New Temperature Record At RIC

Tuesday's high temperature of 77 degrees broke a string of consecutive days with high temperatures of 80 degrees or hotter. Up until yesterday, there were 90 days in a row with high temperatures warmer than 80 degrees in Richmond. This marks the second longest stretch of 80-degree days on record, with 2005 still holding onto the top spot with 95 days. That streak ended September 23, 2005. Record-keeping of this kind goes back to 1897. Richmond was able to have such a "cool" day Tuesday because of an upper-level low pressure system parked right over the Commonwealth generating mostly cloudy skies and a north to northeast wind. This upper system will weaken and begin drifting east away from Virginia Wednesday, allowing for more sunshine and a return of high temperatures in the low to mid 80s.

Danielle Weakens Back to a Cat 1

Hurricane Danielle, which strengthened earlier this morning to a Category 2 storm, weakened back down to a Category 1 with maximum sustained winds at 80 mph. Dry air wrapped around and into the storm and eroded part of the surface low center of circulation, which weakened the whole system.

Danielle is still on track to miss any landmasses, probably even Bermuda.

Hurricane Danielle Stronger Tuesday Morning

Hurricane Danielle is now a Category 2 storm as of early Tuesday morning. Further strengthening is possible over the next day up to a Major Hurricane at Category 3 strength, but Danielle will likely not impact any landmasses as it tracks through the open waters of the central Atlantic.

Danielle is currently tracking around the southern periphery of a ridge over the Atlantic, but will be able to make a turn more northwest around that ridge over the next day. A trough will also deepen over the central Atlantic aiding in the turn to the north-northwest by the end of this week, steering Danielle away from any landmasses. As a result, Hurricane Danielle may also be able to bypass Bermuda.