Hope and Change

Over the last several days, I've had many people comment to me as to how uncomfortable the weather has been lately in terms of both the late season heat and especially the oppressive humidity that has been in place since the landfall of Isaac.  Well, I have some good news y'all; I have some hope and change!  The hope lies in a cold front that will translate across the state today while the change will be evident in the blissfully obvious reduction of humidity by Sunday and through early next week.  In addition, the air that will invade PA is coming essentially straight from the land of Nunavut where dew points in the 40s would be considered humid!  The map below shows the cold front at 2 pm Saturday afternoon.  The hope...

Unfortunately with such a strong and vigorous frontal passage thanks primarily to the upper air dynamics, severe weather will be common later today as the front passes our region during the maximum heating of the day.  The Storm Prediction Center out of OK has issued a moderate risk of severe wx with a 45% likelihood of wind damage in the pink shaded area.  Why pink???

Tornadoes are also not out of the question as the upper air vorticity is such that rotating thunderstorms and violent updrafts will be observed along and near this surface cold front.  Here is the 500 mb prog for later today as well...note the vort maxes along this digging and strengthening trough!

But this front will usher out the old humid air and deliver the goods from O Canada...Note the 70+ dew points for ~noon Saturday...

...and the MUCH DRIER air 42 hours later...ahhhhh...change we can all appreciate!

Once this cold front clears the east coast, a sprawling area of high pressure will move SE and control our wx over the next several days.  I believe that we will experience some of the upcoming work week mornings with temps in the 40s...especially Tuesday morn.

There will be a few short waves in the upper air flow that may interrupt this stellar week of weather which we will experience the next several days after today's transitional severe wx day.  So there you have it; Hope in the form of a cold front and Change in the air masses!  Now that is my kind of Hope and Change!

High Hopes is a song from one of my favorite groups...Pink Floyd (Not Harry the K singing as he so eloquently crooned during his life here on this earth).  Here are the lyrics and the accompanying video...enjoy your weekend!

Beyond the horizon of the place we lived when we were young
In a world of magnets and miracles
Our thoughts strayed constantly and without boundary
The ringing of the division bell had begun

Along the Long Road and on down the Causeway
Do they still meet there by the Cut

There was a ragged band that followed our footsteps
Running before time took our dreams away
Leaving the myriad small creatures trying to tie us to the ground
To a life consumed by slow decay

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
With friends surrounded
The nights of wonder

Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us
To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side
Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again
Dragged by force of some inner tide

At a higher altitude with flag unfurled
We reached the dizzy heights of that dreamed of world

Encumbered forever by desire and ambition
There's a hunger still unsatisfied
Our weary eyes still stray to the horizon
Though down this road we've been so many times

The grass was greener
The light was brighter
The taste was sweeter
The nights of wonder
With friends surrounded
The dawn mist growing
The water flowing
The endless river

Happy Saturday!

Smitty

AA: A strong cold front will produce nasty storms with strong winds, heavy rains and possibly some hail for Saturday afternoon.  Then, a week of nice fall wx!