August 06th, 2014

Surprise, surprise, surprise!  It is going to get cooler again! So we might as well stretch out, lay in the shade and take a nice summer nap. What do yo think?  This kitten agrees ...

On to the weather: a warm day yesterday, a transition day today and cooler for the next few days. The summer pattern of comfort continues. No extreme heat or any length of hot weather has occurred at all this year. But will that continue or is a change going to occur?

The month of July was overall very average, after an above average June (Temperature and precipitation wise). So what about August. I am expecting it to be a transition month.  What I mean is the summer pattern continues but breaks down the second half of the month. The persistent ridge out west will break down as the days shorten. (Feedback from heating the mountains/high ground thus supporting a ridge of hot air decreases as the sun angle decreases). With that ridge weakening troughs of low pressure will be able to bring cooler air to the NW, and instead of being forces up and over then down into the eastern US trough, the new pattern will help push warm/hot air east and northeast out of the southern plains. Besides this is the time of year the Atlantic Ridge really begins to flex its muscles. This ride will help forces systems to shear off the NE of us, only giving us weakened pushes of cooler air. This is the pattern I expect to see by the end of this month and through September. It is  warmer and drier pattern.  But it is also one that opens up the possibility of tropical storms.  

For August:

Temperature: Above average (heat wave for the start of school?)

Precipitation: Below Average

Highlights this Week:

Wed – Front comes through. Showers and storms are likely but much of the strong storms will be south of us. Clouds and sunshine. High: 84 low: 60.

Thu – Sat: more comfy weather. Partly to mostly sunny. Low humidity (increase some Saturday afternoon and night). Highs: 78-82. Lows 52-55. Enjoy.

Sun-Mon: More clouds with partial sunshine. Moisture will be lurking just to our SW in WV, MD, OH. Will it make it here?  Any showers/storms that do make it will be slow movers. They should stay to our SW, but I will watch this closely. Highs: 78 – 81. Lows: 62.

Tuesday-Wednesday: Major frontal system approaching from the West/NW will increase humidity and showers/storms will be expected. Some possibly strong/severe.  Partly to mostly sunny. Highs Tue: 87 with a low of 68. Highs Wed: 82 with a low of 59.

Cooler again for end of the week into the weekend. Is this the last big shot of cool before the fall?  Is heat in our future toward the end of the month?

Time will tell. Enjoy what weather you have. 

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