The Roanoke Times: Weather Journalwith Kevin MyattDoes anyone have any weather questions- September 17, 2008 Now that we're in for what looks to be a prolonged period of temperatures near normal (slowly warming above normal, but probably not for a week) and, unfortunately, VERY dry weather, with no new tropical systems in sight, this would be a good time to take a breather and ask you a question. Do you have a weather question you would like to have answered in a future Weather Journal column I'll steal a cue from Tom Angleberger, our What's On Your Mind guy, and open the floor to weather questions..http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/does_anyone_have_any_weather_q.html It's official: A respite in the tropical Atlantic- September 16, 2008 The National Hurricane Center is presently tracking no systems of interest in the entire Atlantic basin. It marks the first time the Atlantic has been this quiet since July. For the record, the entire series of storms between "D" and "I" made U.S. landfall ... Hurricane Dolly (Padre Island, Texas), Tropical Storm Edouard (Texas-Louisiana border region), Tropical Storm Fay (4 time: Florida Keys, southwest Florida peninsual, northeast Florida peninsula, Florida panhandle), Hurricane Gustav...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/tropical_weather/its_official_a_respite_in_the.htm... Bummer: Today's rain mostly missing driest areas- September 16, 2008 It's got to be frustrating for the areas remaining in drought over Southwest Virginia that today's rain is mostly staying southeast of us, over areas that have officially been relieved of drought due to the double dose of rains from tropical storms Fay and Hanna. Some areas near Martinsville and Lynchburg on the eastern edge of the drought zone are seeing a decent rain, but only a few showers are making it as far west as Interstate 81 and not much at all is falling west of there. An...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/current_conditions/bummer_todays_rain_mostly_miss.... Ike likely to be the big storm of 2008- September 16, 2008 We are near the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season. Historically, the frequency and intensity of hurricanes begins to tail off by the last week of September, though there are many notable October storms on record and some November ones too. With the tropics very quiet at the moment, no sign of any new impending named storms, it looks like Hurricane Ike has a strong chance to become the iconic storm of the 2008 season for the United States. The hurricane season has not been a one-act...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/tropical_weather/ike_likely_to_be_the_big_storm.ht... Weather Journal will be a politics-free zone- September 15, 2008 I've decided to make Weather Journal an entirely politics-free zone. In other words, I'm not accepting any comments that endorse or criticize political parties or candidates in any way. I've taken down my own previous entry in which I wrote about how the rise in gas prices will eventually pass as power and transportation are restored. It wasn't really a political entry on my part, but it led to multiple comments about various policies and politicians. This is a very heated election season, and.http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/explainer/weather_journal_will_be_a_poli.html Cooler, yes ... but rain prospects dim- September 15, 2008 After a pair of days in the low 90s, this week's weather will be decidedly cooler. By late week, highs in the 70s and lows in the 50s will be common. But it looks like our hopes of rain are dwindling, as an early-week cold front and mid-week upper-level low are less promising. The drought rolls on into fall.http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/forecast/cooler_yes_but_rain_prospects.html A blazing hot September Sunday- September 14, 2008 Today will probably be the hottest day since late July in Southwest Virginia. If Roanoke's high reaches at least 93, it will be the hottest days since it was 95 on July 22. High temperatures are likely to climb into the low and mid 90s over much of the area. Roanoke's record high for Sept. 14 of 96, set in 1930, probably will not be reached; Blacksburg's record high of 90 set in 1998 has a better chance of being topped. Cooler weather is on the way, though, with some chance of rain as well in...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/forecast/a_blazing_hot_september_sunday.html Photos from Hurricane Ike- September 13, 2008 Here are a few links to many photos taken by Texas-based media during and after Hurricane Ike, following its landfall on the Texas coast at Galveston early this morning. Ike is now a gradually diminishing tropical storm over eastern Texas, expected to spread a flooding and tornado threat through the lower and middle Mississippi River Valley over the next 1 to 2 days. Houston Chronicle KHOU-TV, Houston Austin American-Statesman Dallas Morning News For the latest information and photos from.http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/tropical_weather/photos_from_hurricane_ike.html Ike is inland; it will be hot here this weekend- September 13, 2008 Hurricane Ike has come ashore, slowly weakening over east Texas, but still a hurricane. It will take some time to assess the damage in the Houston-Galveston area, and see how many people may have perished or need rescue. Early reports indicate the damage is considerable and widespread. Power is out for millions and some won't get it back for weeks. Click here for the latest on Ike from the Associated Press. It looks like that Ike's remnants will move northeast well north of us , soaking the...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/ike_is_inland_it_will_be_hot_h.html Ike's size, metropolitan target will rack up big damage dollar figures- September 13, 2008 UPDATE 12:15 AM, 913: The large eye of Hurricane Ike is just offshore of Galveston and landfall is likely within the next couple of hours. Click here for the latest from the Associated Press. END UPDATE Notice the large eye of Hurricane Ike on this regional radar shot at about 9:15 p.m. So which is better: A large storm with somewhat less wind, or a smaller, more intense storm Much of the Galveston area was devastated in 1983's Hurricane Alicia, which by contrast, was a tightly wound storm...http://blogs.roanoke.com/weatherjournal/tropical_weather/ikes_size_metropolitan_target.htm... |