Atlantic Hurricane Outlook Updated

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), in coordination with the National Hurricane Center has released an update to their Atlantic tropical outlook.

With a very warm summer, ocean temperatures have increased to the third warmest on record. This along with other factors signal that a more active season is likely.

NOAA is predicting an 85% chance of an above normal hurricane season. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and peaks around September 10th. A large portion of the season is remaining.

The updated outlook has increased the forecast ranges of each category by 1 storm versus the outlook released in May. These numbers include the storms that have occurred thus far: five named storms, none of which have become hurricanes.

Scattered strong to severe storms are possible Wednesday

A cold front will move through central Virginia tonight, bringing relief for the rest of this week from the mid to upper 90s highs we've experienced the last several days. Ahead of the front, though, it will still be a hot and unstable environment in central Virginia. This will lead to the slight risk for severe thunderstorms this afternoon and evening:

The cold front should serve as the forcing mechanism for scattered strong to severe thunderstorm development this afternoon and evening. This means that your late afternoon/early evening commute could be a wet and stormy one!

Some of these thunderstorms will be capable of damaging wind gusts (straight-line winds and microburst winds) and large hail. Any of the storms, though, will likely contain heavy rainfall and frequent lightning.
The cold front should pass Richmond around Midnight tonight, with decreasing clouds into early Thursday morning.

Highs behind the cold front for the rest of the week should remain in the upper 80s and low 90s.
Stay with CBS 6, we'll keep you ahead of the storm.
--Meteorologist Carrie Rose

July In Review