Summer Swelter for Greenbrier Weekend

This Thursday evening the air is tropically muggy but bearable in the wake of early afternoon storms. Now we get set to brave a 2 day period of incandescent sun and sweltering heat.

Like a bottle rock set off for home fireworks, the air was ignited by the intense heat of the morning. Think of that hot air (92-95 by noon) as the match that set off the suddenly rowdy round of storms.

Those storms generated torrential downpours and cannon shots of thunder, the lightning strikes responsible for new power outages. Gusty winds knocked down more tree branches and even some hail fell from the taller storm clouds. Ice cubes at 95 degrees you ask?

While things remain mainly tame overnight into Friday morning, my concern would be for a few cells to remain on radar all the way until 10 am. The past few mornings have seen such, so somewhere, someone on Friday morning is apt to see a downpour. Toss a few coins into the air and imagine where they land is where cells will be as the sun comes up.

Hard to predict you say? I say impossible!

Now Friday and Saturday will see the core of the heat come right back on top of us. Either or both days could see one hundred on the thermometer. The heat index (real feel of the air) will seem like it is 105. Admittedly, that can be a level that is deleterious to humans and canines alike.

My suggestion, slow down and stay hydrated.

As for thunder on those days I sense a drier seam of air around 5-10,000 feet overheat. That might supress activity. We shall see.

In the longer term, I expect a cold front to pass on Sunday. A round of showers and thunderstorms would be likely then (ETA TBA). Then hold onto your hats the heat wave will come to an end by Monday through next week as a less hot and somewhat refreshing air mass arrives from Canada. Highs will be in the 80s next week.

By the way, it will be very hot at the Greenbrier too the next 3 days. Highs in the 90s will feel near 100 with the heat index. Night time concerts will only cool after sundown into the low and mid 80s. And with the Fairlea fairgrounds packing them in by the thousands, dare I say there will be some body heat to make things feel even hotter.