UPDATE: BWI hits 90 again, sets record
THIS JUST IN: The thermometer at BWI-Marshall reached 90 degrees again today. If NWS officials confirm the reading, it makes this the 55th day of 90-plus weather for Baltimore this year, setting a new record.
By the end of last week, Baltimore had matched the all-time record for the most 90-degree days in one year (54, set in 1988). And the seven-day forecast suggested we would smash through that barrier this week, with another string of days promising airport highs at 90 or more.
But the 90s dropped out of the forecast grid over the weekend. Today's forecast had predicted highs only in the upper 80s today and Wednesday, with much cooler weather entering the region for the downhill side of 
the work week.
Now it seems forecasters at Sterling had underestimated today's high.
The meteorological summer of 2010 (June through August) has already been declared the hottest on record for Baltimore, beating the previous record set in 1943.
Earlier post resumes below:
We're also watching Tropical Storm Hermine, which popped up over the holiday weekend in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. Hermine has now gone ashore in South Texas, with torrential rains and stiff winds. By later today its remnants will be soaking North Texas and Oklahoma. Kansas, Arkansas and Missouri will be next. With 4 to 8 inches of rain in some spots, flash flooding is all but certain, and we can expect to see TV images of drivers caught in high water. Here is the storm's forecast track. And here is the view from space.
The National Hurricane Center is still watching the remnants of Tropical Storm Gaston, now in the northeast Caribban. And there are two more stormy areas in the far eastern Atlantic that could eventually make news. For now, they're no threat.
Unfortunately, there is still no rain in our forecast, at least not until - maybe - Sunday. Moderate to severe drought continues in Western Maryland, and on the Lower Eastern Shore as storm tracks to our east and west continue to bypass us. Here in Central Maryland, dry lawns continue to brown out, and heat- and drought-stressed trees continue to lose their leaves. That's my straw in the photo.
BWI has recorded no measurable rain since Aug. 23, and less than an inch since Aug. 12. There is no rain expected with the arrival of a cold front by Thursday, but the front will drop daytime highs for Baltimore back into the 70s. Lows will sink to the upper 50s. And speaking of lows, the National Weather Service is reporting that some places in West Virginia dropped into the 30s early Monday.
The next front, this weekend, brings a small (30 percent) chance for some showers.
(SUN PHOTO: Frank Roylance)
Comments
NWS website is showing current temp of 90 for BWI. When do they make high for the day official--is a new record now set?
FR: They'll post the official high later this afternoon. But, barring an error at the airport (not unheard of), I'd say it's a lock now. If so, today makes 55 days of 90-plus weather this year at BWI-Marshall, a new record, beating the 54-day mark set in 1988.
Posted by: David | September 7, 2010 3:03 PM
Frank, just knew we'd pass that 54 day record and I'm sticking by my guess of 64. I have known to many warm Septembers and October Indian Summer days!
Question I noticed on the main weather page today there is in the 'warnings' section a 'Fire conditions present' for many counties. Is that another refection of our growing drought conditions? Or more a factor of low humidity and steady breezes?
DL
FR: All of the above. The drought and low humidity make the fuel dry, and the winds help dry it further and drive the flames. Crush those smokes.
Posted by: Drew Lenear | September 7, 2010 4:48 PM
Hello,
In Frederick County, we are at day 28 with no measurable rain, not one rain event since August 12th.
Frank, do you know what the record is for consecutive days without any measurable rain in central Maryland?
If TWC forecast holds, we will be at 38 days by the end of their forecast period. The tropical storm is great for the plains states, but the ridge will block any east movement. essentially, this area is screwed, the east coast storms get pushed east off the coast, the west coast storms pushed to the north and no rain reaches this region. In a few months we could be setting records that will not be pleasant, especially for the farming community given this drought shows no signs of abatement through November based on long term forecasts.
Posted by: js | September 7, 2010 5:17 PM