Philadelphia Area Weather Book

Everybody talks about the weather, but now Jon Nese and Glenn 'Hurricane' Schwartz, two of the Philadelphia area's most respected meteorologists, have done something about it: they have written the book that answers all our questions about this region's weather and climate, from the Poconos and Philadelphia to southern New Jersey and the Shore to Delaware. The snowiest winter? The hottest summer? The strongest tornado? Signs of global warming? Why can't computers give reliable two-week forecasts? "The Philadelphia Area Weather Book" offers a little-known history of the region's pivotal role in the development of weather science that goes back to colonial times, and it gives a lively account of what forecasters actually do on a daily basis. Writing for the general public, including young adults, Nese and Schwartz introduce the key concepts of weather and explain how forecasts are made as well as why they sometimes are wrong.Throughout the book, in sections called 'Stories from the Trenches', the authors recall the dramatic weather events (and at least one non-event) that kept area residents tuned in for the latest news. The features of this lively and informative book make it the perfect gift for weather enthusiasts and an indispensable household reference. It features: 'Stories from the Trenches': inside stories of forecasting the big storms; a look back with Philadelphia's television pioneers Wally Kinnan, Dr. Francis Davis, and Herb Clarke; and a glimpse at the possibilities for the future climate of our area.It also features: more than 150 illustrations (including 60 photographs, 54 maps, dozens of diagrams, and a 16-page color section): ranging from the first photographic image of lightning to local residents' photos of the Blizzard of '96 and Hurricane Floyd; from the dynamics of air masses to eroding shore lines and global warming trends; Weather tables: statistics for every day of the year, monthly averages as well as temperature and precipitation extremes for Philadelphia, Wilmington, Allentown, and Atlantic City; and, Web resources: organized by topic so that readers can follow current weather events using the same sites as the experts do. Author note: Jon Nese, Ph.D., is Chief Meteorologist at the Franklin Institute and co-author of "A World of Weather: Fundamentals of Meteorology". Glenn Schwartz, formerly Severe Weather Specialist at the National Weather Service, is a meteorologist for NBC-10, Philadelphia.