DC: Deliciously Crisp

Now

Sunny, warm, low humidity. Thank you, Canada, for your favorite summer export. Following yesterday's somewhat skimpy showers in many places, the humidity began to drop in earnest around midnight, and by early this afternoon many locations in the metro area were reporting dewpoints in the very crisp upper 40s. Combined with temperatures in the mid 80s, relative humidities were in the low 30% range and less. A northwesterly breeze gusting over 20 mph at times just added frosting to the comfort concoction. Heat relief should last into the weekend.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Open the windows! If you haven't already done so, turn off the AC for a mostly clear and comfortable night. Lows should easily reach the mid 60s in the city and as low as the mid 50s in the outer 'burbosphere. Tomorrow should also be quite comfortable, but with some more clouds in the afternoon and a slight chance of showers or thunderstorms. Highs will be 83-87°.

For the outlook through the the weekend and beyond with Larson's Long-Range, scroll on down to Josh's post below.

Climate Clues: The Sun Also Falls

If you missed our preview Monday of an important new paper on the effect of solar activity on climate, it's now being featured more broadly in the press (although apparently not in the WaPo). The Beeb has an excellent summary, and there are articles at New Scientist online and the Wired science blog. Of course, if you really want to do your homework, the actual paper (pdf) is also available.

The cable noise networks and squawk radio like to dismiss climate change issues and especially greenhouse gas mitigation as "just politics", but an article, "Florida's Governor To Limit Emissions", on the front page of today's WaPo business section contradicts that viewpoint. (See also the Miami Herald). The Republican Gov. Crist of Florida is following the lead of the Republican Gov. Schwarzenegger of California in setting standards for greenhouse gas emissions from automobiles. Also in the same article is a description of the climate-change bill introduced yesterday with bipartisan support by Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.).

Chart from Proceedings of the Royal Society, via BBC.

Tropical Troubles

The Florida Sun-Sentinel has a new interview today with former National Hurricane Center Director Proenza.