End of July July 31, 2008

July wraps up a degree above average in Fort Smith and a degree below in Fayetteville.  Rainfall-wise Fayetteville picked up 4.29”, which is about an inch above average.  For Smith had a dry month, only receiving 1.13”, which is about 2” below average.
 
 By the way, if we hit 100 today in Fort Smith it will [...]

Mesocyclone! July 31, 2008

This is a rotating mesocyclone, the “king” of all thunderstorms.  As opposed to summertime “pop-up” thunderstorms which last about 45 minutes to an hour, going through a complete life-cycle, mesocyclones can last for hours and travel many miles over land.  The main factor that differentiates a mesocyclone from ordinary thunderstorms is [...]

JETSTREAM! PLEASE DON’T GO! July 31, 2008

The jetstream is leaving us this weekend and it doesn’t look like it will be returning anytime soon. The jetstream is the river of flowing air anywhere from 20,000 to 30,000 feet above the surface of the Earth. It acts as a divider between the warm and cold air. Over the weekend [...]

Wednesday Evening Update.. July 30, 2008

Showers and storms continue to develop across the area in association with an upper level disturbance.  Sunshine and hot temperatures this afternoon have helped to develop showers and storms; fortunately, storms this evening will remain below severe limits.
Isolated strong storms with pea size hail and gusty winds to 40 mph will be possible; stay indoors [...]

4:00 P.M. Weather Update July 30, 2008

 
Showers and storms have started to develop across eastern Oklahoma and western Arkansas as a disturbance moves in from the west.  The hot surface temperatures have helped to destabilized the atmosphere creating isolated showers and storms.
Widespread severe weather is not expected; however, isolated strong storms with small pea size hail and gusty winds to 50 mph [...]

Death Ridge Arrives….The Heat Cometh July 30, 2008

Everytime I use the expression “death ridge” it makes me think about Star Wars; unfortunately, there’s no John Williams’ music that plays when the ridge moves overhead. 

The ridge above will actually become strengthened by upper level energy moving across the pacific northwest.  This ridge may yield the hottest temperatures so far [...]

SPOTTY SHOWERS TODAY…STORM CHANCES TOMORROW July 30, 2008

We will have a chance for some spotty showers Wednesday morning and Wednesday afternoon. It looks like better storm chances will be with us Thursday. An upper level trough currently out West will slowly move across the area today.
THURSDAY SURFACE MAP

THURSDAY AFTERNOON PRECIPITATION FORECAST

Now the big question is weather or not we will [...]

This is a Summer Gift……. July 30, 2008

 
This is what you pray for in the middle of summer; a trough that creates more cloud cover and chances for showers and storms.  This upper level wave is actually the remnants of Hurricane Dolly; fortunately, her remnants are moving this way, and with a little cold air aloft, we’ll spark off some showers and [...]

COMPLETE 180! July 29, 2008

VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGE

This morning it looked like our weather story was going to be a spotty shower, increasing clouds and slightly cooler temperatures.  Well mother nature has changed her mind.  The wave of energy out west will not move east and has not moved east all day.  Therefore, the spotty showers, clouds and slightly cooler [...]

A SPOTTY SHOWER TODAY July 29, 2008

TUESDAY AFTERNOON PRECIPITATION FORECAST

Showers and storms off to the west will try to make it into the area today, but most of the rainy weather should hold off until Wednesday. This system is moving very slowly and therefore our best precipitation chance will be tomorrow. A few spotty showers will be possible today [...]