Friday, October 7, 2005

Super Soaker Scenario

FLOOD WATCH REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH SATURDAY AFTERNOON

The Washington DC metro area is being soaked with drought-busting downpours today. As of 2pm, the Official Bucket had picked up 1.23", but a mid afternoon lull was broken by a new wave of moderate to heavy rain moving up I-95. This new batch reduced visibilities as low as 1/4 mile and added 0.56" more rain by 4pm. This amount has already broken the daily record for October 7 of 1.60" in 1965. Rain is continuing, but it was light in the latest report, with another 0.24" added as of 5pm. The Doppler radar estimate of total rainfall shows some amounts in the 5" range in the higher elevations to the west.

Following the latest band of heavy showers, there will be another relative lull in the rain later this evening, but there is plenty more tropical moisture available to continue the festivities through much of the weekend. Jason has laid out a chronology of events in his earlier post. Stay tuned for updates through the weekend.

Tropical Beat

The low pressure area which was over western Cuba yesterday has weakened, but the moisture from it is moving north and bringing a lot of rain to Florida.

A low about 425 miles northeast of the Leeward Islands has been designated a "Special Feature" by the National Hurricane Center, and it has some potential to develop within the next 36 hours.

There are several tropical waves located from the central Caribbean eastward to the eastern Atlantic.

More Divine Wind

You can hear an interview with Dr. Kerry Emanuel, author of "Divine Wind", which was mentioned in yesterday's afternoon update, at the website of the Living on Earth radio program. There is also a transcript of the interview. Prof. Emanuel was interviewed on NPR on Sept. 6. The book is the text for a seminar being given this semester at UCLA. Lecture materials are being posted on the class website. If you happen to be in Bermuda next Wednesday, Prof. Emanuel is presenting a lecture at the Bermuda Biological Station for Research.

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