This all-day seminar will be organized and run by my friend Mark Thornton, one of the original graduates of the Penn State Weather Forecasting program. In addition to being a meteorologist, Mark is an active sailor in Lake Erie and is well-versed in Great Lakes weather.

The seminar is unfortunately restricted to CYC members only and their guests, but I would encourage you to track down that CYC friend if you are in Chicago and interested in attending. At $49, it is a great deal for such a great educational opportunity.

I enjoyed learning about tropical weather, about which I really knew very little before the beginning of the course, beyond that which I picked up watching TV. I feel I have a much better understanding of tropical weather now. I also am beginning to feel competent about the forecasting part of the Penn State program. After Meteo 101 in the spring, I had developed a good base in general meteorology and how to collect data and interpret forecast models. However, I didn't feeel even remotely competent in actually forecasting anything. After 241, I think I could make a reasonable forecast of future intensity and track of a hurricane. Certainly nothing on the level of an NHC forecast, but I did walk away with the skills needed to estimate track and strength.

I'm looking forward to 361 in the spring, Fundamentals of Meseoscale Weather Forecasting. 

Waterspout just off of 47th Street at Lake Shore Drive in Chicago, September 24, 2011. Photo courtesy of Paul Bryar.Waterspouts are not terribly common, with the National Weather Service indicating that only 12 have been confirmed in this area since 2000; we increased that by 50% today.

000
NOUS43 KLOT 170129
PNSLOT

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
730 PM CDT FRI SEP 16 2011

UNSEASONABLY COOL CONDITIONS HAVE CONTINUED TODAY. THIS WAS THE
SECOND TIME IN HISTORY THAT THERE WERE 3 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH HIGH
TEMPERATURES UNDER 60 DEGREES THIS EARLY IN THE SEASON.  THE HIGH
TEMPERATURES FOR SEPTEMBER 14,15 AND 16 WERE 58,59, AND 60
RESPECTIVELY.  THE LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED WAS BACK IN 1923. WHEN ON
SEPTEMBER 13, 14, AND 15, THE HIGH TEMPERATURES WAS 56, 54, AND 59
RESPECTIVELY.

$$

The assigment was to show our understanding of and ability to use various forms of sensing to gather information about a tropical storm. What was difficult was putting these data sources into the context of tropical weather when we haven't learned much about tropical cyclones or how they form yet.

His analysis can be found here. It is a worthwhile read, especially for those of you (like myself) that weathered the storm this July.