Hottest Month Begins
August 1st, 2006 by BurtonWe say goodbye to July but not the heat. Our forecast for August includes more hot, dry weather with more tropical action developing across the Atlantic and Pacific. But first, the heat. Early afternoon temp- eratures warmed to 94 at Camp Mabry and ABIA. As of 1pm, heat indices include:
100 San Marcos
100 LaGrange
99 Temple
98 ABIA
97 Camp Mabry
96 Fredericksburg
We’ll see many more high 90s and a few 100s on thermometers today with the humidity making it feel like 102 to 106 again this afternoon. Keep cool and indoors as the heat index may be at or above 100 from noon through 7pm. Check out a weather station near your neighborhood to keep track in near real-time.
 |
|
||
 |
|||
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
|||
  |
|||
A strong high pressure cell centered further northeast of our area is responsible for the massive heat wave across the United States. It will dominate with the hottest temps of the year for some locations, like New York City, coming these first few days of August.
Forecast models show the big high pressure easing its grip just enough to allow a tropical wave to move towards Texas from the Bahamas late this week. We’ll watch it cross the Northern Gulf, possibly making it to the Lone Star State by Sunday. We’re hoping it will bring a better chance for rain. At this point, the coast stands the best chance of all. Our forecast includes a 30% probability for precipitation on Sunday and Monday.
Goodbye, July… She was hot! According to Camp Mabry records, the average temperature was 86.1, 1.9 degrees above normal with 30 out of 31 days at or above 90 degrees. The hottest came July 18 with 103. All in all, there were eight 100+ days in July. Rainwise, the month lacked: Mabry recorded only .48″, 1.49″ less than normal, while ABIA recorded .97″ — 1.06 below normal.
Hello, August… For Austin, the average August high temp over the last 30 years is 96 with an extreme of 109 (1923.) We average 2.05″ of rain in the month with five or more days expecting greater than a trace. As much as 8.90″ fell in August 1974. The updated, official forecast for the month from the Climate Prediction Center: hotter than average with less than normal rainfall.
Tropical Update… The tropical wave moving through the open Atlantic strengthened enough to reach tropical storm status in less than a day. Early this afternoon, Tropical Storm Chris was located about 100 miles east of Antigua (radar loop,) with maximum sustained winds near 40 mph. The tropical storm is moving to the west-northwest near 10 mph. The WNW direction is forecast to continue for the next 24 hours with the storm passing near or over the northernmost Leeward Islands by tonight.
On the other side, in the Eastern Pacific, there are two tropical storms. Tropical Storm Gilma, which this morning was Tropical Depression Eight, was located 375 miles south of Manzanillo. The storm is moving to the west-northwest at 9 mph. Maximum sustained winds are at 40 mph.
And, borne within the last 24 hours, Tropical Storm Fabio was located 1180 miles west-southwest of the southern tip of the Baja. T.S. Fabio is moving to the west at just under 13 mph with maximum sustained winds at nearly 52 mph. (big satellite loop.) Fabio and Gilma are no threat to land at this time.
Keep cool and enjoy your Tuesday.
Meteorologist
Burton Fitzsimmons
