John Homenuk

PM Update: Lyrid meteor shower peaks tonight

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Showers and thunderstorms, some currently warned as severe with strong winds, are progressing through the area this afternoon. Please see our currently active thread for the latest information on those weather hazards. 

The annual Lyrid meteor shower, which often features some notably bright meteors in the night sky, will peak tonight. Although the meteor shower has been trending toward peak for the past few days, with some sightings reported in our local area suburbs, the shower reaches its technical maxima tonight. The meteor shower is active from April 15th through April 25th annually, with peak days varying. The visibility of meteors also varies year to year based on sky and moon conditions.

This year, ideal viewing conditions are anticipated with a waxing crescent moon setting during the early evening hours of the peak days. This will leave especially dark conditions for meteor viewing. While last years Lyrid meteor shower was generally unimpressive, the variance from year to year leaves meteor-watchers very hopeful for this years result.

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John Homenuk

Showers and storms with gusty winds, small hail today

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3:00pm Update: Showers and embedded thunderstorms continue to approach the area, now in Western New Jersey and shifting eastward. While radar presentation isn’t necessarily eye-grabbing, the winds just above the surface that are mixing down to the surface are impressive.

Philadelphia International Airport recently gusted to 71 miles per hour as thunderstorms passed through. Multiple gusts over 45 miles per hour have been reported in Eastern Pennsylvania. As storms continue to shift eastward toward the axis of more favorable instability and lapse rates, expect these gusts to continue.

None of these storms are currently producing sustained severe-level winds, but we are continuing to monitor the situation. Stay tuned for future updates over the next few hours.

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John Homenuk

Photos: Double rainbow shines over NYC Tuesday morning

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Behind a round of thunderstorms which produced frequent lightning, heavy rain and even some small hail, drier air worked into the area earlier this morning. As it did so, rain continued to fall from remaining updrafts and downdrafts associated with thunderstorms that were weakening over the area. The result, as the sun began to shine, were beautiful rainbows which stretched across the sky in New Jersey and New York City.

Readers on our website, Facebook, Twitter and other social media outlets took to posting their pictures of the rainbows (in some cases, double rainbows) as they stretched across the sky. If you have any pictures of your own, share them with us in the comments section below!

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John Homenuk

Clearing behind front, pleasant Tuesday

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After elevated thunderstorms brought a prolonged period of rain, lightning and thunder late Monday Night into early Tuesday morning, clearing is expected from west to east by later Tuesday morning. Drier air will surge toward the coast as an upper level system shifts eastward, and the weather will become much more pleasant. Highs in the 60’s are expected as warm mid level temperatures stick around during the early afternoon hours.

The weather on Tuesday afternoon will likely be the nicest of the week, unfortunately. An active and persistent weather pattern is forecast to continue. Making matters worse? High latitude blocking will force an upper level trough underneath it, into Eastern Canada, bringing colder than normal air to much of the Northern 1/3 of the United States. On Wednesday afternoon, a secondary cold front will cross the area — again with potential thunderstorms — and usher in a much cooler airmass.

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