11:55 AM | Incoming CMEs from AR1515

Discussion

There is currently a large group of sunspots, known officially as AR1515, that is facing the Earth and there were four different coronal mass ejections (CMEs) associated with this active region on the 4th of July. NOAA forecast models indicate that the CMEs should reach the Earth’s upper atmosphere sometime tomorrow night and this could set off some northern light displays across the northern US. This group of sunspots is quite huge, stretching more than 100,000 km (8 Earth diameters) from end-to-end. There is even the threat for a more significant eruption over the next 12-24 hours - we’ll continue to monitor the situation.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/I3KSEoZy9u8

7:00 AM | A warming trend this weekend into early next week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Early morning clouds and fog will be stubborn to leave today so mostly cloudy skies likely for the afternoon as well, breezy, highs in the upper 60’s

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late, lows in the lower 60’s

Friday

Early fog and then remaining mostly cloudy, breezy, upper 60’s

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, cool, low 60’s

Saturday

Becoming mostly sunny after early morning fog, pleasant, low 70’s

Sunday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, low-to-mid 70’s

Monday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid 70’s

Tuesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid 70’s

Discussion

Marine layer clouds and fog will be stubborn to give up ground today and on Friday and this will hold afternoon temperatures in the upper 60's for highs. High pressure will move into the region by the weekend and we’ll have a slight warming trend as we go through the weekend into early next week.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/AR7FRT52b5E

7:00 AM | Long term pattern of heat and drought for Colorado is now undergoing a major change

6-Day Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, hot, chance for a few showers and thunderstorms, low-to-mid 90’s

Tonight

Chance for evening showers and thunderstorms; otherwise, mostly cloudy skies, mild, mid 60’s

Friday

Partly sunny, not quite as hot, chance for a couple of thunderstorms, near 90

Friday Night

Partly cloudy, mild, chance for a few showers and thunderstorms, mid 60’s

Saturday

Mostly cloudy, not as warm, chance for a shower or thunderstorm, low 80’s

Sunday

Mostly cloudy, still cooler, chance for showers and thunderstorms, low 80's

Monday

Partly sunny, still cooler, slight chance for showers and thunderstorms, low 80’s

Tuesday

Partly sunny, comfortable, slight chance for showers and thunderstorms, low 80’s

Discussion

The big news is that the overall long-term weather pattern that has brought Colorado much heat and drought for the last several weeks is now undergoing a major change to one of more rainfall and cooler conditions. More moisture is entering the picture now as the summer monsoonal pattern begins to assert itself in the Desert Southwest and we’ll have a daily threat for a shower or thunderstorm right through the weekend. High temperatures will reach the 90’s again today, but should actually be confined to the 80’s by the time the weekend rolls around thanks to more cloudiness associated with the increased moisture levels throughout the atmosphere and a general change in the overall pattern.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/AR7FRT52b5E

7:00 AM | Hot weather through mid-week, but could be some late week/weekend temperature relief

6-Day Forecast

Today

Partly sunny, hot, chance for a shower or a thunderstorm, mid 90’s

Tonight

Chance for an evening shower or thunderstorm; otherwise, partly cloudy skies, mild, mid 60’s

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a couple of thunderstorms, low-to-mid 90’s

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, mild, mid 60’s

Thursday

Mostly sunny, hot, slight chance for a thunderstorm, low-to-mid 90’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, not quite as hot, chance for showers and thunderstorms, upper 80's

Saturday

Partly sunny, warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, upper 80’s

Sunday

Partly sunny, warm, chance for showers and thunderstorms, upper 80’s

Discussion

Little change in the weather pattern expected through mid-week with upper level high pressure continuing to dominate the scene over the Rockies and central Plains. More moisture, however, is now entering the picture now as the summer monsoonal pattern begins to assert itself in the Desert Southwest and we’ll have a daily threat for a shower or thunderstorm through much of the week. High temperatures could actually be confined to the upper 80’s by late week and this weekend.

7:00 AM | Highs within a few degrees of 70 for much of the week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Remaing mostly cloudy after some morning fog, breezy, highs in the upper 60’s

Tonight

Becoming partly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late, lows near 60

Wednesday

Remaining mostly cloudy after morning fog, breezy, upper 60’s

Wednesday Night

Partly cloudy, cool, near 60

Thursday

Becoming mostly sunny after early morning fog, pleasant, upper 60’s

Friday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Saturday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, low 70’s

Sunday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, low-to-mid 70’s

Discussion

A cool trend through mid-week with an onshore flow of air that will keep highs confined to the 60’s in many locations and marine-layer clouds for much of the time. Some warming is likely towards the latter part of the week and, in general, there is no precipitation in sight. Highs should reach the low-to-mid 70’s by the time the weekend rolls around.

1:20 PM | Recap of the amazing "derecho" event on Friday night

Discussion

One of the most intense lines of thunderstorms in recent memory struck the Washington, DC metro region on Friday night, June 29th, as well as many other Midwestern and Mid-Atlantic locations on its way from Illinois/Indiana to the east coast. This particular kind of fast-moving, long-lived, large and violent thunderstorm complex is known as a “derecho”, and it is much more common in the Midwest and Great Lakes than in the Mid-Atlantic. Although a “derecho” can produce similar destruction to that of tornadoes, the damage is typically directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. National Weather Service statistics indicate that “derechos” occur about once every four years in the Mid-Atlantic coastal region, but up to once a year or so in parts of the Midwest. The conditions necessary for the development of a “derecho” generally include the following:

1) A jet streak where upper level winds zip along at high speeds 2) Northern boundary of a hot air mass

These conditions were indeed satisfied in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic on Friday as there was a strong upper level jet streak just to the north of this region and extreme heat enveloped the entire region along with a boundary zone set up just north of here. Temperatures on Friday, in fact, reached all-time highs for the month of June in many locations including at Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC (104 degrees). Thunderstorms erupted during Friday afternoon near Chicago, IL and then grew in intensity and coverage as they raced southeastward, powered by very strong upper-level winds and fueled by the record-setting heat in their 600 mile path to the east coast. Peak wind gusts reported in the Washington, DC region included 71 mph at Dulles Airport in VA, 79 at Reston, VA, and 77 mph at Swan Point, MD (Charles County). Farther upstream, wind gusts of 91 mph were measured in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Lots of people are hoping the climatology holds here and we have to wait another 4 years to experience another one of these kinds of meteorological events.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/ql87H1fzIyo

7:00 AM | Hot pattern continues with 90's likely through mid-week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a shower or a thunderstorm, mid 90’s

Tonight

Chance for an evening shower or thunderstorm; otherwise, partly cloudy skies, mild, mid 60’s

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, hot, mid 90’s

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, mild, chance for a thunderstorm, mid 60’s

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, windy, hot, chance for a thunderstorm, low 90’s

Thursday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for showers and thunderstorms, mid 90’s

Friday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for showers and thunderstorms, near 90

Saturday

Mostly sunny, very warm, mid-to-upper 80’s

Discussion

Little change in the weather pattern expected through mid-week. Upper level high pressure will continue to dominate the scene over the Rockies and central Plains through mid-week. There is the chance for enhanced shower and thunderstorm activity later this week as moisture heads our way from the Desert Southwest and by the weekend our high temperatures may be confined to the upper 80's.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/9NnJx7rS_MQ

7:00 AM | West coast still the coolest place to be

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly cloudy today with some early morning fog, breezy, highs in the upper 60’s

Tonight

Mostly cloudy, breezy, fog possible late, lows near 60

Tuesday

Becoming partly sunny after morning fog, breezy, upper 60’s

Tuesday Night

Partly cloudy, cool, near 60

Wednesday

Becoming mostly sunny after early morning fog, pleasantly cool, upper 60’s

Thursday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Friday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, upper 60’s

Saturday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, near 70

Discussion

A cool trend through mid-week with an onshore flow of air that will keep highs confined to the 60’s in many locations and there will be a stubborn layer of marine clouds. Some warming is likely towards the latter part of the week and, in general, there is no precipitation in sight. Highs should generally climb from the mid-to-upper 60's during the 1st half of the week to the lower 70's by the weekend.

Video

httpv://youtu.be/9NnJx7rS_MQ

7:00 AM | West coast remains the place to be for cool weather

6-Day Forecast

Today

Monring low clouds and fog giving way to afternoon clearing skies, breezy, highs near 70 degrees

Tonight

Partly cloudy early, low clouds and fog late, breezy, lows near 60 degrees

Saturday

Becoming mainly sunny after morning low clouds and fog, breezy, near 70

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy early, low clouds and fog late, cool, near 60

Sunday

Becoming mostly sunny after early morning fog, cool, mid-to-upper 60’s

Monday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Tuesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Wednesday

Fog possible early then mostly sunny skies, mid-to-upper 60’s

Discussion

An upper level trough will approach the coast late in the weekend and this should begin a slight cooling trend for the region early next week. The 6-10 day outlook continues to stick with a slightly cooler-than-normal temperature pattern along the west coast while much of the rest of the country remains above normal. Highs may be confined once again to the mid-to-upper 60’s as we begin a new week next week after closing out the work week near 70 degrees.

7:00 AM | Still way above normal for today, but some more seasonal weather possible early next week

6-Day Forecast

Today

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a shower or a thunderstorm, mid 90’s

Tonight

Chance for an evening shower or thunderstorm; otherwise, partly cloudy skies, mild, mid 60’s

Saturday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a thunderstorm, mid 90’s

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, mild, mid 60’s

Sunday

Mostly sunny, hot, chance for a thunderstorm, low-to-mid 90’s

Monday

Mostly sunny, hot, mid 90’s

Tuesday

Mostly sunny, still pretty hot, chance for showers and thunderstorms, low 90's

Wednesday

Mostly sunny, hot, near 90

Discussion

A continuation of the hot weather pattern will cause high temperature readings today and tomorrow well up in the 90’s once again and above-normal conditions will continue next week as well. High presure at all levels of the atmosphere will dominate the weather scene as we head into next week with only about a 10-20% chance for daily showers and thunderstorms.