Cold Tuesday Temperatures

It might be June 2nd, but it feels like November across the region, with temperatures in the 40’s-50’s across the Northeast. 50’s in Pennsylvania and 40’s from Massachusetts north. Making today even more miserable is the slug of rain extending from eastern Pennsylvania through southeastern New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts. Most weeks Mondays are your figuratively cold and literally unloved day of the week, but this Tuesday is challenging that. It may have already won. In terms of cold, today’s high temperatures are WELL below average.

	Today’s High	Average High	Departure
Philadelphia, PA	57	78	21
New York City, NY	55	76	21
Hartford, CT	54	76	22
Boston, MA	48	72	24
Concord, NH	51	74	23

 For some today brings up questions about the upcoming summer. Fortunately a two day cool down does not usually implicate the disappearance of an entire season.

Flood Concerns and Tropical Trouble?

   Today’s flood threat continues for the I-95 corridor. Rainfall ranging from 1-3 inches, locally more, stretches from Georgia to Maine. Once again, for many this rain will come down in heavy downpours, generally associated with storms. Just like last night, flooding can rapidly take over intersections, underpasses, and other low lying areas.

   

Flooding in Newark yesterday

   New Jersey saw the worst of last night’s flash flooding and is not out of the woods yet. Fortunately, it looks like the heaviest rain will be up towards Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts in the next 48 hours. This does not mean that people in Pennsylvania, New York, and Maryland should let their guard down, because as long as there is heavy rain around, the threat for flash flooding exists.

   Unlike yesterday, there should not be as many severe storms, but don’t rule out the stray severe storm. Today and tomorrow will be the wettest of the week, and the coolest. Temperatures today and tomorrow will be in the 60s-70s across much of the region, and even cooler the farther north you head.

   Changing gears a bit, it is June 1^st, and that means the start of Hurricane Season. We already had Ana, now could Bill be on the horizon? The GFS has been leading the charge for the weather models in regards to possible development near the Bahamas.  This is still 130 hours out, but the GFS has been consistent with developing a storm, even possible hurricane off the east coast next week. It’s way too early to tell where it will go or if it will even develop. As should be practiced with any weather event over 5 days out, keeping an ear out is advised, but full attention is not necessary. If in 5 days it appears a storm is imminent in the Bahamas, then attention can be shifted accordingly.

GFS 1003mb low at 126 hrs

  

GFS 997mb low at 168 hrs

 


 For those interested NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) has come out with their 2015 Hurricane Season Outlook.

It's a Dry Heat, No really!

   The heat is on, but will soon be off. For those north and west of New York City, today was a wet and cool one, consisting of downpours and severe storms. This rain will persist through Tuesday afternoon, bringing much needed rain and a break from the heat.

   While the air was moist, making the already warm temperatures more oppressive, it was still quiet dry. In fact, the Drought Monitor recently came out and 70% the Northeast is experiencing drought conditions, 23% of which is in moderate drought.  However hot and moist it has been, the overall pattern has been dry.

   As is the usual with the end of prolonged dry spells, heavy rain and potential flash flooding looms. Tonight in sections of Northern Pennsylvania and New Jersey flash flooding is already occurring as a train of slow moving storms makes its way north and east, delivering up to 5 inches of rain in some areas.  

   In the next 48 hours the rain will move east, bringing up to 2-3 inches to the East Coast. This rain may fall during intense storms, overcoming drainage systems, leading to flash flooding. If you are in one of these storms and come across a flooded road or underpass, do not attempt to drive through the water. Please turn around, don’t drown.

The good news is that for the majority of the coming week we will be seeing cooler weather. Then next week it looks like the weather will once again warm up. Until then, enjoy the more seasonable weather that is in store for Wednesday through the Weekend.

Weather Wall

• ·         Early week storms and heavy rain
• ·         Mid-week cool down (Mid 70’s around Philadelphia)
• ·         Weekend warm up ( return to low-mid 80’s)
• ·         Showers possible throughout the week
• ·         Tropical trouble near Florida? TBD

PS: This is the first and hopefully not the last post since 2011.

April Showers bring May flooding?

    Yes that title does say may flooding and that without a doubt encompasses the feeling for many. From the Midwest to the deep south and to the rivers of Ohio to the lakes of Vermont the flooding turned lives upside down. Water accumulated in areas that have never seen water before. Of these stories the ongoing fight against the mighty Mississippi which overflowed its banks.

    Spring rains topping a foot poured down over the Missouri and Illinois river's, causing them to swell to record proportions. With the Mississippi and these two rivers swollen and coming together the making of a flooding of epic proportions was on tap.

    Now people all along the river south of Memphis where the river crested already await devastating waters to sweep through. many now prepare with sandbags and homemade levees to keep out any surge. One area watching the river closley is southern lousiana where the decision to open up the Morganza Spillway may be made. Which if opened will flood nearly three million acres of land all the way from just north of lake Pontchartrain to the gulf of Mexico. Putting thousands of homes at risk and tainting the wetlands with massive amounts of polluted freshwater. 

    it can now only be hoped that the army corp. of engineers makes the right decision at the right time.