It’s going to be a hot Fourth of July weekend with highs near 90° Saturday and Sunday.  So I was wondering, when was the last time we reached at least 90 on the Fourth?  It was 1999. 

We've reached 90 degrees 4 times in the last 30 years

Going back the last 30 years shows that the thermometer doesn’t reach 90 too often on Independence Day in Green Bay.

Hurricane Alex made landfall last night around 9 pm as a category 2 storm with wind speeds of 105 mph.  It’ll put down heavy amounts of rain all the way into central Texas.  Dallas may get 4-6 inches of rain from the system.

Hurricane Alex makes landfall June 30th

Green Bay saw a good rainfall surplus for June

We can expect a sunny and dry end to the month but the area has seen quite a bit of rain for June.  In Green Bay we saw a surplus of about  3 1/2 inches.  Other areas also received much more rain than average and the good news is that drought-stricken towns in the north received the most with Crivitz getting 8.29″; Crandon 7.72″; Eagle River 7.93″; Minocqua 7.48″ and Athelstane 9.96″.  Oshkosh received 6.58″ and Appleton had 6.55″.  For more totals click here.    

Hot & Humid for the Fourth!   It will be very comfortable with low humidity levels until Sunday when the dewpoints rise to near 70.  Although we’ve continued the chance for showers and thunderstorms Sunday evening, some of the computer models are slowing the passage of a cold front down which means we may get the man-made fireworks in before nature’s fireworks kick in on Monday.  Highs should approach 90 on the Fourth.      

Forecast July Fourth Highs

Hurricane Alex tracking west

     

   

  

   

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

Severe Threat Today: We’re in a “slight” risk for severe weather according to the Storm Prediction Center .  Thunderstorms may fire up in Iowa and western Wisconsin ahead of a cold front and push into our area this evening and tonight.  The main threat of these storms would be strong wind and hail.  After that the weather story becomes the colder weather that moves in just in time for the weekend and Mother’s Day.  Morning lows on Sunday and Monday will approach freezing so hold off on that planting for a while.

The Final Frontier: It may be too cloudy to see but the International Space Station flies over tonight at 8:45 and 10:20.  For sightings in Green Bay go here.    For sightings all over Wisconsin go here.  And here’s a real cool website which shows exactly where the ISS is right now. 

For updates on the severe weather threat, watch Patrick Powell on FOX 11 this afternoon. 

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It still looks like we still on track to have some strong or severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and tonight.  At 11:30 am Friday the strongest storms are to our southwest in Missouri and Iowa where there is a severe thunderstorm watch in effect.   Golf-balled size hail reports have been reported in the south central portion of Iowa.  By the time these storms move into our area, the main threat will be from damaging wind and possible hail.  Much of the state remains under a “slight” risk for severe weather while western Illinois and eastern Missouri is in a “moderate” risk.

If you want severe weather alerts texted to your phone, sign up here.  Remember that  ”standard message and data rates charged by your wireless provider will apply”  I’ve tested this out and this service really works and you can customize it so that you’ll only receive the county you’re interested in. 

Check the latest StormTrackerX  Radar and Patrick Powell will keep you up to date on FOX 11, Your Station for Severe Weather Coverage.

The winds will pick up today ahead of a storm system which is heading our way tomorrow.  The cold front will bring a chance for strong or severe thunderstorms tomorrow afternoon and evening.  Most of the state is under a “slight” risk of severe weather from the Storm Prediction Center.   We’ll keep an eye on this because details and updated information is still coming in. Right now here’s what we can expect:

We may get our first severe thunderstorms of the season tomorrow

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Is your backyard full of puddles this morning?  Most of the area received an inch or two of rain; the exception being northern Marinette County where just over a trace fell. 

Most areas received plenty of rain except to the north

The winds were the other part of the equation with gusts to 44 mph in Green Bay.

Winds were howling between 25 and 45 mph at times

Here are some other peak wind gusts from the area. So far this month Green Bay has a surplus of 1.20″ of rain. 

SEVERE WEATHER: Did you see the tornado damage in Mississippi from the tornado that tore threw Saturday?  It has been rated an EF-4 by the meteorologists at the Jackson, Mississippi National Weather Service with winds of 170 mph.  Only about 1% of all tornadoes in the U.S. are rated EF-4 or EF-5 so this doesn’t happen everday.  I’ve heard a lot of survivors describe the sound like a freight train but one described it even more graphic…”like a bomb.”

We may get some thunderstorms around here late in the week but right now it doesn’t look like major severe weather.  Enjoy the sunshine!

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Winter Storm “Doug” started shortly after midnight on Tuesday, February 9th and continued throughout the day and even into Wednesday morning before finally coming to an end.  Strong northeast winds gusting at times to 35 mph resulted in blowing and drifting of snow and low visibilities.  Driving conditions deteriorated as the day wore on.  The 2-day snow totals in our area ranged from 12 ” in Kiel to about an inch in northern Marinette County.  Here are the snow totals from “Doug.”

FORECASTING: If you think it has been cool and dry this month, you’re right.  Through July 30th the average temperature in Green Bay is 65.4° which is placing it 3rd inthe Top 5 coolest Julys in recorded weather history…a period of 120 years.  Meteorologist Doug Higgins has a look back at the highs and lows of the month. 

The Top 5 Coolest Julys in Green Bay

We all know how dry it has been by just looking at our brown lawns.  For the month Green Bay is running about a 2 inch deficit.  It will probably go down as the tenth driest July ever. 

FAMILY: We’re expecting an addition to the Petoniak family.  I announced it on the air today that my wife and I are expecting a baby girl to join Jake and Henry.   Rachel’s reaction was, “What are you thinking?” and sometimes I wonder.  Those times are when the boys are wrestling on the couch and both of their glasses are getting bent for the hundreth time while Dad is trying to remain calm and not yell like a raving maniac.  (Because I think the neighbors can hear when the windows are open in the summer)  But I’m really looking forward to having a little girl.  My wife Sarah is thrilled to find out that she won’t be as outnumbered at our house anymore.  She actually has it pretty good though…all the boys are already trained to put the seat down on the toilet.   Henry and Jake came up to the station to visit our new building yesterday with mom.  They were eating a ring pop which changes the color of lips, tongue and teeth.  Rachel felt the urge to get their picture.  It looks like Henry is trying to look at his tongue too.  Can you say, “where’s the toothbrush?” 

Henry & Jake show off multi-colored tongues

Have a great weekend!

We didn’t get much rain overnight but there’s still a good chance for showers today.  Looking at the bright side…there will be chances for rain each of the next 6 days with the weather computer models showing Friday’s storm that drops in from the northwest will have the most promise for soaking rain.

StormTrackerX Rain Totals through early Wednesday Morning

Severe Weather is expect in a small section of the country today…parts of Nebraska, Kansas and Colorado.

Storm Prediction Center issued this severe weather outlook for today

 Fried Bologna Sandwiches:  I was laughed at by Rachel and Amy the other day when I mentioned I liked fried bologna sandwiches.  Of course they admitted to never having eaten this culinary treat so I don’t think they can make a true assessment.  Judging by the e-mails I recieved, it turns out there are more of you fried bologna lovers out there.  Jess & Pat write: “Hi Pete,  Just to let you know there are a lot of us secret fried bologna sandwich eaters. We don’t tell everyone about this….due to the laughter you had to endure today. I’m 67 years old and have been enjoying my fried bologna sandwiches all my life. The naysayers don’t know what their missing! ” Donna wrote:  “Just to let you know you are not the only one with good taste! I love fried balogna sandwiches and my favorite candy bar is CHUNKY!  I have been eating them since they were a nickle! I am 58yrs. ..forever watching” …  Now these are people with obvious good taste if you ask me. How about you?  Do you like fried bologna? Maybe we can get Amy to make some on “Living With Amy”

I hope you had a great weekend.  I did a lot of work outside around the house…took out a few overgrown bushes and a couple of small trees too.  Had a bee hover around my head for what seemed like an hour but was just a few minutes.  Tried to get away but had to cover my head with my t-shirt and run into the street before it left.  Gave my wife a laugh.  I got a chance to watch the British Open too.  Did you groan as loud as I did when Tom Watson missed that 8-footer; sooooo close and yet.

We may finally get some relief from the dry conditions and brown grass we have here in NE Wisconsin.  According to the latest drought information, most of the area is “abnormally dry” and the next step would be “moderate drought” …the northwestern part of the state is already experiencing “severe drought” conditions.  Click here for more on Wisconsin drought conditions.  The first chance we have of getting some rain will be tomorrow and into Wednesday.

Rain will be moving in from the west tomorrow night

Temperatures will still be below normal for most of the week but nothing like we had at the end of last week.  Many area cities set records Friday for the lowest maximum temperature of the day.

Record Low Maximums were achieved and tied in many area cities

Have a great day!