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Weather Forecast for the Birds Weekly Weather Brief for Migrating Eagles The Weather Channel Forecast for the Week of March 16, 1998 Produced by U.S. Satellite Laboratory Tarrytown, NY Technology for Remote Sensing in Schools Glen Schuster, Meteorologist Josh Danziger, Student Meteorologist satlab@ns.computer.net WEST This week is going to turn out very well for the West after a rough start. The Weather Channel It's a windy day on Monday this week. Gusts are over 30 miles per hour. If that wind is heading North, our eagles will have a perfect tail wind. But if the wind is heading South, then the eagles will have a tough time trying to move North, into the wind. What direction will the wind be blowing? Let's take a look. The Weather Channel In this map for Monday morning, You can see there is a low pressure to the east of where our eagles are located. Air around a low pressure rotates counterclockwise. Knowing which direction the air flows around a low pressure system, which direction will the winds be blowing? After that, the week seems stable. Partly cloudy to sunny skies will prevail for most of the week from about Wednesday. Starting Wednesday, it looks like our eagles are going to have ideal conditions for moving North for a few days at least up to Friday, and possibly into Saturday. Review of Last Week Although the weather has cooperated very well with light winds and sunshine, we are still waiting for the birds to move North. Compared to the weather the eagles have been experiencing over the past month, this past week has been like living in Southern California. We know that the eagles have been behaving every way but normally in the West, but why the eagles would not move? Get ready everyone...this might be the week? EAST Review of Last Week Between March 2-March 14, our friend, Eagle #F43 has completed a trek of almost 500 miles. It appears over half of the trip was travelled over a 72 hour period (Weds. March 11-Saturday March 14). Let's investigate the weather conditions! As we predicted last week, the sun was out for Thursday and Friday giving possible conditions for thermals to develop! Even though it was very cold those days, when we look at the satellite data we discover some very interesting information. Monday-early Weds. (3/9- 3/11) Our Eagle #F43 was seemingly heading slowly northeast. The weather wasn't very good during this time. The eagle continued to make slow progress however, despite an abundance of clouds and showers. Travels of Eagle #F43 Click to see full map. Wednesday -Saturday (3/11-3/14) It appears over half of the 500 miles over the past two weeks was travelled over this 72 hour period! Let's investigate the weather conditions! Cold and sunny was the rule. Temperatures were quite nippy, around 20 degrees on Thursday with sun. But, on Friday the 13th, the eagles felt winds in the region (New England) light and out of the southwest and south. March 13 am March 13 pm The morning maps showed COLD temperatures (3/13, 12Z (7:00 am EST). Temperatures Friday made it above freezing with the sunny conditions. *The March sun is bright, the days are getting longer, and the strong solar energy radiates off the earth for thermals to develop, and for eagles to glide. Interestingly, the winds aloft (winds above the surface a couple thousand feet) were generally from the West . Is that why the eagle made soared off toward the the east instead of due North? Let's keep a close eye on the winds and the other birds this upcoming week. This Week Each day we will closely monitor the weather. On what days will the eagles travel most? Come midweek--there will not be any sunshine for days! It will be interesting to see whether any movement will occur then. The tail end of the data show #F42 & #F44 might have just begun to go North. Is this the week, or is it just a fluke? The start of the week will certainly welcome the best weather for the East. Notice how sunny the skies are on Monday. The Weather Channel There is also going to be more solar heat baking the earth to assist the formation of thermals. This weather should carry over into Tuesday with just a few more clouds rolling toward the Northeast. Why are those clouds rolling in? Because the mess in the southern part of the nation you can see on the map is going to be heading towards our friends. The front edge of the storm will arrive on Wednesday bringing overcast skies and a few sprinkles. Thursday, the storm passes slowly over the entire Northeast. It will be moving so slowly that it will not get out of here until probably Saturday! Even after that, some lingering clouds could hang around for the weekend. What looks like the best days to move for our eagles? Through Tuesday it looks good, but do not rule out the winds being a factor for the movement of our eagles after the storm clears out by the weekend. Get Ready for the Migration Keep a close eye on the weather maps and forecasts to the North while waiting for the eagles to migrate this spring. Here are recommended Weather Maps for Canada Weather Map for Today 48 Hour Weather Map Forecasts for Canadian Cities Produced by U.S. Satellite Laboratory Tarrytown, NY Technology for Remote Sensing in Schools Glen Schuster, Meteorologist Josh Danziger, Student Meteorologist satlab@ns.computer.net