Friday, August 28, 2009

Texas Heat Record Update: Century-Mark String Broken


Image: Forecast high temperatures for August 29, from National Weather Service

For other record temperatures in Texas and elsewhere, see:
Record Heat
Record Cold


It was still hot in south-central Texas on Friday, but temperatures failed to reach the century mark for a change in San Antonio and Austin. The highs for August 28:
Austin/Mabry     98°
Austin/Bergstrom 97°
San Antonio 97°
Del Rio 98°
This is only the third time this month that the temperature has failed to reach 100° at Austin. Temperatures are once again forecast to be in the upper 90s in the region on Saturday.

Disorganized Danny Diminishes Danger:
Weak Tropical Storm Expected to Bypass East Coast

A low-pressure trough to the west has provided wind shear and dry air to keep Tropical Storm Danny at minimal strength. Air Force Reserve reconnaissance this afternoon indicates the storm's maximum winds remain at 40 mph with some higher gusts. After stalling earlier in the day, Danny was moving north at 6 mph from a position about 330 miles south of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina as of 5 pm.

A more north-northeasterly track and increase in forward speed is likely to take the storm east of the Outer Banks early Saturday and offshore of New England Saturday night, then near the Canadian Maritimes on Sunday. Some slight strengthening is possible in the next 24 hours, but the storm will be moving into an area of unfavorable conditions for development, and it is expected to lose its tropical characteristics within 36 hours.

Rainfall in excess of 80 mm is expected in portions of the Maritimes.

Image (click to enlarge): Tropical Storm Danny forecast track from National Hurricane Center; Rainfall forecast from The Weather Network

August Snow in Labrador


CBC News reports online that western Labrador received a dusting of wet snow early on Thursday. The mixed light rain and snow that fell during the early morning hours at Labrador City in the far western corner of the province amounted to 6.8 mm. The low temperature at Wabush Airport was 0.8°C, compared with a normal of 5°. Light snow mixed with rain beginning at 3 am, and it continued through 10 am, when the precipitation reverted to all rain. (The Wabush observation station is located at an elevation of 551 meters, or about 1700 feet.)

The Weather Network has a gallery of photos submitted by viewers (search for "Labrador snow").

Image: Labrador/Newfoundland map from Weatheroffice/Environment Canada

Wednesday, August 26, 2009

Danny Develops: Tropical Storm Potential Threat to East Coast

Tropical Storm Danny developed this morning from an area of showers and thunderstorms northeast of the Bahamas. The storm is expected to develop into a hurricane which could potentially threaten the East Coast within 3 to 5 days.

At 11 am EDT, the storm was moving west-northwest at 18 mph from a position about 775 miles south-southeast of Cape Hatteras. Forward speed is expected to decrease through tomorrow. Based on NOAA aircraft reconnaissance, maximum winds are 45 mph; some slow strengthening is possible in the next couple of days, and the storm could become a hurricane off the North Carolina coast.

The current forecast from the National Hurricane Center shows a 30% or greater probability of tropical storm force winds along much of the East Coast from North Carolina northward.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Texas Triple-Digit Heat Update


Image: August 26 high temperature forecast from National Weather Service

For other record temperatures in Texas and elsewhere, see:
Record Heat
Record Cold


August 30 Update: Texas Public Radio also reports on high energy bills via American Public Media's Marketplace program:
Texas heat sends energy bills soaring

August 27 Update: Thursday was another triple digit day. The highs, virtually identical to Tuesday:
Austin/Bergstrom 101°
Austin/Mabry 103°
San Antonio 100°
Del Rio 102°
August 26 Midnight Update: This is now the 66th day of 100°+ temperatures in 2009 at Austin/Mabry, 3 short of the record in 1925.

August 26 3 pm Update: The temperature has already reached the century mark by mid afternoon at Austin/Bergstrom, Austin/Mabry (101°), and McAllen.

Waco tied the daily record on Monday, August 24:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 103 DEGREES WAS SET AT WACO YESTERDAY.   
THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 103 SET IN 2006.
Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal reports that the prolonged heat has raised Texas electric bills, despite a sharp drop in the price of natural gas. (Most electricity in Texas is generated from natural gas.)

August 26 Update: Today's forecast shows the likelihood of 100°+ heat across much of the area again today.

11 pm Update: Highs updated through 5 pm and south Texas locations added. Map previously shown was incorrect and has been deleted.

As they have on so many days this month and this season, temperatures in south-central Texas have once again reached and exceeded the century mark this afternoon. As of 5 pm CDT, today's highs so far include:
Austin/Bergstrom 101°
Austin/Mabry 103°
San Antonio 100°
Del Rio 101°
The temperature has now reached 100° or higher every day this month at Austin except for the 2nd and 19th. The overall monthly average of 90° is 5.2° above the long-term average and well on its way to breaking the all-time August record.

In south Texas, the following highs were reported:
Corpus Christi    99° (tied record)
Victoria 97°
Brownsville 96°
Harlingen 97°
McAllen 101°
McAllen set or tied records the previous 3 days:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 104 DEGREES WAS SET AT MCALLEN   
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT YESTERDAY [Monday]. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 102
DEGREES SET IN 1970 AND TIED IN 2002.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 106 DEGREES WAS SET AT MCALLEN TODAY [Sunday].
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 102 DEGREES SET IN 1958.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 104 DEGREES WAS SET AT MCALLEN
YESTERDAY [Saturday]. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 104 SET IN 1997.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

Role Reversal: DC July vs. August Temperatures


Image: Washington, DC 1990-2009 July and August temperatures, CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data

On average, July is the hottest month in Washington, DC. The 1971-2000 base period average for July of 79.2° is nearly 2° warmer than the 77.4° August average. For much of the current decade, however, the months have reversed roles, and 2009 is turning out to be one of the most extreme examples in history. The August average through the 22nd is 80.7°, not only 3.8° above the cool July, but well above the historical July average.

In the decade of the 2000s, 7 out of the 10 years, including this one, have had warmer Augusts than Julys. There was only one such year in the 1990s; that was 1998. The most recent year before that was 1984. This means that in the last 25 years, 7 out of the 9 "upside-down" Augusts have all occurred in the most recent decade. In 139 years of Washington, DC records, the July-August reversal has been observed only 31 times, nearly one quarter of them in the current decade.

If the 3.8° excess of this August over July holds through the end of the month, it will be second only to the 4.4° difference in 1895. That July was the second coldest in history, however, while this July was much closer to average.

Central Texas Continues on Track for Record Hottest Summer


For other record temperatures in Texas and elsewhere, see:
Record Heat
Record Cold


5 pm CDT Update: A record was set at San Antonio and tied at Austin Bergstrom:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 102 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE SAN  
ANTONIO AIRPORT THIS AFTERNOON. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD
OF 101 DEGREES SET IN 1988.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 102 DEGREES WAS TIED AT THE AUSTIN
BERGSTROM AIRPORT THIS AFTERNOON. THIS TIES THE OLD RECORD OF 102
SET IN 2006.
August 24 Update: As of 3 pm CDT, temperatures have again reached 100° at Del Rio and 102° at Austin/Mabry; San Antonio is 96°.

Yesterday's high temperatures across the country are shown above (map from Unisys). Record highs extended northward into Colorado and Wyoming:
THE TEMPERATURE AT THE DENVER INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT REACHED 98 DEGREES   
AT 2:42 PM THIS AFTERNOON. THIS TIES THE RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE FOR
THIS DATE LAST SET IN 1878.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN COLORADO SPRINGS TODAY WAS 91 DEGREES. THIS
TIES THE RECORD HIGH FOR AUGUST 23RD...SET IN 1949.

THE HIGH TEMPERATURE IN PUEBLO TODAY WAS 101 DEGREES. THIS SETS A NEW
RECORD HIGH FOR AUGUST 23RD...BREAKING THE OLD RECORD OF 98 DEGREES SET
IN 1949.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 94 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE CHEYENNE
AIRPORT SUNDAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET PREVIOUSLY IN
1938.
Also, on Saturday in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming:
IN WESTERN COLORADO,  

AT CORTEZ, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE YESTERDAY OF 93 DEGREES, TIED THE
RECORD HIGH, LAST SET IN 2007.

1 MILE EAST OF RANGELY, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 98 DEGREES SET A NEW
RECORD HIGH FOR AUGUST 22. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 96 DEGREES, SET
IN 1961.

IN EASTERN UTAH,

AT CANYONLANDS, THE NEEDLES AREA, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 100
DEGREES SET A NEW RECORD HIGH FOR AUGUST 22. THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS
98 DEGREES, SET IN 2007.

AT JARVIE RANCH, THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES, TIED THE RECORD
HIGH, LAST SET IN 1988.

STATION NEW RECORD OLD RECORD YEAR

ALTA 81 80 1982
BOUNTIFUL-VAL VERDA 100 94 2006
CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK 94 TIED 94 1985
COALVILLE 94 TIED 94 2006
DELTA 105 100 1998
ESCALANTE 97 TIED 97 2008
PROVO BYU 99 98 1991
RANDOLPH 91 88 2003
SALT LAKE CITY 101 99 1991
TOOELE 100 98 2006

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT THE RIVERTON
AIRPORT TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 92 SET IN 2006.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 96 DEGREES WAS SET AT LANDER TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 93 SET IN 2006.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 97 DEGREES WAS SET AT CASPER TODAY.
THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 95 SET IN 1971.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 93 DEGREES WAS SET AT ROCK SPRINGS
TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 90 SET IN 2006.
Original post:
With a little over a week left in the month, south-central Texas continues to be on track for the hottest summer in history. Through August 22, the average temperature since June 1 is the highest ever recorded in Austin and San Antonio, and the second highest in Del Rio. The average in San Antonio is 1.6° above the previous record and 1.8° above the record for the entire June-August period.

Records were tied or broken today in both Austin and San Antonio:
A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 104 DEGREES WAS TIED AT THE  
SAN ANTONIO AIRPORT THIS AFTERNOON. THIS TIES THE PREVIOUS
RECORD OF 104 SET IN 1917.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 103 DEGREES WAS TIED AT THE
AUSTIN BERGSTROM AIRPORT TODAY. THIS TIES THE PREVIOUS
RECORD OF 103 SET IN 1978. THIS ALSO MAKES THIS THE 51ST
DAY THIS YEAR WHERE THE HIGH TEMPERATURE WAS 100 DEGREES
OR HIGHER. THAT BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 50 DAYS SET IN
1998.

A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 105 DEGREES WAS SET AT AUSTIN CAMP
MABRY TODAY. THIS BREAKS THE OLD RECORD OF 103 SET IN 1917.
THIS ALSO MAKES THIS THE 63RD DAY THIS YEAR IN WHICH THE HIGH
TEMPERATURE WAS 100 DEGREES OR HIGHER. THE RECORD FOR THE MOST
100 DEGREE DAYS IN A YEAR IS 69 DAYS WHICH WAS SET IN 1925.
Austin had 16 100° days in a row ending on the 18th, and there have been a total of 62 so far this year through the 22nd. Del Rio has had 60 100° days, and San Antonio Stinson Field has had 64. Here are the 100° days for 2009 so far as reported earlier today by the National Weather Service.
AUSTIN MABRY.............................62  
AUSTIN BERGSTROM INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT...50
BURNET...................................25
DEL RIO..................................60
HONDO....................................63
KERRVILLE................................30
LA GRANGE................................52
LLANO....................................45
NEW BRAUNFELS............................66
PLEASANTON...............................53
SAN ANTONIO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT........53
SAN ANTONIO STINSON FIELD................64
SAN MARCOS...............................58
UVALDE...................................63

Seasonal Outlook

Latest seasonal forecast: Click here.


Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.