmosphere, and then thru a series of complex algorithms, they model what will be happening anywhere from 12 to 180 hours from the current time. There are several computer models that meteorologists utilize in predicting the weather.

Altostratus Clouds - Are gray or blue-gray middle level clouds composed of ice crystals and water droplets. These clouds usually cover the entire sky. In the thinner areas of the cloud, the sun may be dimly visible as a round disk.

Windward - The side of an object facing the wind. For example, if the wind is blowing in from the west, an object's west facing side would be the windward side. Conversely, the east side of the object would be the leeward side.

Crepuscular Rays - The meteorological term used to describe rays of sunshine that poke through holes in the cloud cover. They oftentimes have a celestial quality to them.

Frontolosis - The dissipation of a frontal zone due to a weakening contrast between two air masses. The temperature gradient weakens during frontolysis, meaning the rate of change of the temperature along the frontal boundary is lessening. At the end of frontolysis, the front no longer exists. The opposite of frontolysis is frontogenesis.

Mirage - An optical effect created by the refraction of light caused by extreme temperature differences between the surface to just above it. The most common mirages look like pools of water in the distance over hot sand or pavement.