Weather! Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect, much-needed relief ahead

Thursday is going to be a difficult weather day. A backdoor cold front currently northeast of the Richmond metro will be crossing through the area later today. The Storm Prediction Center has forecast a Slight risk of severe weather for the region today; primary threats will include frequent lightning, damaging winds, and small hail.

August 12, 2010; 1:15 PM • by Weather Dan

It’s Thursday, so we get an update of the US Drought Monitor today.

Not a lot of change from last week; the only real expansion was an area of moderate drought across far southeast Virginia. Richmond’s current rainfall deficit is 7.04” for the year, and of that we’re short 6.08” since June 1.

Thursday is going to be a difficult weather day. A backdoor cold front currently northeast of the Richmond metro will be crossing through the area later today. The Storm Prediction Center has forecast a Slight risk of severe weather for the region today; primary threats will include frequent lightning, damaging winds, and small hail.

Daytime heating combined with the passing cold front should make for quite an unstable environment, and the more heating we get during the day, the stronger and more widespread the storms will be. As of 11am, it’s 89 with a dewpoint of 72 – warm and very humid indeed. Temperatures will climb into the low 90s before we see the storms initialize in advance of the cold front. There’s already one isolated cell popping up in western King William county, tracking southeast. Overnight lows will only drop into the mid 70s tonight.

Squirrelcast (vs. New Hampshire, 7:05pm): The Severe Thunderstorm Watch in effect until 6pm, so depending on field maintenance at the Diamond, there’s a high chance tonight’s game will go on as scheduled. Temperatures will depend on the timing of any storms that pass through the city, and will likely be in the mid 80s at game time. Assuming no further showers, temperatures should fall into the upper 70s by the ninth inning.

High pressure takes control again for Friday, but with a cooler air mass in place, we’re finally going to see a chance at some real relief from the heat. Temperatures won’t make it past the upper 80s on Friday as easterly flow aloft wedges an area of cool air against the eastern side of the Appalachians, but instability may allow for some more afternoon showers and thunderstorms under mostly cloudy skies. Lows Friday night will fall into the lower 70s.

Squirrelcast (vs. Portland, 7:05pm): Aside from the chance of a passing shower or thunderstorm, it should be a good night for baseball. I’d expect temperatures in the mid 80s at first pitch, with mostly cloudy skies. Temperatures should drop into the upper 70s by game’s end.

This wedge of cool air looks to stay in place for a few days, as another cold front passes through the area this weekend. I’ll have a full weekend update tomorrow.

August 12, 2010 1:15 PM 0