Windy End to 2008 and Cold Start to 2009

An arctic cold front crossed Delmarva today, ushering in cold air for New Year Eve night and New Year's Day. Windy conditions also developed behind the front, as low pressure deepened off the New England coast today. Wind gusts ranged from the 50s to 60 across Delmarva today cause some power outages. The Salisbury Airport recorded a 62 mph wind gust this afternoon. High wind warnings were also in effect throughout the day as well.

Wind chills will become the main factor for New Year's Eve night. Even though the winds will be diminishing overnight, wind chills will be in the teens and eventually single digits early Thursday morning. High pressure then moves over the mid-Atlantic on New Year's Day causing less windy conditions but daytime highs will top out in the 30s. There should still be enough wind on New Year’s to bring wind chills down into the 20s during the day. Not good news for the brave people taking part in the AGH Penguin Swim in Ocean City.

Temperatures moderate some heading into the weekend with highs in the low to mid 40s. earlier this week it looked like we had a decent chance for showers on Friday but now that has diminished greatly. A spotty rain shower is possible Friday afternoon at best and then again on Sunday. Happy New Year and stay safe!

Temperature Inversion

Temperature inversion is an increase in temperature with altitude. Normally, the lower air near the surface is warmer than the air aloft. Of course, when temperature inversions occur this can cause serious damage to the earth's atmosphere. In some cases a smog can be trapped close to the surface of the earth causing air pollution. Several days of smog can cause serious damage to one's health.

In Donora, PA October of 1948 there was an inversion for four days, polluting the air with smog from nearby factories, resulting in 20 deaths and over 1\3 the population was sickened. Sixty years later, the New York Times considered it "One of the worst air pollution disaster in the nation's history".

Also another effect of temperature inversion can develop suppressed convection by acting as a "cap" which is a stable layer of the atmosphere that inhibits the development of convection. When the "cap" is broken for any reason a violent thunderstorms occurs and (or) freezing rain develops in typically colder climates.






Sources:

http://www.wikipedia.com/

http://www.awma.org/about/100years/pollresults2.html


http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/volcanowatch/2005/05_07_28.html

Alberta Clipper

An Alberta Clipper is a small, fast-moving low pressure system that forms on the Pacific front, over the Rocky Mountain of Alberta Canada. The storm usually travels southeast into the Great Plains and it is followed by a very cold polar air mass. A clipper originates when warm, moist winds from the Pacific Ocean comes into contact with mountains. The air travels down the leeward side of the mountains, often forming a chinook in Alberta, then develops into a storm over the Canadian prairies. The system then comes together with a cold air mass in the winter, and slides southward into a pocket of high pressure, which sends the storm barreling into parts of the central and northeastern US. The storm brings strong winds gusts usually ranging between 35-45 mph with a sharp drop in temperatures in a short period of time. (temperatures can drop 30-40 degrees in a matter of 10-12 hours) Along with strong winds and the cold artic air mass the most brutal part of the storm can be the wind chill temperatures which can easily drop into the single digits. Alberta clippers usually occur between late December and February, some can form as early as November.

Early Season Cold

Arctic air continued to linger over the mid-Atlantic northeast allowing for incredible cold high temperatures this afternoon. Sunday's high temperature was extremely cold as well, only reaching the upper 30s. Today was even colder, with Salisbury reaching 34 degrees and Dover stayed below freezing at 28 degrees. At least the winds were calm, or we could have been dealing with some brutal wind chill values. The last time we had high temperatures this cold was back in February of this year. Check this out, that coldest high temperatures ever for this date was 30 degrees in 1966.

For you cold weather fans, the forecast doesn't look to be in your favor. With the next storms system approaching, highs will reach the 60s on Wednesday but then fall back to the 40s for the end of the week. But looking over the next 10 days or so, there seems to be a pattern change possibly developing that would allow the jet stream to retreat northward and place the arctic air out west. This would allow some milder air to return to the peninsula.

Hail 101

Hail is a product of the updrafts and downdrafts that develop inside storm clouds (cumulonimbus), where supercooled water droplets exist. Water droplets change into frozen pellets when temperatures drop below freezing, as the updraft and downdrafts continue the larger the hail can get before released from the cloud. There are several stages a hailstone can go through depending how long it is in the cloud, first stage is graupel which is very small hail and has a snowflake like structure. The next stage is small hail which is the same size as graupel but has more of a frozen state and is no bigger than 1/5 inch in diameter. The final stage is hailstones, they have layers of ice and are greater than 1/5 inch in diameter; they can be as small as a pea or as large as a grapefruit.
Hail can be the most damaging parts of a thunderstorm, inflicting injury on others, destroying crops & properties. So when in a hailstorm take cover indoors and protect yourself.

Thanksgiving Forecast

First snow fall of 2008 was Friday November 21st, what a way to get you in the Holiday spirit!!! Warming back up this week. It does looks like is going to be another typical Thanksgiving with mild temperatures in the 50s, nice & breezy conditions along the shore! Normally, the past few years on Thanksgiving, temperatures have been above average with cloudy and wet conditions. However, it will stay dry this Thanksgiving & Black Friday! Late Friday night into Saturday morning there is a chance for rain showers to move across Delmarva. So besides a little drizzle for the weekend, things are looking up this year with dry conditions on Thanksgiving but just a little cooler than we are used to on previous Turkey Days. Have a safe & Happy Thanksgiving!

Wind Chill

Tis' the season for wind chill factors!!! When leaving the house on a cold wintry day you may want to check out the wind chill factor, especially if you are planning on for long periods of time. When the air is cold and the wind is blowing it feels a lot colder than it actually is; the actual wind chill temperatures are based on the rate of heat loss from exposed skin. As the wind increases, heat is carried away from the body at an accelerated rate, driving down the skin temperature and eventually the internal body temperature. Therefore, the wind makes it feel much colder. The wind chill factor is always lower than the air temperature; except at conditions well above freezing, where wind chill is considered less important. In this cases, heat index is used, where the apparent temperature is higher than the air temperature. Check out the chart below it gives you a better idea of blowing wind vs. temperatures on a cold wintry day!

Table Chart: http://www.nws.noaa.gov/om/windchill/index.shtml

Bay-Effect Snow

Bay-effect snow is most commonly know as lake-effect snow. The effect occurs in many places but is best known in the Great Lakes. Snow is produced in the winter when cold, Arctic winds move across long expanses of warmer lake, bay, or ocean water, providing energy and picking up water vapor which freezes and is deposited on the lee shores. The same effect over bodies of salt water is called ocean effect snow, or sea effect snow. Bay-effect snow produces narrow & intense bands of precipitation, which can deposit heavy snowfall amounts in a short period of time. If the air temperature is not low enough to keep the precipitation frozen, it falls as rain. Lake-effect snow forms by significantly cooler air moving across a significantly warmer body of water. Here's a few ingredients that help produce bay-effect: fetch, wind shear, and upstream moisture.

Fetch: the length in which an air mass moves across a body of water.

Wind Shear: is important because the more wind shear the further the bay-effect will be able to travel over land. The less wind shear the larger the precipitation totals will be along the leeward shore. Also wind shear plays a factor in squall lines, which are heavy bands of precipitation, weak directional shear help intensify the squall lines.

Upstream moisture: High relative humidity levels allow the air mass to pick up more condensation over the lake quicker and in larger amounts.

Bay-effect snow is more common during the later fall months and early winter months. Between Novermber, December and early parts of January.
The bodies of water get much cooler during the months of Febuary to April, so the chance of Bay-Effect Snow is a lot less.

Small Craft Advisory vs. Gale Warning

Small craft & gale winds are types of advisories and warning issued by the National Weather Service. Small craft advisories are usually issued when winds gust up to 28 knots (32 mph). Gale warnings are issued in the existence of winds of gale force or above or the imminent occurrence of gales at sea. Gale warning occurs when sustained winds are between 28­­-47 knots (32-54 mph). The purpose of small craft & gale warnings are to allow mariners to take precautionary actions to ensure their safety at sea. The insignia denoting a small craft advisory is one red, triangular flag and that of a gale warning is two such flags placed one above the other.

Dew & Frost

Clear, calm nights, objects near the surface quickly cool. The surface and objects on it, often become much colder than the surrounding air. When the surrounding air comes in contact with these types of cooler objects and eventually cool to the dew point, saturation occurs. When water vapor begins to condense on them, dew or frost is formed. Dew is when temperatures are above freezing and frost (frozen dew) occurs when temperatures fall below 32 degree F.

Downbursts vs. Tornadoes

People often confused downbursts with tornadoes, here's a little information to try to clear up the differences. A downburst is an area of strong, often damaging winds produced by a convective downdraft over an area from less than 1 - 10km in horizontal dimensions. Its a strong down downdraft which includes an outburst of potentially damaging winds on or near the ground. Now a tornado is a violently rotating column of air extending from within a thundercloud down to ground level. Tornadoes vary in diameter from tens of meters to nearly 2 km (1 mi), with an average diameter of about 50 m (160 ft). Peak wind speeds can range from near 120 km/h (75 mph) to almost 500 km/h (300 mph).

Watch & Warning

One of the biggest confusions that I hear people talking about is the difference between a watch and a warning. A watch is issued when conditions are favorable for a certain type of weather event, and is a recommendation for planning, preparing, and to be alert for changing weather. Watches are generally issued for 6-8 hours at a time and for large areas. A warning is issued when the severe weather event is imminent or has been reported, warnings are usually issued for smaller areas and include the exact areas a storm will affect. Weather events that are usually issued as watches and warnings... snowstorms, blizzards, heavy blowing snow, heavy rains, frost, cold waves, freezing rain, severe thunderstorms, tornado, hurricanes, flooding and strong winds.

Below Average Temperatures Return

After a milder weekend with highs in the 70s on Saturday and mid 60s on Sunday, 50s are back in the forecast. A dry cold front will cross Delmarva on Monday allowing a cold air-mass currently in the Great Lakes region to move into the mid-Atlantic. An upper-level trough containing the cold air will move into the mid-Atlantic for Tuesday and Wednesday allowing daytime highs to struggle to reach the mid 50s with overnight lows in the 30s. The trough will begin to lift out for Thursday and Friday with highs returning to near average in the 60s on Friday.

The weather this year for Punkin-Chunkin looks to be milder than last year. Expect highs to be in the 60s on Friday, near 60 on Saturday and 50s on Sunday with dry conditions.

Cold Start Monday

It was a frosty start this morning over inland areas of Delmarva. Low temperatures dropped through the 30s and even reached 29 at one point this morning at the Salisbury airport. The record low for today was 25 we were not quite as cold as it could be this time of year. Tonight, the temperature has already dropped to 32 in Salisbury with everyone else in the 40s. I expect the temperatures at the airport tonight to fluctuate in the low to mid 30s. Frost is still possible tonight but not as widespread.

A dry air-mass with breezy conditions on Tuesday will increase the fire threat. Be very cautious when burning outdoors.


Tides continue to run a couple feet above average along the Chesapeake Bay. A Coastal Flood Advisory remains in effect along the Bay until Tue AM.

First Widespread Frost

Temperatures are expected to drop into the mid 30s in the inland locations tonight. The clear skies combined with light winds will allow the potential for frost to develop as temperatures drop through the 30s. The average date of the first frost is Oct. 15, so we are a few days late this year. Remember sensitive plants can be killed in a frost. To be safe, either cover or bring in any sensitive vegetation you may have.

Record Highs Thursday

Southwesterly winds ahead of a cold front allowed temperatures to soar well into the 80s across the shore today. Georgetown reached 87 degrees, breaking the old record of 86. Wallops Island also went down in history today with a high of 85, breaking the old record of 81. Salisbury tied the record high today of 85 which was set back in 1947.

A cold front will slide through Delmarva tonight allowing northerly winds to transport cooler air into the mid-Atlantic. Fall-like temperatures return this weekend with highs in the low to mid 60s. An area of low pressure will develop along the front keeping clouds around Friday and Saturday. There also will be a chance of a shower on Friday, mainly for far southern Delmarva. The low pressure will intensify as it moves farther offshore on Saturday. As the low moves farther off the coast on Saturday, skies will begin to clear out Saturday night and become mostly sunny for Sunday.

Above Average Temperatures

Autumn seems to be taking a break as temperatures soar to near 80 degrees in many locations on Delmarva. The jet stream has aligned well to the north of Delmarva as a ridge of high pressure aloft and at the surface remain over the mid-Atlantic. This is causing the atmosphere to warm up with the above average temperatures. A west wind continued all day warming Ocean City up to 80 for the high. Highs will be near 80 for many of the inland locations on Tuesday and Wednesday as more of a southerly wind develops. A cold front will slide through on Thursday ending the above average temperature streak. Highs will be near average on Friday and return to well below average for the weekend.

As the jet stream ridge breaks down for the end of the week, it will be replaced by a trough. If the trough amplifies enough, an area of low pressure may develop just off the coast. If the low is close enough to the coast, some rain is possible for Saturday. Right now expect clouds and cool temperatures but any shift in the track would change the forecast.

Typical Fall Weather this Weekend

Chilly nights and warm afternoons are the rule over the weekend. This is typical for the early fall season. Are average high and low for Salisbury is 74 and 51. We bottomed off at 38 degrees this morning and rebounded up to 71 this afternoon. The upper-level trough over the east will begin to lift out over the next few days. Expect highs temperatures to remain in the low to mid 70s with lows in the 40s and 50s this weekend. There are no big rain chances coming up in the next several days so it will be a dry start to October. This is not uncommon as October is one of the drier months. The average rainfall for the month of October is 3.64" for Salisbury. We are down about 3.75" on the year for precipitation. Enjoy the pleasant weather!!!

Strong Thunderstorms Tuesday Night

A line of heavy rain and strong to severe thunderstorms are moving through the upper MD shore counties and Delaware. These storms are capable of producing winds over 60 mph and small to medium size hail, and very heavy rain. Ponding on the roads are expected so hold off on any driving until the storms have passed. Expect these storms to last though around midnight across Delaware before moving off the coast. Expect a chance for scattered showers and storms into Wednesday across all of Delmarva.

Warm Start but Cooler Finish to Work Week

High temperatures will top off near to above average for the first half of the week. Highs will generally be in the mid to upper 70s across Delmarva. A cold front will then approach Delmarva on Wednesday. This will bring some clouds and the chance for rain showers on Wednesday. A broad upper-level trough will then develop over the eastern US for the end of the week. This will being below average temperatures with highs only near 70 for Thursday and Friday. Skies will remain sunny but with highs below average for the start of the weekend. Overnight lows look to drop into the 40s for the normally cooler spots for the end of the week.

Coastal Storm

An area of low pressure off the Carolina coast and strong high pressure over New England has brought strong winds to Delmarva for the past 36 hours. The low sitting off the NC/SC border has intensified today and is supplying Delmarva with plenty of Atlantic moisture. Along with the rain we have been dealing with the wind. So far the highest wind gust has been reported at Wallops Island at 47 mph. The persistent winds have brought high seas and surf to the region. This evening the buoy off the Delaware coast reached 16 ft. This increased wave action prompted coastal flood warnings for the Atlantic coast for some tidal flooding around times of high tide this evening. Rainfall amounts have exceeded 1" so far from southern Delaware to points south, with lesser amounts north and west. This rain is welcomed rain as many areas are 4+ inches below average on the year. expect rainfall amounts of 1-2" through Friday.

As the low pressure slowly tracks northwest on Friday more moisture from the Atlantic will move through Delmarva. Expect more of a showery type rain through the day on Friday with a possible rumble of thunder. Warmer air will also move in from the Atlantic as highs reach the low 70s on Friday. The winds will also be much lighter on Friday out of the east around 10-15 mph with some higher gusts along the coast. At this point, Saturday should be mainly dry with the exception of some scattered showers possible.

If you have any storm or damage reports, let us know.

Cool and Breezy Start to the Weekend

As we enter the last weekend of the official summer season, conditions will feel more like fall. The current overall weather pattern is typical for fall. Strong high pressure will continue to dominate the northeast over the next several days. This is causing the low level winds to become northeasterly across the Northeast and mid-Atlantic. This is bringing a wedge of cooler air into the region with highs well below average in the low 70s. The current ocean water temperature is 71 degrees so air temps will hover around that number for the next 24 hours.

The high over New England will break down for Sunday, relaxing the winds and warming the temperatures up. Another strong high will situate itself again over New England on Tuesday allowing for another wedge of cooler air to move back into the region with highs below average next week.

Summer isn't over

A strong ridge of high pressure will develop across the Southeast this weekend allowing temperatures to return to above average. This ridge of high pressure will allow heat to expand through the atmosphere and Southerly winds will push the warmer air into our region. Temperatures 5,000 ft above the surface on Sunday support low 90s at the surface across the shore.

South winds will also bring more moisture into Delmarva in the form of humidity. Heat index values on Sunday may reach 100 degrees. The record high for Salisbury on Sunday is 94, which could possibly be reached if we get full sunshine with the right wind direction. Temperatures still remain hot on Monday in the upper 80s to near 90, before a cold front comes through Monday night, cooling us off to the 70s to near 80 for the rest of next week.

Tropical Storm Hanna

As we are in the peak of the hurricane season it is not surprising that we have three tropical systems going on right now. The first one Hanna, looks to bring the threat of tropical storm conditions to Delmarva this Saturday. Even though this storm is not a catastrophic storm it is still a good idea to take precautions as tropical storms bring the risk of power outages and flood potential. The question is, are you prepared for a tropical system to impact your area? Delmarva is already under a tropical storm watch, which means tropical storm conditions are possible within the next 48 hours. Here are some tips from the National Weather Services during Tropical Storm watches and warnings.


WHEN MAKING YOUR TROPICAL STORM PLAN...GIVE FULL CONSIDERATION TO
WHETHER YOU SHOULD LEAVE OR STAY IF A WARNING IS ISSUED FOR YOUR
LOCATION. HEED THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF LOCAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
OFFICIALS IF ASKED TO EVACUATE.

FILL AUTOMOBILE GAS TANKS...AS POWER MAY BE LOST AND GAS STATIONS
MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DISPENSE FUEL. FILL CLEAN CONTAINERS WITH
WATER. PLAN ON AT LEAST ONE GALLON OF CLEAN WATER PER PERSON PER
DAY FOR DRINKING...IN ADDITION TO WATER NECESSARY FOR
COOKING...CLEANING...AND FLUSHING TOILETS.

STOCK UP ON CANNED FOOD...ESPECIALLY FOOD THAT CAN BE EATEN
WITHOUT COOKING OR HEATING. CHECK FOR ADEQUATE SUPPLIES OF
PRESCRIPTION MEDICATIONS.

HAVE WORKABLE FLASHLIGHTS OR PORTABLE LANTERNS AND A BATTERY-
POWERED RADIO. HAVE A SUPPLY OF SPARE BATTERIES. USE BATTERY-
POWERED LIGHTS INSTEAD OF CANDLES SINCE FIRE FIGHTERS AND
EMERGENCY PERSONNEL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO REACH YOU DURING THE
HURRICANE.

PREPARE TO BOARD UP WINDOWS IF NECESSARY. STORE OR SECURE LAWN
FURNITURE...BARBECUE GRILLS...GARBAGE CANS...AND OTHER LOOSE
OUTDOOR OBJECTS.


Here is a disaster supply kit that you should always have incase of any weather related emergency at any time of year. Do you have one prepared?

Disaster Kit:
Water - at least 1 gallon daily per person for 3 to 7 days

Food - at least enough for 3 to 7 days
— non-perishable packaged or canned food / juices
— foods for infants or the elderly
— snack foods
— non-electric can opener
— cooking tools / fuel
— paper plates / plastic utensils

Blankets / Pillows, etc.

Clothing - seasonal / rain gear/ sturdy shoes

First Aid Kit / Medicines / Prescription Drugs

Special Items - for babies and the elderly

Toiletries / Hygiene items / Moisture wipes

Flashlight / Batteries

Radio - Battery operated and NOAA weather radio

Telephones - Fully charged cell phone with extra battery and a traditional (not cordless) telephone set

Cash (with some small bills) and Credit Cards - Banks and ATMs may not be available for extended periods

Keys

Toys, Books and Games

Important documents - in a waterproof container or watertight resealable plastic bag
— insurance, medical records, bank account numbers, Social Security card, etc.

Tools - keep a set with you during the storm

Vehicle fuel tanks filled

Pet care items
— proper identification / immunization records / medications
— ample supply of food and water
— a carrier or cage
— muzzle and leash

Sunday Waterspout

We had some active weather Sunday with severe thunderstorm watches and warnings across Delmarva. We received one picture of the storms from a viewer that we wanted to share with our readers. It is a picture of a waterspout 29 miles off the coast of Ocean City!



This picture was taken at 2:47 PM on August 10th. A special thanks to Rob Jarmol who was able to snap this picture with his cell phone camera while on his fishing vessel. You can see the waterspout off in the distance, and it is a great picture of that impressive storm!

If anyone has any other pictures of the severe weather, we would love to post them onto the blog to share with everyone. Have a great Monday!

Tuesday Storms

Strong sunshine and increased moisture and instability triggered some late afternoon showers and storms across Southern Delaware and the lower MD shore counties. No storms were severe but they were slow moves producing heavy downpours.

Our weather watcher Hunter Outten from Frankford, DE captured a low sitting rainbow at his house after a storm passed.

More showers are storms are possible Wednesday and Thursday as some disturbances move by and a cold front approaches and slides through on Thursday.

Sunday's Storm Reports

Strong to severe storms ripped through Delamrva late afternoon yesterday causing some damage. here are the official reports from the National Weather Service.

9 WNW CRISFIELD SOMERSET MD: TREES DOWN ON SMITH ISLAND. (AKQ)

65 MPH WIND GUST CRISFIELD SOMERSET MD (AKQ)

KINGSTON SOMERSET MD: MULTIPLE TREES AND POWERLINES DOWN COUNTYWIDE.(AKQ)

Weak high pressure will dominate our weather for Tuesday but then another cold front tracks east on Wednesday and Thursday. This will bring another chance for scattered showers and storms Wednesday night and Thursday.

I would also like to say thanks to everyone who stopped by and watched our newscasts at the Delaware State Fair. I had the pleasure of meeting many people over the days. Thanks for all the positive feedback and I hoped you had a fun time.

A New Face

Hello everyone, this is Marc Adamo writing my first blog post! I figured this would be a good opportunity to do a short introduction in case anyone was wondering who the new face was in the morning.

My bio is not online just yet, so I will do a brief one here. I am originally from New Jersey and went to school at Penn State. After graduation, I worked at WKAG in Kentucky. I am excited to be back on the coast, though! When I am not working, you might see me at the beach. Maybe you'll see me trying to learn how to surf (emphasis on trying)!

I am looking forward to working on the Delmarva and hopefully meeting many of you. I was lucky enough to talk to some people during the Delaware State Fair, and so far everyone I have met has been really nice. Feel free to write us any comments and questions, and have a great week!

Tropical Storm Cristobal, Dolly and another wave

Tropical Storm Cristobal is moving northeastward away from the Outer Banks. Right now this storm is about 110 miles northeast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. Cristobal has maximum sustained wind of about 50 mph, a minimum central pressure of 1004 mb and is moving northeast near 13 mph. This storm will bring increased rip currents to our beaches on Delmarva.

Tropical Storm Dolly is moving off the Northern Yucatan Peninsula. Dolly is moving northwest at about 15 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 50 mph, with a minimum central pressure of 1008 mb. This storm is expected to strengthen and make a second Mexican landfall.



We will also be monitoring a new tropical wave, still on the coast of Africa. Still to soon to say much about this wave, but it does have potential for further development once it moves completely off land and over water.

Tropics

A lot is going on in the tropics. Bertha has been back to hurricane status for about the past day with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. Right now Bertha is about 490 miles east-southeast of Cape Race, Newfoundland. Bertha is suppose to slowly weaken over the next couple of days.

Close to home, we are now monitoring Tropical Storm Cristobal, the third named system on the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season. Cristobal has strengthened and has maximum sustained winds near 45 mph. Right now Cristobal is located about about 125 miles east of Charleston, South Carolina and about 205 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. This storm is moving northeast near 7 mph and expected to slowly strengthen over the next couple of days.

In the Western Caribbean Sea, Air Force Reconnaissance are checking out a tropical wave that is expected to become a tropical depression over the next couple of days. This would become Tropical Depression FOUR... possibly Tropical Storm Dolly if it reaches tropical storm status.

Another tropical wave with high potential to become a tropical depression is currently located over the extreme Eastern Pacific. To the west of that wave, Hurricane Fausto is also headed well away from the coast of Mexico.

Poor Air Quality

The heat has been building recently, but so has the ozone. That's why air quality is poor across much of the Mid Atlantic and Northeast. Ozone is good in the ozone layer which is high in the atmosphere. But, ground-level ozone is bad and it's the main ingredient in smog.

Ozone is a colorless gas formed by the reaction of sunlight with vehicle emissions, gasoline fumes, solvent vapors, and power plant and industrial emissions. Ozone formation is most likely in hot, dry weather when the air is fairly still. Ozone and particle pollution have been linked to short-term health concerns, particularly among children, people with asthma and heart or lung disease, and older adults.



There is a CODE RED AIR QUALITY in effect today for the following locations:
DC
Baltimore
Philadelphia
Northern Virginia

There is a CODE ORANGE AIR QUALITY in effect today for the following locations:
MD Eastern Shore
Delaware
Atlantic City, NJ
Harrisburg, PA
Allentown, PA
Richmond, Hampton Roads area

So, what can you do?
* Keep an eye on the pollutant levels for your area.
* When levels are high, stay inside if you can. Avoid strenuous outdoor activity.
* Help keep pollutant levels low by avoiding unnecessary fuel consumption. Use carpools and fuel-efficient vehicles.
* Avoid the use of any other gasoline engines, such as mowers and other lawn equipment, or boat motors. (if you must use these, do so in the morning or evening)
* Save power by turning off lights and appliances when they are not needed.
* Avoid burning yard debris or brush.

Here are some links for more information:
http://www.mde.state.md.us/Air/index.asp
http://airnow.gov/index.cfm?action=airnow.actiondays
http://www.air-watch.net/

Tropical Activity

The tropics are becoming a bit more active. The National Hurricane Center is watching two potential locations for possible development.



From the NHC,
Area #1. THE BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE SOUTHEASTERN CARIBBEAN SEA HAS
BECOME A LITTLE LESS ORGANIZED AND THE POTENTIAL FOR TROPICAL
DEPRESSION FORMATION HAS LESSENED TODAY. HOWEVER...THIS SYSTEM
WILL CONTINUE TO BE MONITORED FOR SIGNS OF DEVELOPMENT AS IT MOVES
WESTWARD AT 20 TO 25 MPH.

Area #2. SHOWERS AND GUSTY WINDS ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE IN
THE SOUTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA ARE EXPECTED TO SPREAD WESTWARD OVER
PORTIONS OF HONDURAS AND NICARAGUA LATER TODAY AND EARLY FRIDAY.
THIS ACTIVITY COULD CAUSE LIFE-THREATENING FLASH FLOODS AND
MUDSLIDES. THIS SYSTEM HAS CHANGED LITTLE IN ORGANIZATION SINCE
YESTERDAY...BUT IT HAS A CHANCE TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION
BEFORE IT REACHES THE COAST OF CENTRAL AMERICA TONIGHT.

Delaware Fair Begins

The Delaware State Fair in Harrington, DE begins Thursday and continues through next Saturday. I will be up at the fair each night for the 6 PM newscasts doing the weather live each night. The forecast looks to be hot but dry for the first several days at the fair. Highs will be in the 90s but with low humidity on Thursday. The humidity will begin to build on Friday through the weekend. There will be a small chance of isolated shower and storms on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday. Stop by and hi!!

Bertha's Impact and Records

Tropical Storm Bertha is still holding strong with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph. She is 360 miles northeast of Bermuda. According to Yahoo! News, Bertha left about 4,000 people without powers on Bermuda... north and south on the East Coast of the United States, we saw dangerous rip currents. According to www.allheadlinenews.com, at least one death due to drowning on the New Jersey shore was associated to Bertha.

Now Bertha has also broken a few records. Here are some of those records:

The easternmost forming tropical storm.
The easternmost forming hurricane.
The easternmost forming pre-August major hurricane.
The longest-lived tropical cyclone in the Atlantic Basin.

We still are monitoring a tropical wave on the Atlantic Ocean... this wave has medium potential for future development.

Getting Hotter but Not Very Humid

High pressure at the surface continues to build in across the mid-Atlantic providing sun and warm temperatures. Flow around high pressure is clockwise so as long as we are on the front side of the high, we will experience Northerly winds. It will still be hot but these winds keeps us from getting extremely hot. Winds on Wednesday will be from the Northeast flowing off the ocean.

A ridge of high pressure in the upper atmosphere will develop, and high pressure at the surface will shift offshore Friday into the weekend. This will allow warmer air to build in the atmosphere and the surface high will prove Southerly winds since we will be on the backside of it. These Southerly winds will transport warmer air from the deep South along with increased humidity. Expect highs in the upper 80s and fairly comfortable for Wednesday and Thursday, and then 90s Friday into the weekend with more humid conditions.

Rip Currents Continue

Bertha continues to slowly meander out in the Atlantic sending ocean swells our way. This is great news for local surfers but bad news for swimmers heading to the beaches. Longer period swells continue to break on the beaches giving surfers ridable waves during what is usually the flattest time on the year. These longer period swells also bring stronger rip currents as well. This is very dangerous for swimmers. If you decide to go into the ocean make sure you are right near a lifeguard and obey any rules they issue. They know you are in trouble usually before you do.

Even though the near-shore waves aren't huge, they are carrying a lot of force and energy. The long period or long time period between each wave indicated swells coming from a far away storm. Think of you dropping a rock into a pond. When you drop it in there is a large splashing and confused area water moving around right at the center, but then faster, spaced out, more organized rings of water eventually fan out and get smaller the farther away they get form the center. So think of the center of the rock plunge as Bertha with large swells going in every direction near the center of the storm. Think of the outer rings as the longer period swells propagating from the center of the storm. Those outer rings are what is impacting the coast now.

The swells are spaced out organized long-period swells that carry a lot of energy since it is coming from a large storm. That wave energy builds up as it reaches the sand bars and breaks as larger size waves. During a long period ground swell, you could look out into the ocean and it looks flat as a lake, but all of a sudden a set of higher waves form as they near the sand bars and are forced to break. All that extra force of water rushes onto the beach and then rushes back real fast and causes strong rips to form. Be very careful swimming in the ocean this week. There is a great picture of what a rip current looks like a few posts below. Stay safe!!!

Bertha Back to Tropical Storm... and Another Wave?

Hurricane Bertha is now back to Tropical Storm status, about 175 miles southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds of about 65 mph. She is moving northwest about at 2 mph. A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda... for us, we are still looking at the High Risk of Rip Currents at the beach.

We are also looking at another Tropical Wave that has potential to become a tropical depression over the next couple of days.

Here is the discussion from the National Hurricane Center on that wave:
"A LARGE AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE AND SURFACE LOW...IS LOCATED OVER THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC OCEAN ABOUT 1550 MILES EAST OF THE SOUTHERN WINDWARD ISLANDS. THIS SYSTEM HAS BECOME A LITTLE BETTER ORGANIZED DURING THE DAY...AND HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS THE WAVE MOVES GENERALLY WESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH. "

What Bertha means to Delmarva...

An update to previous blog... today the rip current risk remained moderate for Delaware Beaches, however for Maryland and Virginia Beaches the risk was high and it will remain that way for the remainder of the weekend. From the National Weather Service, a high risk for rip current means:

"weather and ocean conditions are favorable for the formation of numerous Rip Currents. Several of the Rip Currents have the potential to be strong, with a 3 to 5 mph seaward pull."

Please read Kira's blog below for more information on rip currents!
Now your Hurricane Bertha update:

First, from the National Hurricane Center:

"AN AIR FORCE PLANE HAS COMPLETED TWO PASSES THROUGH THE EYE OF BERTHA AND THE MAXIMUM FLIGHT LEVEL WINDS WERE 79 AND 74 KT. THE SFMR ON BOARD OF THE PLANE DID NOT REPORT ANY HURRICANE FORCE WINDS...IN FACT...THE STRONGEST WINDS WERE 58 KNOTS IN THE SOUTHEAST QUADRANT. THE BEST ESTIMATE OF THE INITIAL INTENSITY IS 65 KNOTS...MAKING BERTHA BARELY A HURRICANE."

If you are curious what SFMR stands for, here you go: "Stepped Frequency Microwave Radiometer"

A tropical storm warning is in effect for Bermuda. The storm is about 210 mile southeast of Bermuda with maximum sustained winds near 75 mph. The storm is tracking north at about one mph.

Bertha's Secret Threat

As of 5 am, Hurricane Bertha, a category one hurricane with maximum sustained winds at 85 mph, was still 350 miles SSE of Bermuda. The storm is moving toward the NW at 7 mph, but a turn to the N-NE and a slower forward motion are expected during the next couple days. Bertha will track close to Bermuda today and Saturday, but looks to remain to the east of the island. But just because the storm will remain clear of the East Coast, doesn't mean we won't feel some effects from the storm.

Like Justin wrote below, long period swells (13-15 seconds) are already affecting the Mid Atlantic coast. The swells will continue over the next few days and conditions may become a little rough in and around inlets. There is also a moderate risk for rip currents today and through the weekend and even into the early part of next week. A moderate risk for rip currents mean that weather and ocean conditions are favorable for a greater than normal potential for rip current formation. Usually several rip currents will form and a few may be strong.


Rip current shot from above (Courtesy NOAA)

If you're at the beach and you see turbulent water traveling from the beach back out to sea, chances are it's a rip current forming! Be careful if you're swimming nearby. Here are some tips:

* Remember, always swim at beaches guarded by lifeguards.
* Remain calm.
* Signal to someone on the beach that you need help.
* If you're a strong swimmer, try to swim parallel to the beach until you're out of the current and then swim toward the shore.
* No matter how strong of a swimmer you are, never try to swim back to the shore directly against the rip current!!
* For less confident swimmers, wade sideways parallel to the beach until you are out of the current and then swim back to shore.

For more information on rip currents, head to http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/akq/marine/rip.php

July 10 Highlights

July 10th is a busy day in weather history. From extreme heat to powerful storms, Mother Nature was provided lots of activity on this day in history. Here are a few examples from the weather notebook.

The heat was on...
1913 - The highest official temperature (134 F) ever recorded in the United States is observed at Greenland Ranch, Death Valley, California. It's also considered to be the warmest temperature ever in the Western Hemisphere.

1936 - Many of the Mid Atlantic states set records for hottest temperatures ever:
Maryland hit 109F at Cumberland and Frederick
New Jersey reached 110F at Runyon
West Virginia's hottest temperature reached 112F in Martinsburg
Pennsylvania recorded 111F in Phoenixville

Severe weather too...
1926 - Lightning explodes an ammunition magazine at the the Naval Ammunition Depot at Lake Denmark, New Jersey. The explosion destroyed every building within a 1/2 mile radius and debris fell as far as 25 miles away. 16 people died and damage totaled $70 million in what may have been the costliest lightning bolt in United States history.

1989 - Major tornado outbreak in the northeast as 15 twisters touched down in New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Connecticut. An F3 tornado caused $20 million in damage and 20 injuries through parts of New York. An F4 tornado in Connecticut caused $100 million in damage. Another twister was reported near New York City. The thunderstorm complex that produced the tornadoes produced over 12,500 lightning strikes.

Courtesy http://www.theweathercompany.com/cgi-bin/wxnotebook.pl

Tropical Swell Potential

The potential for the first tropical swell this year is exciting local surfers and bodyboarders across Delmarva. In the local surf world, the buzz is are we going to see waves from Bertha? Even though the storm is not very big, has been fluctuating in intensity, and very far away, we should still see some waves. Even if they are not very big, any fun sized swell is welcomed during the summertime.

The first sign of some swell energy should arrive Thurs. PM in the form of higher period groundswell. The swell period is expected to be 13-14 seconds, which is the time between each wave. The higher the wave period, indicates swell from a far away storm. 14 seconds is very high for this area, typically we see around 6 seconds. Heading into the weekend, larger set waves should develop and right now some wave models show some bigger sets chest high to head high possibly. The swell right now looks to peak Saturday and Sunday but may last longer if Bertha slows down as forecast. A chest to head swell in the summer would make many if not all local surfer happy.

Of course there are other factors that go into play for waves that big, such as tides, sandbars, swell direction, and local wind. These can either help or hurt the waves height potential. Meteorology plays a big role in wave forecasting but experience is something that increases someone's knowledge greatly. There are so many local surfers who have surfed and lived here for many years and have seen the ground truth from many weather/storm setups which produce waves. They have a good idea of what to expect and where to surf during certain storm setups. So of course you have some people saying it is going to be decent size and others that say it won't be as big as we think. Either way, there will be something to ride over the next few days and that is better than a typical summer flat spell.

Today's Storms

Well I guess I have to start off with Bertha to keep the streak of Bertha posts going. Bertha has weakened into a Category 1 hurricane today as it moved into an environment with some increased wind shear and cooler water. Wind Shear helps rip apart tropical systems so they lose there structure and strength. It will be interesting to see if the storm can intensify again. The track looks to remain to the East of Bermuda as of now.

Back home, all was quiet today before a complex of showers and storms developed over Southeast VA and headed Northeast through Delmarva. There were some severe thunderstorm warnings on Delmarva. Two severe storms came across Sussex county DE with wind gusts over 60 mph. There was no storm reports issued but our weather watcher Hunter Outten from Frankford, DE had small hail and strong wind gusts. Another round of storms is possible later Wednesday as a cold front approaches.

Fluctuating Bertha

Not only did Bertha become the first Hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane season yesterday, but Bertha also became the first major hurricane of the season when she strengthened to a Category Three storm yesterday evening. Early this morning Bertha was still holding strong with winds near 120 mph, however this afternoon the much anticipated weakening occurred... Bertha is now at Category Two storm.

Let's check out some pictures of Bertha...



The image above goes back 12 hours (from 11 a.m. on Tuesday.) At this point Hurricane Bertha was still a Category Three, Major Hurricane. The yellow arrow points to the eye.

The following image is from 11 a.m. on Tuesday. At this point Bertha was only a Category Two storm. You can see the eye no longer defined as above.



Your Hurricane Bertha Update:
Hurricane Bertha, now only a Category Two Hurricane, has maximum sustained winds near 105 mph, with high gusts, a minimum central pressure of 970 millibars and is moving northwest at about 10 mph. Bertha is about 660 miles east-northeast of the Northern Leeward Islands and 975 miles southeast of Bermuda. Additional weakening is in the forecast for Bertha. There is a chance Bertha could impact Bermuda, but it is still too soon to tell for sure.

Hurricane Bertha even stronger....

Tropical Storm Bertha became the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season early this morning. WHILE IT IS STILL TOO EARLY TO TELL IF BERTHA WILL THREATEN LAND, depending on the direction Bertha continues to take, there may be potential impacts to Bermuda.

Over the past 6 hours, Bertha’s eye has become more distinct. With maximum sustained winds of 90 mph, she is a category one hurricane and may become a category two storm later today. (A category two hurricane has winds of 96-110 mph.)

FORECAST MODELS DO INDICATE THERE ARE ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS THAT MAY CAUSE BERTHA TO WEAKEN DOWN THE ROAD.

Right now Bertha is headed WNW at 15 mph and is expected to turn more to the north and slow down over the next day.

Central pressure is sitting at 975 mb.

Hurricane force winds extend outward up to 25 mph, with tropical storm force winds outward up to 115 mph.

Right now, Bertha is located 775 miles off the Northern Leeward Islands. If you are not familiar with this location, the Leeward Islands include the Virgin Islands and are located where the Caribbean Sea meets the Atlantic Ocean.

CHECK BACK FOR UPDATES ON HOW THIS STORM MAY AFFECT ANY VACATION PLANS AND OUR WEATHER ON DELMARVA.

Bertha... Now a Hurricane

Tropical Storm Bertha, now Hurricane Bertha, is the first hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season.

Bertha was located about 845 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands at 5 a.m. this morning. Hurricane Bertha is moving west-northwest at about 17 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 75 miles, with higher wind gusts and a minimum central pressure of 987 millibars.



According to the National Hurricane Center, it is still too soon to tell if Bertha will affect any land.

Tropical Storm Bertha... or Hurricane Bertha?

Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 1,055 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands at 5 p.m. on Sunday. Bertha is moving west-northwest at about 20 mph with maximum sustained winds of 60 mph, with higher gusts and a minimum central pressure of 998 millibars. At this point it is too soon to tell if Bertha will affect any land areas, however she may become a hurricane over the next couple of days.

To become a hurricane, Bertha needs maximum sustained winds of 74 mph! Not to far off, especially since her winds have strengthened 10 mph in the past day. With that said, Bertha may be the first hurricane of our 2008 Atlantic Hurricane season.

Update on Bertha

Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 885 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands and 1,705 miles east of the Northern Leeward Islands at 11 a.m. this morning. Bertha is moving west at about 21 mph with maximum sustained winds of 50 mph, with higher gusts and a minimum central pressure of 1000 millibars.

Yesterday's Sunset

Here is another picture sent in by Steve Oppel of yesterday's sunset. The picture was taken in Wicomico county, close to the WMDT News Station.

Number Two in the Lineup

It is official, we now have our second tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic Hurricane Season.



Tropical Storm Bertha was located about 190 miles south-southwest of the Cape Verde Islands at 11 a.m. The outer bands from this storm are currently affecting the southern Cape Verde Islands. Bertha is moving at about 14 mph, west-northwest with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph, with stronger gusts. The minimum pressure is 1006 mb (29.71".) The tropical storm force winds extend about 35 miles out.

Tropical Depression TWO...perhaps Tropical Storm Bertha soon

I mentioned something was brewing in the Atlantic a few days ago... as of this morning that tropical wave is officially Tropical Depression TWO. At 5 a.m. this morning, the National Hurricane Center said this system was located about 250 miles south-southeast of the Cape Verde Islands. This system is moving west-northwest at about 9 mph, with maximum sustained winds near 35 mph. This system is expected to strengthen; if that is the case this system would be the second tropical storm of the season, Tropical Storm Bertha. We'll keep you updated on how this system may/may not affect the weather on Delmarva or any of your vacation plans.

Pictures from You...

Here are a few pictures that have been sent into us over the past couple of days.

First I am going to start with a few pictures sent in from one of our Weather Watchers, Hunter Outten from Frankford, Del. These pictures were some of the thunderstorms that rolled across Delmarva this past Monday.

This first pictures looks like a shelf cloud associated with the thunderstorm. A shelf cloud is typically found of the leading edge of a thunderstorm. Unlike a roll cloud, which is completely detached from the parent cloud (if you go back to April's blog you will find an example of a roll cloud,) a shelf cloud is attached to it's parent cloud, in this case the thunderstorm. If you haven't guessed already, a shelf cloud gets its name because it looks like a shelf in the sky.




Hunter said the next picture was taken as the storm was moving away. It is a pretty cool picture of the thunderstorm.



From what I can tell in the following picture, it looks like Hunter captured a picture of mammatocumulus (have fun pronouncing that one!) According to wikipedia.org, mammatocumulus stands for "bumpy clouds." I tried to add an arrow to part of the picture where I thought you could best see the "bump."



Talk about different types of weather. The pictures above were all from thunderstorms associated with a cold front that stalled out over us, producing a few nights with some nasty weather. The following day, Tuesday, Steve Oppel who works in Master Control here at WMDT, sent the following picture in. I think this is a great picture. It's amazing how you can having menacing clouds as in Hunters pictures above and then pleasant clouds like in the picture below.



Thanks for all of the pictures!! I am always looking for new pictures to place on the blog and on-air during the weathercasts. May it be a storm picture, or just a picture of a nice summer day, please send them in to weather@wmdt.com.

Update on the Tropical Wave

From the National Hurricane Center:

"THE WELL-DEFINED TROPICAL WAVE IN THE FAR EASTERN ATLANTIC...ABOUT 300 MILES SOUTHEAST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS...HAS NOT BECOME ANY BETTER ORGANIZED THIS MORNING AS IT CONTINUES WESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 MPH. HOWEVER...ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS APPEAR FAVORABLE FOR SOME ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT...AND THIS SYSTEM HAS THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME A TROPICAL DEPRESSION OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS. "

Something brewing in the Atlantic?

It looks like something is brewing in the Atlantic Ocean...



Here is an update from the National Hurricane Center:

“ A STRONG TROPICAL WAVE IS LOCATED OVER THE EXTREME EASTERN ATLANTIC OCEAN ABOUT 150 MILES WEST OF THE WEST COAST OF AFRICA. THIS SYSTEM IS ACCOMPANIED BY A BROAD AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AND A WEAK SURFACE LOW. SLOW DEVELOPMENT OF THIS SYSTEM IS POSSIBLE DURING THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT ABOUT 15 TO 20 MPH.”

June Review

The month of June ended warmer and wetter than normal. The average high temperature in Salisbury was 86.6°...that's 4.1° warmer than normal. We had 10 days when the high temperature reached 90° or above.

Good news for farmers, we received 4.45" of rain in June...that's 0.88" above normal. Last year at this time, we were behind 1.09" for June. So far in 2008, Salisbury is 3.63" above normal in terms of rainfall.


Salisbury wasn't the only location that ended June warmer than normal. Richmond's average high temp for June was 91.4° - the highest on record! The previous highest had been 90° in 1984. Here are some other facts for Richmond:

***19 DAYS HIT 90+ IN JUNE. THIS RANKS 2ND (MOST 90+ DAYS FOR ANY
JUNE IS 20 IN 1943).

***THE 13 CONSECUTIVE DAYS WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES 90+ FROM JUNE 4-16
TIED 1943 (JUNE 16-28) FOR THE LONGEST SUCH STREAK WITHIN JUNE.

***THE 3 DAYS OF 100+ HIGH TEMPERATURES (JUNE 7, 8, AND 10) ARE THE
MOST OF ANY JUNE SINCE 1952 WHEN 3 WERE ALSO RECORDED.


Norfolk also ended June on a warm note.

***AVG HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR THE MONTH WAS 89.3 F...THE HIGHEST ON
RECORD. (PREVIOUS HIGHEST HAD BEEN 88.8 F IN 1943).

***THE 2 DAYS OF 100+ HIGH TEMPERATURES (JUNE 7 AND 10) ARE THE MOST
OF ANY JUNE SINCE 1952 WHEN 2 WERE ALSO RECORDED.

Courtesy NWS

End of Heat Wave

After 4 days of true summer heat, the heat wave looks to be over. Here's a look at Salisbury's high temps over the past four days:

Thursday (6/26) - 92°
Friday (6/26) - 91°
Saturday (6/26) - 92°
Sunday (6/26) - 91°

Today looks to remain warm but shy of that 90° mark. A stationary front, which used to be a cold front, will remain draped along the Eastern seaboard today. The front along with some upper level energy rotating through the area will act as trigger mechanisms to spark showers and thunderstorms across the Mid Atlantic. While isolated light rain showers are currently appearing across Delmarva, the best chance for storms will occur this afternoon/evening. The front finally exits the coast tomorrow and a much cooler and less humid airmass will filter in. There is a slight chance for an afternoon shower tomorrow, but the bulk of the area should remain dry. High pressure builds in for Wednesday and Thursday providing mostly sunny conditions. Another cold front will approach for July 4th but it looks like the best chance for showers will hold off until the weekend (if even then...). With a big Bermuda high sitting off the southeast coast, we'll see if the cold front can even make it this far south. If the cold front stalls to our north, we would remain sunny and warm. Stay tuned...

On June 30th in History...

Still no activity on the Atlantic basin and the same situation as blogged about below for the Pacific, but in the past things were a little different for June 30th.  

In 1989: 

"29.52 inches of rain fell in 6 days from Tropical Storm Allison in Winnfield, Louisiana." 

Also:

"Shreveport LA finishes its wettest June ever with 17.11 inches of rain during the month. The previous mark was 14.67 inches, set in 1986. Some areas received as much as 24 inches. The excessive rainfall was primarily the result of the remnants of Tropical Storm Allison." 

In 1994:  

"Tropical Storm Alberto moved inland near Panama City, Florida, causing virtually no damage. The storm then stalled over south Georgia. Over 20 inches of rain fell in some areas, causing extensive flooding that drove 30,000 people from their homes."

Source: http://www.theweathercompany.com/cgi-bin/wxnotebooksearch.pl 

Tropical Storms in the Pacific

While there is no activity on the Atlantic, there are two tropical storms in the Pacific basin. Here are a few images from The Weather Channel:

"B"


"C"


And a look at the Satellite Image:

Delmarva Highs

Following up on Kira's blog this morning, no record highs, but she was right when she said it would be a close one for Wallops Island.... 91 as the high today in Wallops Island, so a degree shy of tying the old record!! Here are the rest of today's highs:

Salisbury: 91
Ocean City: 93
Dover: 93
Georgetown: 94
Melfa: 97
Wallops Island: 91

Heat Continues

While no records were broken yesterday, Wallops Island may break their record for today. Here are a list of today's record highs across the area:

Georgetown 98 - 1952
Salisbury 99 - 1952
Wallops Island 92 - 2003, 1989

Similarly to yesterday, the chance for showers and storms exists today. That's why the Storm Prediction Center has placed part of the area in a slight risk for severe storms (the area highlighted in green).



A chunk of energy will move across the Mid Atlantic today. With strong heating and lots of moisture in the atmosphere, thunderstorms are possible later this afternoon through the evening. Remember if you're outdoors and the sky darkens, head inside and take cover.

Hot Weekend Ahead

As Kira mentioned, another old fashioned heat wave is underway, but not as hot as the heat wave earlier in the month. Classic setup with high pressure off the East Coast with Southwesterly flow pumping in the heat and humidity. High temperatures today topped off in the low to mid 90s around the shore. Not quite near the record highs on upper 90s to around 100 as no records were set today. However, the 90s will continue through Sunday.

Just as mentioned below, with the increased humidity and daytime heating, there remains be a chance of isolated storms on Friday and Saturday. A slow moving cold front is still slated to approach later Sunday and Monday providing a better chance of scattered showers and storms during this time period. I am thinking Monday looks like the best bet for any wet weather. Right now, it looks like the front will slide offshore enough by Tuesday to bring some relief from the heat and humidity. Highs will then drop into the mid 80s for mid-week with lower humidity. Stay cool!!!

Welcome back summer!

If you missed the heat and humidity of days past, well, you get another chance to enjoy it. The next few days will be well above average with highs reaching the mid 90s with dewpoints in the upper 60s! It could be another mini-heat wave if we have 3 or more consecutive days of 90+ temperatures. Here are list of today's records...

Georgetown 99 - 1952
Salisbury 100 - 1952
Wallops Island 93 - 2003, 1968

While it doesn't look like Salisbury or Georgetown will break their records, Wallops Island should come close.

A big Bermuda high pressure system will sit off the southeast coast pumping heat and humidity northward. The heat index, or what it feels like, will be near 100° over the next few days. In typical summertime fashion, there is a chance for scattered pop up showers/storms each day. The best chance for showers will hold off until Sunday and Monday when a cold front is expected to pass through the area. Highs should remain in the mid to upper 80s for the beginning of July.

As of yesterday, June was averaging 3.99° above normal (for the high temperature). With temperatures expected to stay in the 90s, June should end well above average. Will it continue into July?? Stay tuned...

Lightning Awareness Week

As Lightning Awareness Week continues, today's topic is lightning safety. Below is some important safety information for when you are outside, inside, or on the water.

Safe Buildings
"A safe building is one that is fully enclosed with a roof, walls and floor, such as a home, school, office building or a shopping center. Even inside, you should take precautions. Picnic shelters, dugouts, sheds and other partially open or small structures are NOT safe."

"Enclosed buildings are safe because of wiring and plumbing. If lightning strikes these types of buildings, or an outside telephone pole, the electrical current from the flash will typically travel through the wiring or the plumbing into the ground. This is why you should stay away from showers, sinks, hot tubs, etc., and electronic equipment such as TVs, radios, and computers."

"Lightning can damage or destroy electronics so it's important to have a proper lightning protection system connected to your electronic equipment. The American Meteorological Society has tips for protecting your electronics from lightning."

Unsafe Buildings
"Examples of buildings which are unsafe include car ports, covered but open garages, covered patio, picnic shelters, beach shacks/pavilions, golf shelters, camping tents, large outdoor tents, baseball dugouts and other small buildings such as sheds and greenhouses that do not have electricity or plumbing."

Safe Vehicle
"A safe vehicle is a hard-topped car, SUV, minivan, bus, tractor, etc. (soft-topped convertibles are not safe) . If you seek shelter in your vehicle, make sure all doors are closed and windows rolled up. Do not touch any metal surfaces."

"If you're driving when a thunderstorm starts, pull off the roadway. A lightning flash hitting the vehicle could startle you and cause temporary blindness, especially at night."

"Do not use electronic devices such as HAM radios during a thunderstorm. Lightning striking the vehicle, especially the antennas, could cause serious injury if you are talking on the radio or holding the microphone at the time of the flash. Emergency officials such as police officers, firefighters, security officers, etc., should use extreme caution using radio equipment when lightning is in the area."

"Your vehicle and its electronics may be damaged if hit by lightning. Vehicles struck by lightning are known to have flat tires the next day. This occurs because the lightning punctures tiny holes in the tires. Vehicles have caught fire after being struck by lightning; however, there is no modern day documented cases of vehicles "exploding" due to a lightning flash."


When a Safe Location is Nearby:
"Seek safe shelter when you first hear thunder, see dark threatening clouds developing overhead or lightning. Count the seconds between the time you see lightning and hear the thunder.
Stay inside until 30 minutes after you last hear thunder."


"Figure: When you hear thunder, run to the nearest large building or a fully enclosed vehicle. You are not safe anywhere outside."

"Plan Ahead! Your best source of up-to-date weather information is a NOAA Weather Radio (NWR). Portable weather radios are handy for outdoor activities. If you don't have NWR, stay up to date via internet, TV, local radio or cell phone. If you are in a group, make sure all leaders or members of the group have a lightning safety plan and are ready to use it."

"Determine how far you are from a safe enclosed building or a safe vehicle. As soon as you hear thunder, see lightning or see dark threatening clouds, get to a safe location. Then wait 30 minutes after the last rumble of thunder before you leave the safe location. If you are part of a group, particularly a large one, you will need more time to get all group members to safety. NWS recommends having professional lightning detection equipment so your group can be alerted from significant distances from the event site."

"When groups are involved, the time needed to get to safety increases. So you need to start leaving sooner. Your entire group should already be in a safe location when the approaching storm reaches within 5 miles from your location."


On the Water
"The vast majority of lightning injuries and deaths on boats occur on small boats with NO cabin. It is crucial to listen to the weather on a small aquatic vessel without a cabin. If thunderstorms are forecast, don't go out. If you are out on the water and skies are threatening, get back to land and find a safe building or vehicle."

"Boats with cabins offer a safer but not perfect environment. Safety is increased further if the boat has a properly installed lightning protection system. If you are inside the cabin, stay away from metal and all electrical components. STAY OFF THE RADIO UNLESS IT IS AN ABSOLUTE EMERGENCY!"

"What should you do if you are on a small vessel and lightning becomes a threat? If the vessel has an anchor, then you should properly anchor the boat then get as low as possible."

"Large boats with cabins, especially those with lightning protection systems properly installed or metal marine vessels are relatively safe. Remember to stay inside the cabin and away from any metal surfaces."

Source: NOAA

Lightning Safety Awareness Week Part Two

Keeping with the theme of Lightning Safety Awareness Week, here are some facts from www.noaa.gov about lightning.

"Each spark of lightning can reach over five miles in length, soar to temperatures of approximately 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit, and contain 100 million electrical volts. "

"At any given moment, there are 1,800 thunderstorms in progress somewhere on the earth. This amounts to 16 million storms each year! "

"Lightning has been seen in volcanic eruptions, extremely intense forest fires, surface nuclear detonations, heavy snowstorms, and in large hurricanes, however, it is most often seen in thunderstorms."

"Ice in a cloud seems to be a key element in the development of lightning. Storms that fail to produce quantities of ice may also fail to produce lightning. In a storm, the ice particles vary in size from small ice crystals to larger hailstones, but in the rising and sinking motions within the storm there are a lot of collisions between the particles. This causes a separation of electrical charges. Positively charged ice crystals rise to the top of the thunderstorm, and negatively charged ice particles and hailstones drop to the middle and lower parts of the storm. Enormous charge differences (electrical differential) develops. "

"A moving thunderstorm gathers another pool of positively charged particles along the ground that travel with the storm. As the differences in charges continue to increase, positively charged particles rise up taller objects such as trees, houses, and telephone poles. Have you ever been under a storm and had your hair stand up? Yes, the particles also can move up you! This is one of nature's warning signs that says you are in the wrong place, and you may be a lightning target!

The negatively charged area in the storm will send out a charge toward the ground called a stepped leader. It is invisible to the human eye, and moves in steps in less than a second toward the ground. When it gets close to the ground, it is attracted by all these positively charged objects, and a channel develops. You see the electrical transfer in this channel as lightning. There may be several return strokes of electricity within the established channel that you will see as flickering lightning."

"The lightning channel heats rapidly to 50,000 degrees. The rapid expansion of heated air causes the thunder. Since light travels faster than sound in the atmosphere, the sound will be heard after the lightning. If you see lightning and hear thunder at the same time, that lightning is in your neighborhood! "

"Not all lightning forms in the negatively charged area low in the thunderstorm cloud. Some lightning originates in the cirrus anvil at the top of the thunderstorm. This area carries a large positive charge. Lightning from this area is called positive lightning. This type is particularly dangerous for several reasons. It frequently strikes away from the rain core, either ahead or behind the thunderstorm. It can strike as far as 5 or 10 miles from the storm, in areas that most people do not consider to be a lightning risk area. The other problem with positive lightning is it typically has a longer duration, so fires are more easily ignited. Positive lightning usually carries a high peak electrical current, which increases the lightning risk to an individual. "

Double Rainbow

Picture courtesy of a DC viewer!!

Some powerful storms rocked the area last night with heavy rain and lots of lightning! But before they made it to the Eastern Shore, they slammed into DC. The above picture was taken from around DC after the storms passed. It's a great shot of a double rainbow. Double rainbows aren't nearly as common as a single rainbow.

Rainbows are caused by the bending of sunlight as it goes through raindrops. The light is first refracted as it enters the surface of the raindrop, then reflected off the back of the drop, and again refracted as it leaves the drop.

Rainbows appear with red on the outer part of the arch and violet on the inner section. Unfortunately, there is no pot of gold at the end of a rainbow. That's because rainbows do not actually exist at a particular location. It is an optical illusion whose position depends on the location of the sun and person viewing it. All raindrops refract and reflect the sunlight in the same way, but only the light from some raindrops reaches the observer's eye. This light is what creates the rainbow for the person. The position of a rainbow is always in the opposite direction of the Sun with respect to the observer, and the interior is always slightly brighter than the exterior.

Occasionally, a second rainbow is found. Usually these are dimmer and thicker than the primary bow. Secondary rainbows are caused by a double reflection of sunlight inside the raindrops. As a result of the second reflection, the colors of a secondary rainbow are in reverse order compared to the primary bow. Violet appears on the outside and red is visible on the inside.


Information courtesy wikipedia.com

Lightning Safety Awareness Week

June 22nd through the 28th is Lightning Safety Awareness Week.  

According to NOAA, "on average, 62 people die every year from lightning strikes, with hundreds of additional injuries reported."

Here are a few safety pointers from NOAA.

If you are indoors:

"*Avoid contact with electrical equipment or cords. If you plan to unplug any electronic equipment, do so well before the storm arrives.
*Avoid contact with plumbing. Do not wash your hands, do not take a shower, do not wash dishes, and do not do laundry.
*Avoid contact with corded phones.
*Stay away from windows and doors, and stay off porches.
*Wait 30 minutes after you hear the last rumble of thunder before going out again."

If you are outdoors:

"*Do not seek shelter under tall or isolated trees. Lightning typically strikes the tallest object in an area.
*Avoid open areas. You don’t want to be the tallest object.
*Do not seek shelter under partially enclosed buildings.
*If you are camping, be ready to seek safe shelter in a vehicle or substantial building if a thunderstorm threatens. A tent offers no protection from lighting.
*Stay away from metal fences and poles that could conduct lightning to you.
*If you are on a boat, return to shore immediately and seek safe shelter."

Source: www.noaa.gov

On This Day

On Thursday the landfall of Hurricane Agnes was mentioned, today in history that hurricane had an impact on our area:

"1972 - The remnants of Hurricane Agnes cause tremendous rains of 10-20 inches across Maryland, Virginia, New York and Pennsylvania. Tremendous flooding occurred in Pennsylvania. Much of Wilkes-Baare, Pennsylvania was destroyed when floodwaters breached a dike and a wall of water inundated the town. $3.5 billion in damage and 122 killed as a result of the floods."

Not about our area, but since the Midwest has been seeing a lot of tornadoes and flooding, here are more facts about this day in history related to those topics.

"1919 - 59 people were killed as an F5 tornado ripped through the town of Fergus Falls, Minnesota. 400 buildings were destroyed. A blank check was found over 60 miles away and lumber was carried 10 miles."

"1947 - 12 inches of rain fell in 42 minutes at Holt Missouri to set a new world record for intense rainfall. The record would be tied in January 24-25, 1956 in Hawaii at the Kilauea Sugar Plantation."

Source: http://www.theweathercompany.com/cgi-bin/wxnotebook.pl

The Other Side

As a meteorologist/journalist, it is always important to look at both sides of every issue, including "Global Warming."

This blog simply presents another side to the previous blog, "Eye Into the Future."

This blog is not implying that our weather team believes Global Warming is/is not occuring, it is simplying posting direct quotes from an article found discussed on a weather forum.

All quotes and diagrams are taken directly from The Register: "Is the earth getting warmer, or cooler? A tale of two thermometers" by Steven Goddard. The article goes further into detail and can be found at this link: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/05/02/a_tale_of_two_thermometers/

"Two authorities provide us with analysis of long-term surface temperature trends. Both agree on the global temperature trend until 1998, at which time a sharp divergence occurred. The UK Meteorological Office's Hadley Center for Climate Studies Had-Crut data shows worldwide temperatures declining since 1998. According to Hadley's data, the earth is not much warmer now than it was than it was in 1878 or 1941. By contrast, NASA data shows worldwide temperatures increasing at a record pace - and nearly a full degree warmer than 1880."

Hadley's Data from April 2008


NASA's Data from April 2008



"The other two widely used global temperature data sources are from earth-orbiting satellites UAH (University of Alabama at Huntsville) and RSS (Remote Sensing Systems.)"








"Confusing? How can scientists who report measurements of the earth's temperature within one one-hundredth of a degree be unable to concur if the temperature is going up or down over a ten year period? Something appears to be inconsistent with the NASA data - but what is it?

One clue we can see is that NASA has been reworking recent temperatures upwards and older temperatures downwards - which creates a greater slope and the appearance of warming. Canadian statistician Steve McIntyre has been tracking the changes closely on his Climate Audit site, and reports that NASA is Rewriting History, Time and Time Again. The recent changes can be seen by comparing the NASA 1999 and 2007 US temperature graphs."