Capital Weather Gang: May 11, 2008 - May 17, 2008

Forecast: Commencement Worthy Weather

The sun will shine down on the beaming new graduates at George Washington, Georgetown, George Mason, and Catholic Universities today (and all Washingtonians). Tomorrow's weather won't be so radiant, but a shower or two shouldn't dampen too many spirits. TODAY Mostly sunny. Increasing clouds late. Mid 70s. Everyone should...

By Jason Samenow  | May 17, 2008; 10:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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CommuteCast: Mostly Cloudy, Isolated Showers

Sunshine gets weekend off to nice start on Saturday Radar: Latest D.C. area radar loop, courtesy National Weather Service. Refresh page to update, or click here to expand. Morning showers temporarily gave way to a few breaks of midday sunshine across the region (mostly from D.C. south and east), but...

By Ian Livingston  | May 16, 2008; 3:10 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
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Weird Clouds... From Another World?

Courtesy U.S. Navy. Photos by John Gay (left) and Jarod Hodge (right). What do we have here?... Grist for the mill for the UFO believers out there? At first glance, the images above may indeed look to some like a UFO swallowing a jet fighter as it tries desperately to...

By Steve Tracton  | May 16, 2008; 11:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Education, Tracton  
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Update: Flood Watch Lifted

The main batch of rain has passed to the northeast. The rest of the day will be cloudy with a slight (one in three) chance of a few short-lived, widely scattered showers this afternoon. See Camden's full forecast for the outlook through the weekend....

By Jason Samenow  | May 16, 2008; 10:05 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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Forecast: Bad Now, Better Weekend

Although Sunday Semi-Showery *Allow extra time this morning; never cross flooded roads* The end of your week starts soaking wet. But sunshine starts the weekend before scattered showers creep back into picture late Saturday and once again on Sunday. TODAY AM rain; mostly cloudy p.m. Mid 60s. Rain is likely...

By Camden Walker  | May 16, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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Update: Rain Sets Up Shop for the Night

Scattered flooding problems possible *Flood Watch midnight through Friday morning* *Take caution in flood-prone areas; never drive through flooded roads* Radar: Latest mid-Atlantic radar loop from the National Weather Service. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. What is UTC? Rain is now developing across the metro area and...

By Dan Stillman  | May 15, 2008; 10:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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CommuteCast: Flooding Concerns as Rain Returns

Heaviest rain expected between midnight and AM commute *Flood Watch midnight through Friday morning* *Take caution in flood-prone areas; never drive through flooded roads* In this pattern, nice weather doesn't seem to last long, so it should be no surprise that more rain is on the way. Temperatures reached the...

By Ian Livingston  | May 15, 2008; 2:35 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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Photography: Great Falls in Flood Stage

Flood Watch tonight as more rain approaches The Potomac River peaked just over flood stage at Great Falls on Tuesday at 2 p.m. When I arrived at Great Falls National Park Tuesday afternoon, the parking lot was over half full and a steady stream of visitors moved up the trail...

By Kevin Ambrose  | May 15, 2008; 11:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Photography  
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Forecast: Rain Returns Tonight

More flooding a threat, but rain totals uncertain *Flood Watch in effect this evening through Friday morning* A weak frontal system and an area of low pressure will conspire to bring rain back into the picture tonight, especially after midnight into the first part of the day Friday. Unfortunately for...

By Josh Larson  | May 15, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
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Comment of the Week: Bob Ryan on Freakonomics

Last Thursday, Capital Weather Gang's (CWG) newest writer, Steve Tracton, defended meteorologists against the critical points raised in the NY Times Freakonomics blog "How Valid Are T.V. Weather Forecasts?" NBC 4 Chief Meteorologist Bob Ryan agreed with Steve's assessment and weighed in with some insightful comments: Steve Tracton gives a...

By Jason Samenow  | May 14, 2008; 7:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
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CommuteCast: Clouds Return to Region

Transition back to unsettled weather Thursday Clouds: Latest mid-Atlantic infrared satellite loop, courtesy Unisys. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. Today was another welcome respite for weather-weary residents, especially those continuing to clean up from flood damage following recent rain across the area. Even with increasing clouds throughout...

By Ian Livingston  | May 14, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
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Bangladesh's Example for a Post-Nargis World

Tropical Cyclone Nargis, which exacted a staggering human toll on the politically isolated and poor country of Myanmar, has demonstrated once again that there is an urgent need for a more robust infrastructure in developing countries for issuing and disseminating warnings of natural hazards. Unlike when the deadly Indian Ocean...

By Andrew Freedman  | May 14, 2008; 10:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (35)
Categories:  Climate Change, Freedman, International Weather, News & Notes  
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Forecast: Of Course It's Nice... It's Midweek

More rain on the way for Thursday night and Friday The conspiracy theorists would say forecasters hedge their predictions toward nicer weather so people will like them. Here on Wednesdays at CWG, there's no hedging necessary. Time and again, the midweek weather has been perfect as can be. And gosh...

By Dan Stillman  | May 14, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
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CommuteCast: Clear Skies a Welcome Break

More warm weather expected Wednesday Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. After all the rain and bad weather of recent, today has been a welcome and beautiful break! Highs are now topping out in the low 70s, just about...

By Ian Livingston  | May 13, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
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Projectile Automobiles

Watch the video below to understand why it's a bad idea to be in your car when a tornado strikes. This incredible video was captured by a surveillance camera from an equipment company in northern Alabama on Thursday according to the National Weather Service....

By Jason Samenow  | May 13, 2008; 1:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  Thunderstorms  
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Busting out of the Drought

Doppler rainfall estimates from the Sunday-Monday storm. The yellow shade is 2.5", the medium orange shade is 4", and the dark red is 6". Courtesy NOAA. Related Washington Post story: Deluge Washes Away Area's Drought It was just this past fall when Reagan National Airport (DCA) observed a record 34...

By Jason Samenow  | May 13, 2008; 10:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  Droughts  
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Forecast: Sun and the City

The long-awaited reunion will only be brief By Matt Rogers, Guest Forecaster With lots of drying to do, the return of the sun will be a welcome sight. This morning will still be cool, but daytime temperatures should muscle their way up to near 70 (despite a wind from the...

By Matt Rogers  | May 13, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (20)
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Update: Rain Gradually Pulling Out

*Flood warnings lifted except for Fairfax, Loudoun, Fauquier and Montgomery Counties* The final bands of rain are rotating through the region. Precipitation will end from southwest to northeast between 10 p.m. and midnight. Continue to exercise caution as some streams are still rising. Turn around, don't drown....

By Jason Samenow  | May 12, 2008; 8:35 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (10)
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CommuteCast: Cold and Water-Logged

Flood warnings continue; gusty winds a concern *Flood Safety: Never Drive or Walk Through a Flooded Road* Radar: Latest mid-Atlantic radar loop from the National Weather Service. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. What is UTC? Our second big rainmaker in less than a week is ending, finally....

By Ian Livingston  | May 12, 2008; 3:05 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (21)
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Forecast: Wind-Driven Deluge, Slowly Diminishing

We apologize for this morning's technical difficulties due to a washingtonpost.com blog publishing and comment system outage. Significant Storm Impacts: Widespread Flooding (do not attempt to cross flooded roadways), Road Closures, Isolated Power Outages from Wind, School Closures *Flood Warnings continue in effect across the metro area* Let's call this...

By Jason Samenow  | May 12, 2008; 12:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (30)
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The Rain-Soaked Records...

All three of the D.C. area's major airports set daily records for rainfall yesterday. The 2.63 inches at Reagan National breaks the old record of 1.48 inches set in 1924. The 3.73 inches at Dulles breaks the old record of 0.78 inches in 2006. And the 1.49 inches at Baltimore-Washington...

By Dan Stillman  | May 12, 2008; 12:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Floods  
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Update: Rain Pounding Region

*Flood warnings in effect area wide until 5:30 a.m. Monday morning* Midnight rain total update: 2.37" at Reagan National, 3.58" at Dulles Through 11pm, Reagan National had already received 1.92" of rain, with 3.22" at Dulles. Another 1-2" of rain may fall before this storm winds down tomorrow. Radar: Latest...

By Jason Samenow  | May 11, 2008; 11:32 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (11)
Categories:  Floods, Updates  
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Forecast: More Heavy Rain

*Flood Warnings in effect across the metro area* *Flood Watch in effect Sunday evening through Monday afternoon* By Brian Jackson, Guest Forecaster Following Thursday night's heavy rainfall across the area, stand by for a repeat performance. While today will start out somewhat pleasant, it won't stay that way. An intensifying...

By Brian Jackson  | May 11, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (68)
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NatCast: Developling Rain

Nationals vs. Marlins
Today, 1:35 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
64F	62F	Breezy, Rainy	60%

Rain is likely to begin by the mid to late innings. I'd say there's a 60% chance of getting the game in before any suspension of play. Factoring in breezy winds from the southeast (15mph, with higher gusts), temps only in the 60s and the rain, it won't be the nicest of days to take in a game.

By Jason Samenow  | May 11, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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