This is not a wide-ranging discussion like you are used to each morning and afternoon. James will resume those next week. Just a few highlights. First, check out this 500 millibar chart.
http://www.atmos.albany.edu/weather/difax/2021.gif
This is at roughly 18,000 feet off the ground in this part of the country--much lower of course in the Rocky Mountains. Note these main features:
1. A distinct trough digging its way into the east.
2. A high pressure area over the western North Atlantic, off the USA East Coast
3. This is what we call blocking action (and a squeeze play)
The trough is too strong (especially for summer) to give in and the North Atlantic ridge has been hanging on like a it was in a pitched battle. Result: Vast amounts of moist air streams northward along the Atlantic Seaboard like it is traveling on a weather autobahn. Overnight, some places in Pennsylvania got nearly three inches of rain in 90 minutes. We have seen the news pictures of very serious flooding in places like washington and Baltimore: In Washington:
2.56 inches of additional rain in the last 24 hours
9.65 inches is the 48 hour total
In Virginia, Roanoke 4.08 inches in the last 24 hours and 4.44 fell at Harrisburg, in Central Pennsylvania.
Big elm tree crashed because of soft soil on the White House grounds.
More flooding rains today. In addition, the Storm Prediction Center has pasted a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today for:
East half of North Carolina
East half of Virginia
Maryland except the Panhandle
East one-third pf Pennsylvania
All of New Jersey
OUTLOOK
The upper trough will be strong enough to force some drier air further eastward in the next 24 hours brining much needed relief to much of the area.
BACK HOME IN ALABAMA
That same upper trough is pulling some dry air southward into the state. We have almost completely eliminated the risk of showers through about Friday. Even during the weekend, the chance of you getting west is very low. This is not good news. While some parts of Alabama received nice beneficial rains since last weekend, many areas remain very dry. These two totals in the last 24 hours:
1.91 inches at Roanoke
0.41 at Centre (Weiss Dam)
At Anniston Airport, only 1.24 inches has fallen all month and 0.68 of that fell last Saturday. Daytime humidity will be lower and high temperatures nowhere near 100--mostly upper 80s and lower 90s. In the North Alabama valleys, we may see some upper 50s tonight. These delightful lows this morning:
59 in Desoto State Park
60 in Hamilton
61 in Crossville
63 in Cullman, Wedowee, Winfield
AT THE BEACH
Generally good weather through the weekend. Only a few afternoon showers. Highs in the lower 90s if you venture inland but upper 80s along the beaches. Sea surface temperature at the Panama City Buoy was 85 this morning.
TROPICAL
Scan down to see a special statement from the National Hurricane Center.
MORE COFFEE
Glowing news reports that if you drink at least four 8-ounce cups of coffee, either leaded or unleaded, that it will help prevent some health problems. Let me get outta here--I need to start my second pot. Yummy.
http://www.atmos.albany.edu/weather/difax/2021.gif
This is at roughly 18,000 feet off the ground in this part of the country--much lower of course in the Rocky Mountains. Note these main features:
1. A distinct trough digging its way into the east.
2. A high pressure area over the western North Atlantic, off the USA East Coast
3. This is what we call blocking action (and a squeeze play)
The trough is too strong (especially for summer) to give in and the North Atlantic ridge has been hanging on like a it was in a pitched battle. Result: Vast amounts of moist air streams northward along the Atlantic Seaboard like it is traveling on a weather autobahn. Overnight, some places in Pennsylvania got nearly three inches of rain in 90 minutes. We have seen the news pictures of very serious flooding in places like washington and Baltimore: In Washington:
2.56 inches of additional rain in the last 24 hours
9.65 inches is the 48 hour total
In Virginia, Roanoke 4.08 inches in the last 24 hours and 4.44 fell at Harrisburg, in Central Pennsylvania.
Big elm tree crashed because of soft soil on the White House grounds.
More flooding rains today. In addition, the Storm Prediction Center has pasted a slight risk of severe thunderstorms today for:
East half of North Carolina
East half of Virginia
Maryland except the Panhandle
East one-third pf Pennsylvania
All of New Jersey
OUTLOOK
The upper trough will be strong enough to force some drier air further eastward in the next 24 hours brining much needed relief to much of the area.
BACK HOME IN ALABAMA
That same upper trough is pulling some dry air southward into the state. We have almost completely eliminated the risk of showers through about Friday. Even during the weekend, the chance of you getting west is very low. This is not good news. While some parts of Alabama received nice beneficial rains since last weekend, many areas remain very dry. These two totals in the last 24 hours:
1.91 inches at Roanoke
0.41 at Centre (Weiss Dam)
At Anniston Airport, only 1.24 inches has fallen all month and 0.68 of that fell last Saturday. Daytime humidity will be lower and high temperatures nowhere near 100--mostly upper 80s and lower 90s. In the North Alabama valleys, we may see some upper 50s tonight. These delightful lows this morning:
59 in Desoto State Park
60 in Hamilton
61 in Crossville
63 in Cullman, Wedowee, Winfield
AT THE BEACH
Generally good weather through the weekend. Only a few afternoon showers. Highs in the lower 90s if you venture inland but upper 80s along the beaches. Sea surface temperature at the Panama City Buoy was 85 this morning.
TROPICAL
Scan down to see a special statement from the National Hurricane Center.
MORE COFFEE
Glowing news reports that if you drink at least four 8-ounce cups of coffee, either leaded or unleaded, that it will help prevent some health problems. Let me get outta here--I need to start my second pot. Yummy.