Japan sets national high temperature record as U.S. heat wanes

The end is near. At least when it comes to the big heat that has been locked up over the eastern U.S. over the past week. Then there’s the huge earthquake and tsunami … so perhaps indeed the end truly is near?

Weather watch

Waning heat wave. After controlling the Lower 48 for about a week, the heat wave gripping the eastern half of the U.S. is shrinking in size. On Wednesday, records are likely to cluster in the Mid-Atlantic as a cold front begins to press in from the northwest.

Japan joins the list. A high of 106 (41.2 C) in Kashiwara, Japan — south of Osaka and Kyoto — is a new national record. It was set Wednesday amid relentless heat from a dominant high pressure in the region. The accomplishment follows other all-time records, including for Turkey and numerous cities, over the past several weeks.

Lightning links

Why a huge quake off Russia sent tsunamis to Japan, Hawaii, California. (Michael Miller, The Washington Post)

Live coverage of the tsunami following 8.8 quake. (BBC)

Weather Service Assures North Dakotans There Is ‘No Threat’ of Tsunami in Landlocked State. (Charlie Nash, Mediaite)

Crews struggle to contain wildfire on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. (Sejal Govindarao, Associated Press)

New study explains how lightning bolts are created. (CBS)

Great Lakes beach hazards

With a relatively cool air mass settling in behind a cold front that ends the major heat wave, prolonged gusty winds will whip up a different type of wave on the Great Lakes.

Swells of 5 to 9 feet are anticipated along much of the western shore of Lake Michigan, and they’ll be accompanied by rip currents. Other rip current advisories extend to Lake Erie and the risk may be present on all of the lakes through late week.

The cooler air out of Canada will also come along with new rounds of smoke from wildfires in that country. Much of northern Minnesota is under a Code Red air quality alert Wednesday.

About

Weekday morning newsletter by a journalist/forecaster. Connecting weather and climate change dots while occasionally stirring the pot.

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