Monday, July 5, 2010

The Thin Brown Line

Well sports fans in case you didn’t know, the hottest days so far this year are here! Daytime mercury is screaming towards the hundred degree mark and still rising. Meanwhile broad upper level high pressure is parked over the region setting the stage for very clear sky conditions over the next couple of days. You might not know it, but that high pressure is blocking a good deal of moisture from the air overhead. This severely limits our chances of rain for the next several days.

So we’ve got hazy and hot conditions on tap for the rest of the work week. Air quality advisories may even pop up. Some folks such as the elderly and asthmatics may find simply breathing difficult. But what’s nice is that the clear conditions will also cool things down enough to allow nighttime temps in the upper 60s and a few relatively cool early mornings. So folks will still be able to accomplish any necessary yard work and other outdoor activities before afternoon temperatures inevitably get out of hand.

By Thursday afternoon, moisture, along with the sun’s heat may produce a few scattered thunderstorms across the state. However weather models seem to agree that the next real chance of rain will be Friday into Saturday as the next front swings into the area. We’re shooting for at least .25 inch of rain to kick off next weekend. Look for sunny and dry conditions in time for Saturday and Sunday. In fact, I’d say that this weekend might be the ideal time to squeeze in a float trip as we will have hopefully picked up some rain, raising water levels enough so that our boats won’t scrape the bottom for half the trip! No matter what your plans are, be sure to bring lots of drinking water with you!