Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - August 8, 2010

Forecast: Pause from heat continues

Yesterday's high of 80 was the coolest since June 9. We can thank winds off the ocean and plenty of cloud cover for that break from the recent inferno. As the flow from the east hangs around today into a good part of tomorrow, the respite from the heat extends through the weekend. Temperatures near 90 return early next week along with a chance of showers and t'storms but there are no signs of extreme heat in our immediate future.

By Jason Samenow | August 14, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
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NatCast: Sparkling weather for Diamondbacks

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Nationals Journal * Nationals vs. DiamondbacksFriday Aug. 13, 7:05 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of RainLow 80sUpper 70sA few clouds5%A fine evening to catch a game at Nationals Park. Temps will be right around 80 with no rain worries. NatCast...

By Jason Samenow | August 14, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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UnitedCast: Nice night at RFK

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Soccer Insider * United vs. FC DallasSaturday August 14, 8:00 p.m., RFK Stadium KickoffFinal WhistleWeatherChance of RainNear 80Mid-70sPartly cloudy5%Very enjoyable weather for the first United home game in three weeks. No rain threat and not too hot. UnitedCast appears on the...

By Jason Samenow | August 14, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: UnitedCast
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PM Update: Drying out for the weekend

No big storms, no big heat: a good way to end the week, even though we have some clouds and showers around today. Afternoon readings are ranging from the mid-70s to around 80, and for some this is the first time highs have been stuck in the 70s since early June. As we kick off the weekend, the shower threat should wind down this evening, leaving us with a fairly pleasant (especially compared to recently) couple of days ahead.

By Ian Livingston | August 13, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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How to cope with the heat: Tell a joke

Living through this summer for most is an uncomfortable, if not miserable experience. Short of moving to Alaska (or never leaving an air conditioned building), what to do? One way to cope is placing mind over matter -- imagine yourself, for example, standing near the North Pole atop the last piece of Arctic Ice wearing only a bathing suit while watching polar bears diving off surrounding ice flows. If that doesn't work, how about some good summer weather jokes?

By Steve Tracton | August 13, 2010; 1:40 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Humor, Tracton
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D.C.'s scorching summer inciting storms

Everyone knows this summer has been really, really hot and we've talked about heat records (here, here, here and here) incessantly. But the emergent weather story of summer 2010 is the multiple episodes of fierce thunderstorms that have ripped through the region taking down untold numbers of trees and generating power outage misery, particularly in Montgomery county.

By Jason Samenow | August 13, 2010; 11:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Thunderstorms
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Forecast: Weather less scary for Friday the 13th

We might just get to dry out a bit, and sweat a little less, as we get into this weekend. I won't proclaim an end to summer, by any means, but compared to big storms and oppressive heat, the next few days will seem like winners with highs in the 80s and less of a shower/storm threat. Here's to hoping umbrella use and power outages are on the decline.

By Camden Walker | August 13, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
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SkinsCast: Comfortable kickoff to season

Considering we've had a few nights this summer when lows haven't made it below 80, temperatures in the 70s sound pretty good, even with some mugginess (though less so than recent nights). Shower chances from earlier in the day should be dwindling fast leading up to kickoff.

By Dan Stillman | August 13, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: SkinsCast
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NatCast: Clouds not too worrisome

Dress for slightly muggy weather, but comfortable compared to lately! Daytime shower/storm chances should be decreasing to slim toward evening.

By Camden Walker | August 13, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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Quieter night ahead, still more rain for some

*** Storm impacts, power outages & more: PostLocal.com *** * Flash Flood Warnings far N/NE/E suburbs (see map below) * * Where did wild morning storms come from? * 11:20 p.m. update: The weather just won't quit today, soon to be tomorrow. A narrow line of barely moving showers, some...

By Capital Weather Gang | August 12, 2010; 11:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (72)
Categories: Alerts
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Where did wild morning storms come from?

Some forecasts issued yesterday, including ours here, did include a chance of showers or showers and storms for the D.C. area early today. But the severity was a surprise to pretty much everyone. So where did the storms come from and why were they so strong?

By Dan Stillman | August 12, 2010; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Thunderstorms
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Forecast: Morning storms gone; more to come?

This morning's storms were nasty and the humidity is going nowhere. But at least the storms have helped to take the edge off the heat today. Temperatures much closer to average than we've seen are expected through the forecast period, which means no more of those upper 90s and near 100 readings that have plagued us much of the summer, at least for the time being. However, near 90 or low 90s is still within reach at times.

By David Streit | August 12, 2010; 9:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Forecasts
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After raking area, severe t'storms have exited

9:15 a.m. update: Storms have moved off and no warnings are in effect in the area. Cleveland Park and Forest Glen Metro stations (9:30 update--apparently Forest Glen has reopened) are closed due to earlier flooding. More than 100,000 power outages across region - see more storm impact info/photos on Post...

By Jason Samenow | August 12, 2010; 9:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (61)
Categories: Updates
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NatCast: Pleasant temps, just dodge the showers

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Nationals Journal * Nationals vs. MarlinsThursday August 12, 7:05 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of RainUpper 70sMid 70sMild with a stray shower20%The skies will be mostly cloudy so no worries about sun in the eyes for the early innings. A pesky...

By David Streit | August 12, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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PM Update: Dulles sets record as heat blasts again

Today is our 20th day of 95+ weather this year here in D.C., and I'm sure many of you -- myself included -- are hoping it's the last. I can't yet promise that, but time will soon be running out for such warmth, at least historically speaking. Though most spots are running a bit cooler than yesterday, it's been another scorcher with highs in the mid-to-upper 90s. Dulles Airport has at least tied the previous record high for today of 96. A backdoor cold front is moving in, and while it hasn't done a lot today, we'll notice the cooler (if still very humid) air starting tomorrow.

By Ian Livingston | August 11, 2010; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Forecasts
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Time lapse sunrise on the Mall

From darkness to morning sunshine, 92 minutes of video was compressed into 28 seconds which accelerated the summer sunrise over the Capitol on August 9, 2010. This was a typical summer sunrise in our region; a hazy and murky layer of air hung over Washington as the sun pushed above the horizon into a clear, summer sky.

By Kevin Ambrose | August 11, 2010; 1:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Photography
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More heat records in reach today

Two more daily climate records around the area may be broken today. First...the daily record highest minimum temperature for Aug 11 at DCA [Reagan National] is 78 in 1988. The min temp earlier this morning only fell to 80. Therefore, if the temp does not drop below the 1988 reading by midnight EST...then the highest min temp record will be broken today. Also...the daily record high temperature at IAD (Dulles Airport) for Aug 11 is 96f in 1980. The forecast high temp for today at IAD is 97.

By Jason Samenow | August 11, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (14)
Categories: Extreme Heat, Local Climate
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Forecast: Another sizzler, then down to simmer

Let's start with some good news for those of you looking for any sign of a light at the end of the tunnel that is this sweaty, hot summer of 2010: On Monday, our average high dropped a degree to 87, and falls to 86 starting this coming Monday (it had been at 88 July 28-Aug. 8, and at the annual high mark of 89 July 16-27). The bad news? Mother Nature has shown a blatant disregard for averages this year, and continues to do so today with highs well into the 90s again. Fortunately, temperatures do trend closer to average tomorrow through the weekend.

By Dan Stillman | August 11, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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NatCast: Near-90 warmth & some humidity, too

The somewhat humid daytime heat persists into the evening. A slight t'storm chance is nothing to get too worked up about.

By Dan Stillman | August 11, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: NatCast
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PM Update: Heat sets another D.C. record

With 50 days of 90 degrees or higher in Washington now behind us, this is the earliest we've hit such a mark in recorded history. Temperatures are reaching highs in the mid-and-upper 90s, but thankfully, humidity is not super high. The good news is that unlike some of our previous heat waves, this one does not have major staying power, even though no real cool air is on the horizon.

By Ian Livingston | August 10, 2010; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Forecasts
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A pleasant August weekend in D.C.

Today marks our sixth heat wave of the year and it's still the dog days of summer. But for me, August is the beginning of the end of hot weather misery. Having survived so much heat to this point, it's not hard to tolerate just a little more. Even though we often experience scorchers this time of year, the cool downs that are intermixed start taking on a real fall flavor.

By Ian Livingston | August 10, 2010; 1:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Photography
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How hot will it get today?

So far this summer we've tied or broken four daily records at Reagan National (DCA): June 24: 100 June 27: 99 July 7: 102 July 24: 101 Today's record of 98 from 1943 is certainly in reach -- but it's not a given.

By Jason Samenow | August 10, 2010; 10:40 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Capital Weather Gang, Extreme Heat
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Forecast: The doggiest of the dog days

While July is historically the hottest time of the summer (from a climatology perspective), we frequently think of August as the "dog days of summer." The "Dog Days" apparently originate from the star Sirius, whose close proximity to the sun was blamed for hot weather. I had thought it just referred to poor dogs having to heavily pant in the painful heat and sun. Today is definitely going to be one of those days, but we should get a break later this week, before a big summer heat culprit, the Bermuda High, begins to return to the area this weekend.

By Matt Rogers | August 10, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Forecasts
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NatCast: Hot even for Florida Marlins

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Nationals Journal * Nationals vs. MarlinsToday, 7:05 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of Rain9287Lingering heat, muggy 10%We shouldn't have any rain to worry about, but the heat of the day will still be felt, especially before sunset. NatCast appears on...

By Matt Rogers | August 10, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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PM Update: Going from bake to broil

It's hot, it's humid. It's summer of 2010 in the D.C. area. That's all you probably need to know, but here are the details: Today's readings in the low-to-mid 90s pushed us that much closer to the 50 days 90+ category, and we'll only have to wait one more to get there. If that's not enough, we'll close in on the century mark again. While it looks like a stretch that we get there tomorrow, if we do, it will be the 5th time in 2010. If not, we should get another try right after.

By Ian Livingston | August 9, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (12)
Categories: Forecasts
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Relentless heat wave roasts Russia

While the mid-Atlantic has suffered through a sultry summer so far, conditions have not been nearly as extreme as in parts of Europe, particularly Russia. The Russian heat wave of July and August, along with related drought conditions and wildfires, have garnered international headlines in recent weeks, and will surely be studied by climate scientists and public health experts for years to come, both for its intensity and duration.

By Andrew Freedman | August 9, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman, Media, News & Notes, Science
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Forecast: Another round of record-threatening heat

A record warm spring. A record hot June. A tie for a record hot July. Four record hot days. Five record warm nights. Five heat waves (defined as 3-day periods of 90 or higher). A 12-day consecutive stretch at 90 or higher. Pretty intense stuff. And yet, the record smashing summer of 2010 could keep bringing it -- with at least a couple chances to set more records this week. This 90+ degree weather could stick with us all week with the hottest days Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Jason Samenow | August 9, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Forecasts
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Forecast: Heat begins its comeback

Beginning today, we're heading for another extended period of heat, with daily highs topping 90 degrees through much of next week. While some rain threat enters the forecast starting Tuesday, the odds of any cooling storms are less than definitive. At this point, there's not much anyone can do about the heat, except to keep working on their backstroke.

By Brian Jackson | August 8, 2010; 4:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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Capital Weather Gang: August 8, 2010 - August 14, 2010