A Bermuda high is a semi-permanent, subtropical area of high pressure in the North Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of North America that migrates east and west with varying central pressure. Depending on the season, it has different names. When it is displaced westward, during the Northern Hemispheric summer and fall, the center is located in the western North Atlantic, near Bermuda. In the winter and early spring, it is primarily centered near the Azores in the eastern part of the North Atlantic. Also known as Azores High.
Acting as a block that hurricanes cannot penetrate, the size and location of this system can determine where hurricanes go. A normal Bermuda High often leads to hurricanes moving up the east coast and out to sea. During summer 2004 and 2005, the Bermuda High expanded to the south and west, which steered hurricanes into the Gulf of Mexico rather than up the east coast or curving out to sea. Once in the Gulf, most hurricane paths will involve landfall at some location.
This high pressure area is also responsible for the prolonged heat waves in the Eastern part of the country. Since winds blow clockwise around high pressure areas in the northern hemisphere, a south to south-westerly wind transports heat and humidity into the Mid-Atlantic States. During the late spring and summer, cold fronts from the north and west have trouble making inroads into the Hampton Roads area due to the persistent Bermuda Highs influence. The high migrates east and west which causes fluctuations in our weather. There are times when it builds westward and is configured in such a way to change our winds to a south-southeasterly direction. This sometimes brings in a tropical air mass and lots of moisture. The interaction of the warm moist air moving over the land causes shower and thunderstorms that can dump copious amounts of rain. Two factors cause the air to rise. The friction of the land and the heat from the land causes the air to rise high into the atmosphere, This causes condensation which then leads to showers and thunderstorms.
We have a cold front approaching from Wisconsin this morning – the best guess is that it will stall later today bringing a chance of rain and storms from a line from Saginaw southwest to Paw Paw. Current model data is showing anywhere from a tenth of an inch to an inch of rain along that line. The front will wash out Friday bringing us warm and humid conditions with temps in the mid to upper 80s for the weekend.
ADA – rain free 🙁
Thankfully there are NO heat waves in sight! Who would have thought?
Anything over about 85 with dew points over 65 means over 100 at work. Getting totally drained and sweating profusely, sorry, that equals heat wave.
Big old gap in the line, and that gap is heading my way. Bummer.
YAAAAYYYY!! It’s raining 🙂 My lawn is doing a happy dance!
Enjoyed watching some impresive storm development to our SE earlier this afternoon 😉
There was a thunderstorm over night in the Grand Rapids area and at the airport they did receive aver a half inch of rain. BUT here at my house that was not the case. Even as a clap of thunder woke me up and rain did fall here at my house there was only 0.06″ of rain for that. I know it will rain here someday but wow it sure is getting dry in my back (and front) yard.
Slim
Excessive heat building in a week just off to our west. Pretty likely this would then move east to Michigan for yet another heat wave.
http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/predictions/threats/temp_probhazards_d8_14_contours.png
For what it’s worth, the latest CFS weeklies show above average temps every week through mid September!
Mother Nature is taunting us – I can see a lovely rainstorm passing just to our northwest; but not a drop for us 🙁
I have been reading up on the hot weather coming it’s not looking verry hot now as they onceed forcast it’s amazing how we can jump the gun on up coming weather and it doesn’t happen I believe I saw wood 8 saying a high of 98* three days ago for Wednesday I’m sure that has changed we cannot really relie on 8 10 12 day forecast…In Wisconsin being a hour difference on time 830pm it’s dark hear we had a wonderful storm last night probably the best one of the summer sofar for INDY…to bad I had to go over 400 miles to get it lol… Enjoy your Thursday.. INDY!
98 degrees? Never saw that or close to that.
On Monday July 31st WOOD did show a graphic showing highs starting on Saturday of 90, 92,93 and 94° that was posted by Andy W and your comment of that was
Mookie
Wow look at that graphic! One of the hottest starts to August history?
That 94 was for Tuesday so I guess they could have had one for 98 on Wednesday.
Slim
Never saw that.
Remember that when your talking about the winter forecast this up coming winter.
Interesting read Michael! Can’t say I really knew much about that. By permanent do you mean it never really dissipates or goes away?
Here is NOAA’s definition
Bermuda High
A semi-permanent, subtropical area of high pressure in the North Atlantic Ocean off the East Coast of North America that migrates east and west with varying central pressure. Depending on the season, it has different names. When it is displaced westward, during the Northern Hemispheric summer and fall, the center is located in the western North Atlantic, near Bermuda. In the winter and early spring, it is primarily centered near the Azores in the eastern part of the North Atlantic. Also known as Azores High.
Slim