Jonathan Vigh
@skywatcher77.bsky.social
#NoKings but Christ! I'm PhD atmospheric scientist working on hurricanes and weather- and climate-driven risks. Pro-Constitution, pro-democracy, politically independent. Still taking high precautions against Covid-19. Seneca. Wildfire survivor. Views mine.
Update #4: By the metric of observed maximum flight level winds at 700 mb, 10-sec average, preliminary data suggests that #Melissa is now the TOP Atlantic hurricane in the modern era of aircraft reconnaissance (since ~1977).
October 28, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Update #4: By the metric of observed maximum flight level winds at 700 mb, 10-sec average, preliminary data suggests that #Melissa is now the TOP Atlantic hurricane in the modern era of aircraft reconnaissance (since ~1977).
Update #3: #Melissa is now tied for 9th place for Atlantic hurricanes in the modern era, using the metric of observed maximum flight level winds @ 700 mb, 10-sec average.
October 28, 2025 at 12:52 PM
Update #3: #Melissa is now tied for 9th place for Atlantic hurricanes in the modern era, using the metric of observed maximum flight level winds @ 700 mb, 10-sec average.
By the metric of maximum sustained flight level winds, #Melissa, with 163 kt 700-mb 10-s flight level winds, has now eclipsed Milton, Doran, Hugo, Felix, and Ivan to move up to #9.
October 28, 2025 at 3:42 AM
By the metric of maximum sustained flight level winds, #Melissa, with 163 kt 700-mb 10-s flight level winds, has now eclipsed Milton, Doran, Hugo, Felix, and Ivan to move up to #9.
#Melissa, an extremely powerful and intense hurricane, has made it into the upper echelon of Atlantic hurricanes in the modern aircraft reconnaissance era, based on maximum flight level winds. At 161 kt, it is currently tied at #14 with Ivan (2004), Dorian (2019), and Milton (2024).
October 27, 2025 at 11:02 PM
#Melissa, an extremely powerful and intense hurricane, has made it into the upper echelon of Atlantic hurricanes in the modern aircraft reconnaissance era, based on maximum flight level winds. At 161 kt, it is currently tied at #14 with Ivan (2004), Dorian (2019), and Milton (2024).
Just got my #novavax booster here in TN, thanks to
@publixofficial.bsky.social Pharmacy.
Had discussed with my doctor and got an Rx, but wasn't needed. Have asthma and that was enough. Called ahead to confirm availability and they had 1 dose left!
nuvaxovid.com/vaccine-loca...
@publixofficial.bsky.social Pharmacy.
Had discussed with my doctor and got an Rx, but wasn't needed. Have asthma and that was enough. Called ahead to confirm availability and they had 1 dose left!
nuvaxovid.com/vaccine-loca...
October 7, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Just got my #novavax booster here in TN, thanks to
@publixofficial.bsky.social Pharmacy.
Had discussed with my doctor and got an Rx, but wasn't needed. Have asthma and that was enough. Called ahead to confirm availability and they had 1 dose left!
nuvaxovid.com/vaccine-loca...
@publixofficial.bsky.social Pharmacy.
Had discussed with my doctor and got an Rx, but wasn't needed. Have asthma and that was enough. Called ahead to confirm availability and they had 1 dose left!
nuvaxovid.com/vaccine-loca...
As a #MarshallFire survivor, I'm very glad to see that #BoulderCounty is upgrading their sirens and expanding their use to a variety of hazards, including wildfires. Sirens are particularly helpful for people who are outdoors, like my wife and son were the day of the fire.
August 29, 2025 at 9:43 PM
As a #MarshallFire survivor, I'm very glad to see that #BoulderCounty is upgrading their sirens and expanding their use to a variety of hazards, including wildfires. Sirens are particularly helpful for people who are outdoors, like my wife and son were the day of the fire.
NWS Morristown has issued a #SevereThunderstormWarning for southwestern Hamilton County and parts of Marion county including #Chattanooga and other areas. Torrential rainfall and flooding is also possible. #TNwx
forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatx...
forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatx...
August 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
NWS Morristown has issued a #SevereThunderstormWarning for southwestern Hamilton County and parts of Marion county including #Chattanooga and other areas. Torrential rainfall and flooding is also possible. #TNwx
forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatx...
forecast.weather.gov/wwamap/wwatx...
Update at 5:16 PM: Storms have passed through the Chattanooga area without too many impacts. The complex is propagating slowly south and a bit west from Sewanee through down through South Pittsburg and into N AL with heavy rain.
August 15, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Update at 5:16 PM: Storms have passed through the Chattanooga area without too many impacts. The complex is propagating slowly south and a bit west from Sewanee through down through South Pittsburg and into N AL with heavy rain.
Heads up #Chattanooga and folks in the N AL/SE TN/N GA areas -- isolated to scattered flash flooding is possible this afternoon and evening. For meteorological details, see:
wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/metwatch/met...
#TNwx
wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/metwatch/met...
#TNwx
August 15, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Heads up #Chattanooga and folks in the N AL/SE TN/N GA areas -- isolated to scattered flash flooding is possible this afternoon and evening. For meteorological details, see:
wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/metwatch/met...
#TNwx
wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/metwatch/met...
#TNwx
Thankfully the latest round of storms has not been as heavy as yesterday's downpours. The rain at CHA began at around 12:25 PM yesterday. With the latest addition from today's rain, the airport appears to have reached an unholy 24-hour rainfall total of 6.66". Subject to change. #Chattanooga #TNwx
August 13, 2025 at 4:48 PM
Thankfully the latest round of storms has not been as heavy as yesterday's downpours. The rain at CHA began at around 12:25 PM yesterday. With the latest addition from today's rain, the airport appears to have reached an unholy 24-hour rainfall total of 6.66". Subject to change. #Chattanooga #TNwx
NWS Morristown just issued a Flash Flood Warning for southern Hamilton County, including Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, southern Bradley County, and Marion County. Up to 1" of new rain has already fallen and another 0.5-2" are possible.
forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...
forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...
August 13, 2025 at 3:43 PM
NWS Morristown just issued a Flash Flood Warning for southern Hamilton County, including Chattanooga, Collegedale, East Ridge, southern Bradley County, and Marion County. Up to 1" of new rain has already fallen and another 0.5-2" are possible.
forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...
forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.ph...
11/ If you are caught in a flash flood, move to high ground. Don't try to drive through flood waters. It's simply not worth losing your car, or worse, your life. #TurnAroundDontDrown
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
11/ If you are caught in a flash flood, move to high ground. Don't try to drive through flood waters. It's simply not worth losing your car, or worse, your life. #TurnAroundDontDrown
10/ Looking ahead to tomorrow, the NOAA Weather Prediction Center has highlighted that more heavy rain and flash flooding is possible for the area. Unlike today, we won't be starting from dry conditions, so it won't take nearly as much rain to create more problems.
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
10/ Looking ahead to tomorrow, the NOAA Weather Prediction Center has highlighted that more heavy rain and flash flooding is possible for the area. Unlike today, we won't be starting from dry conditions, so it won't take nearly as much rain to create more problems.
8/ I experienced this event. I was having dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday over near Hamilton Place Mall. During the 2 hours we were at the restaurant, approximately 4" of rain fell, causing a retention pond to overflow and spill water across the street.
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
8/ I experienced this event. I was having dinner with friends to celebrate my birthday over near Hamilton Place Mall. During the 2 hours we were at the restaurant, approximately 4" of rain fell, causing a retention pond to overflow and spill water across the street.
7/ It had been quite dry in the weeks leading up to this event, with D0 (abnormally dry) occurring in parts of Hamilton County. The dry antecedent conditions helped prevent even worse flooding from occurring.
Source: Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...
Source: Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
7/ It had been quite dry in the weeks leading up to this event, with D0 (abnormally dry) occurring in parts of Hamilton County. The dry antecedent conditions helped prevent even worse flooding from occurring.
Source: Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...
Source: Drought Monitor: droughtmonitor.unl.edu/CurrentMap/S...
4/ Putting this into context, this exceeded the 200-year return level for a 6-h precipitation event. (Source: NOAA Atlas 14, which assumes a stationary climate).
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
4/ Putting this into context, this exceeded the 200-year return level for a 6-h precipitation event. (Source: NOAA Atlas 14, which assumes a stationary climate).
3/ Radar indicated that even heavier rain may have fallen southeast of the airport, near East Ridge and Hamilton Place.
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
3/ Radar indicated that even heavier rain may have fallen southeast of the airport, near East Ridge and Hamilton Place.
2/ Total daily rainfall for the event is shown below, with 6.40" at CHA and a broad area of 5-6" totals across Chattanooga, East Ridge, and up toward Harrison.
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
2/ Total daily rainfall for the event is shown below, with 6.40" at CHA and a broad area of 5-6" totals across Chattanooga, East Ridge, and up toward Harrison.
A quick thread on today's extreme rainfall event in #Chattanooga. Lovell Field Airport (CHA) just experienced 6.20" of rain in a 6-hour period.
weather.gov/wrh/timeseri...
1/
weather.gov/wrh/timeseri...
1/
August 13, 2025 at 2:21 AM
A quick thread on today's extreme rainfall event in #Chattanooga. Lovell Field Airport (CHA) just experienced 6.20" of rain in a 6-hour period.
weather.gov/wrh/timeseri...
1/
weather.gov/wrh/timeseri...
1/
9/ If you disagree with slashing weather research, contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and let them know that weather research is critical national infrastructure that is vital for this country's future. www.house.gov/representati...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
9/ If you disagree with slashing weather research, contact your Congressional Representatives and Senators and let them know that weather research is critical national infrastructure that is vital for this country's future. www.house.gov/representati...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
www.senate.gov/senators/sen...
8/ These costs will come in the form of direct damages that could have been avoided, indirect losses from greater uncertainty (e.g., unnecessary evacuations), higher prices for agricultural products due to lower crop yields, higher insurance premiums, etc.
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
8/ These costs will come in the form of direct damages that could have been avoided, indirect losses from greater uncertainty (e.g., unnecessary evacuations), higher prices for agricultural products due to lower crop yields, higher insurance premiums, etc.
7/ Breaking it down on a per capita basis, cutting $1 billion for weather research would save each person about $3, but they can expect to pay somewhere between $30 and 300 a year more compared to what they would have with world-leading weather research behind their forecasts.
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
7/ Breaking it down on a per capita basis, cutting $1 billion for weather research would save each person about $3, but they can expect to pay somewhere between $30 and 300 a year more compared to what they would have with world-leading weather research behind their forecasts.
6/ So while the Administration may be "saving" several hundred million dollars with these cuts, the country is going to pay to the tune of tens of billions of dollars a year in increased weather costs and impacts.
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
6/ So while the Administration may be "saving" several hundred million dollars with these cuts, the country is going to pay to the tune of tens of billions of dollars a year in increased weather costs and impacts.
5/ The value of the other research that is proposed to be cut, such as seasonal forecasting, regional climate centers, research to improve other weather hazards, and the social science research that connects research to people, is likely similar to that of hurricanes.
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
5/ The value of the other research that is proposed to be cut, such as seasonal forecasting, regional climate centers, research to improve other weather hazards, and the social science research that connects research to people, is likely similar to that of hurricanes.
3/ Scientific support for hurricane hunter missions would end and flight hours would be slashed. The data collected by these reconnaissance flights are one of the key reasons why the U.S. has seen marked improvements in hurricane forecasting over the past several decades.
July 1, 2025 at 5:53 PM
3/ Scientific support for hurricane hunter missions would end and flight hours would be slashed. The data collected by these reconnaissance flights are one of the key reasons why the U.S. has seen marked improvements in hurricane forecasting over the past several decades.