Monday, May 9, 2022

Life Is A Beach, or Should be...

I usually go to the Gulf beaches twice a year.  Once in mid April before the kids are out of school and before the jellyfish show up.  And then again in my birthday month of October after the heat of summer lets up.  This year we went Mother's Day weekend, and after a rainy Friday (shopping!), Saturday & Sunday were terrific with all day sunshine and lower humidity.   What did surprise me was the amount of seaweed that came ashore during Friday's storms.






Fortunately, it didn't smell, but it did spoil the visual beauty of those white sands.  But back to reality.


Our Hurricane Season officially begins on June 1st, but the Pacific gets a two week head start beginning on May 15th.  I've pointed out (arrows) where the ITCZ (intertropical convergence zone) is forming, but there are no signs yet of potential development.  However, back in the Atlantic Basin...





Off the Carolina Coast, a well defined upper low also has the hints of lower level rotation.  Models have hinted for days this would happen and the forecast brings this system to to SW over the next 3 days eventually moving inland over Georgia.  What this motion does for us is strengthen the upper ridge meaning we'll stay dry and very hot at least into the weekend.  We're likely to threaten record highs until the ridge breaks down over this weekend.





The main storm track is bringing rain to the Pacific NW and northern Plains with some severe weather over Minnesota & Wisconsin.  You can see the building heat (90+) in Kansas & Texas.





Even though dew points have surged into the 70s here and into Oklahoma, the upper high is acting as a cap limiting any shower development.   Expect that to continue for another 2-3 days. Get use to the heat as this past weekend was our last front that at least brought cooler nights.





After last Friday's 2-3"+ soaker, we've dried out.  With highs 90+, it doesn't take long for our lawns & plants to need water,  I did that today.  Hopefully some showers show up by Friday?  Stay tuned!

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