THINGS THAT GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT

Working a morning shift means that I go to bed pretty early. I usually fall asleep about 5 PM and wake up around midnight. Of course, developing storm systems don't follow a regular sleep schedule. Such was the case earlier this week when my trusty NOAA weather alarm sounded with the first tornado watch of the year. You may be thinking that February is a little early for severe weather, and you would be right -- kind of.

February is one of the most varied months for weather in southeastern NC. In early February, we are just passing the coldest part of the year climatologically. By the end of the month, average temperatures will warm nearly 7 degrees. And remember- these "averages" can encompass a wide range of values. Past climate data has shown high temperatures capable of reaching the 80's during the month, while nighttime lows can drop as low as single digits.

Huge temperature swings can help to create all kinds of weather, including severe storms. After all, it's a fine line between February 28 and March 1st- and March is one of the biggest months of the year for tornado development. That is why many states recognize "Severe Weather Awareness Week" in the month of February.

And speaking of tornadoes, did you know that the time-tested Fujita Scale of tornado intensity has been revised? The new scale, called the Enhanced Fujita Scale, was placed into effect earlier this month. The major changes involve a re-alignment of estimated winds to better account for different types of structural damage. In the coming weeks, we will examine the revised scale in greater detail in the "Brainstorming" blog.