Record Heat Friday

A very warm air mass combined with a thermal trough at the Coast brought record heat to the Bay Friday.

A thermal trough is usually responsible for all of our heat waves.  A thermal trough forms from rising air over an area of intense heat.  This happens quite often in the Central Valley. 

You can think of the thermal trough as a valley of low pressure in which air sinks to fill the void left by the rising air.

This trough usually sits over the Central Valley and draws cooler air from the ocean to air condition the Bay and Coast.  This is why it’s so windy in the Bay and through the Carquinez Strait to the Delta communities.  On Friday, an area of high pressure steered this trough offshore.  This stopped the cooling sea breeze, ocean water temperatures in the upper 50s chills the air, stagnated our air, which allowed the heat to build to record levels. 

As high pressure moves east today and tomorrow, the trough will move east also and return to the Central Valley and our onshore flow will bring cooler air to the Coast and Bay today (first) and Inland tomorrow (second).   

STATION		 NEW RECORD    OLD RECORD  

MOFFETT FIELD		101°     98 SET IN 2008
OAKLAND DOWNTOWN        95°(T)   95 SET IN 1977
OAKLAND AIRPORT         94°      90 SET IN 2008
SAN FRANCISCO AIRPORT   95°      90 SET IN 2008
SAN FRANCISCO DOWNTOWN  96°    88 SET IN 2004
SAN JOSE		101°(T)  101 SET IN 2008
MONTEREY		94°      87 SET IN 1977
SALINAS			99°      92 SET IN 1962
SALINAS AIRPORT		97°      92 SET IN 1962
SANTA CRUZ		99°      97 SET IN 1962

Friday's highs were also the hottest temperatures
recorded this year for these stations except the 
Salinas Airport which reached 99° on April 21st. 

Drought Deepens in Texas

The yearly rainfall deficits continue growing in southern sections of Texas.  San Antonio's deficit is nearly 13 inches and Brownsville's nearly 9 inches.  In addition, a record 46 consecutive days of triple-digit heat has been burning McAllen.  Ranchers report losing cattle due to a lack of water and feed.

The brutally hot and dry summer is worsening the drought across southern and central Texas.  The graphic above shows the areas experiencing extreme to exception drought conditions.  

Scattered thundestorms are possible today and tomorroow, bringing little if any relief.

Animals and Global Warming

Today we reported California state regulators are preparing to take serious measures to get businesses to abide by new greenhouse gas restrictions. The California air resources board is now considering how much to charge these companies if they violate the new regulations.

According to The Humane Society of the United States, the farm animal sector accounts for:

-  9% of human-induced emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2)

-  37% of methane (CH4) emissions which has more than 20 times the global warming potential of CO2.

-  65% of nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions with has nearly 300 times the global warming potential of CO2.

My question to you:  How can we reduce greenhouse gas emissions from animal agriculture?

 

Perfect Pet - Friday, August 21st

Bobby is a 10+ year old Lhasa Apso mix who came to the San Francisco SPCA when his guardian was no longer able to provide the care he needed.

 

Bobby enjoys walks and walks well on leash.  He will stop to sniff the roses and say hello to friendly face.  He also loves to show off his "sit pretty" trick. (seen in photo)  and shows potential to learn other fun tricks. 

 

Because of his medical history, he will need to stick to prescribed diet to keep him healthy.  Lucky for everyone, he loves his special food, so much so we’ve been using his kibble for treats!

 

He likes the company of other dogs, but frankly, would rather hang out with someone he loves and trusts.   Young children and other young pets wouldn’t be the right match for this guy – he likes to take things slowly and with maturity. 

 

Come visit Bobby and all are animals looking for a home.

 

San Francisco SPCA

2500 16th Street
San Francisco, CA 94103
(415) 554-3000

The well run dry?

Mike,

What's with this recent transition from meteorology to astronomy? Is there some vital weather related relevance to the planet Mars? Or have you tired explaining for postponements of World Series contests? 

Verne Koeppe

San Jose

BACKGROUND: Verne is referring to my last two Weather Blurbs in the San Jose Mercury News about being able to see Mars in the August sky.

Hi Verne, People ask, I answer. Simple as that. No agenda on my part. Over the last two years, we've veered into astronomy several times. Just a few days ago I received a question about the Moon and tide cycles, another about wave heights and swells in the Monterey Bay, and even why we don't have fireflies. In the case of Mars, an internet hoax is circulated just about every August about Mars being the closest it will ever be to Earth and will look as big as the Moon. Mike

Sunny Days Per Year

Mike,

We get all these retirement ads and promos for "most sunny days" retirement living in various parts of the country. Curious, in a year on the average what is the number of sunny days in San Jose.  I'm sure we are way up there and beat our friends in Boca Raton, FL.

Thanks, Leon, San Jose living for 70 yrs. 

 

Hi Leon,

 

I searched for official data, but none is this precise.  What I can’t find is a standard definition of a “sunny day”.

 

Without this benchmark, best I can tell is San Jose receives 300 days of sunshine per year, one of the highest in the country.  Boca Raton doesn’t even come close, 231 days of sunshine.  Plus, we don’t have oppressive humidity and tropical storms.   So start bragging.   

Hope this helps.

 

Mike

Perfect Pet - Friday, August 14th

Our featured Perfect Pet is an adorable, floppy eared rabbit named Daisy.

Daisy has a very sweet disposition. This young bun will need some room to run and do bunny binkies! She's very curious so don't be surprised to find her on couches/chairs, in cabinets and closets looking around. And she'll need plenty of toys. A long hallway or a room she's not used to would be ideal for her needed 2-3 hours outside of her enclosure. She would be good as a first time bunny for a family. We are pretty sure she would do fine with kids but of course parents should always supervise. Spend some time with Daisy…. you'll quickly appreciate her wonderful personality and realize why so many people love to have rabbits be part of their family.

For more information about Daisy, and all the adoption animals at the Marin Humane Society, call 415.506.6225.

Subbing for Sam Champion

Mike: Have you ever subbed for Sam?

Jacob Wang (jacob_94121@yahoo.com)

 

Hi Jacob,

 

That's a good question. 

 

First, a little background about how that would happen. 

 

Sam Champion is the Weather Anchor for ABC’s Good Morning Americashow.  You can watch GMA right here on KGO-TV from 7 – 9 AM.  This follows our morning show which airs from 4:30 – 7 AM.

 

When Sam is away, GMA usually borrows Heidi Jones from the local ABC Owned and Operated station, WABC.  If she is unavailable, GMA will bring another weather anchor from one of their other stations.  Our own Sandyha Patel worked a couple of shows last month for GMA Weekend.

 

The answer is no, unfortunately.  To be honest, they have not asked and I have not inquired. 

 

Do you think I should?  

 

Mike 

Typhoon Delays Giants-Yankees World Series?

As you may know, I write a daily weather blurb in the San Jose Mercury News.  A few days ago a reader asked if a hurricane ever hit the Bay Area.  The answer is no, not even a tropical storm. 

 

A few days later the following e-mail arrived at my inbox.  Please feel free to read along as we answer the original question.  

 

 

 

Mike, did you forget about the typhoon that interrupted the Giants-Yankees World Series??

Leon

Hi Leon,

I'm not familiar with this "typhoon". 

 

A tropical system may have delayed a world series when New York was home to both teams but not since the Giants moved to San Francisco.  A tropical weather system has never hit the Bay Area.

Tropical weather systems hitting the US are called tropical depressions, tropical storms, or hurricanes depending on wind speed.

Mike

Mike, you are incorrect. I believe it was 1967. A typhoon hit the Bay Area (a spinoff of one in

SE Asia).  THE WORLD SERIES WAS DELAYED AT CANDLESTICK PARK. HELICOPTERS WERE USED AFTER SEVERAL DAYS OF RAIN TO DRY THE FIELD.

It was the famous World Series, where Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey's drive in the 9th inning of game 7 to prevent a Giants win. That will never be forgotten.  You must not be a Bay Area native. I read your article every day on the weather page. Check with the weather girls on the 5PM news. Write me back.

Thank you,

Leon

San Jose

Good Morning

Leon,

Let me try to explain this differently.

 

We categorize tropical weather systems by their wind speed.

39 – 73 mph:  Tropical Storm

74+ mph:  Hurricane/Typhoon

 

We do not have typhoons in the US.  Typhoons, which contain the same structure as our hurricanes, occur in the western Pacific Ocean.  Typhoons and hurricanes are the same storm type but called different names in different parts of the world. 

 

A typhoon would never hit the Bay Area and a hurricane never has.  The remnants of a typhoon can cross the Pacific Ocean and brings us wet weather but it will no longer contain the characteristics of a typhoon nor be called one.

You are right about a world series between the Giants and Yankees being delayed by torrential rain.  The year was 1962.

 

The 1967 World Series was played in St. Louis and Boston. 

  

Hope this helps.

My best,

Mike