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Forecast: Warm yet un-humid August weekend
Another heat wave looms for next week
* Rip current risk at beaches | Increasing U.S. hurricane threat? *
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* Outside now? Temps, clouds & more: Weather Wall | NatCast *
updated at 4 p.m.; originally posted at 5 a.m.; editor's note: given the nice weather, PM Update has started its weekend early and will return Monday.
day's weather, on a scale of 0 to 10.
August doesn't get much more perfect than low-to-mid 80s & comfy air! Right? Woohoo!
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Today: Sunny, warm, breathable. Low-to-mid 80s. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Mid-50s to around 60. | Tomorrow: Sunny. Mid-to-upper 80s. | Sunday: Mostly sunny. Upper 80s to low 90s. | A Look Ahead | Get Express Forecast by E-mail
FORECAST IN DETAIL
After cool morning starts, afternoon highs in the 80s today and tomorrow feel warm, but comfortably so with no humidity to speak of. Sunday could heat up to near or past 90, yet the air should stay pretty dry. Even better, at least as far as outdoor plans are concerned, rain shouldn't be a concern whatsoever through the weekend. The new work week brings with it a new heat wave, with highs probably well into the 90s Monday and Tuesday. All the more reason to enjoy the current weather to its fullest.
Today (Friday): Ahhh. Again it will be comfortable, like Thursday. Morning temperatures rising through the 60s and into the 70s feel great. Afternoon highs in the low-to-mid 80s are warm but still nice. Especially with the low humidity -- dew points in the refreshing 50s -- and sunny skies. My recommendation is to enjoy this highly tolerable August day. Confidence: High
Tonight: Clear skies, dry air and calm winds promote maximum cooling. Outside the Beltway may see mid-50s (low 50s in a couple of the typically coolest spots?). Downtown, the warmer concrete & asphalt keeps lows a few degrees higher -- around 60. Confidence: High
How "perfect" is today's weather? Vote your call for today's Daily Digit (see Daily Digit box above). And keep reading for the forecast into next week...
Tomorrow (Saturday): Just a bit warmer than Friday, yet we'll have continued low humidity levels. Mostly sunny skies push highs to the mid-to-upper 80s. A great day for anything outdoors. Just don't forget the sunscreen between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Thanks! (end PSA) Confidence: Medium-High
Tomorrow Night: The evening should feel nice -- still not that sticky, if at all -- with temperatures dropping into the 70s. Overnight, lows reach the upper 50s to near 60 (suburbs) to the low 60s (downtown). Skies stay mostly clear, so no need to worry about rain or an umbrella. Confidence: Medium-High
Sunday: Turning hot, but probably still tolerable, with highs in the upper 80s to low 90s. Yes, there may be a slight increase to the air's moisture level. But overall it's a relatively dry heat. High pressure keeps a lid on any rain chances. So as long as you stay hydrated, it's another nice day outside, albeit quite warm at the peak of afternoon heat. Sunday night lows in the 60s aren't bad, though maybe not quite cool enough to open the windows. Mehh. Confidence: Medium
Monday and Tuesday feature a probable return of higher heat and at least a little more in the way of humidity. Highs make a run at the mid-90s both days and high pressure continues to ward off any threat of rain. Will the higher heat mean worsening air quality? We'll keep you posted. Confidence: Medium
By
Camden Walker
| August 27, 2010; 4:00 PM ET
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Posted by: wiredog | August 27, 2010 7:34 AM | Report abuse
Hi there wiredog - I don't think we will pierce the 60-days mark (record is 67) by next Friday. I think it will be hot, but maybe only for about 4 days. Will keep an eye on it!
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 8:31 AM | Report abuse
What a nice day... low out in the Blue Ridge was 56.5F... up to 60.1 currently
Posted by: spgass1 | August 27, 2010 8:41 AM | Report abuse
So it looks like Danielle is going to behave and leave the East Coast alone. Will Earl play as nicely? The five day track looks like it starts to curve Northeast but not until it's a lot closer to the U.S.? Any thoughts on if Earl will be a threat to the US over Labor Day weekend? I'll admit I'm asking selfishly as I'm off to the OBX for a week starting on Sunday.
Posted by: ana_b | August 27, 2010 9:25 AM | Report abuse
spgass1 - I'm sooo jealous you had 50s! ugh, only barely got below 70 here in Metro Center :-P
ana_b - I completely understand your concern. And I am telling friends to keep one eye on Capital Weather Gang next week because we have Earl, and potentially Fiona behind it, that are 20% threats to the U.S. This is of course a low-confidence assessment. Many uncertainties. But as it appears now, Earl may not be the greatest threat. It could be a tropical system behind Earl that may develop into Fiona. That being said, we might make it through Labor Day weekend mostly un-threatened. Timing for any East Coast issues could be Labor Day or mid-week after Labor Day. Keep checking back with us please!
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 9:43 AM | Report abuse
Gang - Question. Even with the forecast for hot days next week (mid-90's), it appears that the overnight lows aren't completely unbearable as you might see with other heatwaves. To what do you attribute this to? Will we have low dewpoints, or is it simply the time of year that allows for greater cooling?
Posted by: authorofpoetry | August 27, 2010 9:56 AM | Report abuse
Thanks Camden! I'll definitely be checking in with you guys next week. We always know when we book this week that Tropical Storms are a possibility, we've been lucky so far, hoping that lucky streak continues.
Posted by: ana_b | August 27, 2010 10:00 AM | Report abuse
authorofpoetry - hi there. I think you have the idea: dewpoints. We will have dewpoints not surging into the tropical 70s, so this upcoming potential heatwave will be more tolerable. Hot, but not oppressive like previous ones. Lower dewpoint = less water vapor in the air = atmosphere more easily cools to lower overnight temps. That help you? Let me know. Dewpoint is one of those tricky things to explain; everyone uses the colloquialism "humidity" even though readings of Relative Humidity don't equate easily to bodily comfort. :-) Dewpoint does.
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 10:24 AM | Report abuse
ana_b - youre definitely welcome. Is it less expensive to go this time of year? I would look into it too ;) but the potential lower prices probably do relate to elevated tropical risk... sigh.
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 10:26 AM | Report abuse
Aside from the lower dewpoints, the nights are (mercifully) getting longer so the less saturated air and the longer "cooling" period should put an end to those 80-degree overnight lows.
Posted by: JerryFloyd1 | August 27, 2010 1:03 PM | Report abuse
Camden,
The prices are a lot cheaper for next week. We are paying about 50% less than the house was renting for just two weeks ago. However, as you note, there's a trade-off, you have to factor in the potential of tropical weather.
Posted by: ana_b | August 27, 2010 1:05 PM | Report abuse
Camden,
The prices are a lot cheaper for next week. We are paying about 50% less than the house was renting for just two weeks ago. However, as you note, there's a trade-off, you have to factor in the potential of tropical weather.
Posted by: ana_b | August 27, 2010 1:07 PM | Report abuse
JerryFloyd1 - sound reasoning! agreed! and thank goodness. It was terrible. We had at least two nights here in Metro Center in the mid-80s!! it was horrendous. so, not a moment too soon for longer, cooler nights haha
ana_b - noted & thanks!
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 1:10 PM | Report abuse
Great weather for a busy dance weekend [Dulles Hilton tonight, Spanish Ballroom, Glen Echo tomorrow night]...but watch out for the MNR whining as the dry spell continues. As of now we might have to wait for Earl or Fiona to get any substantial preciptation though we seem to have been above normal in that category the past six weeks.
Posted by: Bombo47jea | August 27, 2010 1:22 PM | Report abuse
Bombo47jea - good luck & have fun at the dances! As for a dry spell, well the drought conditions vary in our region. NOVA, DC, MD are all pretty okay right now. But a stripe from Winchester down to Richmond... under moderate drought. In our "immediate reading area" for Capital Weather Gang, we are mostly ok. But I want rain for Virginia soon, or I might get worried.
Posted by: Camden-CapitalWeatherGang | August 27, 2010 1:34 PM | Report abuse
C'MON FALL!!!
Posted by: sigmagrrl | August 27, 2010 5:23 PM | Report abuse
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Looking ahead to next week the record for 90 or higher days may be in reach after all. We'll be, what, about 6 shy by Friday?