Heat in Virginia, July 20, 2017

Area Forecast Discussion...UPDATED
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1048 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

.SYNOPSIS...
Weak high pressure will build into the region today, followed
by the potential for weak disturbances Friday through Sunday. An
upper level trough of low pressure will move over the northeastern
US early in the new week.

&&

.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...

12Z IAD sounding came in significantly warmer aloft than 24 hrs
ago with a 4 deg rise at 500 mb with an inversion evident above
that level which should suppress deep convection completely, so
have removed the slight chance of thunder that we had. At low
levels, global models indicate a 4C deg rise at 850 mb by day's
end and 12Z IAD sounding also showed an increase in 0-6km mean
flow (300/09kt) which is double the strength than yesterday.
This will result in temperatures hitting the century mark in a
few places or perhaps a deg or two above 100F. Dewpoints will
mix out to the mid 60s, but still with temps around 100F heat
indices will max out around 105. Criteria west of the Blue Ridge
is 5 degs lower at 100 this should be met easily at places like
Hagerstown, Martinsburg, Cumberland and Winchester. New heat
advisories have been issued for these areas.

&&

.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT/...
Upward trend in heat should allow heat advisories across lower
elevations (especially since the advisory criteria was lowered to
100F west of the Blue Ridge this year) Friday and through the
weekend. The only limiting factor is clouds/rain/outflow from ring
of fire thunderstorm activity.

This is a multi-day heat wave with particularly warm overnights.
Repeated days with such heat and humidity takes a toll on the human
body - even if we don't hit excessive heat warning criteria (110F
east of the Blue Ridge). Please check in on your neighbors.

&&

.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
The heat stays high for Sunday, then slightly cooler
temperatures are expected next week.

Heat will continue Sunday as subtropical ridge off the coast
keeps pumping warm moist air into the Mid Atlantic.
Dewpoints still around 70. Highs mainly in the low to mid 90s.
With this much energy in the atmosphere there will be the chance
for thunderstorms.

Monday a shortwave will traverse the northeastern US. This will
cause heights to lower slightly into the Mid Atlantic which will
drop temperatures a few degrees, although given the amount of
heat the surface has absorbed over the past week am still
expecting temperatures to top 90 east of the mountains, perhaps
mid 90s in the cities. Again, given amount of energy in the
atmosphere and approaching short wave have to release the
dispersion may lead to thunderstorms, possibly over NY/PA
dropping into this forecast area.

Tuesday should feel more comfortable as the trough moves
offshore. Highs in the 80s. This should continue Wednesday.

Between today and the final day of July we lose 18 minutes of
daylight.

&&

.AVIATION /15Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
VFR prevails under high pressure through the weekend. Organized
thunderstorm chances tonight through the weekend.

VFR conditions expected Sunday. Scattered thunderstorms may
occur Sunday afternoon/evening, then a better chance Monday.

&&

.MARINE...
Bay breezes at the shores with south flow in the middle each
afternoon through this weekend under high pressure centered over the
Mid-South States. Organized thunderstorm chances begin tonight.

Winds expected to remain below SCA Sunday with possible
scattered afternoon and evening thunderstorms. Better chance for
storms Monday.

&&

.CLIMATE...
Late July is climatologically the warmest time of the year,
just like six months from now is the coldest time. How has the
heat of 2017 compared with heat waves (up to now) in other
years? I chose "consecutive days that reached 90 and above" as
the criteria.

At DCA there have been two times this summer with stretches of
six consecutive days - beginning June 29 and again July 19. In
terms of ranking (going back to 1871) these are #47 and 48. #1
(18 consecutive days) occurred 145 years ago - beginning
6/27/1872!

For Baltimore there were also six consecutive days beginning
June 29, which puts it in 36th place. #1 was 13 consecutive days
beginning 7/3/1993.

The all-time record for June-Aug: for Baltimore 25 consecutive
days beginning 7/12/1995. For DC there have been two periods of
21 consecutive days - beginning 7/29/1988 and 7/25/1980.

&&

.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for DCZ001.
MD...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for MDZ003>006-011-
     013-014-016>018-502>508.
VA...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for VAZ027>031-
     036>040-050>057-501-502-505-506.
WV...Heat Advisory until 7 PM EDT this evening for WVZ051>053.
MARINE...None.

&&

Update...LFR
Products...BAJ/WOODY!

Hazardous Weather Outlook...UPDATED
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
1051 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ011-013-014-016>018-508-VAZ052>057-211000-
Chesapeake Bay north of Pooles Island MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Pooles Island to Sandy Point MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Sandy Point to North Beach MD-
Chesapeake Bay from North Beach to Drum Point MD-
Chesapeake Bay from Drum Point MD to Smith Point VA-
Tidal Potomac from Key Bridge to Indian Head MD-
Tidal Potomac from Indian Head to Cobb Island MD-
Tidal Potomac from Cobb Island MD to Smith Point VA-
Patapsco River including Baltimore Harbor-
Chester River to Queenstown MD-Eastern Bay-
Choptank River to Cambridge MD and the Little Choptank River-
Patuxent River to Broomes Island MD-
Tangier Sound and the inland waters surrounding Bloodsworth
Island-District of Columbia-Southern Baltimore-Prince Georges-
Anne Arundel-Charles-St. Marys-Calvert-Southeast Harford-
Prince William/Manassas/Manassas Park-Fairfax-
Arlington/Falls Church/Alexandria-Stafford-Spotsylvania-
King George-
1051 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for the Maryland portion of the
Chesapeake Bay, Tidal Potomac River, and adjacent counties in
central Maryland and northern Virginia as well as the District of
Columbia.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A heat advisory is in effect today from noon to 7 pm.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Heat indices of 105 degrees or higher are likely Friday through
Sunday.

Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail are
possible Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.

MDZ003>006-501>507-VAZ025>031-036>040-050-051-501>508-WVZ050>053-
055-501>506-211000-
Washington-Frederick MD-Carroll-Northern Baltimore-
Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-
Northwest Montgomery-Central and Southeast Montgomery-
Northwest Howard-Central and Southeast Howard-Northwest Harford-
Augusta-Rockingham-Shenandoah-Frederick VA-Page-Warren-Clarke-
Nelson-Albemarle-Greene-Madison-Rappahannock-Orange-Culpeper-
Northern Fauquier-Southern Fauquier-Western Highland-
Eastern Highland-Western Loudoun-Eastern Loudoun-
Northern Virginia Blue Ridge-Central Virginia Blue Ridge-
Hampshire-Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-Hardy-Western Grant-
Eastern Grant-Western Mineral-Eastern Mineral-Western Pendleton-
Eastern Pendleton-
1051 AM EDT Thu Jul 20 2017

This Hazardous Weather Outlook is for eastern West Virginia,
northern and central Virginia, and central and western Maryland
with the exception of Garrett County.

.DAY ONE...Today and Tonight

A heat advisory is in effect until 7 PM for lower elevation
locations for heat indices of 100 to 105 degrees.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...Friday through Wednesday

Heat indices of 105 degrees or higher are likely for Piedmont
areas east of the Blue Ridge Friday through Sunday. Heat indices
of 100 degrees or higher are likely for lower elevations west of
the Blue Ridge today through Saturday.

Isolated severe thunderstorms with damaging winds and hail are
possible Saturday.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

Spotter activation is not expected at this time.