Atlantic tropical cyclone activity typically picks up a bit during the first half of July. Since the current active hurricane period began in 1995, seven of 14 years (50%) have had a named storm form during the first half of July. The busiest first half of July occurred in 2005, when three hurricanes formed. These included Read This Blog Entry
Weather Underground Forecast for Friday, July 03, 2009.
Strong thunderstorms will continue across the Northern Plains as a weak area of low pressure in the upper atmosphere slides down the eastern slopes of the Rockies. A few of these storms will be capable of producing damaging weather, with the greatest threat for storm damage located from north central Montana southeast to western Kansas and from western Kansas and Nebraska east to northwestern Missouri.
Lesser thunderstorms are likely along a cold front that will stretch from Outer Banks of North Carolina through the Gulf Coast. Most of the storms along this front will develop in the afternoon and evening hours along the coast.
The Northeastern interior will continue to cool temperatures and wet weather on Friday as the persistent trough in the jet stream which has affected the region recently, stays put through the weekend.
While the East feels an unusual chill, the Southwest will be burning with the heat of summer for the start to the Fourth of July Weekend. Temperatures in the Southwest and in the Gulf Coast states will soar into the upper 90s and 100s on Friday, with more heat on tap through the weekend. Weather this hot can make outdoor activities dangerous, and care should be taken to avoid heat exhaustion over the holiday weekend.
Temperatures in the Lower 48 states Thursday ranged from a low of 35 degrees at Meacham, Ore to a high of 110 degrees at Hearne, Texas.
The "Dog Days of Summer" officially begin on this date and end August 11. This period got its name from the Egyptian belief that the Dog Star, Sirius, added heat to the Earth as it rose and fell with the sun during this time period. On this date in 1966, the "Dog Days" were in full force as New York City set a record high temperature of 107 degrees.