Staying in Omaha, Nebraska, last night, I was awakened at midnight by approaching thunder and by a strong, gusty wind that raked the trees outside my window. I was pleased, knowing that this violent weather indicated the arrival of a potent cold front, dropping from the northwest; it will be this front that eventually expels the severe heat and humidity from the eastern half of the country.
For the next hour, swirling winds, continuous lightning and torrential rain kept me at the window, mesmerized by the atmospheric dynamics. Once it died down, I went back to bed, knowing that our rescue was at hand.
This cold front, with its associated storms, will push across the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic States and, eventually, the Southeast. How long the relief will last is uncertain but even a few days of relatively cool, dry air will be more than welcome.
