Imelda Strengthens; U.S. Mostly Warm, Dry

The BBC has launched a 'Weather Watchers' campaign urging people, including school pupils, to observe and photograph the sky with phones, use simple tools and techniques (such as timing lightning-to-thunder), and learn more about weather and climate. A broad ridge of high pressure is keeping much of the U.S. dry and warmer-than-normal this week, producing clear skies and summerlike highs from the Midwest to the Southeast and Texas. Tropical activity is increasing offshore: Tropical Storm Imelda (formerly Tropical Depression Nine) and Hurricane Humberto are expected to remain mostly out to sea, though Imelda could bring increased high clouds, rough seas, dangerous rip currents along some coasts, and light rain to parts of the Southeast. Upper-level disturbances may produce extensive cloud cover and isolated sprinkles in places, but no widespread precipitation is expected over the next week. Regional notes include an active, wetter weekend in parts of New Mexico as a low taps monsoonal moisture, and drought-accelerated fall color in northern New England while central and southern New England remain dry. Overall, expect continued warm, dry conditions with filtered sunshine and only localized impacts from tropical cloud bands and minor disturbances.