Baily's Beads
If the skies are clear for the Eclipse this Monday, then we'll be treated to Baily's Beads. These are beads of sunlight that appear just before and just after the total eclipse. They appear on the very edge and are…
Weather Blog
The Timing of the Eclipse
Here's the timing on the Total Solar Eclipse, next Monday August 21st.
Temperature Change During Eclipse
If the skies are clear, we can expect a significant drop in temperatures when the eclipse happens. NASA says, “When sunlight fades at twilight, we always notice how things start to cool down. The same is true for the temporary…
Eclipse Times Around the State
If you're wondering about where and when the eclipse will happen around South Carolina, check out this chart.
This Eclipse is Pretty Rare
In a little less than 2 weeks (on August 21st) the United States will witness a total solar eclipse which will begin in Oregon and end near Charleston. According to NASA, the last time a total solar eclipse went from…
Safely Watching the Eclipse
With the total solar eclipse coming up in just 2 weeks, it's very important that you know what you need to keep your eyes safe while looking at the eclipse. Sunglasses will offer no protection from the damaging rays from…
The Nights Are Getting Warmer
As the planet warms, we are seeing more record high temperatures. But the nights are getting warmer as well. The graph below shows the average number of nights where the temperature stays above 70 degrees. In 1970 Columbia averaged around…
Interesting Clouds!
Check out these pictures sent in by Melodie Griffin of Lexington. These are called roll clouds. They were produced by a thunderstorm. See the bottom right of this picture - which shows the structure of a thunderstorm. Roll clouds form…
Giant Iceberg About to Break off of Antarctica
An Iceberg, approximately the size of Delaware, is about to break off of Antarctica. The Iceberg will be huge - roughly one trillion tons! Check out the story here. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/07/05/an-iceberg-the-size-of-delaware-is-about-to-break-off-of-antarctica/?utm_term=.d027a391cc4f
Great tool for tracking the Eclipse
In less than 2 months, on August 21st, a total solar eclipse will cross the US from Oregon to South Carolina. And it's going to pass right over the Midlands. If you're curious about exactly where the eclipse will pass…
Unusual Happenings in the Tropics
This is the first time in 49 years that there has been two named (tropical-type) storms in the Atlantic before July. That's according to Brian McNoldy from the Rosenstiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science at the University of Miami.…
Will the Skies be Clear Enough for us to See This Summer's Eclipse?
With the Eclipse still about 2 months away, there's no way to say definitively if it will be cloudy or sunny at 2:41 PM on Monday August 21st. So the best we can do now is give a historical perspective…
So Why Is The Earth Warming?
This article gives a brief summary of what's causing the planet to warm. https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-whats-warming-the-world/
Do Seasonal Hurricane Forecasts Benefit Anyone?
This time every year, several organizations publish their forecasts for the upcoming Hurricane Season. They generally give a probabilistic forecast of the likelihood of a busy or not so busy season. The NOAA forecast for this year is as follows:…
Hurricane Season Starts
June 1st is the official start of Hurricane Season. And here's a look at where the June storms have started (red dots) and traveled in the last 165 years. Most of the Atlantic storms form in and around the Gulf…
Lightning
Severe storms rolled through tonight with lots of lightning. We caught some of it. Check out this video.
Weather Blog
Chief Meteorologist John Farley's Weather Blog
Weather updates and information from ABC Columbia's John Farley.
