A heat wave recap; generally quiet tropics
Last week's U.S. heat wave has finally subsided, and most of the Northeast will see some cool highs in the 70s today. Unfortunately, the Midwest, and mid-Atlantic will continue to see high temperatures in the 90s for the rest of this week, and the southern Plains will be forced to continue to endure triple-digits.
According to the National Climatic Data Center (NCDC), 2,100 daily high maximum temperature records have been set so far in July 2011, and 51% of those were set last week. 4,734 daily high minimum temperature records have been set so far this month, and 55% of those were set last week. Here's a breakdown of last week's records for the period July 18 through July 24:
High Maximum:
• 1,076 warmest maximum temperature for the date
• 90 warmest maximum temperature for the month of July
• 56 warmest maximum temperature of all time
High Minimum:
• 2,595 warmest minimum temperature for the date
• 207 warmest minimum temperature for the month of July
• 123 warmest minimum temperature of all time
The number of warm minimum temperatures is especially disturbing, as these tend to have more of an impact on health than the high maximums. When the temperature remains high at night, it prevents the body from being able to recover from the day's heat. According to NOAA, from July 1 through July 19, there were 22 heat-related deaths in the United States. Reuters is reporting that 34 deaths resulted from this heat wave. In an average year, heat remains the number one weather-related killer in this country. In some ways, the overnight low temperatures are the best way to quantify a heat wave, possibly even better than the heat index.
Figure 1. Map of daily high maximum temperature records for the period July 1 through July 25 from NCDC. Red circles without an X denote a broken record; red circles with an X denote a tied record.
Tropical Overview
The wave formerly known as Invest 90L
The wave formerly known as Invest 90L is moving slowly west through the Caribbean near Jamaica. A new burst of convection started this morning, which will undoubtedly produce some heavy rain over southern Cuba and Jamaica. While low-level circulation has remained about the same since late last week, the wave has become top-heavy with increased circulation at higher levels (700-500mb). None of the models (GFS, ECMWF, CMC, NGPS, UKMET) are developing this wave as tracks into the Gulf of Mexico, and they're all in agreement that the path will be toward far southern Texas or northern Mexico, except for the ECMWF deterministic run, which hints that it will take a turn toward the northern Gulf. However, this model hasn't shown actual development from the wave since Tuesday or Wednesday of last week.
NHC has dropped this invest as of Saturday afternoon, but it remains on their radar. They're giving the wave a 0% chance to form over the next 48 hours. Given the recent uptick in mid-level circulation, I'd imagine they're still a little concerned about the potential for this wave to fire-up again once it's in the Gulf, and it will surely be of concern for Cuba as it tracks westward. However, given the lack of model support for almost 7 days in a row now, I'd say this wave has seen its glory come and go.
Figure 2. Visible tropical Atlantic satellite captured at 11:14am EDT on Monday.
Other North Atlantic waves
There are a couple other waves to speak of that have left the coast of Africa in the past few days, one located near 40W and the other closer to Africa, around 30W, which is tangled up in the monsoon trough. The former is expected to take a southerly track, skirting northern South America, and possibly into the Bay of Campeche. Given this track, none of the models are suggesting it will develop. However, tropical cyclones that spin up in the Bay of Campeche generally have a short forecast lead time, so it's something to watch. The latter wave could take a slightly more northern track through the Caribbean islands, and a couple of the models seem to favor this wave for development at the end of their runs.
Tropical wave activity has been lacking so far this season, but climatologically we should see an increase in African easterly waves in August and September.
Angela
Reader Comments
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I'm thinking E
The CHART....
And Leon's getting larger!
Notice how straight that line is? XTRP anyone?
YAY
Maybe because you are thinking this is a hurricane.
When you ask XTRP a question, at least you can always expect a straight answer!
tee hee's from the peanut gallery
TAF:
Satellite:
PW:
- Due to some SAL (not much)... it could be expected to be limited in convection but as it passes 50W to 55W longitude it could pick up quite a bit as it heads WNW.
YOu can see how the spin really has just not started.........Good Morning Everyone!
I picked a bad day to stop sniffing glue! :-)
Not much of a weakness in the high above that big low pressure. In that pattern I'd be pointing towards the Carolinas. It is a month out though, probably not all that accurate lol.
I noticed on the HPC surface map for 7 days that we will have a low pressure sitting off the NC coast towards the start of of the work week and the GFS is seeing one as well..
Not so. Tstorms can support themselves for a period of time, there is good divergence aloft. However, without convergence there is no rising air, thus thunderstorms will eventually burn themselves out and collapse. That process happens everyday here in FL with the seabreeze Tstorms.
It is not yet dramatic enough. Stephanie wasn't on this morning, it ruined my day..
Divergence is good!
Convergence is still missing! Invest 90L still lacks a lot in organization in the lower levels.
Believe it's interacting with the ULL off the FL coast.
Invest90
Statistical/Simple Models (CLIPER,BAMs,LBAR,other Statistical Models)
We get it.
NAVTEX MARINE FORECAST
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
430 AM CDT TUE JUL 26 2011
SYNOPSIS FOR THE GULF OF MEXICO
.SYNOPSIS...1016 MB HIGH PRES IS CENTERED NEAR 28N93W. THE NORTHERN EXTENT OF A TROPICAL WAVE WILL ENTER THE SE GULF LATER THIS MORNING AND INTO THE CENTRAL GULF WED BEFORE DISSIPATING THU. RIDGING WILL BUILD IN BEHIND THE WAVE FRI AND SAT.
Flash Flood Watch in effect for New Orleans until 7 PM CDT this evening...
Area forecast discussion
National Weather Service New Orleans la
332 am CDT Tuesday Jul 26 2011
Discussion...
the main concern for this forecast package is the potential for
localized heavy rainfall again today and perhaps tomorrow and the
resulting flash flood threat. A middle level weak short wave trough
or weakness over the southeast Continental U.S. Will continue to plague the
Gulf Coast region for the next two or three days. This feature
..along with a tropical airmass in place across the region with
precipitable water values well in excess of two inches...will be
conducive for widespread showers and scattered thunderstorms with
locally heavy rainfall amounts. Some areas have seen several
inches of rain over the past week or so...in some cases over
ten inches...and additional rainfall on saturated or nearly
saturated ground could result in flooding issues. As a result...a
Flash Flood Watch will be issued for today for the entire forecast
with a general one to two inches of rain possible...although
localized rainfall amounts of three to four inches will certainly be
possible in a few areas. This watch may have to be extended or
reissued for Wednesday as the threat for localized heavy rainfall
amounts will likely continue. Rain chances will begin to decrease
at the end of the week and especially over the weekend as the
short wave trough weakens and ridging aloft builds over the Gulf
region and somewhat drier air works into the area. A tropical wave
over the northwest Caribbean is forecast to move west across the
Gulf during the week. At this time it appears that this feature
will stay south of the coast and have minimal impact on the
forecast area. 11
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