Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

World's Largest Weather Instrument
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 5:05 PM GMT op 05 augustus 2005 +0
If you've driving the stretch of I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas and get off at the Baker exit near Death Valley, you have the opportunity to see the ultimate tacky weather object--the world's tallest thermometer. Rising a full 134 feet above the dusty streets of Baker (population: 700),
the working thermometer is the brainchild of Baker resident Willis Herron, who spent $700,000 erecting the huge instrument. In an article in the June 2005 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Willis says: "Awww, I know it's tacky. But I also know people won't be able to pass it more than four or five times without saying, 'What is that?'". And hopefully pull off the expressway to take a look--and buy a burger at the Mad Greek restaurant or a slice of strawberry pie at the original Bun Boy restaurant, now owned by Steve Carter, whom Herron sold the thermometer to in 2000.

The thermometer weighs 76,812 pounds, sports 4900 light bulbs, and is held together by 125 cubic yards of concrete--much of this added after 70-mph winds snapped the thermometer in half shortly after it was built in 1991. The 134 foot height is symbolic of the 134 degree maximum temperature recorded in Death Valley in 1913--the all-time record for North America.

Dr. Jeff Masters
The world's tallest thermomerter! (robsters)
Located in Baker, California, 109 degrees
The world's tallest thermomerter!
Categories: Humor
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752. outrocket 4:18 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
hey alec...whats up..and whats your prediction on irene
Member Since: 15 juli 2005 Posts: 104 Comments: 10972
753. Alec 4:22 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Hi. Ive been gone for days since i was busy coming home to tampa. Irene will get pulled around a high in the central atlantic and strengthen gradually as it moves away from a shear zone. It will not be a threat to the US.
754. outrocket 4:26 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
So,when do you go back to FSU?..and agree
Member Since: 15 juli 2005 Posts: 104 Comments: 10972
755. Alec 4:31 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Back to school Aug26. It took me 30 min to read what i missed on the blog the last couple of days. Seems like stormtop made a full 24hr a day appearance as he noticed i wasnt around for days.
756. outrocket 4:33 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
yup,hey check your blog..clears faster..see you there
Member Since: 15 juli 2005 Posts: 104 Comments: 10972
757. Jet2 8:06 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
wow the BAMM model is now letting is miss the trof and go west instead.
Member Since: 26 juli 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 0
758. 147257 11:56 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
l0l it cost me the same amount of time to read whatwhen i was gone looks like IRENE is going for Bermuda :) poor island
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
759. 147257 11:58 AM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
but take alook on the ocean i only see clouds :/
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
760. 147257 12:09 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
big mesh in the atlantic :)
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
761. 147257 12:16 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
does someone see some development above the bahamas
25 North 75 West its there for days
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
762. punkasshans 1:26 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Irene shouldnt have been named, what a waste of a storm.
763. 147257 1:31 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
l0l @punkasshans i'm sure they had a good reason for that and i'm happy the I is gone :)
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
765. punkasshans 1:40 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Irene has a nicely defined circulation. . . with absolutely no convection. This reminds me of Friday.
767. 147257 1:41 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
I agree with that punkasshans
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
768. Alec 1:41 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Hey. So how's the blog been since i left it for a few days?
769. punkasshans 1:43 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
For a good laugh this morning: CAT 5 Irene!

http://moe.met.fsu.edu/cgi-bin/mm5fsutc2.cgi?time=2005080800&field=Sea+Level+Pressure&hour=120hr
770. 147257 1:50 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
good i think but kinda boring
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
771. 147257 1:51 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
l0l i only can think the storm can get on highest CAT 1
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
772. Alec 1:51 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Irene looks like it will go wnw for many days with a gradual turn to the n and ne through a weakness in the ridge caused by a frontal boundary coming off the US. The models still dont have the best grab on this system after 4-5 days.
774. Alec 1:58 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
The nhc even mentioned in their 5am advisory that it might have even weakened to a depression.
775. DauphinIslandDunes 2:02 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
How can one determine whether a low is upper, mid, or surface level? Are there maps, links, etc.? Thanks in advance.
776. 147257 2:02 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
yeah i kind of expected that
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
777. Alec 2:07 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Im going to get going. I'll come back on if it warrents. For now guys, bye!.........Alec........OUT!!!
778. 147257 2:52 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Irene is a Tropical depresion again :)
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
779. 147257 2:52 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/pub/forecasts/public/MIATCPAT4 read here for more information
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
780. punkasshans 3:05 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
There really isnt too much tropical activity out there besides our two weak storms. Looks like we might have a nice calm week (or at least start of the week). The only wave that looks promising is the wave in the northern Caribbean. However, this wave is moving into a higher sheer zone, so I dont see it developing at all.

The African coast looks relatively calm at the moment. Small wave moving off the coast, but doesnt look strong. The dust has died down over the last few days, however another small surge will come off the coast either late today or tomorrow. This should hamper development off the African coast in the short term.
781. Hawkeyewx 3:11 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Irene met the minimum requirements to be named a tropical storm.

Some of the models are taking Irene farther to the west towards Bermuda now. That would seem possible considering the visible loop shows a big high pressure trying to build in to the north behind the little tail of weakness from Harvey. The 0z ECMWF actually appears to take Irene to near the North Carolina coast in several days, but that really can't be believed at this point because Irene is so far north already.
Member Since: 5 juli 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 1922
782. iyou 3:13 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
check out the animated satellite image here: http://www.weatheroffice.ec.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?on21
Member Since: 25 juli 2005 Posts: 0 Comments: 5219
783. 147257 3:25 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
the wave by south america maybe that could develop
Member Since: 2 augustus 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
784. Jedkins 3:27 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Being that its that far nor means nothing... there have been storms this far north hit south florida andrew for example was one...
785. Jedkins 3:29 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
North carolina may want to watch this one incase the ridge builds in a little before it turns.
786. Hawkeyewx 3:32 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Being this far north and east does mean something. Irene is crossing 22.5 north latitude at around 51 west. Andrew did not cross 22.5 north until about 66 west. Very few systems at Irene's location will ever make it to the US.
Member Since: 5 juli 2005 Posts: 2 Comments: 1922
787. HurricaneKing 3:41 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Gulp not North Carolina. Where I live we flood in North Easters. They have to close the schools( not saying thats a bad thing).
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
789. punkasshans 4:03 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Its a Nor'Easter by the way.

Anyway, this storm wont make it to the US. Dont worry about that. And even if it did, its so weak it wouldnt have any impact.

I said before it was even a depression that the furthest west this storm would go would be an impact on Bermuda. Looks like that might be the case. Another Harvey for them.
790. HurricaneKing 4:04 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
You can say it which ever way you want.
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
792. punkasshans 4:15 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Its called a Nor'Easter. . that is what it is called. I was just letting you know.

Look it up on google, you will see. I am not trying to say you are wrong or anything, just letting you know for later.
793. HurricaneKing 4:34 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
The true wat to say it is North Easter. Nor'Easter is slang.
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
795. punkasshans 5:06 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Well, i found online in google.com a little site. It basically says the original term was "Northeaster" but it has been changed in recent times (looks like last 10-20 years) to "Nor'easter"

Here is another site (since i cant find the site i just told you about)

http://www.noaa.gov/questions/question_010901.html

797. HurricaneKing 5:17 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
I always heard it either way. The people on the outer banks call it Nor'easter and the people from inland call it North Easter. I'm in between the 2 and I call it both.
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
799. punkasshans 5:21 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Well, i guess it doesnt matter too much. I just thought it was only written Nor'easter.

So, how about those tropics?!?

I am off to lunch now, so back in an hour.
800. HurricaneKing 5:23 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
Dont let it fool you they can develop down as far south as Florida. For short periods of time if they are below north carolina and during certain times of the year they can be subtropical. One was like that earlier in the year for about 3-5 hours. Not long enough to name. It flooded my town and closed school. They talked about it on the weather channel as being subtropical.
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
801. HurricaneKing 5:25 PM GMT op 08 augustus 2005    
forgot to add on the local media also.
Member Since: 6 juli 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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