Oppressive heat wave sprawls across more than 1/3 of the nation today. Tropical air will reach way into the northeast through Friday. Heat-related health problems will continue to make headlines, especially across the northeast. Things to keep in mind: Heat is the number one weather related killer in the United States! White clothing reflects more sunlight than darker. Your body will need at least 2 liters of water daily in weather like this-that's if you remain stationary. Folks rugged enough to engage in outdoor activity need to double their water intake (4-7 liters of water). Drugs and alcohol DO magnify the harmful effects of the heat and sun. Don't forget about the safety needs of children, the elderly and pets! For more information on excessive heat safety, visit the red cross at http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/?vgnextoid=1750779a32ecb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD&currPage=f5400726d6312210VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD
Some moisture & associated shower activity will creep into very southern West Virginia but will be squashed into western Virginia later today...Otherwise, the hazy hot and humid forecast continues. High pressure keeps a tight hold on the south and Mid-Atlantic states today. Aloft, things remain fairly stagnant, allowing for plenty of sunshine to reach the surface. High temperatures today will be in the mid to upper 90s. But with dew points in the low to mid 70s, heat indices will again reach well into triple digits today. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for our area are in place again today from noon to 8 PM. Lows tonight will stay in the low to mid 70s. Just like the past few nights, a calm overnight under generally clear skies will allow patchy fog to develop into Friday morning.
Dome of high pressure will slide east, onto the Atlantic coast Friday. Something reminiscent of a cold front (it's not cold at all) will sag south out of the Great Lakes into Friday evening. Although dynamic forcing along the frontal boundary will be weak, the nearly saturated air & daytime heating could trigger a few isolated showers/storms Friday evening into Friday night. Given the tropical nature of this air mass, any storms would be slow-moving & produce heavy rainfall amounts.
The weekend forecast does not deviate much from our short-term forecast. Daytime temperatures will still reach the low/mid 90s. Overnight lows will be around 70. Dew points will also stay in the upper 60/low 70s. Again, caution should be used, day and night. There's nothing like heat stroke to ruin your weekend...
Deeper moisture will make its way into our area over the weekend. That along with a few weak upper level disturbances, plenty of solar radiation & daytime heating could trigger more scattered storms over the weekend. Chance for afternoon & evening showers and storms will continue Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Anything to break the heat...
Another cool wave will dip into the southern Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast by Tuesday. Although this will provide some relief, plenty of hot air will linger into next week. Highs will still reach the mid to upper 80s, which is pretty much on target for this time of year. A few scattered storms will threaten for at least the first part of next week.
On the tropical front...Bret continues to dissipate in the middle of the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Cindy has developed about 975 miles ENE of Bermuda. Cindy will not threaten the US as she will continue on a NNE heading, away from mainland.
Elsewhere...Hurricane Dora has been upgraded to Category 4 in the Eastern Pacific. Winds are steady at 120 knots. Pressure is 942 millibars. Dora has developed nicely, showing a well-defined eye wall, less banding and a more symmetrical pattern. Conditions will allow Dora to intensify over the next 12 hours. She will continue her northwestward track & approach the southern tip of Baja with peak intensity in the next 48 hours.
Some moisture & associated shower activity will creep into very southern West Virginia but will be squashed into western Virginia later today...Otherwise, the hazy hot and humid forecast continues. High pressure keeps a tight hold on the south and Mid-Atlantic states today. Aloft, things remain fairly stagnant, allowing for plenty of sunshine to reach the surface. High temperatures today will be in the mid to upper 90s. But with dew points in the low to mid 70s, heat indices will again reach well into triple digits today. Excessive heat warnings and heat advisories for our area are in place again today from noon to 8 PM. Lows tonight will stay in the low to mid 70s. Just like the past few nights, a calm overnight under generally clear skies will allow patchy fog to develop into Friday morning.
Dome of high pressure will slide east, onto the Atlantic coast Friday. Something reminiscent of a cold front (it's not cold at all) will sag south out of the Great Lakes into Friday evening. Although dynamic forcing along the frontal boundary will be weak, the nearly saturated air & daytime heating could trigger a few isolated showers/storms Friday evening into Friday night. Given the tropical nature of this air mass, any storms would be slow-moving & produce heavy rainfall amounts.
The weekend forecast does not deviate much from our short-term forecast. Daytime temperatures will still reach the low/mid 90s. Overnight lows will be around 70. Dew points will also stay in the upper 60/low 70s. Again, caution should be used, day and night. There's nothing like heat stroke to ruin your weekend...
Deeper moisture will make its way into our area over the weekend. That along with a few weak upper level disturbances, plenty of solar radiation & daytime heating could trigger more scattered storms over the weekend. Chance for afternoon & evening showers and storms will continue Saturday, Sunday and Monday. Anything to break the heat...
Another cool wave will dip into the southern Great Lakes, Mid-Atlantic states and the Northeast by Tuesday. Although this will provide some relief, plenty of hot air will linger into next week. Highs will still reach the mid to upper 80s, which is pretty much on target for this time of year. A few scattered storms will threaten for at least the first part of next week.
On the tropical front...Bret continues to dissipate in the middle of the Atlantic. Tropical Storm Cindy has developed about 975 miles ENE of Bermuda. Cindy will not threaten the US as she will continue on a NNE heading, away from mainland.
Elsewhere...Hurricane Dora has been upgraded to Category 4 in the Eastern Pacific. Winds are steady at 120 knots. Pressure is 942 millibars. Dora has developed nicely, showing a well-defined eye wall, less banding and a more symmetrical pattern. Conditions will allow Dora to intensify over the next 12 hours. She will continue her northwestward track & approach the southern tip of Baja with peak intensity in the next 48 hours.
