Atlantic Tropical Season Quick Start: Beryl is Earliest "B" Storm on Record

May 26, 5 PM Update: The chart shows the date of formation for the second named Atlantic tropical cyclone of the season from 1950 through 2012. The average date through 2011 was August 1, so Beryl is nearly 10 weeks earlier than average.

Original post:
Although it's a hybrid subtropical storm, Beryl, which was named late Friday evening (May 25), is the earliest second storm of the tropical season on record in the Atlantic basin since names were assigned beginning in 1950. The previous earliest, and only other second storm as early as May, was Barry in 2007. Although it originated on May 31, Barry didn't reach tropical storm force until June 1. Prior to Barry, the earliest was Beulah on June 15, 1959. The latest was Bonnie on September 17, 1992.

Showers Possible, More Likely Tomorrow

Now

Scattered thunderstorms were breaking out late this afternoon south of the Beltway along I-95 and more widespread southwest of Culpeper toward Charlottesville. These were mostly moving eastward. Temperatures which had stayed mainly in the upper 80s popped up to 92° at National Airport with the switch to a more favorable west wind at 3pm.

Tonight and Tomorrow

There is a 50% chance of scattered showers and thunderstorms through this evening. The most likely targets are the areas south and west of the District. Lows tonight under hazy skies will be from the upper 70s downtown to the low 70s in the 'burbs. Tomorrow will again be muggy but with less sun than today in most places and highs in the mid 80s. The chance of mainly afternoon thundershowers, some possibly severe, is 60%.

For the outlook through the rest of the weekend, see Camden's post below.

Tropical Topics

After making landfall early this morning at Nantucket, Beryl lost its tropical characteristics as it headed northeastward to Nova Scotia. The last tropical advisory on the storm was issued at 11am. (Just for the record, the official pronunciation is either "Burl" or "Ber-il".)

Warm and Humid; Beryl Brushing By Beantown

Now

Warm and humid conditions prevail throughout the Washington metro area this afternoon. Temperatures at mid afternoon were in the upper 80s to 90° and dewpoints were mainly in the low 70s. National Airport claimed to have light rain at 3pm, but it was virtually undetectable on radar.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Warm and humid: Tonight will be warm and humid, with a slight chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm through this evening and lows in the mid 70s. Tomorrow will be (wait for it . . . ) warm and humid! (Hey, it's July in DC, folks.) Highs should be close to where they were today; that means right 'round the upper 80s in most parts. The chance of thunderstorms is 40%.

For the chances of improvement in the short and medium range, see Larson's Long-Range below.

Tropical Topics

Tropical Storm Beryl is moving toward the northeast with maximum winds of 50 mph (down from 60) late this afternoon; some further weakening is expected. At 5pm it was about 150 miles southwest of Nantucket on a track which is likely to just brush the southeastern coast of Massachusetts. Radar shows some showers over central and eastern Long Island and the outer portion of Cape Cod.

Non-stop breathless coverage of this relatively minor event from Cantore & Co., complete with tourists on cellphones waving in the background, is predicted for TWC.

No-AC DC

Most sane people will find this very hard to believe, but there are some otherwise normal-looking residents of the DC area who actually dislike air conditioning. The WaPo profiles this phenomenon in today's Home section.

Britain Bacon

The Guardian newspaper reports that Britain was "bacon" along with much of Europe under record heat yesterday. The reading of 36.3° C (97.3° F) at Charlwood (near Gatwick) broke the national all-time July record of 36° C set in 1911. The new record was in turn surpassed by 97.7° F at Wisley in Surrey.

Photo of a pedigree Berkshire pig keeping cool in Worcester, England, from Guardian Unlimited.