Captain's Log 10 Aug 2020 Hot & Stormy...Watching Tropics!

Happy Monday! :)

Last week's Tropical Storm Isaias was a great example of how the RIGHT FRONT quadrant of a hurricane, even a tropical storm is the most devastating sector of a tropical system. Ultimately 6.4 million homes and businesses lost power with Isaias from NC to New England, some are still out nearly a week later! CLICK ON IMAGES FOR A LARGER VIEW.



It was Mrs. Captain Kirk's (Simona) birthday so why not got have a "tropical like" birthday lunch??? What could go wrong??? :) It started off nice with the tropical rain's making for a nice lunch but in 30 minutes the water rose 2-3 feet...even inside the restaurant. Note to self...check flood plain maps before venturing out! We left like ducks out the back of the restaurant since the front was under 2 feet of water.





Many organizations upped their hurricane totals with Colorado State University hurricane gurus now forecasting 24 named systems for the most active season since 2005. What wt360 has warned about for a year now!



This week (10-16 August): looks to bring nearly nationwide above average temperatures with the heaviest rainfall in the East. The west remains generally dry where 54% of the country is in dry to drought-like phases. For the U.S. overall the week trends 1.8F warmer than last year, 4th warmest in 35 years, wettest in 3 years and 3rd wettest in 35 years. A good summer clearance week for seasonal merchandise. Not so good for back to school sales in the South where schools are already open. A tropical system well out in the Atlantic could become the 10th named storm.



Next week (17-23 August) brings more of the same with the week likely to trend +0.5F warmer than last year making it the #1 hottest in 35 years for the U.S. overall. It is cooler than last year along the East Coast but also #1 wettest in 35 years nationally.



The tropics are likely to start heating up with several systems likely to develop the latter half of the month.



This is the Cape Verde season when tropical waves come off the African Savanna and these can produce major hurricanes. 85% of all major hurricanes start as tropical waves, so the next couple months need to be watched very closely for devastating impacts to the U.S.



The next couple weeks show most of the world on the warm side with the exceptions in Southern Brazil, Argentina, Central Russia and Siberia.



Look East before sunrise the 11-12 August to see the annual Perseid Meteor Shower with upwards of 60 meteors per hour.

Have a great week and stay safe!

- Captain Kirk out