The Hurricane Season From Hell. Blockbuster. Historic...

If you have been in a cave & missed all the main preseason Hurricane predictions, go back into hibernation.  Most of us have heard the awful numbers (25-30+ named storms) being throw out there based on record warm waters and the oncoming La Nina.  I have not seen anybody come out with a below normal/average prediction.  So how could we reach those high number you ask?  Try naming every little swirl out over the oceans despite the fact it'll impact no one.  Case in point, NHC's watching an area off of Africa. Why?  Can you see it?  Look at the yellow arrow.

While NHC was mentioning this weak feature, there was another story about the huge African dust cloud over Greece.

There are no signs yet of that dust cloud moving out over the eastern Tropical Atlantic, but I did read one paper pointing out that several factors might limit the number of named storms this season and one reason is increased dust.  To me, the phase of the Madden- Julian Oscillation (MJO) and the position of the Bermuda high will factor into the 2024 season as much as warm water temps.  We want the enhanced (rising air) phase to happen outside of August to early October when we typically see our strongest storms.   Whatever, it's silly to get nervous/concerned while we're still in April!

With the upper pattern mainly west to east with no major dips, the weather should remain quiet here through the weekend.  Farther to the north, SPC is indicating the potential for strong storms tomorrow into Friday.  The top is for Thursday with a level 3 risk from Texas into Kansas. that area weakens for Friday.

There is a stream of 60-70 degree dew points surging northward over Texas with our DPs jumping from the 30s to near 60.  That trend will continue into next week.

Cloud cover has increased, but radar shows very little rain falling anywhere.  It does feel different outside as highs top 80.

Since no fronts are coming in the short term, highs will stay above normal into next week..  There is a slight chance for some stray showers next week, but the first week of Jazz Fest & the Zurich Golf tourney will enjoy great weather IF you have a hat & use sunscreen.  Finally...

In the history of WVUE-TV, no General Manager had a greater impact than Joe Cook.  Joe came to Ch.8 from Ch. 10 (WALA-TV) in Mobile in 2000 at a time when we were a poor # 3 or 4 in the local news ratings.  During his time here, he elevated FOX 8 to the top in local news numbers before retiring.  There is a song in the musical Damn Yankees that says, "and now your Joe has to go".  Joe died on Monday at age 72.  Though he was my "boss", he always treated me & my wife as family.  Good bye old friend, my old friend.  Prayers go out to his wife Becky & his children.  Stay tuned!