TODAY'S BIG WEATHER STORY IS...

Friday, August 22, 2014

Donate Blood or Plasma - Get Paid for Plasma

http://www.gofundme.com/shesafightercom
Anyone who would like to do something to help us and can't donate to the fundraiser, please donate blood or plasma. They'll pay you to donate plasma. Shortages at blood banks will eventually affect us.

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge spreading like wildfire through the L-C Valley

By Carol Zinke Published: Aug 20, 2014

Faculty and staff from Walla Walla Community College challenged three local businesses to help out a great cause.

LEWISTON, ID - People around the world are spreading awareness about ALS by taking part in a popular Ice Bucket Challenge.

The viral campaign has already led to record donations for the ALS Association.
The ALS Association is the only national non-profit organization fighting Lou Gehrig's Disease

across the globe. So far this year, they've raised more than $31-million in donations, compared to the almost $2-million raised during this time last year. Leaders from the association said the Ice Bucket Challenge has a lot to do with that. There are more than $600,000 new donors making a difference.

"Obviously we said yes, because this is right up our ally, between supporting community events and doing things that help a good cause," said Inland Cellular spokesperson, Chip Damato. "We enjoy doing them."

"Now that we've been challenged we're also challenging three other businesses," said Damato. "We're challenging KLEW, the Lewiston Tribune and City of Lewiston administration and staff."

Damato said Inland Cellular is making a big donation to ALS. So is the Lewis Clark Valley Chamber of Commerce and King Services in Lewiston.

"I think the main thing is bringing the awareness to ALS, generating a little more hype regarding the disease," said King Services Owner, Paul Markwalter. "Donate what you can and continue to promote the awareness."

All donations go toward helping people with ALS and their families, and research programs focused on the discovery of treatments and a cure for the disease.

"We challenge Cannon's Building Supply, Home Depot and Floor Coverings International...don't forget to donate!" said Markwalter.

You don't need to be challenged to make an impact. You can donate to the ALS Association anytime online.

Monday, August 18, 2014

Rick

Today I am especially thankful for my hardworking husband who has spent his past 3 weekends painting the interior of the house and cleaning all the carpets. Lucky me!

Sunday, August 17, 2014

Could Ebola Antibodies Treat other Ailments?

Fi's mommy's blog August 11, 2014

COULD EBOLA SURVIVORS CURE OTHER ILLS?

Lots of people are concerned about the outbreak of Ebola reaching our country. I read an article last week that mentioned that the Americans who returned with Ebola were given an experimental treatment involving antibodies from mice exposed to parts of the Ebola virus. The reason this makes sense as a treatment is that once antibodies are exposed to a virus, they remember how to fight the virus. This is called adaptive immunity. Adaptive immunity is the reason that vaccines work. Fiona's body doesn't produce enough antibodies to fight infections. It makes me wonder if they took the igg from a patient who recovered from Ebola if it would be a better treatment?

Blog: http://fionafighter.blogspot.com/

Toddler Transplant Fund: http://www.gofundme.com/shesafightercom

Tuesday, August 12, 2014

Perseids - Peaks Tonight! Having trouble looking up? Watch Here

One of the year's most dazzling meteor showers peaks overnight tonight, and you can watch the shooting star display online if clouds or bright city lights ruin your view of the sky.

BEST VIEWING: You'll see shooting stars from anywhere in the sky springing from the NE - best viewing time anywhere in the world will be from 3am to 4am local time.

you can watch webcasts live on Space.com, courtesy of Slooh and NASA.

Why are Hurricanes Rare in Hawaii? Will the NW ever be hit?

by Cliff Mass Friday, Aug 8, 2014

Friday, tropical storm Iselle hit the big island of Hawaii and the much stronger Hurricane Julio was right behind (see infrared satellite image on right).

Julio, the more eastern storm, has a far more defined structure, and possesses a nice eye and substantial spiral rainbands.Tropical storms are relatively rare in Hawaii, although direct hits have occurred, such as the devastating landfall of Hurricane Iniki on Kauai in 1992. FAR more hurricanes occur at similar latitudes in the Caribbean.

A plot of historical hurricanes tracks shows the story clearly (see image). Hurricanes move way north in the Caribbean and eastern Atlantic. The same for the western Pacific. But over the eastern Pacific they die quickly as they approach Hawaii.

What is it about Hawaii that works against their getting strong tropical storms and hurricanes?

The main reasons: the water temperatures are generally too cool and there is often too much vertical wind shear, the change in horizontal winds with height.

Cool sea surface temperatures
Anyone who has taken a vacation in Hawaii knows the story. The waters of the Pacific are relatively cool and you know it when you snorkel or swim. 70s are typical, ten degrees or more cooler than the Caribbean for example. Why do hurricanes care about the temperature of the ocean surface? Because the heat and moisture (evaporation) from the ocean surface is the fuel for hurricane development and maintenance.

Vertical Wind Shear

The change in horizontal wind with height is called vertical wind shear. Such shear is bad for tropical storms, since it tends to distort the vertical structures necessary for the development of these systems.There is often a lot of shear near Hawaii, with easterly trade winds at low levels and westerly winds aloft.

Tropical Storm Iselle dumped heavy precipitation on some of the Hawaiian islands, but it now appears that Julio will move north of the island chain, reducing its impacts substantially (see graphics from the National Hurricane Center)

One place that will NEVER get tropical storms is the Pacific Northwest. Our 50F water is a barrier that will never let them approach our coast.