Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - July 13, 2008

Bertha Back to Hurricane; 1,500 Rescues in O.C.

At 17 days and counting, Bertha is the longest-lived July named storm on record for the Atlantic Ocean (storms are named once they reach tropical storm status). Bertha attained tropical storm status (maximum sustained winds of at least 39 mph) on July 3 and hurricane status (maximum sustained winds of...

By Dan Stillman | July 19, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Tropical Weather
Save & Share:

Forecast: A Hot, Unhealthy Weekend

Watching tropical depression off Carolina coast Over the last four days the temperatures and humidity levels have slowly but relentlessly increased. Today and tomorrow, the miserable mix of heat and humidity may climax, as it will feel like 100 degrees both afternoons. Making matters worse, the air quality index will...

By Jason Samenow | July 19, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

UnitedCast: Sticky Soccer

United vs. Houston Dynamo
Tonight, 8:00 p.m., RFK Stadium

Kickoff	Final Whistle	Weather	Chance of Rain
89F	83F	Partly cloudy	10%

The combination of very warm air and humidity will make it feel like 90 for much of the game. Stay hydrated. The good news: rain chances are low.

UnitedCast appears on the day of every United home game. Also, see our full forecast through the middle of next week.

By Jason Samenow | July 19, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: UnitedCast
Save & Share:

CommuteCast: Hot with Unhealthy Air

More heat this weekend Current D.C. area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Refresh page to update. Humidity and bad air quality have decided to join company with our 90-degree weather. Under partly cloudy...

By Jason Samenow | July 18, 2008; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Who's Against Life-Saving Weather Radios?

Every once in a while, Congress is faced with the chance to do something simple, smart and practical that could immediately and positively impact society. A bill requiring emergency weather radios -- which broadcast an alarm in the case of a nearby tornado or other emergency -- in new mobile...

By Dan Stillman | July 18, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Government
Save & Share:

Forecast: Hot & Muggy Weekend; Sunday Storm?

*Today's air quality forecast: Code Red. How can you help? Take action.* Hot and increasingly muggy will be the theme today through the weekend. Rain could stay out of the picture through most of the weekend. But this is a weekend after all. We seem to always have rain chances...

By Camden Walker | July 18, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

CommuteCast: Hot with Humidity Returning

More of the same for Friday Radar: Latest D.C. area radar loop from Weather Underground. Click on image to expand, zoom and for other options. Refresh page to update. 5:30 p.m. update: A very isolated thundershower popped up over downtown. It shouldn't last more than about 20 to 30 minutes...

By Ian Livingston | July 17, 2008; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

It's a Thingamabobbercane

Radar image of the remnants of Tropical Storm Erin over Oklahoma on Aug. 19. 2007. Courtesy NOAA. In August 2007, Tropical Storm Erin gradually dissipated after making landfall in Texas. But a confluence of environmental factors, including abundant low-level moisture and an area of low pressure approaching from the west,...

By Steve Tracton | July 17, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Tracton, Tropical Weather
Save & Share:

Forecast: The Heat is Here, Humidity Coming

P.M. t'storms possible this weekend A mid-summer sun will heat us up today, though humidity levels will remain tolerable. Regrettably, the humidity builds Friday and reaches tropical levels over the weekend. By Sunday, heat indices may near 100. Yuck! Watch out, the hot and sticky air over the weekend could...

By Josh Larson | July 17, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

CommuteCast: It's a Dry Heat, For Now

More sun and hot temperatures on Thursday Current D.C. area temperatures, courtesy Weather Bonk. Map by Google. Hover over and click temperatures for more info. Click and hold on map to pan. Refresh page to update. Another day of mostly sunny skies has unfolded across the area today. Along with...

By Ian Livingston | July 16, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Newton's Revenge on Mount Washington

Wx and the City By Ann Posegate If you've never been to Mount Washington in northern New Hampshire, I recommend going at least once -- if not for the famed weather, then for the challenge of hiking, climbing, running or biking up to its 6,288-foot summit. Yes, I said biking....

By Capital Weather Gang | July 16, 2008; 1:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Posegate, Wx and the City
Save & Share:

Thunderstorms and Asthma: A New link

Wx and the City By Ann Posegate If you're planning on exercising outdoors anytime soon, you may want to do so in the morning. For one, air quality (particulate and ozone levels) is worse in the evening hours, after building up from a day's worth of vehicle emissions. But thunderstorms...

By Capital Weather Gang | July 16, 2008; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Health, Posegate, Wx and the City
Save & Share:

Forecast: Weather Hits Midsummer Stride

Going up? Temperatures and humidity are. It's a familiar feel for those who stick around town this time of year. Traffic is lighter than normal, the office is half-empty, and auto-reply vacation e-mails abound. The weather, too, has hit its typical midsummer stride. Highs will approach or top 90 degrees...

By Dan Stillman | July 16, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

CommuteCast: Mostly Clear and Warm

A July heat wave looms Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Refresh page to update. Mostly sunny skies and low humidity levels have combined to create a lovely mid-summer day across the region, and high temperatures are now reaching...

By Ian Livingston | July 15, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

A Trigger-Happy Weather Service?

Two weeks ago I wrote about how our local National Weather Service (NWS) office in Sterling, Va. issued a staggering 205-210 severe weather warnings for the area (from central Va. to northern Maryland, not including the eastern shore) during June. And I showed that there were, in fact, a slew...

By Jason Samenow | July 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Government, Thunderstorms
Save & Share:

Forecast: More Heat at Summer's Summit

Today is the meteorological midpoint of the summer season (defined as June through August) and once again there is more hot weather on the horizon. After a relatively cool morning today (especially in the 'burbs), we will be tracking a slow increase in temperatures for the coming days. We should...

By Matt Rogers | July 15, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

UnitedCast: A Weather Victory

United vs. Atlante
Tonight, 8:00 p.m., RFK Stadium

Kickoff	Final Whistle	Weather	Chance of Rain
85F	79F	Comfortable	10%

Excellent night for the middle game of SuperLiga!

By Matt Rogers | July 15, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: UnitedCast
Save & Share:

CommuteCast: Clearing and Comfortable

Humidity reprieve with heat on the horizon Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Refresh page to update. Morning cloudiness is giving way to increased sunshine this afternoon, which is allowing temperatures to rise into the mid 80s. As high...

By Ian Livingston | July 14, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Freedman: Arctic Sea Ice Watch 2008 Update

As the Mid-Atlantic basks in characteristically warm mid-July weather, in the Far North, trends are emerging that are anything but normal. With the summer sun high in the Arctic sky, scientists recently reported that the sea ice that helps define the region remains on track to meet or beat last...

By Andrew Freedman | July 14, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman, Science
Save & Share:

Forecast: Humidity Goes into Brief Hiding

The humidity bordered on oppressive yesterday but the rains came overnight and now we dry out. Noticeably sticky humidity should off until the coming weekend but we won't get much of a reprieve from the hot weather. While we hold below 90 today and tomorrow, 90+ weather returns Wednesday...

By Jason Samenow | July 14, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Update: Sunday Ends With Storms

A hot and humid day has given way to thunderstorms in the metro area this late afternoon. A chance of showers and thunderstorms continues overnight. Monitor the Severe Weather Tracking Station below for latest radar and any severe warnings issued by the National Weather Service. Also, see our full forecast...

By Dan Stillman | July 13, 2008; 4:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (27)
Categories: Updates
Save & Share:

Local Weather Conference: July 18-19

Louis Uccellini, Director of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, speaks at the 2006 Eastern U.S. Weather Conference. By Capital Weather Gang photographer and EasternUSWx.com co-founder Ian Livingston. On July 18 and 19, the 4th annual Eastern United States Weather Conference will be held in Crystal City at the Hyatt...

By Ian Livingston | July 13, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Education, News & Notes
Save & Share:

Forecast: Continued Humid, Storms Overnight

By Brian Jackson Most of us will be happy with the way this weekend turned out. We'll have a generally pleasant, albeit warm day to finish out the weekend, and local agriculture will receive a decent shot of moisture overnight with a cold front bringing showers and storms. Chances of...

By Brian Jackson | July 13, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

NatCast: Sticky but Storms Likely Hold Off

Nationals vs. Astros
Today, 1:35 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
88F	89F	Partly Cloudy	15%

Be ready for hot and humid weather and drink plenty of water. Application of sunscreen is a good idea too. A storm can't be ruled out during the late innings, but should wait until a few hours after the game.

NatCast appears on the day of every Nationals home game. Also, see our full forecast through early next week.

By Jason Samenow | July 13, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
Save & Share:

Network News

Capital Weather Gang: July 13, 2008 - July 19, 2008