Big Story Weather – August 21, 2012
redOrbit Meteorologist Joshua Kelly
Afternoon Tropical Update for Aug 21, 2012: Now that we have Tropical Depression 9L on our hands and probably soon be looking at 10L this week. Let’s take a further look and see where these things are headed.
Currently we have Tropical Depression 9L which has formed as of this morning and has now put the United States on alert as this storm is going to intensify over the next few days. It looks like it will become our next hurricane of the season. In the left image we can see that there is also another area of Low pressure sitting just to the east of Mexico. This area has a medium chance of developing. However, it looks like it will be picked up by the stationary boundary and be absorbed into the front. The second feature is our TD#9, which is on a course to move westward around the Sub-Tropical High for the next few days as warnings have already been put in place for the Windward Islands. Expect the warnings to start expanding westward over the next couple of days. A third area is in the South-Central Atlantic and also needs to be watched for further development as it also has the possibility of strengthening into our next named system later this week. The image on the right is courtesy of F-5 Weather Data what we are looking at is one of our meteorological tools known as Spaghetti Models. They help us see all the models over-top of each other so that we can examine what the models are all looking at in one image. As you can see the initial runs of all the models are together with a 24-30hr straight westward movement, then after that caution needs to be used for future movement of the system. So if you are anywhere from Western Florida to South Carolina you need to stay alert to this system and pay attention to your local news agencies and also keep it here at redorbit.com as we will continue to provide you updates on this storm.
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Big Story Weather from August 20: Yesterday we saw a few thunderstorms which produced hail in and around the Chicago area. Hail and strong winds also created damage into the panhandle of Texas. Isolated wind reports were found back into Arizona and over Florida along the frontal boundary. Hail sizes in Texas were around 1-1.75in in diameter. A few places in Arizona had winds reported in excess of 70mph and also eastward in Texas a few places peaked over 70mph for wind gusts.
Big Story Weather Outlook for August 21: Another nice day is in store for the Northeast as temps will hit the lower 80’s under partly cloudy skies. Look for some showers and thunderstorms to form along the frontal boundary in the Carolina’s. Otherwise partly cloudy skies will be found in the Baltimore area with high temps in the lower 80’s. The frontal boundary extends back into Florida bringing cloudy skies and scattered storms to the region for places like Orlando where the highs will be in the mid 80’s. High pressure will be in control of the weather back into the Plains with places like Saint Louis seeing high temps in the upper 70’s with partly cloudy skies. Another warm day is in store for the inner mountain west for places like Boise where high temps will soar into the lower to mid 90’s. A calm and mild day is in store for the West coast as partly cloudy skies will prevail for places like San Diego as high temps will be in the upper 70’s.
Big Story Weather International Outlook: High pressure over Japan will bring partly cloudy skies to the majority of the region for today. A frontal boundary extends from the Korea’s southward back into Eastern China bringing with it extensive cloudiness and periods of showers. The monsoonal trough will again bring showers and storms to Southeast Asia. Interaction between a frontal boundary over England and the remains of Gordon will impact Western Europe with showers and storms along with periods of gusty wind from Spain eastward into France. High pressure moving into Western South America will bring partly cloudy skies to the region, while a frontal boundary brings extensive cloudiness to the South Central part of Australia and look for High pressure to slowly start building in over Western Australia giving way to partly cloudy skies for the region.
Big Story Weather Tropical Update:
Atlantic Basin: Tropical Depression Gordon is on its final trek towards Spain with winds around 45kts and an estimated pressure of 996mb. Newly formed Tropical Depression 9L will continue to intensify and should become a Tropical Storm later today as it continues to move westerly around the Sub-tropical high, estimated winds are around 30kts with a pressure of 1007mb. This storm needs to be watched closely if you live anywhere from South Carolina to Eastern Florida at this time. Also we have 95L which is still turning of the coast of Mexico bringing heavy rain to the region with an estimated pressure of 1011mb and winds around 20kts. Lastly is 96L which is to the east of TD#9 this area is also favorable to intensify over the next 24hrs and possibly become another TD by then as its estimated winds are around 25kts with a pressure of 1010mb.
Eastern Pacific Basin: No concern in this basin today.
Western Pacific Basin: Typhoon Tembin is rapidly intensifying and could shortly become a Super Typhoon as its current winds are around 115kts and pressure is at 937mb. This storm is on a course to head right into Taiwan. Also there is Tropical Storm Bolaven turning towards the north with winds around 55kts and pressure estimated to be near 982mb. This storm could become another Typhoon later today.
Climate Watch for the period of August 16-20: The west continues to experience well above normal temps, while the central and eastern part of the country saw a frontal boundary come through and provide some relief.
Baltimore MD: Started the period about 2-4 degrees above normal after the front moved through temps dropped to around 5-9 degrees below normal.
St. Louis MO: The 16th the area was about 10 degrees above normal and then after the front passed through temps dropped to about 2-6 degrees below normal.
Orlando FL: Temps remained around average through the period with the exception being on the 18th when temps dropped to 7 degrees below normal.
Boise ID: The region continues to be above normal as temps are running about 3-7 degrees above normal.
San Diego CA: The heat is also impacting the region with temps about 4-9 degrees above average for the region.
