Ticker for April 24, 2005

                
MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ... MESONET TICKER ...
April 24, 2005     April 24, 2005     April 24, 2005     April 24, 2005



Frost/Freeze Threatens Oklahoma

NWS forecasts suggest a strong possibility that temps could bottom out
at or below 32F overnight. As is usual in borderline, late-season
frost/freeze episodes, the risk generally increases northward in the
state.

Here are a few Mesonet products to help monitor the situation:

At http://www.mesonet.org/public/current.html
"Current conditions" will show a station polot of the latest temps
and winds, updated every five minutes. "Wind Speed & Gusts" will
give a five-minute-by-five-minute assessment of wind speeds (in
clear, stable situations like tonight, calmer means cooler).
Finally, "Hours Below Freezing" will give the duration of the
current freeze, in hours.

At http://www.mesonet.org/public/statistics.html
"Sire-specific conditions" gives an assessment of conditions since
midnight at any Mesonet site. "High & Low Temps" will give a quick
map view of today's (or yesterday's) minima.

At http://www.mesonet.org/public/meteograms.html
Of course, if you ask us (and even if you didn't), we'll tell you
that meteograms are the greatest invention of mankind. In this
scenario, they'll give a more-or-less exact history of what
happened at your Mesonet site in the last 24 hours.

By the way, remember that minimum temperatures can vary dramatically
within short distances during relatively calm,clear nights. A host of
factors may influence the ultimate low temperature, such as:
Local Terrain - low spots tend to cool more quickly and a bit more
deeply than the areas around them
Local Wind - On a very stable night, even a hint of a breeze can
generate enough mixing to keep temperatures up.
Local Tree Cover - When you're a tender tomato tot teetering on
temperatures below freezing, you'll take any
help you can get, and a tree in the immediate
vicinity can absorb and re-radiate just enough
energy to keep temperatures up. Of course, your
best bet is to ask your owner to take you inside.
Local Building Nearby - See "Local Tree Cover"