Another meteorologist posted this on a weather bulletin board. I thought it was funny.

The "weather wall", "chroma key", or "green (blue) screeen" makes us look like giants in respect to the maps that are projected behind us. Even the chroma key, with our Live Eye behind us can make the Storm Team look like the "Stay Puft" marshmallow man, or Godzilla, as we look really big compared to the buildings in Downtown Erie. Maybe I will do my King Kong impression (again), and climb the Renaissance Building!

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Okay, my title is a little dramatic, but I am a little excited. After nearly an inch of rain over the weekend, my grass is starting to grow. You have to realize that I, in no way, have a green thumb. After failing miserably last year with trying to get new grass to grow, I was able to pull it off, at least start to pull it off, this year.

The rain even convinced my rhododendron to bloom. Heading into the weekend, it was budding, but now is enjoying the spring weather.

The weeping Japaneses maple in my front yard has even sprouted its leaves. That began before the weekend started.

Now the big questions is, can I keep them alive for through summer? I will let you know.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Thunderstorms will develop today, as we are currently in the midst of a warmer, more humid airmass. A cold front moving in from the west will trigger these thunderstorms.

While nothing is expected to become severe, these storms may pack some heavy periods of rain. The soggy weather, and eventually cooler temperatures will stick with us through a good portion of next week.

Make sure to check Storm Track 4D before venturing out today at WSEE.tv. There, you can also sign up for the Storm Team's severe weather alerts. Those are located on the right side of the screen.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

I am sorry for not blogging as much as usual last week. It was kind of hectic. I was worrying over my first ever stand up comedy act that I performed Thursday Night at Jr's Last Laugh. It was part of a fundraiser for the Erie Chapter of The American Red Cross. If you want to see it (keep in mind I was really nervous), CLICK HERE. Let me know what you think of it. My email address is ray.petelin@wsee.tv.

The Mother's Day weekend did not turn out too bad. My family and I enjoyed the nice weather outside on Saturday by venturing to Asbury Woods. Elizabeth enjoyed the swings, and the slide (with her mom).

Here is a picture of me as a pack mule, carrying Miss Elizabeth through the woods. Oddly enough, Saturday Night, I played donkey basketball, which required me to ride a donkey... That was a fund raiser for Erie First Christian's athletic program.

While it began on a soggy note, we will get at least a couple of very nice days this week. The temperatures this week will be on a roller coaster ride, however. I think that is the case since the Ravine Flyer II will open this weekend at Waldameer!

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Last month, we were over an inch below average, when it comes to precipitation (both rain and melted snow). It was dry, but pleasant for April, but now it looks as if we have been making up for that dry spell this May.

Up to this point, we have had over an inch and a half of rain this month, and we are a quarter of an inch above average for May. More impressive, since January, our precipitation (both rain and melted snow) is four inches above the average!

More rain is on the way as we head toward the weekend, so we will continue to add to our rainfall totals. You can see that forecast at WSEE.tv.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Chilly temperatures will be with us at least through the weeekend, and realisticly until the end of next week. This, as the jet stream, the divider between warm and cold air, migrates back to the south, allowing cold air advection (a fancy way of saying the cold air will creep into our region from Canada).

Unisys AVN Model 850mb Image For Friday, May 16th

Unisys AVN Model 850mb Image For Saturday, May 17th

Unisys AVN Model 850mb Image For Sunday, May 18th

Unisys AVN Model 850mb Image For Monday, May 19th

The above images are courtesy of Unisys Weather. They show the 850mb level, the level of the atmosphere that meteorologists usually use to look for warm and cold air advection. You can see from them, the cooler (blue) air will stick overhead, easily into next week.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

You hate to forecast this on a big weekend, like the one about to occur in Northwest Pennsylvania, but you have to take what Mother Nature sends your way. A disturbance dropping in from the north will start spreading rain into the area, just in time for the Zoo Parade. That begins at 10am.

Also, the Ravine Flyer II opens up at Waldameer this weekend. The first rides may be "flying" through rain drops. I bet it will be well worth it, though.

As always, you can see Storm Track 4D online, before you head out the door, at WSEE.tv.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

We have been in the midst of cooler weather for quite some time. Actually, over the past 10 days, our temperatures have been at, or below average. Mostly below. Only six days this month have been considered "warm".

It looks like we will add a couple more days to that total this week, before we actually warm it up a bit. That should happen as we get into the Memorial Day Weekend. Just in time for the "unofficial" start of Summer.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Although we are expecting more rain today, yesterday's sunshine allowed many to get out, and enjoy. While Mark Snyder was at a state gameland marsh in Cambridge Springs, he snapped a great picture of a mother goose and her offspring.

If you have a great weather picture, we would love to see it. Our email address is weather@wsee.tv.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

With it being a VERY active tornado season, many people are hearing for the first time about the "Enhanced Fujita Scale".

First, let me begin by telling you about the old Fujita scale. This was the scale that the National Weather Service would use to estimate wind speeds contained in a tornado, based on damage. The scale went from F0 (the weakest tornado) to F5 (the strongest).

To improve accuracy of these estimates, the Enhanced Fujita Scale was born. Much like the original, it goes from 0 (the weakest) to 5 the Strongest. Now, however, this scale uses many more variables (damage survey) to estimate the wind speeds.

So in, short, the Enhanced Fujita (EF Scale), is an improved version of the old Fujita Scale.

To find out more about this scale go to the following websites:

http://www.spc.noaa.gov/faq/tornado/ef-scale.html
http://www.spc.noaa.gov/efscale/

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Hurricane season begins at the Mid May in the Eastern Pacific, and lasts through November. This year, it wasted no time getting started, racking up its first named storm.

This particular storm became "Tropical Storm Alma" moments ago. Alma is expected to spread heavy rainfall and gusty winds to Costa Rica, Honduras, Nicaraugua, and El Salvador.

The forecast of Alma calls for it to remain at tropical storm streangth until we get into the overnight time period. Then, it will probably be downgraded to a tropical depression. Even as a depression, these storms spread heavy amounts of rain. This will probably be the case for the Yucatan Peninsula as we enter the weekend.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

I just thought I would share this with you. It looks as if I have a new neighbor. This little guy was ejoying the shade provided by the air conditioning unit outside of my house.

It looks as though this "wittle wabbit" (you have to say it cute-like) was scared to death, and that is why I was able to get the close up shots. It finally did move, probably to go back home to mom.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist

Despite the sunshine to start the day off, some bumpy weather is looming for this evening, and this will probably last into tomorrow morning.

We have the ingredients for severe thunderstorms to develop in our area during this time period. These ingredients are more likely to come together in Indian and Illinois, where the "enhanced risk" of severe storms exists, but we still have the possibility to see this in NW Pennsylvania too.

If these severe storms come together, they may produce damaging winds and hail. Keep in mind, that any time you have the potential for a severe thunderstorm to develop, you have to be prepared that it can spawn something worse. I am not forecasting a tornado, I am saying that with the current set up, this is something we will be watching out for if a severe storm should develop. Sorry for underlining the sentence. I just want to make sure that I am not taken out of context.

Also, remember that Storm Track 4D is online, and you can access it anytime at WSEE.tv.

Ray Petelin,
WSEE Storm Team Meteorologist