Weekend Outlook

While our weather this weekend won’t be perfect… and certainly will be much warmer than last Saturday’s high of just 70 (our 2nd coolest Independence Day on record in Omaha)… it won’t be too bad either.  Outside of scattered thunderstorms on Friday afternoon… we’ll stay mostly dry with skies that will vary from partly to mostly cloudy.

Temperature-wise… look for highs in the mid to upper 80s (around normal for early to mid-July)… and slightly humid conditions (dew point temperatures in the upper 50s to lower 60s).  On the subject of warmth (or heat)… I wanted to pass along that today (July 10th) is the anniversary of the hottest temperature ever recorded in the United States (and North America as well).  Back in 1913… the mercury topped out at 134 at Greenland Ranch in Death Valley, California.  Now THAT’S some heat !!

Chuck McWilliams

Stormy Morning

Late night storms that dropped out of South Dakota produced severe weather for parts of the metro very early Wednesday morning.  Omaha’s Eppley Airfield reported a 63 mph wind gust around 1am… which contributed to multiple power outages.

On the plus side… the storms also dropped some much needed rainfall on the area.  Here are some of the rainfall totals as of 7am Wednesday morning…

Bellevue (Offutt AFB):  1.57″

Blair:  1.33″

Council Bluffs (Airport):  1.75″

Fremont:  .43″

Millard (Airport):  .49″

Nebraska City:  .32″

Omaha (Eppley Airfield):  1.83″

West Omaha (near 152nd & Maple):  .83″

Papillion:  1.38″

Plattsmouth:  .90″

Red Oak:  1.08″

Shenandoah:  .55″

Valley (National Weather Service office):  .54″

Right now… it looks like we could see another round of storms Wednesday evening (20% chance)… late Thursday afternoon (40% chance)… and on Friday (30% chance).  Those storm chances will also be combined with some hot and humid weather… as highs will be in the 90s into the upcoming weekend.

By the way… speaking of rainfall… here’s another weather factoid.  On this date (July 8th) in 1950… York (Nebraska) picked up 13″ of rain in 24 hours… which (not surprisingly) stands as the record rainfall for the state.

Also… in case you’re looking for an interesting bit of trivia to win a bet at your office watercooler… today marks the anniversary of the first recorded tornado in America.  The event happened in 1680 at Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Chuck McWilliams

“Real” July Weather

Monday was a very typical July day in the metro… with a high of 87 in Omaha… along with an isolated late afternoon thundershower.  That storm… by the way… produced between 1″-1.5″ of rainfall from near Papillion to near Bellevue in Sarpy County.

Look for similar weather for the remainder of the week… with temperatures gradually climbing into the mid-90s by Thursday.  We’ll also see a gradual increase in our humidity levels… which will give us several thunderstorm chances… most notably on Tuesday evening and Thursday.

Chuck McWilliams

Warm Week Ahead

After an unseasonably cool Independence Day weekend… look for much warmer weather this week.  Highs through the next weekend will be in the upper 80s to lower 90s.  Warm yes… but really not all that unusual for early July.

Let’s talk about this past weekend… however.  Friday’s high in Omaha was 72… Saturday (Independence Day) topped out at 70… and Sunday (while warmer) was 82… still below the average high of 87.  By the way… this past 4th of July was the second coolest on record in Omaha… the 4th coolest on record in Lincoln… and was THE coolest on record in Norfolk.

While on the subject of unusual weather… I thought I’d pass along this weather factoid.  Today (July 6th) is the anniversary of a severe thunderstorm that dropped record-sized hailstones on Potter, Nebraska.  Potter is located in the extreme western part of the state… just west of Sidney… and a stone’s throw (pun intended) north of Interstate 80.  One hailstone measured 5.5″ in diameter, had a circumference of 17″, and weighed 1.5 pounds.  If you’re curious… the current record-sized hailstone fell on Aurora, Nebraska back on June 22nd, 2003.  That stone measured 7″ in diameter and had a circumference of 18.75″.

Chuck McWilliams

Mother Nature Fireworks ?!?

After several warm… but not steamy… days… our humidity level will increase as we approach the Independence Day weekend.  Combine that moisture with an upper level disturbance… and we could have (unfortunately) showers or thunderstorms Friday and/or Saturday evenings.

Right now… it looks like the most likely time for rain on Friday will be from the evening into the overnight.  Since the Omaha World-Herald Fireworks Extravaganza is scheduled to occur at Rosenblatt Stadium after the Royals game Friday evening… the timing is going to be fairly close.  It currently looks like about a 40% chance of showers that evening.

Saturday… the Fourth of July… will also bring a 30% chance of rain through the evening.  This may also impact fireworks shows scheduled just after sunset.  The bottom line… Friday and Saturday will NOT be complete wash-outs… but I would recommend being prepared for showers and/or thunderstorms each day.

On the plus side… the temperatures will be comfortable through the weekend… with highs in the upper 70s and lower 80s.  In addition… Sunday looks dry with partly cloudy skies.

Chuck McWilliams

Weekend Fireworks (from Mother Nature?)

Outside of a few early morning clouds… our terrific early Summer weather continues this Tuesday… and then again on Wednesday… with lots of sunshine, warm (but not hot) temperatures, and relatively low humidity levels.  We’ll see a chance of thundershowers early Thursday… and a slight chance early Friday… but all eyes are on the weekend.

Saturday is the Fourth of July… our nation’s Independence Day… and a time when lots of folks have cookouts as they enjoy a variety of fireworks celebrations.  Here’s a quick look at how the weather may (or may not) impact those activities.

One of the biggest fireworks events around the Midwest will be at Rosenblatt stadium Friday evening… the Omaha World-Herald Fireworks Extravaganza!…  following the Royals game against the New Orleans Zephyrs.  Right now… it looks like the weather will cooperate… and be rather comfortable in fact… with partly cloudy skies and temperatures in the mid 70s during the show.

Saturday… Independence Day… could be different.  A chance of thunderstorms exists from mid afternoon through late evening across the area… and could impact fireworks shows scheduled that night.  One of the bigger ones planned on the 4th will be at Boys Town… right around sunset.  I’ve attended that show many times… and always enjoyed it.

It doesn’t look like a wash-out… and it’s still several days out… so I wouldn’t cancel any plans yet… but keep an eye on upcoming forecasts if you have plans on Saturday.  By the way… Sunday looks pretty good… with partly cloudy skies and highs in the mid-80s.

Chuck McWilliams

Weekly Outlook… and Some Notes…

I apologize for the lag between postings on our weather blog.  I was (literally) out of town for much of the past 3 weeks and (hopefully) will be able to post some nice pictures of National Guard training in South Dakota back in mid-June.  The scenery in the Buffalo Gap National Grasslands was great… the weather was (let’s just say) not so great.

This week’s weather here in Omaha looks pretty good… not Top Ten Day weather… but very nice by late June/early July standards.  Last week… highs in the upper 90s… combined with high dew point temperatures… gave us heat index values over 110 at times.  Our highs will be 10-15 degrees cooler this week… and our humidity levels will also be much lower.  Combine that with lots of sunshine (at least into Thursday) and you’ve got a terrific start to July.

Our weather pattern should change by the weekend… however… which could impact some Fourth of July activities.  It doesn’t look like a rain-out… but there will be a slight chance of thunderstorms from Friday night through Sunday… with the evening and overnights being the most favored times for any storm activity.  Highs from Friday through Sunday should be in the mid to upper 80s… warm… but certainly tolerable for early Summer.

Chuck McWilliams

Pleasant… then Stormy

Our comfortable temperatures continue this Thursday and… absent morning clouds and sprinkles/light rain… we could end up with one of our Top Ten Days of the Year!  Either way… with partly sunny skies (during the afternoon)… light winds… low humidity… and highs in the upper 70s… today will be terrific (again… minus the morning clouds and light precipitation).

Beginning on Friday… however… our weather is about to become more stormy.  A cold front will drop out of our north late Friday… and then stall out in our area through the upcoming weekend.  That front will bring us storm chances into next Monday.  Right now… the Storm Prediction Center has the KETV Channel 7 viewing area under a Slight Risk of severe weather on Friday and Saturday… so our relative lack of severe weather may be coming to an end.

Chuck McWilliams

Heavy Rain… Staying South

While our rain chances will continue into mid-day Tuesday… the heaviest rain will be staying to our south.  Overnight Monday… Omaha picked up just over a tenth of an inch of rainfall… but nearly an inch fell in Shenandoah (Iowa)… and between 2 and 3 inches fell around Falls City (Nebraska).

Extreme southeast Nebraska and northwest Missouri can expect to see more rain (mostly light) into Tuesday afternoon… but those locations are no longer under a Flash Flood Watch.  Flooding problems will be more likely from northern/central Kansas eastward into Missouri.  They’ll see another round of thunderstorms and heavy rain late Tuesday into Wednesday.

While our rain will taper off in the metro during the day Tuesday… the clouds will persist into Wednesday and keep our highs in the upper 60 and lower 70s each day.  Sunshine returns Thursday… taking us back into the upper 70s… but we’ll see our storm chances return from Friday through the upcoming weekend.

Chuck McWilliams

A Stormy (Start To The) Week

Heading into June… we’re running 5.45″ below average for precipitation year-to-date… so we could use some rainfall at this point.  While we’ll pick up some of that rain over the next 24 to 36 hours… we may also see some severe weather along with it.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are starting off our Monday and… while most of them are not severe… we will see gusty winds and occasionally heavy rain into mid-morning.  Look for our storm chances to return by late afternoon… then turn likely by mid-evening.  The Storm Prediction Center has the entire KETV Newswatch 7 viewing area under a Slight Risk of severe weather into early Tuesday.

The rain chances will continue into mid-day Tuesday… but the severe weather risk will drop southward into eastern Kansas and northern Missouri.  Clouds will keep our highs in the upper 60s on Tuesday… but temperatures will rebound into the 70s by Wednesday… and stay there through the upcoming weekend.  Outside of a few showers or thunderstorms Thursday night… our next chance of strong storms will be late Saturday and Sunday.

Chuck McWilliams