A Very Hot Sunday

Expect middle 90's today across much of the Upper Cumberland region with upper 90's toward the Nashville area. This could be our hottest day of the year in Cookeville. I'll call it 95°. No chance for rain today under sunny skies.

SEE YESTERDAY'S POST ABOUT HEAT SAFETY!

Saturday's high was 92.5° marking the sixth day in a row of 90+ degree weather. The heat index or 'feels like' temperature hit 95°. We had no rainfall and this is the eighth straight dry day. When I mowed my yard on Saturday, I could hear the crunchy sound of dried up grass.

Low tonight will be 67° by Monday morning. We have a slight chance at a thunderstorm on Monday with the approach of a cool front. Temperatures behind the will be quite cool with the Monday night low of 61°. Some areas may even drop into the upper 50's. Tuesday's high will be just 82° and another night back around 60°. After that, the HEATWAVE intensifies with near 100° by the end of next week.

Here is the latest on Tropical Storm Debby. She is slowly moving to the north at 2 mph and is expected to turn west, which is good news for the Florida coast and bad news for the Louisiana and Texas coasts.

TS Debby public advisory

*Latest Local Forecast*

Interact with me on social media:
Weather Guy on Facebook
Weather Guy on Twitter
Cookeville Weather Alerts on Twitter

Hottest Two Days This Year

HIGH HUMIDITY & HIGH TEMPS:
Expect to see us reach the middle 90's here in Cookeville today. We're already seeing temperatures rising into the 80's this morning. We'll repeat these highs with a degree or two more on Saturday. Heat Index Readings (feels like) will run between 105 to 110 for most of us. No rain chances for the next two days. The National Weather Service in Nashville has issued a HEAT ADVISORY for all of Middle TN (not including Putnam)

TROPICAL STORM BONNIE:
It is possible that by Tuesday TS Bonnie will be affecting our weather. We'll watch that and keep you updated.

*Latest Local Forecast* 

 
Cookeville's Daily Almanac
This morning's low: 71.8°
Yesterday's high: 91.6°
Yesterday's low: 70.5°
Normal High: 88°
Record: 99° in 1983
Normal Low: 66°
Record: 54° in 2007
Last Year: 75° and 66°
1.68" of rain fell on this date in 1953
As hot as it's been, we're only 1° above normal for July
--------------------------------------------------
Join me on: Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Examiner.com Nashville Weather CookevilleTimes Weather My Google Profile

Rain Chances Possible

IDA EFFECTS:  We will be on the far, western edge of the rainfall associated with what was Hurricane Ida. She came ashore early this morning around Mobile Bay, Alabama as a Tropical Storm. She will track northeasterly and dump heavy amounts of rain across Alabama, parts of Georgia, and from the upper Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee eastward to the Carolinas today.

HERE IN COOKEVILLE:  We've received just .02" of rain at my 7 a.m. observation. It is the first time since November 1st (actually early morning of 10/31) that rain has fallen in Cookeville. I expect we'll see some showers today, but most of the heavy stuff will go to our east. Be careful if you have travel plans to Knoxville or Chattanooga today. Expect a sunshine-filled week from Veteran's Day (Wednesday) all the way through the weekend with seasonal temperatures.

*Latest Local Forecast*

Weather History for This Date 
On November 10, 2002...
Middle Tennessee suffers one of its worst autumn severe weather outbreaks ever. Four tornadoes strike the Highland Rim during the early morning, with 2 fatalities in Port Royal. Then, following record high temperatures at Nashville (81) and Crossville (75), severe weather re-ignites during the late afternoon, with widespread wind damage, hail, and 8 additional tornadoes. Lake Tansi Village, south of Crossville, is hardest hit, as a supercell produces baseball-size hail and an F3 tornado, killing 4. Two additional fatalities occur at New Union (Coffee County) as the result of two F2 tornadoes there. In addition to the 8 fatalities, 51 injuries are reported across the area. This is the 7th largest tornado outbreak in mid state history. 


Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Yesterday's high: 66° low: 46°
Normal High: 62°
(Record: 79° in 1915)
Normal Low: 37°
(Record: 19° in 1991)
Last Year: 44° and 28°
2.20" of rain fell on this date in 1990
--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

Lastly, you can read my latest weather post over the Examiner website where I handle duties as the Nashville Weather Examiner.

Rain Chances Again Today

**RAIN BANDS ROLL THROUGH**
The remnants of what was once Tropical Storm Claudette will impact our area today. Rain showers are moving through now...see radar...We received .34" in the CoCoRaHS rain gauge yesterday evening. That more than doubles our August total with .63". Rain chances are 60% today, 50% tonight, 60% on Wednesday and Thursday.

**40 YEARS SINCE CAMILLE**
Today (August 18, 2009) marks the 40th anniversary of Hurricane Camille devastating the Mississippi Gulf Coast. It went in near Bay St. Louis and most intense part struck near Pass Christian. Camille killed 172 near the Coast alone. The last time hurricane hunters checked the storm, they discovered winds of 190 mph with gusts to 220. It would take years for the Gulf Coast to recover.

*Latest Local Forecast*

Weather History for This Date
1954-Nashville's high was 102° while the low was a miserable 79°.

Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Yesterday's high: 89° low: 70°
Normal High: 87°
(Record: 100° in 1936)
Normal Low: 63°
(Record: 52° in 1979)
Last Year: 90° and 58°
2.17" of rain fell on this date in 1930
--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

Rain Chances All Week

**RAIN AND MORE RAIN POSSIBLE**
We keep rain chances in our forecast each day this week. Precipitation chances are in the 40-50% range. Our Tuesday weather will be affected by the remnants of Tropical Storm Claudette which roared ashore around Fort Walton Beach, FL overnight. Claudette appears to be moving slower than first expected.

**TROPICS REPORT** (short and sweet)
Tropical Storm Ana is fizzling out and not expected to grow while Bill is now a hurricane with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph.

*Latest Local Forecast*

Weather History for This Date
2007-Lafayette (105), Portland (105), and Woodbury (109) set all-time record highs
1969-Aircraft measuring Hurricane Camille's strength note a reading of 190 mph sustained winds with a 220 mph gust. They also get a barometer reading of 905 millibars or 26.73", the lowest ever recorded. Camille has exploded into a dangerous, Category 5 hurricane and is just 100 miles off the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Fun Weather Site of The Day
Today's FWSOTD stays with the Hurricane/Tropical theme. It is called the Caribbean Hurricane Network and is found by going to STORM CARIB. This site is a network of people who live in and around the Caribbean Islands. As storms approach, it is very interesting to read what they write. Real people who face real danger. Check them out today!

Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Yesterday's high: 89° low: 70°
Normal High: 87°
(Record: 102° in 2007)
Normal Low: 63°
(Record: 50° in 1979)
Last Year: 85° and 55°
2.76" of rain fell on this date in 1944
--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

Lastly, you can read my latest weather post over the Examiner website where I handle duties as the Nashville Weather Examiner.

Look What Is Headed Our Way!

1:00 PM Central Daylight Time 
Information on Tropical Storm Claudette.
Courtesy: Nat'l Hurricane Center-Miami, FL
Position: 83 miles due south of Panama City, FL
Moving: North NorthWest @ 14 mph
Winds: 50 mph sustained with a recorded 63 mph gust
Expectations...T.S. Claudette is expected to continue a NNW track into the panhandle of Florida this evening with waves 3-5 foot above normal, possible trees and signs down due to winds. Rainfall amounts will be on the order of around 3" in the heaviest spots. Some isolated locations may receive up to 5". Claudette will move quickly to the northwest into Alabama. By 7 pm on Monday evening, it should be downgraded to a depression and be in the extreme northwest part of Alabama. Expect this storm to impact our weather in Cookeville with showers and thunderstorms by Tuesday. A 36-hour track is shown below.

--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

Lastly, you can read my latest weather post over the Examiner website where I handle duties as the Nashville Weather Examiner.

Super Sunday Weather

**SUNDAY MORNING SUNSHINE**
We awake this morning with warm sunshine. Expect another hot day with highs around 88° this afternoon and I cannot rule out a thunderstorm or two in our area. Low of 70° tonight with a slight chance of rain. Chances increase to 50% on Monday with highs in the middle 80's.



*Latest Local Forecast*

**TROPICS VERY ACTIVE**
In the last 24 hours, we went from one tropical storm to three! Ana, Bill, and Claudette (officially still called T.D. #4) are or will be named storms. First, Claudette is just off the west coast of Florida and is expected to gather more strength and turn to the NNW. On this track, it should affect the Florida and Alabama gulf coasts by early Monday morning. A tropical storm warning has been issued for those areas. T.S. Ana is churning in the Atlantic and is headed toward the Leeward Islands. Finally, T.S. Bill is in wide-open waters. The thinking now is Bill will re-curve toward the northern Caribbean and affect the east coast of the U.S.

Weather History for This Date
**2007**-In the midst of one of the worst droughts in Middle Tennessee's history, the temperature at Nashville climbs to 106 degrees, setting a record high for the month. It is only the fifth time in Nashville's history that this mark has been hit. It is the fifth consecutive day with 100+ degree readings -- the 9th in the last ten days -- and also the twelfth consecutive day of at least 99 degrees. Waverly sets a new all-time record high with a 106-degree reading, and Linden ties its record high at 105. 


Fun Weather Site of The Day
Today's FWSOTD is called STORM PULSE. With Storm Pulse, you can track tropical systems like a professional. They are so many great tools on this site. One of my personal favorites tells you how far the storm is from to a point on the map. Another favorite is what the expectation of the storm's strength will be over a certain period of time. Check out Storm Pulse today!


Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Yesterday's high: 91° low: 68°
Normal High: 87°
(Record: 102° in 2007)
Normal Low: 63°
(Record: 50° in 2004)
Last Year: 81° and 62°
3.57" of rain fell on this date in 1964

Through the first 15 days of August, daily high temperatures are 2° below normal.

--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

Hot Weekend and Active Tropics

**HOT AND DRY TODAY**
First, expect several hot days in a row across Middle Tennessee with highs near 90° here in the Cookeville area. While some may see one or two pop-up showers, don't expect any today. Sunday-Wednesday is a different story as chances increase each day for the rainfall. 10% at the most for Sunday up to a 40% chance by Tuesday.

*Latest Local Forecast*

**TROPICS ARE HEATING UP**
Next up on the list is the continuing tropical development in the Atlantic. It was for good reason we decided to feature the Nat'l Hurricane Center as the Fun Weather Site of the day this past Wednesday. Tropical Storm Ana is the first named storm of the 2009 season. Conditions are very favorable for continued development as well as a westward movement toward the U.S. mainland. While still 1000 miles east of the Leeward Islands, this storm bears watching. I've included a link to a website called STORMPULSE. They may have the best graphics of anyone on the web. Best of all, it is free!

**MORE THAN JUST ANA**
Not only is Ana looking very favorable for development, there is another area of disturbed weather that is east of Ana and is likely to become a named storm. If they both pan out, I'd consider next weekend the prime-time for two hurricanes to be all over the newscasts.

Weather History for This Date
1969-Camille reaches hurricane status this date. It would go on to wreck the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is considered by many to the most (along with Katrina) devastating hurricane to hit that area. Excellent story on Camille by our friends at AlabamaWX.com.

1954-A heatwave assaults Middle Tennessee as Nashville goes over 100° for the second day in a row.

Fun Weather Site of The Day
Don't laugh at this one, but I'm featuring my own web site as the FWSOTD. I know, I know..many of you are asking this: Why in the world would you feature your own web site, Michael? Here is the short and quick answer. Someone I respect pointed out a couple of ideas they had for changes to my site. I went ahead and made the changes and want feedback. So, at the risk of getting hammered, here is my e-mail address for comments!

Cookeville's Daily Almanac
Yesterday's high: 90° low: 65°
Normal High: 87°
(Record: 98° in 2007)
Normal Low: 64°
(Record: 49° in 2004 )
Last Year: 82° and 61°
1.62" of rain fell on this date in 1920

**LAST, BUT NOT LEAST** (July Review)
Finally, a quick look back at July. For the entire state of Tennessee, July was the 3rd coolest ever and it was one of the rainiest in history, too. A story from NOAA about July is available here.
--------------------------------------------------
Be sure to join me on Facebook and request to be my friend. We have a great community of weather folks.

I'm also on Twitter and enjoy adding people to my 'following' list and invite you to 'follow' me. Twitter is a great way to keep up quickly!

In The Path of Omar

Received a 'panicked' call this evening from relatives in St. Maarten (pronounced Martin).  They've been watching Tropical Storm Omar and decided to evacuate.  Here is how it went:

Me:  Hello....

Relative:  Hey, have you seen the weather lately? (duh!)  
               There is a possible Cat. 2 hurricane heading  our way.  

Me:  Ok...So what would you like me to do? (figuring they wanted updates)

Relative:  We need a flight out immediately.  Not ready to die on this island!

Me:  Where would you like to go?

Relative:  I don't care, anywhere, Miami or New York

Me:  Ok, I'll check...got a flight going out tomorrow at 3-something.

Relative:  Great, I'll take it.  

Me:  Do you want to know how much?

Relative:  Heck no, I just want out of here...

And so it went, got them booked out of St. Maarten in advance of soon-to-be Hurricane Omar.  Hopefully, there are able to get out.   How they are going to get from Miami back home is a yet-to-be determined and ever evolving situation!

Funny thing is, they can see the ocean from their balcony.  It isn't so funny when you're staring at a possible Cat 2 storm and you're in, basically, a third-world country.

Just another day in the Weather Business!

Yet Another Dry Day!

Our run of dry weather continues as an area of high pressure is guarding most of Tennessee.  It keeps any weather systems from passing through our area.  What this means is we'll continue to have warm, sunny days and cool evenings.

*Our latest, local forecast *

If our temperature trend holds out, we should cool down over the next 5 days.  Highs today will be in the lower 80's cooling to the mid 70's by the weekend.  Night time lows will be mainly in the mid 50's.

Our friend Eddie, over at Jackson Weather, has a nice graphic showing the high pressure in control.

The forecasting models for Invest 93 (could become T.S. Kyle) have it moving due north up the Atlantic coast.

Finally, I've added a Google Custom Search Box on the blog about halfway down the right hand side. Be sure to try it out by putting in your favorite type weather and click 'search'.  I think you'll find it very useful.

A Little Rain

With no rain chances over the next seven days in our forecast this morning, what was falling from the sky tonight?  Rain, of course! :)  It has been six days since our last measurable rainfall.   I'll have a good measurement of what fell tonight at 7:00 am Sunday.

Our latest, local forecast does have a 20% chance for rain on Sunday under a cloudy sky.   The rest of the week, however, is forecasted to be dry with warm days and cool nights.

Interesting post over at AlabamaWX about Hurricane Hugo from 1989.  

Speaking of tropical weather, Invest 93 still has the potential to develop into a tropical depression.  See map below.  Click on it for a better view.

Nice Weekend Ahead (Cloudy Start)

A cloudy morning to start!

Our latest, local forecast calls for a mostly cloudy day with highs in the upper 70's...the next several days, though, will be sunny with highs around 80....no rain chances through next Wednesday.  We're just over 1" for the month of September, however, the cool night and warm days have prevented our yards from turning a 'summer-brown' color!

Invest 93 has some potential for tropical depression development.  We'll keep an eye on this disturbance area of showers and storms.

Have a nice Saturday...will be back in later with another post!

Ike Hammering Texas Gulf Coast

HURRICANE IKE UPDATE..

• 1 am update...eyewall is just off the coast of Galveston
• 600,000 people are now without power.  Could exceed 1 million soon.
• High tide is at 3:59 am for Galveston.  Look out..could be a mess!
• From WeatherBug, over 1 million people now without power as of 1:25 am CDT
• Being told by Fox News, the stranded freighter in the Gulf is ok.  I'm sure the crew have 'tossed' their cookies.
• 2 am update:  4.5 million people without power!! WOW...

Watching Hurricane Ike strike the Gulf Coast of Texas this evening.  It is very interesting flipping between Fox News, where Geraldo Rivera is very near the seawall and Steve Herrigan, who is away from the wall in Galveston, CBS' 11 news out of Houston (on Directv 361) with their local coverage (it is excellent), and The Weather Channel HD (362) with Mike Bettis and Mike Seidel doing great work, too.

• Just In

Brennen's Restaurant, a famous landmark in downtown Houston has burned to the ground.  According to reports, their was nothing the firefighters could do. 

---------------------
Many of you are aware of the ship stranded out in the gulf.  I hope those folks are safe. Bet they are seasick.  I understand tugboats are on the way to the freighter to tow it.  They say it is a 584 foot ship with a crew of 22 men.  

All sorts of Ike information on KHOU website

Eye is nearing Galveston at 12:52 am.

Beaumont 78 mph winds
Houston-Hobby 68 mph
Houston-Bush 59 mph

My WX Box is a site with a bunch of Personal Weather Stations from the Houston area...interesting information!

Updating Ike and Our Local Forecast

Hurricane Ike is poised to strike the Texas coast near Galveston overnight Friday into Saturday morning.  Winds could reach 120 mph by landfall.  Ike is a large, dangerous storm.

Ike Links:
Wunderground Tropical
Nat'l Hurricane Center
Storm Pulse

The Houston/Galveston National Weather Service office is using strong wording concerning this storm.  With storm surge in the 20+ foot range, staying in your homes near the gulf will result in 'almost certain death'...that, my friends, is strong wording!

*Latest Galveston Forecast*

Here locally in Cookeville, Tennessee, we'll enjoy summer-like weather through the weekend.  Highs in the mid 80's with high humidity and chances of storms each day.

*Latest, Local Forecast*

Nice Day Ahead! (Ike Morning Update)

A mostly sunny day is on tap for us here in Cookeville today with highs in the upper 80's.  

*Latest, Local Forecast*

Hurricane Ike, with winds around 105 mph, is riding along Cuba this morning.  While some of it's power has been sapped by the terrain, it remains a strong storm.   The week ahead looks very interesting and we will keep an eye on this developing event.

More information available from:
*Wunderground Tropical*
*Nat'l Hurricane Center*

Foggy Morning! (Ike Update) (Church)

Good morning!  It is the 50's this morning around the Cookeville area.  We are at 58° and thick fog is affecting much of Middle Tennessee.  Latest shot from our webcam in downtown Cookeville.

We'll see clearing by 9:30 this morning and our forecast calls for highs to reach in the middle 80's.

Moving on to Hurricane Ike...at 7 am CDT, he has winds of 135 mph (Category 4) with gusts to 160 mph and is moving to the west at 14 mph.  The lowest barometer reading was 28.01"...whereas here at home this morning, we have 30.18"...Ike is forecasted (as you see below) to move into the Gulf of Mexico.  Much, much more information at Wunderground Tropical and the NHC.

Speaking of tropical storms, I was checking CoCoRaHS rainfall totals across the country this morning where Tropical Storm Hannah raced up the east coast and found one location in Virginia (Prince William County) that recorded 9.14" in the last 24 hours!   There are many locations in that area that received over 5".

I'm headed to church this morning.  Have camera duties for the internet and TV.  You can watch the services (first one at 8:30 am CDT & second at 10:30 am CDT) on the web by going to our website for Trinity Assembly of God in Algood, TN.

Hannah and Ike

Tropical Storm Hannah is coming ashore overnight in South Carolina.  Watching winds at a station near Bald Head Beach, NC and seeing south to southeasterly winds whip to 47 mph tonight with gusts running to 56 mph.  Much more of this area will continue to feel the effects of Hannah.

Heavy rains have already saturated much of the area around N. Myrtle Beach, SC as 3+ inches is common.

Landfall for Hannah is expected between Pauley's Island, SC in the south to Ocean Isle, NC and anywhere in between.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Hurricane Ike is the big Daddy in the Atlantic.  He is expected to continue his WSW movement and northern Cuba and the Florida Keys are in his path.  

Latest models indicate Ike will continue his trek into the Gulf.  From there, it is anyone's guess.

Digital Warnings (courtesy: Lamar Advertising)

As most of you already know, my daytime (or paying) job is with Lamar Outdoor Advertising.  We are the largest billboard-only company in the United States.  Over the last few years, Digital Displays (some call them 'jumbo-trons' have become very popular.  One of the incredible features of these billboards is the fact we can change them at a moment's notice.  They've been instrumental in capturing people on the run via Amber Alerts.  Above is an advertisement running in several of our markets including:

Daytona Beach, FL - 004
Brunswick, GA - 240
Savannah, GA - 079
Columbia, SC - 204
Asheville, NC - 136
Elizabethtown, NC - 205
Rocky Mount, NC - 278
Lenoir, NC - 299


for Tropical Storm Hannah.  These billboards get critical information out to the general public in addition to advertisements for paying clients!  I'm thrilled to be associated with a company that cares.


Side note:  Our headquarters in Baton Rouge, LA continues (like many of the homes and businesses in Louisiana) to be without power.  We are operating on a limited basis with generators.  The good news (for some of our clients) is we're unable to send out invoices right now...but the bad news for some of us is that some checks could be delayed.  We here in Tennessee completely understand about our paycheck being delayed.  


Hang in there, my Louisiana workmates...ya'll are the BEST! :)

The Hannah and Ike Show

Hannah is on the move and threatens the coasts of Florida to North Carolina this weekend.   Ike, meanwhile, grew overnight to a rather intense Category 4 hurricane.

See the Nat'l Hurricane site & the Wunderground Tropical site for more information.

Back home in Cookeville, TN..what's left of Gustav will affect our weather over the next two days as rainfall chances will increase.  It was gorgeous sunrise this morning and we'll see a nice day with a slight chance for thunderstorms as we pick up a strong southerly wind.  For Friday, our chances increase to 40% as those remnants slide through.

*Latest, Local Forecast*

For beautiful shots of our wonderful city, click here for the Cookeville Webcam.

More Hot & Dry Weather

We are stuck, currently, in a hot & dry weather pattern.  This should stay in place through the rest of our workweek.  Friday does, however, give us a 30% chance at rain. 

*Latest, Local Forecast*

Tropical Storm Hannah continues to do funny things.  She has turned to the north and is moving very slowly (2 mph)...possibly affecting the US mainland by the weekend. 

Tropical Storms Ike and Josephine are way out there in the Atlantic.  They are both nearly hurricane strength.  Unless something unexpected happens, they will be on our minds for the next 2 weeks.

According to Dr. Jeff Master's over at Wunderground, the last time there were four named systems present on the same day was on August 24, 1999, when Bret, Cindy, Dennis and Emily were all active in the Atlantic.  Interesting!! :)