Chesapeake Bay Weather

After a brief respite from the heat of summer, high pressure will bring another heat wave to the Middle Atlantic states this week with daytime highs in the mid 90s and overnight lows in the 70s. Fortunately, humidity levels will be more tolerable than we experienced during the last stretch of hot weather; however, the lower humidity will also mean that our chances for afternoon thunderstorms will be minimal. Later in the week we will have to keep a close look on a tropical storm which is expected to develop into a hurriance and move fairly close to the eastern seaboard. Currently, the forecast cone places coastal Virginia, Maryland, and Delaware on the western fringe of the system, but any movement to the west could potentially bring these areas into a watch category. The upcoming weekend will feature a return to sunshine and cooler temperatures. 2010 is already going down in the history books as one of our hottest summers of all time. In one year we have been witness to Baltimore’s snowiest winter, snowiest month (February), and a top-five hot summer. Stay tuned to local and national weather news for frequent updates throughout the week. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

The upcoming week will feature changing weather conditions which reflect the overall change in the seasonal weather pattern. Although autumn is still a month away, we are now two full months past the summer solstice and the weather patterns are reflecting the change in sunlight over the northern hemisphere. Hot and humid conditions on Sunday will give way to cloudiness as an area of low pressure develops. This low will persist over the Middle Atlantic states on Tuesday and Wednesday resulting in an overcast sky with occasional rain showers. An easterly flow of air may also create minor coastal flooding. With limited sunshine, temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday will only reach the 70s, although more sunshine later in the day on Wednesday may enable readings to break above the 80-degree mark. A strong cold front will push across the bay early on Thursday and usher in much drier and cooler air. Consequently, the coolest temperatures since the beginning of summer will occur from Friday through Sunday with some locations expected to report early morning temperatures in the lower to middle 50s, but most areas will experience readings closer to 60 degrees. During the day we can expect highs in the lower 80s over the weekend. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

The beginning of this week will offer hazy sunshine and humid conditions. Daytime readings in the upper 80s to lower 90s will be common from Sunday through Tuesday with overnight temperatures remaining above 70 degrees at most locations. The most interesting feature of this week’s weather will be the development of a potent area of low pressure which is expected to move northeast along the stalled frontal boundary and produce heavy rainfall from Virginia northeastward toward Baltimore and Chestertown. The potential exists for 1 to 3 inches of rainfall and flood watches and/or warnings can be expected on Wednesday and early Thursday. With the ground already saturated from recent heavy thunderstorms, flooding will be a concern in many areas. As the low pulls away from the area on Thursday and Friday, hot and humid conditions will return. Another frontal system will likely spark afternoon or evening thunderstorms on Saturday and Sunday before slightly cooler and drier air moves into the Chesapeake region at the beginning of next week. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Hot and humid conditions will return to the Chesapeake Bay region due to a Bermuda High establishing itself over the area. The Bermuda High, also known as the Azores High, is a semi-permanent area of high pressure which develops in the Atlantic Ocean near the Azores in the Atlantic Ocean. Ridges of high pressure on the western side extend toward the eastern United States. As a result, hot and humid air flows northward into the Middle Atlantic and New England states, often persisting for several days or weeks at a time. From Monday through Wednesday we can expect hot, dry conditions over Maryland with lows in the 70s to near 80 degrees and highs in the 90s. By Thursday, a cold front will approach the Chesapeake from the west and bring a chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms. The low is expected to stall just to our south; consequently, unsettled weather will continue on Friday and Saturday with partial sunshine, muggy conditions, and scattered thunderstorms. The long-term outlook calls for drier and cooler weather to move into the area by next week. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Unsettled weather is expected through the early and middle portions of the upcoming week. A large area of high pressure centered off the Middle Atlantic coastline will create a clockwise flow of air over the eastern states. Consequently, a southerly flow with ample moisture will create warm and humid conditions through Wednesday with lows near 70 degrees and highs in the upper 80s to lower 90s. Although scattered showers cannot be rule out for Sunday and Monday, the best chance for afternoon thunderstorms will be on Tuesday and Wednesday. A cooling trend is expected later in the week as a cold front moves through the area and drier air moves over Maryland on a fresh northwesterly breeze. Expect numerous and widespread thunderstorm activity by Thursday afternoon. Friday and Saturday will both feature plenty of sunshine with temperatures in the 80s, but with much lower levels of humidity. Average temperatures for this time of year include low temperatures in the mid 60s and high temperatures in the middle 80s. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

The beginning of the week will carry over the recent trend of hot, humid weather; however, a strong cold front will sweep across the Chesapeake by Sunday night and usher in much drier and slightly cooler air. Although temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will reach well into the 80s, the lower humidity will make it seem much cooler. As the cold front approaches the area, severe thunderstorms are likely as cooler, drier air to the west clashes with the entrenched hot, humid air over the area. By Monday, a northerly breeze will push all of the clouds and rain to our east. As we progress through the rest of the week, an area of high pressure providing a respite from the heat and humidity will move to our east and allow for more hazy, humid conditions to return from the south on Wednesday and Thursday. Another cold front will produce scattered thunderstorms on Thursday followed by another refreshing round of pleasant, sunny days with low humidity from Friday through Sunday. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Hot and humid conditions will create another sultry week of weather in central Maryland. Isolated afternoon and evening thunderstorms will provide a respite from the hot temperatures, but the humidity will only increase as we move toward the end of the week as a strong Bermuda high moves over the eastern United States. In fact, we may see thermometer readings approaching 100 degrees by next weekend along with high humidity. A break in the hot, humid weather may finally occur during the early part of the week of the 26th. Interestingly, the week of the 26th marks the downward trend of normal high and low temperatures and signals the first step toward the autumn season! We are now one full month past the summer solstice and the days are growing a bit shorter with each passing day. For this week, the average low temperature is in the mid 60s and the average high is in the upper 80s. These numbers seem cool compared to what we will see later this week with lows in the low 80s and highs around 100. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Another hot and humid week is in store for the Middle Atlantic region. A moist southerly flow of air over Maryland will ensure the continuation of humid conditions through the end of the week. The best chance for precipitation will occur during the period Monday afternoon through Wednesday morning as instability in the upper atmosphere causes showers and thunderstorms to develop. Rainfall may be heavy at times, with an inch or two of liquid possible during this time. Later in the week, high pressure will build from the south and temperatures near 90 degrees will be accompanied by dew point values in the low 70s. The result will be heat indexes ranging from 95 to 100 degrees. For more information visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Hot and humid conditions will be the dominant weather feature this week. From Sunday through Friday, daytime readings will climb into the 95-100 degree range with heat indexes as high as 105 degrees. Humidity levels will be tolerable on Independence Day, but then increase gradually during the week before peaking on Wednesday and Thursday. High pressure over the Middle Atlantic states will lock the heat over the northeast states until next weekend when a cold front will break the heat wave and usher in cooler and drier conditions. By next Sunday, highs will only reach the upper 80s with lower humidity. There will be limited opportunities for rainfall this week, and the best chance of thunderstorms will be on Friday and Saturday. Records in jeopardy this week include: 103 degrees on July 9, 1936; 107 degrees on July 10, 1936, and 100 degrees on July 11, 1988*. During the second week of July, the average low temperature is in the mid 60s and the average high temperatures is in the upper 80s. For more information, visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.

Hot and humid conditions will continue through Tuesday before a cold front will sweep across the region from west to east and usher in much cooler and drier air. On Sunday and Monday we can expect highs in the 90s with overnight lows ranging from the low 70s to near 80 degrees. Thunderstorms are possible Monday afternoon. By Tuesday, drier air will move over the area, but temperatures will continue on the warm side with afternoon readings approaching 90 degrees. Finally, Wednesday brings relief from the recent heat wave with morning lows in the mid 50s to low 60s and afternoon highs only around 80 degrees under bright sunshine. The pleasant early-summer weather is expected to continue through Friday before a southerly flow brings a return of the heat and humidity for the weekend. By Sunday, highs will again approach 95 degrees. The best chance for precipitation this week will occur on Monday and the following weekend. For more information, visit www.chesapeakebayweather.com.