Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - October 3, 2010

Forecast: Superbly sunny Saturday & Sunday

At least after suffering through the hottest summer on record, October is rewarding us with a stretch of beautiful weather. Following a not-too-shabby Thursday and Friday, each day of our holiday weekend stands to be outstanding though clouds and showers could move in by Columbus Day evening.

By Jason Samenow | October 9, 2010; 8:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Forecasts
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UnitedCast: Dynamite weather

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Soccer Insider * United vs. Houston DynamoSaturday Sept. 28, 7:30 p.m., RFK Stadium KickoffFinal WhistleWeatherChance of RainUpper 60sLow 60sMostly clear0%It's an awesome evening for soccer with temps falling through the 60s. A light jacket might be a good idea for the second...

By Jason Samenow | October 9, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: UnitedCast
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Endless sunshine: Top five outdoor ideas

You don't have to be a weatherman to look at the view from space above (from Friday afternoon) and recognize any inclement weather is a long way away. The eastern U.S. is virtually cloud-free and will remain that way through Sunday. So how to take advantage? Here are five top outdoor picks for the weekend...

By Jason Samenow | October 8, 2010; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Event
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PM Update: Bright blue skies beckon

If you're stuck at work this afternoon, the scene outside is difficult to resist. Sparkling sunshine and glorious blue skies fill the air with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 70s. Cloudless skies continue into the evening as it cools down into the 60s by 7 or 8 p.m.

By Jason Samenow | October 8, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Forecasts
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Reed Timmer, tornado chaser: Ask him questions

Next Wednesday (Oct. 13) at 10 p.m. (ET), Discovery Channel's "Storm Chasers" spins up the first episode in its fourth season. he action packed series about the pursuit of tornadoes will document how its expert chasers, Reed Timmer and Chris Chittick, "used their science background and tracking skills to save lives during one of the most violent storm seasons on record" according to Discovery. Please comment below with your questions about tornado chasing for "extreme" chaser Reed Timmer.

By Jason Samenow | October 8, 2010; 1:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Capital Weather Gang, Thunderstorms
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Harvest moonrise photos and video

The harvest moon is the full moon closest to the autumnal equinox. For the first time since 1991, the harvest moon occurred at the start of autumn, on Sept. 23, 2010. I joined about 40 other photographers at the Netherlands Carillon to photograph the harvest moon rising over Washington. The evening was quite summer-like, with a moderate amount of haze in the atmosphere combined with high humidity, which provided weather conditions that felt more like mid-summer than the kickoff of autumn.

By Kevin Ambrose | October 8, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Photography
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Forecast: What more could you ask for?!

Are you as excited as I am for the streak of great weather that's upon us? It couldn't have come at a more perfect time for those who have a three-day weekend. Don't have Columbus Day off? Today's brilliant sun may tempt you to make up for it by starting your weekend a little early. Enjoy!

By Camden Walker | October 8, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Forecasts
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Drought watch lifted for D.C. metro region

The Washington Metropolitan Council of Governments (COG) has discontinued the drought watch it issued for the area on September 9.

By Jason Samenow | October 7, 2010; 5:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Droughts
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PM Update: Welcoming back wonderful weather

Welcome back to what this part of fall should be like around here -- mild, sunny days and cool nights. Temperatures in the low-and-mid 70s this afternoon feel mighty fine. I knew it would be sweet when readings were already above the past few days by mid-morning! Looks like we've got a lot more of the same coming up, with daytime temperatures mainly in the 70s (a few 80s possible) for the next several days.

By Ian Livingston | October 7, 2010; 3:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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Deluges dent dryness & drought

What a difference a week makes. Barely more than a week ago, the 2010 rainfall deficit in Washington, D.C. (as recorded at Reagan National Airport) was nearly 7.5". That deficit has since been reduced to just about 2.5"

By Jason Samenow | October 7, 2010; 2:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Droughts, Local Climate
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U.S. lags other nations in global weather prediction

Despite the numerous lives and billions of dollars saved by weather forecasts every year -- not to mention the significant progress in observing, understanding and predicting weather during the past 15 years -- the report concludes that the "United States has failed to match or surpass progress in operational numerical weather prediction achieved by other nations and failed to realize its prediction potential; as a result, the nation is not mitigating weather impacts to the extent possible." ("numerical weather prediction", or NWP , is a reference to the computer models that meteorologists use as guidance when making forecasts).

By Steve Tracton | October 7, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Reports, Tracton
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Forecast: Sunshine and mild temps finally return

This forecast sounds more like San Diego! After all the wild rides this year has provided, tranquility prevails right through the weekend and remains in place for Columbus Day too. Hard to believe that upcoming highs in the mid-to-upper 70s will be above normal but indeed our normals will be slipping into the 60s by later next week.

By David Streit | October 7, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Forecasts
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Stunning image: Aurora over Alaska

Are those green clouds or aurora? Photographed above two weeks ago, puffy green aurora help the Moon illuminate the serene Willow Lake and the snowy Wrangell and Saint Elias Mountains in eastern Alaska

By Jason Samenow | October 6, 2010; 6:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Photography
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PM Update: Cool and gray on borrowed time

Today has ended up almost a carbon copy of yesterday, with the main difference being slightly warmer morning temperatures. A few periods of sunshine have promoted some minor warming of the surface which has led to more cloud formation in the cold air above. Highs generally are reaching near 60 and into the lower 60s this afternoon. So far, showers have been pretty much a no show, but we'll stick with a risk through about sunset.

By Ian Livingston | October 6, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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Equinox sunrise video and photos

The morning of September 22, the date of the autumnal equinox, felt more like summer than autumn. The temperature was in the the 70s and the sky was cloud-free, with a layer of haze hanging low in the atmosphere, visible only at the horizon. The summer-like haze helped the rising sun appear as a glowing globe of light instead of a blinding source of light, as it often appears in a clear atmosphere. As the sun rose above the layer of haze, however, it quickly lost it's well-defined, spherical appearance.

By Kevin Ambrose | October 6, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Photography
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Otto may form, but tropical season slowing?

Tropical depression (TD17) formed yesterday and could be named tropical storm Otto some time today. Because it contains some characteristics more typical of storms in the mid-latitudes, it is technically a "subtropical" weather system. Maximum sustained winds are around 35 mph, just shy of tropical storm intensity of 39 mph. Track models unanimously sweep TD17 out to sea, so it's no concern to land areas. Should TD17 evolve into Otto, seasonal tropical storm seasonal forecasters will have remarkably predicted the season's activity. To date this season, the actual number (14 named storms, 7 hurricanes) of storms is closing in on long range predictions (15-16 named storms,7-8 hurricanes).

By Don Lipman | October 6, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Lipman, Tropical Weather
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Forecast: Almost done with cloudy chill

One thing about this time of year: The cloudy stretches can be rather cool, kind of depressing and slow to clear. But once they do, it can get real nice, real fast. That's exactly what we should see as the clouds and occasional showers around since Sunday make way for a series of sunnier and warmer days starting tomorrow -- in plenty of time for a nice holiday weekend.

By Dan Stillman | October 6, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Cool and mostly gloomy persists

We've warmed slightly since yesterday, but today's extra wind might make it a moot point if you're outside for long and don't manage to find yourself in a ray of sunshine. Lots of clouds have loitered across the area today keeping temperatures from rising much further than near 60 and into the lower 60s. After the last few days, including chill last night that was the coldest across the area since early May, I know I am ready for at least a few days of sun with highs in the 70s!

By Ian Livingston | October 5, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Forecasts
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Season's first snowflakes fall in West Virginia

The first snow flakes of the season were spotted by the cooperative weather observers... on the mountaintop at Snowshoe this morning... October 5th. Temperatures were in the lower 30s.

By Jason Samenow | October 5, 2010; 2:10 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Winter Storms
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Hansen projects hottest year on record... in 2012

According to James Hansen, the director of NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS), 2010 may not wind up being the hottest year in the modern temperature record after all. In an analysis posted last week, Hansen said the onset and intensification of La Nina conditions in the Pacific Ocean have cooled global average surface temperatures, and despite the record heat in the first eight months of the year, 2010 may wind up either tied with or behind 2005, currently the warmest year in the GISS analysis.

By Andrew Freedman | October 5, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (37)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman, News & Notes
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Forecast: Overdose of overcast

A very slow-moving upper level low pressure continues to dominate our weather story over the next few days. The bottom line for the D.C. area includes more cloudiness than sunshine, more cool weather than warm, and even the chance for spotty showers, especially tomorrow. This entire mess is forecast to vacate our vicinity during the day on Thursday. At that point, clearing skies and warming temperatures set the stage for a better weekend.

By Matt Rogers | October 5, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Chilly tonight, then gradually warmer

It's been a cool and dreary day, but the good news for those not quite ready for this much of a taste of fall is things should start getting better (sunnier and warmer) as we head through the week. Temperatures have been stuck in the low-and-mid 50s most spots this afternoon, and both BWI and IAD are threatening to finish with the coolest maximum temperature for the date (54 and 56 respectively). National has risen slightly above (at least 57) its lowest maximum temperature of 56 set in 1998.

By Ian Livingston | October 4, 2010; 3:35 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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September 2010 hottest since 1980

September ended with record torrents of rain that may have washed away memories of one of the distinctive aspects of the month. It was one of the hottest Septembers in Washington history, continuing a trend of thermal overachievement that began here months ago.

By Jason Samenow | October 4, 2010; 12:45 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Local Climate
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The fall and rise of the Potomac River

For those who like to kayak or fish on the Potomac River, just above Washington, the dry, hot summer created challenging conditions on the river. Kayaks dragged bottom on river rocks, tall grass choked many shallow areas of the river, and the lack of current and water depth created difficulty in navigation of the river. That quickly changed with one moist, tropical storm system. The Potomac River was transformed from a wading pool into a raging torrent of water, in just two days.

By Kevin Ambrose | October 4, 2010; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Photography
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Forecast: Wet, unseasonably cool start to week

It's hard to believe that just over a week ago it hit 99 when today we'll be lucky if it hits 59. But the pattern has changed and chilly, damp fall weather is here -- at least for the beginning of the week. Yet summery weather isn't gone for good. The late week weather maps suggest abundant sunshine with temperatures climbing back into the 70s and 80s.

By Jason Samenow | October 4, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (21)
Categories: Forecasts
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Forecast: More rain on the way

I suppose that it's only natural that after a summer where the buzzwords were "hot" and "dry" that we head into October with "cool" and "wet". Building cloudiness today signals the arrival of a pesky coastal low that will spin showers and breezy conditions beginning this evening and continuing into early Tuesday. Nature has a way of balancing out though, and by the second half of the week, we're looking at a few days of fantastic fall weather.

By Brian Jackson | October 3, 2010; 5:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Forecasts
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Capital Weather Gang: October 3, 2010 - October 9, 2010