Main Threats
Today-Thurs: Be safe in the afternoon heat and humidity
Summary
Yes, it’s September. It sure doesn’t feel like it but my calendar assures me this is, in fact, the month of September. The first official day of fall is Saturday. It begins at 8:54 p.m. Remember, meteorological fall started September 1st.
We’ll see some storm chances come back into the picture on Friday. Those will be your summer-like heat-of-the-day afternoon/evening storms. Those will be with us again on Saturday. Rain chances should increase on Sunday, as another frontal system slips in on us. If you have outdoor plans this weekend I would plan that for Saturday, as it looks to be the drier of the two days.
This weekend front is weak and will only act as a trigger to set off some mainly afternoon/evening scattered showers/storms. A much, much more substantial frontal system will come in here next week. The models disagree on timing but it looks like it should come through here Wednesday or Thursday. Behind this front is what many of you would consider very good news; a fall-like air mass! That’s right, by the end of next week we could be looking at highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s, with a crisp north breeze. I’ll keep you posted!
Below is the extended temperature outlook for September 26-October 2nd. I wouldn’t be surprised to see them bring that blue coloring on over to us with the updated outlooks. The blue represents below-average temperatures.
Tropics
Thankfully, things are pretty quiet for now. We are now in the second half of hurricane season, so we still have much to watch out for. The season officially ends November 30th. We currently have a couple of areas to watch, but neither look too promising for development. Still, we’ll keep an eye on ’em.
Records
The year 1954 was a tough one for our country. I have mentioned the heat wave of 1925 and now it’s time to talk a bit about the heat wave of 1954. This heat wave is ranked as one of the top 5 in terms of severity and longevity. Eleven states were significantly impacted, stretching from Colorado to Tennessee. That summer was incredibly hot. In fact, it was so hot that railroad ties across the Midwest buckled and had to be repaired. The heat continued in Tennessee all the way up to September. On this day in 1954 Nashville hit a record high of 97 degrees. Crossville broke a record high when we hit 93.
The heat wave of 1954 took a heavy financial toll on our country. The greatest expense came from government aid to farmers, whose whole farms were dried up and turned to dust that summer. Most of the states impacted by this heat wave have yet to experience a heat wave as severe and prolonged as the heat wave of 1954.
News
You all keep our family close to your hearts. My grandma isn’t doing too well and, well, this is a very difficult time, to say the least.
Thanks Mark for the weather update. More importantly we keep your Grandma in our thoughts!!!
You’re very welcome, Connie. And thank you for those thoughts!