Friday, August 12, 2005
Afternoon Update
Steve Scolnik @ 3:45 PM
HEAT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY
HEAT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM NOON TO 8 PM EDT SATURDAY
Temperatures are in the mid 90s throughout the Washington metro area this afternoon. Humidities are a bit higher than yesterday with dewpoints at 70 and above, pushing heat indices to 100+. Radar shows a few isolated showers in the mountains west of I-81.
Outlook
Tonight will be warm and sticky; lows in the city will have a hard time getting below 80, while the suburbs should be in the mid to upper 70s. There is only a slight chance of a thundershower. Tomorrow will again be hot and humid, with highs in the mid 90s and a better chance (30%) of afternoon or evening thundershowers.
Tropical Topics
Tropical Storm Irene continued to strengthen today, reaching estimated maximum sustained winds of 65 mph this morning. According to a reconnaissance report about 25 minutes ago, it was estimated to be just under hurricane force at 70 mph. It was continuing on a west-northwest track 650 miles southeast of Cape Hatteras. Conditions for development into a hurricane are favorable, although maximum intensity is expected to be category 1. There is still a lot of uncertainty with the forecast track, ranging anywhere from the Outer Banks of North Carolina to several hundred miles offshore early next week.
Tipping Point
The August 13 issue of New Scientist magazine has an article reporting on the melting of the western Siberian sub-Arctic permafrost. An area of 1 million sq. km., about the size of France and Germany combined, is melting for the first time since the last ice age. This has the potential of releasing billions of tons of methane into the atmosphere. Since methane is 20 times stronger than carbon dioxide as a greenhouse gas, this could have a "tipping point" effect on global warming. The original article requires a subscription, but there is a summary in the Guardian. There are also several other articles in the British press:
- Telegraph: Melting bog may lead to 'ecological landslide'
- BBC:Siberia's rapid thaw causes alarm
- The Register: Melting Siberia threat to climate
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