Sunday, June 26, 2011

textbook classic... (am.26.jun.11)>

here at the top of mcleod ganj, visibility is only about 30 feet (10 meters) at dawn this morning thanks to thick fog.  there is some drizzle at the moment... with 0.13" (3mm) of new rain during the pre-dawn hours.  here are the stats for the past 24 hours:

yesterday's high temp: 77.4F (25.2C)
this morning's low temp: 68F (20C)
24 hour rainfall: 2.83" (7.2cm)
total rainfall for JUNE: 11.70" (29.7cm)

we have classic, textbook monsoon conditions out there this morning (background photo is current view from my balcony).  humidity is hovering between 95-100%, which means the atmosphere is holding as much moisture as it is capable of... thus, the thick fog.  satellite photos show lots of rain and thunder happening from southwestern kashmir through parts of western himachal, southward through most of punjab and haryana.. now knocking on the door of the delhi metro.  so far, delhi has escaped the official monsoon declaration... but today is likely to be their day.

winds aloft are very light... almost calm.  that means the areas of rain and thunderstorms that develop can drift in any direction, and hang around long enough to dump a tremendous amount of rain (as we saw here yesterday afternoon).  i was surprised that the lightning yesterday was so intense... but it's just another indication of the huge amounts of thermodynamic energy the atmosphere is holding.

although we may get some stretches of dry conditions, and even a peek or two of sunshine here and there, be prepared for sudden downpours with thunder and lightning at any time... and don't expect the humidity to relent!

SUNDAY: mostly cloudy and foggy.  a period or two of rain (possibly heavy) and thunderstorms.
high: 23C (74F)

SUNDAY NIGHT: clouds, fog and occasional rain with thunder.
low: 20C (68F)

MONDAY: clouds and fog, with a peek or two of sun.  occasional rain and thunder likely.
high: 23C (73F)

TUESDAY: clouds, fog, and periods of moderate to heavy rain.
high: 22C (72F)

WEDNESDAY: mostly cloudy.  periods of fog and rain.
high: 22C (71F)

THURSDAY: partly to mostly cloudy with occasional fog.  a few rain showers around.
high: 22C (71F)