Weather! Hot, sticky start to the week
Heat and humidity are back in full force to start the week. While we’ll take a shot at record heat on Tuesday, relief is not far off.
Holy rainfall records, Batman! Richmond International picked up 1.72” of rainfall on Friday, breaking the old record for the day of 1.51”, set way back in 1896. That’s right, I said 1896. Friday’s deluge erased our seasonal deficit, and we now have a surplus of 1.21”. Our year-to-date deficit is down to less than an inch, and the voluntary water conservation measures imposed by Chesterfield County have been lifted. However, that doesn’t mean they won’t return if we hit a dry spell later this summer.
Regardless, summer is in full swing across Virginia. Monday is going to get off to a warm and humid start, as temperatures were still in the in the 80s until after 9pm Sunday night, and remained in the low 70s into the early morning hours. With dewpoints in the upper 60s overnight, temperatures won’t cool much more before daybreak, and you’ll be greeted with a slightly less than pleasant wall of humid air this morning. A high pressure system located over the southeast is bringing the heat back with a vengance, and highs will easily climb into the mid 90s today. Tonight’s lows will only fall back into the lower 70s. Today’s Flying Squirrels matinee (12:05pm, vs. Harrisburg) will be quite toasty and humid today, with temperatures at first pitch in the mid 80s, climbing into the low 90s by the ninth inning. Conditions should remain partly to mostly sunny all day, with a light breeze.
Mother Nature turns the dial up to 11 on Tuesday. High temperatures will climb into the upper 90s; tomorrow’s record high is only 98, and it’s looking like we’ve got a pretty good chance of tying that mark. The tropical humidity will continue as well, and the heat index (a combination of the temperature and dewpoint) may reach in excess of 105 degrees. I wouldn’t be surprised to see a heat advisory posted for tomorrow as a result. An approaching disturbance from the Ohio Valley may be enough to trigger a few isolated showers or thunderstorms later in the afternoon, but coverage likely will be limited, and more likely in the western parts of the area. Overnight lows will drop into the mid 79s.
Once we suffer through the early part of this week, an arriving cold front will bring some relief by midweek, after we deal with some thunderstorms on Wednesday, temperatures return to near average by Thursday. High pressure moving in behind the front will keep conditions pretty steady well into the weekend. I’ll have your next forecast, including a weekend preview, on Wednesday.
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Weather Dan
Dan Goff is now a two-time former Richmonder, having departed the River City yet again in favor of southwest Virginia, where he is working on degrees in geography and meteorology at Virginia Tech. Have a question about the weather or weather-related phenomena?
Notice: Comments that are not conducive to an interesting and thoughtful conversation may be removed at the editor’s discretion.
As I speculated, the National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a Heat Advisory for 11:00 am to 7:00pm tomorrow:
…Heat advisory in effect from 11 am to 8 PM EDT Tuesday…
The National Weather Service in Wakefield has issued a heat
advisory…which is in effect from 11 am to 8 PM EDT Tuesday.
* Areas affected: central and eastern Virginia…along with
northeast North Carolina.
* Hazards: dangerously high heat indices.
* Maximum forecast heat indices: 105 to 109 degrees expected due
to temperatures near 100 and dewpoints in the lower 70s.
* Timing: between 11 am and 8 PM…with the most dangerous heat
indices expected between 2 and 5 PM.
Precautionary/preparedness actions…
A heat advisory means that a period of hot temperatures is
expected. The combination of hot temperatures and high humidity
will combine to create a situation in which heat illnesses are
possible. Drink plenty of fluids…stay in an air-conditioned
room…stay in the shade if possible…and check up on relatives
and neighbors.
Take extra precautions if you work or spend time outside. When
possible…reschedule strenuous activities to early morning or
evening. Know the signs and symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat
stroke. Wear light weight and loose fitting clothing when
possible and drink plenty of water.
To reduce risk during outdoor work…the occupational safety and
health administration recommends scheduling frequent rest breaks
in shaded or air conditioned environments. Anyone overcome by
heat should be moved to a cool and shaded location. Heat stroke
is an emergency – call 9 1 1.