Posts

John Homenuk

Heat wave, severe storms highlight upcoming weekend

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Stock up on the sunscreen.

Forecast models are in good agreement that a large, anomalous ridge over the Central United States will build eastward toward the Mid Atlantic and Northeast states during the middle to latter part of this week. As it does so, very warm temperatures in the mid and low levels of the atmosphere will surge toward the area, and high temperatures at the surface will climb fairly rapidly as the weekend approaches — a heat wave.

By the weekend itself, high temperatures may approach or exceed 100 degrees in many locations, with a piece of the core of the aforementioned ridge settling overhead. West winds — even with a northwesterly component at times — will help to suppress any seabreeze or ocean influence, and keep the air extremely hot, and even dry for a day or two.

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John Homenuk

Monday Overview: Hot again, strong storms possible late

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The heat is back on, and it’s showing no signs of letting up. After a hot day on Sunday, Monday looks likely to be several degrees warmer throughout much of the area. High temperatures will approach the middle and upper 90’s, especially away from the area coasts. Heat index values in the upper 90’s, occasionally near 100, will make it feel oppressive at times.

In addition to the heat, a threat of strong to severe thunderstorms exists during the late afternoon and evening. This will be especially true across western portions of the forecast area. The Storm Prediction Center has placed western parts of New Jersey and Southeast New York in a Slight Risk for severe thunderstorms on Monday afternoon and evening. Some highlights below:

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John Homenuk

Bouts of heat, multiple MCS threats to end July

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The hot weather is here — and as we have mentioned in our posts for the past week or so, it isn’t expected to go anywhere any time soon. While the pattern will remain somewhat transitional this weekend, a tremendous mid level ridge is forecast to build across the Central United States by the middle part of this upcoming week. This ridge will become the dominant feature in the jet stream and weather pattern throughout the Contiguous United States during this time frame.

The core of the ridge, and the center of the big-time heat, is likely to stay well to our west. The ridge center is expected to drift from the Mississippi River Valley westward toward the Plains states during the week ahead. However, the breadth of the ridge is likely to grow during this time frame, with rising mid level heights extending all the way to the Northeast United States.

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John Homenuk

Weekend Overview: Hot, unsettled pattern takes hold

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After strong and severe thunderstorms brought fairly widespread wind damage reports to the area on Thursday, many woke up expecting much cooler air this morning. They were wrong: Temperatures remained in the 70’s and even low 80’s in some spots overnight. Hot weather is again expected on Friday, with highs in the middle 90’s, and it may even be warmer than Thursday near the coast. The culprit? West offshore winds, keeping any seabreeze boundaries right near the coast.

The good news is that the ridiculous, nearly tropical airmass with dew points near 75 will be ushered out of the area by these westerly winds. Although high temperatures will reach into the 90’s, dew points closer to the middle 60’s are likely throughout the area, which will feel like a bit of a relief. A few scattered showers are possible Friday afternoon, but overall, calm and hot weather will be in control. The rest of the weekend looks likely to remain transitional and unsettled. We’ve got the highlights below:

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