TUESDAY WEATHER: It’ll be a bit “cooler” today, with clouds early giving way to sun later in the day and a high of about 84 degrees. Tonight, we’ll drop all the way down to about 63 degrees, as we experience a period of lower humidity. Unfortunately, it won’t last long.
THE REST OF THE WEEK: Heat and humidity will begin to build again tomorrow, as we top out near 90 degrees. Another disturbance will swing through tomorrow night, making rain likely early in the day on Thursday. Rain chances will continue Thursday afternoon and Friday, as well. Temperatures will be in the mid 80s.
THE WEEKEND: The first Friday night football games of the season will bring about a 50% chance of thunderstorms, so we’ll have to pack the ponchos and pray for no lightning delays. The weekend will be mostly dry after Friday, with only a slight chance of thunderstorms Saturday afternoon. Temperatures will be in the low to mid 80s.
FURTHER OUT: Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be in between a heat ridge that is centered over the Desert Southwest and upper level troughiness that will bring cooler-than-average temperatures to New England. That should mean seasonal temperatures for us. Overall, it looks like above-average temperatures will continue through at least the first half of September. A developing super El Nino will favor above-average temperatures dominating through the fall months and into early winter, as well. We may see another manifestation of a strong El Nino with above-average rainfall in September.
RIVER CONDITIONS: Streamflows remain near normal for this time of year. The Big South Fork River is flowing about 200 cubic feet per second (cfs). Clear Fork is just above 50 cfs. Water clarity is good, and water temperatures are topping out in the mid 80s during the afternoon hours.
TROPICAL WATCH: No tropical storms are expected in the Atlantic basin for at least the next 7 days, as an extremely quiet hurricane season continues to unfold.
WINTER OUTLOOK: There’s been a lot of talk about what impact the super El Nino might have on our weather across the U.S. this winter. However, beware the sensational headlines that are intended to generate clicks and views. This El Nino is going to be one of the strongest on record, and that will certainly help influence our weather this winter, but the short-term weather pattern (including cold outbreaks and snowstorms) is influenced by smaller-scale events like blocking in the northern Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Oscillation that aren’t completely dependent on El Nino. With that said, strong El Ninos lend themselves to an active southern branch of the jet stream, which in turn signals a stormy pattern with above-average rainfall in the southern U.S. — including our area. With increased storminess, that can sometimes mean an increased chance for blockbuster snowstorms IF cold air cooperates. Some of our area’s biggest snowstorms have occurred in strong El Nino years. The devastating dynamic cooling snowstorm of February 1998, for example, occurred in a very strong El Nino pattern. December 2010, which featured three snows of at least six inches and our last true white Christmas, also occurred during a strong El Nino. The winter of 2023-2024, which was quite snowy in our area, was a strong El Nino, as well. Current long-range projections indicate a warmer-than-average December to start the winter season, however, so it’s too soon to say that we’ll see more snow than usual due to the El Nino pattern.
TODAY: The Scott County Senior Citizens Center (Main Street, Oneida) will host exercise from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. Pinnacle Resource Center’s food pantry (1513 Jeffers Road, Huntsville) will be open beginning at 9:45 a.m. There are no income guidelines; however, a photo ID and a piece of mail with a Scott County address are required. Boy Scout Troop #333 will meet at the Oneida War Memorial Building on Alberta Street in Oneida beginning at 6 p.m. Wall Builders will meet from 7 p.m. until 9 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church (1611 Glass House Road, Helenwood) for those struggling with addiction or striving to keep off drugs. There will be preaching, teaching, food, fellowship and personal counseling. Alcoholics Anonymous will meet at 7 p.m. at the Highway 27 Unity Club (17737 S. Alberta Street, Oneida). In sports, Oneida soccer will host Cumberland Gap (6:30 p.m.) and Scott High soccer will host Eagleton (6:30 p.m.).
