'A gift from the sky:' Rainbow in Taiwan lasts for a possible world record of 9 hours

By Katy Galimberti, AccuWeather staff writer

December 6,2017, 12:01:04PM,EST

 

 After a storm when a rainbow appears, people generally know they have a small window of time to catch a peak at the colorful phenomenon.

But professors and students at a Taiwanese university observed a rainbow for an unprecedented nine hours last week.
Chou Kun-hsuan, a professor in the Department of Atmospheric Sciences at Chinese Culture University and another professor, Liu Ching-huang, are compiling photos and other evidence to submit to the Guinness Book of World Records.
The rainbow appeared just before 7 a.m. and lasted until nearly 4 p.m., local time.
The current longest-lasting rainbow was in the sky for six hours over Yorkshire, England, in 1994.
The university sits in the mountainous region of Taiwan, creating ideal conditions for rainbows to linger longer than normal. Most rainbows disappear after about an hour.
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According to Kun-hsuan, a monsoonal storm in the area trapped moisture and created more clouds. Slow wind speeds and just enough sunlight made the perfect formula for the rainbow to linger.
For a rainbow to form, a ray of sunlight passes through a raindrop, reflecting off the back of the drop at varying angles. A refraction of light causes of a spectrum of colors -- red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet.

"It was amazing… It felt like a gift from the sky... It's so rare!" Kun-hsuan told the BBC.
The department took 10,000 pictures alone, and other students and faculty were asked to document the rainbow as well. The professors are confident they will have enough evidence for a successful Guinness submission.
According to AccuWeather Meteorologist Jesse Ferrell, it wouldn’t have been possible to see it the whole time if you were on the ground.
"The length of time you could see a rainbow on a mountain is only limited to the amount of sunlight and rain," he said. "If you're on a mountain looking down, you can see 'below' the horizon."
In this case, this rainbow, had it been observed from flat ground, would have stopped and restarted around noon, which could put a Guinness record in jeopardy.

 

Snow, sleet to unfold across portions of southern US as cold air arrives

By Faith Eherts, AccuWeather meteorologist

December 6,2017, 3:13:12PM,EST

 

 

 Cold air infiltrating the southern United States will lead to some snow and sleet through the end of the week.

"Unlike many cool air bursts so far during astronomical autumn, which have only lasted a couple of days, cold air will sweep in and then build," AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams said.
Late-week temperatures will be slashed by up to 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit compared to the first couple days of the week, settling at below-average levels for this weekend and beyond.
Moisture is forecast to linger in areas from Texas to the Carolinas as temperatures fall.

“Winter will pay a visit to parts of Texas into Thursday night as enough cold air will be in place for snow and/or sleet to fall,” according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Alex Sosnowski.
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Stretches of interstates 10 and 20 will be impacted by snow Wednesday night into Thursday, as well as Big Bend National Park and the Mescalero Reservation.

"The most significant amounts of snow and sleet are expected in the higher terrain between Midland and El Paso, Texas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said.
"A bit of sleet or a wintry mix is likely extend farther to the east in Texas, perhaps including part of the Houston area," Sosnowski said. "A stripe of sleet, snow or wintry combination is in the cards from parts of central Louisiana to southeastern Virginia as the storm moves along for the balance of the week."
The lower Mississippi Valley will only receive a small amount of wintry precipitation on Thursday and Thursday night.
The area from northern Georgia to part of the Carolinas and southeastern Virginia will be at risk for wintry precipitation and possibly slippery conditions from Friday to Friday night.

“If the wintry mix falls heavily, there can be an accumulation and slippery travel despite prior warm surface temperatures,” Sosnowski warned. "Conditions may change quickly, especially late in the day and at night as road surfaces cool."
The Friday evening commute may be affected from Atlanta to Greenville and Spartanburg, South Carolina; Charlotte and Raleigh, North Carolina; and Richmond, Virginia. Motorists should travel with care, plan for extra travel time and be sure to have plenty of gas before heading out.
If the storm develops to its full potential, up to a few inches of snow could cover some non-paved surfaces with a coating on colder roads and sidewalks.
By contrast, the forecast for the southern United States calls for dry, sunny and chilly weather to sweep in this weekend.
"Freezing temperatures may dip as far to the south as parts of the upper Texas coast, the Mississippi Delta and central Florida," Sosnowski said.

Blast of frigid air may shock southern US this week as snow may fly in a few areas

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

December 6,2017, 7:44:00AM,EST

 

 The coldest air of the season so far will sweep into the southern United States and may bring the first snowflakes of the season to a few locations this week.

The first blast of arctic air for the meteorological winter season will focus its worst on the Midwest this week. However, the cold air will still pack a punch as it enters and settles into the South.
People in much of the South will want to have blankets and winter jackets on hand and be prepared to turn on the heat.

"Unlike many cool air bursts so far during astronomical autumn, which have only lasted a couple of days, cold air will sweep in and then build," according to AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Elliot Abrams.
Below-average temperatures may last for two weeks, especially across the interior South.
Compared to the first day or two of this week, temperatures will be slashed by 20 to 30 degrees Fahrenheit from the southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley and much of the Southeast by the middle and latter part of this week.
For example, following a high in the middle 80s on Monday, people in Brownsville, Texas, may have temperature shock by midweek with highs projected to be in the 50s.

By the end of the week, actual temperatures may be not higher than the 40s in Atlanta and Nashville.
The combination of temperature, humidity, wind, cloud cover and other conditions are likely to cause AccuWeather RealFeel® temperatures to be 10 to 20 degrees lower than the actual temperature.
The colder air will even reach the Florida Peninsula. However, it may take until this weekend before temperatures are slashed by 15 to 25 degrees.
"For many areas of the Deep South, this outbreak of arctic air will bring the first hard freeze of the season," according to AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Brett Anderson.
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There is a chance that some freezing air will reach down to the central part of the Florida Peninsula by early next week.
AccuWeather meteorologists are closely monitoring where an accompanying storm may sync up the cold air in time to bring snow to some areas or if a chilly rain will fall during the middle to latter part of this week.
Winter will enact its revenge on western Texas into Thursday as enough cold air will be in place for snow and/or sleet to fall.

"The most significant amounts of snow and sleet are expected in the higher terrain between Midland and El Paso, Texas," AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist Kristina Pydynowski said. "Slick travel can be expected on interstates 10 and 20 through this region, mainly from later Wednesday into Thursday."
The storm responsible for this wintry weather will then track from the Gulf of Mexico to off the Southeast coast Friday into Saturday.
How much moisture interacts with the cold air will determine whether snow or ice pellets are seen along the I-85 corridor of the South or the chilly rain persists.
Any snow or ice may be light enough just to make an appearance with most roads staying wet.
If the wintry mix falls heavily, there can be an accumulation and slippery travel.

The cold air is likely to last much longer this time around and may be more of a shock due to lower sun angle and the shear magnitude of the arctic air.
Despite the cold shock on the way, only a few records may be set in the week ahead.
Rather than the jet stream making a quick plunge then retreating northward, the southward dip will linger for one to two weeks.

This Date in Weather History for December 6,2017 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Wednesday,December 6,2017

 

 

 

1886 - A great snowstorm hit the southern Appalachain Mountains. The three day storm produced 25 inches at Rome GA, 33 inches at Asheville NC, and 42 inches in the mountains. Montgomery AL received a record eleven inches of snow. Columbia SC received one to two inches of sleet. (4th-6th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1970 - A windstorm toppled the National Christmas Tree at the White House. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1987 - Another in a series of storms brought high winds and heavy rain to the northwestern U.S., with heavy snow in some of the higher elevations. In northern California, Crescent City was drenched with 2.58 inches of rain, and winds gusted to 90 mph. Up to fourteen inches of snow blanketed the mountains of northern California, and snow and high winds created blizzard conditions around Lake Tahoe NV. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - The morning low at Bismarck, ND, was eleven degrees warmer than the record low of 25 degrees at Meridian MS, and during the afternoon half a dozen cities in the north central and northwestern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Alpena MI with a reading of 57 degrees. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - Heavy snow blanketed the Central Rocky Mountain Region. Totals in the southern foothills of Colorado ranged up to 17 inches at Rye. Arctic air invaded the north central U.S. Lincoln NE, which reported a record high of 69 degrees the previous afternoon, was 35 degrees colder. International Falls MN was the cold spot in the nation with a morning low of 9 degrees below zero, and temperatures in northern Minnesota hovered near zero through the daylight hours. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

This Date in Weather History for December 5,2017 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Tuesday,December 5,2017

 

 

 

 

1886 - A big snowstorm in the southeastern U.S. produced 11 inches at Montgomery AL, 18.5 inches at Rome GA, and 22.5 inches at Knoxville TN. (Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1941 - The temperature at Enosburg Falls soared to 72 degrees to establish a state record for Vermont for the month of December. (The Weather Channel)

1953 - A killer tornado hit Vicksburg, MS, killing 38 persons, injuring 270 others, and causing 25 million dollars damage, the most damage since the forty-seven days of continuous shelling the town received in the Civil War. (David Ludlum)

1987 - Heavy snow blanketed parts of the north central U.S., and freezing drizzle produced a coat of ice up to half an inch thick in northwestern Minnesota and eastern North Dakota. Snowfall totals ranged up to seven inches at Grand Rapids MN, and 12 inches at Seney MI. High winds in the north central U.S. gusted to 63 mph at Pellston MI, and reached 70 mph at Makinaw Bridge MI. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988 - There was only a "flurry" of activity, as for much of the nation winter remained on hold. The cold and snow of winter was primarily confined to the northeastern U.S. Five cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Norfolk NE with a reading of 65 degrees. (The National Weather Summary)

1989 - A warm Pacific storm system brought high winds and heavy rain to western Washington and western Oregon. Up to ten inches of rain deluged the western slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State over a three day period, and 500 persons had to be evacuated due to flooding along the Skagit River. Up to five inches of rain drenched northwest Oregon, and winds gusted to 71 mph at Netarts. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2003 - A major winter storm impacted parts of the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern United States during the 5th-7th. Snowfall accumulations of one to two feet were common across areas of Pennsylvania northward into New England. Boston, MA received 16.2 inches while Providence, RI had the greatest single snowstorm on record with 17 inches, beating the previous record of 12 inches set December 5-6, 1981. Boston's Logan International Airport was closed briefly on the 7th as heavy snowfall made regular airport operations impossible (AFP).

This Date in Weather History for December 4,2017 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Monday,December 4,2017

 

 

 

1786 - The first of two great early December storms began. The storm produced 18 inches of snow at Morristown NJ, and twenty inches of snow at New Haven CT. It also resulted in high tides at Nantucket which did great damage. (David Ludlum)

1972 - Winds gusting to 70 mph sent the temperature at Livingston, MT, plunging from 52 degrees to 18 degrees in just twenty minutes. (The Weather Channel)

1982 - The temperature in New York City's Central Park reached 72 degrees to establish a record high for December. The month as a whole was also the warmest of record. (The Weather Channel)

1987 - A cold front crossing the Pacific Coast Region brought high winds and heavy rain to California. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 55 mph at Newport Beach CA, and Mount Wilson CA was drenched with 2.17 inches of rain in six hours. Gale force winds prevailed along the Northern Pacific Coast, and winds in the Tehachapis Mountains of southern California gusted to 60 mph. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Gale force winds continued to usher cold arctic air into the northeastern U.S. Winds gusted to 65 mph at Windsor Locks CT. Up to a foot of snow blanketed the higher elevations of Vermont. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Seventeen cities in the eastern U.S., including nine in Florida, reported record low temperatures for the date. Lakeland FL reported a record low of 31 degrees, and Watertown NY was the cold spot in the nation with a low of 20 degrees below zero. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2002 - An early season winter storm brought an expansive shield of snow and ice through much of the eastern U.S., from the lower Ohio Valley, southern Appalachians and into the Northeast. Snow accumulations of 4-8 inches were common along the northern edge of the precipitation shield, while a significant accrual of glaze occurred in the Carolinas. The storm caused at least 17 fatalities, mostly from traffic accidents (CNN). In the Carolinas, electric utilities provider Duke Power characterized the ice storm as the worst in the company's history, with 1.2 million customers or nearly half its entire customer base without power on the morning of the 5th. This surpassed electrical outages inflicted by Hurricane Hugo as it swept through the central Carolinas in September 1989.

This Date in Weather History for December 3,2017 from weatherforyou.com

Weather History
For Sunday,December 3,2017

 

 

 

 

1856 - A severe blizzard began to rage across Iowa and Kansas. It produced as much as 16 inches of snow in Iowa. (David Ludlum)

1926 - Yuma, AZ, was soaked with 1.10 inch of rain, and by the 10th of the month had received 4.43 inches, making it the wettest December of record. The average annual rainfall for Yuma is 3.38 inches. (3rd-10th) (The Weather Channel)

1983 - Birmingham, AL, was drenched with 9.22 inches of rain in 24 hours. The rains caused severe flash flooding which literally submerged traffic. (The Weather Channel)

1987 - Stormy weather in the northwestern U.S. finally began to abate, but not before Gold Beach OR was drenched with 7.94 inches of rain in 24 hours. Low pressure spread snow from the Upper Mississippi Valley to the Central Appalachians. (Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1988 - Gale force winds ushered cold air into the northeastern U.S., and produced snow squalls in the Lower Great Lakes Region. Winds gusted to 48 mph at Buffalo NY. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989 - Heavy snow and high winds created blizzard conditions in northern New England. Snowfall totals in Maine ranged up to 31 inches, at Limestone. Presque Isle ME reported a record 30 inches of snow in 24 hours, along with wind gusts to 46 mph. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)