UPDATE 5/25/2012: Bud did briefly pull out a Cat 3 status last night, but it was at 00Z 5/25, one update (6 hours) away from tying the earliest major storm in the Eastern Pacific. He is now a Category 2 storm, expected to slowly weaken and make landfall over the next few days.
UPDATE 5/23/2012: Although one model continues to predict that Bud will spike to a Category 3 hurricane, nearly all other models say it is destined to remain a tropical storm.
ORIGINAL REPORT 5/22/2012: Tropical Storm Bud in the Eastern Pacific is predicted, at least by one model, to reach Category 3 hurricane strength by 8 p.m., or 00Z time, Thursday May 24.
The NHC, however, puts that probability at less than 5 percent. If it does, it will be one of only three storms in history to reach that major hurricane status in the month of May (or earlier). 
If he does it that early on Thursday, he'll be the earliest major storm ever for that basin (the previous record, Hurricane Adolph, turned to Category 3 at 18Z on May 24, 1983).
Tropical Storm Aletta started out the East Pacific season early, forming as a depression on May 14, but not being named until the beginning of the season at 00 "Z TIME" on May 15. And of course Tropical Storm Alberto jumped the Atlantic gun by half a month, forming on May 15.
The damage from the Moore, Okla., tornado of May 20, 2013, is incredible. These radar loops show the immensity of the tragic storm.
When I saw that Google had created a 30-year satellite time-lapse of Earth, I knew where the most impressive weather-related animations would be.
Whatever you call them -- "Ice Needling," "Ice Surges," or "Ice Shoves," or "Ice Heaves" -- a phenomenon that I first blogged about in 2009 is back -- with a vengeance!
17 years ago on this date, while I was taking my freshman exams at UNCA, a "cut-off" low was rumored to dump 57" of snow at nearby Mount Pisgah... but is that reading reliable?
Tornado reports and warnings are down for 2013 so far, and the last 12 months, but what about severe-thunderstorm-warned areas and lightning strikes?
The last two weeks have featured no less than four storm days, one with four storms, here in Central Pennsylvania and I've taken some neat pictures.
Jesse Ferrell
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