Friday, July 13, 2012

healthy rains... (am.13.jul.12)>

A fairly intense thundershower is in progress early on this Friday morning.  Clouds increased quickly just after 5:00am, with some thunder just before 6:00am... and at my location here in the upper part of town, the rain began just after 6:30am.  I have 0.94" (2.4cm) in my rain gauge in less than one hour since the rain started.  There are now patches of fog which have developed as well.  65.8F (18.8C) is the current temp (at 7:25am) and my overnight low as well.

*Rainfall Update @ 8:50am -- 1.06" (2.7cm).

This fresh batch of rain and thunder is due to the arrival of some cooler air in the upper atmosphere, which is interacting with the very moist, tropical air entrenched at the surface.  Winds aloft are turning to the west and northwest, steering any other developing showers and thundershowers south and eastward through our area as we head into the weekend.  From all I am seeing, we should continue to deal with some rather dramatic flip-flops between rain/thunder/fog and occasional peeks of sunshine and calm weather during the coming few days.  Even with the potential for some locally heavy rainfall, we shouldn't stay completely immersed in clouds and fog... which is unusual for this time of year.

Computer models are pointing to a strangely dry-looking scenario for Sunday evening through Tuesday, but as I mentioned last night, even if the overall weather pattern appears quiet, it will be hard for us to escape the development of mountain thundershowers this time of year.

FRIDAY:
mostly cloudy with periods of fog, rain and thunder -- heavy rain possible.  but there could also be some sunshine.
high: 22C (72F)

FRIDAY NIGHT:
partly to mostly cloudy with a couple of rounds of rain and thunder likely.  heavy rain possible.
low: 18C (65F)

SATURDAY:
a mix of clouds, fog and some sun at times.  a thundershower or two in the area.
high: 23C (73F)

SUNDAY:
mostly cloudy and foggy at times.  a few periods of rain and thunder likely.
morning low: 18C (65F)
daytime high: 22C (72F)

MONDAY:
a mix of clouds and sun, with a period of fog possible.  good chance of mainly PM thundershowers.
morning low: 19C (67F)
daytime high: 23C (74F)

TUESDAY:
partly cloudy to mostly cloudy at times.  some fog at times, with a good chance of a PM thundershower or two.
morning low: 19C (67F)
daytime high: 24C (75F)