One of our loyal viewers -- Joanna Touchton from Sanderson, FL in Baker County-- sent me the photo below of a rainbow-colored ring around the sun. It's faint but visible if you know it's there. This phenomenon is caused by ice crystals in the high level cirrus clouds which reflect & refract sunlight creating a prism effect. You'll also sometimes see this effect at night around the moon.
Severe storms will return to a large part of the Northern & Central U.S. the next few days. An unseasonably strong low pressure area will move from the Plains to the Great Lakes & eventually Northeast. A strong severe storm outbreak will likely begin to develop Wed. but especially Thu.-Sat. from west to east. This will also bring some heavy rain to the water-logged Midwest but should be limited to about 48 hrs. of extreme rain potential vs. the many days or weeks that caused the recent widespread record flooding. The First Coast will be on the southern edge of this trough of low pressure that will reach the Eastern U.S. this weekend helping to trigger quite a few heavy thunderstorms for the area.
It's watermelon time. According to the "Farmer's Almanac":
Watermelons are well named: They are 92 percent water. A 2-cup serving contains only 90 calories and is fat-free as well. Watermelon also is a good source of vitamins A and C.
Click here for info. on how to pick the perfect watermelon.
Word Tue. that the state of Florida will purchase a chunk of the Everglades for 1.7 billion dollars in an attempt to restore the flow of freshwater from Lake Okeechobee into the Everglades. In what was an ecological disaster, this is a chance for an amazing restoration though it will come at the expense of a sugar company. Click here for the story from CNN.
