Summer Returns; So Do Rain Chances

After a break from sizzling summer temperatures, temps will return to normal on Friday. Another rare July cold front will aproach the Midsouth this weekend bringing with it chances of scattered thunderstorms. The front is expected to "hang up" in South Arkansas and will keep precipitation chances in the forecast into the middle of next week. The low Thursday morning was 65 and the high was 87.

Chance of Severe Storms 2day and 2night

After a blistering day yesterday with little or know rain relief, today holds greater chances of precipitation and the possibility of some severe storms (CAPE is at 4152 and LI @ -8.9 indicating very unstable air) later today and tonight.  Heavy rainfall scattered around cannot be ruled out either.  Heat index is also still in effect today. 

 

Look for a comfortable weekend (for July standards) with  high temps in the mid to upper 80's .

 

 

Just Your Typical July Weather-Hot!

This week started out with temperatures a degree or two below normal with lows in the mid 60's and the highs in the upper 80's to lower 90's.   But the week will end with temps a bit above normal-giving us average temps.  Just typical July weather here in the Midsouth. 

 

We continue to be under the influence of a ridge of high pressure centered over west Texas.  Models are hinting that the ridge will "flatten out" by the week's end, allowing a cold front to approach and possibly some upper level energy to  rotate up and over the ridge-increasing our chances of precipitation (hopefully).

 

We continue to follow the weather trends nationally and regionally where very hot conditions exist in AK , the sogginess in the Southeast and the year without a summer in the Northeast.  A blocking ridge over far NE Canada and the Bermuda "high" that has set up farther to the east than usual.  Little or no activity in the Atlantic.   El Nino seems to be rearing its ol' head !  

 

 

 

Storms Later This Weekend

After a dry start to this 4th of July, chances of precip increase tonite thru Tuesday.

June '09 Pic Highlights

Backside of a roll cloud-6-30-09

Cumulus cloud with wheat field in foreground 6-03-09

Storm approaching Monticello-looking NE on Gaines St

Wind damage from 6-30-09

Storm/roll clouds departing in advance of 2nd thunderstorm

looking NE in Old Union community 6-30-09

Summary For June

After a wet and stormy May, June 2009 will be remembered for it's very warm temperatures-and also it's occasional storminess.

If you leave here in the Midsouth, you are all too familiar with how hot and humid it can be here. Dew points rise-along with the mercury-a stifling mixture that can create dangerous heat indexes readings. All you have to do is step outside, walk to the mailbox and by the time you make it back to the house you are soaked in sweat! And if you have to work in that environment- it's literally breathtaking! June was that kind of month-and for the most part a dry month.

Temperatures started rising upwards to the century mark and flirted with it for nearly two straight weeks. Very little precipitation fell during June- unless you were lucky enough to be under one of those stray storms. There were a couple of instances where we had back door cold fronts- cold fronts that enter from the NE instead of the NW, the usual direction in which cold fronts move in North America. In those instances, most areas of the Midsouth received some relief from the heat-albeit temporary.

On June 30th, one of these "back door fronts" brought severe weather to our local area. Several areas in Drew and Chicot Counties suffered wind damage, with trees falling on homes and across roadways. The city of Dermott was especially hard hit.

See later posts for June weather photos.