BLOG: The Weekend Is Here
This morning is a lot less active than some recent ones. And, while we have good reason to be "optimistic" that the flooding won't be getting worse because of any new torrential rainfall, there are still several roads near D.C., in northern Virginia and in southern Maryland that remain closed. Rivers and streams are going to take a while to fall below their flood stages, and we are still going to have some unsettled conditions around here over the next few days.
Katia once made many nervous, because it was given a name just after we got finished dealing with Irene. But this morning, it is in the process of moving to the north, and it will eventually turn more toward the northeast as it remains out over the open waters of the Atlantic. We're still concerned about rough surf and strong rip currents at the beaches today (remember, many area beaches don't have lifeguards on duty after Labor Day), but that's all that it will deliver. However, in an indirect manner, Katia has been one of the key players that has kept most of the weather systems across eastern North America from moving all that much during the past 48 hours.
So, with a high pressure system spreading out across northern New England and eastern Canada, and Katia located off shore, that still leaves the remnant area of low pressure which was once Lee stuck in southern portions of the Ohio Valley early today. And, with an upper-level low pressure circulation still swirling over this area, this is still a catalyst which is causing a few showers in the mid-Atlantic states, as well as in northwestern Ohio and in northern Indiana. During the night, what was once a very impressive-looking band of heavy rain located just to the south of Baltimore, has almost faded away completely. This upper-level low pressure system is expected to "wobble" somewhat over the next 48 hours before it finally begins to unravel, and then its eventual demise will allow for some much-needed rain-free weather to ensue.
We're still mentioning a couple of showers and a thunderstorm in our forecasts for each of the next few days, but the activity won't be as heavy, nor will it be as widespread as it has been during recent days.
