Main Threats
No widespread hazardous weather expected.
Summary
We should see another day that is quiet similar to Saturday, with mostly sunny skies. The big difference is that we won’t see the showers and storms Sunday night that we saw Saturday night. This will work out well for those of us trying to see the Perseids meteor shower.
I had optimistically hoped last night’s disturbance would clear out before many of us went to bed. What perfect timing it had, right? Dropping in here after a sunny day, just in time to cloud things up and keep us from watching the meteor shower. Tonight’s chances for a clearer sky are much, much better.
We still can’t rule out an isolated storm in the afternoon or evening, but most of us won’t see a thing.
The good weather should stick around through Tuesday, with warmer and drier conditions taking center stage.
By the middle and end of next week, another front will slip in and provide really good chances for more showers and storms. Timing the disturbances that will ride along that front is trivial, so for now we’ll just say to be prepared for more showers and storms the middle and end of next week. That may last into the weekend. Stay tuned.
Meteor Shower
Last night’s pesky disturbance really put a damper on many of us seeing some good meteors last night. Tonight, I think skies will be in much better shape. The good news is that the meteor shower actually peaks tonight. Go out and look up! The best time is after 10:00 p.m. but the peak will come later into the night, closer to dawn. So, if you get up super early you should go out and look, as well.
The meteors will shoot across the sky at a rate of about one a minute, so don’t be surprised if it takes you a while to see one. People are often disappointed by meteor showers. They expect “shooting stars” all over the place and that’s just not how it works. But, with patience and a comfy lounge chair you can see several of these shooting stars.
The coolest thing about this meteor shower, in my opinion, is the fireballs that it has been known to produce. Keep an eye out for those. They are few and far between but they have been known to occur with this particular meteor shower more than most.
Records
Folks, this record goes WAY back! On this day in 1778, a hurricane threatened the Rhode Island coast. This is a bit far north for hurricanes but they do occur here from time to time. This was an especially important one though, as it kept a British-French sea battle from occurring. Keep in mind we established our independence only two years before this, unleashing the wrath of Great Britain on ourselves.
But, with the help of a hurricane (some felt it was a divine one), we were able to hold off this one battle and have more time to prepare for the next one.
News
We had some very exciting news from NASA this morning. At about 3:30 a.m. the Parker Probe was finally able to launch! This probe will take us closer to the sun than ever before on its 7-year mission. The probe will penetrate the sun’s atmosphere multiple times and help us solve solar mysteries that have plagued us for hundreds of years. Let’s all wish this mission well, and may we learn more than ever about Earth’s closest star.
For more information, please see https://www.nasa.gov/press-release/nasa-ula-launch-parker-solar-probe-on-historic-journey-to-touch-sun/
You all have a great Sunday and I’ll update you on the meteor shower forecast much later today!