Ticker for November 26, 2002

                
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November 26, 2002  November 26, 2002  November 26, 2002  November 26, 2002


A Few Southern Mesonet Stations Still Unfrozen

Just two southern Mesonet stations have escaped freezing temperatures
so far this season, as seen in the following map:



Overall, a swath of six or seven south-central stations have escaped
more than a couple of hours of sub-freezing temps.  Interestingly,
the southernmost of these stations, Burneyville, has logged a few
more freezing hours than its neighbors.

The sensor at Burneyville is working well.  So why would the
southernmost station dip lower on the thermometer?  The answer lies
not in its latitude, but its altitude ... sort of.

Burneyville's 228 meters is lower than most of its neighbors, but
still more than than its as-yet-unfrozen comrade Durant (200 meters).
However, it's the *relative* elevation that means the most on a still,
chilly morning.  Burneyville, a stone's throw from the Red River,
nestles cozily in a relative minimum in elevation (aka the river's
floodplain).  Even this slight natural shelter sometimes helps to
enhance in situ cooling on calmer nights.