Weather balloon bursts at 106,681 feet near Newton-Lauderdale line

An evening weather balloon burst at 106,681 feet at 6:59 p.m. just north of the Chunky exit near the Newton-Lauderdale County line, according to the launch report.

The balloon’s instruments recorded dry air near the surface, with cool, light northwesterly winds. Moisture increased between 20,000 and 35,000 feet, where patchy clouds began moving across the area, the report said. Winds shifted to westerly a few thousand feet above the ground and grew stronger with altitude, carrying the balloon along Interstate 20.

A parachute attached to the radiosonde, which carries weather instruments and a data transmitter, slowed its descent. The report said it was expected to drift east into Alabama before landing.

Source: Original Article