BrettBenson's Blog

I had an email from a viewer yesterday telling me that I say "basically" too much.  I went back to watch some tapes and you know what...she was absolutely right....wow, I was annoying. 

First of all, I will work on that, I promise, (it's amazing how easy it is to develop verbal crutches). 

Second of all, no matter how I say it I hope the message gets accross this weekend...it will be wet and cold.  If you plan on being outdoors or driving you need to be ready for what's coming...the real possibility of snow in the valleys.

So, more or less (my temporary replacement for basically), get ready for Winter in October.

Is there anything better than blue skies, fall colors, and snow on the mountians?  This weekends storm really shook things up....I went to bed on Friday night and we were in the 70's and woke up to the 40's.  Now that the storm has moved on it feels great outside again and we'll be back in the 70's before you know it.

How was the storm for you?  Anybody have some pictures they want to share?  (I like to use them in my weather forecasts).

And, by the way, the next possible storm looks like it could be colder...stay tuned.

My story on Tuesday was pretty exciting to cover.  Two Utah companies (AlloCure and Intermountain Medical) are testing research that was started at the University of Utah on using stem cells (taken from adult donors) to treat different kinds of organ failure.

The test is looking at Acute Kidney failure as a result of open heart surgery ,which currently isn't cured it can only be treated, but if this trial is successful not only is it great news for people with acute kidney failure and cardiovasclular disease it could lead to potential cures for all types of organ failure.  And maybe even diseases like Diabetes that attack organs.

This is the only test like this currently going on in the world.

What a weekend.  Eighties and fifties are pretty comfortable for most people and that is what we've had for the last several days (and will continue to have for the next several).  There have been some mostly mountain showers and thunderstorms firing up in the afternoons but for the most part they have stayed in the higher elevations and we'll see the same type of pattern through early next week. 

It looks like by next weekend we should see our first Fall-like storm of the Fall season.  The charts are going back and forth a little but since Friday are showing a colder system dropping in from the Northwest and cooling us down to normal and below normal temperatures.  I wouldn't cancel outdoor plans yet but it is something worth watching over this week.

Hope you can get out and enjoy the comfy weather this week.

Fall begins at 9:45 this morning (we've got about eight more minutes...actually seven now) and it's currently snowing up at Alta.  Just thought some of you would like to know. :).

I must say...I was very impressed with the area I was working in Friday.  It was a neighborhood in Magna that was entirely Habitat for Humanity homes.  A new home had just been completed and, of course, the family was excited to be picking up their new keys.  But was was really impressive to me was that every house on the street and yard was very well taken care of (I saw a lot of ownership pride). 

In speaking with the Habitat folks they also told me that all 17 houses still had their original owners and because they had to work so hard to get their houses built they really took a lot of pride in their homes...makes sense to me.

And I also want to clear up a common misunderstanding...Habitat for Humanity homes are not free.  The owners must donate 200 hours of sweat equity, pass credit checks, and take classes on how to manage finances.  The H for H homes are sold at cost and the 30 year mortgage is interest free. 

And lastly, congratulations to the Sylvester family.

In my opinion, this weekend's weather was just about perfect...low to mid 80's with a lot of sunshine and cool at night.  We still have one weekend of summer left but it probably won't be as nice as this one was...not terrible just not as nice.

Time to start breaking out the jakets, sweaters, you name it...Fall is coming soon...in fact about mid-week it will start feeling more like Fall.  Enjoy the next few summer-like days everybody.

OK...relax everybody, I am talking about another weekend of rain for me (my weekends are Wednesday and Thursday).  Actually, most people's weekend (this Saturday and Sunday ) looks sunny and warmer.

Anyway, remember this past Spring when it seemed like we got rain at least once a week.  Well, those storms seemed to hit every Wednesday and Thursday (I'm not making this up...Dan, our director,  has the same days off and he was getting upset with me because he couldn't play paintball). 

I have to be honest though...after the dry summer (that was actually a lot of fun to get out and play) it's nice to wake up to gray skies and rain (even if it's on a "weekend").

I noticed making the almanac graphic today that we'll lose another 3 minutes of sunshine tomorrow.  The summer is quickly coming to an end.  I mentioned a couple weeks back that I had seen leaves changing colors up near Strawberry...well now they are getting started all around.

Of course we all remember last year's Winter was a monster...Spring was cold and wet and then Summer was extremely dry.  As far as I am concerned, Winter can't get here soon enough...but I know not everybody feels that way so here is to a nice steady cool down and gradual entrance into Fall.

Fall starts Monday September 22nd a little before 10:00AM

As we sit here still hitting 90 degree temperatures (and 100+ in parts of the state).  Last year at the end of September we had snow in the valley...and quite a bit at the Utah/Utah State game (for those of you who were there).

It just goes to show...weather (and even seasons) change in Utah in a hurry!  Hope you enjoy the Summer while you still can.

If there is one thing I have learned about "normal" summer weather in Utah it is that it almost doesn't exist.

Climatologists will tell you that the drier a place is the more seasonal rainfall will vary  "from the norm".  Because in drier climates (like Utah) the "norm" is really just an average of ups and downs.  What does this mean?  It means that even though we have been drier than normal the last few months (and significantly drier in July) it can all be made up in a few thunderstorms.

It's going to be a few interesting days in Utah...there's a lot of moisture in the air...lets hope we get some rain out of it (my lawn could use the help).

Not sure how to classify this post...since I am the weather guy I'll put it in weather. 

It's a weird thought when you realize that Seniors in high school weren't even born when you were a Senior in high school.  This weekend is my 20 year reunion (Park City High class of '88) and on the way to work this morning I actually hear "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" on the radio.  Coincidence...I think not.

Anyway, I think it is a big weekend for reunions (because my brother John is having his 30 year...yikes...this weekend as well).  For all of you getting ready to stroll down memory lane...have a great time,  be safe, enjoy the amazing weather but make sure you're prepared for the heat because it will be sizzling.

And one more thing....go Miners!

I was a little bumed we didn't get much rain here at work today.  We got a little rain...a lot of wind and clouds but the rain just couldn't really get going.  It's great after a thunderstorm that drops a bunch of rain because it cools things off.  But instead it's still in the upper 80's here at the station.

What did you see today (Sunday) as far as thunderstorms (looks like just about everyone South of I-80 should have gotten something).

It's been an interesting few weeks down in the tropics.  We've had several storms in the Pacific (that really haven't affected many but have fed moisture to our "monsoon").  We've also seen some interesting storms in the Atlantic. 

Hurricane Bertha (now TS Bertha) developed right off the coast of Africa (very early in the season to see development there) and stayed a hurricane all the way north of 45 degrees North Latitude!  Then TS Cristobal develops practically overnight and is now affecting the Carolinas.  And now TS Dolly is headed towards the Gulf of Mexico and could become a hurricane by early in the week and could possibly make landfall in Southern Texas (still too early to call). 

Whatever Dolly ends up doing we could see it become another moisture source for the Desert Southwest and our "monsoon". 

July 13, 2002...a day I will never forget.  Why you ask?  Well, not only was it the hottest day ever recorded in Salt Lake City (a scorching 107 degrees).  But, it was also the day my wife, first child, and I moved out of our house (we were moving to Portland, Oregon). 

That's right, we had the joy of moving all our belongings (couches, beds, etc.) when it was 107 degrees!  It was so bad I told my wife we we're leaving the washer and dryer and we would buy new ones after moving...the people who rented our house were very greatful :).

We won't see anything like that in the upcoming week (yeah) and it looks like some of that Southern Utah rain will finally make it's way up North.