Horrible Heat Holding Into Saturday...

The typical mid-summer heat wave continues over the heart of the nation, but there are signs relief is coming for many.  For the second straight day, models are indicating the upper dome will weaken and pull back over the western states as a deep upper trough develops over the eastern states.   

The top graphic is the upper flow at 500 mb (18,000') showing the large dome over the central plains.  The second graphic is valid for midday on Friday with the heat dome lingering over us.  But look at the next graphic valid for midday on Sunday that shows the dome retreating to the west with the trough forming over the Great lakes & eastern states.    The bottom graphic is valid for next Tuesday which shows a really deep east coast trough that should drive a cold front near or through us.  Either way, our clouds and showers will increase resulting in less hot temperatures.

I know we are not totally dry since the first 3 weeks of this month have been very wet.  Currently our 10.59" for this month have us in 9th place on the wettest Julys.

With only 3 days left in the month, we need one good downpour over MSY to vault us into the top 5 wettest.

I've circled the upper dome over the Plains with the upper low that was in the western Gulf yesterday now inland.  Note how many folks are under a heat advisory.

Yesterday's cluster of storms in the Caribbean are gone while the Gulf remains mostly quiet.  Locally, some storms bubbled up during daytime heating.

By far, the North Shore received the greater coverage with lots of lightning and heavy downpours.  The slow motion resulted in brief street flooding.

Finally, this is Bob Breck talking.   You trusted me for over 40 years regarding Tropical Threats.  Last January, I received my 2 Pfizer shots to protect me from Covid 19.  Several of my medical friends suggested I wait since we don't know the long term side effects.  Being over 70 with a history of prostate cancer and a heart condition (pacemaker), I CHOSE the short term benefits of  the shots (protection) versus the longer term effects (death) if I got the virus.   Like all of the viruses of my early life, they don't ever go away.    That is why measles still exists.  Those of you who still have not received the shots, please rethink your choice.   If this current spike doesn't get reduced through increased vaccinations, I fear the Saints will once again play in a mostly empty Superdome.   Worse yet, many more folks will die when they didn't have to if they only got vaccinated.  As my Pastor said in Church last Sunday...think about it, pray about it.  Stay tuned!.