Freezing North Country, Baked San Francisco, Still Watching Irma

Mike Brookins uploaded this image of this morning's frost
in Redfield, New York. Photo via Twitter. 

As expected, there was frost around the North Country this morning, especially in the cold hollows, and other areas got very close to having a frost.

At one point overnight, Saranac Lake, New York was down to 28 degrees.

Even places in southern Vermont either had a frost or close to it. Bennington was down to 34 degrees and Springfield was at 35 degrees.

Yesterday, atop Mount Washington, New Hampshire, it was 25 degrees with wind gusts of 94 mph, a wind chill of minus 1 with light snow falling.

Yeah, winter's coming.

Don't tell that to people in California and others along the West Coast, which has been baking in a long, record-breaking heat wave.

Even places right along the coast, which are usually cooled by the Pacific Ocean, roasted. Downtown San Francisco reached 106 degrees, breaking their previous all-time record high of 103 set in 2000.

The heat wave caps what has turned out to be California's hottest summer on record.

The hot weather is expected to be just as strong today, including right along the coast. Inland areas have been in the mid 110's during this hot spell.

It'll begin to turn slightly cooler in California Sunday and Monday, but still will be warmer than average.

Wildfire last night in Burbank Callifornia amid the state's
record heat wave.

Throughout the western third of the nation, hot temperatures, very low humidity and gusty winds will create a severe fire danger through the weekend. The highest risk of fires looks to be in eastern Montana and the western Dakotas, including the Black Hills.

HURRICANE IRMA UPDATE

Hurricane Irma's strength is fluctuating, but remains on the strong side as it continues to move westward into the central Atlantic Ocean. Top sustained winds this morning were around 110 mph.

As it moves west, it's expected to encounter less dry air and warmer ocean waters, which would tend to strengthen it. It could go all the way to Category 5, which would make Irma a dangerous hurricane indeed.

Still, I ask you to continue ignoring panicked social media posts about a Cat 5 Hurricane smashing into Texas, or Florida, or wherever.

There's still a lot of uncertainty as to whether Irma will ultimately hit the United States, and if so, where and at what strength.  Just keep an eye on it for now and watch for more updates.