Freeze Front

Thanks for Sending Your Questons and Pictures Amy.e.Freeze@abc.com

Amy Freeze is Meteorologist for WABC-TV's popular Eyewitness News Saturday and Sunday Morning.

Amy is one of only a few women in the world who has earned the prestigious Certified Broadcast Meteorologist accreditation from the American Meteorological Society. She also holds Seals of Approval from both the AMS and the National Weather Association.

Get your New York City weather and Tri-State area AccuWeather forecast here on 7online!

Amy joined Channel 7's Eyewitness News Weather Team in 2011, after serving as Chief Meteorologist for Fox News in Chicago. Before that she was a meteorologist at Philadelphia's WCAU-TV, was morning meteorologist at KMGH-TV in Denver and worked on KPTV's local morning news program "Good Day Oregon" in Portland. Her work has earned her several Emmy Awards, including for "Best Weathercaster," "Outstanding Host" and for her weather special, "Surviving Severe Weather."

Amy holds a Masters Degree in Environmental Sciences from the University of Pennsylvania. She earned her B.A. in Communications from Brigham Young University, with an emphasis on Broadcast Journalism. She also has a B.S. in Geosciences from Mississippi State University, with an emphasis on Severe Weather and Forecasting.

An avid runner, Amy has completed marathons in Colorado, Illinois, Pennsylvania, California and New York, completing the New York City Marathon in 2002 and 2011. She's also a certified SCUBA diver and has taken a swim with the dozen or so 300lb sharks that reside at the New Jersey State Aquarium. She has reported on movies and entertainment, covered the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City and Atlanta, and was the first female sideline reporter for Major League Soccer.  Amy also worked on the NFL Sidelines during Chicago Bears Games for four seasons.

Amy gives time to her community speaking to school children about weather and supporting charitable causes. She has emceed the Miss Illinois/Miss America Pageant in Chicago, the Miles to Fight Melanoma Race and won Chicago's "Dancing with the Stars" contest benefitting the March of Dimes.

Born in Utah and raised Southern Indiana, Amy has lived in eight states. She is married and lives on the Upper West Side with her four children.

And yes, "Freeze" is her real name!

 

Weather Weather Rolls ON!

Warm Winter = Jingle in the Jar… for some but Worry for Others

Islip has used just 1500 tons of salt compared to last years 15,000 tons of salt.  Huntington has used about 1000 tons compared to 25,000.  The tons of salt saved translate into cash not spent too. Jersey City has spent $1.3 million less so far this year on snowplowing and salting than last year. Yonkers is counting on nearly $1 million in saved snow removal costs to help bridge an estimated $70 million budget gap that must be closed by June. The city would also have an extra 6,500 tons of salt, which it can save for next year's storms.  And the Long term trend outlooks from NOAA look ABOVE AVERAGE weather is still ahead!!!

NOAA predicts our weather to be at or slightly above normal -- no extreme March weather is expected!

As of Feb. 23^rd NYC is on track to have one of the top 3 spots for warmest winters ever!

The numbers really do prove the point!  From the extreme cold and snow we had last year, to an
“average” year based on 30-year record keeping - - this winter is one that will go down in the history books for comfort!

33 times this winter temperatures have soared above 50 Degrees

12 times the temperature has been above 59 Degrees since Dec. 1^st

2011 71 Times NYC was below Freezing

2012 only 12 times have we Sunk below the 32 Degree Mark

Last winter ended up 2 Degrees BELOW average

This winter we are Averaging 5.2 Degrees ABOVE average

It’s been a snow starved winter too with less than 12” so far this winter, compared to last winter’s record setting 63” season total!

Some of the losers are the folks that “pre-paid” for a winter of plowing…where there have been less than a handful of storms.  And the plowers that work independently to earn cash have really been out of luck.  Shovels and salt are stacked up at the hardware stores.  The coats and boots are a rock bottom bargain. 

While most everyone finds it comfortable… it’s left a few folks worried…  a winter without cold and snow could have weird side affects in the seasons ahead…

Allergies

Bug Populations

Blooming Flowers

Plant Growth

And the list goes on!

LOCAL NEWS ARTICLES

LOCAL REPORTS 

 

SUPER (weather) BOWL

I love the connection between weather and sports.  It's fascinating and fun on so many levels!  Conditions can affect any game.  It's true both teams must face the same conditions BUT their ability to adjust in various situations can make all the difference. Football is my favorite since I spent four seasons with the Chicago Bears and the Game Day Forecast.  The Super Bowl is interesting because most of the time the city is a good weather city --- warm and sunny and just the place to  be the first weekend in February!  But on a few occassions, the host city has been vulnerable to crazy winter weather (Dallas the best recent example!)   It's not just game day weather either (many of the stadiums are dome or retractable roof tops) -- the fans are spending a lot of time in the host city and if the weather is a BUST... it can be a real bummer!

Top 10 Weather Games in the NFL History

For the week Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis can have a wide variety of weather this time of year, blizzards to thunderstorms, even tornadoes and ice storms.   Here's What Indinanapolis is doing to prepare for any weather during Superbowl Festivities  

Lucas Oil Stadium is a dome.  Game day forecast for tailgating is 47 degrees with afternoon sun and light winds.

If the game were outdoors... weather can play an intriging part to gameday strategy.  How to chose direction during the coin toss based on game time winds, which cleats to wear, what color jersey will work best in full sun conditions, to pass or run, what angle kickers should use, and much more!  The teams facing each other this year have different skills --  as for speed, it is critical in football and no team has more speed on offense right now than the Patriots. Take Wes Welker arguably the best receiver in the NFL who comes up with huge places making 25- to 30-yard gains regularly.  Dry conditions would benefit his speed. (and so expect big things from him in the dome!)

Finesse teams love to play in perfect weather conditions. The Patriots offense could really strut their stuff in perfect weather while the Giants could capitalize on any wrinkles.  More wind could slow down the game, alter the passing... while wet conditions could really slow things down. These are all "what if" scenarios since the game is indoors at Lucas Oil Stadium.  It's not always that way, here are some interesting  "SUPER WEATHER"  stats: 

• 19 of 42 Bowls Played indoors
• 17 of 42 Bowls had a Trace or More of Rain
• 3 Bowls had Snow on Game Day (1982,2006,2011)
• 2 Bowls played during an Ice Storm (2000,2011)
• Warmest High Temperature of 82° (1973,2003)
• Coldest High Temp for Dome Game 16° (1982)
• Coldest High Temp for Non-Dome Game 49° (1985)
• Wettest Super Bowl .92 inches (2007)
• Outside Games With High Wind Gust (1980, 1984, 1989,2007,2011)

Sources to check out:  BLOG http://wx-man.com/blog/?p=1357     Superbowl Weather Blog

Future Super Bowl host stadiums to watch for Game Day weather:

2013 – Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana 

2014 – MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey 

2015 – University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona