Saturday, August 13, 2005
Bad Air Day + more
Jason Samenow @ 12:41 AM
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
AIR QUALITY ACTION DAY, CODE RED -- UNHEALTHY
It's just another hazy, hot and humid day in our nation's capital. Expect a high near 95, with the heat index maxing out at 105. To top things off, the air quality is crummy -- code red. I believe this is the first "code red" day of the summer.
The EPA makes the following recommendations to reduce your contribution to ozone and/or particulate formation:
Travel tipsIn addition, EPA advises that: "Active children and adults, and people with lung disease, such as asthma, should avoid prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors. Everyone else, especially children, should reduce prolonged or heavy exertion outdoors." See EPA's complete air quality forecast.
1) Limit driving. Defer errands or share a ride. For short trips, walk or ride a bike.
2) If you drive, avoid excessive idling or jack-rabbit starts.
3) Take transit. Ride the bus or train to work, school, or shopping.
4) Don't Refuel on an Ozone Action Day. If you must refuel, do so after 7 pm.
5) Avoid using gasoline powered equipment, such as outboard motors and off-road vehicles.
Home Tips
1) Defer mowing your lawn until late evening or the next day. Also, avoid using other gasoline-powered garden equipment.
2) Postpone using oil-based paints, solvents, or varnishes.
3) Use an electric starter or charcoal chimney rather than lighter fluid.
4) Defer use of household consumer products that release fumes or evaporate easily.
5) Conserve energy to reduce energy needs from power plants.
Pictured: Hazy sun over the Chesapeake Bay yesterday. By CapitalWeather.com photographer Kevin Ambrose.
Goodnight, Irene
Increasingly, it appears unlikely Irene will make landfall along the U.S. East Coast. It's almost "game over" time. As of last night, she had maximum winds of 70mph, just shy of hurricane intensity. Chances are she'll become a hurricane today as she continues moving northwestward. By tomorrow, she should slow down and meander a bit before likely curving away from land as early as Monday. There's still some uncertainty with this forecast, but all guidance now has the storm going out to sea.
Much further east, a strong tropical wave is likely to become Tropical Depression #10 in the next day or so. And there's a pretty good chance this wave will become the 10th named storm of the season: Jose.
Weather Channel Makeover
The Atlanta Journal Constitution reports The Weather Channel will launch a new logo (pictured to the right--I think it's underwhelming), slogan and programming in the coming weeks. The slogan will be "Bringing Weather To Life" and here's an excerpt about one of its new programs:The Weather Channel's next big programming experiment is due Sept. 17. On that Saturday morning, at 7 a.m., the network will launch "Weekend View," a four-hour-long show.MediaWeek.com has published a similar article: Weather Channel Forecasts Updated Look.
Wilson said it would take a "Good Morning America"-style approach to a weather news show, with an in-studio host and meteorologists scattered around the country.
The new, live program, which will be shown on Saturdays and Sundays, is meant to have a breezier feel than most Weather Channel fare. The network has built a special studio for the show, with a couch and chair set in a colorful space that doesn't look like the newsy main studio.
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