Year in Review (Part 3)

JUNE-AUGUST

Rain hit hard and fast on June 1st.  A funnel cloud was reported near Baxter, although that was under some dispute.  It was first labeled as a possible downburst.  Later the next day, the NWS clarified themselves and said a funnel was 'possible'.  *News Story from Herald-Citizen*

The first week of June also gave us very warm temperatures as highs reached 90°+.

Tornadoes struck Michigan, Minnesota, and Indiana during the first week.

HOT WEATHER in the second week as our heat index hit 100°

Tornadoes strike near Chicago and Wisconsin.

Storm Damage also reported in Tennessee

Tornado strikes Boy Scout Camp in Iowa

Tim Russert dies at NBC in New York

More Tennessee Storm Damage near Sparta

Week 3 included my family's houseboat vacation!

Summer came along and we started to get VERY dry.

In the last week of June, I put together a Rainfall Report

We finally received some rain!

And got even MORE rain

Air Show Tragedy in Huntsville, AL

My last post of June was entitled "What A Difference A Year Makes" and it discussed how well we were doing with rain.

I opened up July with  'A Climate Summary, June Daily Summary, and 2008 versus 2007.'

We watched Hurricane Bertha and saw a BIG THUNDERSTORM on July 4th. (Cool Picture).  Had an earthquake in Tennessee and recorded rain on 5 of the first 10 days of the month which totaled 3.89"...the middle of the month saw big rains strike Tennessee with some locations recording 3" in one day (near Macon County). 

The heat cranked up again for a few days, but then on the 24th, we woke up to temperatures in the 50's!  By the end of July, we were back up in the mid and upper 80's.

In August (on the first), I attempted to post 'July By The Numbers'

Played in a golf tournament and the temperatures matched our play..HOT!...we shot 15 under par for 18 holes, but the winning team shot 22 under...OH MY!

On August 6th, strong storms struck Cookeville.

Link to Cookeville damage photos

A powerful thunderstorm caused an evacuation of Wrigley Field (home of the Cubbies) in Chicago a day earlier

Our oldest daughter wins a photography contest at our County Fair. The picture is of her baby sister!

We saw Al Gore's new houseboat called 'Bio-Solar One'...

The Tropical Storm known as Fay burst upon the scene!

She would stick around for quite a while

Kite Surfer nearly killed during Fay..yep, he's an idiot.

Some stations recorded over 20" of rain from Fay

Even more on Fay...

Rain on Sunday, August 24th halted a 15-day dry streak!

By the 26th, Fay gives us lots of rain!

Even post #800 came during August!

Fay leaves and we replace her with Hurricane Gustav and learn about a wonderful new lady who bursts upon the scene...Sarah Palin!

A Wild August for sure!  One to remember....

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009 (Year In Review Part 2)

Thought I would continue my review of 2008.

At the end of March, our numbers told us of a wild month with a high of 72° on the 19th and a low of 19° on the  9th.

April came in with a bang as we expected BIG rains!  Measured 2.86" in first 5 days.  Even with the heavy rains, we were still behind in precipitation for 2008.

We remembered the deadly tornadoes of April 3 and 4, 1974.  Hard to believe it had been 34 years ago.

Continued to have Internet Service Provider issues, which caused posting problems.

The UT Lady Vols won ANOTHER Nat'l Title in Hoops!

Tornadoes struck Tennessee on April 11th causing damage in Middle TN

By the 14th, we had snow falling...what?  Snow on April 14th ?  That's right!  Then, by the 16th, we were up to 70°...just love that Tennessee weather!  We had our last frost on the 15th.

A few days later, an earthquake rocks Tennessee.  I was awoken around 4:40 am with what I thought was strong winds, but with my ceiling fan rocking back and forth in our bedroom, that was no wind!  The quake was felt from Chicago to Atlanta.

NWS-Nashville announces 'No More Extreme Drought' on the 19th after all the rains.

The end of April saw 80° days and the Titans draft two kids no one had ever heard of..Chris Johnson from East Carolina and Jason Jones from Eastern Michigan.  Fast forward to today and Johnson finishes the regular season with 1400+ yards rushing (most ever by rookie Titan/Oiler) and Jones plays great as he gets 3 sacks against the Pittsburg Steelers a few weeks ago in a huge game for home field advantage.  In other Titan news from April, we were finally rid of Pacman Jones!

May arrives with windy conditions and a Red Flag Warning (don't see those very often)

ISP switches my service to a new facility with 5x faster speed and more reliable connection! A big thanks!

Tornadoes strike Middle TN again on May 2nd. Speaking of tornadoes, we observed the one year anniversay of the Greensburg, KS tornado on May 5th. The F5 destroyed the entire town.

On May 9th, I receive a tornado video that makes me say "WOW"...the cars look like toys.

More tornadoes strike on May 10th as 20 die in MO, AR, and OK.

Leighton, AL Tornado Video

Our friends at Alabama WX post the '10 Deadliest Tornado Outbreaks' in US history.

Off weather for a moment, superstar music artist Steven Curtis Chapman's family is dealing with the tragic death of his young daughter Maria Sue.

Tornadoes strike Parkersburg, IA where 7 are killed and 50 injured.  The NWS later confirms it is an EF-5
More on Parkersburg's EF-5 (including pictures) here

Just a few days later, Kearney, Nebraska is struck by a massive tornado. Links are here, here, and here.

May was a WILD, WILD month!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009 (Review Part 1)

As 2008 ends and 2009 begins later today, I am reminded about what an awesome year this has been.  Since we had lots to happen, I'll break these posts up into several different ones! :)

(in no specific order other than by date!)
With more than 30,000 of you visiting this blog, I am very much appreciative.

January was our biggest (and most active) month of the year for visits.

Several media outlets picked up my posts throughout this year.

Made many new friends who are weather nuts (and experts!).

February saw a devastating series of tornadoes strike Middle TN, including in my wife's grandmother's hometown of Lafayette, TN.   West TN is also struck by several as well.

My grandfather graduated to heaven at the end of January and I did his funeral.  It was an honor to be able to speak about his incredible life.

The outpouring of support after the tragic death of Reverend Michael Welch (of First Methodist-Lafayette, TN) and his family (in an auto accident) in the days after the tornado.

Test driving a houseboat with my parents in the middle of February!  They actually bought it! :)

3 and 1/2 inches of snow at the end of February!

Flowers coming up in early March, followed by another big snow event and then the snow is gone just days later.

Playing on the new houseboat in 70 degree weather on Good Friday, then getting more snow the day after Easter!

Seeing my CoCoRaHS buddy Alfred on the front page of the local newspaper measuring the rainfall.  Alfred is dealing with some health issues and has had to slow down his rainfall reporting.  Hang in there, my friend...