WeatherFanatics: June 2017

Friday, June 30, 2017

Storms, humid air to retreat southward over eastern US by 4th of July

By Alex Sosnowski, AccuWeather senior meteorologist

June 30,2017, 2:45:41PM,EDT

Following a steamy and stormy weekend in the eastern United States, a large part of the Northeast can expect a reduction in humidity levels and rain-free conditions by July 4.

Humidity levels will remain high in the Deep South and will climb farther north from the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic to the Great Lakes and New England this weekend.
Where the sun is out for a few hours, temperatures will reach well into the 80s and will top 90 F from parts of the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic, southward to the Gulf coast through Independence Day.

The steamy air has already been up to its summertime tricks by producing locally heavy, drenching thunderstorms in the South.
Each day through Tuesday will bring a mosaic of thunderstorms in the South. Most of these storms will occur between 2 p.m. and 10 p.m. each day.
For people heading to the Atlantic beaches, most of the time will be free of rain. The most likely time for downpours at the Atlantic beaches will be from the overnight hours to first thing in the morning.
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Across the northern tier, a short series of storm systems will fuel locally gusty and drenching storms through Sunday night.
Following the threat of locally severe thunderstorms from the Ohio Valley to New England into Friday night, thunderstorms may pack a punch from the Appalachians to coastal areas of the Northeast from Saturday to Saturday night.

"Through Saturday night, the greatest threat from the storms will be for localized damaging winds and perhaps flash flooding," according to AccuWeather Meteorologist Brian Thompson.
A small number of the strongest storms may bring hail. A couple of isolated tornadoes could also be spawned. However, the overall threat for tornadoes is low.
One last batch of thunderstorms will sweep from the Great Lakes through the Northeast on Sunday and Sunday night. Most likely, this shower activity will be more spotty in nature.
"During Sunday night, Monday and into Independence Day, most places from northern Virginia northward to Canada can expect a noticeable drop in humidity levels," Thompson said.

Early next week, the area from part of central Michigan to northern and eastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to the Canada border is likely to be free of showers and thunderstorms. This same area will also experience slightly cooler conditions. Highs will range from the middle 70s to the middle 80s with nighttime lows ranging from the middle 50s to the middle 60s.
The weather should cooperate for fireworks displays from Boston to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington, D.C., for the evening hours on the Fourth of July.

"The risk of at least spotty thunderstorms will remain from Detroit and Cleveland to Pittsburgh and Roanoke, Virginia, and on through the Southeastern states on Independence Day," Thompson said. "Humidity levels will begin to creep upward in this area."
There is the risk of storms becoming locally severe on the Fourth of July from parts of the central and southern Plains to the middle Mississippi and Ohio valleys.

Autumnlike chill to be felt across Germany this weekend

By Eric Leister, AccuWeather meteorologist

June 30,2017, 7:28:11AM,EDT

This weekend will be over the first days of July, but it will feel more like September across Germany.
Frequent showers, gusty winds and unseasonably cool air will combine to leave many reaching for a jacket.
Temperatures will struggle to reach 27 C (70 F) in any location on Saturday with the coolest spots reaching only 16 C (60-61 F).
Temperatures will generally be 1-2 degrees C (2-4 degrees F) higher on Sunday, though still below normal for early July.

The below-normal temperatures combined with plenty of clouds and frequent showers will put a damper on any outdoor plans.
Anyone with plans to attend the Ruhr in Love outdoor music festival on Saturday will want to be prepared for wet weather throughout the day and into the evening hours.
Showers will be most frequent and widespread on Saturday throughout the country. Sunday will feature brief showers which will be most likely during the afternoon.
Heavier showers could lead to localized flooding after heavy rain produced significant flooding in northeast parts of Germany on Thursday.
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Along with the chilly air and showers, gusty west to northwest winds will be felt both Saturday and Sunday throughout Germany.
Wind gusts could reach 50 km/h (31 mph) at times and will be most frequent during the afternoon hours.
The wet and blustery conditions will be less than ideal for both riders and spectators of the Tour de France which is set to get underway in Düsseldorf on Saturday.
Sunday will then feature riders departing from Düsseldorf and finishing the day across the border in Liège, Belgium.

West On Fire: Dozens of Large Fires Torching Thousands of Acres

Pam Wright
Published: June 29,2017
The western wildfire season is in full swing with dozens of fires blazing in Utah, Arizona and California.
According to the National Interagency Coordination Fire Agency, 2017 is turning out to be more active than last year at this point in the season.
More than 4,200 square miles have burned so far this year, which is 30 percent more than 2016's year-to-date total.
The largest fire in the U.S., the so-called Brian Head fire in southern Utah, has destroyed 13 homes, damaged two and forced more than 1,500 people to evacuate, Inciweb reports. The fire has burned more than 91 square miles and remains 15 percent contained.
Authorities say the costs of the fire currently stands at an estimated $11 million and could grow to $20 million, which would make it the most expensive fire in the state.
(MORE: Scope of Extreme Heat Wave Captured by NASA Maps)
On Tuesday, Utah state Rep. Mike Noel, a Republican, said federal mismanagement and "tree-hugger" environmentalists are responsible for the massive fire near the ski town of Brian Head and a popular fishing lake.
Noel alleges that logging could have cleaned up dead, bug-infested trees that have fueled the so-called Brian Head fire; a conservation group said his accusations are "shameful" and misleading and don't take into account climate change and drought.
More than 1,600 firefighters are battling the blaze, which is spreading in two directions, Inciweb reports.
Authorities say the fire was started on June 17 by someone using a torch tool to burn weeds on private land.

Goodwin Fire Prompts Arizona Governor to Declare State of Emergency

Wednesday Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency in Yavapai County in response to the so-called Goodwin fire. The declaration makes $200,000 in emergency funds available for fire suppression efforts and eligible reimbursements for emergency response and recovery costs.
The fire has burned more than 32 square miles of land in Prescott National Forest, according to KPNX. Officials ordered the evacuation of 1,400 residents in the central Arizona town of Mayer Tuesday afternoon as the blaze continued to advance on the area.
Winds made conditions more dangerous for some 500 firefighters assigned to the inferno, and the blaze was just 1 percent contained on Wednesday.
As a result, authorities requested a full evacuation of Mayer in addition to a few other areas nearby and closed Highway 69 in the vicinity, KPNX-TV reported. So far, no structures have been burned.
The evacuation orders were extended Wednesday to include the west side of Highway 69 in Dewey. Pre-evacuations were also announced for Orme School, Dewey-Humboldt, Blue Hills and Mt. Union.
"We do know there have been some structures lost. The count on that is unknown, undetermined at this time." Incident Commander John Pierson said Wednesday. "We still are actively engaged in fighting fire in some areas it's not safe for us to get that accurate assessment."
The cause of the fire, which is one of 10 large fires burning in the state, remains under investigation, according to the Associated Press. Mayer is located about 70 miles north of Phoenix.
A large fire that began with a lightning strike on June 7 has burned more nearly 60 square miles. Known as the Frye fire, the blaze burning on Mt. Graham in southeastern Arizona is 43 percent contained.

Crews Battle Blazes in Southern California

A fire that broke out in Burbank Wednesday forced dozens from their homes. Officials said 60 to 70 homes were placed under mandatory evacuation due to the fast-moving blaze. The fire was quickly contained and by 9 p.m. Wednesday, the fire was 80 percent contained.
More than 100 residents were forced to evacuate their Santa Clarita homes Tuesday when a blaze threatened 80 homes in the Southern California town.
According to CBS Los Angeles, all residents were allowed to return home and 14 Freeway, which was closed by the fire, was reopened.
The fire, which was sparked by a truck following a wreck, consumed at least 870 acres.
Near San Luis Obispo, the so-called Hill Fire destroyed the home of Big Bang Theory actor Johnny Galecki. The fire burned about 1,600 acres.

Interstate Shut Down by Wildfire in Idaho

A 6-square-mile wildfire temporarily shut down Interstate 84 in Idaho Tuesday, the Associated Press reports.
Officials have stopped the blaze from advancing and are working to extinguish hot spots within its perimeter.
On Wednesday, roughly 10 fires continued to burn in grass and brush in the southeastern part of the state, north of the Utah border.
MORE: Utah's Brian Head Fire — June 2017

The Weather Company’s primary journalistic mission is to report on breaking weather news, the environment and the importance of science to our lives. This story does not necessarily represent the position of our parent company, IBM.

West On Fire: Dozens of Large Fires Torching Thousands of Acres

Goodwin Fire Prompts Arizona Governor to Declare State of Emergency

Crews Battle Blazes in Southern California

Interstate Shut Down by Wildfire in Idaho

Tornadoes, Damage Reported As Severe Weather Strikes Iowa, Wisconsin

Pam Wright and Ada Carr
Published: June 29,2017
There were 26 reports of tornadoes Wednesday in four states as severe weather struck the Midwest.
The storms caused at least two injuries and damage to dozens of homes and farm buildings. Thursday the National Weather Service confirmed two EF1 tornadoes in the Belvidere, Illinois, area.
In rural Pierce County, Wisconsin, at least one person was injured when an EF1 tornado destroyed numerous buildings and downed trees, according to the Pierce County Herald.
Trees were uprooted and snapped and several homes sustained roof damage, according to NWS. A truck was pushed out of a garage and flipped onto the front yard.
In Green County, Wisconsin, two EF1 tornadoes caused damages throughout the area. A barn and pole shed were destroyed and four homes were damaged, NWS reports. A camper was rolled into a pond and a trailer was flipped.
(FORECAST: More Rounds of Midwest Severe Storms)
Germantown, Wisconsin, resident Carrie Cross told FOX6Now.com that she was cooking Wednesday night when a large tree was downed onto the roof of her mobile home.
"I had been sitting at the kitchen table," said Cross. "I was looking outside and all of the sudden the house shook. My boyfriend's son had just walked out of the bedroom when the tree fell. I was in shock basically, and I was happy none of us were in that room at the particular time."
In Prairieburg, Iowa, a confirmed EF2 tornado knocked out power for much of the town. It also heavily damaged a grain elevator, knocked down power lines and damaged several farm buildings, according to the Cedar Rapids Gazette. One person was injured and several houses were destroyed, reports KWWL.
Strong winds took down trees in Clayton and a mixture of baseball and teacup-sized hail were reported in Shenandoah, according to the NWS.

An EF0 tornado touched down near the town of Stuart, Iowa, and another EF1 twister kicked up debris south of Pleasantville. Teams from the National Weather Service continue to survey the damage to determine if the damage was indeed caused by tornadoes.
A house caught on fire in Winchester, Kansas, after lightning struck improperly equipped grounding rods, NWS reports. The southeast corner of the home was damaged.
Significant flash flooding occurred in Missouri, with reports of cows floating across a highway east of Maryville and a water rescue, according to the NWS.
Winds also posed a problem in the Show-Me State. Two trees were downed, one landing on top of a home and another across Highway 185 in Franklin County, NWS reports.
Flooding was reported in Harrison County, Mississippi, on U.S. Highway 49 and on Seaway, Canal and Pass roads.
MORE: May 2017 Severe Weather Outbreak in Plains, Midwest

Global Tropical Cyclone Activity Paltry So Far, Despite Cindy and Dora

Jon Erdman
Published: June 29,2017

Tropical cyclone activity so far in 2017 is running well below average through late June, despite a recent uptick in both the Atlantic and eastern Pacific basins.
(MORE: Hurricane Central)
According to Colorado State University atmospheric scientist Dr. Phil Klotzbach, the northern hemisphere's ACE (Accumulated Cyclone Energy) index, a measure of tropical cyclone activity, through June 28 is less than one-quarter of the average year-to-date total.

Accumulated Cyclone Energy (ACE) Year-to-Date
Create column charts

The ACE index is calculated by adding each tropical storm, hurricane or typhoon's wind speed through its life cycle.
Long-lived, intense hurricanes/typhoons have a high ACE index. Short-lived, weak tropical storms, a low ACE index. The ACE of a season is the sum of the ACE for each storm and takes into account the number, strength and duration of all the tropical storms in the season.
(MORE: 10 Most Extreme Atlantic Hurricane Seasons)

Atlantic, East Pacific: Many, But Short-Lived

You can't blame the Atlantic basin for the slump.
There have already been three tropical storms – Arlene, Bret, and Cindy – before the end of June.
(MORE: Strange Start to the Atlantic Hurricane Season)

Tracks of Atlantic and eastern Pacific basin tropical cyclones in 2017, through June 28.

An average Atlantic hurricane season doesn't see the first named storm form until the second week of July, according to the National Hurricane Center.
June typically doesn't feature intense, long-lived Atlantic hurricanes, but rather short-lived tropical depressions or storms. This is partly due to a more restricted region of development, stronger wind shear and drier air compared to later months.
The eastern Pacific basin has also seen more named storms than average through late June, punctuated by the season's first hurricane, Dora.
However, three of the four named storms in this basin were short-lived tropical storms, and Dora only maxed out as a Category 1 hurricane for a little over 24 hours.
When computing the ACE index, again combining both intensity and longevity, eastern Pacific tropical activity has been less than 50 percent of average through late June, while Atlantic activity has been above the relatively low season-to-date average.

The Real Drought Source: The Western Pacific Basin

If you haven't heard the word "typhoon" in a while, it's because there hasn't been one yet in 2017.

Tracks of northwest Pacific tropical cyclones in 2017, through June 28. Tracks of three tropical depressions are not shown.

Through late June, there have been only two tropical storms – Muifa in late April and Merbok in mid-June – in 2017, so far in the western Pacific basin.
According to Dr. Klotzbach, this is about half the average named storms-to-date (4 to 5). Typically, two to three typhoons have developed by late June of an average year, Klotzbach calculated. One to two of those typhoons would have reached at least Category 3 intensity in a typical year, as well.
Given only two tropical storms lasting a combined three days, the western Pacific's ACE index was a scant 5 percent of average.
"One of the reasons for suppression of the NW Pacific TC season to date is that we've generally had sinking motion across most of the basin since early May," said Klotzbach.
Stronger than average trade winds, blowing east-to-west near the Philippines, Taiwan, and the South China Sea, have also been in place since May, Klotzbach said. This increases wind shear which tends to either prevent tropical cyclones from forming or rip apart those that have formed.
(MORE: Which Countries Get Hit Most by Tropical Cyclones?)

2016 Déjà Vu?

Interestingly, we were at roughly this same point of inactivity last June.
"Climatological northern hemisphere ACE-to-date is about 60, and this year we're at a measly 14. Last year, we were at 18 on June 28," Klotzbach said.
But then the western Pacific exploded in early July, as Super Typhoon Nepartak grew to Category 5 intensity before slamming into Taiwan.
That was the first of nine typhoons of Category 3 intensity or stronger in 2016, ending with Super Typhoon Haima hammering the northern Philippines in mid-October.
The eastern Pacific also roared to life last July with major hurricanes Blas and Darby.
The Atlantic hurricane season's peak months of August and September still lie ahead. If it hadn't been for January oddball Alex, all Atlantic hurricanes in 2016 would've formed from August on, including Matthew.
The bottom line is that it's still very early.
"We're only about 11 percent of the way through the Northern Hemisphere tropical cyclone season from a climatological perspective," Klotzbach said.
Despite the slow start, 2016's tropical cyclone activity ended up a tad above average, according to Klotzbach.
In recent days, several meteorologists have noted the strength and procession of tropical waves marching westward off west Africa resembles what you typically see during the heart of the hurricane season, not late June.
(MORE: Why Tropical Waves are Important During Hurricane Season)
All in all, don't be fooled by a relatively benign start to any tropical cyclone season. After all, in June 2015, we were tracking a record active start of northern hemisphere tropical cyclones.
Jonathan Erdman is a senior meteorologist at weather.com and has been an incurable weather geek since a tornado narrowly missed his childhood home in Wisconsin at age 7. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter.

MORE: Atlantic Basin Retired Hurricanes and Tropical Storm Names

Texas Boy Creates Device to Prevent Hot Car Deaths

Eric Chaney
Published: June 30,2017
When a baby died in a hot car last year close to his home, a Texas boy decided he was going to do something about it.
He couldn’t bring back his neighbor, who was just 6 months old, but he could invent a device that would keep hot car deaths from becoming a tragedy for other families.
"When baby Fern died, it made me think of all the things... it shouldn't happen to anybody else and it was really upsetting," 10-year-old Bishop Curry told Fox 4 News.

Bishop Curry, 10, set out to design a seatback fan that would kick on automatically in hot cars after a 6-month-old baby in his community died in a hot car last year.
(Screenshot courtesy of Fox 4 News)

One evening, Curry started drawing on a piece of paper. He drew a fan that can be placed on the back of a vehicle’s headrests, a fan programmed to begin blowing if the car reaches a certain temperature, a fan with a built-in Wi-Fi and GPS technology that alerts parents and police if activated.
“The first thing I thought about [when he showed me the drawing] was ‘Why doesn’t this already exist?’” Curry’s father Bishop Curry Sr. told CBS Dallas Fort-Worth. “The second thing I thought about was, 'This is phenomenal.'”
Curry made a clay prototype of his invention, which calls the Oasis, and then made a 3-D model and applied for a provisional patent.
"I was like, 'This would be my one-way shot to actually helping people,'" he told NBC News.
Curry Sr., an engineer at Toyota, brought the idea up at the office, CBS News reports. Toyota was so impressed, they sent Curry and his dad to the Center for Child Injury Prevention Conference, where Bishop presented his idea to car seat manufacturers.
(MORE: Texas Toddler Found Dead After Crawling Into Hot Car)
Several manufacturers showed interest in the product, but Curry says no decisions have been made. The device would still need to undergo testing and modifications before it's ready to hit stores.
To that end, Curry, Sr. started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for attorney fees needed to finalize the patent, protoyping fees, and to help identify a manufacturer.
So far, more than $40,000 has been donated toward making the Oasis a reality.

Bishop Curry holds a prototype of his device, which he is calling the Oasis.
(Screenshot courtesy of Fox 4 News)

"When Bishop asks me, why so many people are giving, I tell him, people believe in you and what you are doing and want to be a part of the movement,” Curry, Sr. told CBSDFW. “We’ve been amazed at the out pouring of donations, but also the positive and encouraging messages to my son and his mission to stop these deaths.” Since the tragic incident, Bishop has met with the parents of the child who inspired his device.
"They really supported me," he told NBC News. "They didn't want anything [like that] to happen to any other families."
MORE: Brian Head Fire Burning Out of Control in Utah

July Temperature Outlook: Hot Temperatures Could Dominate Western and Northern States

Chris Dolce
Published: June 30,2017
July could be a hot month for a large swath of the western and northern United States, according to the latest outlook from The Weather Company, an IBM Business.
It appears a significant El Niño will not develop this year, so it's not a factor in the forecast this summer. The state of the atmosphere is still tilting a bit toward the La Niña event that occurred over the winter.
"The July forecast is now warmer across the northern U.S., given the lack of any sign of high-latitude blocking and the persistence of the weak La Niña base state," said Dr. Todd Crawford, chief meteorologist with The Weather Company.
The biggest heat relative to average in July is likely to remain anchored in the Southwest where a prolonged heat wave set numerous record highs in the second half of June. The central High Plains are also forecast to see temperatures that are much above average.

July temperature outlook.

States from the Midwest into New England also have increased odds of seeing above-average temperatures overall in July.
Although the Southeast is forecast to see temperatures slightly below average, typical summer heat and humidity can still be expected.
(MAPS: Average Monthly Temperatures)

What to Expect in August and September

Most areas east of the Rockies could see temperatures near or slightly above average in August. The Northwest is the only area favored to see cooler-than-average temperatures during the month.
But Crawford cautions that the north-central and northeastern regions could see hotter temperatures than currently forecast if negative NAO conditions do not develop at times.
"Our August-September maps have a La Niña look, with less heat across the north-central and northeastern states due to concerns about negative NAO conditions developing again," said Crawford.

August temperature outlook.

The transition from summer to fall in September may be marked by above-average warmth spreading across the nation's southern tier, as well as northward toward the Great Lakes and mid-Atlantic.
Cooler-than-average readings are forecast to be locked in once again in the Northwest.

September temperature outlook.

MORE: Atlantic Basin's Retired Hurricanes and Tropical Storms

After one of the wettest Mays on record,June ends up being a rather dry month,despite persistent rain threats and mugginess

Not only was the 2017 Spring season one of the wettest on record,but these past couple of months have exemplified this with the relentless,pernicious,persistent trough in the Jet Stream over the Eastern US causing endless streams of low pressure disturbances to continue to train over the soggy, water-logged Eastern US leading to relentless rain and wet conditions.Here's the daily precipitation/rainfall tallies for each day since the beginning of May 2017 for the city of White Plains,NY,as of 12:15AM,EDT,July 1,2017

May 1: None
May 2: None
May 3: None
May 4: None
May 5: 2.21 inches
May 6: 0.13 inches
May 7: 0.03 inches
May 8: None
May 9: None
May 10: None
May 11: None
May 12: None
May 13: 1.6 inches
May 14: None
May 15: None
May 16: None
May 17: None
May 18: None
May 19: 0.1 inches
May 20: None
May 21: None
May 22: 0.48 inches
May 23: None
May 24: 0.02 inches
May 25: 0.72 inches
May 26: 0.74 inches
May 27: None
May 28: None
May 29: 0.15 inches
May 30: 0.04 inches
May 31: 0.28 inches
June 1: None
June 2: None
June 3: None
June 4: 0.2 inches
June 5: 0.08 inches
June 6: 0.1 inches
June 7: None
June 8: None
June 9: None
June 10: None
June 11: None
June 12: None
June 13: None
June 14: None
June 15: None
June 16: 0.28 inches
June 17: 0.15 inches
June 18: None
June 19: 0.5 inches
June 20: None
June 21: None
June 22: None
June 23: 0.06 inches
June 24: 0.45 inches
June 25: None
June 26: None
June 27: 0.16 inches
June 28: None
June 29: None
June 30: 0.08 inches

Total Rainfall: 8.83 inches
# of Days with Measurable Rainfall: 23 days
# of Days without Measurable Rainfall: 38 days

Is this late spring or late winter? Unseasonable chill has folks in NYC area wondering if summer will ever come

Thanks to a stubborn Jet Stream trough that has been in place virtually all spring,this weather pattern that has been in place,certainly over the last 8 weeks now,has left people in the Northeastern US and the New York City metro-area wondering what time of the year this really is, if Mother Nature needs a calendar and if this'll be the first "Year Without a Summer", in about 200 years (heatwaves like the ones on May 17-19 and June 11-13 notwithstanding). Here's the High and Low Temperatures compared to normal for each day over the last 8 weeks for the city of White Plains,NY, in suburban Westchester,NY,as of 12AM,EDT,July 1,2017 from accuweather.com

May 1:                70/46           63/45          +7/+1
May 2:                74/60           64/46        +10/+14
May 3:                63/45           64/46           -1/-1
May 4:                61/39           64/46           -3/-7
May 5:                60/48           64/46           -4/+2
May 6:                64/52           65/47           -1/+5
May 7:                54/46           65/47          -11/-1
May 8:                55/43           65/47          -10/-4
May 9:                58/42           65/47           - 7/-5
May 10:              61/45           65/47            -4/-2
May 11:              60/42           65/47            -5/-5
May 12:              61/43           66/48            -5/-5
May 13:              54/44           66/48          -12/-4
May 14:              64/50           66/48            -2/+2
May 15:              66/52           67/49            -1/+3
May 16:              80/58           67/49          +13/+9
May 17:              85/57           68/50          +17/+7
May 18:              94/72           68/50          +26/+22 (Record High Set)
May 19:              90/62           68/50          +22/+12
May 20:              65/49           69/51             -4/-2
May 21:              68/48           69/51             -1/-3
May 22:              59/51           70/52           -11/-1
May 23:    69/55 70/52    -1/+3
May 24:    70/56 70/52     0/+4
May 25:              58/54           71/53          -13/+1
May 26:              74/54           71/53           +3/+1
May 27:              73/53           71/53           +2/0
May 28:              70/56           72/54            -2/+2
May 29:              58/54           72/54          -14/0
May 30:              61/53           72/54          -11/-1
May 31:              75/55           72/54           +3/+1
June 1:    79/55 73/55   +6/0
June 2:    74/50 73/55   +1/-5
June 3:    72/50 73/55    -1/-5
June 4:    70/54 74/56    -4/-2
June 5:                64/56           74/56          -10/0
June 6:                56/50           74/56          -18/-6
June 7:                68/50           75/57            -7/-7
June 8:                72/50           75/57            -3/-7
June 9:                81/47           75/57           +6/-10    (Record Low Set)
June 10:              85/57           76/58           +9/-1
June 11:              92/66           76/58    +16/+8
June 12:    93/69 76/58   +17/+11    (Record High Set)
June 13:    94/70 77/59   +17/+11 (Record High Set)
June 14:              84/60           77/59           +7/+1
June 15:              77/57           77/59              0/-2
June 16:              68/58           77/59             -9/-1
June 17:              74/68           78/60             -4+8
June 18:              85/73           78/60          +7/+13
June 19:              84/70           78/60            +6/+10
June 20:              86/64           78/60            +8/+4
June 21:              82/64           79/61            +3/+3
June 22:              85/71           79/61            +6/+10
June 23:              82/72           79/61            +3/+11
June 24:              82/72           80/62            +2/+10
June 25:              81/63           80/62            +1/+1
June 26:              78/58           80/62             -2/-4
June 27:              79/59           80/62             -1/-3
June 28:              79/57           81/63             -2/-6
June 29:              82/68           81/63            +1/+5
June 30:              87/69           81/63            +6/+6

-Highest Temperature: 94 degrees on May 18 and June 13
-Lowest Temperature: 39 degrees on May 4
-# of High Temperatures above normal: 27 days
-# of High Temperatures right at normal:   2 days
-# of High Temperatures below normal: 32 days
-# of Highs at least 10 degrees above normal: 7 days
-# of Highs at least 10 degrees below normal: 9 days
-# of Highs at least 15 degrees above normal: 5 days
-# of Highs at least 15 degrees below normal: 1 day     (June 6)
-# of Highs at least 20 degrees above normal: 2 days
-# of Highs at least 20 degrees below normal: 0 days
-# of Highs at or above 100 degrees: 0 days
-# of Highs between 90-99 degrees:    5 days
-# of Highs between 80-89 degrees: 15 days
-# of Highs between 70-79 degrees: 17 days
-# of Highs between 60-69 degrees : 16 days
-# of Highs below 60 degrees: 8 days
-Rainfall: 8.83 inches
-# of Days of Measurable Precipitation:       23 days
-# of Days of No Measurable Precipitation: 38 days

June 2017: Warm,sticky finish after unseasonably,unusually cool,rainy start

After the persistent trough in the Jet Stream has led to a cool,rainy spring 2017 including a rainy,cool month of May 2017 for the Northeastern US and the New York City tristate area,in particular,June 2017 started out the same way,until the heat-wave of June 11-13,2017 changed the dynamic.Now June 2017 is on pace to be a typically,seasonably warm one,albeit still wet from the persistent flow or train of low pressure systems thanks to the Jet Stream's persistent trough in the East.Here's the High and Low Temperatures for June 2017 for the city of White Plains,NY,as of 12AM,EDT,July 1,2017 from accuweather.com

June 1: 79/55    73/55   +6/0
June 2:     74/50    73/55   +1/-5
June 3: 72/50    73/55    -1/-5
June 4:                     70/54          74/56                -4/-2
June 5:                     64/56          74/56              -10/0
June 6:                     56/50          74/56              -18/-6
June 7:                     68/50          75/57                -7/-7
June 8:                     70/50          75/57                -5/-7
June 9:                     81/47          75/57               +6/-10         (Record Low Set)
June 10:                   85/57          76/58               +9/-1
June 11:                   92/66          76/58              +16/+8
June 12:                   92/70          76/58            +16+12    (Record High Set)
June 13:                   93/69          76/58              +17/+11       (Record High Set)
June 14:                   84/60          77/59                +7/+1
June 15:                   77/57          77/59                  0/-2
June 16:                   68/58          77/59                 -9/-1
June 17:                   74/68          78/60                 -4/+8
June 18:                   86/72          78/60                +8/+12
June 19:                   84/70          78/60                +6/+10
June 20:                   85/65          78/60                +7/+5
June 21:                   82/64          79/61                +3/+3
June 22:                   86/70          79/61                +7/+9
June 23:                   82/72          79/61              +3/+11
June 24:                   82/72          80/62                +2/+10
June 25:                   81/63          80/62                +1/+1
June 26:                   78/58          80/62                 -2/-4
June 27:                   79/59          80/62                 -1/-3
June 28:                   79/57          81/63                 -2/-6
June 29:                   82/66          81/63                +1/+3
June 30:                   88/70          81/63                +7/+7

-Highest Temperature: 93 degrees on June 13
-Lowest Temperature: 47 degrees on June 9
-# of Highs above normal:    18 days
-# of Highs right at normal:    1 day          (June 15)
-# of Highs below normal:     11 days
-# of Highs at least 10 degrees above normal: 3 days
-# of Highs at least 10 degrees below normal: 2 days
-# of Highs at least 15 degrees above normal: 3 days
-# of Highs at least 15 degrees below normal: 1 day      (June 6)
-Rainfall: 2.22 inches
-# of Days of Measurable Rainfall:        11 days
-# of Days of No Measurable Rainfall: 19 days

Boaty McBoatface Is Back From Its First Climate Mission and Has More Data Than Scientists Expected

Ada Carr
Published: June 30,2017

The remotely operated submarine known as "Boaty McBoatface" is lowered into the water.
(British Antarctic Survey)

The submarine with the best name ever has returned from its inaugural voyage, and scientists say it has brought back an unprecedented amount of data about some of the coldest waters on Earth.
Dubbed “Boaty McBoatface” in May 2016, the yellow remotely operated submarine was sent to the Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW) and returned with information about the temperature, underwater turbulence and water flow speed in the Orkney Passage, which is more than 13,100 feet deep and about 500 miles from the Antarctic Peninsula, according to a release from the University of Southampton.
“Fresh from its maiden voyage, Boaty is already delivering new insight into some of the coldest ocean waters on Earth, giving scientists a greater understanding of changes in the Antarctic region and shaping a global effort to tackle climate change,” United Kingdom Minister of State for Universities and Science Jo Johnson said in the release.
The data collected by Boaty will allow the scientists to investigate how these mixing waters affect climate change.
The AABW flows through the Orkney Passage and forms along the Southern Ocean as the water cools and becomes denser underneath ice shelves, and as a result of cold downward flowing wind coming off of the ice sheet, according to the British Antarctic Survey. As the water's density increases, it sinks to the seafloor and flows northwards, where it becomes part of the global circulation of ocean water.
Fast-moving flow is more turbulent and mixes warmer waters from shallower ocean layers into the AABW, according to the release. This causes the waters to warm as they move toward the Equator, which affects global climate change.
“Our goal is to learn enough about these convoluted processes to represent them, for the first time, in the models that scientists use to predict how our climate will evolve over the 21st century and beyond,” Dynamics of the Orkney Passage Outflow (DYnOPO) lead scientist Alberto Naveira Garabato said in the release.
The small sub completed three missions over the course of the expedition, with the longest journey lasting three days and covering more than 111 miles, according to the release. In the Orkney Passage, it passed through water colder than 32 degrees Fahrenheit.
“We have been able to collect massive amounts of data that we have never been able to capture before due to the way Boaty (Autosub Long Range) is able to move underwater,” said Garabato. “Up until now we have only been able to take measurements from a fixed point, but now, we are able to obtain a much more detailed picture of what is happening in this very important underwater landscape.”
Boaty received its name after a poll was launched to name the Natural Environment Research Council’s British polar vessel.
Despite overwhelming results in favor of Boaty McBoatface, the council named the vessel after famous broadcaster and naturalist Sir David Attenborough and bestowed the more popular name upon the remotely operated submarine.

Where and When the Season's First Atlantic Hurricane Forms

Linda Lam
Published: June 30,2017
The first of any season is something to make note of and the first hurricane of the Atlantic season is no exception.
We've taken a look at where and when the first hurricane of each Atlantic hurricane season developed from 1950-2016, based on data from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), and notice a couple of trends. Many first hurricanes in the Atlantic form close to the U.S., impact land and develop in mid-to-late August.
(MORE: 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season Forecast | Hurricane Central)
The map below shows where each storm was first designated a hurricane by the NHC.

Each dot represents where each first Atlantic hurricane of the season became a hurricane.

There are a few clusters, including one in the main development region (MDR), off the west coast of Africa into part of the Caribbean. Activity here is usually greatest from August into September.
Two other areas common for development early in the season are closer to the U.S. – in the western Gulf of Mexico and off the Southeast coast.
In June, some of the activity in the Gulf of Mexico and off the Southeast coast comes from decaying cold fronts. In July, cold fronts become much less frequent but thunderstorm complexes rolling off the Southeast coast can linger and lead to tropical cyclone formation.
As hurricane season progresses, tropical waves start coming off the coast of Africa.
(MORE: 10 Most Extreme Hurricane Seasons in the Satellite Era)
Interestingly, a majority of the first hurricanes of the season impacted land, partially due to close formation to land. In 1966, Hurricane Alma become the earliest hurricane to strike the continental U.S. since 1825 when it made landfall in Florida as the equivalent of a Category 2 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale.
Another interesting first hurricane is Agnes (1972), which made landfall in Florida and again in New York and caused extensive flooding, 100 deaths and more than $2 billion in damage.
Hurricane Allen in 1980 was a classic Cape Verde hurricane and reached Category 5 strength, but it weakened some before making landfall near the Texas-Mexico border.

Depiction of when each first Atlantic hurricane of the season became a hurricane.

As the graph above shows, the most common time period for hurricane development is Aug. 16-31, followed by Aug. 1-15. This is not that surprising given that tropical activity typically heats up in the second half of August.
The Atlantic hurricane season officially last June 1-Nov. 30, but tropical cyclones do occur outside of these months. Three of the first hurricanes of the season formed before June 1, including Hurricane Alex in 2016, which formed south of the central Azores; Hurricane Alma in 1970, which developed north of Panama; and, Hurricane Able in 1951, which strengthened into a hurricae off the coast of Florida.
The latest first hurricane of the season during from1950 to 2016 did not occur until Sept. 11 in 2013 (Humberto) and in 2002 (Gustav).
MORE: Atlantic Basin Retired Hurricanes and Tropical Storms (PHOTOS)

Fourth of July Weekend Weather Forecast: It'll Be Stormy and Humid in the East; West Will Remain Dry

Chris Dolce
Published: June 30,2017
Stormy weather conditions could impact parts of the Midwest, South and Northeast for those starting their Fourth of July celebrations this weekend. The western third of the nation should escape any major precipitation threats.
Upper-level energy rippling through a subtle dip in the jet stream will be the main instigator for scattered showers and storms in the East. As is typical in summer, the timing of those storms will likely prevent an all-day washout from occurring in most locations. Be sure to take shelter if you hear thunder during any outdoor activities.
AAA says that a record 44.2 million people will travel 50 miles or more from home to celebrate this Independence Day holiday weekend, June 30-July 4.
Here's what you can expect:

Saturday

Wet areas: Numerous showers and thunderstorms are expected in parts of the Northeast, South, Ohio Valley and southern Plains as upper-level impulses interact with a weak frontal boundary and widespread moisture. A few strong to severe storms are possible in the interior Northeast Saturday afternoon.
Dry areas: Much of the northern Plains and West should escape any precipitation threats. That said, a few showers or storms may billow up over the Rockies, particularly in the afternoon.
High temperatures: Afternoon readings will be slightly below average in the central states and near or above average in the East and west of the Rockies. Highs in the 70s and 80s will be common in the Midwest, with 60s toward the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and northern Minnesota. Most locations along the East Coast and in the South will see 80s and 90s. The air mass in the South and East will be quite moist, so humidity will be noticeable. Interior parts of the West are forecast to see temperatures several degrees above average, while coastal California will be relatively cool.

Interstates potentially impacted:

Interstate 90 from Boston to Toledo, Ohio (strong to severe thunderstorms)
Interstate 87 from Champlain, New York to New York City (strong to severe storms)
Interstate 79 from Erie, Pennsylvania to Charleston, West Virginia (strong to severe thunderstorms)
Interstate 20 from Atlanta to Jackson, Mississippi (scattered thunderstorms)

Possible air travel delays: Atlanta, Washington, D.C., New York
(FORECAST: Washington, D.C. | Atlanta | Dallas | Minneapolis | San Francisco)

Saturday's Forecast

Sunday

Wet areas: Sunday will generally feature the same type of weather as Saturday with scattered showers and storms possible in the East, South and portions of the Plains regions. This activity will be most widespread during the afternoon hours as daytime heating fuels thunderstorm development. In the West, a few thunderstorms are possible along the Front Range of the Rockies.
Dry areas: Much of the southern Plains and the West are the areas most likely to escape any significant precipitation chances. Many areas in the East will dry out during the evening hours, or at least have breaks in the rain.
High temperatures: East of the Rockies we expect temperatures to remain near average, with slightly warmer-than-average temperatures from the mid-Atlantic into New England. Humidity levels will remain high from the South to the Ohio Valley and into portions of the mid-Atlantic. Highs in the West will range from several degrees above average across the interior to below average along the California coast.

Interstates potentially impacted:

Interstate 95 from Miami into North Carolina (showers and thunderstorms)
Interstate 80 from Nebraska through Illinois (strong to severe thunderstorms)
Interstate 20 from Atlanta to Jackson, Mississippi (scattered thunderstorms)

Possible air travel delays: Miami, Atlanta, Chicago

Sunday's Forecast

Monday

Wet areas: An upper-level disturbance may cause clusters of showers and thunderstorms to move across the Midwest. Pop-up thunderstorms are possible in parts of the South, and a few showers may develop in parts of New York and northern New England, as well as the Appalachians.
Dry areas: High confidence continues that the West will remain dry. Parts of the northern/southern Plains may also be free of rain. The mid-Atlantic will also likely see a mostly dry day.
High temperatures: Expect temperatures to be close to seasonal averages in most areas east of the Rockies. However, the Northeast Interstate 95 corridor could be several degrees above average. Parts of the Rockies and Great Basin will have the hottest temperatures compared to average. The California coast will see temperatures slightly below average.

Interstates potentially impacted:

Interstate 70 from St. Louis to the Colorado border (scattered thunderstorms)
Interstate 10 from Jacksonville, Florida to Gulfport, Mississippi (afternoon showers and storms)

Possible air travel delays: Miami, St. Louis, Chicago

Monday's Forecast

Fourth of July (Next Tuesday)

Wet areas: Energy aloft feeding off a humid air mass will continue to spark storms in parts of the Midwest and possibly the interior Northeast. Some afternoon thunderstorms activity is also possible in portions of the Southeast.
Dry areas: Areas from the Plains states westward to the Pacific Ocean will likely remain dry, though a few isolated storms could billow up along the Rockies Front Range.
High temperatures: Most cities east of the Rockies will continue to see afternoon readings that are near average. The mid-Atlantic coast may remain several degrees warmer-than-average with highs in the 90s. Interior locations of the western U.S. and the Front Range will be the farthest above average for early July. Salt Lake City could see afternoon readings in the low 100s.

Interstates potentially impacted:

Interstate 95 from North Carolina to Miami (scattered thunderstorms)
Interstate 90 from Erie, Pennsylvania to Sioux Falls, South Dakota (showers and thunderstorms)
Interstate 35 from Minneapolis to Kansas City (scattered thunderstorms)

Possible air travel delays: Miami, Atlanta, Pittsburgh, Chicago

Fourth of July Forecast

MORE: Fourth of July Celebrations

Threat of Severe Thunderstorms With Damaging Winds, Hail and Flash Flooding Slowly Slides East

Chris Dolce
Published: June 30,2017
The threat of severe thunderstorms will return to the Northeast to begin the holiday weekend with the threat of large hail and damaging winds.
(MORE: Tornado Central)

Current Radar, Watches and Warnings.

(INTERACTIVE: Radar Loop For Your Area)
Severe thunderstorms continue to move through southern Oklahoma. Hail as large as limes was reported near Boone, Oklahoma by storm chasers.
A wind gust of 72 mph was reported near Lawton, Oklahoma and power was knocked out by strong winds on the west side of Wayne, Oklahoma.
Flash flooding and quarter size hail was reported in Chickasha, Oklahoma.
Strong storms in eastern New York and New England caused tree and powerline damage. Trees were pushed down onto onto a car and Route 10 near Simsbury, Connecticut.
Early Friday morning, a cluster of thunderstorms moved through Missouri and northeastern Oklahoma, with strong wind gusts reported in southeastern Kansas.

Forecast

The severe threat will persist through Saturday thanks to a parade of upper-level disturbances overtopping an increasingly warm and humid air mass.
(INTERACTIVE: See Your 7-Day Severe Weather Outlook)
Here's a look at the latest forecast details.
Severe thunderstorms are possible Friday night into early Saturday from eastern New Mexico into western Arkansas. Large hail and gusty winds are the main threats, but flash flooding is also possible.
Saturday

Scattered severe thunderstorms will be possible for parts of the interior Northeast. A few isolated severe storms cannot be ruled out from the Ohio Valley into the Tennessee Valley and westward into the southern Plains.
The main threat appears to be from damaging winds, but some large hail and an isolated tornado is also possible.
Cities: Burlington, Vermont | Syracuse | Pittsburgh

Saturday's Thunderstorm Forecast

Flash Flood Threat

The main threat of localized flash flooding will be with thunderstorm clusters in parts of the Midwest from northern Indiana to northern Ohio.
These clusters may deliver several inches of rain in a short period of time.
Flash flood watches have been posted for these areas, and flooding is a concern going through Saturday morning.

(MORE: Why Summer's Thunderstorm Clusters are Both Important and Dangerous)

Rainfall Potential Through Saturday

Storm Reports Recap

Thursday, June 29

Softball to grapefruit size hail was reported in Sergeant Bluff, Iowa with wind gusts in excess of 60 mph in nearby Sioux City.
Hail was also reported in the Colorado Plains east of Colorado Springs. Golf ball size hail was reported near Karval, Colorado.
A tornado was sighted in northeastern Nebraska south of Yankton, South Dakota. Hail as large as baseballs fell in Yankton and golf ball size hail fell in nearby Vermillion, South Dakota as this storm moved eastward.
Windblown hail was reported in Little Sioux, Iowa as storms crossed from Nebraska into Iowa but no damage was reported.
Further east, several tree limbs were broken in Westside, Iowa by 60 mph wind gusts.
Winds pushed a tree down onto State Route 185 and onto a residence near New Haven, Missouri.

Wednesday, June 28

At least 26 reports of tornadoes were received by National Weather Service offices Wednesday, from northwest Wisconsin to Iowa and far northern Missouri.
(NEWS: Injuries, Damage as Tornadoes Tear Through the Midwest)

Preliminary reports of tornadoes on June 28, 2017. These may not correlate to the actual number of tornadoes, which will be confirmed by NWS damage surveys.
(NWS/SPC)

National Weather Service damage surveys will take place Thursday in some of the affected areas. For a full recap of Wednesday's severe weather, scroll down to our storm reports recap section.
Iowa
A tornado touched down near the towns of Prairieburg and Central City, ripping off the roof of one home, collapsing a garage on a resident of another, damaging grain bins and flipping over semis. The tornado has been given a preliminary rating of EF2.
Remarkably, only one injury was reported from the tornado in Linn County, about 20 miles northeast of Cedar Rapids.
A tornado was reported just before 4 p.m. near Shenandoah, Iowa by storm spotters. Hail as large as baseballs also fell elsewhere in Page County.
The NWS confirmed an EF0 tornado touched down near Stuart in Adair County.
Another tornado kicked up debris south of Pleasantville and was sighted by spotters in the area, which is south-southeast of Des Moines. This tornado was rated EF1.
A tornado near Bedford, Iowa touched down just after 5 p.m. Baseball-sized hail associated with the tornadic supercell was reported.
Hail as large as golf balls fell near Fort Dodge in central Iowa according to NWS Des Moines on Wednesday afternoon.
Wisconsin
Significant house damage was reported after a tornado touched down around 4:45 PM CDT near Spring Valley, Wisconsin. At least one injury was reported on a farm in Martell. Multiple trees and powerlines were reported to be downed and two barns were destroyed.
The damage started near Martell, Wisconsin, and the tornado cut a 11-mile path through the western portion of the state. The National Weather Service storm survey team found damage consistent with an EF1 tornado.
An 80 mph wind gust was reported as the same line of storms pushed southeastward through Montfort, Wisconsin. Farm outbuildings were reportedly damaged in Livingston, Wisconsin from these severe winds.
Farther south, near Madison, Wisconsin, a possible tornado snapped power poles and caused damage to roofs near Monticello, Wisconsin Wednesday evening. Minor flooding was also reported in Madison.
Missouri
A possible tornado snapped power poles, uprooted numerous trees and destroyed a bar in Harrison and Mercer Counties, near the Iowa state line. A confirmed tornado touched down in parts of Gentry and Nodaway Counties.
However, flash flooding was by far the biggest impact as storms ran over the same areas multiple times.
Some parts of northern Missouri picked up 10 inches of rain, leading to widespread flooding in Nodaway County Wednesday night. Numerous roads were closed, at least one water rescue was performed near Maryville, and cows were reportedly seen floating in the floodwaters.
Illinois
A flash flood emergency was declared Wednesday night as flooding from torrential rain swamped roads in the Rockford metro area. Numerous vehicles were stalled and water rescues were performed in Winnebago and Boone Counties.
Three to six inches of rain fell in the northern tier of counties in Illinois in less than four hours, according to the National Weather Service. Officially, it was the third wettest June calendar day at Rockford.
Spotty reports of trees and powerlines being downed came in from Lake County, Illinois mainly north of Waukegan.
Gusts greater than 60 mph were reported in Winnebago. A cemented flag pole was bent over in Machesney Park by severe gusts.

Tuesday, June 27

Some of the worst thunderstorm wind damage was reported near the town of Arnold, Nebraska, in the central part of the Cornhusker State. A corrugated steel building was blown apart, an irrigation pivot overturned, and numerous trees were downed.

Local storm reports received by National Weather Service forecast offices from June 27, 2017, in the Plains states.
(NOAA/NWS)

In the western Nebraska town of Scottsbluff, over 1,000 customers lost power and several trees were snapped in half by wind gusts up to 79 mph.
A 92 mph wind gust was reported by a cooperative observer near Callaway, Nebraska, and a 75 mph wind gust was clocked at the airport in Rapid City, South Dakota.
MORE: Tornado Risk By Month