http://beta.abc3340.com/weather/video.hrb
It's hard to believe that one year ago today I was flying through Hurricane Ivan as it became a Category 5 hurricane in the Carribbean Sea. The Hurricane Hunter flight I was on made four passes through Ivan collecting data and transmitting it to the National Hurricane Center. What a day for a meteorologist to experience one of the most powerful storms on earth!
Our good weather pattern is expected to continue into the first half of the upcoming week. A weak front may be approaching the area near the end of the week bringing small chances for showers - showers we could really use as we enter our 11th day this month with NO RAIN!
Eyes of those of us in the southeastern US are still on Ophelia which is now stationary about 255 miles south of Cape Hatteras, NC. Ophelia is a Category 1 hurricane and is now expected to begin moving generally northward and brush across the eastern sections of North Carolina and then along the coastline of the northeastern US. I always find it remarkable that we can have such a big weather feature like Hurricane Ophelia so close and yet the is no real impact on our weather. Only impact is actually positive as we get some sinking motion from all that air rising in the storm.
I'll be filling in for John Oldshue this evening plus I've been asked to emcee a couple of segments of the Katrina benefit concert in Helena at the amphitheater on Buck Creek this afternoon that runs from 1 to 8 pm. Hope you can come down and enjoy some great music and fantastic weather. Have a great week and God bless.
-Brian-