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.