[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WVEo0x5Bdrc?hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=349]

SEVERE WEATHER TODAY: There is a slight risk of severe weather for today and tonight across the northeastern quarter of the state mainly east of Interstate 35 and north of US Hwy 30. The main risks would be from large hail and damaging winds with some isolated tornadoes possible as well. Many parameters are high for this possible event. The Significant Tornado Parameter is very high especially for August, the SCP and the SIGSVR are also high as well. There will be enough CAPE (over 3000 J/kg possible) and enough turning of the winds for not only roatating updrafts capable of producing large hail but also for producing some tornadoes. After a round of severe weather this morning (which is going on as of this posting), another round is expected by late this afternoon into the evening. The main threat will be out of the state by Midnight to 3am Wednesday morning.

REST OF WEEK: Drier and more seasonal temperatures will move into the state to finish the week. Highs which have been in the mid 80s to lower 90s will cool off to the upper 70s to lower 80s by the end of the week. The dewpoints will also drop back to around 60 by Friday. Another storm is on the doorstep however by late Friday over western Iowa which may bring a few showers during the overnight hours across the state, otherwise the upcoming weekend may feature a few widely scattered showers especially over the western half of the state.

IRENE: Irene as of this writing as top sustained winds of 100mph and is located north of Hispanola moving WNW. The NHC forecast shows the storm to move through the Bahamas through Thursday and begin to recurve and make landfall near the NC/SC border. Other models show a more eastward path toward Cape Fear or Cape Hatteras. We’ll have to wait and see. In any case at landfall, Irene is expected to be a major hurricane, at least Catagory 3.

LABOR DAY WEEKEND: Far out in voo-doo land stands the last weekend of summer, known as Labor Day Weekend. It still looks like a part of the weekend could be effected by some rain, but temperatures look to remain at or slightly above normal, but this could change in future runs.