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Numerous snow squalls blew across the region today. Some of them were so intense the visibility dropped to less than one eighth of a mile with a 10 degree tempe
Ed Russo is a broadcast meteorologist based in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. With a passion for weather and a love for the local community, Ed provides accurate and timely weather forecasts for SBG Harrisburg. In addition to his meteorology work, Ed is also a commercial drone pilot, surfer, water safety advocate, math-science tutor, and self-proclaimed food snob.
Live Spring Weather Week: Gardening Tips with Ed Russo! (WHP) "Here in Central Pennsylvania we have over 400 native bees and they are just now emerging with the warmer weather that we're having." says Heather Andrews, a local gardening expert, aka 'The Thoughtful Gardener'. Those bees are in all of those leaves and sticks that have been laying in your garden during the winter months. So if you clear the litter, your unintentionally getting rid of important pollinators. "One of the things I like to talk about is be a little bit of a lazy gardener this time of year. We really want those consistent Spring temperatures, and we are not there yet. So 50 and above is ideal. I usually tell people wait till the apple trees bloom that's usually a sign that you can start cleaning up a little bit." says Andrews. As the weather continues to warm, you don't want to clear your whole garden from all of the leaves and debris. You don't want to cut everything back either. Native plants like Phlox act as a bee bassinette. Adult bees will lay their eggs on the inside of the hollow tubes of the plant. The eggs will then hatch the following year. When you're trying to cut the tubes back, leave about 12 to 18 inches up from the soil so you're not inadvertendly disposing the eggs. And it's not just the bees that are overwintering in the ground, it's the chrysalises and caterpillars which of course become important pollinators once they become butterflies. If you're planning on starting a garden this year, it's important to stick with native plants. "So only 5 percent of our native plants host 75% of our native butterflies so native plants are super important because they support the ecosystem." says Andrews. Native trees in the region support as many as 250 different types of caterpillars... that's a lot. You know how many caterpillars birds need to feed their nest? About 3000... and that's a lot of food! So remember, keep the litter, keep it native, and be a lazy gardener this spring!">
Live Ed Russo explains connection between weather and allergies (WHP) There are many different types of allergies, but tree pollen is the most common. Forms of tree pollen are pine, oak, birch, ash, fir, cedar, and mulberry... and that's just a few! Other types of allergies are mold spores. Some examples of mold spores would be penicillium, cladosporium, and alternaria. Grass allergies include fescue, brom, orchard, and sweet vernal. Weather conditions play a critical role in driving the severity of allergies. We've been fairly wet this year with precipitation totals already at around 7 inches. That's about 4 inches above normal! Wetter than normal weather can exacerbate mold spores. And the milder conditions we've seen can also contribute to tree pollen developing earlier in the season. We've also seen a handful of windy days this season and that spreads the pollen around in the air which can make things worse for allergy sufferers. Long story short, wind drives pollen and wet weather drives mold. Get ready because it looks like we're in for sniffle season!">
Live (WHP) So what is a total solar eclipse? It occurs when the moon passes between the Sun and the Earth. During a total eclipse, the apparent size of the Moon matches the apparent size of the Sun, EXACTLY! When the Moon intersects the Sun's path across the sky, it blocks out all sunlight. This causes the Moon to cast the darkest part of its shadow on the Earth. Whoever is in the shadow witnesses a total eclipse and the path the shadow takes across Earth's surface is called the path of totality. The Moon's shadow will move through Texas early Monday afternoon and continue northeast through the Ohio Valley. Inside the shadow is where skies will go dark in the middle of the day. The Moon's shadow will move into northwest Pennsylvania between 3:16pm and 3:20pm. As fast as totality starts, it ends! But it's certainly a sight to behold. If you plan on witnessing totality, or even just the partial eclipse that will occur in Central PA, you need to wear proper eye protection! NEVER look directly at the Sun! Sunglasses do NOT provide sufficient protection either. You need to view the eclipse through an approved solar filter. These solar filters are eclipse glasses that you can order online. But you need to make sure they are ISO approved and that the manufacturer is an ISO approved maker of these solar filters. Even safer is to view the eclipse through a pinhole projector. With a pinhole projector, you look indirectly at the eclipse by viewing it's reflection in a cereal box. Safe viewing for this once in a lifetime event!">
Live HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHP) — Monday, April 8th, 2024, a day many have been waiting for years, even decades. A day where one is witness to a special dance between the Earth, Moon, and Sun. A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the earth and the sun causing darkness in the middle of the afternoon. Here on earth, the spectacle can be observed... But never With the naked eye. "That will damage the retina, as far as the photoreceptors it causes a thermal and photochemical reaction to those very critical components of the retina," says Dr. Alan McLin, an optometrist from Morrison Eye Associates. That damage takes the form of color distortion and vision loss. Think of when using a camera and you allow too much light in the photo or video is over-exposed. Too much light entering the eyes causes you to over-expose the retina. Same concept. Solar filters are essential when viewing the eclipse. "We wear sunglasses to protect our eyes on a normal, sunny day but sunglasses... these are 1,000 times darker than a pair of sunglasses so we're really getting a hole lot more filtration through these lenses of those damaging rays." says Dr. McLin. Unfortunately, eclipse glasses are flying off the shelves since event is only a week out. If you can't get your eclipse glasses in time you can still safely view through something called a pinhole projector. A pinhole projector can be made through something as simple as a cereal box. How does it work? You are basically taking a projection of the eclipse and shining it through the cereal box. Here's how to make one: Take a pencil and trace around the bottom of a cereal box. Cut the paper out and put tape on one side of the paper. Stick the cut-out piece at the bottom of the cereal box. Take scissors and cut openings on both sides of the top of the cereal box. Put aluminum foil over the left opening and use a very small nail to poke a hole in the aluminum. Turn your back towards the eclipse and allow the light from it to pass through the tiny hole while observing the projection of it at the bottom of the box through the large opening on the right side. Safe viewing!">
Live Erie, PA during total eclipse (WHP) ERIE, Pa. (WHP) — What a breathtaking shot captured by CBS 21 News' own Ed Russo! A shot that has never before been possible in PA, as the last time we saw a complete 100% totality eclipse in the state was back in 1806, way before we could send drones into the air! Most certainly a timeless video for generations to enjoy.">
