Hot With Only Isolated Storms

Mainly sunny and hot with little heat relief from showers and storms as drier air has moved in from the east. Rain chances are not zero, but they are very low, and any showers and storms which develop will be isolated. The best chance for rain will be in western portions of the state. Highs this afternoon should reach the lower to mid 90s for most locations.

USA BRIEF: Monsoon moisture continues to produce locally heavy rain and the threat of flash flooding across the desert southwest, and high based thunderstorms that could ignite wildfires. Severe thunderstorms in the Upper Midwest may produce damaging winds, large hail, a few tornadoes, and locally heavy rainfall. East coast hazardous beach conditions caused by Chris will continue.

REST OF THE WEEK: Moisture will be a bit deeper Thursday and Friday, so afternoon storms will become more numerous again, but still random and scattered and no way of knowing in advance where they will develop. Afternoon highs through Friday will be in the 92-95 degree range.

HURRICANE CHRIS: At 500 AM AST, the eye of Hurricane Chris was located near latitude 35.3 North, longitude 69.9 West. Chris has increased its forward speed and is now moving toward the northeast near 22 mph. This general motion with additional increase in forward speed is anticipated during the next 2 to 3 days. Maximum sustained winds remain near 105 mph with higher gusts. Chris has the opportunity to strengthen a little today or tonight. After that time, the hurricane is forecast to weaken and become a strong post-tropical cyclone by Thursday night or earlier. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 90 miles. The estimated minimum central pressure is 970 mb (28.65 inches).

REMNANTS OF BERYL: The main area of disturbed weather associated with the remnants of Beryl is located just to the east of the Bahamas. This system has is not showing any signs of development, and the chances of regeneration today or tomorrow remain low. However, conditions could become a little more favorable later in the week while the disturbance moves northward over the Atlantic. An Air Force Reserve reconnaissance aircraft is scheduled to investigate the disturbance later today, if necessary. Formation chance through 5 days…medium…50 percent.

AVIATION RADIATION RESULTS FROM THE SOUTH PACIFIC: On the heels of a new study showing that flight attendants have an elevated risk of cancer compared to the general population, Spaceweather.com and the students of Earth to Sky Calculus recently boarded a plane to New Zealand carrying an array of cosmic ray sensors. During their 13 hour flight across the South Pacific, the team detected secondary cosmic rays in the passenger compartment almost 40 times stronger than on the ground below. Their “haul” of radiation included a significant number of neutrons captured in portable bubble chambers.

THE ALABAMA WEEKEND: Looks like your classic, mid-summer weekend. Partly sunny, hot, and humid Saturday and Sunday with “scattered, mostly afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms”. Chance of any one place getting wet will be 30/40 percent, and highs should be in the low 90s.

NEXT WEEK: Not much change; we could see an increase in the number of scattered storms toward mid-week with the approach of a weak front from the north. Highs will be mostly in the low 90s, right at seasonal averages for mid-July.

Have a great day!
Ryan