Last Edited 2:15 PM 08/16 to include NWSSPC Day 2 Outlook map.
FRIDAY: Mainly dry weather is expected today as weak high pressure builds in. Warm and humid weather is expected for the weekend with scattered thunderstorms, mainly in the afternoon and evening.
Weak high pressure to our south and warm air aloft will bring a dry day to the Valley for Friday. There might be a few isolated showers and storms during the heat of the afternoon but those should keep well to our north. Otherwise, we can expect sun and clouds this afternoon with afternoon highs reaching the mid-80s.
WEEKEND WEATHER
After a couple of really nice weekends with seasonably mild temperatures and practically no humidity, this weekend will feel much more like July. Saturday looks mainly dry. I say mainly because a weak disturbance aloft will ripple through the region. Scattered showers and thunderstorms will develop with this feature as it moves through. Model timing favors it crossing our area during the warmest and most unstable part of the day, so some storms could be on the strong side.
Dry weather will return Saturday night as that little ripple clears the area. Generally, temperatures should be about the same as today and most areas will reach the mid-80s again. The exception would be those areas that happen to get under a shower or storm.
The heat builds on Sunday and it will be a toasty day in the Valley. Temperatures will heat up to around 90° and dew points will be around 70°, so it’ll be pretty muggy too boot.
With this warm and humid air mass in place, the atmosphere will be a bit unstable and it won’t take much of a trigger for a shower or storm to fire. I wouldn’t cancel any outdoor plans, but keep in mind that a quick shower or storm could pop up anywhere in the afternoon and early evening.
NEXT WEEK
Very warm and humid weather will greet the new work week for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures on Monday will flirt with 90° again but by Tuesday it looks like temperatures will back off a degree or three.
A stalled frontal boundary over the Great Lakes will get a shove southward Tuesday night into Wednesday. This will bring our best shot at getting in on showers and thunderstorms Wednesday and Wednesday night.
Cooler and drier air behind Wednesday’s front will settle in overhead and Thursday will bring relief from the heat and humidity – for a while, anyway.
Temperatures will gradually warm back to above-average values next week, although I doubt we will see the 90s again.
Have a great weekend. Stay safe out there.
