Weather

We live in the Twin Tiers. It snows. We drive in it every year. So why do people forget how to drive when it snows? It's really not that difficult. It just takes common sense.

Now that I've gotten that out of my system, I have a few other weather-related issues I'd like to write about. I've always been interested in weather and, if I wasn't math-illiterate, I might have decided to be a "weather girl." Anyway, thanks to Mike Cejka, I'm learning even more about weather. On Tuesday, both Mike and McKean County's Emergency Management Director Steve Nelson told me why it's so hard to predict weather in this area, especially McKean County. We're right on the edge of the Doppler Radar for State College, Buffal and Cleveland. In a nutshell, that means the information for this area isn't as accurate as it is for areas that are closer to the radar centers. Steve Nelson told me that's why we don't get warnings for severe thunderstorms until they're practically on top of us. That's also why you'll hear Mike say he's been checking the computer models and they tell him different things. He's got to put all of that together and come up with a forecast for us. And, I'd say, he does a darn good job!

If you're fascinated by weather, a cool new place to visit on the web is the WIVB Weather Team's Buffalo Weather Blog. They're also asking for pictures of weather events in the area. And so are we! If you have a photo or video you'd like to share with us, e-mail it to photos@hero1490.com.

In the meantime, follow traffic laws, use common sense and drive safely!