Tropics first…
Tropical Storm Bertha is still around. It should become extratropical later today (no longer a warm core storm). It’s 670 miles northeast of Cape Race Newfoundland, and is racing northeast at 30 mph. Maximum sustained winds are 70 mph, and this storm will still have very gusty winds when it races across Iceland.
Tropical Storm Cristobal is just off the coast of North Carolina this morning. Maximum sustained winds have increased to 50 mph. The center of the storm is 105 miles southwest of Cape Hatteras, NC and is moving northeast at 6 mph. The storm will move along the North Carolina coastline, then race northeast toward Nova Scotia.
There’s another disturbance over the northwestern Caribbean. This will pass over the Yucatan, then move into the Gulf. The storm will likely become Tropical Depression #4, and turn into Tropical Storm Dolly before moving into southern Texas or northern Mexico. Yesterday, it appeared that some of the moisture from 4/Dolly would be pulled into the Sooner State, giving us a slightly better chance for rain toward the end of the week. That’s not looking as likely today. Keep in mind that if the storm track were to shift, then we might be able to put some clouds/rain/cooler temperatures back into the forecast for the latter part of the week.
Closer to home, Will Rogers hit 97 again yesterday. That 97 still stands as the hottest temperature of 2008 in Oklahoma City. We are forecasting 98 for today and 99 for tomorrow. Western Oklahoma will see 100s both days. Eastern Oklahoma will have higher dewpoints, so the air temperature will be lower, but the heat index will be higher.
A weak disturbance brought a couple of sprinkles to northwestern Oklahoma this morning. I can’t rule out a stray shower/storm this afternoon, but 95% of us (if not more) will stay dry.
“5 On The Road” starts tomorrow. We will be in Perry, where we are forecasting a high temperature of 100 degrees!
Andy
