May 22: Heat Wave Detected!

Jonathan Carr
By May 22, 2015 12:14

May 22: Heat Wave Detected!

Stubborn high pressure should create a ridge over the E. US next week. This means hazy, hot, and humid conditions starting Tuesday and lasting until at least next Sunday. Let’s go straight to European model guidance, specifically 850mb temperature, wind direction, and pressure:

Tuesday May 26:

heat

Thursday May 28:

ecmwf

Saturday May 30:

ecmwf

Notice the wind direction remaining stubborn out of the SW. This flow is what will draw up the warmth and moisture from Gulf of Mexico air mass and it will remain stubborn so long as the high pressure system in the Atlantic Ocean remains parked in the Bermuda area. This coupled with high-angle diurnal surface heating should put most of interior New Jersey in the 90s for high temperatures. Coastal regions would remain cooler from ocean surface temperature influence.

The NWS Climate Prediction Center has released the following probability diagrams indicating the percent chance of above/below-average temperatures for the 6-10 day period (left) and 8-14 day period (right):

NWS CPC

Wild cards to watch out for during this heat wave: Fog between sunset and sunrise. PM instability-driven showers and thunderstorms. Fire hazards for areas currently in drought (NNJ and parts of CNJ).

In English: It will be hot for most of New Jersey from Tuesday through at least next weekend. July in May. Be safe! JC

Jonathan Carr
By May 22, 2015 12:14