MM News
I had a great time speaking to the 4th graders at Burks Elementary in Monterey yesterday! We talked all about space exploration, the rockets that will take us there, and the many mysteries of Mars. It was a good class! We even made rockets out of film canisters and alka-seltzers. That part got a little big crazy, but a good time was had by all!
I still have a few spots open in the Monday night class at TCAT for adults! Get your spot before they’re all gone! The topic is the surprise Baxter to Rinnie tornado in March of 2020. It’s an interesting class that you’re sure to enjoy! Sign up today at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSerEXmW6Ofxyw6NWwHhDPg4QmcEqd85jLKj5JpB5dG7VXUUiA/viewform
Weather Headlines
Heat continues to build
Dry and getting drier (new drought outlook is out today!)
Perhaps a chance for some rain next week?
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Vlog
Seven-Day Forecast
Daily Forecast Summary/Discussion
Very warm and dry summer-like conditions will evolve into hotter and drier summer-like conditions in the coming days. Last night I thought that our high pressure would break down enough for a chance for a storm or two by Monday, but I’m just not sure of that now. It looks like we’ll have to wait until the middle of next week just to get a 30% chance of rain. Most guidance keeps us very dry through much of the rest of the month. Let’s hope that changes or we’re going to be very dry by June.
Meteorologist Mark’s Wx Concerns
Almanac for Yesterday
Tropics (Already time to come back with this!)
The National Hurricane Center is already closely monitoring an area of low pressure out in Atlantic. This does not look like a threat to any land. As it gets closer to Bermuda in the coming week, it should be weakening. Should this become the first named storm of the season it would be Ana. Right now, there is a 90% chance of this system developing over the next five days.
This is a trend we’ve seen in recent years, with tropical activity developing in the month of May. This is why there is so much discussion in the meteorological community of starting hurricane season on May 15th, rather than June 1st. As oceans continue to warm, tropical activity will likely become more common in May.
Sun & The Moon
On This Day in Wx History
1894 – A record late snow of two to eight inches whitened parts of central and eastern Kentucky! Lexington, Kentucky received six inches of snow!
Thirsty Thursday
Nearly 97% of the Earth’s water is either salty or undrinkable/unsafe for humans.
Yesterday’s National Temperature Extremes
High: 107° at Death Valley, California
Low: 21° at Port Angeles, Washington
Today’s Tennessee Weather
Our Tennessee skies will be filled with lots of sunshine today! Some of us may see a passing cloud or two in the afternoon, with perhaps some sprinkles in the Memphis area. High temps in the 80s will feel more like summer than spring.
Tonight’s Tennessee Weather
Under clear and starry skies, overnight lows will drop into the 50s and 60s across the state. Get out and check out the Waxing Gibbous Moon in the evening sky.
Tomorrow’s Tennessee Weather
It’s another sunny and summer-like day across Tennessee. Mostly sunny skies will send high temps to near 90 degrees for the first time this year for the cities of Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. The cooler spots can be found on the plateau and the northeast portion of the state, where highs will be in the lower 80s.
Drought Monitor
The drought monitor is updated each Thursday. This is the latest map! Look at all that drought out west. That is so very concerning. Elsewhere, drought conditions from last week continue to spread and intensify.
Last week’s map can be seen below, for a comparison to this week’s.
Weather SnapShots
I’m a sucker for black and white photos and this one does not disappoint! This was taken by Will Leverette (@312Will) near Forsan and Sterling City, Texas on May 17. Big spirals above, leading to the small, fierce spiral of the tornado below. Very cool. The wind farm adds an even more unique touch, in my opinion.
NASA Nerdology
In May of 2005, the Mars Rover Spirit captured this view of a Martian sunset. Visible in this image mosaic are a number of terrain features, including the floor of Gusev crater and the rock outcrop “Jibsheet”
