This morning's downpour (3-5"+) in less than 2 hours brought out the cries from flooded neighborhoods..."turn on the pumps". It's a complaint heard almost everytime we get excessive rainfall that overwhelms the pumping capacity, which reminds me to re-educate everyone exactly what that capacity is. For BOTH Jefferson and Orleans, our drainage system can handle ONE inch of rainfall the 1st hour and 1/2 inch each hour after that. Here's the problem. We often get several inches the first hour and several more during the next couple of hours. Pumps can be running full tilt, but when the capacity is far exceeded like today, streets will flood. Period, end of story. Can we increase capacity? Absolutely! But the cost to do so is in the millions and most people will not vote for a property tax increase to pay for it. So, with summer time heat & humidity almost here, get ready for our daily pop up T-Storms. Some may bring heavy downpours that cause flooding. Try not to drive during the heavy storms. Park & get some coffee or a snack and wait it out if you have the time. Usually the wait is less than an hour, unless the storms start training like they did this morning.
A weak front trying to stagger thru SE LA. on Monday could stall providing a focus for more heavy storms during the next couple of days
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There is no significant weather to talk about for this week. For Monday and Tuesday we will will continue to see the chance for some showers and thunderstorms. This is thanks to Zonal Flow which is expected to set shop aloft allowing for weak upper level disturbances to pass by; Daytime heating and sea breeze fronts will also enhance afternoon shower and thunderstorm activity. As far as temperatures go, we will see hot summer like afternoons with highs expected to reach the mid 80's to around 90; lows will only fall into the 70's.
On Wednesday and Thursday High pressure will build into the region. This will create subsidence(sinking of air) which will diminish our rain chances to a minimum. As a result our highs will be higher with most areas exceeding the 90F threshold. With high dew points it will not be very enjoyable. Night-time temps. will be much the same with lows staying in the 70's, night temps. on the north shore maybe a tad cooler once away from the influence of water.
Friday through the weekend...Ridging that dominated the region Wednesday and Thursday will flatten/break down temporarily and allow for a minor upper disturbance move through. This will once again bring back the chance for afternoon showers and thunderstorms, this will also allow for afternoon highs to be slightly lower. On Sunday ridging will build back in from the west decimating rain chance again.
-Dylan Federico
After heavy rain causing us problems over the weekend, we are once again in a hot, mainly dry pattern. Even though Armstrong International only received an inch of rain over the weekend, spots around the city had several inches of rain (up to 6” in some) accompanied by street flooding. A sluggish cold front remained close to our area allowing waves of disturbances to ride along the front causing periods of severe storms and heavy rainfall. Today, however, we saw plenty of sunshine and hot temperatures. It is officially the first 90 degree day of the year at Armstrong International.
We will see mostly sunny skies and lowered humidity for tomorrow and Wednesday with limited rain chances, and then the dew points will rise once again by Thursday into next weekend (the front will retreat back north). Low temperatures will be 67-71 for tomorrow and Wednesday morning rising to about 72-76 by the end of your workweek. Meanwhile, highs will range from 89-93. Even though a ridge will build for the rest of the week into next weekend, any thunderstorm in your area can bring lightening and downpours. So remember that even though the rain chance is small, the few thunderstorms that might pop up will be strong.
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