Archive: February 3, 2008 - February 9, 2008
Photography: Virga Dawn
A cloudy Saturday morning f/7, 2.5 second exposure, ISO 100 at 6:45am, sunrise was 7:07. When I left to photograph DC early this morning the radar showed precipitation moving into the area, but no rain was actually hitting the ground. That phenomenon is classified as virga, precipitation that falls from...
By Kevin Ambrose | February 9, 2008; 7:30 PM ET | Comments (4)
A Stitch in Time & Weathermen at Channel 9
As Channel 9 (WUSA) meteorologist Howard Bernstein stitches his busted face back together, the Channel 9 promotions department is reportedly stitching up the profile of Chief Meteorologist Topper Shutt based on input from you, our readers. DCRTV.com, a blog covering local media, reports Channel 9/WUSA meteorologist Howard Bernstein "got busted...
By Jason Samenow | February 9, 2008; 11:45 AM ET | Comments (8)
Forecast: Mild, but Wind & Cold are Coming
Enjoy today's 50+ degree temperatures, because a nasty shot of cold air is less than 24 hours away. Considering temperatures have been warmer than normal the last 13 days, tomorrow's potent combination of wind and cold air may be a shock to the system. TODAY Mostly cloudy, light showers possible....
By Jason Samenow | February 9, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Climate Corner: Acting Locally
100-year flood plain, from Maryland Department of the Environment. Click on image to enlarge. A working group of the Maryland Commission on Climate Change met today in Reisterstown, as reported by AP (via Baltimore's WJZ-TV), to work on its recommendations for the state's response to global warming. Gov. O'Malley...
By Steve Scolnik | February 8, 2008; 6:00 PM ET | Comments (11)
CommuteCast: Worry Free Weather
From spring back to winter this weekend Today's MidAtlantic satellite loop (from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) shows quite a few holes in the cloud cover for sun to shine through, courtesy Unisys. Click here to expand. Early morning clouds have given way to increased sunshine today and temperatures have...
By Ian Livingston | February 8, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (6)
Could YOU Survive? Two Tales That Astound
Extreme weather yields aftermath, but also miracles Humans have been put to the test this week. Violent tornadoes in the South. Heavy snow in the West. Story number one comes out of Tuesday's tragic tornado outbreak that killed more than 50 people. An 11-month old baby covered in mud and...
By Camden Walker | February 8, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
Forecast: Mild through Saturday, Then Cold
Temperatures will be fairly pleasant today and during the first half of the weekend but it will turn downright cold Sunday with some morning flakes possible! We shall see how the precipitation plays out; still, Sunday will be an unwelcome change... TODAY Partly cloudy, 50. A pretty nice day today!...
By Camden Walker | February 8, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (10)
El Niño Update: La Niña Strengthens
Pacific Ocean sea surface temperature deviations from average, courtesy the Climate Prediction Center. Click on image to enlarge. The National Weather Service's Climate Prediction Center released the latest monthly El Niño update today. If you're happy with the winter so far, then to the extent it's been influenced by...
By Steve Scolnik | February 7, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (21)
CommuteCast: Mostly Clear and Cooler
Partly cloudy Friday, continued mild Cooler temperatures moved into the area overnight and have stayed rather steady throughout the day on gusty northwest winds that have brought a chill back to the air. Daytime highs in the upper 40s and low 50s will begin to drop this evening as the...
By Ian Livingston | February 7, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (14)
Freedman: Super Tuesday Spin
Tornado outbreak competes for Super Tuesday attention It was a tough decision on Tuesday evening of what story to follow more closely: the presidential primaries or the unfolding tornado tragedy in the South. As of early this morning, the death toll stood at more than 50 from the abnormally violent...
By Andrew Freedman | February 7, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
Forecast: Turning Cooler One Day at a Time
Highs in the 50s today; Feeling like the teens by Sunday. It's the mark of a truly mild pattern when temperatures behind a cold front are still as much as 10 degrees above normal. Highs are bound for the low to mid 50s today -- safely above the average of...
By Josh Larson | February 7, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (15)
Weekend Cold Blast: Short But Potent
Even though it will be short-lived, Saturday night through Monday afternoon will finally feel like winter again. In fact, Sunday has the potential to feature our coldest afternoon of the season with temperatures remaining at or below freezing. Unfortunately for winter weather lovers, the cold blast may be somewhat of...
By Matt Ross | February 6, 2008; 7:30 PM ET | Comments (11)
CommuteCast: Showers Likely, Maybe T-Storms
Cool down begins Thursday Even without much sunshine, records fell at all area airports today on a warm flow from the south ahead of a cold front which will affect the area this afternoon and evening. An area of showers and thunderstorms is moving into the region from the west....
By Ian Livingston | February 6, 2008; 2:45 PM ET | Comments (13)
Alert: New Record Highs
The warm before the storm? New high-temperature records have been set for the day at all three area airports. At 11 a.m., Regan National was reporting 71 degrees, which breaks the record of 69 set in 1938; Dulles was reporting 68 degrees, which breaks the record of 66 set in...
By Capital Weather Gang | February 6, 2008; 11:05 AM ET | Comments (10)
Forecast: Second Shot at Record Highs
Showers, storms late today; Winter returns this weekend Some stubborn cloud cover kept yesterday's temperatures from reaching record-breaking levels in the metro area. Today, regardless of cloud cover, a stronger breeze from the south will mean a better shot of tying or breaking the record highs of 69 at Reagan...
By Dan Stillman | February 6, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (21)
Media: Weather for the Eyes and Ears
New shows available in audio and video, online and on TV Coming soon to the National Geographic Channel is Six Degrees Could Change the World, based on the book, Six Degrees, which was just released in the U.S. after being published last year in the U.K. The show premieres this...
By Steve Scolnik | February 5, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (7)
CommuteCast: Mostly Cloudy, Isolated Showers
Unsettled Wednesday with some thunder possible As Jason mentioned in his Monday post, the warm front slated to have already moved through the area has had some difficulty lifting north and is presently lingering in the region. Because of this, high temperatures today did not reach their full potential in...
By Ian Livingston | February 5, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
Super Tuesday Special: Super Warm in Southeast
But rain, snow a concern in other voting states Unusually warm temperatures in the Southeast could help get out the Super Tuesday vote in Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama. Elsewhere, voter turnout could be suppressed by a significant swath of rain and snow activity along a cold front stretching from the...
By Dan Stillman | February 5, 2008; 10:30 AM ET | Comments (10)
Forecast: Record Warmth Double Threat
Much colder late in the weekend Record high temperatures will be in jeopardy both today and tomorrow. The official record high for today (at Reagan National Airport) is 70 degrees, last achieved in 1991 and for Wednesday, 69 degrees, set in 1938. A front zips through tomorrow cooling us off...
By Matt Ross | February 5, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (5)
Fast Forward to Spring
No daffodils will be in bloom, but temperatures near 70 today and tomorrow may make you think it's late April rather than early February. These temperatures are some 25 degrees above normal....
By Josh Larson | February 5, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Super Soaker: Record Rain Recap
This morning's showers, while generally minimal across the metro area (a couple hundredths of an inch), helped add to a nice surplus for February built up from Friday's record-setting rainfall. The regional 24-hour precipitation map (popup image) ending 7 a.m. Saturday from the National Weather Service (NWS) Precipitation Analysis...
By Steve Scolnik | February 4, 2008; 7:00 PM ET | Comments (5)
CommuteCast: Scattered Showers Possible
Record high temperatures Tuesday? Clouds and some morning showers associated with a warm front to the south of the area affected the region today as temperatures were once again a little warmer than average. High temperatures have climbed into the low 50s and will begin dropping during the commute. The...
By Ian Livingston | February 4, 2008; 3:30 PM ET | Comments (5)
"Blue Hour" Photography at the Capitol
Settings: f/10, 4 second exposure at ISO 200. Saturday's high temperature of 51 degrees at Reagan National Airport was seven degrees higher than the average for the date and presented a great opportunity for some mid-winter blue hour photography. And just what is the blue hour? It is the window...
By Ian Livingston | February 4, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (6)
Update: Shower Chances Increase Today
A band of rain showers is moving through the region, especially the southern suburbs. Here's part of a short term forecast recently issued by the National Weather Service: NUMEROUS SHOWERS WILL EXTEND FROM THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS EAST THROUGH NORTH CENTRAL VIRGINIA AND WASHINGTON DC AND INTO CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN MARYLAND...
By Capital Weather Gang | February 4, 2008; 9:28 AM ET | Comments (2)
Forecast: Warmth Waiting in the Wings
But more wintry late in the week While the weekend was mild by early February standards, it fell short of what could reasonably be considered warm. Temperatures were cool enough that heading out with a coat was the right idea. Wearing a coat is the right call again today, but...
By Jason Samenow | February 4, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (1)
Freedman: How Should we "Focus the Nation?"
This past week, more than 1,000 institutions of learning, mainly colleges and universities, participated in "Focus the Nation," a national "teach-in" on global climate change science and solutions. The event was aimed at raising awareness of climate change and ways to address the challenge that it poses to the global...
By Andrew Freedman | February 3, 2008; 11:00 AM ET | Comments (8)
Forecast: Some Super Sunday Sunshine
Enjoy our second straight fine weekend day. The weather will be perfect for enjoying some outdoor activities before parking yourself on the sofa for the big game tonight. And if you like warm winter weather, be sure to check out the forecast for Tuesday. TODAY Partly sunny. Mid 50s....
By Jason Samenow | February 3, 2008; 5:00 AM ET | Comments (13)
