GALVESTON.COM: Weather Wizard

The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) Helping to Suppress Tropical Storm Activity

Stan Blazyk — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 14:41:00 GMT

Tropical Storms and Hurricanes need deep layers of moist air in order to develop. That is why they only form over water and not over land. Their enegy is derived from the warm, moist, unstable air that eixsts over the tropical oceans during the summer months....(read more)

Needed rain brings relief, but is more drought and heat in store for Galveston?

Stan Blazyk — Wed, 08 Jul 2009 12:45:00 GMT

Lighning flashed and dark clouds rolled in, brining Galvestonians an unaccustomed break from the heat and drought that have plagued our lovely island. ...(read more)

Rain chances look good for today

Stan Blazyk — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 12:26:00 GMT

After 36 consecutive days and the driest May-June ever in Galveston, there is some hope for relief this Tuesday morning....(read more)

July storms: what does history tell us?

Stan Blazyk — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:42:00 GMT

O.K., so we've made it through June without a named storm. Scratch one month down and four to go....(read more)

Any chance of relief?

Stan Blazyk — Mon, 29 Jun 2009 14:10:00 GMT

I keep getting asked if there is any chance we can either get some rain, or at least temperatures that are close to normal for this time of year. It seems like the August-like heat and drought is wearing out its welcome with many folks....(read more)

Watching the Caribbean

Stan Blazyk — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:07:00 GMT

An area of convection (thunderstorm activity has flared up overnight in the west-central Caribbean. The area is associated with a tropical wave....(read more)

An encouraging outlook for the current hurricane season

Stan Blazyk — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 18:12:00 GMT

In their season forecast, UKMET is predicting a well-below normal season for the Atlantic Basin with 6 named storms being the most likely number in their view. This is 50% below the long-time norm of 12.4 named storms per season. By contrast, there were 15 named storms in 2008, 12 in 2007, 9 in 2006, 25 in 2005 and 15 in 2004....(read more)

Why the tropics are inactive

Stan Blazyk — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 19:38:00 GMT

To clarify the topic a little, I should say "why the Atlantic Basin (i.e. the tropical Atlantic, Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean) is inactive". Actually, there is a depression in the Pacific off the Mexican coast and tropical activity in the far western Pacific....(read more)

Wind shear, upper-level high helping to suppress tropical activity

Stan Blazyk — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 18:24:00 GMT

A large upper-level high parked over Texas and Mexico is bringing drier and warmer than normal conditions to the Galveston area. Although we need the rain, this pattern, combined with strong upper-level winds across parts of the Gulf and the Atlantic is also helping to suppress tropical storm acitivty so far this month. For example. disturbed weather persists over the west-central Caribbean, but high wind shear has been helping to keep it from developing so far. So, I guess we have to take the good with the bad....(read more)

The heat's on!

Stan Blazyk — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 15:35:00 GMT

Turn up the air condition, or better yet, head to the beach, the Schlitterbahn or Moody Gardens! Summer is here in full force with tempertures expected to run 2-5 degrees above normal for this time of year and dry conditions expected to linger at least through the weekend....(read more)

The weather is fine now, but change is in the air

Stan Blazyk — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 18:13:00 GMT

Let's face it. The weather couldn't be much better for early June. Low humidity levels, cool nights and a refreshing breeze is making the first weekend of June an ideal one for outdoor activities and events such as the backyard garden tour....(read more)

Local Hurricane Town Hall Meetings Scheduled

Stan Blazyk — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 14:14:00 GMT

People frequently ask me questions or share their opinions about weather related topics. Undoubtedly the most common question/opinion I encounter has to do with the forced delay in returning to the Island after Hurricane Ike. ...(read more)

Will June bring more rain after a dry May?

Stan Blazyk — Sat, 30 May 2009 16:44:00 GMT

I do not need to remind local gardeners that May, 2009 has been extremely dry....(read more)

Weak cool front to bring dry, mostly sunny weather for this weekend

Stan Blazyk — Thu, 28 May 2009 12:19:00 GMT

Galveston escaped heavy rainfall yesterday as a large cluster of thunderstorms skirted the Island to the south. Now, the stage is set for some really nice weekend weather....(read more)

Thunderstorms may produce heavy rain today

Stan Blazyk — Wed, 27 May 2009 15:51:00 GMT

A cluster of thunderstorms developing southwest of the Island, a slowly approaching cold front and plenty of moist, unstable air will set the stage for a possible round of heavy rainfall today across Galveston and Brazoria counties. ...(read more)