Thursday, August 25, 2005
Afternoon Update
Steve Scolnik @ 3:30 PM
Once again, afternoon temperatures are in the low 80s in the Washington metro area, and National is reporting a dewpoint which hasn't been seen in some time: 49 degrees (relative humidity 31%). As cool as it has seemed, the morning low of 62 will make this the only day so far this week which has averaged below the long-term mean for late August. The month as a whole is still averaging 3.3 degrees above normal so far.
Outlook
Under mostly clear skies, lows tonight will be in the low to mid 60s. Tomorrow will be a few degrees warmer and a little more humid, highs in the upper 80s.
Tropical Topics
Hurricane Katrina continues on a westward course at 6 mph toward the southeastern Florida coast. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida coast from Vero Beach south to Florida City. There are also tropical storm watches in effect north and south of that area and for portions of the Florida west coast. At 3pm, the broad center of the storm was about 35 miles offshore in the vicinity of the Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton area. Maximum winds have been increasing steadily, reaching just below hurricane strength, 70 mph, at 3pm. At 3:30, however, reports from a NOAA aircraft and Doppler radar indicated that the storm had reached hurricane force. The storm is expected to track slowly westward across Florida tomorrow. Following that, the various models are producing a very wide "cone of uncertainty", varying anywhere from the Mississippi Gulf coast to well offshore of the Georgia coast by Monday morning. Rainfall amounts from this slow-moving storm are quite heavy. The Weather Channel reported that some offshore precipitation totals have been from 8 to 12 inches, based on Doppler radar.
Outlook
Under mostly clear skies, lows tonight will be in the low to mid 60s. Tomorrow will be a few degrees warmer and a little more humid, highs in the upper 80s.
Tropical Topics
Hurricane Katrina continues on a westward course at 6 mph toward the southeastern Florida coast. A hurricane warning is in effect for the Florida coast from Vero Beach south to Florida City. There are also tropical storm watches in effect north and south of that area and for portions of the Florida west coast. At 3pm, the broad center of the storm was about 35 miles offshore in the vicinity of the Ft. Lauderdale/Boca Raton area. Maximum winds have been increasing steadily, reaching just below hurricane strength, 70 mph, at 3pm. At 3:30, however, reports from a NOAA aircraft and Doppler radar indicated that the storm had reached hurricane force. The storm is expected to track slowly westward across Florida tomorrow. Following that, the various models are producing a very wide "cone of uncertainty", varying anywhere from the Mississippi Gulf coast to well offshore of the Georgia coast by Monday morning. Rainfall amounts from this slow-moving storm are quite heavy. The Weather Channel reported that some offshore precipitation totals have been from 8 to 12 inches, based on Doppler radar.
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