Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Wet Wednesday?

4:30 update: This just in, AP reports via WaPo Tony Perkins returns from GMA to Channel 5.

Despite persistent cloudiness and a damp easterly flow, precipitation in the Washington DC metro area has been limited to some drizzle and mist this morning; only a trace of accumulation has been reported at the major observation locations. The nearest significant precipitation on radar is moving westward onto the New Jersey shore. With a little sun able to penetrate the clouds, temperatures are a degree or two warmer than yesterday, mainly in the mid 60s, although to the south Fredericksburg and Stafford were both reporting 68 by 2pm.

Tonight and Tomorrow

Under continued cloudy skies, low temperatures tonight should be near 58, highs tomorrow 67. Some drizzle or fog is possible, but there is only a 20% chance of measurable precipitation.

Where's Wilma?

The Weather Channel's Tropical Update Running Yellow Slicker Person is getting a well-earned break as "there are no tropical cyclones in the Atlantic at this time." That doesn't mean that the tropics are exactly quiet, however. The very large area of low pressure over the Caribbean and southwestern Atlantic still has stormy weather associated with it all the way from Central America across the Caribbean, the Leeward Islands, and into the Atlantic. This is bringing more heavy rain and the threat of flooding to Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. San Juan only had 0.50" in the 24 hours ending this morning on top of the more than 4 inches yesterday, however. There is no indication of tropical cyclone development within this area.

The Basque News and Information Channel has a report of Vince's rare landfall in Spain yesterday.

Winter Weather
Winter Outlook
NOAA has come out with the preliminary version of their winter weather outlook covering the months December through February. For those who are looking for a dramatic follow-up to at least the second most active hurricane season in over 150 years, the outlook is rather bland for much of the U.S. It calls for near-normal temperatures over the area east of the Mississippi and warmer than normal temperatures over most of the Great Plains and the Pacific Northwest. Precipitation is forecast to be near normal over nearly all of the country. Sea-surface temperatures in the central Pacific are near normal and are expected to remain that way, so neither El Niño nor La Niña events are anticipated. The outlook will be updated on Oct. 20 and Nov. 17.

Web Watch

Channel 9 has added a web page which gives nice 3-up graphics of regional temperatures, satellite, and radar. The satellite and radar images are clickable to display time loops, which are, alas, too slow for my tin-can-and-string connection. One suggestion, 9 guys: The logo probably doesn't need to obscure most of the Southern Tier and Hudson Valley of New York as well as central New England.

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Seasonal Outlook

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Latest 3-month temperature outlook from Climate Prediction Center/NWS/NOAA.