ALERT NEWSLETTER – April 2022

Hi Everyone,

I hope this finds you having safely weathered the storms of Wednesday. That stormy night goes to underscore the danger and vulnerability we all face from a tornado that season is far from over.

According to the Storm Prediction Center, March 2022 has set the March record for tornadoes with at least 219 confirmed tornadoes occurring nationwide and counting, as storm surveys are still ongoing. This breaks the previous record of 191 tornadoes which was set in 2021.

Research at the University of Alabama Huntsville indicates that appears to have been a shift in areas tornado formation, or “tornado alleys”. While there are certainly many, many tornados that form in the traditional and legendary “Tornado Alley” of the Midwest, the major areas of formation have shifted from Oklahoma & Texas to Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, with Mississippi being the bullseye. This is accompanied by a marked increase in long track tornadoes on a southwest to northeast axis from central Mississippi to western and northern Alabama, including Jefferson County.

So, with the storms of April brewing, now is definitely not the time to let our guard down.

The threat is real and ongoing, so make sure you have a plan in place and a safe place in mind, both at home, school and at work should a tornado threaten you or your loved ones.

Pay attention to forecasts – possible tornado threats are usually forecast days in advance.

Pay attention Watches and Warnings – have multiple reliable ways to receive them wherever you
may be located.

Pay attention to the conditions around you – brief spin up tornados can occur between radar
scans or in areas of problematic radar coverage, either due to the distance from the radar, signal obstructions or atmospheric conditions affecting the radar returns.

Do understand that with the exception of the NWS, state and local authorities, and local news media, not everyone will give you good valid information or instructions as to what to do in an emergency and social media is perhaps one of the worst sources, as everyone is an “expert” online and on Facebook.

Beware of well-meaning misinformed people.

Heed the advice of learned authorities and reliable sources, as they know what is or may be about to happen and any overriding circumstances and conditions that may be present that may alter the usual recommended actions.

Stay safety!

See: Tornado Safety (Online Tornado FAQ) (noaa.gov)

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

FCC Fee Reinstatement

The long awaited FCC new fee schedule will officially take effect on April 19. Starting that date there will be a S35 fee for any new ham license, renewal or callsign change.

Three will be no charge for “Administrative” changes, such as name or address changes or license upgrades.

If you are interested in obtaining a license for the General Mobile Radio Service, the license fee will drop to from $70 to $35. The test free license covers the entire family.

The vast majority of GMRS traffic in Birmingham is business related, but families using this for local communications is a very good choice. Do be aware that there are no GMRS repeaters in Birmingham, although there are repeaters in Tuscaloosa and Blount Counties, so everything is simplex and shared with the lower power Family Radio Service or FRS.

The simplex VHF Multi-User Radio Service – MURs remains license free. It’s 5 frequencies are little used in Birmingham and having 2 watts output and the ability to use better antennas than the supplied stock antennas make them a good option.

CB remains license free and is a valuable tool to have on the road and at home.

Amateur Radio, GMRS, FRS, MURs and CB all are different realms, with different purposes, customs, operating traits, “lingo” and so on. Some things I like, some I don’t. One size does not necessarily fit all.

To help determine which is the best fit for you, I direct you to the March 2019 ALERT Newsletter which features the article “Non-Amateur Radio Options For Emergency Preparedness”, which is a much more detailed comparison of the various services so you can choose the right one for you.

ALERT NEWSLETTER – March 2019

Or you can do like I do.

I’m greedy, I have them all.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

AM DXing

I have always had a never ending fascination or perhaps love affair with radios. The fact that I can listen to voices from hundreds of miles away with a little box or a collection of parts thrown together is mystical to me. That someone across an ocean can hear my puny signal radiating off an antenna that could easily double for my Mom’s clothesline borders on miraculous.

My first memorable exposure to radio was listening to “Tick, tick, tick…This is radio station WWV Fort Collins Colorado” on my brother’s ham radio probably around1962. His callsign was K4FHX.

Christmas of 1966 saw Santa Claus somehow having been duped into believing that I had been a good tike and me receiving a little black Truetone AM radio, a little larger than a deck of cards.
In 1967 you would have found a 9 year old non-wrinkled version of me walking around with an earphone stuck in my left ear listening to mainstays of those days WSGN, WVOK, WBRC and WAPI. Mainly WSGN and WVOK though since they played the “good stuff” and later listening as the ratings wars between WSGN and WERC and DJs Christopher “Super Foxx” and “Coyote J Calhoun” raged in the 70’s.

WSGN, WVOK and WBRC are now WAGG, WJOX and WERC as stations changed ownership and formats over the decades. Callsigns WSGN and WVOK are now assigned to different stations in Alexander City and Oxford. There is no WBRC on the AM dial.

I’ll digress for a moment and say that while I understand stations changing their callsigns either to reflect new format directions or in some cases, such as when Taft Broadcasting sold WBRC AM to Mooney Broadcasting, FCC regulations at that time prohibited non-commonly owned stations from sharing call letters, and so WBRC became WERC, that I think that there should be exceptions for “historical” or shall we say “legacy” callsigns.

On April 24, 1922, Alabama’s first licensed AM radio station, Alabama Power’s WSY – “We Serve You” went on the air from a studio near its Powell Avenue Steam Plant in Birmingham.
The radio station was used to reach isolated steam plants and rural work crews, It proved successful, as letters from residents poured in thanking them for the broadcasts, which included weather reports, interviews, stock quotes, an orchestra composed of Alabama Power employees, five Birmingham church services and other programming.

As one of the country’s first radio stations, WSY had the ability to reach people as far away as Canada and Cuba. Unfortunately, the station proved too successful and Alabama Power, instead of hiring employees dedicated solely to running the station, decided to get out of the radio business and sold the station, producing its final broadcast on Nov. 6, 1923.

Meanwhile in Auburn, the Alabama Polytechnic Institute now known as Auburn, put WMAV – “Making A Voice” on the air in September 1922 from Boun Hall. Alabama power donated WSY’s equipment to WMAV and in 1925 the stations callsign was changed to WAPI – “Alabama Polytechnic Institute”. The Station was moved to Birmingham in 1928 and remains to this day. So callsign WAPI is 97 years old.

My Mom, who was a little girl at the time said signs popped up all over Birmingham saying “WAPI is coming!” She said she was hard pressed to figure out what a “wapee” was.

In 1925 WBRC began transmitting on 1210 kHz. WBRC was the acronym for “Bell Radio Corporation” named after it’s owner Dr. J.C. Bell. Eventually moving to 960 kHz, it would remain “WBRC” until 1972 – 42 years.

In 1934 long forgotten WKBC was sold to the Birmingham News and became WSGN – “South’s Greatest Newspaper” and broadcast on 1310 kHz, With twin towers looming over the Alabama State fairgrounds, the station was a prominent fixture at 610 kHz until it was sold and the call sign changed to WZZK AM in 1985 – 51 years.

WWL in New Orleans is celebrating 100 years on the air, as is WSB in Atlanta, WOR in New York City, WBT in Charlotte, NC, WBAP in Dallas – Fort Worth, WBZ in Boston and WLW in Cincinnati.

KDKA in Pittsburgh is approaching 102 years on the air.

The point being that callsigns which last this long reach a point where they are landmarks on the radio dial. Historical RF signposts that stretch generations and I feel really should have be preserved.

I have nothing against WJOX on 690 kHz. I just wish the owners of WJOX had kept the callsign WVOK.

I think of all the programs and history that those stations covered – programs now called now Old Time Radio shows, but, then brand new. Roosevelt’s “Fireside Chats” during the Depression, The War Of The Worlds, Edward R Murrow reporting live during the air raids on London at the start of World War II, Pearl Harbor, the Kennedy assassination, the first tentative steps into outer space, Apollo 11, The Andrews Sisters, Glenn Miller, Frank Sinatra, Elvis, the Beach Boys, The Beatles, The Mamas & The Papas, Elton John, Olivia Newton-John, Chicago and the Rolling Stones.

Somewhere in an ever increasing orb of radio signals radiating from Earth, those programs and broadcasts are still “live, as it happens”.

But then I am a sentimental sot, which explains why while others quickly shed their new callsigns I have been the one and only WD4NYL since December 1977 and always shall be until they pry the microphone from my desiccated paws.

But, back on topic, as I listened and blew out my eardrums listening to local stations, I soon discovered that with nightfall other stations in distant cities would fade in.

Better equipment would follow, and the hobby of AM DXing was firmly established.

Late at night into the wee hours of the morning one would find me scouring the band and straining the ears for a station ID. Back then it was a little easier. Most programming was local, so you would have local advisements. “Ed’s Macho Taco in Paducah” gave a hint, as did local talk shows. Plus, broadcasters wanted you to remember their station, so they weren’t hiding their callsign. Talk shows gave you a taste of the flavor of the town and there were very few syndicated programs. You always kept your fingers crossed that the signal didn’t fade out just at that time that the ID was coming – “you are listening to sfsfssfsfsfsfsfsfssfs ……..ssfsfsfsfssfsfssfsfsfs I’m your boogie man, that’s what I am. I’m here to do whatever I can. Be it early morning, late afternoon, or at midnight. It’s never too soon”

Another busted ID.

Today is different with so much syndication and so much simulcasting. You can listen for hours to people droning on and on and on and never hear an ID, or if you do it’s “Scintillating Newstalk 101.1 The Lizard” and you look at the dial which clearly says 1460”.

So, I have had to alter my strategy a little with time. Yep, I Google it.

I look up “101.1 The Lizard”, if it gives a callsign I Google it and see if it has an AM frequency of 1460. Or I search “101.1 MHz 1460 kHz”. Sometimes that worked. If I have two definite possibilities and they have an online feed, I compare that feed to the actual signal. This is especially effective with stations in Mexico and Cuba. And some stations actually give their callsign like the Good Lord and the FCC prefer.

It’s all part of the adventure.

The denizens of the AM Broadcast band come in three categories, Clear, Regional and Local Channels.

Clear Channel Class A stations are the Big Kahuna’s of the airwaves. Operating between 10 to 50 kilowatts 24 hours a day. Some have directional antenna arrays, and they have the longest range of AM stations.

Regional Channel stations also found on Clear Channels in the daylight hours but, are required by the FCC to reduce their power or cease operating at night in order to avoid interference with the Big Boys Of The Night.

Then there are exclusive Regional Channels with restricted range and Local Channels which are low power stations covering a particular county.

The lowest on the Totem Pole are the “Graveyard Frequencies of 1230, 1240, 1340, 1400, 1450 and 1490 kHz.

The most crowded channels on the AM broadcast band, there are 150+ stations operating on each frequency. Most of them run 1000 watts day and night into non-directional antenna arrays. Listening to any of these frequencies after sunset can sound like a noisy crowd at an overstuffed restaurant, making reception of individual stations very difficult.

The easiest Graveyard station for Birmingham is on 1400 kHz, WJDL in Fairfield. The others will make you pull your hair out.

The following loggings were made using the most commonly available AM receiver there is – my car radio. As I went to and from work, during day and night shifts I would torture my eardrums and log what I found.

The farthest interception was PJB3 – Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles, 1883 miles away, from which I received a QSL card.

There are those using better equipment who under perfect conditions can hear Europe and Africa.
Their AM band is slightly different, as their channel spacing is 9 kHz as opposed to out 10 kHz. So if you are listening and hear a faint heterodyne you may be receiving signals from across the Atlantic.

I intend to try this once I get my antennas better situated and have more time, using my HF receiver. Also, I will try to see if I can hear the megawatt stations in the 155 – 281 kHz European & African Long Wave AM broadcast band.

Knowledge of our AM band and that these stations exist is a valuable piece of your emergency preparedness scheme. Should a major disaster hit and knock out our local stations, news from the outside world could be received by the more distant clear channel stations. Likewise, if a disaster hit an area where you have loved ones, being able to listen to stations from that area might give some scope of the situation, unfiltered (also possibly unconfirmed) information apart from online or network sources. Remembering that if their Internet infrastructure has been damaged, yours being functional may not be that great of an asset.

If you have never given AM DXing a try, give it a shot. You never know what you may hear, and what memories you will build or revive.

“Gonna take a sentimental journey
Gonna set my heart at ease
Gonna make a sentimental journey
To renew old memories.”
– Doris Day 1945

 

 

Radio Log
Fall 2019 – Spring 2022

kHz Class Day Night

530 – Local Bleed over & Splatter / CMBR – Havana, Cuba – 766 miles
540 R WDAK – Columbus, GA – 128 miles / KMLB – Monroe, LA – 316 miles
550 R WDUN – Gainesville, GA – 179 miles / WAUK – Milwaukee, WI – 660 miles
KTRS – St. Louis, MO – 400 miles / KTRS – St. Louis, MO – 400 miles
560 R WHBQ – Memphis, TN – 217 miles / WHBQ – Memphis, TN – 217 miles
570 R WAAX – Gadsden, AL – 57 miles / KLIF – Dallas, TX – 580 miles
— / WWNC – Asheville, NC – 281 miles
580 R WELO – Tupelo, MS – 120 miles / WELO – Tupelo, MS – 120 miles
590 R WDWD – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles / KXSP – Omaha, NE – 734 miles
600 R Bleed over from 610 / Bleed over from 610
610 R WAGG – Birmingham, AL – 4 miles / WAGG – Birmingham, AL – 4 miles
620 R Bleed over from 610 / Bleed over from 610
630 R Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WMBQ – Savannah, GA – 346 miles
— / WLAP – Lexington, KY – 338 miles
— / KYFI – St. Louis, MO – 400 miles
640 C WGST – Atlanta, GA – 140 Miles / CMLA – Las Tunas, Cuba – 1055 miles
650 C WSM – Nashville, TN – 182 miles / WSM – Nashville, TN – 182 miles
660 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WFAN – New York, NY – 860 miles
670 C WYLS – York, AL – 112 miles / WSCR – Chicago, IL – 579 miles
— / CMBC – Havana, Cuba – 766 miles
680 C Bleed over from 690 / WMFS – Memphis, TN – 217 miles
690 C WJOX – Birmingham, AL – 10 miles / WJOX – Birmingham, AL – 10 miles
700 C Bleed over from 690 / WLW – Cincinnati, OH – 406 miles
710 C Local Bleed over & Splatter / WOR – New York, NY – 860 miles
720 C WVCC – Hoganville, GA – 112 miles / WGN – Chicago, IL – 579 miles
730 C WUMP – Madison, AL – 81 miles / WFMW – Madisonville, KY – 266 miles
740 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / CFZM – Toronto, Canada – 806 miles
— / KRMG – Tulsa, OK – 552 miles
750 C WSB – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles / WSB – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles
760 C WURL – Moody, AL – 19 miles / WJR – Detroit, MI – 642 miles
770 C WVNN – Athens, AL – 89 miles / WABC – New York, NY – 860 miles
780 C WTXT – Tuscaloosa, AL – 49 miles / WBBM – Chicago, IL – 579 miles
790 C Local Bleed over & Splatter / WQZI – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles
800 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / CKLW – Windsor Ontario, CA – 727 miles
— / PJB3 – Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles – 1883
810 C WCKA – Jacksonville, AL – 76 miles / WHB – Kansas City, KS – 582 miles
820 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WBAP – Fort Worth, TX – 669 miles
830 C WQZQ –Goodlettsville, TN – 205 mi / WCCO – Minneapolis, MN – 1076 miles
— / WACC – Hialeah, FL – 745 miles
840 C Bleed over from 850 / WHAS – Louisville, KY – 366 miles
850 C WXJC – Birmingham, AL – 11 miles / WXJC – Birmingham, AL – 11 miles
/ KOA – Denver, CO – 1094 miles
860 C Bleed over from 850 / Bleed over from 850
870 C WWL – New Orleans, LA – 344 miles / WWL – New Orleans, LA – 344 miles
880 C Bleed over from 900 / WCBS – New York, NY – 860 miles
890 C Bleed over from 900 / WLS – Chicago, IL – 579 miles
900 C WATV – Birmingham, AL – 10 miles / WATV – Birmingham, AL – 10 miles
910 R Bleed over from 900 / WEPG – South Pittsburg, TN – 154 miles
920 R Bleed over from 900 / WLIV – Livingston, TN – 253 miles
930 R Bleed over from 900 / CMKN – Santiago De Cuba, Cuba – 1151 mi
940 C WCPC – Houston, MS – 135 miles / WCPC – Houston, MS – 135 miles
— / XEQ – Mexico City, Mexico – 1239 miles
950 R Bleed over from 960 / CMBD – Havana, Cuba – 767 miles
960 R WERC – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles / WERC – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles
970 R Bleed over from 960 / Bleed over from 960
980 R Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WFYN – Nashville, TN – 183 miles
990 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WNML – Knoxville, TN – 233 miles
1000 C WKLF – Clanton, AL – 48 miles / WMVP – Boston, MA – 1050 miles
1010 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WJXL – Jacksonville, FL – 374 miles
1020 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / KDKA – Pittsburgh, PA – 608 miles
1030 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WBZ – Boston, MA – 1050 miles
1040 C WJBE – Powell, TN – 235 miles / WHO – Des Moines, IA – 669 miles
1050 C WSGN – Alexander City, AL – 63 miles / WEPN – New York, NY – 860 miles
1060 C Bleed over from 1070 / Bleed over from 1070
1070 C WAPI – Birmingham, AL – 5 miles / WAPI – Birmingham, AL – 5 miles
1080 C Bleed over from 1070 / Bleed over from 1070
1090 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / KAAY – Little Rock, AR – 328 miles
1100 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WTAM – Cleveland, OH – 618 miles
1110 C WBIB – Centerville, AL – 44 miles / WBT – Charlotte, NC – 360 miles
1120 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / KMOX – St Louis, MO – 400 miles
1130 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WBBR – New York, NY – 860 miles
— / KWKH – Shreveport, LA – 408 miles
1140 C WBXR – Hazel Green, AL – 98 miles / XEMR – Monterrey, MX – 975 miles
— / WRVA – Richmond, VA – 593 miles
1150 R WRJD – Tuscaloosa, AL – 48 miles / WHBY – Kimberly, WI – 747 miles
1160 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WYLL – Chicago, IL – 579 miles
…. / KSL – Salt Lake City, UT – 1463 miles
1170 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WGMP – Montgomery, AL – 85 miles
1180 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / Spanish – Unknown (like in a barrel)
1190 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WOWO – Ft. Wayne, IN – 532 miles
1200 C Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WOAI – San Antonio. TX – 744 miles
1210 C Bleed over from 1200 / Bleed over from 1220
1220 C WAYE – Birmingham, AL – 3 miles / WAYE – Birmingham, AL – 3 miles
1230 L g Bleed over from 1220 / Bleed over from 1220
1240 L g Momentary Hints Of A Signal / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1250 R Bleed over from 1260 / WTMA – Charleston, SC – 401 miles
1260 R WYDE – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles / WYDE – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles
1270 R Bleed over from 1260 / WBOJ – Columbus, GA – 128 miles
1280 R Bleed over from 1260 / WODT – New Orleans, LA – 344 miles
Momentary Hints Of A Signal / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1290 R WYEA – Sylacauga, AL – 40 miles / WHKY – Hickory, NC – 346 miles
1300 R Heterodyne of 610 & 690 / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1310 R Bleed over from 1320 / Bleed over from 1320
1320 R WENN – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles / WENN – Birmingham, AL – 6 miles
1330 R Bleed over from 1320 / Bleed over from 1320
1340 Lg WMHZ – Holt, AL – 44 miles / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1350 R WWWL – New Orleans, LA – 344 mi / WRWH – Cleveland, GA – 189 miles
1360 R Momentary Hints Of A Signal / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1370 R Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WZTA – Vero Beach, FL – 557 miles
1380 R Harmonic of 690 / XECO – Mexico City, MX ? – 1239 miles
— / WAOK – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles
1390 R Bleed over from 1400 / Bleed over from 1400
1400 Lg WJLD – Fairfield, AL – 4 miles / WJLD – Fairfield, AL – 4 miles
1410 R Bleed over from / Bleed over from 1400
1420 R Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / Mixed Intermittent Unidentifiable Signals
1430 R Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / WPLN – Nashville, TN – 183 miles
1440 R WLWI – Montgomery, AL – 85 miles / WZVX – Cowan, TN – 122 miles
1450 L Momentary Hints Of A Signal / WCRS – Greenwood, SC – 270 miles
1460 R Heterodyne of 610 & 850 / WZEP – DeFuniak Springs, FL – 198 miles
1470 R Bleed over from 1070 / WMBD – Peoria, IL – 519 miles
1480 R WMMD – Irondale, AL – 6 miles / WMMD – Irondale, AL – 6 miles
1490 L Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals
1500 C WQCR – Alabaster, AL – 19 miles / Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals
1510 C Bleed over from 1500 / WLAC – Nashville, TN – 183 miles
1520 C Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / KOKC – Oklahoma City, OK – 624 miles
1530 C WCKY – Cincinnati, OH – 406 miles / WCKY – Cincinnati, OH – 406 miles
1540 C Heterodyne 690 & 850 / CHIN – Toronto, Canada – 805 miles
Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals
1550 C Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / WKTF – Vienna, GA – 201 miles
— / WIGN – Bristol, TN – 336 miles
1560 C Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / KGOW – Houston, TX – 567 miles
1570 C WCRL – Oneonta AL – 35 miles / XERF – Ciudad Acuna, MX – 883 miles
1580 C WVOK – Oxford, AL – 56 miles / WVOK – Oxford, AL – 56 miles
1590 R Heterodyne 690 & 900 / WCSL – Cherryville, NC – 335 miles
— / WQCH – Lafayette, GA – 119 miles
1600 R WAOS – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles / WAOS – Atlanta, GA – 140 miles
1610 R Nil / CHHA – Toronto, ON – 805 miles
1620 R NIL / WNRP – Gulf Breeze, FL – 220 miles
— / WTAW – College Station, TX –592 miles
1630 R NIL / KCJJ – Iowa City, IA – 619 miles
1640 R WTNI – Biloxi, MS – 248 miles / WTNI – Biloxi, MS – 248 miles
1650 R Heterodyne 690 & 960 / Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals
1660 R NIL / WCNZ – Marco Island, FL – 606 miles
— / KRZI – Waco, TX – 616 miles
1670 R WMGE – Dry Branch, GA – 197 miles / WMGE – Dry Branch, GA – 197 miles
1680 R NIL / KRJO – Monroe, LA – 316 miles
1690 R Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / WVON – Berwyn, IL – 578 miles
1700 R Mixed Intermit Unidentifiable Signals / KKLF – Richardson, TX – 575 miles
1700 – NIL / NIL

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

Mark’s Almanac

The Romans called April “Aprilis”, probably from the word “aperire”, which means, “to open”. This time of year being when buds open. It was originally the second month of the Roman calendar, before Roman King Numa Pompilius added January & February in 700 BC.

Freezing weather comes to an end as Birmingham’s average last freeze is April 1, while Tuscaloosa’s is March 26. The record for the latest freeze date is April 21, 1953 for Tuscaloosa and April 23, 1986 for Birmingham.

Snowfall is still possible though, as April 3, 1987’s 5 inches proves. The latest trace of snow was April 25, 1910.

April is less wet than March & rain becomes more localized and less widespread in nature. The sun heats the lower atmosphere near the ground and since the upper atmosphere is still cold, the warm air rises, reaches the dew point line, forms clouds & then it may rain. April is the first time in the spring season that favors local convective activity, which is why you have “April Showers”.

North Atlantic Tropical activity remains at a minimum. From 1851 to 2021 there has never been a Hurricane and only two Tropical Storms – Ana in 2003 and Arlene in 2017 which affected only shipping.

April is peak tornado month, with wide scale outbreaks possible. There are 2 ½ times the number of tornadoes as in March. 25% of the year’s tornadoes will have occurred by April 28.

From April 1950 to 2020, 9499 tornadoes were reported causing, as of 2020, 1820 deaths and as of 2013, 29,090 injuries.

As of 2017, Oklahoma leads the nation in killer violent tornados, having had 64, followed by Iowa with 54, Texas with 53, Kansas with 48 and Alabama 44.

As of 2015, Alabama ranks fourth in the number of April tornadoes, following Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. They along with Illinois belong to the “over 400 club” having had over 400 tornadoes since 1950.

As of 2017 Alabama leads the nation in F5 & EF5 tornadoes, having had 9, followed by Oklahoma and Kansas with 8, and a two-way tie for third between Iowa and Texas with 6.

As of 2016 Alabama leads the nation in tornado deaths with 633, followed by Texas with 552 and Mississippi with 477.

The counties most likely to be struck by violent EF5 tornadoes are Lawrence, Limestone, Morgan, Madison and Marion, all of which have been struck three times.

Tuscaloosa has been stuck by four F4 & EF4 tornadoes including 1932, 1975, 2000 & 2011.

The suburbs of Birmingham, including Oak Grove, Pleasant Grove, McDonald Chapel and Smithfield have been struck by two F4 & EF4 tornadoes in 1956 & 2011 and by two F5 tornadoes in 1977 & 1998.

My Grandfather, who passed away in 1958, once said “someday a big tornado is going to go right up Jones Valley and tear everything up”.

Indeed, there is no logical or climatological reason why and an EF4 or EF5 tornado hasn’t struck or won’t strike the densely populated areas of Birmingham, including the high rises of downtown.

Whether it is due to “Divine Providence” or “random chance” otherwise known as “luck”, Birmingham has been spared.

When will that luck run out?

From 1950 to 2020 the top ten counties for tornadoes are:

Jefferson – 100
Mobile – 98
Baldwin – 97
Cullman – 92
Madison – 80
Tuscaloosa – 77
Marshall = 72
Limestone & Dekalb – 65
Walker – 57
Blount – 53

There is no basis to the myth that mountains can block tornadoes, and yet there is the strange coincidence that from the southern terminus of the Appalachian Mountains at Tannehill State Park in Tuscaloosa & Bibb Counties northeastward through Jefferson, Shelby, Blount, St. Clair, Marshall, Etowah, Dekalb and Cherokee Counties there are roughly twice as many tornadoes on the windward side of the Appalachian mountain range than on the leeward side.

But no matter where you might be reading this, always beware of the storms of April.

Days continue to grow longer as the Sun’s angle above the noonday horizon rapidly increases from 61.1 degrees at the beginning of the month to 71.3 degrees at the end. Daylight increases from 12 hours 32 minutes on April 1 to 13 hours 29 minutes on April 30.

Sunrise and sunset times for Birmingham are:

April 1 Sunrise 6:35 AM Sunset 7:08 PM
April 15 Sunrise 6:17 AM Sunset 7:18 PM
April 30 Sunrise 6:00 AM Sunset 7:29 PM

Looking skyward, the Sun, magnitude -26.8 is in Pisces.

At the beginning of the month Mercury, magnitude -1.1 in Aquarius is hidden in the glare of the Sun.

He will pass behind the Sun or be at “Superior Conjunction” on April 2 and will then reemerge in the evening sky, reaching the highest position in the evening sky or “Greatest Eastern Elongation” on April 29.

This is the best time to view Mercury since it will be at its highest point above the horizon in the evening sky. Look for the planet low in the western sky just after sunset.

Venus, magnitude –4.4 in Aquarius, is the brilliant Morning Star low in the morning sky in the southeast.

Earth, magnitude -4.0, as viewed from the Sun, is in the constellation Pisces.

Mars, magnitude +1,1 in Capricornus, is near Saturn in the early morning sky. Mars will pass very close, a mere 0.3°South of Saturn on April 5 and then they will begin drifting apart.

Dwarf Planet Ceres, magnitude 8.9 is in Taurus.

Jupiter, magnitude –2.0 in Aquarius, is hidden deep in the glow of the Sun.

Saturn, magnitude +0.8, in Capricornus, is low in the southeast at dawn.

Uranus, magnitude +5.9, in Aries, is disappearing into the sunset.

Neptune, magnitude +7.8 in Aquarius, is hidden in the glow of the Sun.

Dwarf Planet Pluto, with his five moons shines at a dim 14.5 in Sagittarius.

Dwarf Planet 136108 Haumea, her ring and moons Hiʻiaka and Namaka, shines at a faint magnitude of 17.4 in Bootes.

Dwarf Planet 136472 Makemake with his moon S/2015 (136472) faintly shines at magnitude 17.2 in Coma Berenices.

Dwarf Planet 136199 Eris and her moon Dysnomia is barely visible in the most powerful telescopes at magnitude 18.8 in Cetus the Sea Monster.

At least four additional bodies with the preliminary criteria for identifying dwarf planets, and though not “officially” declared as such, are generally called dwarf planets by astronomers as well.

90482 Orcus, and his moon Vanth shines at magnitude 19.1 between Hydra and Serpens.

50000 Quaoar,and his moon Waywot shines at magnitude +18.6 in Ophiucus,

90377 Sedna, the coldest, and at one time, the most distant known place in the Solar System, glows faintly at magnitude +20.7 in Taurus.

90377 Sedna, glows faintly at magnitude +20.7 in Taurus.

225088 Gonggong, and his moon Xiangli glows dimly at +21.5 magnitude in Aquarius.

Currently the most distant observable known object in the Solar System at a distance of 12,246,241,135 miles, and asteroid unofficially called Asteroid 2018 AG37, and nicknamed FarFarOut, glows at a barely detectable +25.5 magnitude in Lynx.

5005 planets beyond our solar system have now been confirmed as of March 16, per NASA’s Exoplanet Archive http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/

New Moon will occur on April 1 at 1:27 AM CDT or 6:27 UTC. The Moon will be located on the same side of the Earth as the Sun and will not be visible in the night sky. This is the best time of the month to observe faint objects such as galaxies and star clusters because there is no moonlight to interfere.

The Moon will be at Apogee or its farthest distance from Earth on April 7, when she will be 251,306 miles from Earth.

First Quarter Moon, or when the moon has only the Western side illuminated, will occur April 9 at 1:48 AM or 6:48 UTC. During the Quarter Moons the Moon’s magnitude is -10.0

April’s Full Moon will occur on April 16 at 1:57 PM CST or 18:57 UTC. This full moon was known by early Native American tribes as the Pink Moon because it marked the appearance of the moss pink, or wild ground phlox, which is one of the first spring flowers. This moon has also been known as the Sprouting Grass Moon, the Growing Moon, and the Egg Moon. Many coastal tribes called it the Fish Moon because this was the time that the shad swam upstream to spawn.

This moon has also been known as the Full Crow Moon, the Full Crust Moon, the Full Sap Moon, and the Lenten Moon.

During a Full Moon the Moon’s magnitude is -12.7.

The Moon will be at her closest distance from Earth or perigee at 226,889 miles on April 17.

The Lyrid Meteor Shower which, runs annually from April 16 – 25, peaks on the evening of April 22 and morning of April 23. This is a minor shower, with only 12 to 24 meteors per hour. These meteors sometimes produce bright dust trails that last for several seconds.

This shower is produced by dust particles left behind by comet C/1861 G1 Thatcher, which was discovered in 1861.

The waning gibbous moon may block some of the fainter meteors this year, but there is still potential for a good show. Best viewing will be from a dark location after midnight. Meteors will radiate from the constellation Lyra but can appear anywhere in the sky.

April 2022 features two New Moons. The second will occur April 30 at 3:30 PM CDT or 20:30 UTC.

During this New Moon there will be a Partial Solar Eclipse. A partial solar eclipse occurs when the Moon covers only a part of the Sun, sometimes resembling a bite taken out of a cookie. A partial solar eclipse can only be safely observed with a special solar filter or by looking at the Sun’s reflection. This partial eclipse will be visible throughout most of the southeast Pacific Ocean and southern South America. It will be best seen from Argentina with 53% coverage.

If you have two New Moons in a month, or a “the third New Moon in a season with four New Moons”, the second New Moon is unofficially called by some a “Black Moon”.

Evenings in early April offer an excellent opportunity to view the zodiacal light. Zodiacal light is a faint, roughly triangular whitish glow seen in the night sky which appears to extend up from the vicinity of the sun along the ecliptical plane. It is caused by sunlight scattered by space dust in the orbital plane of the Earth.

From the Northern Hemisphere, early spring is the best time of year to observe this elusive glow after sunset. It appears slightly fainter than the Milky Way, so you’ll need a clear moonless sky and an observing site located far from the city. Look for the cone-shaped glow, which points nearly straight up from the western horizon, after the last vestiges of twilight have faded away.

This is the time of year when the dim Little Dipper – Ursa Minor – juts to the right from the North Star, Polaris, which is the end of the Little Dipper’s handle, during late evening. The much brighter Big Dipper curls over high above it, “dumping water” into it. They do the reverse in the fall.

Now that it’s spring, the signature fall-and-winter constellation Cassiopeia is retreating down after dark. But for mid-northern latitudes Cassiopeia is circumpolar, never going away completely. Look for it fairly low in the north-northwest these evenings. It’s standing nearly on end.

 

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

 

This month’s meeting will be on April 12 at 7PM.

The meeting will be done remotely as was last month’s meeting. Details and instructions will be issued as the time nears.

I hope to see you there!

Mark Wells
WD4NYL & WRJE893
Editor
ALERT Newsletter
Wd4nyl@bellsouth.net

Mark’s Weatherlynx
Weather Resource Database
www.freewebs.com/weatherlynx/