It's an El Niño year, which typically means that Atlantic hurricane activity will be reduced. But not all El Niño events are created equal when it comes to their impact on Atlantic hurricane activity. Over the past 150 years, hurricane damage has averaged $800 million/year in El Niño years and double that during La Niña years. The abnormal warming of the equatorial Eastern Pacific ocean waters in most El Niño events creates an atmospheric circulation pattern th
Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, July 10, 2009.
Thunderstorms and heat will remain the defining weather factors on Friday.
In the Southern Plains, high temperatures are once again expected to break into the triple digits on Friday as a ridge of high pressure continues to sit in place over the High Plains. Hot temperatures during the day will not give way too much at night, and lows will barely drop below 80 degrees over night in some regions. These conditions can cause heat stroke.
Thunderstorms will likely continue through the night and into Friday morning across the Mid-West and Great Lakes regions. The thunderstorm activity will likely pick up from there, with strong storms expected in the afternoon and evening hours. Large hail and tornadoes are possible in the region.
Colorado's High Plains could also see strong thunderstorms on Friday with hail and high winds expected from the strongest storms.
The Southeast will also see thunderstorms on Friday, but brief downpours and lightning will be the main concerns from these storms. The storms will most likely be less widespread than in recent days, and most of the storms will be located close to the Atlantic coast.
The Northeast will see a bit warmer weather on Friday, with a ridge of high pressure building into the area. The high will push most of 60 degree highs seen in previous days out of the area, and most locations will top out at least in the 70s.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 27 degrees at Stanley, Idaho to a high of 112 degrees at Canadian, Texas.
On this date in 1913, a record setting temperature was reported at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, Calif. The 134 degree temperature is generally considered to be the warmest temperature ever in the Western Hemisphere. Incredibly, the previous day recorded a high of 129 degrees and a morning low of 93 degrees.