Coming soon: Magnificent weekend
So far, June truly has been pleasantly different.
Coming soon: Magnificent weekend
By this time last year, the temperature had gone over 90 four times in Philadelphia in June, hitting 99 on the 9th, and the region had experienced its first heat wave.
That actually was an improvement over the previous June, when Philadelphia experienced six 90-plus days by the 13th, and the month would finish a blistering 5.9 degrees above normal.
Those hot starts foreshadowed the heat to come, with the summer of 2010 the warmest on record, and 2011's, No. 5.
So far, June has produced only one 90-plus afternoon -- that was Sunday's -- temperatures are averaging near normal, and, significantly, precipitation is running close to 0.8 inches above normal.
Not even the most-sophisticated computer models can say with any certainty whether this season's relatively pleasant run will continue.
But the outlook for the next several days is looking splendid, with a weekend about as fine as the atmosphere could craft in mid-June.
The National Weather Service is calling for sun and temperatures in the low 80s from here until Tuesday.
Meanwhile the ocean temperature off Cape May this morning is a balmy 75.7, and 71.1 off Atlantic City.
A hot spell is possible the middle of next week, says the Commodity Weather Group, in Washington.
But we saw something similar on the horizon last week, and it didn't materialize.
Having moisture in the soil doesn't hurt. Philadelphia picked up almost exactly an inch of rain from this latest episode, which turned out to be more-persistent, rather than showery.
Moisture keeps the sun busy. The more water it has to evaporate, the less energy is has to heat the ground.
Another 90 days of same, please.
— Chester Goode- Great flying weather...— aviator
Comment removed.- Great drinking weather. The Tonner will be stocking up on Genny Cream Ale for sure!
- Directly from the author...
"Not even the most-sophisticated computer models can say with any certainty whether this season's relatively pleasant run will continue."
Tell me again why we're supposed to pay any attention at all to the long range forecasts from these same "experts".
— SomeRandomDude - Here is the latest "sophistcated"{} forecast...It will be a warm summer followed by a cold and dark winter with a few hurricanes thrown in..The number of hurricanes will be between 0 and 50.. How;s that....That is about what we get from our local forecasters who ,by the way make a bundle on money and get away from saying the wrong forecasts....Take note station GM's... Mr. Wood can do the job for 1/2 of what your paying now....— STEVE5444
Tony Wood has been writing about the atmosphere for The Inquirer for 26 years. E-mail Tony here. And read all his columns here.
