A reader asked me to check into how accurate the KSN Weather Labs are, since a lab in Augusta recorded a temperature of 107 on Aug. 11 — well above the “official” temperature in Wichita for that day.
I checked with Dave Freeman, KSN’s chief meteorologist, and here’s what he told me:
“The instruments that schools have as part of the KSN WeatherLab Network, powered by WeatherBug, are absolutely top notch, accurate and reliable instruments.
That said, sometimes variables like instrument placement can cause measurements to be different than surrounding areas. And, of course, there are occasional times when a sensor goes bad and needs to be replaced.
We work hard to support all of our KSN WeatherLab Network school partners in properly placing their instruments, and in maintaining them.”
I guess the bottom line is, take the WeatherLab readings for what they are: reflections of conditions at a particular location for that moment in time. If the thermometer provides readings that are consistently higher or lower than surrounding areas, keep that in mind when hearing the latest reports.
On this date in 1918, a single lightning strike killed 504 sheep grazing in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah.
The Wasatch is a rugged mountain range that separates Salt Lake City and Park City and was featured in the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Web site struckbylightning.org is tossing out the old “30-30″ rule for lightning safety and going with something much more simple: “When thunder roars, go indoors.”
I thought of that phrase Saturday when I saw families heading for the swimming pool or the ball park even as thunder rolled above.
According to the Web site, 16 people have been killed by lightning and another 179 have been injured around the country. That includes one death in Kansas and another seven injuries.
So I was watching the Euro 2008 semifinal between Germany and Turkey late yesterday afternoon when - zap - the live coverage disappeared and ESPN suddenly began showing us crowd shots outside the stadium in Basel, Switzerland.
Lo and behold, a “freak storm” in Vienna, Austria, with winds clocked at 87 miles an hour and heavy lightning, had disrupted the worldwide telecast of a soccer tournament many consider second only to the World Cup. Lightning strikes caused disruptions in the signal, officials said, which prompted the master-control room to reboot.
The bottom line for fans watching the match around the world is that they missed seeing the Germans take the lead late in the match and Turkey tie it up again with just a few minutes to play. The live feed had been restored by the time Germany scored a dramatic late winner to earn a berth in Sunday’s final.
Two people were seriously injured after being trampled as crowds gathered in Vienna to watch the match on large outdoor screens fled the severe weather.
The Union of European Football Associations, or UEFA, promises to have better back-up systems in place to prevent recurrences for today’s second semifinal featuring Spain and Russia, as well as Sunday’s championship match.
As I read descriptions of the storm, it reminded me of so many late spring and summer thunderstorms that have rolled across Kansas this year — and in so many years past. They apparently don’t see too many storms like that in the Alps.
In honor of Lightning Safety Awareness Week, I thought I would dust off the formula you can use to determine how close you are to lightning. A friend and I were debating that equation while watching a recent thunderstorm laden with lightning, and it turns out we were both wrong. Ah, well. At least we were safely indoors.
Here’s the formula, courtesy of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Severe Storms Laboratory:
When you see the lightning flash, start counting the seconds until you hear the thunder. Every five seconds equals a mile. Divide the total time by five to learn how many miles you are from the lightning.
If it’s 30 seconds or less, suspend all outdoor activities and seek safe shelter. That means the lightning bolt is 6 miles away or less.
If it’s 15 seconds or less, a lightning strike could occur where you are. That means it’s no more than 3 miles away, and from that distance a bolt can arc and hit anywhere within that radius.
There’s also a “30-30 Rule” worth remembering, the NSSL reports. If you hear thunder by the time you reach 30, you are in danger and need to find safe shelter immediately. Wait at least 30 minutes after you see the last flash of lightning or hear the last roll of thunder before resuming outdoor activities.