June 18, 2014

(Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images)

The hottest weather of the current hot spell and the hottest day of the year so far will be Wednesday for many areas from the Ohio Valley to the mid-Atlantic and South.

The hot weather will be accompanied by high humidity and will add to the short-duration swelter.

AccuWeather RealFeel(R) temperatures will exceed 100 F and can reach 110 F in some urban areas of the major cities during the afternoons through midweek.

Long-range expert Paul Pastelok mentioned last week that many areas in Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, southern New England and parts of New York state will have their first 90-degree Fahrenheit reading of the year during the middle of this week.

Temperatures will challenge record highs in Washington, D.C.; Baltimore; Richmond, Virginia; and other locations.

The worst of the heat will be concentrated along the I-95 corridor from Washington, D.C., to the Carolinas and from Atlanta to Birmingham, Alabama; and Jackson, Mississippi.

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Washington, D.C., and Baltimore are forecast to have at least three days in a row with temperatures reaching 90 F or higher.

When this occurs in the Northern states, it is considered to be a heat wave. Both locations hit 90 F on Monday.

According to Northeast weather expert Dave Dombek, "For areas from Philadelphia to New York City this is later than average for the first 90-degree weather of the season."

Typically the first 90-degree high occurs during late May in both areas. The latest 90-degree high has occurred at both locations is during the middle of July.

"The important thing for most people is to give their body a chance to adjust as the first weather of this sort of the summer can be a shock to the system," Dombek said.

"Don't overdo it in the heat of the day, and drink plenty of fluids."

Late in the week, cooler and less humid air will sag southward from Eastern Canada, bringing a change of air for New England and the mid-Atlantic.

The zone of hot, humid air will be squeezed to the south and west Thursday and Friday. The hot, humid conditions will hold over the South and will be slow to leave the Ohio Valley. In parts of the South, the hottest days in the pattern may occur late in the week.

During the hot spell, as it is leaving and after it departs, there will be rounds of showers and thunderstorms rolling in from the Midwest, while spotty showers and storms develop in the backyard.

The zone of showers and heavy thunderstorms and isolated severe weather will sag southward during the middle and latter part of the week but will reach a certain point and will grind to a halt. As a result, areas from the central Great Lakes to the lower mid-Atlantic and Carolinas may be unsettled through the weekend.

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After two days of violent weather that featured deadly tornadoes, 80-mph winds and tropical downpours, more severe thunderstorms are a threat from the Plains to the mid-Atlantic through Wednesday night.

The storms can bring frequent lightning strikes, hail, strong wind gusts and blinding downpours and also can cause disruptions to daily commutes, as well as other travel and outdoor activities.

A boundary separating relatively cool air to the north from hot, muggy air to the south has been the focus of these powerful storms during the first part of this week.

This boundary will be in a similar location over the Plains and Midwest on Wednesday and Wednesday night, thus setting the stage for individual thunderstorms to develop and possibly congeal into storm clusters.

The weather battle zone and greatest risk of locally severe thunderstorms will sag southward in the Eastern states on Wednesday.

AccuWeather.com MinuteCast[TM] has the minute-by-minute forecast for your exact location when showers and thunderstorms threaten. Type your city name, select MinuteCast[TM], and input your street address. On mobile, you can also use your GPS location.

During Wednesday, the potential for gusty thunderstorms and localized severe weather will stretch across Wisconsin and the Lower Peninsula of Michigan but can extend to northern Illinois, northern Indiana, northern and central Ohio, much of Pennsylvania, New Jersey and northern Maryland and Delaware.

Cities in the path of potentially severe thunderstorms include Chicago; Detroit; Toledo and Cleveland, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Pittsburgh; Philadelphia; Wilmington, Delaware; and Atlantic City, New Jersey. The worst of the storms will likely stay south of New England and much of the New York City metro area.

More storms will erupt over the High Plains late on Wednesday.

If you can hear thunder, you are at risk of being struck by lightning.

Because of the speed of many of the storms and the potential volatility of the weather pattern, people spending an extended period of time outdoors will need to keep an eye out for rapidly changing conditions.

Spotty storms can also pop up away from the rim of the heat within the hot, humid air mass. Most of these storms will only affect a small area.

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Recent rainfall has caused record flooding on the Big Sioux and Rock rivers in northwestern Iowa. Both of these rivers flow into the Missouri River, which could reach flood stage in Omaha, Nebraska, this weekend.

Late in the week, a push of cooler air from eastern Canada will shove storms farther south along the East Coast, but the zone of storms will hold over the Plains.

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Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Dawn breaks over the rubble that used to be homes, left earlier in the week when a tornado hit Moore, Okla., Friday, May 24, 2013. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley)

Moore, Okla., is in the heart of an area known as Tornado Alley. The people who call Moore home are still rebuilding from last year's devastating tornado that struck the area on May 20, 2013. In fact, HelpMooreRebuild.org is just one website where requests for help can be made as well as an area for people to sign up, serve and donate.

According to NOAA, about 1,300 tornadoes hit the United States per year and about 60 people die from a tornado-related death such as falling debris, per year. With severe weather season already underway, it is important to be able to identify where tornadoes touch down most frequently.

The most popular answer, Tornado Alley, is a stretch of land famous for its frequent tornado watches and warnings during the spring. Tornadoes, however, can occur almost anywhere in the United States, including west of the Rockies and east of the Appalachians. In fact, some weather experts suggest there is more than one tornado alley and up to as many as four different domestic locations.

Senior Vice President of AccuWeather Enterprise Solutions and tornado expert Mike Smith said that he believes in only two domestic tornado alleys: the classic stretch from Dallas to Des Moines, Iowa and Dixie Alley.

The National Weather Service (NWS) Storm Prediction Center (SPC) routinely collects reports of severe weather and compiles them with a Graphic Information System (GIS). This file contains track information regarding known tornados during the period 1950 to 2006.

"Dixie consists of northeastern Arkansas, western Tennessee, northern Mississippi and Alabama. This area can estimate seeing about eight to 13 tornado watches per year and it's because of the low pressure systems that come through the area that mixes with moisture from the Gulf," Smith said.

The collision of cool air and warm, moist air is also what makes the Plains such a prime location for frequent tornadoes.

"The Great Plains is so susceptible to tornadoes because of the collision between moisture from the Gulf of Mexico, cool air from Canada, and most uniquely, very dry air from New Mexico and California that collides with the moisture," Smith said.

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Those same ingredients can be found just about anywhere on the map of the United States, thus sporting the theory that there may be a Hoosier Alley (Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and Ohio) and Carolina Alley (North Carolina and South Carolina) as well.

"The basic ingredients start with a thunderstorm: warm and moist air at low levels, cold and dry air above that and something that lifts the warm, moist air up. The air is going to be less dense and it will rise up like a hot air balloon. For a tornado, it needs to be organized in the atmosphere where the wind increases with height and a change in direction aloft," Harold Brooks, senior scientist of Forecast Research and Development Division for NOAA, said.

Since it's not rare for the atmosphere to bring these conditions together, some say it's nearly impossible to define one tornado alley, let alone multiple.

"I don't think there are any [tornado alleys]. It isn't a well-defined concept and it's pretty clear if you ask different meteorologists that they will draw different maps. If you ask the public, I think they would draw an area that would be something that would be based on occurrence," Brooks said.

There are several different ways that a tornado alley could be defined.

It could be based on how often tornadoes touch down in an area, how often you include path lengths, if there is a definable severe weather season, or you could talk about impacts and where the most damage occurs, Brooks said.

Dixie Alley is characterized by the presence of a defined severe weather season in the springtime as well as a strong fall signal which is slightly different from the definitive severe weather season of the Plains.

"There has been a high fatality rate from the 1950s through the present with F2 storms or higher in Dixie. These are the kind of storms that can take out a person's home," Smith said.

Defining an alley based on frequency or damage is not as easily agreed upon in areas referred to as Carolina Alley and Hoosier Alley.

"Carolina Alley is something that I don't buy. An interesting theory, as is Hoosier Alley, but they are terms for broad regions between the Rockies and the Appalachians where there is enhanced tornado occurrence, but the strength of that seasonal cycle weakens as you go east from the Plains," Brooks said.

Although Brooks does not buy into Carolina Alley or Hoosier Alley, there is research that disagrees with him.

Despite the location, it's important to pass on and understand the difference between tornado watches and warnings.

"Tornado Alley receives 10-15 watches per year and this is when the forecast conditions are just right for a severe weather event to occur, but a warning is when a specific area is advised to take cover," Smith said.

"Essentially, the Plains are an ideal place to make storms very frequently because it's easy for the atmosphere to do it there. You need something to initiate it and get the storm started and that the conditions to support the storms in April and May are perfect. But again, this can happen just about anywhere if the conditions are just right," Brooks said.

Avg number of minutes county is in a TOR warning per year. pic.twitter.com/rxB8ejHMCK

- Daryl Herzmann (@akrherz) April 7, 2014

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Thursday, June 19, 2014

(AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

A zone of showers and thunderstorms will set up shop from the Midwest to part of the mid-Atlantic and the South this weekend.

Locations from Chicago, Detroit and Indianapolis to Atlanta, Washington, D.C., and Nashville will be in the zone where showers and thunderstorms can occur at any time.

People spending time outdoors at picnics, ballgames, fishing, golfing or swimming may have to dodge some raindrops and run for cover on more than one occasion this weekend within this swath. Lightning will be a concern as well.

There will be long episodes when it is not raining, but guarantees cannot be made as to which part of the day will be dry. While most of the downpours will occur during the afternoon and evening, there will be some exceptions.

AccuWeather.com MinuteCast[TM] has the minute-by-minute forecast for your exact location when showers and thunderstorms threaten in the short term. Type your city name, select MinuteCast[TM] and input your street address. On mobile, you can also use your GPS location.

The showers and thunderstorms will continue to fire and repeat along a northwest to southeast zone, which will separate cool air and low humidity in the Northeast from hot, humid air over the central Plains, lower Mississippi Valley and the Deep South.

Most of the storms in this zone will not be severe, but a few communities can be hit hard by repeating downpours, causing flash and urban flooding and a smaller number of storms can bring brief strong wind gusts that can knock down trees and cause sporadic power outages.

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The greatest risk for large areas of severe weather will be over the central Plains this weekend, where there can be incidents of large hail, damaging winds and a few tornadoes.

This is the time of year when it is rather easy for an average shower to become a thunderstorm with little notice. This is most likely during the afternoon and evening, due to heating of the day.

Be sure to keep an eye out for rapidly changing weather conditions and ears open for thunder. If you can hear thunder, you are at risk for being struck by lightning. Seek shelter indoors away from windows as storms approach.

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After a hot start to the week in the Northeast, more seasonable temperatures are expected to settle in by the weekend.

Tuesday and Wednesday turned out to be the hottest days since last summer for several cities across the region, including New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., and Boston.

Residents of the Northeast experienced the first true surge of summer heat, putting air conditioners and freshly opened swimming pools to the test before the heat builds in to stay.

Although none of these locations touched the 100-degree mark, new record highs were still set on occasion during the peak of the hot spell.

Some places, such as Washington, D.C., reached higher temperatures than most areas in Florida on both Tuesday and Wednesday.

*Denotes record value.

All temperatures listed are in degrees Fahrenheit.

While those in the Northeast experienced above-normal temperatures, folks on the other side of the country experienced the exact opposite.

A slow-moving low pressure system spinning over the northern Rockies delivered several days of unsettled weather and cool conditions to the Pacific Northwest.

This also included Great Falls, Montana, with the city only reaching 49 degrees on Wednesday, 25 degrees lower than their normal high of 74 F.

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A cold front draped across the mid-Atlantic will bring cooler, less humid conditions to much of the Northeast Thursday before pushing farther south by Friday.

However, temperatures are still forecast to reach the 90-degree mark in the nation's capital for the fourth consecutive day.

If the city can reach 90 degrees, it would be the longest stretch of 90-degree days in the city going all the way back to the middle of July 2013.

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Sunny days and warmer air are often the long-awaited highlights of the summer season for many. However, for some, high humidity and bright days can spiral them into a period of depression.

Although significantly less common than the "winter blues," seasonal affective disorder, or SAD, can also occur during the summer months.

A recently discovered disorder, SAD is classified by full-blown major depressive episodes that take form most often around the transition between seasons. Most cases of the disorder take hold during the transition between the fall and winter months as days get shorter and darker, but in a few instances people can be impacted during the summer months.

"Summer depression is a much rarer disorder," Dr. Alfred Lewy with the Oregon Health and Science University in Portland, Oregon, said. "For every 100 winter depression cases, there is one summer depression case."

Despite the sheer differences in the number of occurrences, both SAD's summer and winter onsets have similar symptoms, ranging from feelings of sadness and hopelessness to decreased socialization, changes in appetite, sleeping patterns and difficulty concentrating. Predispositions to the disorder are also alike for the two seasonal types of the depression, influenced by family history, genetics and high stress levels.

"These forms of seasonal depression are depression so people with this meet the same symptoms that anyone with depression meets," Clinical Psychologist, Long-Time SAD Researcher and Ph.D. with Brigham and Women's Hospital Janis Anderson said.

While there are similarities between symptoms, unlike oversleeping and overeating habits associated with winter SAD, summer SAD is more likely to induce loss of appetite and sleeping troubles for those affected.

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Although summer SAD has been studied significantly less than winter SAD due to the sparse number of cases, the studies that have been conducted have linked the influence of geography to the disorder's summer cases.

"The closer you are to the North Pole, the more likely it is that you will have winter SAD, but the closer you are to the equator, the more likely it is that you will have summer SAD," Anderson said.

Exposed to typically hot and muggy summers, most complaints about the summer onset of the disorder seem to occur in the southern parts of the United States, primarily on the East Coast in states like Florida, according to Anderson.

Due to the climatological conditions that are thought to trigger the onset of the disease in the summer months, air conditioning can provide relief for those with the disorder.

"It seems like getting in cool, dry and less humid conditions was more helpful to people with summer SAD than any manipulations of light exposure," Anderson said. "For summer SAD, air conditioning is one of the best things to reduce symptoms."

Other treatments for the disorder include cognitive behavioral therapy to attempt to reduce behavioral withdraw and negative thoughts, as well as the use of antidepressants.

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Friday, June 20, 2014


With summer comes warmer weather, more hours of daylight and more time off to hit the road and take a vacation. However, summer also brings an increased risk of severe weather and hurricanes that can put a vacation in danger.

On the Road

When taking a road trip or traveling in an unfamiliar location, it is important to keep up to date on the weather in that location. Take time before embarking on a roadtrip to understand what the typical weather is along the path, and take a look at a long-term forecast to get a more comprehensive idea of what may impact the trip.

"The same rule of thumb that works at home works on the road: Be prepared," said Paul Brady, deputy consumer news editor of Condé Nast Traveler. "Have storm supplies handy, make sure family members know your emergency plan and share your plans with a friend or relative not traveling with you. Also keep a copy of all your important documents - itineraries, passport ID page, driver's license, credit cards - in a safe place in case the originals are lost."

(Photo/CBCK-Christine)

Brady recommended keeping a road-ready emergency kit, which should include provisions such as bottled water, shelf-stable food and a surplus of daily medication. Additionally, a first-aid kit and flares or warning triangles should be stored.

Have a car charger for cell phones to ensure the ability to call for help if needed. Smart phones also have access to applications that can give you weather forecasts or help located nearby hotels or other shelter if needed.

Brady also suggested the FRX2 American Red Cross radio, which will carry weather warnings on the radio stations, has a built in flashlight and can be hand cranked to give it power or also charge a cell phone.

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While you are on the road traveling, it is crucial to pay attention to all lights and signs, and to keep the radio on in case of an emergency broadcast. A car is not a safe place to be if flash flooding or a tornado are coming through the area, so if the weather is turning severe, find a secure place to stop and wait out the worst of it.

All it takes is 2 feet of water to move a car, so it is essential never to try to drive through a flooded roadway.

In poor visibility, drive slowly and put hazard lights on. It's always better to be late to a destination than to get in an accident and not arrive at all. Brady recommended checking windshield wiper blades before leaving to be sure the car is ready for poor weather.

Along with listening to radio weather advisories, understand which clouds mean danger to help decide when it is necessary to get off the road.

(Photo/bmanolakos)

Beach Resorts

Beaches can provide a fun and relaxing getaway in the summer, but for some beach resort destinations, hurricane season should be taken into consideration during planning.

"There's a reason hotel rates in the Caribbean are cheaper during hurricane season," Brady said. "That said, most of the time the weather is fine. Occasionally resorts will offer 'hurricane guarantees,' which offer refunds or replacement vacations if a storm ruins your trip; confirm these details over email with the property, so you have records of the specifics before booking."

Brady said that purchasing the right travelers' insurance is an important step to take before leaving.

"Not all plans cover hurricanes or other severe weather, so if that coverage is important to you, read the fine print to make sure it's included in the specific insurance plan you purchase," he said. "Reading the specifics of the plan you buy is the only way to be sure of what's covered and what's not. Trip interruption insurance is helpful because severe weather elsewhere can often cause missed connections or other problems getting to your destination, even if you're not headed into the path of the storm."

When purchasing travel insurance, it is essential to purchase it far enough in advance. According to Brady, the insurance primarily covers "unforeseen" circumstances, so once a storm has formed it is too late for coverage.

If on vacation when a storm hits, it will be important to understand the local resources. Brady recommended talking to hotel staff about concerns and learning how to safely weather the storm.

"Hotel staff are again a great resource that's in touch with local authorities-and their job is to keep guests safe and comfortable," he said. "Internationally, the U.S. State Department has made great efforts recently to improve its communication with citizens, including about severe weather. Follow the department on social media for updates, visit travel.state.gov, and consider the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, also available online, which makes it easier for embassy staff to communicate with you in the event of an emergency."

(Photo/Leonid Andronov)

Cruises

If your vacation includes a cruise, be aware of the liner's policies for inclement weather. Cruise lines are well aware of hurricane and tropical storm threats. Atlantic hurricane season runs from June through November, but it is most active from August to October.

Companies that take cruise ships through hurricane-prone waters during these months monitor storm activity very closely. If tropical activity looks likely the threaten the path a ship is meant to take, the trip's itinerary will be altered.

"Ships can simply plot a course around the storm and avoid it completely, though sometimes that means missing a planned port-of-call," Brady said.

This could mean replacing one port-of-call with another, skipping one of the stops, or doing the trip in reverse starting at the planned last port. Sometimes, the course may be completely altered for safety reasons and all new routes will be taken, stopping in different cities than originally planned.

In some cases, cruises may be altogether canceled, but it is more likely that there will be changes made to the trip.

Brady added that some islands, such as Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, are more southern and not typically in the path of storms during hurricane season.

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Friday, June 20, 2014


Saturday marks the official start of summer and the new season will bring a surge of heat and humidity for those in the South.

Those from New Orleans to Atlanta and toward Raleigh, North Carolina, can expect highs above the 90-degree mark each day through Sunday with the worst of the heat focusing on a zone just inland from the Gulf Coast.

While highs across the Southeast are expected to top out in the 90s, AccuWeather.com RealFeel(R) temperatures will reach the 100s across much of the region during the daytime hours.

Anyone planning to spend time in the outdoors across the Southeast this weekend should take the proper precautions to stay protected from some of the dangers that the heat brings.

Several factors are taken into account when calculating the AccuWeather.com RealFeel(R) temperature, such as humidity, wind speed and amount of sunshine.

With AccuWeather.com RealFeel(R) values this high, it is important not to overexert yourself when partaking in outdoor activities, such as running or landscaping.

Headache and dizziness are two symptoms of heat stroke, which can turn deadly if it goes untreated for a long enough period of time.

If you are in the outdoors and begin to experience these symptoms, you should go into an air conditioned room and rehydrate with water to help cool your body. It may be necessary to call 911 if you continue to experience symptoms of heat stroke long after being removed from the heat.

The early morning hours is the safest part of day to partake in activities such as exercise or strenuous labor due to the lower temperatures as well as lower sun angle.

Drinking plenty of water is also important regardless of if you are participating in a strenuous activity or not to prevent dehydration.

Remember than caffeinated beverages, such as coffee or soda, can actually accelerate dehydration rather than replenish your body of much-needed water.

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This heat is not expected to depart the region any time soon with highs around 90 F remaining widespread across the Southeast through at least Tuesday of the upcoming week.

Showers and thunderstorms will also stick around the region, typical for summer in the Southeast.

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

(AP photo)

Severe thunderstorms will take aim at portions of the Plains and Midwest to close out the first day of summer.

Showers and thunderstorms are in the forecast for much of the northern Plains on Saturday afternoon and evening, but severe storms will focus on two areas over the region.

Any thunderstorm that tracks over Omaha, Nebraska, whether it be severe or not, could result in more delays at the NCAA College World Series being held in the city.

On Friday night, Game 12 of the tournament was suspended due to inclement weather and is scheduled to resume on Saturday at 3 p.m. EDT.

The primary threats from these storms are anticipated to be damaging wind gusts as strong as 70 mph and hail measuring as large as baseballs.

Flash flooding is also a concern, especially around Iowa where locations have already picked up more than twice the amount of rainfall that they typically receive in all of June.

With the ground already saturated with water, it will not take much rainfall to spark flash flooding in these areas.

Those living near streams or rivers should keep an eye on water levels as they may rise above the banks and flood areas close by.

Residents of Nebraska that were hit by storms on Friday could get hit again on Saturday night as storms track across the state.

This includes Omaha, Nebraska, after storms on Friday evening dumped inches of rain on the city and left over 14,000 people without power for a time.

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The threat for severe weather will continue over the central Plains on Sunday with showers and heavy thunderstorms spanning across the region.

An area stretching from eastern Wyoming through the Oklahoma Panhandle appears to be the area most likely to have storms that produce damaging winds and hail. This area includes the city of Denver.

Similar to the storms on Saturday, thunderstorms that track around Iowa on Sunday will bring a heightened risk of flash flooding.

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Saturday, June 21, 2014

(AP Photo/Noah Berger)

At least three homes were damaged by a wildfire on Friday afternoon in Fairfield, California.

Part of Interstate 680 was closed in Solano County as a result of the fire but later reopened, ABC 7 News in San Francisco reported.

#Solano County, N I-680 at green Valley Rd., all lanes are closed due to a brush fire. use W-780 to E-80 and to expect delays.

- Caltrans District 4 (@CaltransD4) June 20, 2014

The fire was reported about 3:45 p.m. PDT Friday.

Winds were picking up at the time of the fire out of the southwest between 15 and 20 mph, AccuWeather.com Meteorologist Brian Lada said.

"There were stronger gusts up to 25 mph around 5 p.m. after the fire started," Lada said.

Low humidity around 20 percent was also an issue for firefighters.

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The United States will play their second match of the World Cup on Sunday in Manaus, which is located squarely in the Amazon rainforest.

The game will be held at 6:00 p.m. EDT, and as you can guess by the city's location, the main weather concern will come from heat and the possibility of a thunderstorm.

Temperatures will be near 80 F to start the game, but very high humidity will make it feel more like 90 F. As has been the case in other games, heat stoppages could be used if the referees feel the conditions warrant a break for the players.

The other concern will be the looming threat for a shower or thunderstorm across the area. The best chance of any rain will be early in the game.

The two other games across Brazil that will be played will feature drier and less uncomfortable game conditions.

Belgium will play Russia at noon EDT in Rio de Janeiro. The temperature at the start of the game will be around 75 F. Humidity, while noticeable, will not be nearly as high as in Manaus, and temperatures will only feel like closer to 80 F.

Conditions will also be dry in Rio de Janeiro, with mostly sunny weather prevailing throughout the game.

Sunday's other game will feature South Korea playing Algeria at 3:00 p.m. EDT in Porto Alegre. This will arguably be the most comfortable game of the day.

Temperatures at the start of the game will be around 72 F along with low humidity and partly sunny skies with no threat of rain.

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After a particularly brutal winter, summer is finally here.

The summer solstice occurred Saturday (June 21) at 6:51 a.m. EDT (1051 GMT), marking the official start of summer.

During the solstice, the sun reaches its highest point in the sky over the Northern Hemisphere, which means Saturday will be the longest day of the year for every place north of the Tropic of Cancer. After the summer solstice, daylight gets progressively shorter each day until the winter solstice in December. [Image Gallery: Stunning Summer Solstice Photos]

This happens because Earth's axis is tilted about 25 degrees on its side. On the day of the summer solstice, Earth is tilted so that the North Pole points directly at the sun, Daniel Savin, an astronomy researcher at Columbia University, said. This also explains why daylight lasts so long in the north during the summer months, especially at the North Pole, where the sun will not set until September's autumn equinox.

During the summer season, Earth reaches its farthest point away from the sun, yet the season is the hottest time of the year. The way the sunlight strikes the planet's surface explains this apparent contradiction.

"It has to do with the amount of sunlight hitting per square foot," Savin told Live Science. "When the Northern Hemisphere is inclined toward the sun, the cross section is much smaller."

A small surface area exposed to that much sunlight means the Northern Hemisphere heats up. It takes a while for the summer heat to get into full swing, though, because oceans take a long time to warm up, Savin said.

But while daylight time is at its longest during the summer, that doesn't mean nighttime is at its shortest. Twilight lasts longer during this time of year because light is scattered as the sun rises and sets.

The summer solstice happens around the same time every year because leap years keep Earth's seasons on track.

"Earth orbits the sun in 365 days and some change," Savin told Live Science. "That quarter-day builds up over time and would end up shifting the time of the seasons" without leap years.

The extra day on the calendar every four years evens out the quarter-day remaining from the previous years.

Follow Kelly Dickerson on Twitter. Follow us @livescience, Facebook & Google+. Original article on Live Science.

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Rounds of showers and thunderstorms will continue to rattle the Dallas area through at least midweek.

Following the rain and thunderstorms from the weekend, more thunderstorms will target Dallas on Monday.

The morning hours will be dry for outdoor plans before the thunderstorms move in during the afternoon and overnight hours.

There is concern for the strongest thunderstorms later on Monday to produce damaging winds and flooding downpours.

As steamy air remains in place, the stage will be set for a couple of additional showers and thunderstorms through at least midweek.

The storminess and resultant clouds will act to prevent temperatures from exceeding the lower 90s daily.

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Forecast Temperature Maps

Despite the thunderstorms threatening to interfere with outdoor sporting events, travel, camps and other plans, the rain will be beneficial for drought relief.

The latest report issued by the U.S. Drought Monitor stated that widespread extreme drought conditions encompassed Dallas and points to the north and west.

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Sunday, June 22, 2014

This file photo shows Pittsburgh's PNC Park after a stormy spell. (Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)

After a break from rain Sunday and high humidity in general his weekend, warm and more humid conditions, along with the chance of thunderstorms will increase next week.

The system responsible for clouds and rain during the first part of the weekend is heading out to sea, but moisture will return from the Midwest on Monday.

Each day next week will feature moderate to high humidity levels and high temperatures in the 80s F. High temperatures during late June tend to average in the lower 80s.

The combination of warm, humidity and several storms systems moving along will bring a daily risk of showers and thunderstorms.

Storms Tuesday night into Wednesday have the potential to be rather heavy and could bring travel disruptions and perhaps localized flash flooding.

RELATED:
Detailed Pittsburgh Forecast
Pittsburgh Interactive Weather Radar
Pittsburgh Minute-By-Minute Forecast

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Gone by midweek will be the dry and comfortably low humidity kicking off the new week along the Northeast's I-95 corridor.

Higher humidity will instead return by midweek and set the stage for numerous and some drenching thunderstorms.

Those with yard or field work, sporting events, hiking/walking plans or any other outdoor activity should take advantage of the dry weather that will persist through Tuesday.

Remember that even when high humidity and heat are absent, the sun's rays this time of year are still harmful to unprotected skin and eyes.

Not all of the Northeast will be dry to start the week.

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