Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - October 19, 2008

Update: Rain Gives Way to Sunny Sunday

It took a little while to get started, but otherwise today's rain -- the first measurable one since Oct. 1 -- went off pretty much as forecast, with many areas from the District toward points north and west receiving between 0.5" and 1" of precipitation, and lesser amounts south and...

By Dan Stillman | October 25, 2008; 7:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Forecasts, Updates
Save & Share:

Forecast: Showery Day To End Dry Streak

Becoming sunny tomorrow; cold next week Not since the first of the month has it rained more than a trace; but this 23-day rain shutout ends today. Showers will continue intermittently, with the chance of a gusty thunderstorm late in the day. Tomorrow will be sunny and on the mild...

By Jason Samenow | October 25, 2008; 10:20 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

PM Update: Now for Something Different ... Rain!

Showery Saturday, some afternoon storms possible Today has been a bit of a change of pace compared to all the sunny days seen recently, and our three-week streak with no measurable rain is about to end. As a storm approaches from the west, clouds have covered the region all day,...

By Ian Livingston | October 24, 2008; 5:25 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Weather Service Celebrates, Balloons and All

A weather balloon is launched during the National Weather Service Open House Saturday afternoon, Oct. 18. Click here for larger photo. When I saw the announcement about this past weekend's National Weather Service Open House in Sterling, Va., which included a dedication for the new Baltimore/Washington forecast office, I noticed...

By Kevin Ambrose | October 24, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Photography
Save & Share:

Forecast: Wet Saturday; Not Bad Before and After

Rain moves in tonight Saturday is gonna be wet, yet somewhat mild too. Today and Sunday have decent weather on tap, with Sunday likely being a little warmer than we've seen recently. Highs in the 50s make their return as we get into next week. But at least no rain...

By Camden Walker | October 24, 2008; 10:55 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

PM Update: Dry Spell Hits Homestretch

Transitional day Friday as storm system approaches Programming note: As some of you may have noticed, commenting now requires registration. We really don't have anything to say that the lovely Dan Steinberg at the DC Sports Bog hasn't already said -- "Apparently you now need to log in to leave...

By Ian Livingston | October 23, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

The Hairy Issue of Hurricane Modification

When last we met, authorities had approved the audacious proposal of a brash young meteorologist to save Miami from the devastating effects of Hurricane Calamity. Needless to say it didn't work, but at least there was enough leftover Prozac for the local, state and federal officials to somewhat relieve...

By Steve Tracton | October 23, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Tracton, Tropical Weather
Save & Share:

Forecast: The Proverbial Calm Before the Storm

Dry today but rainy & breezy late Friday and Saturday You might think of today's weather as the calm before the impending weekend storm system. But a vigorous storm system approaching from the west will tap moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and bring a good deal of rain along...

By Josh Larson | October 23, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

PM Update: Breezes to Slacken But Cold Remains

Sunny Thursday with more below-average temperatures Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Refresh page to update. See this image bigger on our Weather Wall. Despite full sunshine, temperatures in the 50s combined with a chilly breeze to make this...

By Ian Livingston | October 22, 2008; 3:05 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Photo Contest (Earth as Art, Part 2: You)

Submit your creative snapshots of the sky A colorful sun dog is visible to the left of the sun. Captured by Capital Weather Gang photographer Kevin Ambrose from Fairfax, Va., on Sept. 17, 2008. Last week, I displayed several artistic images of the sky from the Earth as Art and...

By Ann Posegate | October 22, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (3)
Categories: Contests, Photography, Posegate
Save & Share:

Forecast: A Wind-Chilled Wednesday; Still No Rain

But rain a good bet for Saturday Yesterday was the 20th day in a row with no measurable rain recorded at National, Dulles or BWI airports. That streak will likely reach 23, before a pretty good chance of rain arrives for Saturday -- and it could be of the soaking...

By Dan Stillman | October 22, 2008; 9:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

PM Update: Time to Think Wind Chill Factor?

Lots of sun Wednesday with below-average temperatures A dry cold front that passed through the area during the midday has left some gusty (as high as 30 to 35 mph) west and northwest winds in its wake. Temperatures that reached the low and mid 60s before the front arrived will...

By Ian Livingston | October 21, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Weather Favorable For Fantastic Fall Foliage

Some fall colors begin emerging in northwest D.C. last week. By Capital Weather Gang photographer Ian Livingston. The factors that contribute to the vibrancy of fall colors seem to be coming together to give us a brilliant show in the coming weeks. Consider this statement from the Maryland Department of...

By Jason Samenow | October 21, 2008; 12:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)

Save & Share:

Mad Meteorologist Predicts Winter Mayhem

Add Meteorologist Henry Margusity of the AccuWeather.com's Meteorological Madness blog to the list of forecasters predicting a snowy winter for our area. Writes Margusity: I think the I-95 corridor folks from Richmond to Boston could finally have the snowstorms they so wished for. I think at least one or...

By Jason Samenow | October 21, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Local Climate
Save & Share:

Forecast: Crisp Cool Continues

And weekend washout still looms Yet another cold front is on the way. This one is forecast to be dry, but will still be responsible for stronger breezes and drier humidity during the day. As a result, the National Weather Service has issued a Fire Weather Watch. The cool crisp...

By Matt Rogers | October 21, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

PM Update: Cool Fall Weather Continues

Briefly warmer Tuesday with gusty winds expected late Webcam: Latest view of D.C. from the Netherlands Carillon at Arlington National Cemetery. Courtesy National Park Service. Refresh page to update. See this image bigger on our Weather Wall. After a very chilly start this morning, temperatures have rebounded into the low...

By Ian Livingston | October 20, 2008; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Will an Economic Downturn Benefit the Climate?

"It's a cruel thing to say ... but if we are looking at a slowdown in the economy, there will be less fossil fuels burning, so for the climate it could be an advantage" - Paul Crutzen, Nobel Prize-winning chemist, in an interview with Reuters. The economic news these...

By Andrew Freedman | October 20, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (17)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman
Save & Share:

Forecast: Fall in Full Effect

The indicators of fall are unveiling themselves each and every day. Today, many areas will see their first freezing temperatures and frost. Throughout the week ahead, the warm, sunny days and clear, crisp nights will help colorful foliage emerge with the downside of more and more leaves covering your lawns....

By Jason Samenow | October 20, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (10)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

Forecast: The Daily Dry

*Freeze Warning tonight north and west of the District* *Frost Advisory for the close-in suburbs, the District and points east* No measurable rain has fallen since the first of the month, and rain chances will be scarce to non-existent for about the next week. Days will be sunny with moderate...

By Jason Samenow | October 19, 2008; 8:00 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
Save & Share:

SkinsCast: Now This is Football Weather

Redskins vs. BrownsSunday, 4:15 p.m., FedEx Field Kickoff2-Min WarningWeatherChance of Precip.61F55FMostly sunny, cool5%It will definitely feel more like football weather than the previous home games. Game-time temperatures near 60 will fall through the 50s during the game. Jackets strongly recommended SkinsCast appears before every Redskins home game. Also,...

By Josh Larson | October 19, 2008; 12:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: SkinsCast
Save & Share:

Network News

Capital Weather Gang: October 19, 2008 - October 25, 2008