Tara_Hastings Beyond the Forecast

It's been a pleasure working in Green Bay and at FOX 11.  I'm sad to leave but excited to start a new path in my career.  I'll be the weekend meteorologist for a television station in Toledo, Ohio.  The people here at FOX 11 both on and off camera have been so great to me and I'm lucky to have worked with such fantastic and fun people.  I've made so many friends in my four years here and I know I'll be back for visits.  I appreciate all of the viewers warm wishes. 
So instead of goodbye I'll say "See ya later"
Tara
:)

So I talked with a friend of mine from high school the other day and she said "Hey there's a solar eclipse next week."  I told her yes, but we won't be able to see it.  She was disappointed but called me "the expert." 
First off, a solar eclipse is when the moon covers up the sun. 
So here's the deal...yes there is a solar eclipse tomorrow but it'll only be visible in Northern Canada, China and Siberia.  Click here to find out where the eclipse will be.  So it's not even possible to take a "road" trip to see it, but you can have a cyber view.  Click here to see a live webcast from China. 

Enjoy!
Tara

My heart sank late last night when I saw on our news that a former WWII pilot died.  Her name was Margaret Ringenberg and I had the pleasure of meeting her two years ago at EAA Airventure.  I was there as a speaker for Woman Soar, an event encouraging young women in aviation.  I sat next to her during lunch and was in awe by her life story and her engaging personality.  I learned so much from her just in that half hour or so.  She was a WASP or Women Airforce Service Pilot during WWII and flew in non-combat air missions.  She told me stories about her missions and also how she still flew in races across the globe!  Imagine being in your mid 80's and still being able to do what you love and to share your experiences with other people.  Not only did I find her fascinating so did Tom Brokaw.  He included her in his book "The Greatest Generation." 
After having lunch with Margaret I grabbed my friend and colleague Becky DeVries and told her she HAD to do a story with Margaret and the other WASP.  Both Becky and I learned a lot from her and the other women that day.  They played an important role during WWII and carved a path for other women aviators. 
Before I left I grabbed Margaret and took a picture with her.  I'm so glad I did.
Click here and scroll down to the video to hear Margaret's story.

I was on my way to visit family friends in Iron Mountain, Michigan Saturday night and was in awe of the neat sunset.  I was a bright orange and looked really amazing...of course I didn't have my camera, which often happens when I see really neat things. 
This morning I was looking online and found out the hazy sunset I saw was caused by smoke from fires in Canada. 
One of our viewers sent in a few pictures...look in the photos section of my blog.  Also to see satellite pictures of the smoke click here

Tara

The year is half over and Wisconsin has recorded 25 tornadoes, that's more than the yearly average of 21.  2008 started off a little strange with two tornado touchdowns in January...that's only happened one other time January.  The two twisters hit Kenosha County and one of them was a strong one rated EF 3 on the Enhanced Fujita Scale.  June was a big month.  On the 7th, 12 tornadoes touched down and another 8 hit on the 12th.  That brings June's total to 20. June 2008 is the third most active June in weather history.  June 2005 had 30 tornadoes and June 1993 had 28. 
Remember the January tornadoes?  Click here to read more. 
Click here to read more on the June 2008 tornado.
Tara

We use satellites to help us show where clouds are but they can also pick up changes in the landscape.  There is a fantastic blog showing "birds eye views" of the flooding in central and western Wisconsin.  This first loop shows the same vantage point but different time periods.  The first image is from a sunny day a in early June but the second image is after the heavy rains.  The second image has a few clouds but try and notice the richer blues that pop out against the green vegetation.  Those are rivers and bodies of water.  Water has a much darker appearance on Some of the rivers look like veins. 
This second loop shows how much rain Wisconsin has recorded during the last 7 days.  Some areas in the southern half of the state has seen 6 to 10 inches of rain.  Many areas are already a foot above average for the year.  The scary part is more rain is on the way.

Tara
Link to Satellite Blog

I remember one year ago today our weather team looking at computer models, radar images and knew a tornado was going to hit somewhere in Northeast Wisconsin.  All of the "ingredients" were there for severe weather and even a twister.  It was something usually seen in the plains but not here in Wisconsin.  I remember graduations being cancelled, many outdoor events and people calling the weather office asking if they should cancel events.  While it didn't storm everywhere there was one large storm what we term as a supercell moved through four counties, Langlade, Shawano, Menominee and Oconto.  It spawned a tornado rated an EF3 which means winds were anywhere from 140 to 160 miles per hour. The tornado took down trees in Menominee County and a few days later a "scar" could be seen from satellites.   One place hit hard was Riverview and The Bear Paw Resort.  Meteorologist Doug Higgins was there and talked with the owner about rebuilding during the last year.
Tara

Mars has a visitor...too bad its not me, I love to travel :)  A robot named Phoenix is analyzing samples from its polar region.  Scientists are trying to find evidence of ice.  What's really neat are the pictures and movies of the red planet.  Click here to see a movie of the surface. 
Now if that wasn't neat enough a camera orbiting Mars was able to get a picture of Phoenix landing, you can see the parachute opening.  Click here
Enjoy the view from another planet!
Tara
ps...click here to see how a UWGB professor had a part in the Phoenix.

I've been working on a project behind the scenes for several months now and I'm so excited to say it's finished!!  I've created a DVD for the Door County Maritime Museums newest exhibit called Freshwater Fury.  It's all about a big storm that hit the Great Lakes in November of 1913.  This storm lasted for five days, went through several stages and caught everyone traveling the Great Lakes off guard.  I spent months looking at old weather maps and I even plotted all of the surface data, temperature, wind, pressure etc.  A tedious task but it needed to be done and helped out in the end.  The seven minute presentation explains what it was like to forecast back in 1913 and the storms different stages.  It includes the entire weather team, maps of where the storm was and pictures of the aftermath. 
This presentation is only one part of the exhibit.  You'll be able to walk on a "listing" or leaning ship, send a distress call, and look at some actual artifacts recovered from some of the wrecks.  The exhibit opens on Saturday and runs through mid January 2009.  Check it out!
Click here to see the presentation.

Tara

Early Saturday morning I traded in my business suit for a tool belt and my weather clicker for a hammer all to help frame a house.  I was a part of Habitat for Humanity's Women's Build.  About 15 to 20 of us gals cut 2x6's and hammered in hundreds of nails.  Some of which didn't go in that easy but we all helped each other out. 
The future homeowners Amy and Tino have four children and now they'll be busy helping to build their house too.  Amy and Tino's house is one of 9 that will go up in the next two years all in the same neighborhood.  With many children so close together I'm sure many of them will have instant friends. 
It was so rewarding to spend a day helping a family build their first home.  My right hand is still sore, I have a blister on my finger and my neck is sunburned but it was all worth it and I plan to do it again. 
If you're interested in volunteering for Habitat for Humanity click here to visit its website. 
Click here to see a segment from Good Day Wisconsin.
Tara

This Saturday is Astronomy Day.  The annual event was founded back in 1973 by a member of an Astronomical Association in California.  Now astronomy clubs and organizations across the U.S. participate in the event to show everyone what astronomy is all about. 
The Barlow Planetarium is hosting a variety of events including day and nighttime activities.  Click here to go to its website. 
I did check with another group in Green Bay but it looks like its not doing anything Saturday.  Click here to go to the Neville Public Museums Astronomical Society website.
Enjoy the view!!
Tara