Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - May 9, 2010

Forecast: Some clouds Sunday, but still nice

A nice day to get your Preak on! Partly to mostly sunny and, thankfully, dry weather returns to us today in the wake of yesterday's heat, humidity and thunderstorms. High pressure builds in overhead to deliver an almost perfect spring Saturday. Clouds may increase some on Sunday but temperatures remain pleasant. Alas, as if heading back to work wasn't enough of a downer, showers and cooler temperatures look to dampen the forecast Monday and Tuesday.

By Brian Jackson | May 15, 2010; 5:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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Storms produce big hail in parts of area

Hailstones as large as 1-2" in diameter (to around the size of golf balls) pelted parts of the D.C. area last night. (And yes, we realize some of you missed out completely with nary a drop of rain.) Check out the video below of hail in Bethesda, Md., last evening, taken by CWG visitor mistertx1.

By Capital Weather Gang | May 15, 2010; 12:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Thunderstorms
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UnitedCast: Refreshing evening at RFK

Nothing weather-wise to keep you from the match tonight. Low humidity, lovely evening temps, and partly to mostly clear skies make for an ideal evening outdoors. UNITED MARCHES ON!!!

By Brian Jackson | May 15, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: UnitedCast
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PM Update: Severe weather winding down

A work week marked by see-sawing temperatures has finished on the upside today. Highs in the 80s, ample humidity and an approaching cold front could be a recipe for isolated to scattered and potentially severe thunderstorms into this evening. Then, our rocky weather pattern settles down for a partly sunny and mostly pleasant weekend, though there's some question about the latter part of Sunday.

By Capital Weather Gang | May 14, 2010; 8:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (56)
Categories: Forecasts
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Meteorologists here, there and high above

A veteran D.C. weathercaster gets set to return to the local airwaves. A former Houston TV forecaster hopes to try his luck with love. And two trips to space weren't enough for this British-born meteorologist. Here's a brief tour of meteorologists making news locally, nationally and universally...

By Dan Stillman | May 14, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Media
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Forecast: Warm & muggy returns. Strong storms?

It's been a week of temperature swings and we have one more today, this time toward the warm side and with humidity, too. What had looked like a spectacular weekend still looks pretty promising. But clouds may be more of a factor than originally expected if the cold front responsible for today's thunderstorm threat stalls closer to the area than first anticipated. Still, the weekend should provide plenty of pleasant outdoor time, with comfortable conditions on tap for tomorrow's Preakness up in Baltimore.

By Camden Walker | May 14, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Heading from cool back to very warm

The warm front (that sagged back south as a cold front) playing games with our weather the past few days has helped keep us pretty cool today -- in fact, with highs still in the low 60s, it's a "top 15 coolest" May 13 for D.C. so far. If you're longing for yesterday's warmth, just wait till tomorrow as you'll get it back and then some. There could also be a few big storms roaming about before another cold front ushers in a fantastic weekend.

By Ian Livingston | May 13, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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Measuring the thickness of a lightning bolt

I was on a golf outing several years ago when my foursome encountered an area below the tee box that was strewn with thin strips of bark. I thought it was very odd for bark to be laying on a recently mowed section of grass and I immediately thought a nearby tree had been struck by lightning during a thunderstorm that occurred the previous night. I persuaded my fellow golfers to help me search for the tree and it did not take us long to find the source of the tree bark. The tree had indeed been struck by lightning and thin strips of bark had blown off the tree, from the top of the tree to its base, in spiraling patterns. I took out my camera and photographed the scene. I also saved a couple pieces of the bark.

By Kevin Ambrose | May 13, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Photography
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Forecast: Cooler today, summery tomorrow

The next two days continue our roller coaster week of weather. Today's cooling will be short-lived as very warm and muggy air streams in from the south tomorrow ahead of a cold front. While nothing like the violent weather seen in the Plains this week, a few strong thunderstorms are possible here later tomorrow. The coaster ride then comes to an end as seasonable conditions take hold for the weekend -- perfect timing for highs in the 70s.

By David Streit | May 13, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Storms rolling through area

Temperature roller coaster continues tomorrow and Fri * Severe Thunderstorm Watch until 8 p.m. south of the metro area * * A few words about lightning myths | April was a sweet month * * Outside now? Radar, temps & more: Weather Wall * A warm front that briefly swung...

By Ian Livingston | May 12, 2010; 5:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Forecasts
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A few words about lightning myths

Now that spring is here, we're into the time of year when weather systems become more prone to thunderstorm development and occasional severe weather outbreaks. With thunderstorms, of course, come lightning and with lightning, myths abound.

By Don Lipman | May 12, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Education, Lipman, Thunderstorms
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Forecast: Warmer today with storm chance late

A warm front that rolled through from south to north overnight has brought quite a different feel today. Gone is yesterday's very cool and showery weather, replaced today by mild and muggy conditions featuring a chance of storms late. Temperatures yo-yo back down tomorrow with highs only in the 60s, and then up again Friday with highs in the 80s. Storm chances return late Friday before a calmer and pleasant pattern takes hold for most of the weekend.

By Dan Stillman | May 12, 2010; 10:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Showers into the evening

Warmer tomorrow, cooler Thurs; Rain chances remain * April was a sweet month | Va. AG's risky climate investigation * * Outside now? Radar, temps & more: Weather Wall * Temperatures have been stuck in the 50s all day thanks to the clouds and showers moving through. When considering some...

By Ian Livingston | May 11, 2010; 3:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Forecasts
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Recap: April was a sweet month

T.S. Elliot's oft-quoted line "April is the cruelest month" failed to hold true for the D.C. metro region in 2010. More often than not, the weather was dry, warm, and tranquil rather than rainy, cold and tumultuous. In fact, 23 out 30 days were dry and about 2 out of every 3 days featured above average high temperatures. Overall, at Reagan National Airport, the temperature was 4.7 degrees above average for the month -- the 5th warmest on record. Rainfall was about half of average making for the driest April since 1991.

By Jason Samenow | May 11, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Local Climate, Recaps
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Forecast: Temps up and down with rain around

When you put on that jacket and grab your umbrella to prepare for today's nasty "wet chill" index, just remind yourself that we need this rain. The city is running almost four inches behind normal for the year-to-date. So rather than walk into the summer with a drought problem on our hands, it would be nice to catch up on rain. But you will need to persistently remind yourself of this fact as you persevere today's unpleasant conditions as well as our "bouncy" showery weather in the coming days.

By Matt Rogers | May 11, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Still cool, some showers tomorrow

I don't know about you, but I'm ready for winds to wane and temperatures to stay mild. But, we're still in this spring back-and-forth, at least for now it seems. Under plenty of sunshine, highs mainly into the mid-60s have warmed slightly since yesterday but they do feel occasionally chilly thanks to a still gusty wind from the northwest. Tomorrow we'll remain well below our current average highs in the mid-70s before popping above on Wednesday.

By Ian Livingston | May 10, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
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Virginia AG's risky climate science investigation

The fallout from the so-called 'climategate' email affair has metastasized yet again, this time into a highly controversial investigation by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli II, who is examining the research practices of a former University of Virginia climate scientist. The civil investigation seeks to determine whether Michael Mann, a prominent specialist in the planet's climate history who now directs the Earth Systems Science Center at Penn State University, violated Virginia's Fraud Against Taxpayers Act when he conducted research financed by the state of Virginia prior to leaving the faculty in 2005.

By Andrew Freedman | May 10, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (73)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman, News & Notes, Science
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Forecast: Cool, dry start to warm, moist week

Though crispness in the air today may remind you of early April or October, more seasonably sticky weather is around the corner. After a showery warm front pushes through the region tomorrow, temperatures head upwards and the humidity starts to build. Wednesday through Friday will feel much more summer-like with daily opportunities for showers and thunderstorms. Fortunately, drier air may arrive in time for the weekend.

By Jason Samenow | May 10, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
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Forecast: Staying cool as winds subside

Happy Mother's Day Mom! (She's a CWG regular, or at least she says she is). If you look outside this morning you wouldn't know it, but our temperatures are borderline "brisk." Stiff winds from the northwest have ushered in a cool air mass meaning temperatures a good 10 degrees below average today. Warming is in the forecast by midweek, but not before a warm front brings the chance of showers and storms Tuesday into Wednesday.Happy Mother's Day Mom! (She's a CWG regular, or at least she says she is). If you look outside this morning you wouldn't know it, but our temperatures are borderline "brisk". Stiff winds from the northwest have ushered in a cool airmass meaning temperatures a good 10-degrees cooler than average today. Warming is in the forecast but it will take some showers/storms and a warm front to move through in order for us to see it by midweek.

By Brian Jackson | May 9, 2010; 4:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Forecasts
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NatCast: Brisk day at the ballpark

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Nationals Journal * Nationals vs. MarlinsSunday May 9, 1:35 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of RainUpper 50sLow 60sMostly sunny and breezy%Lots of sun, but cooler temps and a sometimes gusty breeze make a jacket a must-have for today's game. NatCast...

By Brian Jackson | May 9, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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Capital Weather Gang: May 9, 2010 - May 15, 2010