51 Years of Earth Day...

When I was at the University of Michigan back in the late 1960s, one project being studied by my main mentor (Prof. Don Portman) was how high a company needed to build their smoke stacks to allow for the air pollution to be dispersed before reaching the ground.  I didn't think much about the government grant that supported the project until the first Earth Day happened in 1970.   How stupid we were to focus on dispersing pollution instead of limiting it.  Being near the steel mills of NW Indiana, I remember seeing "red snows" from the steel dust in the atmosphere.

The 1970 Clean Air Act began the process of limiting air pollution and we have a much cleaner atmosphere today than back in the 1940s, 50s & 60s.   The focus now is how to stop the Earth's climate from changing, and I don't believe that is possible.  I applaud efforts to keep improving our air & water qualities.  But climate change is a more complex issue than just limiting CO2.   As I've said many times before, I believe (and climate data shows) the Earth's climate functions in CYCLES.  During the next several decades we will be forced/taxed to limit our "carbon footprint".  Will that result in a cooling climate?  Or will that just be the timing of the Earth's next cooling cycle?    Like the picture above, I'll be watching from somewhere far, far away.

After a rather chilly start, bright sunshine resulting in a spectacular afternoon with low humidity and comfy cool temperatures.  Satellite views show the surge of return moisture on the back side of surface high pressure.

The real cold air is retreating back over the NE with surging dew points (60+) already showing up across south Texas.   Out next concern will be the severe weather potential as a fast moving upper disturbance roars by early on Saturday.  SPC already has a slight potential risk over us.

The top graphic is valid for Friday with the bottom valid for Saturday.  The timing appears to have showers in here after dark on Friday (more likely after midnight) with the greatest coverage coming between 4 - 10 AM on Saturday.

As you can see, there is no cold air behind this system and next week looks to be warm & Spring-like.  The heaviest rains are predicted to stay north of Lake Pontchartrain where 1-3" could fall.  South of the Lake should receive less than an inch.   And finally,

Those of you not old enough to remember, when I arrived here in April 1978 to replace Nash Roberts on Ch. 8, everyone used paper maps with a black marker.  I looked at David's program last night and realized we've come a long way baby.  I still miss those wild colors back in the 70s.  Then again?  Stay tuned!