Tag Archives: thunderstorms

NYC Weather Update – Oct 23, 2017

The warm spell we’ve enjoyed over the last week and longer will finally come to a close mid-week this week. Before that, we will receive a round of much needed moderate to heavy rain in conjunction with the approach and passage of a frontal system. Behind this front, as winds shift to the northwest, temperatures will cool into a more seasonable range for this time of year.

Rest of today – mild, partly sunny with clouds increasing, high temperatures in the low-70s.

Tuesday – we’ll still be in the warm sector ahead of an advancing cold front. Temperatures remain mild in the low-70s, however, we should expect several rounds of moderate to heavy rain during the day. As the pressure gradient increases with proximity to an advancing cold front, stiff south winds in the 20 mph range with stronger gusts could occur. Rain continues and increases in intensity overnight. Windy conditions continue. Thunderstorms are possible with some of the strongest lift and convection close to the cold front. We could pick up 2-3 inches in places by the end of this event, as this long period of southerly winds will have ushered in a tropical airmass rich with moisture.

Wednesday – the cold front doesn’t actually push through until late Wednesday. Lingering showers could occur in the morning prior to the frontal passage. High temperatures should still be fairly mild, near 70°F.

Thursday – winds will shift to the north and west following the passage of this vigorous cold front. Behind the front, temperatuers will be about 10°F cooler, resulting in high temperatures topping out in the low-60s with mostly sunny skies.

 

NYC Weekend Weather – Columbus Day – Oct 6, 2017

The first half of this long weekend will continue the warm summer feel we’ve had since mid-week. Some much needed rain arrives Sunday going into next week in conjunction with the anticipated remnants of Tropical Storm Nate. This does literally mean that it will rain on the Columbus Day parade.

Rest of today – mostly sunny. Warm with highs around 80°F.

Saturday – partly sunny, not a bad day though with high temperatures in the low-80s. The stationary front depicted above that’s sitting close to the city will push north of us as a warm front. This will open the door to an increasingly tropical feel with higher dew points and more moisture in the air.

 

Sunday – mostly cloudy. Rain chances increasing in the afternoon with thunderstorms possible. Rain that develops could be heavy with tropical moisture flowing into the area. Still warm, with temperatures in the low-80s. An advancing cold front will push up precipitation partially fueled by Tropical Storm Nate (which is anticipated to make landfall on the New Orleans/Mississippi coastal area this weekend. This precipitation will be moving in on our area well in advance of the actual core of the remnants of Nate.

Monday (Columbus Day) – rain and thunderstorms as the bulk of the remnants of Nate move into the area. Rain heavy at times. Cooler with highs dipping into the mid-70s. With Nate approaching to the southwest of us, we should see more steady rain and clouds, keeping temperatures suppressed.

 

Tropical Storm Nate

Tropical Storm Nate is expected to strengthen into a minimal hurricane after it crosses near or over the northeastern Yucatan Peninsula this weekend and into the Gulf of Mexico. From that point, it’s expected to accelerate towards the Gulf Coast and make landfall in the vicinity of New Orleans, the Mississippi Delta and coastal Mississippi. Even though this storm will pale in comparison to Irma and Maria, it has already claimed 20 lives in Central America due to heavy rains and flooding.

 

NYC Weekend Weather – Sep 28, 2017

This weekend kicks off a stretch of cooler, drier, true-to-form autumn weather after last week’s decidedly summer-like days. A low pressure center over the Great Lakes will slide southeast towards the region to start the weekend. This could scattered showers and thunderstorms. Aside from that, conditions will be dry and fair for the remainder of the forecast period.

Rest of today – high temperatures right about 70°F with sunny skies, much drier feel to the day.

Saturday – scattered showers and thunderstorms possible, especially early. High temperatures in the upper-60s, cooler in spots that see rain.

Sunday – sunny, high temperatures again around 70°F. High pressure from Canada behind the low pressure above will keep things dry and cool for much of the next week.

Monday – slightly warmer, high temperatures in the low-70s, again mostly sunny.

NYC Weather Update and Hurricane Irma – Sep 4, 2017

The unofficial end of summer does indeed bring us a last gasp of summery weather. A cold front passing through mid-week brings rain and signals a return to more fall-like conditions. Later in the week, we will see high temperatures 5°F below normal. Turning towards the tropics, the risk Irma poses to our region is diminishing, but it now appears Irma will be a threat to Florida.

Rest of today – clear, with ideal conditions for outdoor activities of all kinds. High temperatures in the low-80s.

Tuesday – highs in the low-mid 80s as warm air surges ahead of an advancing cold front. Mostly sunny with increasing clouds late in the day. Some possibility for a spot shower or thunderstorm in the afternoon.

Wednesday – thunderstorms are possible overnight Tuesday as the leading edge of the cold front advances through the area. More rain is expected to ride along the frontal boundary after it passes through, bringing periods of showers throughout the day. High temperatures will be much cooler in the mid-70s with the clouds and rain.

Thursday – mostly cloudy to start with a chance for lingering rain. High temperatures will be cool again in the low-70s.

Friday – mostly sunny skies, much improved conditions as high pressure takes hold. Cool, with high temperatures in the low-70s.

 

Hurricane Irma an Increasing Threat to Florida

Over the weekend, Irma has been fluctuating in strengthen as it has negotiated marginal conditions for strengthening (mostly the influence of some dry air at upper levels). The National Hurricane Center still forecasts Irma to attain Category 4 strength at some point later this week (130 mph sustained winds or higher) as it encounters more favorable conditions for strengthening, and maintain at least Category 3 strengthen (sustained winds > 115 mph) throughout the forecast period.

The track forecast for Irma has continuously shifted west and south over the weekend due to the influence of an area of high pressure over the Atlantic now, and a faster forecast for the passage of the cold front mentioned above. This frontal boundary lifting out of the East Coast at a faster rate than in prior forecasts would mean that it does not influence Irma to make a turn to the north-northwest and threaten the East Coast. This has two consequences: 1) The chance for Irma to make landfall up the East Coast is diminishing, 2) On the other hand, the risk to Florida is increasing.

This run of the GFS forecast model suggests Irma making landfall on South Florida as a powerful Category 3 hurricane in one week’s time.
A “spaghetti” plot of multiple model runs of GEFS, one of the forecast models that forecasters are using to analyze Irma.

It is important to note that with a week to go before Irma nears the US mainland, there could still be room for changes to the track and intensity forecasts. The National Hurricane Center specifically cautions against drawing premature conclusions about the storm’s impact on the rest of the US, while singling out Florida as an area of concern. More updates to come as we continue to watch the development of what could be a very dangerous storm.

NYC Weekend Weather – Aug 4, 2017

A hot week transitions into a weekend that will see the end of the heat and humidity for at least half of next week and maybe longer. Rain and thunderstorms dot the forecast except appropriately Sunday.

Rest of today – partly sunny with high temperatures in the mid-80s. The rain and thunderstorms this morning give way to a dry day otherwise.

Saturday – a warm front moves through overnight into the morning with a cold front following right on its heels. This will bring a period thunderstorms producing heavy rain at times. Marginally favorable atmospheric conditions could spawn a few strong storms. Clouds clear up in the afternoon and highs are expected to reach normal levels in the mid-80s.

Sunday – cooler, drier air moves in behind the cold front Saturday. High pressure builds to the south and west and moves south sending cooler Canadian air around its periphery towards us. High temperatures will be comfortable around 80°F with lots of sun.

Monday – a weak disturbance brings rain and cooler temperatures, well below average only in the mid-upper 70s.

Trouble in the Tropics?

A vigorous tropical wave has spun up off the west African coast and Cabo Verde. Storms originating from this region have historically been some of the most powerful and damaging, but that’s if they can sustain the transit across the Atlantic. The National Hurricane Center has this wave at a 50% of forming into a tropical depression or storm in 2 days, and 80% chance in 5 days. It’s worrying that it’s starting to get picked up on long-term GFS model runs taking a swipe at the US East Coast as a strong tropical cyclone, however, this far out, it’s difficult to say which one of many scenarios could play out. It does bear monitoring though.

GFS for Wednesday 8/16, with the tropical system in the picture right off the East Coast of the US.

NYC Weather Update – Aug 1, 2017

We enter the month of August with much more appropriate, summer weather and temperatures to match. High pressure over the eastern half of the country dictates the weather this week, with plenty of sun and temperatures finally in the normal to above normal range in the mid-upper 80s. Humidity increases and results in daily afternoon chances for showers and thunderstorms.

Rest of today – sunny with high temperatures in the mid-80s.

Tuesday – warmer, sunny with high temperatures in the upper-80s to near 90°F.

Wednesday – similar picture to Tuesday with highs in the upper-80s to around 90 °F, chance for an afternoon shower or thunderstorm.

Thursday – cooler with temperatures back in the mid-80s range and another chance for thunderstorms in the afternoon.

NYC Weather Update – Jul 17, 2017

We enter a week of weather that will very much feel like summer, with temperatures warming up during the midweek period. Each day, there could be a chance for showers or thunderstorms, though these will be more of the scattered variety. Temperatures return to more seasonable levels by the weekend.

Rest of today – partly cloudy with scattered showers and thunderstorms popping up this afternoon in some spots. A few storms could become strong or even severe. Temperatures in the mid-80s.

Tuesday – another chance for showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon with a weak front in the area, but partly cloudy otherwise and temperatures again in the mid-80s.

Wednesday – warming up with temperatures edging closer to 90°F. Partly cloudy skies, with a chance for showers and thunderstorms again especially during the late afternoon and evening hours.

Thursday – hottest day of the week with temperatures in the low-90s. Partly sunny, and there is a chance for showers and thunderstorms as a cold front passes through the area, but the timing of this frontal passage is as yet not completely certain. Current thinking is that the front passes through overnight into Friday.

Friday – still quite warm in spite of the cold front passing through, high temperatures around 90°F again and mostly sunny.

NYC Weekend Weather – Jul 14, 2017

What a difference a day makes – we went from a high in the low-mid 90s yesterday to a high today 20ºF cooler. Anticipate multiple rounds of rain throughout Friday, but much improved conditions for the weekend itself. We get another shot at rain on Monday to start next week.

Rest of today – cool, cloudy, with an easterly wind and the influence of a Canadian maritime airmass following the passage of a cold front earlier, we will experience significantly below normal high temperatures only in the low-mid 70s. The cold front will stick around just south of us during this time, and multiple impulses of energy will ride along this front. This means chances for rain, outside of this morning, most likely again in the early evening hours.

Saturday – early morning fog clears out quickly and gives way to a partly to mostly sunny day with much warmer temperatures in the mid-80s.

Sunday – sunny, with high temperatures in the mid-upper 80s.

Monday – a gradual warmup begins Monday with high temperatures into the upper-80s and a chance for showers and thunderstorms.

NYC Weather Update – Jul 10, 2017

This week’s weather will be dictated by a frontal boundary that will dwell in our vicinity, giving rise to multiple days when we could see rain. A warm, humid, tropical airmass will be in place, which adds the potential for heavy rain and maybe some localized flooding. To top it off, Tuesday also holds a marginal risk for severe thunderstorms.

Rest of today – mostly sunny with high temperatures around normal in the low-80s. A warm front lifting northwards brings a noticeably muggier feel later on.

Tuesday – we will be firmly inside the warm sector, wedged between the warm front mentioned above and an advancing cold front. A prefrontal trough will provide the best dynamics for thunderstorm initiation. Storms that do form will have ample energy to feed off, though less so over areas east of the Hudson under a marine influence. Mostly cloudy otherwise, warm and humid with high temperatures in the mid-80s.

Wednesday – partly sunny, with chances for showers. Highs in the mid-upper 80s depending how much sun we see.

Thursday – another day where we could see rumbles of thunder and rain, mostly cloudy and warm again with highs in the mid-80s.

NYC Weekend Weather – Jul 7, 2017

Soggy start to the weekend quickly improves. We should see a seasonable and fair weather weekend in the NYC area, although Saturday carries a chance for some scattered showers and thunderstorms. Sunday will be the better of the two days.

Rest of today – on the cool side with the clouds, highs in the low-80s. The flooding rains we’ve received this morning will subside quickly after lunch and we might even get a little sun later. Another afternoon spot shower or thunderstorm is also possible.

Saturday – a cold front moves through and provides the trigger for some showers or thunderstorms, but do not anticipate a washout like this morning. Mostly cloudy with high temperatures in the mid-80s.

Sunday – mostly sunny with high pressure building behind the cold front. Temperatures again in the low-80s.

Monday – should be another dry day with mostly sunny skies and high temperatures in the low-mid 80s.