From NBC 2 in Ft. Myers, Florida:

While watching NBC2 coverage of Hurricane Wilma about two dozen residents called the station reporting an unusual sighting. While watching a Doppler loop of Hurricane Wilma coming ashore, a number two appeared in the eye of the storm. In going back through the recorded Doppler loop, we found exactly what viewers were talking about. The image was not altered in any way - it’s a screen capture from the Doppler system.

Visit the station’s site to view a radar loop.

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From the Associated Press:

White House Plan Adds $55 Million for NOAA
Monday, October 31, 2005

MIAMI - Hurricane forecasting and research improvements - including a new “hurricane hunter” airplane - are part of a Bush administration proposal to provide an additional $55 million this year for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Lawmakers and experts said Sunday that the infusion of money is essential in the aftermath of a record-setting hurricane season that has included such killer storms as Katrina, Rita and Wilma. “These past 14 months has been a wake-up call for anyone who lives along the Gulf or Atlantic coast,” said U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla. “This is money well spent.” The White House included the $55 million in NOAA upgrades in a proposal released Friday that would shift $17.1 billion from Federal Emergency Management Agency disaster relief accounts into such things as rebuilding damaged highways, repairing levees and fixing government buildings. The plan, which provides only a one-time cash infusion, requires approval from Congress. The Bush administration proposal follows criticism from researchers and forecasting experts that the level of spending on hurricane-related programs is far lower than it should be, with many agencies lacking adequate staff and forced to use outdated or broken equipment. Bob Sheets, former director of the Miami-based National Hurricane Center, said the damage and deaths caused by major hurricanes this year have demonstrated to people the value of accurate hurricane forecasts. Improved accuracy also has an economic impact by reducing unnecessary evacuations and ensuring that people in a storm’s path take steps to protect property from storm damage, he said. “Once you get the attention of the public, you get the attention of the politicians,” said Sheets, now retired in Lake Placid, Fla. “There are some things that can be done that are not prohibitive in costs, and maybe some priority can be placed there.” One big-ticket item in the request would be the purchase of another P-3 Orion “hurricane hunter” aircraft, according to the White House Office of Management and Budget. NOAA currently has three aircraft - two 1970s-era, propeller-driven P-3s and one high-altitude Gulfstream IV jet - stationed at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa. Although all provide valuable hurricane data from the eye of storms, they are also used for other research missions around the world and sometimes are not available when needed. The White House request also would provide money for backup power and communications to coastal weather stations, to repair damaged weather buoys and automated weather sites, and to upgrade forecasting instruments for hurricanes, storm surge and flooding. The money is great, don’t get me wrong. However, I think we need to address what to do with people that don’t leave.

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A couple of weeks ago I wrote that I was excited to see Nic Cage’s new movie The Weather Man. Long story short: I saw it this weekend, liked it, and figured I’d preview the film and share some thoughts on it (without giving it all away, in case you want to walk into the theater reasonably fresh).

The commercials and trailers show popular Chicago weather man Dave Spritz on the receiving end of shakes, burritos, and chicken nuggets from disgruntled viewers. We also see him walking through the city with bow and arrows on his back, and know that Michael Caine plays his dad. Funny stuff, but it doesn’t really give you a sense of what the movie is about. Groundhog Day it ain’t: director Gore Verbinski (Pirates of the Caribbean, The Ring, The Mexican) gives us a film that is darker and more substantive than an hour and a half of fast food in flight. Dave’s personal life is on the fritz: he’s divorced but wants to patch things over with his wife, his kids have problems beyond that of typical teens, and he just can’t seem to win the approval of his Pullitzer Prize winning father. His lone area of success happens to be standing in front of a green screen pointing to low pressure and telling Chicagoans what day the “Spritz Nipper” of the week will be. Unfortunately for Dave, reading prompts for two hours a day in a television studio and making a ton of money for minimal effort doesn’t balance (or mend) the rest of life’s disappoinments. Curiously, Dave thinks that if he can just land that high-paying network morning weather gig in New York, he can make the most of the clean slate and finally get it all together.

I won’t say anymore about the movie, and I hope I haven’t given away too much. Some other thoughts: the cinematography was fantastic and accurately captures the beauty and gloom of Chicago’s harsh, grey, frozen winters. I especially liked the downtown scenes filmed from Dave’s apartment. I’d be remiss if I didn’t talk about the weather aspects of the film. I can’t speak for all of the weather personalities in Nashville, but I sure don’t make a quarter million bucks for two hours of work a day. As I wrote last week, my job involves very early hours and lots of preparation. I don’t read prompts and I make my own forecast and weather maps. That said, plenty of television meteorologists all over the country don’t have meteorology degrees and some rely solely on the National Weather Service for their forecast (rippers and readers, we call ‘em). But I don’t hold that against the movie: how often does someone make a movie about your job? Beggars can’t be choosers, and there’s much more to the movie than just the weather guessing.

By the way, there’s plenty of cursing in the film (it’s rated R, after all) and I wouldn’t take my kids to it. I don’t have any though, so no worries here. If you liked American Beauty and Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I think The Weather Man willl treat you right.

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Cool this morning with temperatures starting in the 30s and 40s, but plenty of sunshine and afternoon highs in the lower 70s. A few more clouds in northwest Tennessee, but showers stay well to our west today. Trick or treat weather stays dry and mild, with evening temperatures in the 60s, eventually falling to the 50s (details below). A small shower chance is on the way for Tuesday, but I think most of us miss out on the much-needed rain. Have a happy and safe Halloween! (Sunset is at 4:52pm tonight.)

4pm: 70, partly cloudy
5pm: 66, partly cloudy
6pm: 62, partly cloudy
7pm: 59, partly cloudy
8pm: 53, partly cloudy

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Another very chilly morning with early morning temperatures in the upper 20s and low to middle 30s. Milder weather is ahead this afternoon, with highs approaching 70 degrees in most locations. October will finish as one of the driest on record here in Nashville, so we’ll look forward to a chance of showers on Monday night and Tuesday. Unfortunately, that chance is only at about 30%. I think it will stay dry for trick or treaters Monday evening, although folks in West Tennessee may have to dodge a few showers as candy is collected. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

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Not impacting the United States at all, but here’s the latest on Hurricane Beta from the National Hurricane Center:

BETA IS MOVING TOWARD THE SOUTHWEST NEAR 8 MPH… 13 KM/HR. BETA IS EXPECTED TO MOVING INLAND DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR SO…AND A GENERAL MOTION INLAND TO THE WEST-SOUTHWEST IS EXPECTED DURING THE NEXT 24 HOURS. MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS ARE NEAR 110 MPH…175 KM/HR…WITH HIGHER GUSTS. BETA IS A CATEGORY TWO HURRICANE ON THE SAFFIR-SIMPSON SCALE. STEADY WEAKENING IS FORECAST AFTER THE CENTER MOVES INLAND. ALTHOUGH POWERFUL… BETA IS A SMALL HURRICANE. HURRICANE FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 15 MILES… 30 KM… FROM THE CENTER…AND TROPICAL STORM FORCE WINDS EXTEND OUTWARD UP TO 60 MILES… 95 KM.

To view the predicted path, click here.

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Enjoy your extra hour of sleep? I know I did. Now that we’re back in Central Standard Time, sunrise is an hour earlier but it also turns dark earlier. Sunrise today is at 6:08 am and sunset happens at 4:53 pm (!). As we head toward the winter months the daylight hours grow smaller and the sun goes to bed even earlier. If you’re looking for a good source on the computer to keep this all straight, here you go: the National Weather Service’s climatology page for Nashville contains the sunrise and sunset time for the next two days. You can check it out here.

Oh yeah: as far as I know, it’s in 2007 that Daylight Saving Time will start in mid-March and end in mid-November.

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Before you go to bed tonight, don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour as Daylight Saving Time ends.

After freezing temperatures in most locations, highs will reach the upper 60’s on Sunday. Sometimes, you just can’t beat the great October weather, with cool nights, and pleasant days! If you click on our 7 day forecast above, you’ll see that November starts out with pleasant tempertures, as well.

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The Nashville National Weather Service has issued a freeze warning from about 3am until 8am Saturday morning.
Their thinking is that with high pressure moving right over us and winds going light in the wee hours many temps will take a nosedive just before daybreak Saturday.
If you live in an urban area your temps may hover a little above freezing bu some areas could dip into the upper 20’s.

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Don’t forget to set your clocks back 1 hour on Saturday night before you go to bed. This is the time of year that you gain that hour of sleep back in the morning!

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