Doug's Shack

06/05/2024

Some bad weather incoming.

10/04/2024

I usually go easy on the refs, the officials, the umpires. It's easy to forget that we have the optimal viewing angles with no pressure to get it right in the heat of the moment.

But how does this guy still have a job?

08/04/2024

I have a server that saves satellite images every 10 minutes for my hurricane videos. Here it is picking up the eclipse. From the GOES-18 weather satellite.

04/04/2024

The last F5 in Michigan was on this date

The worst natural disaster in West Michigan history occurred on this date 68 years ago and included the last F5 tornado in Michigan. The West Michigan Tornadoes of April 3, 1956 killed 18 people and injured over 200. Although many of the people who experienced the storms are no longer around to tell their stories, there are still signs of the storm if you know where to look. This tree near the Grand River north of Jenison was sheared off by the tornado but one of the remaining limbs turned skyward and became the new trunk. The tree is symbolic of the resilience of the people and communities that were in the path of the tornadoes during the many years of recovery that followed.

03/04/2024

Yesterday, multiple tornadoes were reported across several states, including Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Ohio, Alabama, and Georgia. The tornadoes caused varying degrees of damage, with some notable incidents:

1. In Boyd County, Kentucky, at least EF1 intensity damage was reported, with mobile homes displaced or rolled and trees uprooted.
2. Brief tornadoes were spotted and recorded in Kankakee County, Illinois.
3. In Morgan County, Tennessee, heavy damage was reported to Schuberts Funeral Home.
4. Another tornado was spotted along Hwy 27 in Scott County, Tennessee.
5. Debris and trees were reported down on roads in Adams County, Ohio.
6. In Dallas and Chilton Counties, Alabama, trees and power lines were reported down, with multiple structures damaged near Pooles Crossroads.
7. Trees were reported down at several locations in Rockdale County, Georgia.

The storm prediction center report includes specific locations, times, and details of the damage caused by the tornadoes. Radar observations of tornado debris signatures (TDS) were also noted for some of the incidents in Alabama.

02/04/2024

A severe weather outbreak is possible today across the Ohio Valley, with the risk of severe storms also extending into parts of the Southeast. The main threats include strong and potentially long-track tornadoes, particularly from Indiana and Ohio southward into the Mid South. The threat for strong tornadoes may focus on parts of Alabama and Georgia later this evening and into tonight.

The primary factors contributing to this severe weather outbreak are:

* A powerful storm system moving across the central United States
* Strong winds at various levels of the atmosphere, which will help to fuel severe storms
* Warm, moist air in place ahead of the storm system, providing instability for storms to develop

In the Ohio Valley, a line of storms early in the day may pose a risk for wind damage and a couple of tornadoes before moving eastward. In the wake of these storms, warm and humid air will flow northward, creating conditions favorable for the development of severe storms during the afternoon. These storms could produce tornadoes, large to very large hail, and damaging wind gusts. Some of these tornadoes could be strong and long-lived.

Farther east, strong to severe storms may continue across the central Appalachians and perhaps move into the Mid-Atlantic states, with hail and wind being the primary threats.

In the Southeast, particularly in Tennessee, Mississippi, and northern Alabama, severe thunderstorms are expected to develop this afternoon. These storms will have the potential to produce all types of severe weather, including tornadoes. As the storm system moves eastward and winds aloft strengthen, the threat for tornadoes, including a few strong tornadoes, will shift into central and eastern Alabama, Georgia, and eventually reaching the Carolinas and the eastern Florida Panhandle late tonight.

People living in these regions should be prepared for a potentially significant severe weather outbreak today and tonight. Stay informed about the latest forecasts, warnings, and advice from local officials and the National Weather Service, and be ready to take action if severe weather threatens your area.

02/04/2024

A significant severe weather outbreak is expected on Tuesday afternoon and evening, with the highest risk centered over Ohio and extending into parts of southeastern Indiana, northern Kentucky, and western West Virginia. The risk of severe storms also extends southward across the Tennessee Valley and as far south as the Gulf Coast and eastward into western portions of Virginia and the Carolinas.

The main factors contributing to this severe weather outbreak are:

A strong storm system moving across the central United States on Tuesday
A cold front associated with this storm system that will sweep across the region
Warm, humid air in place ahead of the cold front, which will provide fuel for the storms

In the Ohio and Tennessee Valleys, widespread thunderstorms are expected to develop during the afternoon as the cold front moves through the area. These storms will likely produce a variety of severe weather hazards, including:

Very large hail
Strong, damaging winds
Several significant tornadoes, with the potential for a couple of intense, long-track tornadoes

The greatest risk for severe weather, including the potential for intense, long-track tornadoes, will begin in Indiana and then spread across Ohio through the afternoon and evening. The threat may also extend into western portions of West Virginia, far western Pennsylvania, and later into western parts of Virginia and the Carolinas.

In the Florida Panhandle, Georgia, southeastern Alabama, and possibly extending into the western Carolinas, an increase in thunderstorm activity is expected late in the day ahead of the advancing cold front. There is a concern for an increase in tornado potential in these areas, as conditions may become favorable for rotating storms.

People living in these regions should be prepared for a potentially dangerous severe weather outbreak on Tuesday afternoon and evening.

01/04/2024

A severe thunderstorm outbreak is expected this afternoon and tonight, affecting areas from north Texas and Oklahoma to the lower Ohio River Valley. These storms could bring:

* Very large hail, with some hailstones reaching 2-3 inches in diameter (about the size of a tennis ball or even larger)
* Powerful wind gusts of 60-80 mph that can cause damage to structures and trees
* A few tornadoes, some of which could be strong (up to EF2 intensity)

The primary reasons for these severe storms are:

* Strong winds at high altitudes moving from the southwest to the northeast, providing energy for storm development
* A spinning area of low pressure forming over Texas and moving towards Oklahoma and the Mississippi Valley
* Warm, humid air in place across the region, which will fuel the storms once they begin to form

In Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, scattered thunderstorms are expected to develop by mid-afternoon and continue into the night. These storms could produce very large hail, a few tornadoes (possibly a strong one), and damaging winds as they grow in size and cluster together overnight.

Across Oklahoma and Texas, the storms might take a bit longer to develop due to a "cap" of warm air aloft. However, by late afternoon, expect scattered severe thunderstorms to form and quickly move northeastward. These storms will have the potential to produce extremely large hail (3 inches in diameter or larger) and a couple of strong tornadoes.

People living in these areas should stay alert and prepared for potentially dangerous weather conditions. Keep an eye on the latest forecasts, warnings, and advice from local authorities and weather services.

01/04/2024

Today and into this evening, there is a high chance of severe thunderstorms across a large area stretching from the southern Plains to the lower Missouri and Ohio Valley regions. These storms could bring tornadoes (some of which may be strong), large hail that can cause damage, and powerful wind gusts.

The main factors contributing to these severe storms are:

1. A large, deep area of low pressure moving eastward across the country, which will create instability in the atmosphere.

2. Warm, moist air flowing northward from the Gulf of Mexico, providing fuel for the storms.

3. Strong winds at different levels of the atmosphere, which can help storms organize and become more intense.

As the day progresses, storms are expected to develop along a line stretching from Oklahoma and Kansas southward into central Texas. These storms could produce large hail and tornadoes during the afternoon and early evening.

Later in the day, the severe weather threat will shift eastward into the lower Missouri Valley and Ohio Valley regions. Multiple rounds of strong to severe storms are possible, with all types of severe weather (tornadoes, large hail, and damaging winds) possible. Some of the tornadoes could be strong, especially in parts of Missouri and central/southern Illinois.

Overnight, a large complex of storms may develop and move into parts of Indiana, Ohio, and northern Kentucky, bringing mainly a risk of damaging winds as it moves eastward.

People in these regions should stay alert and prepared for potentially dangerous weather conditions throughout the day and night, and follow any guidance or warnings issued by local officials or the National Weather Service.

26/03/2024

This afternoon, expect some stormy weather to start forming over the areas marked on the map. This will happen near the cold arctic front, where warm ground air meets cold air from above, especially in places that get a bit of sun after the morning's clouds and rain move out. The storms might not be very strong—probably not strong enough to create lightning—because the air isn't super charged up. However, the storms could move quickly and bring some sudden, possibly strong gusts of wind due to the fast-moving air higher up in the atmosphere.

Even though these storms won't reach very high into the sky, the way the wind is blowing at cloud level could organize them into a more structured line of storms. These storms are expected to move quickly to the northeast across parts of Indiana, lower Michigan, and western Ohio, bringing a short period of strong winds to these areas. By the evening, the storms should start to calm down as they move into areas with less energy for them to feed on and as the night cools things down.

14/03/2024

Here's a fun fact: The push to have the minimum wage set to $15/hour began in 2012. Adjusted for inflation, that is now $20.54/hour in 2024.

Federal minimum wage is still $7.25/hour. Set in 2009, that adjusts to $10.66/hour in 2024.

Or, to reverse the direction. Our current $7.25/hour wage is equivalent to $4.96/hour in 2009 when it was last set.

The purchasing power of minimum wage peaked in 1968 when it was $1.60/hour. This translates to 2024 money at $14.56/hour.

FUN! ... ... ...

04/03/2024

28/02/2024

Tornado warnings in Michigan ... in February...

28/02/2024

Severe thunderstorm watch for Michigan, Indiana, and Ohio.

27/02/2024

Spring-like storms are certainly possible this evening.

21/02/2024

What could have been...

02/02/2024

Right in the gut

01/02/2024

Super Bowl is coming up. Ask questions!

29/01/2024

Most do not understand what downing a punt is in football!

10/01/2024

In this video, I highlight some of the key moments in history that are responsible for the formation of the various codes of football found around the world.

24/12/2023

Ura is promoted to Komusubi!

13/12/2023

Sleepy boy

30/11/2023

Last week I talked about the fair catch free kick in American Football. But, I failed to mention WHY it was important in the early years of the game.

Also, learn about the puntout, a way to deal with tricky angles for the "goal from touchdown" used before the 1920s.

(Previously uploaded to YouTube.)

27/11/2023

Want to hear me talk about free kicks in American Football for 10 minutes!?

In this video I ramble on a bit about the free kick after a fair catch in American Football. Why does it feel weird, how you get to do it and which levels of football you can do it in. Then I move on to the idea of scoring a field goal on the safety free kick, and some high school conferences having allowed field goals on KICKOFFS!

(Previously uploaded to YouTube)

27/11/2023

Does my guy Ura get his kachi-koshi? Does Atamifuji force Kirishima to win his match? Is there a playoff? Are rhetorical questions an overused device?