Back again

2010-07-16 22:05:46.000 – Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist

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And…I’m back!

I took my leave of the Observatory last shift for a week of vacation, and I’ve returned to this temperamental rock pile that I call home every other week.

Not much has changed in three weeks, with the exception of the weather, of course. I heard rumors of a few snow flakes flying during my absence, which is not common but not unusual for the month of July. It was quite amusing to be sitting in New Jersey, enduring temperatures in excess of 100 degrees, talking to a co-worker, describing the less-than-sultry mid-summer scene on the summit. Because I’ve always been much fonder of the balmier temperatures than the chillier ones, I was perfectly content with my location at the time.

Perhaps my return was foreseen by the weather gods, because the cold snap is long gone and has been replaced by daily high temperatures in excess of 60 degrees coupled with a plethora of foggy hours. But my first two days have proven to be a serious test of my forecasting skills, as nothing seems to be going according to what the forecast models are suggesting. I’ve said it before, and I’ll reiterate it once more: forecasting is the most challenging and sometimes frustrating aspect of meteorology. So I’m sitting here anxiously waiting…hoping…praying…for just one thunderstorm. Just one…PLEASE!

Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist