Portland, Maine, and the Dallas-Fort Worth area are rarely mentioned in the same sentence. But they are today because there’s been a strange role reversal. Monday’s high in North Texas of only 74 SHATTERED THE 113-YEAR-OLD RECORD of 79 as the coolest high temperature on July 15. In Portland, the average high temperature this time of year is 79. But on Monday, Portland topped out at 91, just shy of the record of 92 set in 1957.
Maine isn’t alone. Much of the Northeast, including New York City, was baking under an excessive heat advisory, while Philadelphia was under an excessive heat warning that is expected to last until Wednesday. But in North Texas, Sunday’s high of 81 tied the record for the coolest high temperature on that date set on July 14, 1989. In North Texas, the average high for July 15 is 96.
What brought these strange circumstances together? A high pressure system in the Northeast, which brought the heat to that region, also helped propel the UNUSUAL southwestward movement of an upper level-low pressure system that brought the rain and cool temperatures to Texas. “In the summertime, I CANNOT RECALL AN INSTANCE WHERE THAT HAS HAPPENED,” said a National Weather Service meteorologist.
The weather system even prompted flash flood watches across parts of North, Central and West Texas on Monday. Near San Angelo in Concho County, a flood advisory was issued for a part of the state that has been hit hard by drought. In West Texas, the prospect of potential deluges had everyone crossing their fingers. “They’re saying ‘bring it on’. We don’t have the sub-moisture to survive August when we usually don’t get any rain. Not only do the farmers need it but our lakes are horrible right now.”
In New Mexico, Dona Ana, Otero, Luna, Sierra, Grant and Hidaldgo counties were all under the same flash flood watch as West Texas. The storm’s reach was expected to extend into Arizona and even southern Colorado.
Highs in the 70s during July is not unheard of. “For the period of record, which goes back to 1899, there have been a total of 36 times in which the high was 79 degrees or less. July 1905 had four of them.” The all-time record low high temperature in July is 71 in 1924.
This “cool” spell will stick around until Friday when high temperatures are expected to reach 96, the average high for mid-July.
your past and smile about how far you’ve come.**
LARGEST QUAKES -
Live Seismograms - Worldwide (update every 30 minutes)
This morning -
None 5.0 or higher.
Yesterday -
7/15/13 -
5.2 NEAR EAST COAST OF KAMCHATKA
7.3 SOUTH SANDWICH ISLANDS REGION
5.8 TONGA
5.3 TAIWAN REGION
5.0 MID-INDIAN RIDGE
5.1 OFF THE COAST OF EL SALVADOR
Moderate quake shakes Dominican Republic - The quake was felt strongly in Nagua (north), where people in panic rushed out of their homes, offices and shops and on to the streets, while the power was cut and phones went out momentarily. And although the Atlantic Ocean appeared calm, the people feared that the tremor could have unleashed a tsunami.
The magnitude 5.1 tremor shook Dominican Republic at 10:02am Monday, and according to the U.S. Geodetic Survey, the quake was centered 17km south of Las Guaranas, San Francisco (northeast). In the capital of Santo Domingo the tremor prompted the evacuation of the Acropolis Center, one of the city's tallest office buildings. (map)
VOLCANOES -
Volcano Webcams
Ecuador - Explosive Eruption at Tungurahua Generating Pyroclastic Flows. The eruption was caught on weather satellite images of the area spreading to the northeast of the volcano. The pyroclastic flow threat has prompted the Ecuadoran government to evacuate people living nearest to the volcano.
Philippines - 7 quakes rumble at Taal Volcano. A total of seven volcanic earthquakes rocked Taal Volcano on Saturday, the most number of quakes so far for the month of July.
TROPICAL STORMS -
In the Western Pacific -
Tropical depression Eight was located approximately 207 nm east-northeastward of Manila, Philippines. (maps)
Philippines - A potential cyclone, a low-pressure area, hovered near Albay province in the Bicol Region before noon Monday, even as state weather forecasters warned of possible flash floods and landslides that may affect much of the country. The low pressure area hovering off Visayas has a high chance of becoming a tropical cyclone.
SEVERE RAIN STORMS, FLOODING, LANDSLIDES -
New Zealand - Severe weather cuts power and disrupts travel. Extreme weather hitting much of the country has cut power to thousands of homes in Taranaki and caused the cancellation of flights and ferries in and out of Wellington. Electricity provider Powerco says strong winds have downed power lines in Taranaki, cutting power to 11,000 homes. Winds of up to 130 kilometres per hour downed trees, which brought down overhead lines.
Black ice causing chaos on roads in the South Island.
HEALTH THREATS -
RECALLS & ALERTS
