Tropical humidity continues; relief on the way
Opened the door this morning and thought I was in Florida. This high humidity, straight from the Gulf of Mexico, is forecast to continue today. But there is some relief in the cards by Sunday.
First though, we're looking at another high near 90 degrees today. And the NWS is once again 
predicting a 30 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Even higher probabilities forecast for Wednesday came to nothing for most of us. Forecasters seem to be doubting their models again today. So maybe ... or maybe not.
We can use whatever falls, although the extent of moderate drought in Maryland has not changed since last week.
Wednesday's high of 91 degrees at BWI-Marshall Airport was a long way from the 100-degree record for the date, set in 1988. But the overnight low this morning of 76 degrees appears to have beaten the previous record-high minimum of 75 degrees, last matched on June 23, 1943. If we don't drop below that before midnight tonight, we should have a new record for warm nights on June 23.
So far this season BWI has recorded nine days with highs of 90 degrees or higher. We may well top 90 again today, and there's a 90-degree high predicted for Friday, too. There may be still more in the cards next week before the month ends on Thursday.
But so far we're running well behind the pace of 2010. By this time last year we had racked up 14 days in the 90s, with seven more to come before the end of June. Doesn't look like we're going to be anywhere near that hot.
The humidity should be with us through Saturday. By Sunday, another cold front and a wind shift should bring us some dry air flow out of Canada, and seasonable highs in the mid-80s through Tuesday before the 90-degree heat and humidity return.
Comments
The weather figures under the Maryland Weather Center banner on this web page are showing a dew point of almost 75 degrees... that seems unreasonably high... even given how humid it feels.
FR: You're right. I've noticed our Davis PRO2 weather station does seem to display consistently high dew points relative to NWS readings. At 2 p.m. it shows 74 degrees. The NWS Inner Harbor station is reporting 68 degrees. BWI has 70 degrees and Martin State Airport has 72 degrees. Can't explain it, and I can't adjust it.
Posted by: LC | June 23, 2011 1:47 PM
OT Just read your story about the NASA air sampling and Orion P3 flyovers in July. Last night around 10 pm we saw a low plane, probably not quite as low as 1000', fly over Parkville in a general north easterly direction. It was not a typical jetliner, seemed to be going fairly slowly, but was more substantial than a general aviation aircraft. By profile through binoc's (in the dark) it could have been the P3. Any more info on this plane? What else might it be used for?
FR: The Orion P3 is also used by the military and by NOAA Hurricane Hunters to fly into hurricanes. I suppose the NASA pilots could be making some initial flights to get familiar with their flight path. Or, you may have seen the larger C-130 cargo planes routinely flown in the area by the Maryland Air National Guard, out of Martin State Airport. They should be easy to tell apart. Both are four-engine turboprops, but the C-130s have high wings, the Orions have have low wings. Here are some photos of the P3 Orion in a variety of configurations: ttp://bsun.md/k27z06
Posted by: Susan | June 23, 2011 2:11 PM
Thanks for the pics, and suggestion of C-130. It seemed smaller than that, and in my mind's eye memory of the plane through binoculars in the dark, I would say the wings were hung low, though can't be sure. Also, my husband worked at Pax River Naval Air Station and always recognizes the sound of C-130 engine, even from inside the house, and this was not it. So, I am betting it was the P-3. Thanks for the article and additional info. Will let you know if we have any confirmed sightings, now know what to look for.
Wikipedia also says the stinger on the tail is diagnostic of the P-3. I found this interesting website, where you can compare specs side by side of different aircraft.
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/compare-aircraft.asp
Posted by: Susan | June 24, 2011 2:02 PM
probably can get more accurate info about planes here
http://www.navy.mil/navydata/fact_display.asp?cid=1100&tid=1400&ct=1
The length data on previous website was suspect so I looked further. C-130 and P-3 are similar size, with P-3 being a little longer and C-130 being fatter.
I saw the Hurricane hunter a few years ago at Martins State, after you posted about the public open house there.
Posted by: Susan | June 24, 2011 2:23 PM