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Installing a rain water gauge on your property will help you determine how many inches of rain have fallen.  Knowing the average weekly precipitation amount helps gardeners apply the correct amount of water with automatic irrigation systems.  Drought stress can hurt landscape plants, but over-watering can also kill plants by depriving the roots of oxygen. [...]

Did you know that most people in the United States live within a mile of a river or stream? More than 60 percent of our drinking water comes from rivers and streams, which also support a variety of wildlife and fish, and provide many recreation opportunities. Fishing alone generates an estimated 116 billion dollars in [...]

Mulch is any covering placed around plants. Mulch conserves water because and prevents erosion by slowing runoff and permitting your landscape to better absorb and retain water from winter rains. Mulch also suppresses weed growth, shelters the soil from temperature extremes and improves appearance of your landscape. Viewer Tip: Apply a two- to three-inch layer [...]

Did you know that the Mississippi River provides drainage for 41 percent of the continental United States?  This means that if a single drop of rain falls anywhere in this area, which includes all or part of 31 states and two Canadian provinces, it becomes a part of the Mississippi River Watershed.  The fate of [...]

According to AAA, nearly 40 million travelers hit the roads over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend! Increased traveling distance and unpredictable weather can result in hazardous driving conditions at this time of year. Here, read about some memorable Thanksgiving weather events and get tips for safe and efficient travel, whether your destination is near or far.

November 13-19 is the National Geographic Society’s Geography Awareness Week.  This year’s theme is “The Adventure in Your Community.”  Geography is all around us and varies from region to region in the United States.  Did you know that geography and weather are very closely linked? Explore some of the connections below. (Click on images or [...]

Severe weather events—hurricanes, flooding, tsunamis, storms and heat waves—can be bad news for estuaries. Strong storms, particularly hurricanes, tropical storms, and nor’easters, can wreak havoc on estuarine ecosystems. While only about a third of all hurricanes make landfall, those that do can create dramatic surges in water levels that can push saltwater into coastal freshwater [...]

When the leaves start to fall, neighborhoods become a flurry of rakes and leaf blowers.  Falling leaves contain nutrients that are great for your garden, compost or lawn.  With so many falling at once, they can easily cover storm drains as well as your backyard.  Clogged storm drains cause rain water to run down streets [...]

About 80 percent of the United States’ pumpkin supply is available in October, but pumpkin makes an appearance year-round in pies, breads and other foods. Weather can have a big impact on the yearly pumpkin harvest. Wet and soggy: Too much rain can cause crops to rot. Mildews, which thrive in wet conditions, can damage [...]

October 9-15 is Earth Science Week (www.earthsciweek.org). Every year, Earth Science Week encourages students and the public to explore the natural world around them and learn about the geosciences. This year’s theme is Our Ever-Changing Earth. Humans depend on the Earth for many resources – air, water, food, fuel, trees, metals – but we often [...]

Weather-based irrigation controllers can easily save 25 percent or more of the water applied to your landscape.  The arrival of fall means cooler temperatures and the onset of rain, and typically gardens and landscapes need to be watered less frequently, if at all.  A weather-based irrigation controller equipped with a rain sensor will prevent your [...]

As leaves begin to change color this fall, scientists are studying how trees and forests are affected by weather and climate conditions. Weather and climate conditions impact when leaves emerge, how much foliage grows, and when leaves begin to fall. The timing of these events as they relate to climate is called “phenology.” For example, [...]

Marshes, and particularly salt marshes, are renowned as “filters.” Streams and rivers flowing into marshes often carry large loads of sediment and silt which are trapped by marshes and used to build up and replace existing marsh soils that otherwise would be carried out into bays and estuaries. Marshes and other coastal wetlands also capture [...]

Did you know that planting one oak tree in your yard can save you money? A new oak sapling (one-inch in diameter) will save about 29 dollars over one year. Much of that money comes from the increase in property value that a tree provides, but your new tree will also absorb about 80 gallons [...]

Winds and heavy rain from Hurricane Irene took a toll on many communities.  As flood waters recede, many home and business owners will be facing cleanup activities. Viewer Tip: When the water goes down, keep these tips in mind to assess damage and begin clean-up activities safely: Pay close attention to your local media for [...]

A major threat hurricanes and tropical storms bring to land is inland flooding, which results from intense rainfall from the storms. The intensity of rainfall does not directly relate to the wind speed of the storm, however – some intense flooding events occur during weaker storms that slowly drift or stall over one area.  A [...]

Nitrogen and phosphorus are part of healthy aquatic habitats. These nutrients support the growth of underwater plants that provide oxygen and habitat for fish and other animals. They also support algae growth, which is a source of food for many fish and shellfish. Aquatic habitats can become unbalanced, however, when too much nitrogen and phosphorus [...]

About 80 percent of Great Lakes shoreline in the United States is privately rather than publicly owned. That means most of the shoreline is vulnerable to impacts like water pollution from nitrogen and phosphorus in lawn fertilizers which can encourage algae build-up.  The rapid flow of rain water runoff into the lakes resulting from near-shore [...]

Ocean and lake beaches around the country get closed every year due to poor water quality from pathogens – disease-causing bacteria and viruses. One way that pathogens get into the water is from pet and wild animal waste being washed down storm drains when it rains. In most communities, storm drains discharge storm water directly [...]

Although thunderstorms impact relatively small areas when compared to winter storms or hurricanes, they are still dangerous.  Thunderstorms can be accompanied by hail, strong winds and flash flooding. Every thunderstorm is accompanied by lightning. Viewer Tip: In 2011, there have been 13 lightning fatalities* in the United States – all of them have occurred outdoors. [...]