This week will go down in the books as a classic example of summer in the south. Hot and humid weather was the story for most areas and we measured some high heat index values. At one point today it felt like 101 in Tuscaloosa! The rain has been on the scattered side and it was nice to see some rain actually measured at the airport today. We picked up 0.16.” This certainly won’t put an end to our rainfall deficit but this will help. While driving to the station this evening, from southern Tuscaloosa County, I noticed some lightning in the distance. This lightning is often referred to as “heat lightning,” however there is not a particular heat lightning. What you are seeing is simply lightning from a thunderstorm in the distance, over the horizon. I still think we will see some of these scattered thunderstorms tomorrow, mainly in the afternoon.
Here are some of Today’s National Weather Extremes:
HIGHEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)………….98 Pueblo, CO
HIGHEST HEAT INDEX (DEGREES F)………….111 Millington, TN
LOWEST TEMPERATURE (DEGREES F)…………..31 Meacham, OR
LOWEST WIND CHILL (DEGREES F)……………29 Mullan Pass, ID
HIGHEST WIND GUST (MPH)…………………75 Littlefork, MN
HIGHEST PRECIPITATION (INCHES)…………4.73 Baraboo, WI
On this Date in History:
- In 1987, strong winds associated with a severe thunderstorm
collapsed a circus tent, injuring 44 people in Howard, Wisconsin. - In 1988, heavy rainfall on the Monongehela River in western
Pennsylvania led to severe flash flooding, and the river cresting
32 feet in only 24 hours. - In 1990, an incredible hailstorm rocked the front range of the
Colorado Rockies. The impacted regions extended from Estes Park to
Colorado Springs. Hail up to the size of baseballs stripped trees,
smashed cars and knocked out many utility locations for thousands
of people. Damaged totaled near 625 million dollars, making it the
most costly hailstorm in U.S. history. (Source: AP)
Wes Wyatt
Chief Meteorologist
