Cold Ending, Cold Start

2012's last day began with some of the lowest temps of the entire year - in what has been the warmest year since record keeping began. 2012 was also quite dry, ending the year 6 to 10 inches below the yearly average. The new year will continue the cold spell and although the temps will be a little warmer it will only be because of southwestern air flow and clouds. The clouds are from a system now bringing rain and snow to the central Mississippi basin and will likely make the first day of '13 a little messy here in central Va. The storm will lose most of its moisture and punch before it gets here, another bust for snow (and moisture) lovers. The cold pattern seems likely to continue for at least the first week of the new year but without much chance of snow for most of the Old Dominion.
But, since there is nothing but change, we know what to expect in 2013...change!!  Get out and check it out, but bundle up, today on earth.

Sandy

The monstrous Hurricane/Blizzard Sandy is now a nor'easter and wrecking havoc on New England after hammering the New Jersey and New York coastlines. The storm set a record for lowest barometric pressure ever recorded and while not as bad in many places as thought will still linger in minds for years to come.
The cold swept in by Sandy is making for a raw day in central Va. A low of 38 and only 41 by noon reminds us it is not October and that we have been pretty lucky with a mild fall so far. Temperatures will warm to near 60 for the late week with lows in the 30's as we continue to tilt farther from the sun and lose more and more daylight. The sun's return will help make that 60 degrees feel a little warmer.
But, not today. You will need to add layers, build a fire or turn up the heat to stay warm, today on earth.

Last Week of Summer!

Clouds and cool kick off the last week of summer with a large batch of rain headed to the mid-Atlantic for early in the week. Cool and dry condition are ahead for the weeks end. After a cool, dry, lovely week, humidity has come up on this Sunday and dew points will continue to rise into Monday and even higher Tuesday as the big rain comes. A dip in the jet stream will move the rain out and it will feel like fall by mid-week. Fall, with the the sun back overhead at the equator, begins at 10:49am EDT on September 22. As the northern hemisphere continues to tilt away from the sun we keep losing 3+ minutes of daylight per day and that means less heat; the cool season is upon us and will be around for 6 more months. Get out and enjoy the light while it's here, today on Earth.

Cold Front Coming With Change

A strong cold front will bring storms and potential wild weather to the mid-Atlantic for Saturday but also a needed change. Cool, dry, Canadian air will dip well into the south late Saturday and make a pleasant second week of September. Lows in the 50's for the first time this season will make it possible to turn off the AC and open the windows. Temperatures will only be in the 70's for daytime highs.
The remains of Isaac sit in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico. Hurricane Leslie is stuck in the Atlantic near Bermuda, Michael is way offshore in the north Atlantic. Another potential new storm is just off the coast of Africa. We are at the peak of hurricane season, pay attention!
Tomorrow's worries here will be hail, wind and heavy rain.
And, then the relief of cool air!!

Isaac Heads East!

The remains of former hurricane Isaac roll on eastward today and looks to bring a damp Labor Day to the mid-Atlantic. The storm has hooked up with a cold front and together they will help with drought issues that much of the country still suffers through. Sadly, for much of the mid-west, this will be too little, too late.  Parts of Virginia still have drought issues but the Old Dominion has faired better than much of the rest of the country. The coming rain will get much of Va. back to average rainfall totals for the year.
Once Isaac and the front clear the coast temperatures will be pretty typical for early September: lows in the 60's and highs in the 80's with humidity being on the low side for the muggy east.
The Gulf Coast, while hit hard by Isaac, is in much better shape than after Katrina but flood cleanup will be ongoing for sometime. The rain should also help get the Mississippi flowing again.
If you plan on being out today, be ready for MUGGY and later a little rain.

One More Day in the 80's

The stationary (formerly cold) front that has been hanging on the NC/SC border and bringing lots of rain to the Carolina's (and southern Va.) will ooze back north and go away allowing hot and humid air to move back into Va. That will present a slight chance of showers today and a low 90's weekend and a mid-90's early week. The coolish and dry (a minor problem) air in central Va. will linger for one more day - it' been a nice week after the furnace of the first week of July - and then it's the real July again.
Enjoy it while you can, there is always change coming, today of Earth.

Hot, Hot, Hot

Memorial Day weekend will be steamy in the southeast, near 90's centrally and mid 90's farther south. Tropical storm Berle spins of the north Florida coast, slurping up the warm water and apparently planning on dumping that water onto the sunshine state before raking around the sand all along the south east coast as it moves north by mid-week.
Earth just doing what it does, changing!!
It's a wild planet, get out and check it out.

Rain, Rain and More Rain

The dry spell in Virginia is over, a little rain early and thunderstorms (with a wild lightning show) yesterday set the stage for Sunday's steady rain. And, it is raining steadily today and that should continue into evening. The cold northern edge of this storm will even bring a little snow to the high terrain of western Virginia and in West Va. The cold front dragging all this rain our way will clear the area tonight and make for gradually clearing and a cool early and mid-week. Warmer air will return toward the end of the upcoming week.
Enjoy the rain!!

Hot Meets Cold - Tornadoes!!

A hot June like day in Virginia and much of the east but the battle rages on in the plains. Cold air over the west and the heat of the east are not getting along. Their frontal boundary in the central plains is causing major instability and spawning tornadoes. Over 120 yesterday with 5 deaths and likely more today. The system will weaken before arriving back east bringing little or no chance of rain to quell the drought and fire danger conditions here. Our best rain chance won't be until next weekend - but that's a long ways out to be making predictions.
Almost 90 tomorrow before things moderate!!

Warm Then Hot! And Dry!

Saturday will see temps in central Va. into the 70's with breezy conditions but hotter and slightly humid air will come at us from the south Sunday with temperatures into the mid-80's and then upper 80's Monday. A cold front will arrive Tuesday/Wednesday and increase the chance of much needed showers.
Careful: HIGH FIRE DANGER!!

Spring Swings!!

70, 60, 50, 60, 70!!That is what this week is looking like in central Va. Early mornings Wednesday and Thursday will present a frost warning for the western part of the state, certainly not unusual for early April. The real issues is less cold than heat; FIRE DANGER remains very high for all of Virginia with ongoing low humidity, no recent rain and the instigator, WIND!!!
That  blue sky is pretty but it's so blue because it's so dry.  Be careful out there and if you go out, count of irritated eyes. The wind is whipping the pollen and dust and who knows what else around.
It's a wild one out there Today On Earth!!!

Winter Is Done!

It's not officially spring but it feels like it has been here for quite awhile. And, when spring arrives at 1:14am Tuesday morning it will be just more of what we've been dealing with since the snow started melting March 5th. There is little hint of cold weather in the long term forecast.
Get out on the planet and enjoy today on earth.

Winter's Last Blast

Today and tomorrow morning will be the last wintery air for central Va. for quite some time. Boreal winds and falling air will keep things cool today - even with lots of sun - and tomorrow morning will see temperatures deep into the 20's but as the high pressure moves east, the southern air returns, making for a lovely evening to wander about and enjoy the first, late sunset of Daylight Savings Time.

Next week will continue the mild trend: temperatures will close in on 80 by week's end and the warm trend will continue at least until the start of Spring. The mild winter will leave mild.

A Virginia Winter Pattern!

The last 3 days are pretty typical (and atypical??) for a winter in Virginia; Mid 50's and sunny, cloudy with 7 inches of snow and sunny and headed to 50. Well into the 60's by mid-week and unless the snow is well hidden in the shadows it will be gone by Wednesday. That sums of a Va. winter: never cold or snowy for long and likely to get to the 60's sometime during the week, but that's why we live here!!  If we wanted snow and ice we'd live north of the Mason-Dixon line where they have winter.
Enjoy the snow while it lasts!!

Wild Swings in January

In typical Va. fashion, a mostly mild winter continues with some cold swings thrown in just to remind us it really is winter on a warming planet. 1/2" of snow yesterday, sun after fog today and lots of rain tomorrow before clearing and cooler for the late week and weekend (a chilly weekend appears to be in store). No snow in the long term forecast (Colorado ski areas finally get some snow) but it's Virginia in the winter and most any thing can happen.
There will be weather today!!!