Irene Goes, Heat Taking a Holiday

Tropical Storm Irene packs 50mph winds as it races toward the Canadian border, it'll be out of the country and no longer tropical by late tonight. Catastrophic flooding has occurred in upstate New York, there is of course significant flood and wind damage along the coast and in our major east coast cities. The tropics are NOT done with us by any stretch; the next named storm is Katia and is gathering its strength out in the Atlantic close to Africa. Tropical Storm Jose passed just to the west of Bermuda and is heading north and falling apart.

Record Heat Monday

The forecast is for a high of 106°, the record is 105° for the date. ERCOT is asking everyone to use less electricity, there is a Heat Advisory and an Air Quality Alert (Orange Level). The forecasted high on Tuesday is 105°, this would be within one degree of tying a record high for the date. Both mornings (Monday and Tuesday) will likely also set record high minimums for the date.

Turn the Calendar, Change the Weather

This is how our week starts but this is NOT how it is going to end. What is going to end is the run of 100 degree weather. The all-time record as you know is 69 total 100-degree days in one year, set back in 1980. We are going to stop counting for awhile at 66 as the first day of September is the last triple digit high in the extended forecast.  By Friday highs should peak around normal, mid-90's with a whopping 30% rain chance. This forecast holds for Saturday as well. I doubt many will complain of rain on a holiday weekend giving the drought and the relentless heat.

The forecast in detail:

Monday: Mostly Sunny, 10% Storm Chance western counties, High: 106, Winds S 5-15mph

Tuesday: Mostly Sunny, High: 105

Wednesday: Partly Cloudy, High: 103

Thursday: Partly Cloudy, High 100

Friday: 30% Rain Chance, Mostly Cloudy, High 95

Saturday: 30% Rain Chance, Mostly Cloudy, High: 94