Minor Western North Carolina Earthquake

A minor earthquake occurred just after 6am this morning in western North Carolina. Find the information on it by click this link to the USGS.

Also, for all of the latest on the North Carolina drought situation, you can go to the United States Drought Monitor.

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Tropics

We are watching a tropical wave that is approaching the eastern Caribbean islands this afternoon. A recon plance is scheduled to investigate this system this afternoon. It is a tough call based on satellite imagery as to whether or not this system is a tropical depression. While there have been some nice blow-ups of storms, they have not remained concentrated in a central location for long periods of time. Also, there is a mid-level circulation evident on visible satellite imagery as I type this, but only the recon plane and ship reports can tell us if there is a low level circulation.

There are also some storms in the northern Gulf along an old frontal boundary. The waters are warm there, and we need to watch that area for any signs of development over the next few days.

As far as modelling is concerned, most models seem to lose the tropical disturbance approaching the Caribbean. Some modelling does want to spin up something in the Gulf.

Bottom line is...we will keep watching. Stay tuned, and stay cool!

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Chantal

Late yesterday evening, a new tropical depression formed in the Atlantic. As of 8:15am today, the system is now Tropical Storm Chantal. However, this system is mainly a "fish storm," although it will affect parts of the Canadian maritimes. Below the the upgrade statement from the NHC...

WTNT63 KNHC 311213
TCUAT3
TROPICAL STORM CHANTAL TROPICAL CYCLONE UPDATE
NWS TPC/NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL   AL032007
815 AM EDT TUE JUL 31 2007
SATELLITE IMAGES AND QUIKSCAT DATA INDICATE THAT TROPICAL DEPRESSION
THREE HAS BECOME A TROPICAL STORM WITH ESTIMATED MAXIMUM WINDS OF
40 MPH...65 KM/HR WITH HIGHER GUSTS.  CHANTAL IS LOCATED ABOUT 330
MILES...530 KM...SOUTH OF HALIFAX NOVA SCOTIA AND IS MOVING RAPIDLY
TOWARD THE NORTHEAST NEAR 23 MPH...37 KM/HR. CHANTAL IS NOT A
THREAT TO THE UNITED STATES.

$$
FORECASTER BLAKE

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Sunday Evening

We have seen some showers out there this evening, but it looks like warmer air aloft kept us from seeing any big storms today. With a frontal boundary lingering near the region, a passing shower or storm will remain possible overnight, and more scattered showers and storms will probably be with us Monday afternoon.

Tuesday into next weekend look to feature primarily dry conditions. While an isolated shower or storm will be possible any afternoon, the chance of rain in any one spot on a daily basis looks very small.

The heat will build, and I think we are looking at mid 90s by the end of the week.

On another note, I have bumped into plenty of people talking about Friday night's storms. They were certainly quite intense, and a lot of downed tree limbs can be seen in parts of Cleveland, Gaston, and Mecklenburg counties. When I got home Friday night, my neighborhood was without power, and quite a few tree limbs were down. It was actually a little surreal driving in there and it being completely dark...no street lights, no lights from homes...nothing. My wife had already gotten candles lit all around the house. It actually was kinda fun to be away from all of the electronics and what-not for a period of time.

Couple of off days coming up Monday and Tuesday. I have lots of odd and end type of things to get done around the house....maybe I can make a dent in them over the next couple of days.

Thanks for reading!

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