Cleveland Tornados and Fall Preview

Today is an example of the difference a week can make as last week the area was baking under the hottest day of the year. Temperatures rose to 91 degrees last Friday and the humidity levels made it feel uncomfortable. That is all a distant memory as two cool fronts have left the region in a preview of fall.  There was a cost to transition as a tornadic thunderstorm tracked through the region on Wednesday ahead of the front and associated rain. Now not only have the temperatures cooled dramatically but clouds have been widespread since Wednesday. The cool below normal temperatures appear to persist for the next seven (7) to ten (10) days. The tropical Atlantic is more active with a system in the central Atlantic and disturbance moving into the Gulf of Mexico.

One tornadic thunderstorm produced four (4) tornado touchdowns as it moved through Northeast Ohio. The thunderstorm was low-top supercell that took advantage of the high amount of shear over the area. All four tornados were rated weak (F0) and produced minimal damage.

Currently the area is experiencing cool autumn like weather behind the cold front that moved through early Thursday. A large upper level trough will move slowly east across the region maintaining the cool air flowing freely out of Canada. High temperatures will stay in the 60’s for at least the next five (5) days with low temperatures around 50 degrees most nights. By Sunday the cloudy desk should start to break with sunny skies becoming common.

By Wednesday a large area of surface high pressure will be nearly over head.  Once it moves off to the east the area should enjoy much warmer conditions for next weekend. High temperatures by Wednesday should be around 70 degrees; five degrees below normal for this time of the year.

The tropical Atlantic has become more active recently. Tropical Storm Edouard is currently moving through the central Atlantic. It is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane as it eventually turns north and misses most land masses. A tropical disturbance is moving across southern Florida today.  Conditions in the Gulf of Mexico may become conducive for additional development as it moves westward. A new tropical wave has moved off the African coast and development of it is possible as it tracks across the Atlantic.