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Weather
Forecasting on The Web
George
Miller, Tillamook Bay Community College
Skillbuilding:
- Analyzing cause
and effect
- Critical
reading
- Vocabulary
- Using Internet
based resources
Objectives:
- Navigate
between and within sites
- An ability to
distinguish between the general and
specific
- State wide and
local information.
Description of
Activity:
- Visit a weather
site get the state forecast, look at regional
radar,
- Look at
offshore data, observe road conditions using
road cameras,
- Access local
radar, and compare to visual
observations.
Resources:
- Yahoo
weather
- NOAA marine
observations
- ODOT road
cams,
- The Weather
Channel local radar
LESSON:
The Problem:
Bob Bobson, your brother -in-law, is delivering a
load of oysters from Ye Olde Oyster Plant in
Tillamook, Oregon to the Fancy Schmanzie Restaurant
in Bend, Oregon. Bob knows that the oysters will
stay fresh for six hours. Bob also knows that
weather can slow him down. Last week Bob lost a
load of oysters and almost lost his job. This week
Bob is not going to take any chances. He is going
to check the weather forecast before he goes. Bob
doesn't know how to use a computer so he calls you
for some help. Can you help Bob?
Step #1:
Yahoo Weather will give you a forecast from the
Oregon coast at Astoria. Connect by clicking here
http://weather.yahoo.com/forecast/Astoria_OR_US_f.html
Read the local and state forecast. Next check the
northwest area radar by clicking on the box marked
"radar." Are there any storms in the area? What
color are they on the radar map? The color of the
storm tells how strong the storm is. Look at the
top of the radar map -- the colors on the left are
the weak storms, and the colors on the right are
very powerful storms. What can you tell Bob about
the radar map?
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Step #2: Bob
is worried about a storm blowing in from the sea.
On the Oregon coast the weather can change very
quickly. Strong winds can blow even when there are
no clouds in the sky. Tell Bob you will check the
off shore conditions. You can find out what the
weather is like out in the ocean by clicking here:
http://www.nws.fsu.edu/buoy/nw.html
Find the buoy off the Oregon coast on the map and
click on it. Write down the wind speed and
direction so you can tell Bob what is happening at
sea?
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Step #3: Bob
wonders what the roads will be like. Last week he
got in a big traffic jam in Portland and wet slick
roads at the Santiam Pass slowed him down. You can
tell Bob what the roads are like right now by
looking at them. Click here http://www.odot.state.or.us/region4/cameras.htm#Santiam
Pass
Describe the road conditions.
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Step #4: Bob
wants to know what the weather is like in Bend,
Oregon, so he knows whether to bring his big coat
or just a jacket. You are beginning to get tired of
Bob's questions, but if he loses his job he might
move in with you. Click here http://www.weather.com/twc/homepage.twc
Type "Bend, Oregon" in the forecast box, and look
at the local Doppler radar picture and local
forecast. Tell Bob what to wear and wish him good
luck.
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Click
here for this lesson's "Notes to
Instructors"
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