Gaithersburg Maryland VP2 backyard report for Wednesday, September 19, 2012

Wednesday was beautifully sunny and cool, with the coolest max temp in almost 2 months (68.2 on July 21). But that was a rainy, cloudy day- the last rain free day in the 60s was a 67.1 max on June 5, a variably cloudy day. Overnight tonight temperatures will be dropping into the mid 40s, most likely our coolest minimum temperature of the season, coolest since late spring. Thursday should be sunny and a bit milder, with high temps in the mid 70s. Thursday night should be clear and not quite as cool, with lows in the mid 50s. Friday we should warm some more, with highs around 80. Saturday we should have some clouds around as a front approaches from the west, with highs around 80s and a 30 POP for showers during the afternoon and a 40 POP for showers on Saturday evening. Sunday should clear off with highs dropping down into the low 70s. Monday and Tuesday should see more nice, cool weather, with highs in the upper 60s and lows in the upper 40s. Moderating temperatures should follow mid-week, but no real organized storms of rain and wind in the foreseeable future. The first day of astronomical fall is coming at the end of this week, and it is definitely showing itself of late. No real leaf change around these parts as yet.

Wednesday's precipitation: 0
September total precipitation: 1.71"

Annual YTD precipitation total: 27.31" 

VP2 data for Wednesday as follows:
High temp 69.4° (1551) (69.8° RS)
(RS stands for my Radio Shack wireless thermometer being used as a backup)
Low temp 51.0° (2359) (51.6° RS)
Obs temp tonight 51.0° (VP2) 51.6° (RS)
Peak Wind Gust 12 MPH from the N (1126) 
Relative Humidity ranged from a max of 95% (0025) to a low of 44% (1611)
Dew point temperatures ranged from 59° to 45°.
Pressures ranged from 30.19"(2319) to 29.85"(0000)
At midnight obs, temp was 51.0°(VP2)/51.6°(RS), Clear, Winds Calm, Pressure 30.18" and steady, Humidity 91% with a dew point of 49°.

Currently at 0036 EDT, the temp is 50.5°(VP2)/51.1°(RS), Cloudy, Winds Calm, Pressure at 30.18" and steady, humidity 92% with the dew point at 48°. (relatively early post tonight- have to get up early tomorrow (early for me that is - about 0715-0730) so I can be at work by 9 for an all day important job training class.)

Currently the Eastern US radar screen is showing rain showers in parts of western Michigan- quite possibly instability showers from WNW flow off Lake Michigan - forerunner of the lake effect snows coming later this year - really sooner rather than later actually.

Kevin the Walrus of Gaithersburg signing off early on this Thursday morning.