OTSEGO AND DELAWARE COUNTY, NY WEATHER FORECAST

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Today: Unlimited sunshine and mild. High: 45-50.

Tonight: Mostly clear and cold. Low: 25-30.

Wednesday: Mostly sunny and continued mild. High: 48-53.

Wednesday Night: Partly cloudy and not as cold. Low: 32-37.

Thursday: Sunshine followed by increasing cloudiness and mild. High: 50-55.

Friday: Occasional rain and mild. High: 50-55.

Saturday: The chance of rain showers in the morning, then mostly cloudy and mild. High: 47-52.

Sunday: Variable cloudiness and mild with the chance of rain showers. High: 45-50.

Monday: Partly sunny, breezy and mild. High: 45-50.

Daily Weather Gazette

Monday, March 8th:

JUST ANOTHER MARCH SPECTACULAR! A northwesterly flow continued around a huge low over Labrador, but there was no cold air to the north, and temperatures were well above normal across New York and New England. As high pressure settled over Lake Michigan and a cold front dipped southward from northern New York, skies were sunny in the Western Catskills with highs in the upper 40's and dew points in the teens. Following the cold front, winds shifted to the northwest but temperatures stayed well above freezing. The high was 56 degrees at Boston and New York City. Ahead of a developing storm in the southern Rockies, a line of heavy thunderstorms extended from central Oklahoma to the Dallas-Fort Worth area, a further indication that the spectacular weather would continue in the Western Catskills.

INTERPRETIVE WEATHER HIKE AT ROCKEFELLER STATE PARK IN POCANTICO HILLS, NEW YORK

Wind Direction and Barometric Pressure

Spring 2010

Presented by Mark Hanok, meteorologist on WRCR in Rockland County, NY

OBJECTIVES

1. To increase scientific literacy through integrating the essential elements of meteorology with the Earth sciences, mathematics, geography, natural history, and language arts, in a way that is immediately relevant to elementary and middle school students.

2. To explore the interrelationships between micro-climates, topography, and eco-systems.

3. To build an understanding of and appreciation for our planet and its atmosphere, through interactive learning and guided discovery.

This workshop meets the following New York State learning standards:

The Arts

Standard 2: Knowing and using arts materials and resources

English Language Arts

Standard 3: Language for critical analysis and evaluation

Standard 4: Language for social interaction

Mathematics, science, and technology

Standard 1: Analysis, inquiry, and design

Standard 3: Mathematics

Standard 4: Science

Standard 6: Interconnected - common themes

Standard 7: Interdisciplinary problem-solving

Social Studies

Standard 1: History of the United States and New York

Standard 3: Geography

PROGRAM

1. Introduction to weather: Uneven heating of the Earth’s surface caused by differences in the angle of the sun and the intensity of incoming solar radiation from the equator to the north and south poles, causes weather. Clouds provide important clues about the weather; we can forecast the local weather by looking at the sky and observing the wind direction.

2. Interpretive weather hike:

A. The theme is interrelationships as we go on a hike on the Overlook trail. This habitat is an upland hardwood forest, and the trees reflect this eco-system. The elevation is higher, so it’s a cooler location. We can look down at Swan Lake and see that it’s at a lower elevation. We’re looking east toward Swan Lake, and there are no hills blocking the wind, so from this location on the Overlook trail, the highest winds are usually from the east and northeast. On the opposite, or east side of Swan Lake, facing west, the highest winds are usually from a westerly direction. When we arrive at Swan Lake, we explore two very distinct micro-climates: the south and north sides of the lake. The north side is the warmer side since it faces south and gets the most direct sunlight; the south shore faces north, and gets cooler north and northwest wind, while facing away from the direct sunlight.

B. Majestic rock outcroppings overlook this very diverse landscape like sentinels. They are relics of the last Great Ice Age. These unique rock formations create their own micro-climates, blocking cold north and northwest winds. We’ll discover how prevailing west and northwest winds downsloping off the Catskill Mountains and Hudson Highlands, can bring mild, dry weather to Rockland County, while lake-effect snow showers occur in central New York.

3. Building weathervanes: Students work in small groups and construct weathervanes using a variety of simple materials. Blacks of wood 3" square, are given to each student and the different directions are written on the block of wood: N, NE, E, SE, S, SW, W, NW. Wooden dowels are placed in the hole in the center of each block. Next, students cut the weathervane arrows out of cardboard and staple to a straw; the straw is then placed over the dowel in the center of the block. Each student can draw pictures on the arrows.

4. Using weathervanes to determine wind direction: First we find north. The sun rises in the east and sets in the west; the sun moves from east to south to west. In the middle of the day the sun is in the southern sky. Look in the opposite direction to find north. Facing north, east is to the right and west is to the left. One group of students can go to the north side of an open field while the other group goes to the south end of the field. Students can hold the weathervanes in the wind, and find the wind direction. In this way, we discover important differences in wind velocity and temperature from one side of the field to the other side of the field.

5. Conclusion: Students look at the relationship between wind direction and the local landscape. We’ll discuss the links between topography and micro-climates. Finally, students draw pictures that highlight some of the unique characteristics of the local landscape.

The same format of this workshop can be applied to any park or nature center, for the general public or any elementary or middle school group. For additional information or to schedule a weather workshop, contact Mark Hanok, at weathergazette@aol.com or call WRCR radio at (845) 624-1300.

TUTORING IN GRADES K-12

Mark Hanok, Interpretive meteorologist

Certified teacher

Earth science

middle grades math

K-12 reading

K-6 elementary

Masters Degree in Literacy

Tutoring and homework help for elementary and middle grades students in the following regions:

Rockland, Westchester, Putnam and Dutchess Counties, New York

Otsego, Delaware, and Chenango Counties, New York

Fairfield and Litchfield Counties, Connecticut

Berkshire County, Massachusetts

Mark will tutor students in any subject area in grades K-8, and Earth science grades 6-12. One-hour tutoring sessions are held once per week during the school year, at a local library or at the home of the student.

For complete information and a list of local references, e-mail westerncatskillsmath@gmail.com. Or call WRCR radio at (845) 624-1300.

Mark Hanok's qualifications are very impressive. Mark's professional work experience and outstanding teaching qualifications in elementary and middle school mathematics and science; innovative, interactive approach to teaching these subjects; exceptional classroom management skills; and the fact that I very much enjoy working with elementary school students and as a team player with other teachers; adds up to an excellent match for an Earth science, middle school math, or K-12 reading teaching position at a school in New York, Connecticut, or Massachusetts, where Mark is a certified teacher. Mark uses a teaching model that favors integrating math, science, social studies, and language arts, with real world connections.

Currently Mark is writing a book on hands-on math activities for sixth through eighth graders, entitled Middle School Math and Weather Connections. I presented a seminar Representing Middle School Math Concepts through Hands-On Weather Workshops, at the Association of Math Teachers of New York State annual conference in Saratoga Springs in October 2006, at the NCTM Annual Meeting and Exposition in Atlanta in March 2007, and at the Association of Math Teachers of New York State annual conferences in Rochester in October 2007 and in Rye, NY in November 2008.

From November 2006 through February 2007, Mark was employed at Woodlands Middle School in Hartsdale, NY, for an interim position. He worked with 154 students in nine different seventh and eighth grade classes, and this proved to be a very rewarding teaching experience. Using a teaching model that favors integrating middle school math, science, and English language arts, Mark worked with students who required special instruction in order to pass the New York State middle school math assessments.

For many years Mark has served as a meteorologist in Rockland County, New York, including Radio Rockland WRCR in Nanuet, NY, since 1999. He's been the editor of the Western Catskills Weather Gazette since 1991, and the Cooperstown Weekly Weather Column since 1995.

During the past ten years Mark has conducted 220 very successful, hands-on weather workshops for elementary, middle, and high school students in New York State and Connecticut. Mark has presented these workshops at schools in rural, suburban, and urban settings, including working with the New York City Parks Department at parks and recreation centers in the Bronx. He also has presented these unique programs at environmental education centers in Westchester County and in Connecticut. The workshops weave together some essential elements of Earth science, with mathematics, geography, and natural history, in a way that is immediately relevant to elementary and middle school students.

Mark Hanok looks forward to working at your school. To schedule an interview, contact Mark at (607) 988-6391, or e-mail westerncatskillsmath@gmail.com.

CUSTOMIZED WEATHER SERVICE FOR HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS ANYWHERE IN THE NORTHEAST

ONE YEAR CONTRACT - July 1 - June 30

1. Detailed sky conditions for each day and night for the next seven days, including cloud cover, and the times of days with the most and the least amount of sunshine.

2. Precipitation forecasts for the next seven days, including the estimated times that rain, mixed precipitation or snow will begin and end, and what type of precipitation is likely at certain times of the day and night.

3. Specific temperatures at your location at different times of the day and night, for the next seven days, including minimum and maximum temperature forecasts.

4. Specific wind forecasts, including wind direction and velocity for each day and night, for the next seven days.

5. Relative humidity and dew point temperatures for each day and night, for the next seven days.

Weather services described above, e-mailed every day of the year:

$1950.00

To subscribe to this unique weather service, or for additional information, e-mail westerncatskillsmath@gmail.com, or call WRCR radio at (845) 624-1313.