Thursday, August 27, 2009

Thursday/10:53PM

Sorry I haven't updated for a while. I just got moved into college this past weekend, and am now very busy with 18 credit hours. I just tried out for the weather anchor position at WVUT here in Vincennes. I will find out, most likely tomorrow, if I made it or not. I sure hope I did. Its something Ive been wanting to do since I was 4 years old. What an opportunity!

Short and brief weather update tonight. There is still the potential for a few showers and thunderstorms to pop up overnight. The atmosphere is still fairly unstable. Tomorrow will be the best potential we've had all week for showers and thunderstorms. Storms that do develop tomorrow will again, like today, have the potential to produce very heavy downpours (potentially up to 1 inch per hour rainfall rates) I'll have more on your weekend forecast and more tomorrow. Everyone have a great night!

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

Tuesday/10:14PM

Woops! I haven't updated for several days! I apologize. I have been very busy getting ready for college. I move to Vincennes Thursday morning.

Alot has happened since I last updated...

Anna isn't even considered a tropical depression at this time. However she is providing quite a bit of moisture for the Southwestern portion of the United States.

What was Claudette is pumping plenty of moisture in our direction, however storms have had a problem forming today due to the lack of upper air support.

Bill is now a strong category 3 storm with winds of 125 MPH. Track from the NHC takes it away from the coast, however this track is not set in stone. Even if it doesn't hit the coast, there will be very high waves and rip currents. I'll have more on this at 11.

Getting worried about the potential for a severe weather event for our area on Thursday. I'll have more on this tomorrow...

Sunday, August 16, 2009

Sunday/10:00PM

Ok Im going to try and cover the weather quickly. Very busy today, and will be for the next several days getting ready for college.

-Isolated storms here tomorrow

-Storms will be increasing Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Tropical storm Claudette may increase heavy rain potential and flash flooding potential. Possible severe Thursday.

-Tropical Storm Claudette will make landfall tonight near Panama City. Flooding, minor wind damage, and tornadoes will be likely.

-Ana has been downgraded to a tropical depression. It's going to have problems getting its act together as it encounters alot of land. This still has the potential to become a tropical storm or hurricane. Track from the NHC has this potentially hitting New Orleans.

-Bill could potentially become a monster cateogory 4 or 5 storm as it nears the East Coast. Could hit the East Coast, or curve away as it approaches. I will fine tune that tomorrow.

Saturday, August 15, 2009

Saturday/5:15PM

WEATHER CODE: NON SEVERE



Temperatures tonight will only drop into the upper 60's and low 70's. No precipitation tonight so if you want to have a backyard barbeque...the weather looks great!

Chances for precipitation will not return until Monday, but then it should remain fairly consistent throughout the rest of next week. I'll have more on this tomorrow, and if there are any severe weather chances...

The main focus, however, is on the tropics. We now have to tropical storms, one named Ana and the other is Bill.

Ana is the first storm we will have to monitor, but really its not to far in front of Bill. To give you a glimpse of how close they are to each other, (look below)

(Click on any image for a larger view)
(All images are from the National Hurricane Center)



Ana is having some trouble strengthening due to wind shear and dry air around the storm. The projected path from the NHC (image below this text) now has this going into the Gulf of Mexico, which alarms me. Conditions are fairly ripe for strengthening (at least at this time) in the GOM (especially the eastern GOM) If you live from Georgia to Texas, this is a storm that needs to be monitored. As many know, Katrina devastated New Orleans back in 2005, and they could POTENTIALLY be in the path of this storm.



Bill is the second storm we are closely monitoring. Bill is expected to become a cateogory 2 hurricane 120 hours out. The NHC takes this near the Bahamas 5 days out. (Image below)



If we continued that cone north and west, it would seem the southeast has the best shot at getting hit by Bill. However, the 12Z GFS has this running up the coast and not hitting land. Whatever the case, it sure looks to be a powerful hurricane as it nears the East Coast of the United States. So again, the potential is there for 2 hurricanes to hit the U.S. in the next 1 to 2 weeks. If you live near the Gulf of Mexico or on the East Coast, I encourage you to come to my blog daily as I keep you abreast of the situation.

We will also have to monitor these storms to see if they will play a role in our weather as well...

-Weather Forecaster Patrick Sumner

Friday, August 14, 2009

Friday/6:15PM

WEATHER CODE: NON SEVERE


Dry weather and comfortable temperatures will continue through the rest of the night, and it still looks to stay that way through the weekend.

All attention is on the tropics as several disturbances are now active. The only hurricane we have is hurricane Guillermo, and this is in the Eastern Pacific. This is expected to weaken as it progresses. Still something to keep an eye on as it heads west.

The main focus, however, is another wave that is currently in the eastern Pacific. This is forecasted to strengthen rapidly into a tropical storm tomorrow, and potentially a hurricane by Sunday. The number 2 on the picture below is the wave that is being watched very closely.
(CLICK ON ANY IMAGE FOR A LARGER VIEW)

The 12Z GFS now has a hurricane hitting eastern Florida 228 hours out, and it could be a major hurricane at that. (Image below) Computer models will be shifting the next several days on where this storm will end up. Bottom line is...if you live anywhere from the Gulf Coast to the East coast...you need to monitor this situation.

Friday/4:19PM

It has been a great day weather wise! If you haven't got the chance to go out and enjoy it...go now!

Im going to be having a full update later this evening about the potential for a significant hurricane to hit the U.S. in about a week or so. Stay tuned for that...have a great afternoon!

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

WEATHER CODE: NON SEVERE


Sunny skies and cooler temperatures are the rule for the rest of today, and really for the rest of the week. Temperatures may get near 90 by the end of the week, but all in all, near to below average temperatures and dry conditions are expected through Sunday.

However, we have alot to talk about...the tropics are heating up!
Tropical depression 2 has formed out in the Central Atlantic. The NHC doesn't have this becoming a hurricane in there 5 day cone. It will be encountering wind shear the next several days, however strengthening is very possible as it nears the coast. If you live from Florida or up and down the East Coast...you will need to monitor this situation. For more on tropical depression 2 click... HERE
Also tropical depression TEN-E has formed in the eastern pacific. This is expected to become a tropical storm in the next day or two. This depression will also need to be monitored very closely as this is expected to strengthen faster than tropical depression 2.
-Weather Forecaster Patrick Sumner

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Tuesday/12:01AM

Showers and thunderstorms still in progress south of Louisville. Flooding rains in Louisville and in New Albany and surrounding areas earlier. Their were some water rescues.

There were also a couple of fires, including one in Brownstown, Indiana...about 10 minutes west of Seymour...

For more on the fire click... HERE

Showers and thunderstorms will return tomorrow, however, the more widespread activity will be further south. Right now it appears the heaviest rains will set up shop south and southwest of Louisville. Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms will still be possible from the Ohio River and on north. Also, the SPC has highlighted areas immediatley south of the Ohio River in a SLIGHT RISK for severe weather. I will have more tomorrow on this as it develops. Have a great night!

Monday, August 10, 2009

Monday/4:00PM

A Mesoscale Discussion has been issued by the SPC for the entire region (graphic and text below) Storms are beginning to develop north of a Seymour, North Vernon, Bedford line. These are not currently severe, but there is plenty of unstable air across the region. So, some storms could very well go severe. STAY TUNED!

SPC SAYS: BoldAT LEAST AN ISOLATED SEVERE THREAT MAY DEVELOP THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN INDIANA/SOUTHERN OH/NORTHERN KY INTO WV. WHILE A WATCH IS NOT CURRENTLY ANTICIPATED IN THE SHORT TERM...CONVECTIVE TRENDS WILL CONTINUED TO BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE SEVERE TSTM WATCH. ALONG/AHEAD OF SURFACE TROUGH...MULTIPLE QUASI-LINEAR BROKEN BANDS OF TSTMS WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO DEVELOP/SPREAD EASTWARD ACROSS PORTIONS OF SOUTHERN INDIANA/SOUTHERN OH/NORTHERN KY TO WV THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. OVERALL REGIME IS NOT STRONGLY FORCED ACROSS THIS REGION...AND MODEST VERTICAL SHEAR/WEAK MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES MAY TEND TO LIMIT OVERALL STORM ORGANIZATION/VIGOR. NEVERTHELESS...GIVEN STEEP LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES/MODERATE BUOYANCY...SOME OF THE STRONGER STORMS WILL BE CAPABLE OF PERIODIC DAMAGING WINDS/PERHAPS SOME PULSE HAIL THROUGH AROUND SUNSET.

Monday/1:00PM

WEATHER CODE: SLIGHT ***Slight risk of severe weather***



Ok focus will be on potential for severe weather this afternoon and evening...

The Storm Prediction Center has posted a good portion of the region in a SLIGHT RISK for severe for this afternoon and evening. (See graphics and text below) The atmosphere has destabilized quite rapidly with sun pretty widespread across the area. Storms will develop over Central Illinois in a couple of hours, then push east and southeast into the region by late afternoon and early evening. Best threats with these storms will be large hail and damaging winds. There is potential for an isolated tornado, especially across Central Indiana. Please monitor the weather situation throughout the afternoon and evening. Other probabilities are 2% tornado (in Central Indiana) 15% wind and 15% hail. More later...



SPC SAYS: SYNOPTIC COLD FRONT FROM NRN LOWER MI SWWD INTO IA WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SEWD DURING THE PERIOD. IN ADVANCE OF THE FRONT...REGIONS OF CLOUDS FROM PREVIOUS CONVECTION HAVE INHIBITED DIURNAL HEATING ACROSS PARTS OF LOWER MI INTO IL AND NRN MO. STRONGER HEATING IS OCCURRING FROM INDIANA AND OH WITH INDICATION OF A WEAK CONVERGENCE BOUNDARY FROM EXTREME SERN LOWER MI SWWD INTO CENTRAL INDIANA. THE ENVIRONMENT HAS BECOME QUITE UNSTABLE WITH MLCAPE OF 1500-2000 J/KG. PERSISTENT WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WITH MID LEVEL SPEEDS OF 30-40 KT ARE CONTRIBUTING TO SUFFICIENT DEEP LAYER SHEAR TO SUPPORT ORGANIZED SEVERE STORMS. MULTIPLE STORM CLUSTERS WITH OCCASIONAL BOWING STRUCTURES WILL BE POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS...WITH THREAT FOR DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND LARGE HAIL.

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Saturday/9:49PM

Pretty warm night ahead for the rest of tonight. Lows will only bottom out in the upper 60's and lower 70's tonight, so keep the AC on high.

Temperatures tomorrow will top out in the lower and middle 90's with heat indices near 100 or potentially above in some areas. The National Weather Services has issued a HEAT ADVISORY for areas north and west of our viewing area, however it does include Lawerence County. Indianapolis and Vincennes are other areas that are included in the HEAT ADVISORY. More below...

...HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM EDT SUNDAY...THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN INDIANAPOLIS HAS ISSUED A HEAT ADVISORY...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 11 AM TO 7 PM EDT SUNDAY. HOT AND HUMID AIR WILL MOVE MOVE INTO CENTRAL INDIANA. HIGH TEMPERATURES SUNDAY WILL RANGE FROM THE LOWER 90S ACROSS NORTHEAST SECTIONS TO THE MIDDLE 90S OVER WESTERN AND SOUTHERN SECTIONS. THE COMBINATION OF HIGH TEMPERATURES AND HUMIDITIES WILL PRODUCE HEAT INDEX VALUES NEAR OR ABOVE 100 DEGREES ALONG AND WEST OF A LINE FROM LAFAYETTE TO INDIANAPOLIS AND BEDFORD. WITH THE UNUSUALLY COOL WEATHER EXPERIENCED ACROSS THE AREA THE PAST FEW WEEKS...PEOPLE MAY NOT BE AS USED TO HOT WEATHER AS THEY NORMALLY WOULD BE FOR EARLY AUGUST. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOROVER EXERTION AND RESULTING HEAT RELATED ILLNESSES.

Saturday/10:48AM

WEATHER CODE: ***No hazardous weather expected, however heat indices will be high***


Thought about raising this to a SLIGHT level due to the expected heat today, but decided to hold off. However, if you are going outside today, temperatures will top out in the lower 90's with heat indices in the middle to upper 90's! Bring the sun tan lotion along if you plan on being outside for a long period of time today...and as always...DRINK LOT'S OF WATER!

Tomorrow will be the hottest day of the summer. Temperatures will easily top 90, with many areas hitting 93 or higher. Heat indices will be near or just above 100! Tomorrow will be a a very dangerous day as far as heat is concerned. IF you HAVE to go outside, drink plenty of water, and don't over exert yourself.

Storms will return Monday. SPC has a 5% severe risk right now (shown below), but I expect some portion of this area to be upgraded to a SLIGHT RISK area tomorrow, probably across Central and South Central Indiana.


On this date in 1882 a August snowstorm was reported by a ship on Lake Michigan. Snow and slush measured up to as much as 6 inches deep. That is unheard of in August...

Friday, August 7, 2009

Friday/9:45PM

HOT HOT and HOT will be the popular word for the next 3 days or potentially more across the Ohio Valley Region.

Temperatures tomorrow will easily approach 90 with some areas going a couple of degrees above 90! Heat indices on Sunday may very well reach 100 or higher! No rain is expected this weekend.

Today is the anniversary of a rare 7 tornadoes that tore through New England back in 1986. There were several injuries, but no deaths.


Also on this date in history in 1984 El Paso, Texas was left under 5 feet of water after a strong thunderstorm sweeped through with more than 4 inches of rain in about 1 one hour.

Friday/1:06PM

One more fairly comfortable day today before the heat returns for the weekend! Temperatures both tomorrow and Sunday will top out in the lower 90's with heat indices nearing 100!

If you have to be outside tomorrow or Sunday, drink plenty of water, and bring the sun tan lotion along if you plan on being outside for a long period of time.

In October I will be having a guess the snow amount for the winter contest. You don't win anything, but I will post your name on the blog. I'm sorry I wish I had stuff to give away, but I don't...lol.

IF YOU WANT TO DO WEATHER TRIVIA...EMAIL or COMMENT me on this blog. I've tried doing it before, but only got a few responses. Please let me know if that's something you would be interested in having on this blog. Thanks...

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Thursday/9:22PM

Ok, after trying to team up with Erik and do a new blog, that just didn't work out. It's not his fault. We either didn't make enough time or didn't have enough time. In Erik's case, he didn't have enough time, for me, I had no excuse. However, I plan to update this blog nearly on a regular basis. I may not update it everyday, but if you begin to see me "slack", please encourage me to keep going or remind me. I have a brain that is like scrambled eggs, one thing goes on, then I completley forget another...I know, I know...I'm working on it!

Now for the weather...

After the coolest July ever recorded in the Midwest and Ohio Valley, it's back to the heat this weekend, and after all, it is August! As the ridge builds eastward temperatures will easily top 90 both Saturday and Sunday. Heat indices Sunday may very well reach 100 or higher across the entire region. After the recent flood, many people probably don't mind dry and hot weather.

Several people are cleaning up the pieces after flooding and damaging winds pounded the area Tuesday. I live in Jackson County, and 70% of the county is under water. I am blessed not to be one of those areas. For those people that are in the flooded areas, I pray that it will recede very fast, and with several dry days forecasted, the water will begin to go down.

The hardest hit region on Tuesday was Louisville, Kentucky. Several buildings including the library, and the college campus were engulfed in water. It was truly a catastrophe in that area.

A few photos are below (THESE ARE FROM THE NWS IN LOUISVILLE) some are from Louisville, and some from surrounding areas. If you want more information about the damage and more pictures click...HERE

This from the U of L campus. Wow...
Everyone have a God blessed night! More tomorrow...