Capital Weather Gang - DC area weather blog, news - June 13, 2010

Update: Scattered storms possible overnight

A line of scattered thunderstorms is likely to pass through the region between 11:30 p.m. and 2 a.m. overnight. These storms are associated with a weak front approaching the area.

By Jason Samenow | June 19, 2010; 11:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: Updates
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Forecast: Heat & humidity make weekend return

What is it about hot weekends this year? For the fourth straight weekend, we're talking heat and humidity. Not since the Saturday of Memorial Day has a weekend day not closed in on 90 or higher. We should have little trouble making it to 90 today and tomorrow and that heat continues into next week. Rain chances for the next few days are non-existent to remote. I imagine many folks will be watering their grass/plants this weekend.

By Jason Samenow | June 19, 2010; 5:50 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (11)
Categories: Forecasts
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NatCast: Hot, humid, and dry

* Our Full Forecast | Weather Wall | Nationals Journal * Nationals vs. White SoxSaturday June 19, 4:10 p.m., Nationals Park First Pitch9th InningWeatherChance of RainNear 90Low 80sVery warm%Quite a warm & humid late afternoon for baseball. Temps start near 90 - drink water and wear sunscreen. NatCast appears...

By Jason Samenow | June 19, 2010; 10:50 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: NatCast
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PM Update: Savor tonight, heat arrives tomorrow

90s re-enter the picture to greet summer's start * Can wind make Strasburg pitch faster? | The mysterious green flash * * Outside now? Radar, temps & more: Weather Wall | NatCast * Another awesome day is under out belts, hope you enjoyed it and this great evening as well,...

By Ian Livingston | June 18, 2010; 5:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Forecasts
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Can the wind make Strasburg's fastball faster?

Stephen Strasburg's first pitch as a Washington National? A 97 mph fastball. The fastest pitch of his June 8 Nationals debut? 101 mph. Just how good was Strasburg? He had a franchise-record 14 strikeouts in his first major league start, and his change-up was faster than some pitchers' fastballs. Is there anything that can slow down a Strasburg pitch? A strong gust of wind could. But it could also speed it up. How does the wind's effect on pitchers -- and on batters and fielders -- compare to that of temperature, pressure and other weather factors? Let's take a look...

By Dan Stillman | June 18, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Education, Science
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Forecast: Another nice day, then a hot weekend

Two things climb upward this weekend: Heat... and humidity. By Sunday there's a small chance of a cooling shower or two, but otherwise we're looking high and dry. Enjoy today's warm and low-humidity 80s, because highs are headed for 90 and above this weekend with increasing mugginess. The heat sticks around into early next week, so get ready to drink plenty of water and dress in light material and light colors. Oh, and wear that sunscreen -- the sun is at its highest angle of the year as summer officially begins Monday.

By Camden Walker | June 18, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Forecasts
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Natcast: Quite nice for Strasburg's 2nd home start

Clear skies and warmth without humidity for Strasburg's second home start. The nicest evening we'll see for at least the next several days.

By Camden Walker | June 18, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: NatCast
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PM Update: Pretty close to "normal" June weather

One more mild day before heat overruns area * The mysterious green flash | Lightning: To crouch or not? * * Outside now? Radar temps & more: Weather Wall * You know it's a fairly pleasant day when the main debate in the CWG comment section is about whether or...

By Ian Livingston | June 17, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: Forecasts
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The mysterious (and elusive) green flash

Sailors have told countless tales about it. Scientists have doubted its existence. Many a beach-goer has hoped for a glimpse of it. I myself have missed it by mere seconds and have been on a mission to see one ever since. The 'green flash' is an optical effect caused by the refraction of sunlight in the atmosphere during sunset and sunrise.

By Ann Posegate | June 17, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (4)
Categories: Posegate
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Forecast: Sunny, very warm but drier next 2 days

Seasonable temperatures and dry weather will be a nice break from the recent humidity. Finally there won't be any of those pop up thundershowers to dodge...at least not until Sunday and Monday. Even then this will be a generally dry period as we watch our rainfall deficits continue to grow and our garden's growth curtailed. The longest day of the year arrives on Monday with plenty of heat and humidity to mark the occasion.

By David Streit | June 17, 2010; 5:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Scattered storms into the evening

Heavy rain and high winds possible; Sun returns Thurs * Lightning: To crouch or not? | String of floods raise climate questions * * Outside now? Radar, temperatures & more: Weather Wall * Outside a few isolated heavy showers this morning into the midday, it's been relatively quiet around here...

By Ian Livingston | June 16, 2010; 3:20 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Forecasts
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Lightning: To crouch or not to crouch...?

Some of you may remember my post from a few weeks ago in which I discussed lightning myths and lightning safety. A particular reader, Michael Utley, who hosts his own website on this subject, was concerned that I advocated the "lightning crouch" as a last resort for lightning protection in an open field, despite the fact that the National Weather Service (NWS) itself suggests this position.

By Don Lipman | June 16, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (8)
Categories: Lipman, Thunderstorms
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Forecast: Front, humidity spark storm chances

The heat and humidity relented a bit yesterday, but clouds and some showers made for an overall dreary feel. Looking forward to a less humid *and* mostly sunny day? You'll have to wait until tomorrow. Clouds stick around today and humidity surges upward with afternoon-into-evening thunderstorms possible ahead of an approaching cold front. Thursday and Friday should be fairly nice (still warm, but not too humid) before some weekend heat and increasing humidity.

By Dan Stillman | June 16, 2010; 10:45 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (18)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Cooler for now, but not for long

Storms tomorrow? Heat reloads for late-week attack * Floods raise climate questions | Thunderstorms: Fickle & capricious * * Outside now? Radar temps & more: Weather Wall * Clouds and somewhat numerous (albeit mainly light) showers have helped keep things a bit cooler today. Highs mostly hit the upper 70s...

By Ian Livingston | June 15, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (9)
Categories: Forecasts
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String of floods raise climate change questions

Call it the spring of flash floods. Rare and deadly flash flooding events have struck several parts of the south-central U.S. from Tennessee to Oklahoma this spring, with two remarkable events occurring in just the past five days: the astounding six-to-ten-inch gully washer that resulted in numerous swift-water rescues in Oklahoma City yesterday morning, and the tragic deluge in rural Arkansas late last week.

By Andrew Freedman | June 15, 2010; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (83)
Categories: Climate Change, Freedman, News & Notes, Science
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Forecast: Less heat and humidity

The debate is over. The science is settled. We need RAIN. Despite our record snowy winter (wow, that seems so long ago), National Airport is running more than 5" below normal for the calendar year. The worst of the current situation is definitely from the District eastward. We at least have a chance of some rain into tonight and especially tomorrow. We'll also need to watch the hot weekend for more storm chances.

By Matt Rogers | June 15, 2010; 11:15 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (26)
Categories: Forecasts
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PM Update: Cold front to bring some relief

Several day respite in high heat along with rain risk * Thunderstorms: Fickle & capricious for sure * * Outside now? Radar temps & more: Weather Wall * The early-season barrage of heat and humidity continued today, but temperatures have dropped slightly compared to recently and we'll see some relief...

By Ian Livingston | June 14, 2010; 3:15 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (15)
Categories: Forecasts
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Thunderstorms: Fickle & capricious for sure

It was on June 14, 1989 that one of the most severe thunderstorms to strike the metro area in many years hit a relatively small portion of Northwest Washington and Bethesda, Maryland during the late afternoon rush hour. I

By Don Lipman | June 14, 2010; 11:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (13)
Categories: Lipman, Local Climate, Thunderstorms
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Forecast: Muggy Monday, modest mid-week relief

Almost half of our June days have heated up to 90 or higher, and we likely add another today. We catch a break from this kind of heat for a few days mid-week, but it comes right back for the end of the week and the weekend. Will we get any rain? Like the last few days, showers and storms enter the forecast at times, but probably miss more than hit. The best chance of any activity might be tonight and late Wednesday with chances most remote Thursday and Friday.

By Jason Samenow | June 14, 2010; 10:00 AM ET | Permalink | Comments (7)
Categories: Forecasts
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Forecast: Heat & humidity make us sweat

To quote on of my favorite comedians, "It's not so much the heat, it's the humidity that'll kill you." For the next two days, we'll have both. With this juicy air mass, thunderstorms continue to threaten our afternoon/evening periods before a cool front arrives in town late Monday. Alas, while conditions will be cooler and drier behind the front, we can't completely rid ourselves of rain chances Tuesday and Wednesday.

By Brian Jackson | June 13, 2010; 3:30 PM ET | Permalink | Comments (20)
Categories: Capital Weather Gang, Forecasts
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Capital Weather Gang: June 13, 2010 - June 19, 2010