Friday, July 13, 2012

Friday the 13th Weather Forecast


The forecast for today's Friday the 13th includes very wet conditions across much of the Southeast this afternoon and early evening, as a disturbance and frontal system meander across the region. Temperatures will hod back into the 90s and 80s in the lowlands, with 70s in higher elevations.
The Midwest also has a shot at some precipitation, which could cool off the 90s expected for today across that portion of the country.
The Plains will be baking in 100 degree weather with very little precipitation in sight for much of the region.
The Western half of the country looks to be getting in on some wet weather while temperatures vary from 70s in the mountains to 100s in Phoenix, AZ.

Andrew

Solar Flare Sends Coronal Mass Ejection At Earth

In the last 48 hours, a strong solar flare, an X Class flare to be exact, was observed on the sun from sunspot region 1520. The image above shows 1520 as a very bring spot, indicating just how active it is at this time. Over the last 12-24 hours, it has weakened, but nonetheless remains very noticeable on the sun.

This X-Class flare did produce a coronal mass ejection, or CME. A CME involves particles from the sun being hurled out into space. Sometimes these particles are directed at Earth. When they do hit Earth, radio disruptions, GPS problems, and devices associated with radio or satellite communication can be disrupted.

The Space Weather Prediction Center, a branch of the NOAA, is predicting that the CME associated with this flare will strike Earth at roughly 8:00 AM CDT on Saturday, July 14.

Andrew