Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

World's Largest Weather Instrument
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 5:05 PM GMT on August 05, 2005 +0
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
The world's tallest thermomerter!
Categories: Humor
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351. cjnew 9:17 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
i dont think anyone think the gulf storm will do much
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 84 Comments: 2779
352. turtlehurricane 9:42 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
That upper low that is starting to form bands is interesting
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
354. OneDay 9:49 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
evolution...are you talking about the really pronounced spin just n of Hispaniola? If so, I was looking at that too. Even if it doesn't develop into anything tropical, it does look cool on vis sat.
Member Since: July 13, 2005 Posts: 35 Comments: 929
355. turtlehurricane 9:49 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
i mean the one near the bahamas
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
356. OneDay 10:01 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Mr. Gregory's blog has some good info on the disturbance just E of the Bahamas (and N of Hispaniola.)
Member Since: July 13, 2005 Posts: 35 Comments: 929
357. 147257 10:02 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
stil no TD 10
Member Since: August 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
358. 147257 10:08 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
lukkily Florida got again thunderstorm
Member Since: August 2, 2005 Posts: 7 Comments: 68
359. turtlehurricane 10:25 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
its like a tropical storm over here, except with lightning
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
360. STORMTOP 10:31 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
lol you all just dont listen td 10 is a good ways away until the african dust and the trade winds on the coast settle down...that wont be for at least another 2 weeks..this will be the most boring week in the tropics unless something forms in the nw caribbean or gulf of mexico..you might see impressive waves coming off the african coast but the farther they go west the weaker they will become ..the dust will drain all the moisture out of the systems...
361. HurricaneKing 10:33 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
tropical storms have lightning.
Member Since: July 6, 2005 Posts: 71 Comments: 2430
362. STORMTOP 10:34 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
tampa is about to get bombed lol
363. turtlehurricane 10:36 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
i know but, not this much lightning
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
364. turtlehurricane 10:38 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
stormtrop, this week is definitely very active. 2 declared cyclones and 3 potential ones
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
365. STORMTOP 10:40 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
the weak low is moving north east over alabama..thats nice it will leave louisiana nice and hot and dry...great fishing weather...i might just go out tomorrow and catch me some reds..
366. STORMTOP 10:42 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
lol where at turtle.....
367. turtlehurricane 10:48 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
1. Low in Gulf forecasted to drift south over water, has thunderstorms. It could form especially with the water temps.
2. Low near Georgia with thunderstorms. Its over warm water. Low shear forecasted. Why couldnt it form?
3. Upper low trying to be tropical north of Hispanolia. its over warm waters. It could form.
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
368. STORMTOP 10:48 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
530 PM EDT SAT AUG 6 2005

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER IS ISSUING ADVISORIES ON TROPICAL
STORM HARVEY...LOCATED ABOUT 520 MILES EAST-NORTHEAST OF
BERMUDA...AND ON TROPICAL DEPRESSION NINE...LOCATED ABOUT 1305
MILES EAST OF THE NORTHERN LEEWARD ISLANDS.

A WEAK SURFACE LOW IN THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO IS ASSOCIATED WITH
A NON-TROPICAL UPPER-LEVEL LOW. THIS SYSTEM IS GENERATING SHOWERS
AND THUNDERSTORMS OVER PORTIONS OF THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO
AND FLORIDA PANHANDLE...BUT TROPICAL CYCLONE DEVELOPMENT IS NOT
EXPECTED.

CLOUDINESS AND SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A LOW PRESSURE AREA CENTERED
ABOUT 160 MILES SOUTHEAST OF CHARLESTON SOUTH CAROLINA HAS MOVED
LITTLE DURING THE DAY. THIS ACTIVITY HAS BECOME DISORGANIZED AND
DEVELOPMENT...IF ANY...WILL BE SLOW TO OCCUR.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL STORM FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED THROUGH
SUNDAY.

FORECASTER AVILA
now where is the potential for 3 ,more storms turtle..this week will be very boring in the tropics...
369. STORMTOP 10:55 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
turtle the low in the gulf is already inland over alabama...the low near georgia is very disorganized and little if any development will happen....and your upper low turtle if you know anything about how storms form you are loking at a good week for that to even come down to the surface...you are in for one boring week turtle...
370. turtlehurricane 11:00 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
stormtrop i said its possible, and it is. the low is not over land entirely by the way and will probably reform near convection in the gulf
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
371. STORMTOP 11:04 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
lol ok turtle should i start boarding up my windows? turtle will i have anything to worry about from this?
372. cjnew 11:07 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
stormtop thankyou for making something clear for me.
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 84 Comments: 2779
373. turtlehurricane 11:07 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
stormtrop, everything u say is wrong so wat credibility do u have to put down other peoples forecasts?
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
374. turtlehurricane 11:16 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
well stormtrop if u dont answer i have proved my point
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
375. Raysfan70 11:17 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
all the bad rain heading towards Tampa is gone no heavy rain no gust of wind. All is gone. Thought I would let you know Stormtop. Just as usual they all disapate before they get to us.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
376. turtlehurricane 11:19 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
has anyone noticed the big squall line emnating from the gulf towartds south florida? wat does anyone think of that
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
377. Raysfan70 11:23 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Here in Tampa and all the banding that you see on Radar is not making it shore breaking apart.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
378. turtlehurricane 11:25 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
ya, its kind of weird though. squall lines dont usually form over water like that even though there is a surface low. Its too bow echo like.
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
379. STORMTOP 11:26 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
OK TURTLE IM NOT DISAGREEING WITH YOU IM ASKING YOU SHOULD I BOARD UP MY WINDOWS FOR THIS...
380. EmmyRose 11:28 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Hey y'all
Well it seems quiet on my side of the Gulf -
every afternoon we've had nice storms but nothing to get
excited about
TD 9? what a name - better than Gert I suppose
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
381. turtlehurricane 11:28 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
my point has been proved
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
382. STORMTOP 11:29 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
thats great news ray i know that makes you happy....well i have some more good news for you it looks like we are going to have about a 2 week rest from any storm threatning the good old usa....that should give you a sigh of relief...
383. Raysfan70 11:32 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Thanks Storm Top but still going to watch TD #9 as it looks like it is still moving west on satellite.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
384. EmmyRose 11:32 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Man I leave this blog for two weeks and people are still at it with StormTop - guess that's the only wild weather happenin - LOL
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
385. Raysfan70 11:32 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Emma were are you at?
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
386. Raysfan70 11:34 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Only Mother Nature knows what is going to happen, I really don't think that anyone ha a total grip on it as of yet.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
387. EmmyRose 11:34 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
I'm in Houston Texas where are you at?
I agree with the Mother Nature comment
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
388. Toyotaman 11:35 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
yes you should stormtop, just like you did for emily and gert, and the one that was supposed to form in the bay of campeche last week. LOL
389. turtlehurricane 11:35 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
yes stormtrop ur uncredible forecast sounds good
Member Since: July 22, 2005 Posts: 227 Comments: 466
390. Raysfan70 11:35 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Dr.Gregory says this to still not at 20yet
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
391. Raysfan70 11:36 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
I am in Tampa Florida
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
392. Raysfan70 11:37 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
I think that the woman are out numbered her so I had to through her in here. LOL
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
393. Raysfan70 11:38 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
throw sorry about that
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
394. EmmyRose 11:38 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
BTW very cool picture Dr. Masters!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm sure the temp says the same thing everyday
100 degrees LOL
I know mine never moves in the summer

Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
395. EmmyRose 11:39 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Throw who where ya lost me Raysfan
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
396. Raysfan70 11:39 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Throwing mother nature into the punch here.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
397. Toyotaman 11:42 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Raysfan, please do not listen to Stormtop's forecast except for entertainment. Just listen to what the NHC says. They have an excellent track record these past couple of years.
398. EmmyRose 11:42 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
Ah yes with all the technology she does what she wants
jokes on us I guess
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
399. EmmyRose 11:43 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
I'm still waiting for Emily to hit me here in Houston
can I take down the hurricane shutters now?
Member Since: July 15, 2005 Posts: 347 Comments: 76397
400. Raysfan70 11:44 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
I listening to NHC all the time but I lilke to hear what others have to stay.
Member Since: July 28, 2005 Posts: 138 Comments: 57352
401. STORMTOP 11:45 PM GMT on August 06, 2005    
im going to say this one more time for toyota can gasp this...this week will be the most boring week for tropical activity.....there will be none to speak of turtle, and toyota lol i forgot your name...you all are going to be so bored you wont know what to do with yourself turtle lol...you both need to rest up for the big storms are coming but not until the dust clears africa toyota and turtle brain....that will be august 21.......so you have 2 weeks to relax and chill.....

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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