Weather Forecasters Summer Dream...

  I can put my feet up today...well for now.  When I got out of the car this morning at the station, an unfamiliar cool breeze hit my ankle. That delightful breeze on Red Mountain was a marvelous gift this morning. Working outside today? Well if you are, finally a break from the heat. Today is one of those days to look ahead. We are looking toward the weekend now on the hump day. A dry cold front will push through the area by the end of the week and leave us with Party Cloudy skies and upper 80s for your highs for the weekend, mid-upper 60s overnight...Enjoy!

Tropical Storm Danielle

At this time Monday Morning, there are no coastal watches or warnings in effect.

This morning at 5:00 am EST, the center of Tropical Storm Danielle was
located near latitude 14.8 north...longitude 37.1 west. Danielle is

moving toward the west-northwest near 14 mph and this

general motion is expected to continue through Tuesday.

Maximum sustained winds are near 60 mph with higher

gusts. Additional strengthening is forecast. Danielle is

likely to become a Hurricane within the next 24 hours.

Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 85 miles.

Source:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Tropical Moisture, No Tropical System

We all hope for this soggy scenario in the summer. Tropical moisture without the damage. Bad thing is, LA and MS have seen localized flooding that has been reeking havoc across the Deep South.  Flooding is one of the main weather disasters that take life.  Inland flooding is also very important.  I always here people say they don't need to to worry because they do not live on the coast...that concerns me.  Here is some info to hopefully swap that frame of mind.

"In the 1970s, '80s, and '90s, inland flooding was responsible for more than half of the deaths associated with tropical cyclones in the United States."

Source: NOAA, NWS

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/HAW2/english/inland_flood.shtml

NOAA Still Expects Active Atlantic Hurricane Season

Atlantic Basin for the whole season – June 1 to November 30 – NOAA’s updated outlook is projecting, with a 70% probability, a total of (including Alex, Bonnie and Colin):

• 14 to 20 Named Storms (top winds of 39 mph or higher), including:

• 8 to 12 Hurricanes (top winds of 74 mph or higher), of which:

• 4 to 6 could be Major Hurricanes (Category 3, 4 or 5; winds of at least 111 mph)

 
Source:  http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2010/20100805_hurricaneupdate.html

All the hope for that garden seems to get carried away by the lack of rain, heading into summer. As a Meteorologist, I always hear people complaining about needing a tropical disturbance to swing through and bring us a few inches of rain. That is all great in theory but, from experience that will not do it. This lonely flower you see to the left was supposed to be a group of flowers. This guy apparently beat the others out for every last stitch of water. The dirt in my garden is dry as a bone. What we need is a slow steady rain to help this poor guy bring his friends back from the dead.
Here is the latest tropical info:
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/gtwo_atl.shtml

Hurricane Season 2010

This go around there is a lot of crazy talk about an above average Hurricane Season. I have to admit, the way the summer is shaping up...oh, I forgot, it is still technically fall for a few more days. You wouldn't know with the 100 degrees F, south of the Mason Dixon Line.

So here we go...there are some really great resources this summer for validity to this alleged above average Hurricane Season. I know we are all horrified by the idea of an above average season with this monstrosity unfolding in the Gulf. Here are a few great resources, I enjoy, by some great weather nerds, like myself: http://www.2010season.28storms.com/, http://hurricanetrack.com/, for the oil spill restoration: http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/ and of course http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/.
Image Credit: Meteorologist Harmony Mendoza


2010 Storm Names

1. Alex
2. Bonnie
3. Colin
4. Danielle
5. Earl
6. Fiona
7. Gaston
8. Hermine
9. Igor
10. Julia
11. Karl
12. Lisa
13. Matthew
14. Nicole
15. Otto
16. Paula
17. Richard
18. Shary
19. Tomas
20. Virginie
21. Walter
    

Courtesy: National Hurricane Center
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

Ahoy...the snowy Birmingham winter days...it was gone by morning. Sweet bliss while I had it though.