More Record Heat/Breaking the Heat Wave/Remembering Michael Jackson

HURRICANES AND WEATHER
The National Hurricane Center is carefully watching Invest 93L in the western Caribbean. It has a 30 to 50% chance for development starting late Saturday (at that point it will have crossed the Yucatan into the Gulf). Flat ridge over southern US will probably steer it into Mexico.

On Saturday, 100+ across much of the southwest, Texas, Oklahoma and into Tennessee. Elsewhere in the southeast, lots of 90s with some thunderstorms in Florida. There will be some severe weather across portions of the northern plains, upper Midwest and Great Lakes. On Sunday, the ridge flattens a bit and that means there will be fewer 100+ readings, especially for the more northern locations.

This is the 4th day in a row of 100+ temperatures in Houston. Another record high today...this time the high (as of this writing) 103 breaks the record for this date--102 set back in 1980. Hobby tied its record of 99. Heat Advisory is in effect through Saturday. Ridge will start sliding west and Sunday should be slightly cooler, but it will still be very hot and steamy. Then the ridge flattens out. Bottom line is that hot and steamy weather will continue for the foreseeable future, but the 100+ readings should stop for several days starting on Sunday. On a different note, there were thunderstorms on Thursday. 1/3 inch of rain fell in the Sugar Land area. Isolated storms will be possible through the weekend.

SPANISH WORD OF THE DAY
Let's do weekend or fin de semana, pronounced FEEN DAY say-MAH-nah. Yay! It's the fin de semana.

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AND MORE

There are all kinds of pioneers including those in the field of weather. Today, the John C. Freeman Weather Museum hosted the first ever Weather Pioneers event. I was one of the participants along with Casey Curry of Channel 13 and Lance Wood of the National Weather Service in Houston. I pointed out that museum director, Jill Hasling, is a contemporary pioneer...one of a few women who is a Fellow of the American Meteorological Society and a Certified Consulting Meteorologist. Jill's father, Dr. John Freeman and his wife Marj Freeman, were also weather pioneers. They worked on the Eniac computer team with Johann Von Neumann, one of the computer's first inventors. The computer was developed to solve forecasting equations and Marj was one of the folks (and the only woman) who calculated the correct answer to compare against the results cranked out by the computer.

The public is invited to attend Weather Pioneer Day, a free, day-long celebration, which will include admission to the museum and kid-friendly activities the whole family can enjoy on Saturday, June 27 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Attention will be focused on the work of the first weather pioneers in the region and the challenges they faced in recording their data. This exhibition is devoted to them and their life’s work. The John C. Freeman Weather Museum is located at 5104 Caroline in the Museum District.

Thursday night from 5 to 8 pm is free at the Children's Museum. Sarah and I headed down there last night and it was incredibly busy. But, we still had fun. I had to follow Sarah through the 3-D maze and I must say, it was kind of scary. I had to lug along my purse and I almost lost my sandals several times. I am a bit claustrophobic and not being able to see how to get out bothered me a bit. But there is nothing like trying to keep up with a fast child to take your mind off your own worries. I figured they could rescue us if we weren't out by closing at 8 pm. Guess it wasn't so weird when I kissed the exhibit next to the opening when we finally got out. That's what I did okay?!...just grateful to be alive and free!!! Ha!

Our poll on the challenges of handling children during the school year versus the summer is closed. 100% of respondents felt that it is more challenging to handle children during the summer. Thanks to all who responded.

Today I added Cecilia Sinclair to Facebook. If you check out my page, please be patient as I am building it slowly. I have 4 email accounts, 2 web sites, another Facebook site for Frank the Horse, Linked In, 1 list server, this blog and more to check and/or maintain. So, as I pondered this plethora of ways to network and communicate, I wondered how my full plate compared to that of everyone else. More than one answer is allowed. Thanks in advance for participating.

Finally, a reflection on Michael Jackson. I had a poster of him in my room when I was a little girl. I thought he and Donny Osmond were too cute and wanted to marry one of them. Of course, everyone loved the Jackson 5 and there was a cartoon about them that I watched. When I was in high school and college, he was doing some of his best work. Fame is a strange thing and it sometimes makes people turn out differently than they would have otherwise. I often wonder what he would have been like if not for all the fame and fortune. He was just one of us kids once. We will miss this musical/entertainment genius.

Have a fun and safe weekend everyone!
Cecilia Sinclair
Wonder Weather Woman