How do you say “Surfs up dude” in Spanish?  Alex strengthened overnight to a 70 knot hurricane with a measured central  pressure of 961 millibars. Alex’s organization is better than yesterday with an on-again-off-again hint of a vertical eye and eyewall complex. Dry air is being entrained into the western half of Alex, but  Alex is over a very deep and warm part of the GoMex that will trump dry air in the intensification tussle. Alex is forecast to become an 85 kt storm before landfall over Mexico early tomorrow morning. Somebody is going to lose a sombrero. Not exactly speedy Gonzalez, Alex is wobbling west-northwest at 5-6 knots. In case you were wondering, seas (sig. wave height) in the northeast GoMex are running in the 6-8 foot range with 15-20 knot south-southeast winds.

Closer to home, another round of scattered strong thunderstorms as a cold front, the first one this June, slides through. Again, all the usual suspects: 50-60 mph wind gusts, frequent dangerous lightning,  scaring Buddy the Cat thunder and heavy thumping down pours. The front is currently draped over the Upstate but after brunch will sag south and east. Best chance to get wet is after 2 PM. Clearing after sunset.

National Hurricane Center’s forecast track charted by the Naval Marine Forecast Center and Old Goat Ranch:

Mark Malsick

Severe Weather Liaison

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

State Climate Office

1000 Assembly Street Columbia, SC 29202

803-734-0039

MalsickM@dnr.sc.gov