Capital Weather Gang: November 7, 2010 - November 13, 2010

Forecast: About as nice as November gets

I love snow and winter holds a special place because of it, but I could easily live with days like this all year (our traffic might take a beating though). Chilled mornings, mixed with near-peak color, are a good reminder of the season, and we probably need some reminders during the relatively warm midday sun. Soak it up today and tomorrow, because even though it's our 6th dry weekend in a row, darker and stormier skies can't be that far off.

By Ian Livingston  | November 13, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Forecasts  | Tags:  60s, maryland weather, sunshine, virginia weather, warm, washington dc weather, weather forecast  
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PM Update: Staying sunny, inching warmer

After highs stuck at either 63 or 64 the past four days at Reagan National Airport (DCA), we finally broke through resistance and touched 65 (at least) today. Though the afternoon was mild, another chilly evening is in store. So jackets recommended for the commute home...

By Jason Samenow  | November 12, 2010; 5:40 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Jews, Muslims, Christians pray for rain in West Bank

A five year drought motivated a rare interfaith prayer service yesterday in Al-Walajah, Israel, a village between Jerusalem and Bethlehem. The Media Line - a news service in the Middle East - set the context:

The rainy season should have begun over a month ago, but the skies remain blue on this November afternoon. In a land that has seen much bloodshed and no few miracles, these devout believe that now more than ever is the time for divine intervention.

By Jason Samenow  | November 12, 2010; 2:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (7)
Categories:  International Weather, Latest  
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Discovery of the greenhouse effect: a short history

Whether you are a die-hard denier of anthropogenic global warming, believe unequivocally in catastrophic human-caused global warming, or lie skeptically somewhere between these "wing nuts", there is (at least) one critically relevant common denominator: the greenhouse effect. Yet, I'll bet wherever you stand on the subject of global warming a vast majority believe the greenhouse effect is an invention of the 20th century. Not so!

By Steve Tracton  | November 12, 2010; 12:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Climate Change, Tracton  
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Weatherman tosses microphone to polar bears

Watch Canadian weatherman Tom Brown - when feeding pumpkins to polar bears for an on-air report - accidentally pitch his microphone in the process. It doesn't appear the polar bears tried to eat the mic...

By Jason Samenow  | November 12, 2010; 10:45 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Humor  
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Forecast: More blue sky and enjoyable 60s

Blue skies, very little breeze, and dry conditions through at least Sunday. What a weekend we have in store! With our average temperatures in D.C. at 59F/41F (hi/low), I think you will be pleased at this mostly above-average forecast. Get outside. Enjoy the ever-shortening daylight that shines bright into Sunday. Have you like this week's broken record of sunshine and 60s?

By Camden Walker  | November 12, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (13)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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On this day in 1987: Unpredicted. Paralyzing. Snow.

If you lived in the metro region in November of 1987, you almost certainly remember the Veteran's Day snowstorm.

By Jason Samenow  | November 11, 2010; 7:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (21)
Categories:  History  
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PM Update: Low 60s again and again and ...

Sometimes the unremarkable is remarkable. Here are the highs at DCA for the last three days: 64, 63, 64. Today's high isn't in the books yet, but we've at least reached 61. Tomorrow's forecast? You guessed it -- highs in the low 60s.

By Jason Samenow  | November 11, 2010; 3:20 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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A touch of color at the Capitol

Despite predictions that a hot, dry summer might diminish our colorful fall foliage, the trees in our area seemed to respond to recent rain and have put on a nice show color during the past few weeks.

By Kevin Ambrose  | November 11, 2010; 1:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (1)
Categories:  Latest, Photography  | Tags:  capitol, fall, foliage  
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A detailed look at this winter's biggest players

The pattern has flipped this year to a strong La Nina with stronger than normal easterly trade winds causing upwelling and colder than normal sea surface temperatures across the east and central Pacific. These conditions are expected to continue through the winter. On the other hand, the phase of the NAO - a major factor in our snow potential - is a much bigger wild card. In CWG's winter outlook, we provided an overview of the different factors leading to our projection for more or less average snow and temperatures this winter. But let's take a deeper look at how this moderate-to-strong La Nina may influence the evolution of this winter's weather and consider the curve balls the NAO might throw...

By Wes Junker  | November 11, 2010; 10:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (18)
Categories:  Local Climate, Winter Storms  
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Forecast: High pressure spells carefree weather

I have to admit that while this weather is wonderful, what is there to write about? I am sure it will not be long before excitement is back. With the lengthening nights, this is a great weekend for stargazing. The first clouds to contend with won't arrive until Sunday and they will be scattered. Showers are off limits until Monday and even then they won't amount to much.

By David Streit  | November 11, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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PM Update: Pleasant fall weather lives on

Our period of uncomplicated forecasts continued today and looks to do so for at least several more to come. Temperatures have bounced into the low-and-mid 60s today, which is a bit above average across the area for this time of year. If you're digging the abundant sunshine, you should be loving life through the rest of the week and into the weekend.

By Ian Livingston  | November 10, 2010; 3:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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NOAA imagery: Pollution over China

Massive plumes of the gas nitrogen dioxide can be seen hovering in the troposphere (low atmosphere) above China.

By Jason Samenow  | November 10, 2010; 2:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (4)
Categories:  Environment  
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Remembering the Dust Bowl of the 1930s

Our recent flirtation with drought-like conditions calls to mind the political wrangling which occurred a little over 75 years ago during the Dust Bowl era of the 1930s. On March 21st 1935, Hugh Bennett, a Roosevelt advisor, testified in a Senate hearing that several years of "black blizzards"* and severe soil erosion revealed that the nation was in dire need of more efficient soil conservation methods. (1) His testimony was hardly needed, however, because Bennett, aware from Washington Post stories and other sources that a Midwest dust cloud was about to overtake Washington, made sure windows were left open with water glasses nearby (as they usually were during both winter and summer in pre-air-conditioned DC).

By Don Lipman  | November 10, 2010; 12:15 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  History, Latest, Lipman, U.S. Weather  
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Long range look: Pre-Thanksgiving cold snap?

Our friends at AccuWeather are advertising the season's first significant Arctic outbreak in the days leading up to Thanksgiving.

By Jason Samenow  | November 10, 2010; 9:30 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (15)
Categories:  Latest, U.S. Weather  
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Forecast: Sun and 60+ sticks around

Express Forecast Today: Partly to mostly sunny. Near 60 to low 60s. | Tonight: Mostly clear. Upper 30s to low 40s. | Tomorrow: Mostly sunny. Near 60.

Forecast in Detail As we get toward mid-November, we've gotta savor every chance at 60 degrees we can get. Luckily, we'll have a shot at 60 or a little higher today and through the weekend. Plenty of sun, too. Full Forecast

By Dan Stillman  | November 10, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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National Weather Service: Growing season over

After consultation with agricultural extension agents across the Baltimore/Washington Weather Forecast Office's county warning area ... it has been determined that the growing season for frost and freeze sensitive vegetation has ended.

By Jason Samenow  | November 9, 2010; 7:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (5)
Categories:  Local Climate  
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PM Update: Sunny and 60+ tune keeps playing

For the second straight day, the sun was supreme, elevating high temperatures into the low 60s. Winds around 10-15 mph haven't been as gusty as yesterday, as low pressure off the Northeast coast slowly spins away (cool satellite loop) . These breezes ease a bit over the next several hours as we welcome a mostly clear and cool evening.

By Jason Samenow  | November 9, 2010; 3:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Do Americans think global warming is manmade?

Andrew Freedman, in yesterday's piece Scientists launch climate science counter attacks yesterday, wrote "a majority of Americans already accept manmade climate change as a reality." Capital Weather Gang's Matt Rogers challenged Freedman with the following comment: Andrew, what is your source for this statement: "a majority of Americans already accept manmade climate change as a reality"?

By Jason Samenow  | November 9, 2010; 1:45 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (16)
Categories:  Climate Change  
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The mystery of the von Karman vortex street

Crop circles? Mini-hurricanes? Spaceships? What the heck are those things pictured to the right? What we're looking at here is a classic example of a von Karman vortex street. Other than being really cool to look at, these phenomena are just another reminder of just how weird our atmosphere can be.

By Brian Jackson  | November 9, 2010; 10:20 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Education, Photography, Science  
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Forecast: Sunny and slightly warm

Express Forecast Today: Mostly sunny, breezy mild. 59-63 | Tonight: Mostly clear and cool. 39-44. | Tomorrow: More sunshine. 59-63.

Forecast in Detail Having a long-term guest has its upsides and downsides. Our current atmospheric visitor, a friendly wedge of high pressure, plans to stay five more days, so you'll have plenty of time to get acquainted to sunshine and low 60s. Full Forecast

By Matt Rogers  | November 9, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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PM Update: Wind continues through tonight

This is my kind an autumn day -- lots of sun, somewhat mild temperatures and no major cold snaps on the immediate horizon to think about. Temperatures near 60 and into the lower 60s are back a little bit above average for this time of year, and compared to the chill of recent days, it feels pretty nice despite a northwest wind gusting as high as 25-30 mph this afternoon.

By Ian Livingston  | November 8, 2010; 3:30 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (0)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Fall storm lashes New England

A strong ocean storm, fed in part by the remnants of once Hurricane Tomas, today is smacking New England with strong winds, rain and a little bit of snow. The storm is unusual in that it's backing into New England from the east (or retrograding), rather than coming up the coast. Its development and interaction with a tropical system are leading some to compare it with the "Perfect Storm" of 1991

By Jason Samenow  | November 8, 2010; 2:00 PM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (2)
Categories:  U.S. Weather  
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Scientists launch climate science counterattacks

After a year of dramatic setbacks, from stolen personal emails that were used to smear climate science researchers, to last week's midterm elections that ushered a large number of climate science skeptics into power, many climate scientists have had enough -- and they're about to take action by going on the offensive in a major way.

By Andrew Freedman  | November 8, 2010; 11:15 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (54)
Categories:  Climate Change, Freedman, Science  
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What's the average date of D.C.'s first snow?

What's the average first date of snow in D.C.? The answer: Between 1971-2000, the average date of the first 0.1" of snow was December 13 and December 28 for the first inch.

By Jason Samenow  | November 8, 2010; 10:15 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (9)
Categories:  Capital Weather Gang, Latest, Local Climate  
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Forecast: Sun and 60-plus through Saturday

Although we now have an hour less afternoon daylight this week, we'll have no shortage of sunshine. At least through Saturday, sunshine sparkles each and every day.

By Jason Samenow  | November 8, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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Forecast: Warmer weather on the way

The world looks just a bit brighter as you wake this morning. For one, the sun has been up for an hour longer, and our skies free themselves from the passing cloudiness we saw yesterday. We stay bright for the majority of the week as well, warming as we go. The only chink in the plan so far is an iffy coastal low that has the potential to increase clouds on Tuesday and also keep some gusty breezes around.

By Brian Jackson  | November 7, 2010; 5:00 AM ET  |  Permalink  |  Comments (3)
Categories:  Forecasts  
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