Sunday, June 30, 2013

Heat Records Quickly Falling Across Western US

A total of 31 high temperature records have been broken today, as the multi-day heat wave continues to bake much of the Western US.

Cities like Las Vegas and Reno in Nevada saw their high temperature records fall today, with the former location seeing an unconfirmed run at their all-time high temperature record at 116.1 degrees. Sacramento and Houston were among other big cities receiving broken high temperature records on this final day of June, with nearly 200 record high temperature-related records being set in the past 48 hours.

The heat wave looks to continue for at least another couple of days before the intense hot weather retreats and the weather pattern as a whole moderates. Remember to drink water often, and stay out of the sun as much as possible. This heat wave has already injured dozens, and it is possible the hospitals will be seeing more heat-related illnesses in the next few days if hydration and a relatively-normal body temperature is maintained.

Andrew

Active Weather Pattern Quieting Down

The active weather pattern we have seen in the last several weeks, where multiple significant tornadoes and severe weather outbreaks combined with the first two tropical cyclones of the Atlantic hurricane season, appears to be coming to an end in the next several days.

Projected mid level atmospheric flow turns firmly zonal by the start of the second full week of July, as strong low pressure originating from northeast Canada combines with the tendency of the atmosphere to favor ridging in the Northeast to regulate the flow over North America. When this period of zonal flow starts, no extreme hot or cold weather episodes are expected, and severe weather outbreaks are not encouraged. The lack of a wavy jet stream will permit the formation of a quiet weather pattern over North America.

Longer range forecasts favor the development of high pressure over the Rockies that may attempt to transition over into the Plains or even Ohio Valley areas. Whether that potential verifies remains to be seen. 

Andrew