Weather Word of the Day
July 9, 2025
Back Door Cold Front -
Most cold fronts in the Northern Hemisphere come in from the north, northwest, or west. They are usually found on the backside of a low pressure system. Back door cold fronts come in from the northeast or east, and are often driven by Canadian based high pressure systems.
July 8, 2025
Doldrums -
An east-west belt of light and variable surface winds where the trade winds of the two hemispheres converge. This region is located in a belt just north and south of the equator. Sailers dubbed this area as the doldrums because the lack of wind would mean their ships would stay idle for weeks at a time.
July 7, 2025
Syzygy -
This term refers to the 2 times a month when the sun and the moon are lined up, which results in either a new or full moon. In both cases, the gravitational effects of these astronomical bodies reinforce each other and coastal areas therefore experience higher high tides and lower low tides.
July 6, 2025
Rossby waves -
Also known as planetary waves. Rossby waves are a series of long-wavelength troughs and ridges that occur along the main branches of the jet stream. They form due to the rotation of the Earth and are an important way for the planet to distribute heat away from the equator as well as cold air from the poles.
July 5, 2025
Anvil -
The flat, spreading top of a cumulonimbus cloud, often shaped like an anvil. Anvils are a result of strong winds near the top of the thunderstorm. Thunderstorm anvils may spread hundreds of miles downwind from the thunderstorm itself, and sometimes may spread upwind.
July 4, 2025
Virga -
Any precipitation that is falling from the clouds, but doesn't make it to the ground. The reason that virga occurs is due to dry air that the precipitation cannot penetrate through to make it to the ground, as it evaporates into that layer. Meteorologists can verify virga by looking at where radar data is showing precipitation and then looking at nearby surface weather observation sites to see if any precipitation is being reported.
July 3, 2025
In Situ -
In Situ is taken from Latin and means in one place. In meteorology, it refers to atmospheric measurements taken at the location of the entity being measured. The other way of measuring atmospheric entities is done using remote sensing. Remote sensing is when atmospheric measurements are taken by remote sensors that are far away from the locations they are taking readings. Weather Satellites are examples of remote sensors.