A Sizzling Finish to September!
Yesterday's high of 84° marked the first time in ten days that our high cracked the 80 degree mark... which is quite remarkable considering we still average in the 80's this time of the year. Today, it truly felt like summer again as temps soared into the upper 80's, the warmest we've seen in about two weeks.
We weren't the on ly ones enjoying the late season warmth. Temps were well up into the 80's all across the Eastern US with highs cracking the 90 degree mark for places like St. Louis, Springfield and Tulsa.
The reason for the warm is because of the development of an area of upper high pressure currently located over the Ohio/Mississippi River Valleys.
Going forward, this upper ridge (high pressure aloft) is expected to strengthen in response to a deep trough that looks to develop over the Western US over the next week ahead.
This will allow temps to remain quite warm over the Eastern US with the Euro forecasting reading to remain some 5 to 10 degrees above normal during the period.
There is good agreement between all medium range models on this idea of a very warm week ahead and has prompted the folks at the Climate Prediction Center (CPC) to issue an 80% chance for above normal temps across the Ohio Valley/Great Lakes during the next week to week and a half.
Looking further out, the Euro shows the upper ridging remaining in place through the remainder of the month as temps remain well above normal during the period.
CPC agrees with this assessment with a 60% for above normal temps in the 8 to 14 day range which brings September to a close.
So what do I think?
Well, I'm glad I haven't shut my pool down just yet! Although I was certainly tempted to last week when we were suffering with the cool rains and clouds with highs struggling in the 60's. It does appear that we are set for a nice run of warm weather to round out September and possibly into October as well. So despite change to the "astronomical" season later this week (Fall officially begins on Friday), it looks like we'll get to enjoy an extended summer this year.
So how warm will it get?
While 80's will be very easy to achieve over the next couple of week, a few 90's can't be ruled out with this type of a pattern this time of the year.
Enjoy!
WDRB Meteorologist Jeremy Kappell
Email me at [email protected]
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