9/20/2013 Daily Update: A Dandy Friday, Strongest Typhoon of 2013 Set to Impact Tomorrow, Earthquake Near Fukushima

Good morning everyone!

It's Friday, the last Friday of Summer 2013! And it will be another dandy with rich, blue skies and warm temperatures. Enjoy!

TODAY: Sunny with highs in the mid 70s to near 80 degrees. Winds from the S at 5 mph.

TONIGHT: Clouds on the increase with lows in the lower to mid 50s. Winds from the S at 5 mph.

TOMORROW: Partly cloudy with highs in the lower to mid 70s. Turning breezy, with winds from the S at 5 to 15 mph, with gusts over 20 mph possible.

Rain enters Saturday night and could be heavy at times. Also, a slight chance of thunderstorms overnight is possible. Rain should clear after Sunday morning and a dry second half of the day expected. Cooler by Monday.

ATLANTIC TROPICS

• As seen yesterday, Invest 95L has become less organized in the Bay of Campeche. The system should stay there for the next few weeks due to lack of steering currents. It is causing moisture to spread into the South, producing heavy rain for drought-stricken regions like Texas, Louisiana which is very good news.
• An area of interest east of the Bahamas has a low chance of development in the next 48 hours.

NATIONAL WEATHER

• Warm in the Northeast with rain and storms approaching from the west
• Mostly dry and humid in the Southeast
• Widespread heavy rain for the South, especially Texas from tropical moisture
• Warmer in the Mountain West and the Intermountain West region
• Warm for the Northwest with rain offshore

WORLD WEATHER

• Strongest typhoon of 2013, Super Typhoon Usagi, is closing in on southern Taiwan, set for impact tomorrow. Also, being affected is northern Philippines. The dangerous storm is about to enter the South China Sea where it could hit Hong Kong. Evacuations are ongoing.
• Manuel has moved on inland and dissipated over western Mexico
• Rain chances for Europe with the low over the continent
• Cold front producing shower and storms for southern Western Australia

Water vapor of Super Typhoon Usagi with growing concerns
of impacts to Southeast Asia

EARTHQUAKES

• A strong 5.3 earthquake struck near Fukushima yesterday. Officials say no damage was caused to the Fukushima nuclear plant.
• There were no earthquakes rated at or above M6 yesterday or so far today.

SPACE WEATHER

• A faint CME was produced in the southeast quadrant of the sun yesterday but it is not expected to hit Earth directly. Even if it did, it should have minimal impacts to Earth.
• Sunspots lined up on the eastern side of the Sun but all remains quiet and stable. M-class flare chances set at 5% for the next 24 hours.