Capital Weather Gang: June 1, 2008 - June 7, 2008

Scattered T-storms Provide Brief Heat Relief

98 ties record at Reagan National *Heat Advisory in effect 12 p.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday* *Excessive Heat Watch Sunday evening through Monday afternoon* Scattered thunderstorms have prompted a few Severe Thunderstorm Warnings across the area and provided a brief but welcome cool down for those in their path (please,...

By Dan Stillman  | June 7, 2008; 7:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Temperature Extremes  
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It's Hurricane Season

Severe thunderstorms had been capturing our attention and now it's the heat. Lost in all of this is the fact hurricane season is now one week old. Seasonal forecasters at Colorado State, NOAA, and AccuWeather are all predicting average to above average tropical activity (between 12 and 16 named storms,...

By Jason Samenow  | June 7, 2008; 12:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Tropical Weather  
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Forecast: Stifling Saturday Heat

Extreme heat to last at least into early next week *Heat Advisory in effect until 8 p.m.* *Excessive Heat Watch Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon* The season's first major heat wave will roast the metro area all weekend long. Temperatures will soar into the mid to upper 90s and it...

By Jason Samenow  | June 7, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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NatCast: Steamy and Sultry

Nationals vs. GiantsTonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of Rain93F87FPartly Cloudy, Humid15% Very warm and humid conditions will persist throughout the game. Temperatures will only fall from the low 90s to the upper 80s. Drink a lot of water. Can't entirely rule out an isolated storm.  ...

By Jason Samenow  | June 7, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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Refreshed Without Power

The tree that closed Vale Road and cut the power to my home in Oakton, VA. We just got power restored yesterday morning after being without electricity for two nights due to the first storm that blew through on Wednesday. Losing power can be quite frustrating, of course, and I...

By Kevin Ambrose  | June 7, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (8)
Categories:  Photography  
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CommuteCast: Awaiting a Major Taste of Summer

Extreme and potentially dangerous heat arrives tomorrow *Heat Advisory in effect 12 p.m. through 8 p.m. Saturday* *Excessive Heat Watch Sunday afternoon through Monday afternoon* Clouds were a little slow in burning off today, and combined with an onshore flow, they have held temperatures down a little lower than expected....

By Ian Livingston  | June 6, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (8)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Eyewitness Recounts Apparent Tornado Sighting

[5:00 p.m. update: National Weather Service has confirmed an EF-1 tornado touched down in the location described and photographed by eyewitness Jerry Bahorich below. Maximum winds were estimated at 95 mph, the path length was 1.5 miles long and the twister was 50-100 yards wide. The twister crossed the path...

By Jason Samenow  | June 6, 2008; 12:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (10)
Categories:  Thunderstorms  
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Heat and Power Outages: A Deadly Combination

*Excessive Heat Watch Saturday morning through Monday afternoon* Extreme heat kills hundreds of people in an average year -- more than from hurricanes, lightning, tornadoes, floods, and earthquakes combined according to NOAA. The best (and most obvious) way to prevent heat-related illness and/or death is to spend time in an...

By Capital Weather Gang  | June 6, 2008; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  Extreme Heat  
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Forecast: Hot and Hotter...

Flirting with record high temps this weekend *Excessive Heat Watch Saturday morning through Monday afternoon* TRIPLE DIGITS this weekend?! Not being alarmist but personally I am surprised at how early the threat for isolated 100-degree readings is invading our region. Most folks on Saturday and Sunday will stay in the...

By Camden Walker  | June 6, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Natcast: On the Muggy Side

Nationals vs. Giants
Tonight, 7:35 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
85F	79F	Mostly Clear	5%

No rain, even sunny skies before the sun sets, but some fairly muggy & stagnant air will be hanging around the stadium. Dress in breathable, light (color) materials.

By Camden Walker  | June 6, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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On a Lighter Note: Crazy Kosek's 'Cast

By Jason Samenow  | June 5, 2008; 7:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  Humor  
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CommuteCast: Quieter Than Yesterday; T-storm?

Hot and humid Friday, scorching weekend Radar: Latest mid-Atlantic radar loop from the National Weather Service. Click here to expand. Refresh page to update. While cleanup continues following yesterday's severe weather outbreak, more storms are the last thing many would like to see, but a few may be around this...

By Ian Livingston  | June 5, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (6)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Recap: June 4 Severe Weather Outbreak

A historic severe weather outbreak for the area One of several large limbs that fell in Dupont Circle during "Round One" of severe weather. Once the numbers are finalized, June 4, 2008 may go down in the books as one of the more active severe weather days the D.C. region...

By Ian Livingston  | June 5, 2008; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (38)
Categories:  High Winds, Photography, Recaps, Thunderstorms  
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NatCast: Muggy & Warm; Thunderstorm?

Nationals vs. Cardinals
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
85F	79F	Muggy and warm	30%

It won't be particularly comfortable weather for watching (or, for that matter, playing) baseball, with warm and humid conditions throughout the game. There's a small chance for a passing shower or thunderstorm, but probably nothing like last night.

By Josh Larson  | June 5, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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Forecast: A Few More Storms? Heat Coming.

Big-time heat, humidity builds in through early next week Washington Post: One Dead After Powerful Storms The bad news is that thunderstorms are possible again today; the good news is that they shouldn't be as widespread or severe as yesterday's violent outbreak. The other rather unsavory forecast item is that...

By Josh Larson  | June 5, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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NatCast: Warm and Humid. Late-Game T-storm?

Nationals vs. Cardinals
Today, 1:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
82F	88F	Partly Sunny	30%

With high humidity, temperatures will climb through the 80s. A thunderstorm is possible during the middle to late innings.

By Dan Stillman  | June 5, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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Update: Not Out of the Woods Yet

Chance of storms continues overnight *Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m.* The latest round of storms has moved east and south of the metro area. Another batch of storms, which may or may not hold together, is coming from the west out of West Virginia, and other storms...

By Dan Stillman  | June 4, 2008; 10:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  Updates  
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Alert: Another Round of Severe Storms

*Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m.* Another line of severe thunderstorms is approaching the metro area from the west. Tornado Warnings are in effect for the southern portion of these storms, including Prince William and Stafford counties in Virginia, and parts of Prince Georges, Charles and St Mary's...

By Jamie Jones  | June 4, 2008; 7:54 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (36)
Categories:  Alerts  
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Storms Continue to Batter Area

Major impacts reported *Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1 a.m.* ALERTS 7:40 PM: A Tornado Warning is in effect for parts of Culpeper, Fauquier, Prince William, and Stafford counties until 8 p.m. 6:45 PM: Severe Thunderstorm Warnings have been issued for many parts of the metro area. Keep an...

By Capital Weather Gang  | June 4, 2008; 6:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Thunderstorms  
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CommuteCast: Severe Weather Moving Through

Damaging winds, large hail, isolated tornadoes possible ALERTS 3:57 PM: Tornado Warning remains in effect for Anne Arundel County until 4:15 p.m. At 3:51 p.m., radar indicated a tornado located 2 miles south of Arnold, moving east at 38 mph. 3:08 PM: A line of strong thunderstorms with frequent lightning...

By Ian Livingston  | June 4, 2008; 2:25 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (133)
Categories:  Forecasts, Thunderstorms  
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Tornado Watch Issued; Storms Approach

ALERTS 2:15 PM: A line of thunderstorms with frequent lightning is moving into the far western suburbs, now approaching western Frederick, Loudoun and Fauquier counties. This batch will move through the metro area from west to east over the next couple hours. A Tornado Watch is in effect until 8...

By Capital Weather Gang  | June 4, 2008; 12:50 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  Alerts  
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Planet Green: On the Air and at Nationals Park

Planet Green will be coming to a boob tube near you starting at 6 p.m. this evening, and to tonight's Washington Nationals game (weather permitting). The new cable network, which replaces Discovery Home, dubs itself "the first and only 24-hour eco-lifestyle television network." Keep reading for more on Planet Green....

By Dan Stillman  | June 4, 2008; 10:45 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Media  
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NatCast: Another Stormy Night?

Nationals vs. Cardinals
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
73F	73F	Lingering Storms?	50%

Another batch of showers and storms could come through during the game. Probably not as intense as this afternoon's storms, but a few storms could still be severe. (Updated: 5:25 PM)

By Dan Stillman  | June 4, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  NatCast  
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UnitedCast: Showers and Storms Around

United vs. Houston Dynamo
Tonight, 7:30 p.m., RFK Stadium

Kickoff	Final Whistle	Weather	Chance of Rain
73F	73F	Lingering Storms?	50%

Another batch of showers and storms could come through during the game. Probably not as intense as this afternoon's storms, but a few storms could still be severe. (Updated: 5:25 PM)

By Dan Stillman  | June 4, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  UnitedCast  
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Forecast: Sweating Out Some Strong Storms

Storms could be severe today; Heat wave on the way My gosh, is June off to an active start or what? Occasional storms, some of which could be severe (moderate risk, says the Storm Prediction Center), will be the story today. Then, big-time heat and humidity arrive for an extended...

By Dan Stillman  | June 4, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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CommuteCast: Prepping for More Storminess

Strong storms possible overnight, severe tomorrow? ALERTS 8:13 PM: TORNADO WARNING BELOW CANCELLED 8:00 PM: TORNADO WARNING FOR SOUTHEASTERN FAIRFAX COUNTY ...NORTHWESTERN CHARLES COUNTY...UNTIL 830 PM... LOCATIONS IMPACTED INCLUDE INDIAN HEAD Refresh page to update alerts above. Humidity is on the rise as high temperatures top out in the low...

By Ian Livingston  | June 3, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Gas Pains: A Perfect Storm?

Think gas prices are too high already? Friday morning CNBC reported on the likely impact of even the threat of a hurricane strike on energy prices (additional report, including a tour of Shell's real-time operations center here). After two seasons of few storm landfalls on the U.S. coast, traders have...

By Steve Scolnik  | June 3, 2008; 10:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  News & Notes, Tropical Weather  
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NatCast: Storms Could Threaten

Nationals vs. Cardinals
Tonight, 7:10 p.m., Nationals Park

First Pitch	9th Inning	Weather	Chance of Rain
80F	74F	Chance of showers, t-storm	50%

It doesn't look like a rain out, but there is a chance that some showers or thunderstorms may pass through at some point during the game (Updated: 3:40 PM).

By Matt Rogers  | June 3, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  NatCast  
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Forecast: Ratcheting Up the Humidity

Summer stickiness to build this week Today's expected wind shift -- coming from the south and southwest, instead of from the north -- will start the ball rolling toward more significant humidity as the week progresses. Generally nice conditions are expected today but clouds return tonight along with a chance...

By Matt Rogers  | June 3, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Weather Channel to NBC Universal?

The TV gossip site NewsBlues reports NBC and an investment consortium has acquired The Weather Channel (TWC). DCRTV suggested as much last Friday. This news has not been confirmed by a major news outlet or an official source, but the NY Times indicates the winner of the bidding war for...

By Jason Samenow  | June 2, 2008; 7:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Media  
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CommuteCast: June at Its Best

Warmer and more humid Tuesday Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Once June arrives, the heat of summer is never very far off. Today, however, was June at its best around the area as highs top out very near...

By Ian Livingston  | June 2, 2008; 3:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Freedman: Is Climate Change Twisting Tornadoes?

The 2008 tornado season is off to such an abnormally active and deadly start that even typically storm-hardy residents of tornado-prone areas of the country have begun asking: what is going on? For example, on May 21, the New York Times ran a story that told the woeful tale of...

By Andrew Freedman  | June 2, 2008; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (45)
Categories:  Climate Change  
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Forecast: The Heat is Coming

We got through May without a 90 degree day and, despite the torrents of rain, we enjoyed quite a few sunny, low humidity days. The first week of June will give us a couple of those days to start with, but during the second half of the week, the...

By Jason Samenow  | June 2, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Photography: Tornado or Shelf Cloud?

An ominous cloud near Springfield, Va. I was driving home from a soccer game yesterday afternoon as the sky began to darken to the west. As I drove over the mixing bowl, I got a good view of an impressive thunderstorm. As I continued west a few miles I took...

By Kevin Ambrose  | June 1, 2008; 12:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Photography  
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Forecast: Fair Weather Returns

By Brian Jackson We've paid our dues with severe thunderstorms yesterday and will be rewarded with mostly fine weather today and tomorrow. Gradually brighter and drier days will round out our weekend and start the work week. Unsettled weather will return by mid-week as a front stalls out across the...

By Brian Jackson  | June 1, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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May Finishes Second Wettest on Record

In last night's area forecast discussion for the metro area, the National Weather Service reported: FOR REAGAN NATIONAL THE TOTAL RAINFALL FOR THE MONTH OF MAY IS 10.66 INCHES. THIS IS JUST THREE HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH BEHIND THE RECORD SETTING 10.69 INCHES THAT OCCURRED IN 1889 AND 1953. TOTAL...

By Jason Samenow  | June 1, 2008; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Local Climate  
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