What is up with the bad weather?

[Blackford Oakes]

That is not a good report. Oh well. The worst part of the hurricane season is the panic buying. People freak out. Matt once said he thinks Home Depot, Publix and the gas stations are seeding the clouds as they make a ton of money when the warnings come in, I always found that funny.

I think the Weather Channel still has a stake in Home Depot.

[Maria de los Angeles]

Spitfire, alas, these meteorologists get all technical but it's true it's not an exact science. Unfortunately, there is no exact answer. Every year they predict doom and gloom! You really never know ... you just try to have your supplies and preparations on hand and deal. As most locals say about hurricane season: "Prepare for the worst and hope for the best."

[Jess]

I like the warnings and getting off work... but don't think I'd want the weeks without air con in the hottest months of the year.

[Jess]

Ok...I have to post this picture from Weather.com.

Just LOOK at the sunshine state!!!

[coach]

Honestly, it seems like every year they overstate, sometimes by a lot, the number of hurricanes we are supposed to get. The past 3 years, they claimed they were going to be bad hurricane seasons, and they were actually less than normal, some by a lot.

Of course, you want to stay ready. Make sure you have canned goods, water, and candles on hand, as well as a good first aid kit. But, other than that, do not pay too much attention to those yearly forecasts. If a hurricane is coming, you will have plenty of warning to get out of the way, or get ready.

Anyway, raining and cold again today. Argh!

[Jess]

Of course, you want to stay ready. Make sure you have canned goods, water, and candles on hand, as well as a good first aid kit. But, other than that, do not pay too much attention to those yearly forecasts. If a hurricane is coming, you will have plenty of warning to get out of the way, or get ready.

Anyway, raining and cold again today. Argh!

I didn't get ready at all last year. Everyone kept telling me, but I just never got round to it. I figure, I live on the beach anyway which would get evacuated and I'd just head over to family in Kendall or 411 HQ down South.

[Matt Meltzer]

I find hurricane panic highly entertaining. Yeah, I guess when it hits it pays to have spent the hours in line at Publix, but honestly it's not so crucial. Wilma was a pain in the ass, and it sucked, but at the end of the day my completely-unprepared ass did just fine. Like terrorism and diseases, people get way too worked up about stuff that probably wont affect them too much.

[msaghirMD]

there is nicer weather in Michigan (Warmer and sunny) than there is in this place. Without the good weather and women this city would be worse than Detroit.

[Jess]

Take away just the weather and Miami would be a very different city...

[Blackford Oakes]

Take away just the weather and Miami would be a very different city...

.... and lose it's status to Ocean City, MD.

[Blackford Oakes]

I find hurricane panic highly entertaining. Yeah, I guess when it hits it pays to have spent the hours in line at Publix, but honestly it's not so crucial. Wilma was a pain in the ass, and it sucked, but at the end of the day my completely-unprepared ass did just fine. Like terrorism and diseases, people get way too worked up about stuff that probably wont affect them too much.

I also get a kick out of the Chicken Littles, but I would never underestimate being prepared. Since 04, I only had to board up the windows once, last year. It was a good exercise as the hurricane traveled south of Orlando. Danced around Daytona for a few days, and head east just north of us. The projections had us n the middle of the cone. Like stated, this is not an exact science, but I've learned and observed alot in six years in FL. That Bastardi guy is the best Hurricane Guy there is. At the least, we know various conditions exist for this comming season that would assist in these types of storms to constitute.

[sungal]

Yesterday and today it's warmer and sunnier in NJ! Maybe today it's the same..they even mentioned it in the weather forcast. So wierd!

[fredgarvin]

Remember my *guarantee* Earlier, I predicted good weather for this weekend! So I see 77 predicted for tomorrow and 81 for sunday! 0% chance of rain!


Looks like beach weather!

[sunaddicted]

Yesterday and today it's warmer and sunnier in NJ! Maybe today it's the same..they even mentioned it in the weather forcast. So wierd!

Yesterday it was warmer in Detroit than in Miami Beach. I don't understand the physics of it. Hope it warms up for Easter/Passover time. Today though its another story, cold, grey and 30's/low 40's with possible minor snow on Sunday. Oy Vey, crime returning to south beach and the good weather deserting us, where to go, where to go?

[rk]

sunaddicted, it would have been of some interest if true, but the high temp yesterday (Mar. 19, 2010) in Detriot was 67 degs (recorded at 3:56 PM) vs 73 degs F in Miami (recorded at 4:39 PM). The lows were 39 degs and 54 degs respectively. That said, it can happen every so often in spring (of which today is the first day) that temps in the upper midwest can go about 20 to 30 degs above or below normal for short periods (the normal high for DTW is 46 degs and the record is 76, the normal low is 29 and the record is 4). Due to the lack of any significant mountains between the gulf and arctic, strong warm and cold fronts are possible, and spring is peak tornado season for that reason. Like you noted, such a pattern is usually very short-lived. Just a short drive away, the UP still has 10+ inches on the ground. (Edit: for the 2 days prior, the highs were a bit closer, Mar. 18: Detroit 67, Miami 71. Mar. 17: DTW 65, MIA 68 (this was the closest). Mar. 16: DTW 64, MIA 72. Mar 15: DTW 59, MIA 80.) Back closer to normal for Mar. 20: DTW 46, MIA 76.

[rk]

This made me think of the wider question: Is the high temp in Detroit ever warmer than in Miami (on the same date) during the month of March? I expected a few days to be like that, and this is what I found looking at data for the last 10 years:

    Date        DTW       MIA
  3/26/2007    81.0      81.0   
  3/27/2007    81.0      81.0  
  4/1/2003     73.0      72.0      (doesn't count - missed March by one day)
  3/8/2000     80.6      80.1      (this is the only day in the last 10 Marches)
  3/9/2000     80.1      80.1

So in the last 10 Marches, there has one day when Detroit had a high temp warmer than Miami (and three other days where they were tied), All numbers in degs F. NWS data.

For April to August it happens too often to be interesting, e.g. 3 days during April 2009.

[VirginiaM]

Aww!! I'm traveling to Miami this sunday 28 for a week on holiday, I was expecting to get a tan..shall I forget about it then?

[Matt Meltzer]

No, it looks like the Miami weather is back. You can go ahead and plan on that tan.

[sunaddicted]

I still prefer Miami to my home in Detroit even though I live in an area of hills and lakes I often feel sun deprived and I am sun addicted, LOL. I often drive up Alton by the golf courses, how lucky the people are that live in that neighborhood. Also the view of Miami/Miami Beach coming across the causeways is really exciting. Flowers all year, mostly trees that are green all year. Next year my ratio hopefully will be 7 months in south beach and 5 up north. I will be so excited to give up buying all these plane tickets. Oops, My wife now says we still have to fly home often to see the grandkids, check on the house, and visit doctors.

[Matt Meltzer]

Or not. Rocked the zipped-up hoodie this morning. Right into rainy season, I'm telling you.