Meteorologist Mark

I have returned from a weather and aviation conference in Memphis over the weekend. So, you all can relax because you’re weatherman is back! (ha) I wish I had more interesting weather to report but that’s how July goes a lot of times. We’re going to be heating up this week with highs in the mid to upper 80s and lows in the mid to upper 60s. Humidity will be increasing more and more each day as well. We really don’t need to worry about any pop-up t-storms until about Thursday. Those chances will then stay with us through the weekend. It’s basically your heat-of-the-day pop-up storms that mainly occur in the afternoon and evening.

In case you’re having the Monday blues (along with the full moon, you know?), I have a story that may make you feel better. You know you can always go to a meteorologist and get a “things could be worse” story, right? (ha) At this conference I just went to I heard a story about a gentleman who accidentally flew his private plane right smack dab into the middle of a t-storm. He and his wife had flown the route from his home in Virginia to Florida many times and had always managed to divert around any storms. However, this one was moving quickly and he thought air traffic control would guide him around any bad weather. He was wrong. As he entered the storm, which actually became a severe t-storm warning, he was immediately captured by an updraft. He and his wife then endured several minutes of misery as the plane was tossed about like a toy, the propellers ripping off, as well as half the left wing. At one point they were flying upside down with absolutely no idea if they were going up or down. They managed to get tossed out of the storm and crash landed in the middle of a North Carolina corn field. They were seriously injured but survived. In an interview with the National Transportation Safety Board, the wife commented that she would NEVER fly again.

So, there you have it. No matter how rough your Monday morning is, at least your not in a little plane, trapped in a storm, upside down, pieces of your plane ripping off, and certain you’re going to die.

Have a wonderful Monday and be sure and stay cool in this heat!

We’ll have to dodge more rain and storms today, folks. We’re already seeing a cluster of storms just south of Nashville at 10:00 a.m. and those will be working their way east, northeast. I’d plan on a stormy afternoon across the plateau. We may see another round later on into the evening. On Friday, our rain chances drop significantly, though there will likely be an isolated storm around somewhere. On Saturday, a front moves in and that will increase rain and storm chances again. That front clears out of here Saturday night and Sunday is a day you want to get out and enjoy! Low humidity and temps around 80 will make for a perfect July day. Enjoy it, because humidity knows how to get back to Tn on the fast route!

I’m on the road to Memphis today where I’ll be at a Aviation and Weather Conference tomorrow and Saturday, so there may be a delay in getting my blog updates. I’ll let you all know how the conference goes!

For those of you headed out for lunch, be aware that we have showers and storms popping up all over the place right now. Torrential rain, frequent lightning, and gusty winds will occur with any storm that develops. There’s nothing severe at this time, but that could change, as we’re in the marginal risk for severe storms. Damaging straight-line winds are the main threat. Just keep an eye to the sky and the radar if you’re headed out this afternoon. Let me know if you have any questions!

Radar at 11:00 a.m. Storms are moving east.

We will continue to dodge showers and storms through tomorrow. Some of the storms both today and tomorrow could be quite strong, with damaging winds and large hail being the primary threats. The tornado threat is low. It will be very warm and humid, as well, with afternoon highs in the lower 80s and overnight lows near 70.  On Friday, our rain chances drop off a bit, with continued hot and humid conditions. On Saturday, a front drops in and we have a very good chance of showers and storms, some of which could be strong. I have some good news, though. After that front clears through here on Saturday night, we will have an absolutely beautiful day on Sunday, with low humidity and highs near 80. Get out and enjoy that! Days of low humidity are rare in July and I can assure you the humidity will be dying to move back in on us (humidity just loves us here in TN).

If you want to feel grateful for the weather we have right now just think about this. On this date in 1970 the low temperature at Death Valley, CA was 103 and the high temp climbed to 120 that afternoon. And yes, that’s dry heat and not humid heat but ….120 degrees! That is HOT.  Can you imagine overnight lows of 100+ degrees?!

Speaking of heating up, the tropics are about to get going again. It looks like we could have our next tropical storm at any moment out in the Atlantic.  The next named storm will be Don. Some models curve it out to sea, and others bring it closer to the US. It’s definitely something to watch over the next week.