Batten down the hatches

[Buzzard]

Looks like we might have some weather to watch this afternoon.

http://www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/warni...723cweg-072400

[Finny61]

That's funny I was just watching the weather network and they are preaching sunny day with 20% chance of precip? Idiots, I'm sure it has likely changed now.

[Buzzard]

^^ I used to have a weather conditions/forecast web site and used a very cool program within it to forecast local weather. It was routinely more accurate than the weather network. I'm really not sure how or where they get their forecasts from, (trio of monkeys maybe?) but they don't even come close to the accuracy of Environment Canada's.

[algernon]

This is an alert to the potential development of severe thunderstorms with large hail and damaging winds.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!
Think of my tomatoes!

[Bigtime]

Here is the link to the Environment Canada radar in the Strathmore area:

http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=XSM

If a storm starts building I'm sure the two hail-stop aircraft at the airport will get the call to go up and start seeding the cloud to minimize the size of hail.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Here is the link to the Environment Canada radar in the Strathmore area:

http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=XSM

If a storm starts building I'm sure the two hail-stop aircraft at the airport will get the call to go up and start seeding the cloud to minimize the size of hail.

I know that you're an aviation nerd Bigtime (and I use the term affectionately). Do you happen to have any photos of these hail-stop aircraft? Simple curiosity is all.

Edit: Here's a cool article on the process of seeding clouds for everyone's enjoyment:

http://www.wingsmagazine.com/content/view/1555/38/

The planes are smaller than I expected. I guess size might be detrimental when flying into sketchy areas?

[Locke]

When is this supposed to happen?

[Ducay]

Damn my south facing office, all I see is a misleading, cloudless, blue sky.

[Jimmy Stang]

Originally Posted by Locke

When is this supposed to happen?

Conditions are favourable for the development of severe thunderstorms this afternoon and this evening.

I'm not too worried though. Talking about the weather is an Albertan pastime.

[Cowperson]

Originally Posted by Bigtime

Here is the link to the Environment Canada radar in the Strathmore area:

http://weatheroffice.gc.ca/radar/index_e.html?id=XSM

If a storm starts building I'm sure the two hail-stop aircraft at the airport will get the call to go up and start seeding the cloud to minimize the size of hail.

I'm a big believer in those planes.

One late afternoon at our acreage southwest of the city, we had one of those ugly looking orange clouds over our heads, lightning spewing out every direction . . . . . and the buzz of those little planes over our heads.

A few minutes later, golf-ball and occasional baseball sized hail started to come down and "splooot," the stuff just mushed when it hit the cars and ground.

I'm sure my place would have been totalled without those planes.

That's what I think anyway. Others would say it's witchcraft.

Cowperson

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Jimmy Stang

I know that you're an aviation nerd Bigtime (and I use the term affectionately). Do you happen to have any photos of these hail-stop aircraft? Simple curiosity is all.

The planes are smaller than I expected. I guess size might be detrimental when flying into sketchy areas?

Here's the only photo I've come across lately of one of them here at YYC:



If you look under the right wing you can see the nozzles where they discharge the solution into the clouds.

I can imagine it is a hell of a flying job, bumpy and turbulent as all get out. Real seat of your pants style flying!

[Jimmy Stang]

^ This is purely unscientific and anecdotal, but it seems that hailstorms are less severe than when I was growing up. So maybe the witchcraft is working.

I remember a really bad one in the early nineties that, IIRC, was the most costly disaster in Canadian history until recently (form a $$ perspective). My folks' place needed new shingles, as did many other houses in Calgary.

[Ducay]

I wonder if there are any statistics (aside from farmer's insurance claims) that backs up the success of the seeding projects.

[Rathji]

In really hope it doesn't rain today. I took the bus and forgot my umbrella

[Finny61]

I'd be interested in knowing what range they work in. Are they just protecting the Calgary area or do they try to cover anything coming across the Rockies?

I do believe the seeding works, just need to find some stats.

[mykalberta]

Its mostly there to try to limit insurance claims for around the Calgary area I believe.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by Finny61

I'd be interested in knowing what range they work in. Are they just protecting the Calgary area or do they try to cover anything coming across the Rockies?

I do believe the seeding works, just need to find some stats.

If you read the Wings article that Jimmy Stang linked to it explains the boundary areas of the contract.

Here you go:

Alberta is home to “Hailstorm Alley,” which runs from High River (65 km south of Calgary) to Lacombe (175 km north of Calgary) to west of Rocky Mountain House (160 km northwest of Calgary).

[Mike Oxlong]

DAMN!!!
Finally supposed to get out for a round of golf this afternoon and now this.
I was going to play Speargrass in Carseland and according to the radar that looks to be where it is going to be hit the longest......lovely.

[Raekwon]

I should learn to read it was posted above already. They fly "Hail Alley" basically a strip north of Red Deer down to Lethbridge. here is a link to the company that does the seeding. Always fun to watch the radar maps.

http://www.weathermod.com

Edit: This is paid for by a group of insurance companies

[Bigtime]

I can't their link to the weather radar they use to work. Anyone else having the same problem? Their's is neat since it will show where the aircraft are as they seed the clouds, it also shows the projected storm path.