Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Borderline El Nino conditions arrive; Chicago, Detroit, and Milwaukee hit 102°
Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 3:13 PM GMT en Julio 05, 2012 +35
The odds of an El Niño event developing in time for the August - September - October peak of hurricane season have grown to 61%, said NOAA's Climate Prediction Center in their latest El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) diagnostic discussion, released on July 5. Ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific have increased to 0.6°C above average this week, which is just above the 0.5°C above-average threshold used to define a weak El Niño event. These temperatures must remain 0.5° or more above average for three consecutive months to qualify as an official El Niño. CPC advised that current conditions show a weakening of the east-to-west trade winds over the east-central equatorial Pacific, along with a reduction in heavy thunderstorm activity over Papua New Guinea, which "reflect a likely progression towards El Niño." However, the upper atmospheric winds and circulation patterns don't resemble what we expect of an El Niño yet. For example, in June over the North Pacific Ocean, there was an overall ridge of high pressure (more characteristic of La Niña) rather than a trough of low pressure (more typical during an El Niño). Thus, any development of El Niño during July is likely to be slow. El Niño events tend to suppress Atlantic hurricane activity by increasing the upper-level winds that create high wind shear capable of tearing storms apart.


Figure 1. Departure of sea surface temperature (SST) from average for July 5, 2012. In the equatorial Pacific, waters had warmed to 0.6°C above average, denoting the possible onset of an El Niño event. Image credit: NOAA/NESDIS.

Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Madison all hit 102° on July 4
The summer of 2012 continued its onslaught of record extreme heat on Wednesday, with the Midwest the focus of the most intense heat. Chicago hit 102°, just 3° below the city's all-time hottest temperature of 105°, set on July 24, 1934. Chicago hits 102° or more an average of once every 7.4 years, and last hit that mark on July 24, 2005. Detroit's high of 102° yesterday was its hottest day since 1988. Detroit's all-time hottest temperature is also 105°, set on July 24, 1934. Milwaukee, WI also hit 102° yesterday, which tied for the 4th hottest temperature in city history. Madison's 102° was their hottest day since 1988, and tied for the 6th warmest temperature ever measured in the city. Madison's all-time high is 107°, set July 14, 1936, and the forecast for today calls for a high of 104°. Other notable extremes from the 4th of July:

St. Louis hit 105°, the seventh consecutive day the city has hit triple digits. This streak is now the 4th longest such streak in city history; the only longer streaks occurred during the Dust Bowl summer of 1936 (streaks of 13 and 9 days) and the Dust Bowl summer of 1934 (an 8-day streak.) The current forecast for St. Louis calls for highs of 102 - 106° Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, which will likely bring the city's streak of 100°+ days to ten by week's end. St. Louis' all-time hottest temperature is 115°, set in 1954.

The high temperature in Pueblo Colorado reached 101 degrees on July 4th, bringing the number of consecutive days with high temperatures of 100 degrees or higher to a record thirteen. The previous record was 9 consecutive days, set in 1990. Record keeping began in 1888.

The low temperature in La Crosse, WI dropped to just 81° Wednesday. This tied July 21 1901 and July 13 1995 for the warmest low ever recorded. Temperature records date back to 1872.

Minneapolis, MN hit 101°, which is 7° below their all-time record high of 108° set 7/14/1936.

Highs of 100°+ are predicted to occur again on Thursday and Friday in Chicago, Detroit, Milwaukee, and Madison. A cold front will bring welcome relief on Saturday to the region, and the region of highest extreme heat will shift southeastwards to the Tennessee Valley. The models have backed off on their prediction of a strong ridge of high pressure bringing extreme heat to the Western U.S. next week, and more typical hot weather can be expected over most of the U.S. next week. Nevertheless, the extreme Midwest heat is causing havoc to the nation's corn crop, and multi-billion dollar drought disaster is taking shape. Today's New York Times details the drought concerns. I did a live interview Tuesday for Democracy Now discussing the recent extreme weather and how we can expect to see more weather like this in the future due to climate change.

Quiet in the Atlantic
There are no threat areas to discuss in the Atlantic, and none of the reliable computer models are developing a tropical cyclone over the next seven days.

Jeff Masters
Bombs Bursting (RadioDJgirl)
Bombs Bursting
Wyoming Smoke (laurie82472)
07/04/2012 Picture taken from Milliken Co. The smoke from the fire burning in Wyoming has filled the sky, & the sun still shows little relief of cooler temperatures in Co.
Wyoming Smoke
Patriotic Sunset (CameraDiva)
Beautiful red, white and blue sunset tonight. Happy 4th of July everyone!!!
Patriotic Sunset
Burned Corn (treeman)
From the wind and static electricity. This was no till corn
Burned Corn
Categories: Heat Climate Summaries
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851. Patrap 1:41 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
wu mail fer yous keep.
Member Since: Julio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111403
852. Bobbyweather 1:43 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting FutureWx6221:
06/1200 UTC 14.6N 114.5W T4.0/4.0 DANIEL -- East Pacific

Hurricane to come soon?

It's a possibility. But for 11am NHC will probably keep the wind speeds at 65 mph, per ATCF (Automated Tropical Cyclone Forcasting).
Member Since: Septiembre 7, 2006 Posts: 88 Comments: 2470
853. OrchidGrower 1:43 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Surely by now someone has studied the Dust Bowl years and examined fishing records to figure out if the Pacific was in a cold PDO back in the 1930s. I know farming practices exacerbated the actual Dust Bowl "dust conditions," but I would imagine oceanic conditions are one of if not The primary factors.

Does anyone know the states of ENSO, PDO, NAO and so on for the early 1930s? I could have sworn someone has studied this by now and released the results.
Member Since: Septiembre 24, 2002 Posts: 0 Comments: 310
854. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 1:48 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Member Since: Julio 15, 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40511
855. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 1:52 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting AtHomeInTX:


Well I hope so. Been noticing your temps have been way higher than mine. And that just don't seem right somehow. :)



Fair

79°F

26°C

Humidity94%
Wind SpeedW 5 mph
Barometer30.06 in
Dewpoint77°F (25°C)
Visibility10.00 mi
Heat Index83°F (28°C)
expected hgigh today is 97 with heat indexs poss. surpassing 110
Member Since: Julio 15, 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40511
856. louisianaweatherguy 1:52 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Dos anybody else see the convection-starved swirl in the SE Bahamas? Definately some kind of Low? huh? or am I crazy? lol
Member Since: Julio 9, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 685
857. yoboi 1:53 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting Patrap:
wu mail fer yous keep.



hey pat i am from swla why are we going to get rain for the next week chances at 60-70%
Member Since: Agosto 25, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 2421
858. all4hurricanes 1:54 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting BahaHurican:
That's what I said... lol

Hey, Taz... how was your 4th of July?

Refresher:

97L - Atlantic
97E - East Pacific
97C - Central Pacific
97W - West Pacific
97A - Arabian Sea
97B - Bay of Bengal
97S - Southern Hemisphere West of 135E [includes S Indian Ocean]
97P - Southern Hemisphere East of 135E [basically the entire South Pacific]

Does anybody know what, if anything, invests in the SIndian basin are labelled?

EDIT: Did u know Navy website has access to archived recent years' tracks and imagery?


I heard that they gave the South Atlantic a "Q" suffix, can anyone confirm this?
Member Since: Marzo 29, 2008 Posts: 0 Comments: 2192
859. Patrap 1:58 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting yoboi:



hey pat i am from swla why are we going to get rain for the next week chances at 60-70%





Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles la
304 am CDT Friday Jul 6 2012




Discussion...main forecast issue will be probability of precipitation especially next week.
Over the last 24 hours...deep easterly flow has clearly enhanced the
moisture profile. Precipitable water on lch and lix soundings are over 2 inches
and will likely remain at this level through much of the forecast
cycle. Water vapor shows easterly wave moving through southeast U.S. And
this should aid in enhancing thunderstorms across the region today.
Inherited probability of precipitation today looks good for now. Upper anticyclone is
prognosticated to weaken and reform over the western U.S. Both GFS and
European model (ecmwf) dig middle latitude trough into S.E. US. With upper TUTT low
forecasted over the eastern Gulf. With little change in moisture
profile planned...will keep scattered diurnal convection in
forecast. Frontal boundary is still prognosticated near arklatx by middle
of next week. If front moves further south than prognosticated...will need
to monitor for heavy rain/flood potential across central Louisiana
and East Texas. Temperatures should be near or a little below
normal through forecast cycle.




&&


Marine...fairly weak pressure pattern to continue through early
next week. Approach of frontal boundary and development of weak low
pressure waves along front will tighten gradient some...but overall
seas should remain at 3 feet or less. Main issue will be periodic
thunderstorm activity especially near the coast and nearshore waters
through most of the period.




&&


Preliminary point temps/pops...
klch 92 74 92 75 91 / 50 40 50 20 50
kbpt 92 73 92 75 92 / 50 30 50 20 50
kaex 94 74 94 72 93 / 50 40 50 20 50
klft 89 74 91 74 92 / 60 40 50 20 50


&&


Lch watches/warnings/advisories...
la...none.
Texas...none.
GM...none.
Member Since: Julio 3, 2005 Posts: 371 Comments: 111403
860. VINNY04 1:59 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting louisianaweatherguy:
Dos anybody else see the convection-starved swirl in the SE Bahamas? Definately some kind of Low? huh? or am I crazy? lol
Dont know. Any one have a link to that?
Member Since: Marzo 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 243
861. KEEPEROFTHEGATE (Mod) 2:02 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport
Date: 10:00 AM EDT Friday 6 July 2012
Condition: Mainly Sunny
Pressure: 29.91 inches
Tendency: rising
Visibility: 12 miles
Air Quality Health Index: 4

Temperature: 89.4°F
Dewpoint: 65.5°F
Humidity: 45 %
Wind: NNW 11 mph
Humidex: 101
Member Since: Julio 15, 2006 Posts: 143 Comments: 40511
862. jeffs713 2:02 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting VINNY04:
Dont know. Any one have a link to that?

It is a tropical wave that isn't popping any convection. It is just an open trough right now, and without any thunderstorm development, will likely remain that.
Member Since: Agosto 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722
863. yoboi 2:03 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting Patrap:





Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service Lake Charles la
304 am CDT Friday Jul 6 2012




Discussion...main forecast issue will be probability of precipitation especially next week.
Over the last 24 hours...deep easterly flow has clearly enhanced the
moisture profile. Precipitable water on lch and lix soundings are over 2 inches
and will likely remain at this level through much of the forecast
cycle. Water vapor shows easterly wave moving through southeast U.S. And
this should aid in enhancing thunderstorms across the region today.
Inherited probability of precipitation today looks good for now. Upper anticyclone is
prognosticated to weaken and reform over the western U.S. Both GFS and
European model (ecmwf) dig middle latitude trough into S.E. US. With upper TUTT low
forecasted over the eastern Gulf. With little change in moisture
profile planned...will keep scattered diurnal convection in
forecast. Frontal boundary is still prognosticated near arklatx by middle
of next week. If front moves further south than prognosticated...will need
to monitor for heavy rain/flood potential across central Louisiana
and East Texas. Temperatures should be near or a little below
normal through forecast cycle.




&&


Marine...fairly weak pressure pattern to continue through early
next week. Approach of frontal boundary and development of weak low
pressure waves along front will tighten gradient some...but overall
seas should remain at 3 feet or less. Main issue will be periodic
thunderstorm activity especially near the coast and nearshore waters
through most of the period.




&&


Preliminary point temps/pops...
klch 92 74 92 75 91 / 50 40 50 20 50
kbpt 92 73 92 75 92 / 50 30 50 20 50
kaex 94 74 94 72 93 / 50 40 50 20 50
klft 89 74 91 74 92 / 60 40 50 20 50


&&


Lch watches/warnings/advisories...
la...none.
Texas...none.
GM...none.




thank you sir....
Member Since: Agosto 25, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 2421
864. VINNY04 2:04 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting jeffs713:

It is a tropical wave that isn't popping any convection. It is just an open trough right now, and without any thunderstorm development, will likely remain that.
Oh ok. Thanks
Member Since: Marzo 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 243
865. jeffs713 2:07 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting VINNY04:
Dont know. Any one have a link to that?



(took me a few minutes to resize it so it didn't break the blog)
Member Since: Agosto 3, 2008 Posts: 15 Comments: 5722
866. TropicalAnalystwx13 2:10 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Pre-Emilia looking good. Should get higher percentages at the next TWO.

Member Since: Julio 6, 2010 Posts: 89 Comments: 25290
867. redwagon 2:11 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting yoboi:




thank you sir....

If anything wanted to go home-grown in the GOM, next Mon-Thurs would be a great timeframe to do it.
Member Since: Agosto 4, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 1444
868. 7544 2:13 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting louisianaweatherguy:
Dos anybody else see the convection-starved swirl in the SE Bahamas? Definately some kind of Low? huh? or am I crazy? lol


yeap posted that a bout 2 hours agao and its still spining up but i called it the pr wave so i guess we could rename it the bahamma wave now as it looks to be moving wnw imo lets see if it can get some convection to it today no u not krazy lol
Member Since: Mayo 6, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 5925
869. hydrus 2:13 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting KEEPEROFTHEGATE:
Toronto Pearson Int'l Airport
Date: 10:00 AM EDT Friday 6 July 2012
Condition: Mainly Sunny
Pressure: 29.91 inches
Tendency: rising
Visibility: 12 miles
Air Quality Health Index: 4

Temperature: 89.4°F
Dewpoint: 65.5°F
Humidity: 45 %
Wind: NNW 11 mph
Humidex: 101
Good morning Keep..Would you please send me a WU mail on how to upload some photos I took on my digital camera to the blog. I have never done this before and need help.
Member Since: Septiembre 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14287
870. AussieStorm 2:25 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting louisianaweatherguy:
Dos anybody else see the convection-starved swirl in the SE Bahamas? Definately some kind of Low? huh? or am I crazy? lol


Member Since: Septiembre 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13325
871. weatherh98 2:27 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting StormTracker2K:
Heat is also on in Eastern Europe. If we keep this up then we will no doubt be dealing with one of the hottest years EVER!



It's the middle of the day and 92 or so at the hottest and east Europe is a got 76 in the late afternoon lol
Member Since: Junio 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091
872. weatherh98 2:28 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
Quoting TropicalAnalystwx13:
Pre-Emilia looking good. Should get higher percentages at the next TWO.



40-50
Member Since: Junio 17, 2011 Posts: 11 Comments: 6091
873. WunderAlertBot (Admin) 2:34 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
JeffMasters has created a new entry.
874. hydrus 5:10 PM GMT en Julio 06, 2012    
This huge branch came down on my Dad,s motorcycle.
Member Since: Septiembre 27, 2007 Posts: 1 Comments: 14287

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About JeffMasters
Jeff co-founded the Weather Underground in 1995 while working on his Ph.D. He flew with the NOAA Hurricane Hunters from 1986-1990.

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