BETHESDA LABOR DAY WEEKEND FORECAST, WILL ISAAC REMNANTS HIT BETHESDA, TROPICAL STORM LESLIE - DC BETHESDA WEATHER

The Labor Day Weekend weather forecast for Bethesda and the DC area is slightly better than expected.  Uncertainty remains about just  how much rain Isaac will bring, when its remnants arrive sometime around Monday morning.

While Isaac is expected to drop 8-12" of rain where it meanders in the midwest, NOAA's weather model is predicting only .10" of Isaac-related precipitation in our area through Tuesday.  Yes, that's a decimal point before the numbers.

Is that an accurate prediction?

I'm still skeptical.  There are at least a couple of atmospheric conditions expected over us that could cause Isaac, and non-Isaac-related rainshowers, to stall out in our vicinity.

There's also the unknown of whether there will be the potential of tornados spawning.  If I had to guess, I would say right now, that is unlikely.  But we won't know for sure, until we see what happens when Isaac hits those other atmospheric conditions.

Here's what to expect this holiday weekend:

High of 95 today, sun, and a 10-15 MPH breeze.

Tonight, mostly clear, low 70s, 5-10 MPH breeze.

Saturday, partly sunny, upper 80s, 5-10 MPH breeze.

Saturday night, mostly cloudy, upper 60s, 5-10 MPH breeze.

Sunday, it's hopeful the Bethesda Central Farm Market can get through the Bake Bethesda a Pie Contest, before rain hits.  40% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Sunday night, mostly cloudy, upper 60s, 40% chance of showers/thunderstorms.

Labor Day - this is when Isaac might make his entrance.  Mostly cloudy, high of 85, 50% chance of scattered thunderstorms through the evening.

We also have another storm to monitor:

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

LESLIE UPDATE

Tropical Storm Leslie is likely to strengthen into a hurricane by the end of the day.  Leslie may hit Bermuda, but forecasters say it poses no threat to the East Coast.  I'm not so sure about that, but we'll find out soon enough.

LOCATION:  940 miles E of the Leeward Islands

WINDS:  65 MPH

MOVING: WNW at 16 MPH

Stay tuned here and on Twitter at @BethesdaRow for the latest Bethesda hurricane and weather news, and have a great Labor Day Weekend!!!

WILL BETHESDA HAVE BLUE MOON VIEWING WEATHER FRIDAY? WHEN WILL ISAAC HIT DC AREA? - BETHESDA WEATHER

What is a Blue Moon, and when will you be able to see it here in Bethesda and the DC area?

We'll have a Blue Moon here Friday (August 31).  There are several types of Blue Moons, but in Friday's case, it means this is a rare, second Full Moon within the month.

Blue Moons aren't actually blue (I know, I'm disappointed like you), but they are beautiful.

Fortunately, we'll have great Blue Moon-viewing weather here in Bethesda tomorrow.  It will be sunny all day, with highs in the mid-90s, but a cool 10-15 MPH breeze.

Be watching the Moon at 9:48 AM - yes, AM - when the Full Blue Moon will be at its fullest!

Friday night, it will be mostly clear with lows in the 60s, and winds 5-10 MPH.

Count on Bethesda to find a way to celebrate the Blue Moon:

Blue Moon specials at Freddy's Lobster on Cordell Ave.!

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

ISAAC UPDATE

Isaac is now a weakening Tropical Storm.  It is still headed NW, and every minute it does that is an extra minute of good weather you'll have this weekend.  Although it will disintegrate into a mass of clouds, it will still pack flooding potential by the time it reaches the DC area Sunday or Monday.

TROPICAL STORM ISAAC BULLETIN

LOCATION: OVER LOUISIANA

WINDS:  45 MPH

MOVING:  NW at 8 MPH

Tune your Twitter to @BethesdaRow and stay tuned to the blog this weekend, for urgent Bethesda weather and Isaac updates!

HURRICANE ISAAC WEAKER THAN THE DERECHO THAT HIT BETHESDA, DC AREA - BETHESDA WEATHER

BETHESDA STORM CENTER

ISAAC UPDATE

Not surprisingly, Hurricane Isaac is hitting Louisiana with high winds and torrential rains.  But despite its strengthening after stalling out near shore, I'm sticking with my prediction that Isaac's remnants won't pose a violent threat to Bethesda and the DC area on Labor Day weekend.

But it likely will ruin outdoor plans for at least Sunday and Monday.

As I wrote yesterday, Isaac's westward track means it will have to travel further over land to reach our area, which will sap its strength.

But when you notice how little punch Isaac picked up, despite stalling for hours over warm Gulf waters, it indicates again my theory that Isaac is a wimp of a storm.

In fact, the wind gusts being reported -  mostly 50 MPH, with a high of 85 MPH being the maximum in one location - means Isaac has not reached the reported 90 MPH gusts some parts of the DC area experienced during this summer's derecho storm.

It's all relative, of course.  Rain bands and winds are causing more damage and flooding in Gulf states because the storm isn't moving, rather than because of the storm's inherent strength.

If Isaac was a true "killer storm," the TV people wouldn't be out in it.  They'd be blown away, swept away by waters, or slammed by large debris.  (If those folks knew what was in that water they're standing in around the streets of New Orleans, I doubt they'd be out there to begin with!).

In short, Isaac will be easier for Bethesda and the DC area to handle than the derecho.  The worst is behind us.  For now.

HURRICANE ISAAC BULLETIN

CURRENT LOCATION:  50 miles SSW of New Orleans

WINDS:  80 MPH

MOVING:  NW at 6 MPH

+12' storm surge in Plaquemines Parish

+People are on rooftops there

If and when Isaac's remnants hit Bethesda, stay tuned to this blog and @BethesdaRow on Twitter for 24/7 weather news and information directly from Bethesda.