Author: Ben Castellani (Page 297 of 302)

Ben grew up in southwestern Pennsylvania and holds both a bachelor's and a master's degree in Meteorology, the latter being from CU Boulder. His hometown received nearly three feet of snow from the Storm of the Century back in March of 1993, sparking his initial interest in impactful weather. Ben currently works on remote sensing and data analysis software at NV5 Geospatial Software in Boulder.

What to expect from August in Boulder

July 31, 2015 / Ben Castellani

It’s hard to believe that August is now upon us! Where is the summer going? Thus far, El Niño and an active monsoon pattern have aided in keeping our temperatures relatively cool and wet. July recorded nearly 1″ above normal precipitation, and had an average temperature more than 2 degrees below normal. Should we expect more of the same in August? Read on as we examine Boulder’s climatology and consider the current state of the atmosphere to give our outlook for the next month.

BoulderCAST Podcast Episode #10: The Blob

July 31, 2015 / Ben Castellani

What made for a tricky temperature forecast last Friday? How brutal is the National Climatic Data Center’s online data request process? Who fell overboard when the hosts rafted Royal Gorge last week? What is the “Warm Blob” and how has it been impacting our weather? Listen for find out!

The week ahead: July 27-31, 2015

July 27, 2015 / Ben Castellani

With our last measurable rainfall occurring on July 22, the monsoon seems to have taken a temporary hiatus from our region. Looking ahead, will see a large dome of high pressure build across the region, further loosening the monsoon’s grip on Colorado.

BoulderCAST Podcast Episode #9: Climate Extremes

July 26, 2015 / Ben Castellani

Did you hear about the possibility of life on newly discovered “Earth 2.0”? Was the 2013 Boulder flood drastically enhanced as the result of climate change? Did Joseph come away unscathed from Typhoon Linfa which struck Hong Kong during his trip? Listen for find out!

Fact or Fiction? Early-day rainbows foreshadow rain

July 23, 2015 / Ben Castellani

In this installment of “Fact or Fiction?“, we examine the validity of a proverb that claims morning rainbows are an indicator of bad weather to come. Read on to find out if this one holds up!

BoulderCAST Podcast Episode #8: Sunspots

July 19, 2015 / Ben Castellani

Is 2015 on track to break Boulder’s annual precipitation record? Which of the hosts competed in a triathlon? Will upcoming changes in the sun send us into another Little Ice Age in the 2030s? Listen for find out!

Just how wet has 2015 been?

July 15, 2015 / Ben Castellani

Prolific snow and rain through the spring and early summer has painted an exceedingly green picture across eastern Colorado this year. Grasslands and meadows that are typically an ugly shade of brown by now are tinted in a vibrant emerald hue. As a result, there has barely been a single wildfire across the state this summer. We take a look to see just how extraordinary the amount and consistency of the precipitation in Boulder has been in 2015.

Fact or Fiction? What seamen know about sunsets

July 14, 2015 / Ben Castellani

Centuries ago, before the emergence of BoulderCAST, humans looked to the flora and fauna for hints about what the weather might do. For instance, before it rained, it was often observed that ants move to higher ground, cows lay down, pine cones open up, frogs croak more rapidly, and trees curl their leaves. Over the years, we began to notice other natural clues to upcoming weather, and several weather proverbs developed. From the farmers of Medieval Europe, to the Native Americans that roamed the Southwestern U.S., almost every society and region has them. We will be examining the validity of established meteorological proverbs in a new mini-series where we ask, “Fact or Fiction?”