from Victoria-Weather
There isn’t a lot of organization to the weather activity with the current pattern, but it’s so warm, and so humid that they are likely to just pop up here and there. Unless you are travelling from Pittsburgh to Jackson and west to Oklahoma City, then you should be ok.
I’m looking a little bit at the Harrisonburg forecast from a few days ago, and I am reminded that, because of the combination of high population and density of vegetation, the region is very sensitive to wind storms. While in the Plains or Midwest, you see long track lines of severe weather with the heaviest storms, you get mottled spasms of wind reports out east like they did over the weekend in the Atlantic Coastal Plains.
There is a tract of the middle of the country with a slight risk for severe thunderstorms tomorrow. There is a target for large hail and tornadoes in east central Minnesota and western Wisconsin that may bump the area to an enhanced risk tomorrow. The stretch in Tennessee to western Virginia where our road trip will drive through is in a marginal risk.
It’s time to take the first road trip in Victoria-Weather’s post Twitter era. Naturally, we should try to get to the center of the professional meteorology universe in Oklahoma City. We’ll take two days to cut through this tract of the country, which will cover 1212 miles. There is some mountaineering involved on this trip, but we’ll still manage a 68.3mph pace, which isn’t bad! We’re going to call it a night after 546 miles on day one, leaving a bit more work for day 2.
DAY ONE (Wednesday)
High pressure has finally arrived to New England to help dry the area out a little bit. On the southern flank of this ridge, however, showers and storms were still active. That seems to be the trend for the day tomorrow as well. The threat for showers and maybe even an isolated embedded thunderstorm will be best in the morning, and in the terrain along the Virginia-Tennessee border. Things should stabilize later in the day, and we’ll make our way to the west side of Nashville to conclude out day.
DAY TWO (Thursday)
A weak area of low pressure will be moving through the Upper Midwest towards the Great Lakes Wednesday into Thursday, and will drag a sweeping cold front into the Tennessee Valley. There may be a lingering shower as we leave Nashville, but after that, we will be able to reap the pleasures that summer has to offer us. Driving through Arkansas is a much more scenic trip than you might expect, so appreciate that, and keep the AC on for our arrival in OKC.
The headlines have been pretty unequivocal. It’s been hot in the southern US, particularly in the southwest. The average highs in Arizona are generally pretty warm, so the 100 streak doesn’t stand out as being as far from normal as the mid-100s do in west Texas, where in Odessa, at least, the average high is down in the 80s. Indeed, for our forecast period, Odessa was at a scorching 103 and 104 on the 9th and 10th. That is some tough work for any outdoor employees. If there is a silver lining, it was that Victoria-Weather crushed this forecast and earned a victory.
Actuals: Sunday, July 9th, High 103, Low 80
Monday, July 10th, High 104, Low 74
Grade: A-B
The Pueblo office as a map of high temperatures that not only gives some good weather information, but also demonstrates Colorado’s topography pretty well. Of course, there is the lower temperature readings found in the mountains in the western 3/5ths of the state, but also, the break between 100s and lower temperatures is close to the Palmer Divide, which usually makes Denver a totally different weather scene than Pueblo or Colorado Springs.
There were a few showers and storms some severe, late on Sunday evening. Can you find them on satellite?
There was certainly some rain in the forecast with the next round of wet weather coming through, but there was a question of timing, and it always makes me wonder what the radar signatures will look like when it comes to pass. Well, the heavy rain has moved on from Harrisonburg, which is good news for those hoping for a dry Sunday. The rain has been quite steady too, especially in the lower terrain south of Harrisonburg through the center of the state.
Organized rain and thunderstorms from New England to the Mid Atlantic continue to be an issue through the next 48 hours or so, followed by life getting considerably better. Undoubtedly, there will be more rain and thunder somewhere in the country, but the focused, widespread activity is going to take a little bit of a break.
A system working it’s way through the country is temporarily bringing some more comfortable weather across the middle of the country. Of course, there is more smoke behind this system, and there is a lot of red skied sunsets across the northern Plains tonight. And of course, it’s going to roast again. Check out the next several day forecast out of Wichita.
