Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

World's Largest Weather Instrument
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 5:05 PM GMT en Agosto 05, 2005 +0
If you've driving the stretch of I-15 between Los Angeles and Las Vegas and get off at the Baker exit near Death Valley, you have the opportunity to see the ultimate tacky weather object--the world's tallest thermometer. Rising a full 134 feet above the dusty streets of Baker (population: 700),
the working thermometer is the brainchild of Baker resident Willis Herron, who spent $700,000 erecting the huge instrument. In an article in the June 2005 issue of the Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society, Willis says: "Awww, I know it's tacky. But I also know people won't be able to pass it more than four or five times without saying, 'What is that?'". And hopefully pull off the expressway to take a look--and buy a burger at the Mad Greek restaurant or a slice of strawberry pie at the original Bun Boy restaurant, now owned by Steve Carter, whom Herron sold the thermometer to in 2000.

The thermometer weighs 76,812 pounds, sports 4900 light bulbs, and is held together by 125 cubic yards of concrete--much of this added after 70-mph winds snapped the thermometer in half shortly after it was built in 1991. The 134 foot height is symbolic of the 134 degree maximum temperature recorded in Death Valley in 1913--the all-time record for North America.

Dr. Jeff Masters
The world's tallest thermomerter! (robsters)
Located in Baker, California, 109 degrees
The world's tallest thermomerter!
Categories: Humor
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501. 147257 2:33 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
but you see the wave located north of bahamas
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
502. 147257 2:35 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
maybe the wave stil moving west right now and you know that Frances toke almost the same path http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/at200406.asp
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
503. STORMTOP 2:37 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
yes it doesnt look very impressive..its going to disipate like the one close to s carolina did..everyone thought that would be irene yesterday..go back and look at the posts...i told them it was nothing just like this tropical dep 9..i think it has the nhc fooled..
504. littlepaleangel 2:49 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
and we have Irene! whoo hoo.
505. 147257 2:51 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Irene excist?
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
506. littlepaleangel 2:53 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Yep they just upgrade 9 to Irene. check out the tropical page and the discussion.
507. littlepaleangel 2:54 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
They dont expect much but still she gotta name.
508. 147257 2:54 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
gimme youre site i am refreshing it all the time dont see it
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
509. littlepaleangel 2:55 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
here ya go

http://www.weatherunderground.com/tropical/at200508.disc.html
510. 147257 2:57 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Tropical Depression number 9 becomes Tropical Storm Irene

As of 11 a.m. AST Tropical Depression number 9 was upgraded to Tropical Storm Irene; this is the earliest that there has been nine tropical storms on record. Irene was located near 20.5 north and 45.5 west or about 1160 miles east of the northern Leeward Islands. Irene is moving towards the west-northwest at 9 mph and has maximum sustained winds of 40 mph. The minimum central pressure is estimated to be at 1005 millibars or 29.68 inches. Further strengthening will be slow to take place due to the unfavorable upper level wind environment. However, some models suggest that in coming days, upper levels winds will become more favorable. A general track off to the northwest is expected over the next several days.
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
511. 147257 2:59 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
thats harvey littlepaleangel but youre still right this is the nine named Storm of the season
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
512. HurricaneKing 3:03 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Irene!
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
513. DauphinIslandDunes 3:04 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
9 for 9! Fortunately no clear threat to land - at least not yet - it is even expected to go east and north of Bermuda on NHC projected path.
514. Raysfan70 3:07 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
can someone help me here watching the satellite on NHC for IRENE. It looks to me as if the center has reformed below 20 again. I zoomed in on it but I just maybe seeing things here.
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
515. 147257 3:07 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
THE 2005 HURRICANE SEASON CONTINUES ON ITS RECORD-SETTING PACE.
IRENE IS THE EARLIEST NINTH NAMED STORM ON RECORD...BREAKING THE
OLD MARK BY 13 DAYS. NORMALLY BY THIS DATE ONLY TWO NAMED STORMS
HAVE FORMED. damn this is worse
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
516. 147257 3:08 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
this is the second record that we broke this season how many records we will break i dont hope we break the highest gust or highest winds record if i'm right is the highest wind record 190 mph
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
517. HurricaneKing 3:08 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
No its still above 20
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
518. 147257 3:09 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
raysfan70 i will take a look
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
519. 147257 3:09 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
ok then i dont take a look :)
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
520. HurricaneKing 3:10 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
It might have 2 centers but the one I see is above 20
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
521. 147257 3:10 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
now already waiting for TD 10 :-)
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
522. Raysfan70 3:11 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
okay just wondering here but another STORM. LOL
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
523. HurricaneKing 3:11 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
The upper level low?
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
524. 147257 3:12 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
but this is really concerning me we broke already 2 records :/
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
525. Raysfan70 3:13 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
if that is true how do they figure out which one to go by then? By Convection?
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
526. STORMTOP 3:13 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
I DONT KNOW WHAT EVERYONE IS GETTING EXCITED ABOUT ITS GOING OUT TO SEA WITH THE FISH....this will be the only game in town this week so enjoy it while you can....
527. HurricaneKing 3:15 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
By the most organized center?
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
528. 147257 3:15 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
whats stormtop saying now?
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
530. Raysfan70 3:16 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Stromtop it is just giving everyone something to talk about and learn from, just people chatting.
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
531. 147257 3:19 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
stormtop you was the one who said it would die
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
532. DauphinIslandDunes 3:21 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
What about the disturbed weather around the Bahamas. It looks like it's got some potential. What do y'all think?
533. STORMTOP 3:22 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
once again i said it was going out to sea many days ago and i havent changed my forecast..this will not reach hurricane force to much shear in its way and the temps of the water are for to cooler in that area......irene may make it up to 55 mph but then she should be swept out to sea with her brother harvey....
534. 147257 3:23 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
i;m saying since yesterday that we should watch it yes i think it could be potential
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
535. STORMTOP 3:26 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
it will fizzle just like the other one did by the carolinas...
536. 147257 3:27 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
btw harvey still alive i thought it would be death by now :/ but still winds to 50 mph
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
537. 147257 3:28 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
ok i agree with that stormtop
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
538. HurricaneKing 3:28 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
what about the bahamas? Which one is everyone talking about? Dizzy so dizzy.
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
539. STORMTOP 3:31 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
ill be back on when they have more serious activity affecting the us..enjoy this week unless something forms in the gulf...have a great week guys and get along ....lol
540. 147257 3:33 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
finnaly some rest i bet he will be back before the 7 days past :) because a wave develop and he didnt predicted that :-)
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
541. 147257 3:37 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
cool a M clouds above my island look above venezuela and you will see a letter M
http://vortex.accuweather.com/hurricane/regions.asp?anim=LOOP&type=IR&large=1&site=ATL®ion=ATLE
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
542. richandcoup 3:49 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
so where exactly is the center of this storm, from the IR and WV loops, it looks to be below 20 degrees with convection around it except to the SE...that doesn't sound right

http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/float2-wv-loop.html
543. 147257 3:51 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
wasnt it somewhere else?
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
544. HurricaneKing 3:53 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Link


Look here the center is in the corner of the screen.
Center around 21n 46w.
Member Since: Julio 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
545. richandcoup 3:55 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
wow, OK...so what is that area of convection that is circling around 19.5n 43.5w a different LLC?
546. Raysfan70 3:56 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
hey guys just a note, local station here in Tampa just reported that computer models are suggesting that there could be something forming during the week near South America wave is close to theland now. Any thoughts on that one.
And if you look earlier I thought there was more of a circulation below 20.
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
548. Raysfan70 4:05 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
I a in Tampa 147257 just reporting what they said at 11:50 it is are local 24 hour news here.
Member Since: Julio 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
549. SEFL 4:05 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
W-CENTRAL ATLANTIC TROPICAL WAVE IS TILTED FROM SSW TO NNE NEAR
SURINAME TO 18N54W MOVING W 10-15 KT. SATELLITE IMAGES SHOWS
TWO ENERGY CENTERS WITH THE WAVE.. ONE AT THE NORTHERN END NEAR
16N AND OTHER ONE NEAR THE ITCZ S OF 10.5N. MOISTURE ASSOCIATED
WITH THE NORTHERN PART OF THE WAVE SHOULD ENTER THE SOUTHERN
LEEWARD ISLANDS LATE TODAY AT ABOUT THE LATITUDE OF GUADELOUPE.
THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE WAVE IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE
WINDWARD ISLANDS OVERNIGHT WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS/TSTMS EXPECTED
OVER THAT AREA THROUGH MON. THE GFS EVEN SUGGESTS A WEAK LOW
COULD SPIN UP IN THE S PORTION OF THE WAVE BY THE EARLY PART OF
THE WEEK. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW TSTMS ARE FROM
15.5N-17.5N BETWEEN 52W-58W WITH WIDELY SCATTERED TSTMS FROM
8N-11N BETWEEN 51W-58W.
550. 147257 4:06 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
Thnx Raysfan the storm got 4 days before i'm gone and i rather home then stuck in the middle of no where
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
551. 147257 4:08 PM GMT en Agosto 07, 2005    
if that 10.5 N develops is the chance big it hit my island
Member Since: Agosto 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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