Main threats
No widespread hazardous weather is expected through Monday, but isolated strong (briefly severe?) storms could contain gusty winds, small hail, and heavy rainfall. Be mindful of the lightning, as well.
Summary
An unsettled pattern has now developed over our region and that will bring rain to all of us by the time the weekend is over. Many locations will see at least an inch or rain, with some folks seeing as much as 3 inches, depending on how many storms you end up underneath over the next several days. Outdoor plans are discouraged until at least next Tuesday.
We’re seeing some scattered showers and storms this morning but short-term models are showing us seeing a break in this activity this afternoon. I’d keep the rain gear hand, though, just in case.
More scattered showers and storms will roam the plateau tomorrow, before more widespread rainfall enters the picture for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and probably Monday. Conditions should improve by Tuesday and a return to sunnier skies is expected.
WeatherTAP WeatherFACT
Contrails from airplanes can nearly cover the sky in clouds. These trails of clouds, referred to as contrails, form when hot exhaust from the plane hits the cold air of our atmosphere. If the air at the level the plane is flying at is rather moist, the contrail will linger for hours. If the air is especially dry, the contrail may only appear for a few seconds or minutes.
The lingering of contrails can tell us about moisture levels high up in the atmosphere. Moisture most often increases in the highest levels of the atmosphere ahead of a big storm system. Therefore, if the contrails linger we know a storm system is on the way.
Records
On this day in 1917 the residents of Topeka, Kansas reported disk-shaped hailstones up to 10 inches in diameter and two to three inches thick! A tornado followed the unusual hailstorm.
Quite possibly the most important weather forecast in history was made on this day in 1944. When asked, the meteorologists suggested delaying D-Day for 24 hours, until better weather could move in. Had military commanders not listened, things would likely have ended much worse for the allies. Winds speed and direction, wave height, cloud base heights, etc all had to be considered. Had the invasion been delayed for June 6, the next opportunity would have come two weeks later because of the tides. As it turns out, the weather was awful at that time. In addition, the secret of the invasion would have likely leaked at that point, giving Hitler a tremendous advantage.
Almanac
Yesterday’s record high: 88 (2011)
Yesterday’s record low: 42 (1988)
Today’s record high: 89 (2011)
Today’s record low: 40 (1954)
Today’s sunset: 7:53
Tomorrow sunrise: 5:23
Today’s day length: 14 hrs 30 mins 24 secs
Tomorrow’s day length: 14 hrs 31 mins 08 secs
One year ago today
The high was 78 and the low was 54. No rain fell.
News
Flooding continues to cause tremendous problems across the Midwest this week. Keep those folks close to your hearts.