High heat retreats

Update #451

Hello there, this is Ben Noll checking in with the latest weather update for the Hudson Valley.

I have some good news! After a week that saw *three* record high temperatures either tied or broken, mid-June will offer conditions that are less abrasive.

It was so hot that even the sun was seeking some shade 😎

The sunrise solar eclipse on Thursday morning, as captured from New York City

The upcoming week will start on an unsettled note but several pleasant days are expected later.

A disturbance will be just to the west of the region on Monday. Warm, humid air out ahead of it is expected to fuel a smattering of showers and possible afternoon thunderstorms ☔

On Tuesday, the shower and thunderstorm activity will be less widespread but there’s still a chance one could pass over your town during the afternoon.

👌 A refreshing Canadian air mass will filter in on Wednesday, lasting through Friday. Humidity will be low and morningtime temperatures could even dip into the upper 40s! Afternoon temperatures will be comfortable for the time of year with plenty of sunshine.

The next front could approach the region on Saturday — it looks rather weak at this point. It should clear out by Sunday, but keep an eye on things if you have plans.

Looking ahead to the week of the 21st, heat and humidity is expected to gradually build through the week.

Meanwhile, in Death Valley, California…

The western U.S. is set to absolutely bake this week with a dome of high pressure parked overhead. The abnormally dry winter and spring is taking its toll, particularly in California, where dry, parched grounds are easier to heat up. Nearby, water levels at Lake Mead / Hoover Dam are the lowest on record since the dam was constructed in the 1930s — just 37% full.

Temperatures in the western U.S. will be the most unusually warm (yellow contour) in the Northern Hemisphere — and on Earth — over the next 7-10 days

Take a trip to New Zealand’s rainforest

New Zealand’s temperate rainforests are found in the West Coast region of the South Island.

To the west of the Alpine Fault, the fault line that gives New Zealand its nickname as the “Shaky Isles”, the West Coast is known for frequent earthquakes and intense rainfall that can result in river flooding and landslides.

It’s the country’s wettest region, with places high in the Southern Alps receiving more than 315 inches of rain a year, six times more than New York City. Recently, one place received over 40 inches in just 48 hours — about the amount the Hudson Valley expects in year.

The scenery is something out of Jurassic Park and you almost expect to see a prehistoric reptile around the next corner 🦖

Did you know? New Zealand doesn’t have ticks, snakes, or poisonous critters. What it does have is unique wildlife, especially when it comes to birds. Along our walk we encountered a Weka, which are curious, large, fight-less birds that are endemic to New Zealand.

Have a great week! 🌴