Cold, Snow Will Fade to Spring Warmth

That harsh blast of cold air that changed rain to snow here in the Northeast Tuesday night will be quick to leave.  Rain changed to wet snowflakes Tuesday night as temperatures quickly plummet into the 30s. But, as quick as the cold blast came in, it will quickly bounce back.  The jet stream will retreat back to the north Wednesday and Thursday, which will allow some of the southern warmth to build back northward.  Highs will rebound into the mid-50s in New York City by Thursday.

Fun Weather Facts!

In light of the random and unusual weather conditions many area across the United States have been experiencing of late, enjoy these Fun Weather Facts!

1. In 1859, the largest known geomagnetic storm struck the Caribbean, causing an aurora and telegraphs could even operate without a power source.

2. Circumhorizontal arcs (loosely known as fire rainbows) are the rarest of all naturally occurring atmospheric phenomena.

3. The winter of 1912 was so cold that Niagara Falls froze over.

4 .Most people notice a distinctive smell in the air after it rains. That smell after rain is caused by bacteria called 'actinomycetes'.

5. There is a persistent storm in Venezuela that produces lightning 140 to 160 nights a year, 10 hours per day and up to 280 times per hour and has been going since at least the 16th century.

6. There is enough energy in one bolt of lightning to power a home for two weeks!

7. The Earth sees about 760 thunderstorms every hour, scientists have calculated.

8. Carbon dioxide is a trace gas and by itself will produce little warming. Also, as CO2 increases, the incremental warming is less, as the effect is logarithmic so the more CO2, the less warming it produces.

9. Temperatures have been cooling since 2002, even as carbon dioxide has continued to rise.

10.  The winter of 1932 in the US was so cold that Niagara falls froze completely solid!

11.  The speed of a typical raindrop is 17 miles per hour.

12.  Snowiest city in the U.S. : Blue canyon, California.

13.  Rain contains vitamin B12.

14.  Oak trees are struck by lightning more than any other tree.

15.  Moist air holds heat better than dry air.

16. Men are 6 times more likely to be struck by lightning than women!

17.  It snows more in the Grand Canyon than it does in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

18.  It is possible to see a rainbow at night!

19.  In ten minutes, a hurricane releases more energy than all the world's nuclear weapons combined!

20. Dirty snow melts faster than clean.

21.  Contrary to popular belief, lightning travels from the ground upwards not from the sky downwards.

22.  9 out of 10 lightning strike victims survive!

23.  -40 degrees Celsius is equal to -40 degrees Fahrenheit.

Top 7 ways to save money on your Home Insurance

1. Improve your credit score

Insurance providers, not only those who specialize in homeowner's insurance, now give weight to a customer's credit rating when charging the rate on their policies. Insurers look at the number of claims their clients will file in one year and then price their policies based on how much will be enough to cover the minimum amount of liability. Based on several studies, consumers with low credit scores are more likely to file claims than those with higher scores. Hence, consumers with higher ratings get the better terms and rates. To get you the better price, the following steps will improve your credit score by as much as 30 points and in as little as 30 days. These tips are recommended by the Budgeting section of The Nest:

-          Reduce your total outstanding debt.

-          Be on time with payments; always avoid late payments.

-          Ensure that your credit report is error-free. Immediately dispute any discovered error.

-          Put off any new charges on credit cards until the next billing cycle.

2. Purchase all your insurance needs from one same company

Many insurers offer package discounts. Rather than buying your auto, home and other policies from separate companies, bundling them up and buying them from one company can save up to thousands of dollars. Being a repeat customer by renewing with the same company should also save you money.

3. Increase your home security and lower your risk

Stronger locks, a burglar alarm system, shatterproof glass, stronger roofing materials, storm shutters, etc. - these not only make your home more secure and disaster proof, they can also qualify you for discounts. Increasing home security means you are a lesser risk in the eyes of the insurer.

4. Opt for paperless billing and payment

Some providers will charge their customers for paper billing and those who send their payment checks via mail. Some offer discounts to customers who opt for automatic deduction on their credit or checking accounts.

5. Update your home

If your home is an old one, updating its features can lower the level of risk that an insurer will attach to the home. Updating wiring and plumbing systems, for example, can get you discounts on your premium. The same applies to home fixtures, appliances and similar objects.

6. Being a senior citizen can get you discounts

Homeowners who are fifty-five years old or older may qualify for discounts on their premiums. Many insurance providers give out discounts to the elderly. There are also companies who offer lower rates to retirees who are likely to spend a great deal of their time in their homes and, hence, would be able to attend to a problem and probably prevent it from causing damage.

 

7. Make yearly appraisals

Do this not only on the home itself but also on personal items covered by your policy. The value of homes and possessions do change over a period of time. We have witnessed how many homes saw their values take a plunge at the height of the housing crisis. This is why a yearly appraisal is necessary. To reflect the true worth of the items covered by policy.

 

 

                                   

 

 

Will this Hurricane Season be a Bad One? - Colorado State University Predicts Below-Average Activity in 2014

The 2014 hurricane season is expected to have a below average number of named storms and hurricanes, according to Dr. Phillip J. Klotzbach and Dr. William Gray of Colorado State University (CSU).

In its annual preseason forecast released Thursday, the team expects a total of nine named storms, three hurricanes and one major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) in the Atlantic Ocean basin. This forecast is below the long-term average of 12 named storms, six hurricanes and three major hurricanes each season.

The forecast from CSU calls for fewer named storms and hurricanes than the forecast released by The Weather Channel about two weeks ago. That forecast called for 11 named storms, five hurricanes and two major hurricanes, which is slightly below the long-term averages.

These forecasts cannot predict the details of any potential landfalls. Therefore, residents of the coastal United States should prepare each year no matter the forecast.

 

 

2014 hurricane season forecasts from The Weather Channel (TWC) and Colorado State University (CSU) compared to average (AVG).