Two big weather stories during the week ahead:
(1) "Sandy", of course
(2) a true taste of autumn next week
"Sandy" first of all. Landfall #1 was near 3pm EDT at Kingston, Jamaica....#2 was over far Eastern Cuba early Thu. The storm will continue northward through the Bahamas Fri.-Sat. reaching Jacksonville's latitude -- but 300+ miles to the east -- during late Fri. night or Sat. Though far to the east, the wind field will be broad so tropical storm watches could be expanded along the immediate coast. Still...the very worst of the winds & rain should stay offshore. There will be at least a few showers for coastal counties & there could be some heavier rain later Fri. into Sat. morning. The most adverse effects will be at the coast:
-- very high rip current risk -- remember never swim/surf alone & try to stay near a lifeguard. Truth be told I recommend staying out of the water.
-- rough seas & surf with some the highest wave action of the year so far
-- minor to moderate coastal flooding & beach erosion
-- gusty winds....sustained winds could reach 30-40 mph at the beaches for a time later Fri. into Sat. morning with higher gusts
"Sandy" will move away from the local area later Sat.-Sun. but could combine with another storm over or near New England to bring quite a blow to the Northeast U.S.
(2) as "Sandy" moves away, cold air will funnel southward -- classic for a late season tropical cyclone (see "Wilma", 2005). What will easily be the chilliest air in many months -- & of the fall so far -- will dominate our region next week. High temps. will only be in the mid 60s to around 70 Mon.-Wed., but the big story will nighttime lows as temps. dip at least into the 40s with a few 30s inland by Tue. & especially Wed.
Forecast Record
Mon. 49 33/2008
Tue. 42 37/2008
Wed. 39 38/1993
So you'll certainly be able to open up the windows next week.....the question is will you break down & turn on the furnace??!!
As winter approaches, The EPA has sent out an advisory about burning wood for heat:
Millions of Americans will heat their homes with a wood stove this winter, but what they may not realize is that the smoke they see emitted is an indication of wasted energy, money and it's polluting the air. There are simple steps your viewers can take to make their fire more efficient and cleaner while still keeping money in their wallets and warmth in their home.
Tips:
Burn only dry, seasoned wood. Properly seasoned wood burns hotter, producing more heat and less pollution. Seasoned wood is darker, has cracks in the end grain, and sounds hollow when struck against another piece of wood.
Use a moisture meter. Wood burns best when the moisture content is 20 percent. Purchase a wood moisture meter for less than $20 to test the moisture content of your wood before you burn it.
Burn hot fires. Once you’ve enjoyed the warmth, many people think they should let a fire smolder overnight, but reducing the air supply does little for heating and increases air pollution. A smoldering fire isn’t efficient.
Start fires with newspaper and dry kindling, or consider having a professional install a natural gas or propane log lighter or a catalyst device in your fireplace to reduce pollution and to increase efficiency.
Regularly remove ashes from your wood-burning appliance to maintain proper airflow. For safety, put ashes in a metal container with a cover and store outdoors.
Never burn painted or treated wood, wet or moldy wood, household garbage, cardboard or driftwood. The can release toxic chemicals into the air – and your home. During the holidays, remember not to burn Christmas trees or wrapping paper!
Upgrading to an EPA-certified wood stove or fireplace insert will make even bigger improvements in fire emissions and efficiency. These models are more efficient than older models, making the air cleaner, homes safer, and fuel bills lower, while still keeping warm in the winter.
Learn more on Burn Wise ** here **.
