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
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I live not to far from this town. If you ever go to the Mad Greek, try the macaroons. Unbelievable and huge. They do everything BIG in Baker. :)
Jeff
"the depression continues to have a vigorous low-level circulation. Some convective curved bands are trying to develop to the south and west of the center where the SSTs are a little bit higher. It is estimated that the maximum winds are 25 knots. The evolution of a large mid to upper level low currently located to the north of the depression will be crucial for both the intensity and track forecasts. If the low moves as far south as shown by the GFS...it
could induce wind shear and also a northerly component of motion to the depression...resulting in weakening. However...if the depression passes south of the low...the environment could be less hostile..and the ocean is warmer there.
Because the depresion does not have deep convection at this time and is a shallow system...it is moving toward the west-northwest at 14-16 knots steered by the low-level flow. The official forecast calls for a west-northwest track...with a gradual decrease in forward speed...and a modest strenghtening beyond 3 days. This forecast is highly uncertain since there is also a strong possibility that the depression will not survive. The official forecast is in the middle the guidance envelope. The northernmost track is the GFS and the southernmost is the UK model."
Doesn't look too encouraging if your name is nine.
but wonders happen all the time :)
btw everyone here is male?
I find that weather.gov's satellites are much easier to look at.
SURFACE OBSERVATIONS AND SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATE THAT A WEAK LOW
PRESSURE AREA HAS FORMED OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO NEAR THE
COASTS OF ALABAMA AND THE WESTERN FLORIDA PANHANDLE. FURTHER
DEVELOPMENT SHOULD BE SLOW TO OCCUR DUE TO THE PROXIMITY TO LAND.
TD9 looks like its getting its act together a bit more. However, i am now at a computer where i dont have java installed. Damn IU geology library!
Anyway, it is still very raged of course, but it is a sign it has some life. Still has a VERY long way to go before it becomes a tropical storm, but the continued convection at least leaves the possibility open.
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