After tracking Hermine for the last week and a half, the National Hurricane Center issued the last advisory on the storm this afternoon at 5pm. We're still threatened by some showers, however, as what's left of the circulation drifts over the Cape by Thursday AM.
I've made it a point to reflect back on tropical systems that approach (or strike) New England, and Hermine seems to be following a disturbing trend of meandering storms that have been near our coast in recent years. (Sandy is the other.)
Typically, these storms do not stall and wander as they approach us. They accelerate as they are swiftly scooped up by the jet stream and hurled into the open Atlantic.
That last point is key. At this latitude, the jet stream is a major player in all seasons. That seems to be changing in recent years as huge, hot high pressure systems push it far to our north, out of the reach of tropical systems, which are abandoned and left to drift.
The absence of a significant jet stream has also kept us in perpetual drought over the last several months. With the arrival of autumn, that is bound to change, but we're not promising an instant end to the drought.
Meantime, the heat will slowly work back into the forecast. Humidity is already apparent, but still tolerable thanks to the thick cloud cover. With the sun slowly reemerging tomorrow and Thursday, it will really bear down on us. Thunder remains elusive with an approaching front late Thursday and Thursday night. Timing is not ideal (coming overnight without ample daytime heating) and once again, moisture is scarce. Not expecting a lot of storms in Eastern New England for this go-round.
Heat drops a bit for the weekend, but we remain near summery levels into next week.
