Wednesday, June 20, 2012

the longest day... (am.20.jun.12)>

We've arrived at the Summer Solstice -- the longest day of the year here in the northern hemisphere -- and we've had 100% clear skies early this morning to welcome the sun.  It has been quiet overnight, with no rainfall, and a low temp of 74.3F (23.5C).

It looks like sunshine will be plentiful today, thanks to high pressure in the middle and upper-atmosphere which should keep things fairly stable.  The upper-air pattern remains unusual for this time of year, holding off the advance of most of the pre-monsoon moisture and shower activity that is lurking well to our south and east.  Temperatures will even be a few degrees above normal for the latter part of June for the next three days or so.

I'm still watching weekend developments with interest.  When the tropical moisture associated with the early stages of monsoon season advances, it does so in alternating surges and retreats... like waves.  We had our first brief surge on Monday evening, and we could see a more substantial surge on Saturday into Sunday.  Already, humidity and thundershowers have been on the increase across most of Nepal, and there's a chance  that some of that moisture will creep our way, at least temporarily.  In that case, we could see a period or two of significant thundershowers, along with a drop in temperatures...

WEDNESDAY:
warmer, with hazy sun and a few clouds.
high: 31C (87F)

WEDNESDAY NIGHT:
clear to partly cloudy skies... quite warm.
low: 24C (76F)

THURSDAY:
hazy sunshine and a few PM clouds.  very warm.
high: 32C (89F)

FRIDAY:
a mix of sun, haze and some clouds.  still unseasonably warm.
morning low: 25C (77F)
daytime high: 31C (88F)

SATURDAY:
partly cloudy and more humid.  chance of a shower or thundershower... especially PM.
morning low: 24C (76F)
daytime high: 30C (86F)

SUNDAY:
both clouds and sun.  more humid, with a good chance of a period of thundershowers.
morning low: 23C (74F)
daytime high: 28C (83F)