Anticipation: Keeping Us WaitingScattered afternoon and evening storms expected

** Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect Until 8 PM **

Now

Warm, humid, chance of thunderstorms. After days of anticipation of rain, humidity has crept up a little bit more overnight. A substantial area of thunderstorms moving southeastward from eastern West Virginia and the Maryland panhandle was keeping itself together, but weakening as it crossed I-81 by mid afternoon, giving the best prospect in recent days for some storms in the metro area. Temperatures are quite warm, exceeding 90° in most places shortly after noon, with some southern spots like Fredericksburg and Stafford reaching the mid 90s.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Warm, humid, chance of thunderstorms, some possibly severe. Based on the approaching area of storms, the chance of rain has increased to 50% through this evening. Some storms may be locally severe. Lows tonight will be in the low 70s downtown to the upper 60s in the 'burbs. Tomorrow will be partly to mostly sunny, warm, and humid with highs 89-94° and a 30% chance of afternoon or evening thundershowers.

For the outlook through the rest of the weekend, scroll on down to Camden's post below.

Under the Radar

It doesn't seem to have been reported in the press, but the aptly-named Rep. Flake of Arizona kept the vote on a science appropriations bill waiting on Thursday by submitting a series of amendments. Among them was one to remove $720K in funding for a Doppler radar system at the Meteorology Dept. of Valparaiso University in Indiana. According to his remarks, Mr. Flake apparently still believes as he was taught that

"the best way to tell the weather was to stick your arm out the window of the vehicle as we were going down a farm road."

The amendment was defeated by voice vote. See p. H8628 of the Congressional Record for details.

More Political Science

The Union of Concerned Scientists has announced the winner of the Scientific Integrity Editorial Cartoon Contest. The UCS web site has a handy alphabetical list by agency, including Climate Change Science Program (CCSP), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and NASA. Among the several NOAA examples of political interference are:

• Taking sides on the hurricane intensity issue
• Selective approval of global warming media interviews
• Requiring "minders" at interviews

Check out the new Hill Heat site for the latest news on Capitol Hill climate change activities.