Weather Headlines
An unsettled/summer-like weather pattern continues to evolve.
Main threats
No widespread hazardous weather is expected. However, as we saw yesterday, any storm that develops can put down some very heavy rainfall. Some parts of the plateau have picked up over four inches of rain in the past 48 hours. The Weather Prediction Center has included the plateau in the marginal risk for flooding for today (not marginal risk for severe storms). As you can see, that risk for flooding is greatest over in the Carolinas, where a very dangerous weather scenario is unfolding this week with flooding.
Like I said, the plateau is in the marginal risk for flooding today.
Baldwin’s Severe Wx Concern
My only concern is with localized flash flooding from slow moving heavy showers/storms. Just be careful if you’re out driving and get caught in one of those downpours.
Baldwin’s 7-Day forecast
Daily Forecast
Today – Friday: Scattered showers and thundershowers, especially in the afternoon and evening. Partly to mostly cloudy skies.
Saturday – Sunday: Showers and storms should become more widely scattered. Temps will warm up with the decrease in rainfall and cloud cover. Partly to mostly cloudy skies are expected.
Memorial Day: More scattered showers and thundershowers.
Tuesday: Scattered shower and thundershowers.
Almanac
Yesterday’s National High and Low Temperature
High: 113 at Rio Grande Village, Texas
Low: 23 at Estcourt Station, Maine
Difference of: 90 degrees
Today’s
Wx Hazards Across the Nation
Heavy rainfall will threaten the Carolinas again today. Severe storms will threaten the Front Range of the Rockies, as well as portions of the Panhandle of Texas. Heavy rainfall will also be a threat for western Montana. Meanwhile, snowflakes will fly across parts of the Rockies.
Tomorrow’s
Wx Hazards Across the Nation
More dangerous flooding for the Carolinas (they’re liable to end up on the news). Severe storms and heavy rainfall threaten the southern plains. Light to heavier snows for the northern Rockies.
Friday’s
Wx Hazards Across the Nation
Heavy rainfall threatens the southern plains, while light to heavy snows threaten the northern Rockies. More rain falls on the Carolinas but it should be on the lighter side.
Tropics
All is quiet. I will suspend this section after today unless something else develops. Beginning June 1st, this section will appear here regularly and will continue to do so through November. Hurricane season runs from June 1 to November 30.
Records
On this day in 1894 a snow storm blanketed central and eastern Kentucky with several inches of snow! Lexington measured half a foot of snow. Other snowfall totals ranged from two to eight inches.
If you want to see a tornado you might consider moving to Codell, Kansas. They were hit in three consecutive years by a tornado on May 20 (1916, 1917, and 1918). I don’t know about you, but I would have had my eyes to the skies on May 20, 1919!
Weather Trivia
Q: What US city has been hit the most by tornadoes?
a. Dallas, TX b. Topeka, KS c. Wichita Falls, TX d. Oklahoma City, OK
(Answer at the end of the blog!)
Long Range Outlook
Above-average temps and normal to above-normal precip continue to be expected in the long-range outlooks.
Temperature
Precipitation
7-Day Projected Precip Totals
Two areas really stand out! The Carolinas and the southern plains will be the focus for the heaviest of rainfall over the next seven days.
NASA News
I’ve decided to heed the advice of some very smart people and not attend the rocket launch next week. However, I have decided to make next week LAUNCH WEEK! I’ll do something cool each day next week, starting with Sunday. Make sure to tune in and tell all the space nerds in your life to tune in, as well. It should be fun!
Pictured below is the DEMO-1 launch I was so incredibly lucky to attend last March. This was the uncrewed version of next weeks crewed DEMO-2 mission. What a launch this was and what an unforgettable experience!
Baldwin’s View-of-the-Day
Yesterday, at least two dams failed in eastern Michigan. The result has been a disastrous flooding event. Let’s keep those folks close to our hearts today.
Weather News
I hope to get the MASTER science class for kids started up by the end of summer. It just depends on when Roane State is comfortable with that, as well as the State’s guidelines. Stay tuned. I’ll let you all know just as soon as we can get those going again!
Answer to Trivia Question
A: (d) Oklahoma City is in a class by itself when it comes to tornadoes. That city has been hit at least 140 times by tornadoes since records began in the 1890s!
You all have a great day!
When you looked at the heaviest rainfall, did you look at Hurricane Harvey? Living in the Houston area at that time I remembered NOAA reported 6+” of rain per hour during that long day/night with final reports of 60+ inches. It was horrific.
That event was the impetus for us moving to the Plateau.
We enjoy your reports very much. They are so much more accurate than the television types.
Respectfully Terry
On Wed, May 20, 2020, 8:32 AM Meteorologist Mark wrote:
> Meteorologist Mark posted: ” Weather Headlines An unsettled/summer-like > weather pattern continues to evolve. Main threats No widespread hazardous > weather is expected. However, as we saw yesterday, any storm that develops > can put down some very heavy rainfall. Some parts of the plate” >
Good evening, Terry. First of all, I’m so glad you enjoy the blog! I always appreciate hearing from folks who enjoy what I do. I also want to welcome you to the plateau, though I’m sorry such a historic natural disaster is what caused you to move here. Harvey was, by far, the most prolific rain producing storm in US history. It’s still hard to believe that FEET of rain fell. That’s unimaginable. The confusing part is how much of that fell in 24 hours. Few people doubt that Texas broke 24 hour rainfall records in some locations, but whether or not those locations are “official” measuring locations is where things get confusing. Harvey remains the highest producing rain event in the continental US and I think that record will stand for many, many years to come. I sure hope no one else breaks that record!