Weather Observer

A recent stretch of 90-degree days is expected to continue this week before the hot weather tapers, two weather organizations said Sunday. Rain also is possible, moistening a region that experienced a dry July. The local forecast for today calls for a high temperature in the low 90s, National Weather Service spokeswoman Jackie Hale said. The temperature is expected to reach the mid-90s Tuesday and Wednesday, when the heat index could make it feel like the temperature is about 105, she said.

laurae@herald-mail.com It may seem like we have experienced a lot of severe storms lately, but a National Weather Service meteorologist said the pattern of unsettled weather is actually common this time of year. Since mid-April, the weather conditions have been ripe for storms, said Steve Zubrick, meteorologist with the Sterling, Va., office. We've seen higher humidity at the surface, combined with upper-level winds from the west and northwest, he said. Although it's not an unusual weather phenomenon, Zubrick said it may seem that way because it comes on the heels of several years of drought.

The unexpected snowfall that canceled Saturday's Alsatia Mummers Parade in Hagerstown broke new ground. It was the most snow Hagerstown has had in an October storm or for a month of October, going back more than 100 years. Saturday's storm resulted in 3.7 inches of snow in Hagerstown, according to weather observer Greg Keefer's website, i4weather.net . The previous record was 2.8 inches on Oct. 30, 1925, the website reported. The website's records go back to 1898.

TRI-STATE - Schools were closed or let out early, disaster proclamations were issued and emergency management officials were preparing for flash flooding, but the Tri-State area as of Friday night had been spared of any serious consequences as the remnants of Tropical Storm Ernesto moved into the area. "We don't have any reports of floods. Most of the rain has moved to the east, and the Panhandle will be in good shape," said Jimmy Gianato, director of the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management.

andrews@herald-mail.com After about five years of drought, Mother Nature turned on the spigot in 2003. Hagerstown had so much rain, that if 5-foot, 7-inch actor Tom Cruise were standing in Public Square and all the year's rain fell at once, only his forehead would be visible. The rain total was 63.91 inches, according to weather observer Greg Keefer's Web site. The normal yearly rainfall, by Keefer's calculations, should be about the height of Herve Villechaize, who played Tattoo on "Fantasy Island" - 38 inches.

A nasty ice storm tormented Tri-State area motorists Friday, causing numerous accidents throughout the area. No serious injuries were reported. "It was very icy and very heavy slush," said Washington County Sheriff's Deputy David Izat, who investigated an accident along Md. 60 near Leitersburg. Weather forecasters predicted mostly sunny conditions throughout the weekend. Washington County received nearly an inch of rain and ice Friday, according to Hagerstown weather observer Greg Keefer's Internet site.

andrews@herald-mail.com Rising water rendered numerous area roads treacherous or impassable Thursday after more than an inch of rain fell on the area. As a result, crews in Maryland, Pennsylvania and West Virginia responded to reports of vehicles getting stuck on waterlogged roads. A Washington County emergency dispatcher said many roads had been closed, especially along the Conococheague and Antietam creeks. As of 9:15 p.m., 22 roads still were shut down. Most clearly were marked as closed, yet some motorists still tried to drive through.

Thursday's snow contributed to dozens of minor traffic accidents on Tri-State area roads, police and emergency services spokespersons said. Officials in Berkeley County, W.Va., reported nearly 60 accidents between 2 p.m. and late Thursday. Most of those in Berkeley County and in Franklin County, Pa., occurred on Interstate 81, officials said. An emergency services spokesman in Chambersburg, Pa., said more than 20 accidents were reported in Franklin County since mid-afternoon.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - The Tri-State area weathered some severe storms during June, and the month may go out with yet more thunderstorms, according to the National Weather Service. Weather Service Meteorologist Rick Winther said Monday the region can expect showers and thunderstorms today as a cold front pushes through the area from the Ohio Valley. Some of those thunderstorms could be severe, he said. "Just normal, active summertime weather," Winther said. "You have a very active jet stream just north of the area," Winther said of the band of fast-moving winds in the stratosphere that can affect the weather.