Tuesday, June 12, 2012

a year ago... (am.12.jun.12)>

It looks like a beautiful morning is dawning -- skies are mostly clear, and temperatures comfortably mild.  I've recorded an overnight low of 70.0F (21.1C), and no rainfall since the trace amounts we received yesterday morning.

I was looking over last year's records for June, and was shocked to be reminded that by last year at this time, we had received 5.13" (13cm) of rain!  That included 2.30" (5.8cm) which fell between 3:00 and 6:00am on the morning of the 12th (exactly one year ago).  By contrast, this year I have only measured 0.29" (7mm) for the month of June up to this point.

It doesn't look like we're going to be making up for that rainfall deficit anytime soon.  High pressure is now decidedly building into the middle and upper-levels of the atmosphere, after several days in which we have been dealing with some weak disturbances drifting through, bringing us occasional clouds and a few sprinkles of rain.  Those disturbances have also held our temperatures down a bit, but as this pattern shift occurs during the coming few days, a healthy warming trend is going to kick in.  In fact, I still think we will see one of the warmest periods of the entire summer season between now and the weekend.  Stay tuned to see how high our temps might go.

The potential for instability over the mountains is always a source of concern... and there could yet be some cloud/thunder development this afternoon.  However, as warmer air continues to arrive in the upper atmosphere, I think we'll see the thundershower risk diminish considerably...

TUESDAY:
sunshine this morning, but becoming partly cloudy by afternoon with a risk of some thunder in the area.  warming up.
high: 29C (85F)

TUESDAY NIGHT:
early evening thunder?  otherwise mostly clear - rather warm.
low: 23C (73F)

WEDNESDAY:
sunshine and a few clouds.  warming trend continues.
high: 31C (87F)

THURSDAY:
very warm, with hazy sun and a few clouds.
morning low: 23C (74F)
daytime high: 31C (88F)

FRIDAY:
hazy sunshine... very warm.
morning low: 24C (75F)
daytime high: 32C (89F)

SATURDAY:
a mix of sun, haze and some clouds.  humidity increasing?
morning low: 24C (75F)
daytime high: 31C (88F)