In The Vortex

Category: Extreme Weather

All things Extreme Weather!

  • Record West Texas Heat

    Today we are finally receiving a much needed break in the record 100F+ temps we have been having lately, if not the wind. The last couple of days were a real blow torch with not only high temps, but high winds and dust to go along with it. Temps today a good 10 degrees cooler than they have been, in the low 90sF, but winds are still up just enough to kick up a little dust.

    The Lubbock, Texas area averages about 9 days each year over 100F degrees.
    Greatest number of days in one month with Max Temp 100+ degrees
    19 – June 1990
    17 – July 1940

    Most consecutive 100+ days
    12 – June 23 – July 4 1980
    11 – June 24 – July 4 1994
    10 – June 10 – June 19 1924

    Most consecutive 90+ days
    81 – June 4 – August 23 1934

    While we didn’t break any of the records there, it’s been plenty hot and the vegetation is really showing it!

    This weekend may hold a storm or two on Saturday and even better chance Sunday, but with the upper air energy well to the north, I wouldn’t expect much more than a typical summertime storm. Could be good for some lightning however.

    I am actually excited to get the chance to get out and do a little yard work without sweltering away. Those 100+ days, it’s still in the 90s after dark! At least now it’s cool enough in the mornings and evenings to get out and to something.

    I realize for you northerners, low to mid 90s still seems awful hot, but it’s not all that bad out here on the edge of the desert.

  • 06/05/08 Widespread Severe Weather Outbreak Expected

    A major severe weather event is set to unfold today across a large portion of the center of the country. I’ve been debating about chasing today since last night. Why a debate? Storm speeds. Expected 50-60 mph in fact. Extremely difficult, even impossible to keep up with, even in best of terrain and road networks.

    I am going to go out on a limb here with my forecast and downplay the widespread significant tornado threat forecast by the SPC and some NWS offices. From what I have read, they expect a great potential for long track, violent tornadoes. My gut feeling is screaming at me SQUALL LINE, which generally isn’t conducive to that type of tornadic activity. I hope for the sake of those living in the risk area, I am right.

    Oh, I think there will be plenty of tornado reports, but I just don’t see the long track, long lived tornado potential, despite the huge amount of shear today. Generally speaking, those sorts of tornadoes come from deviant moving, discrete supercells. There could be some embedded supercells in the squall line, that may produce some, maybe even some violent, tornadoes, but I think they will be relatively short lived.

    What I really expect to see is the dryline light up all the way down through Oklahoma nearly all at once. I think the shear is so significant, any storm will have an extremely difficult time to get rooted enough to turn right and slow down. I expect individual cells in the line to rapidly (50-60 mph!) move NNE , training within the line, and the line progressing eastward much more slowly.

    I actually feel like the greatest threat today is widespread, straight line wind damage. There could be some very significant damage occur from this today in many locations, and may end up making the bulk of severe weather reports today.

    All in all, don’t let my amateur forecast dissuade you from paying close attention to the weather situation for today, it’s a doosy, and demands a close eye. Any severe storms out there will be on you before you know it, heed the tornado warnings with immediate action.

    As for me, most likely I will sit this one out. The cost of gas, and the fact I am sick of fast moving storms this year, really make it a deal breaker for chasing today. Watching storms fly by and getting a 5 minute view of them, isn’t really appealing.