Much-Needed Rain on the Way OutClassic Fall Conditions on the Way In

Now

Cloudy, muggy, showers. After persistent summer heat in the first third of the month, the crashing sound you heard today was that of busting temperature forecasts (see yesterday's PM Update for a prime example). The lingering, but much-needed, showers have kept temperatures to the low and mid 70s this afternoon in the metro area.

Through early afternoon, National had recorded slightly under half an inch of rain, and Dulles was closer to two-thirds. The NWS Precipitation Analysis to the right shows a healthy band (dark blue) of quarter to half-inch rainfall across DC and the Beltway vicinity, with some higher amounts (green) around Dulles and also to the south.

Clearing and drying overnight following a cold frontal passage should lead to a much more pleasant and fall-like midweek.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Showers ending, clearing, comfortable. Showers will end from west to east by early this evening, and clouds will decrease toward morning, along with lower humidity. Lows will range from the low and mid 60s in the urbosphere to some upper 50s in the outer sub-urbosphere. Tomorrow will be sunny and comfortable with northwesterly breezes and highs 78-82°.

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

Tropical Topics

Tropical Depression Gabrielle was dissipating as it moved eastward well south of Nova Scotia, and the last advisory was issued at 11 this morning.

The showers and storms associated with a tropical wave over 1000 miles east of the Windward Islands were weaker this morning, but the area still has the potential to become a depression in the next couple of days.

Awesome August

Matt noted earlier the record summer heat and significant dryness in the DC area. August conditions were even more extreme in other parts of the country. The Weather Channel's Dr. Greg Forbes recently posted a discussion of those extremes. Several Midwest locations, including Madison WI, Rochester MN, and Rockford IL, had their wettest month ever, while seven others had their wettest August. Opposite records were set in Missouri, Arkansas, North Carolina, Kentucky, and Michigan, where several places had their driest August or even driest month ever (North Little Rock, 0.01").

In the temperature department, a number of places had their warmest month on record. These were in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, the Carolinas, and Tennessee. An additional 20 stations in 13 states had their all-time record warmest August.