List a weather-related statistic or fact, join the TalkWeather MegaMillions Pool

[WesL]

When the MegaMillions or PowerBall gets big, we like to join in here at TalkWeather. So we will buy 5 MegaMillions tickets (with a multiplier) and agree to share the winnings with anyone who posts a weather-related statistic/fact to this thread. Please be sure to include the source when you post.

Other fun rules and such. This sponsor is Social Data Group, LLC, a Wyoming company, and no purchase is necessary. One entry per person, using multiple accounts is forbidden by our Terms of Service and will result in entries being voided. Participants must be a resident of the United States and willing to provide documentation and required tax information for any disbursement. Any wins under $500 will be contributed to the sponsor for the continued operation of this site. Any wins over $500 will be divided equally among all participants minus a 10% administrative fee. This pool is open to all members of TalkWeather that meet the requirements above (including staff and volunteers). Only verified entries submitted before 9:30 pm (central) on Tuesday, 7/26/22, will be considered valid. The TalkWeather post time will serve as the official entry time. By participating in this thread, you agree to these rules and stipulations.

Good luck!

------- Wednesday, July 27, 2022 Update -------

Well, the bad news is we didn't win anything last night. The good news is nobody won the jackpot either. So as promised, we will play on see the update posted below for details.

 

[WesL]

Our ticket for Tuesday 7/26/2022



Our ticket for Friday, July 29, 2022 -- See Update Post for Details

 

[WesL]

I'll go first!

The U.S. has over 100,000 thunderstorms every year, with over 16 million taking place across the world in a year.

Climate and Weather - Characteristics of world weather and climate

Climate and weather - humidity, air temperature and pressure, wind speed and direction, clouds, and precipitation are all atmospheric characteristics of weather.

www.climateandweather.net

 

[Mike S]

On August 23, 1992, Great Falls, Montana received 8.3" of snow, the first recorded snowfall in 100 years of record keeping in Great Falls.

Flashback to 1992: August snow in Montana

KTVQ, GREAT FALLS – As many people know, it can snow just about anytime in Montana – as the August 1992 storm demonstrated. To be fair, most July and August snow falls at higher elevati…

www.kxnet.com

http://chrome-extension://efaidnbmn.../media/wrh/online_publications/TAs/ta9419.pdf

 

[KoD]

70% of derecho events in the United States occur during the four months between May through August.

NWS JetStream - Where and When do Derechos Occur

 

[yelsew]

70% of derecho events in the United States occur during the four months between May through August.

NWS JetStream - Where and When do Derechos Occur

The biggest hurricane to hit Montgomery, AL was Opal back in 1995!

 

[maroonedinhsv]

On September 14, 2000, a large well-defined dust devil hit the Coconino County Fairgrounds causing property damage and personal injuries. Tents were blown down and a ticket booth was knocked over. A large wooden beam in one of the pavilions was split due to the strong winds. Due to this amount of damage, it is estimated that wind speeds may have reached up to 75 mph.
Source (weather.gov):

Dust Devils

 

[Ellen]

And of course I live here….

Mobile is the rainiest city in the United States. Mobile receives an average annual rainfall of 67 inches and has about 59 rainy days per year. Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Mobile's winters tend to be mild and rainy, and the area is subjected to tropical storms and hurricanes during hurricane season.

2022 World Population by Country

 

[MichelleH]

Cullman County, Alabama, which throughout history has been a bit of a "tornado magnet," has never had (on record) an F5/EF-5 tornado.

 

[vanni9283]

The state of Arkansas has never had an F5/EF5 tornado.

 

[maroonedinhsv]

Please be sure to include the source when you post.

State addresses low reading scores, plans for future improvement

Based on the 2021-2022 standardized test scores, more than one-fifth of Alabama third-graders are not reading at a proficient level.

whnt.com

Edit: Guess I need to check Arkansas's scores.

 

[Diggs]

The widest tornado in Mississippi history was 2 miles wide and occurred on Easter 2020. Still short of the widest in US history by over 1/2 a mile!

Widest tornado in Mississippi history struck on Easter 2020

www.actionnews5.com

 

[tstorm]

On average, 85 tropical storms form annually over the warm tropical oceans of the globe. Among these, a little more than half (45) become tropical cyclone/hurricane/typhoon.

 

[liventruth]

Each year, the United States averages some 10,000 thunderstorms, 5,000 floods, 1,300 tornadoes and 2 Atlantic hurricanes, as well as widespread droughts and wildfires. Weather, water and climate events, cause an average of approximately 650 deaths and $15 billion in damage per year and are responsible for some 90 percent of all presidentially-declared disasters. About one-third of the U.S. economy – some $3 trillion – is sensitive to weather and climate.

Weather

NOAA's National Weather Service is building a Weather-Ready Nation by providing better information for better decisions to save lives and livelihoods

www.noaa.gov

 

[doubleohwhatever]

Heat lightning, also known as silent lightning, summer lightning, or dry lightning (not to be confused with dry thunderstorms, which are also often called dry lightning), is a misnomer used for the faint flashes of lightning on the horizon or other clouds from distant thunderstorms that do not appear to have accompanying sounds of thunder.

https://www.weather.gov/safety/lightning-heat

Heat lightning - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[TH2002]

The massive fire tornado spawned by the Carr Fire was estimated to have winds of at least 143 mph, equating it to an EF3 tornado.

California 'fire tornado' had 143 mph winds, possibly state's strongest twister ever

The fire tornado that spun up during the Carr Fire last week had 143 mph winds, National Weather Service said. This is equal to an EF-3 tornado.

www.usatoday.com

 

[Sawmaster]

In 1989 ,Hurricane Hugo hit SC, where at Seewee Bay south of McCllelanville a storm surge of 20.2ft was recorded. This resulted in the highest storm tides to ever hit the Atlantic coast of the USA.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Hugo#cite_ref-FOOTNOTENOAA1_95-0
(Note:The links on this page to the NOAA documentation of this event are broken, but I'm sure this info is correct.)

Phil

 

[barcncpt44]

Every day, lightning strikes 8.6 million times on average on planet Earth.

10 Electrifying Lightning Facts: Get Thunderstruck - Earth How

Lightning is hotter than the sun, it strikes 8.6 million times a day and more lightning facts. Because when there's thunder, there's sure to be lightning.

earthhow.com

 

[akt1985]

There have only been 40 tornadoes ever recorded in Hawaii’s history.

Hawaii received half its tornado warnings (ever) on this day in weather history

www.theweathernetwork.com

 

[t0rNaD0ez]

Katrina was well-warned in advance despite many accusations toward NWS. See "The Katrina Doomsday Statement" from LIX as an example.

000
WWUS74 KLIX 281550 NPWLIX

URGENT — WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW ORLEANS LA
1011 AM CDT SUN AUG 28, 2005

...DEVASTATING DAMAGE EXPECTED...

HURRICANE KATRINA...A MOST POWERFUL HURRICANE WITH UNPRECEDENTED STRENGTH... RIVALING THE INTENSITY OF HURRICANE CAMILLE OF 1969.

MOST OF THE AREA WILL BE UNINHABITABLE FOR WEEKS...PERHAPS LONGER. AT LEAST ONE HALF OF WELL CONSTRUCTED HOMES WILL HAVE ROOF AND WALL FAILURE. ALL GABLED ROOFS WILL FAIL...LEAVING THOSE HOMES SEVERELY DAMAGED OR DESTROYED.

THE MAJORITY OF INDUSTRIAL BUILDINGS WILL BECOME NON FUNCTIONAL. PARTIAL TO COMPLETE WALL AND ROOF FAILURE IS EXPECTED. ALL WOOD FRAMED LOW RISING APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL BE DESTROYED. CONCRETE BLOCK LOW RISE APARTMENTS WILL SUSTAIN MAJOR DAMAGE...INCLUDING SOME WALL AND ROOF FAILURE.

HIGH RISE OFFICE AND APARTMENT BUILDINGS WILL SWAY DANGEROUSLY...A FEW TO THE POINT OF TOTAL COLLAPSE. ALL WINDOWS WILL BLOW OUT.

AIRBORNE DEBRIS WILL BE WIDESPREAD...AND MAY INCLUDE HEAVY ITEMS SUCH AS HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES AND EVEN LIGHT VEHICLES. SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES AND LIGHT TRUCKS WILL BE MOVED. THE BLOWN DEBRIS WILL CREATE ADDITIONAL DESTRUCTION. PERSONS...PETS...AND LIVESTOCK EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL FACE CERTAIN DEATH IF STRUCK.

POWER OUTAGES WILL LAST FOR WEEKS...AS MOST POWER POLES WILL BE DOWN AND TRANSFORMERS DESTROYED. WATER SHORTAGES WILL MAKE HUMAN SUFFERING INCREDIBLE BY MODERN STANDARDS.

THE VAST MAJORITY OF NATIVE TREES WILL BE SNAPPED OR UPROOTED. ONLY THE HEARTIEST WILL REMAIN STANDING...BUT BE TOTALLY DEFOLIATED. FEW CROPS WILL REMAIN. LIVESTOCK LEFT EXPOSED TO THE WINDS WILL BE KILLED.

AN INLAND HURRICANE WIND WARNING IS ISSUED WHEN SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR HURRICANE FORCE...OR FREQUENT GUSTS AT OR ABOVE HURRICANE FORCE...ARE CERTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT 12 TO 24 HOURS.

ONCE TROPICAL STORM AND HURRICANE FORCE WINDS ONSET...DO NOT VENTURE OUTSIDE!

--via NOAA/Wikipedia