Hurricane Cristobal and a Warm Weekend Ahead

Today the area is enjoying pleasantly dry conditions after a cool front pushed through early Wednesday. The break will only last for today as much warmer air returns tomorrow on strong flow out of the south. This is the result of the ridge over the south central part of the country expanding east and north again. A large area of highs in the 90’s is becoming established across the southern tier of the country and this will surge northward over the weekend.  A week cool front will move through during the second half of the weekend but temperatures will remain above normal through at least early next week.  Last week’s area of disturbed weather that was approaching the Lesser Antilles became Hurricane Cristobal north of the Bahamas this week.  Next week may feature development in the Tropical Atlantic in two separate locations.

 Today the area is experiencing a brief reprieve from the warmth and humidity from earlier in the week. Temperatures in the lower 70’s are widespread across Northern Ohio. Tomorrow’s highs will rise into the lower 80’s.

On Saturday temperatures and dew points will continue to wise as a very warm air mass returns from the south. A combination of temperatures around 90 degrees and high humidity will create uncomfortable conditions for the area. Saturday could possibly be warmest day the area has experienced this entire summer. On Sunday a dying cool front will approach and bring a chance of thunderstorms area wide. Temperatures on Sunday and Monday will be around 80 degrees, depending on cloud cover.

On Tuesday another cool front will approach the area with the chance of showers and thunderstorms.  Once again the weak nature of the cool front will mean temperatures before and after the front passes will be around 80 degrees.

 Hurricane Cristobal formed earlier this week north of the Bahamas.  It is currently moving quickly to the northeast with sustained winds around 75mph. With the exception of high surf and rip currents, the Eastern USA was spared impacts from the system. Oddly enough this is currently the strongest tropical system on the planet.

Next week our attention will turn to western Caribbean Sea into the southern Gulf of Mexico and the central Atlantic. First a system currently moving into the Caribbean Sea may encounter conditions conducive for development further to the west.  Next a tropical wave emerging off the African coast on Friday may develop next week once it reaches the central Atlantic. Both systems will need watching as the weather pattern may bring one or both very close to the USA.