April Banter 2026

[George BM]

May 21, 2026 3:56PM EDT

Tornadic supercell over Winchester, VA already responsible for at least two confirmed tornadoes in eastern WV continues to move just south of due east into a more favorable environment characterized by extreme instability (5000+ J/kg MLCAPE), strong effective SRH (300-450 m2/s2) and strong effective bulk-shear (60+kts). With low LCLs owing to surface temps around 90F with dewpoints around 80F, the environment is set for cyclical potentially strong to violent tornadoes as this supercell or any others that manage to form through the cap (warm-layer aloft) near the warm front move E to ESE. This an unusually dangerous situation for the Greater DC metro region as this is where the warm front is slowly lifting through from southwest to northeast. Take any tornado warnings or potential tornado emergencies issued this afternoon and evening especially seriously.

The greatest potential of any particularly intense tornadoes will be between now and about 8-9pm when the subtle shortwave responsible for this supercellular storm activity exits to the east.

Outside of the tornado threat any storms this afternoon and evening will be capable of dropping up to 4 inch diameter hail as well as producing significantly severe wind gusts (80+ mph) thanks to the steep 8+C MLLRs and fairly large downdraft CAPE available.

There will be a lull in severe activity by the late evening hours before another round of more widespread storms, possibly in the form of an MCS or to move in from the west as a result of a stronger shortwave moving around the crest of the ridge of high pressure draped over the southeastern US. Despite the late night/ pre-dawn timing of these storms (midnight-6am) there could still be a decent severe wind threat as well as a risk of severe hail and a couple tornadoes owing to MLCAPE still around 2500-3000+ J/kg, 50-60kt effective bulk-shear and still strong low-level shear (Effective SRH in excess of 250m2/s2).

Friday will introduce a still hot but less humid day with only a slight chance of isolated afternoon storms, mainly in the mountains.

[bncho]

Happy April Fools.

[WolfStock1]

Don't forget - Artemis II launches this evening!   First time mankind has been beyond Earth's orbit since 1974.

Where to watch:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/where-to-watch-artemis-ii-launch/

(in addition to NASA channel of course)

 

 

 

 

[Mrs.J]

So overnight I kept getting push notifications from Carrot weather and The Weather Network that heavy rain was starting soon. Checked that I had the right location set on both as I have many saved locations with push notifications. 

[SnowenOutThere]

Just now, SnowenOutThere said:

Went on an adventure to see the cherry blossoms last weekend in DC.

Started by waking up at 3am to get there early enough to get shots of the moon sinking over the horizon, of which, I couldn't be happier with.

By 5am first light started to appear and with it the crowds. Pulses of people streamed onto the walkways. 

I went around the loop for sunrise. Got some shots along the way, and arguably my best ones of the day.

Finally, the sun began to breach the DC skyline. 

At the end I was out of DC by 8am. Great experience, and huge thanks to my Dad for driving me in and finding parking. 

Highly recommend going out and doing this at least once in your life. While I think the cherry blossoms are otherwise overhyped and overdone; if you manage to get there early in the morning to watch deep night fade into morning's glow it is a magical experience. 

[WxUSAF]

Go Artemis!

[pazzo83]

the Wizards just allowed 120 points in 3 quarters (they did score 100+)

[nj2va]

2 hours ago, pazzo83 said:

the Wizards just allowed 120 points in 3 quarters (they did score 100+)

Wait, people follow them?

[pazzo83]

1 hour ago, nj2va said:

Wait, people follow them?

my phone decided to show the wizards game scores on the lock screen.

Take a look at these scores tonight in REGULATION:
PHL - 153
WAS - 151

BOS - 147
MIA - 129

NYK - 130
MEM - 119

IND - 149
CHI - 126

DEN - 130
UTA - 117

The Sixers scored 47 points in the 3Q.  The Celtics scored 53 points in the 1Q.   Guess no one was playing defense tonight.

[TSSN+]

Can’t wait to pay over 5 dollars a gallon for gas… this is getting ridiculous 

[MN Transplant]

22 minutes ago, TSSN+ said:

Can’t wait to pay over 5 dollars a gallon for gas… this is getting ridiculous 

I just filled up a small SUV in Germany for $120.  Cost of travel and all, but ouch.

[Mrs.J]

11 hours ago, TSSN+ said:

Can’t wait to pay over 5 dollars a gallon for gas… this is getting ridiculous 

Mr. J has a MX 5 and it requires Premium. Not looking forward to that. At least we now have an EV and charge at home mostly. I told him that if it gets really high to just take my car to work and I will just stay home for the day. I have bad knees and do not drive his car with manual transmission. 

[Jebman]

On 4/2/2026 at 6:53 AM, TSSN+ said:

Can’t wait to pay over 5 dollars a gallon for gas… this is getting ridiculous 

Its getting close to 4 dollars a gallon in Buda.

[Jebman]

On 3/31/2026 at 11:18 PM, bncho said:

Happy April Fools.

I'd be so happy, in fact I'd be so REBORN from the April Fools Blizzard of 2026 in Washington, DC with 39 inches of fresh snow, that I'd fly in on a red-eye just for the occasion.

[MN Transplant]

9 hours ago, Jebman said:

I'd be so happy, in fact I'd be so REBORN from the April Fools Blizzard of 2026 in Washington, DC with 39 inches of fresh snow, that I'd fly in on a red-eye just for the occasion.

Special for you, the mountains of Switzerland.  Amazing up here.

[pazzo83]

The Swiss Alps are awesome.

[Hyphnx]

Who brought the humidity???

[Chris78]

Unfortunately the Os don't look like a team that is built to reach the playoffs.

Lots of issues already this year.

Team defense is a major issue.

We have a left fielder playing center and the corner filelders have no range.

I have a friend who's a Mets fan. He told me Alonso will get his Homer's but pay attention to when most of them happen.

Lots of low leverage Homer's

Not sure if that's been the case but he does watch plenty of Mets baseball.

So far, very underwhelming brand of baseball in Baltimore. 

Something happened with this team halfway through the 2024 season and it hasn't been the same sense.

[Maestrobjwa]

4 hours ago, Chris78 said:

Unfortunately the Os don't look like a team that is built to reach the playoffs.

Lots of issues already this year.

Team defense is a major issue.

We have a left fielder playing center and the corner filelders have no range.

I have a friend who's a Mets fan. He told me Alonso will get his Homer's but pay attention to when most of them happen.

Lots of low leverage Homer's

Not sure if that's been the case but he does watch plenty of Mets baseball.

So far, very underwhelming brand of baseball in Baltimore. 

Something happened with this team halfway through the 2024 season and it hasn't been the same sense.

I think we need to give this new group time to gel--it's not like this is the same team as last year. I mean they practically cleaned house in coaching, and only like 8 players remain from last year's OD roster. It's hard to imagine that things stay the same the entire year and don't get better. I mean on paper, aside from the bullpen, this SHOULD be a better team. And with new coaching it SHOULD be a better team. SHOULD...lol I mean that would be insane to clean house, finally start spending more and build a better lineup with the productive veteran leadership we've been missing...and not get better. I mean those have been core issues we seem to have addressed.

I think it's way to early to give up on the season...because there are a different set of variables at play, and 8 games is not enough time to see how things are gonna come together. It just sucks for the time being,get.

I think if we can be around .500 at the end of April that would give things enough time to gel.

[Chris78]

9 hours ago, Maestrobjwa said:

I think we need to give this new group time to gel--it's not like this is the same team as last year. I mean they practically cleaned house in coaching, and only like 8 players remain from last year's OD roster. It's hard to imagine that things stay the same the entire year and don't get better. I mean on paper, aside from the bullpen, this SHOULD be a better team. And with new coaching it SHOULD be a better team. SHOULD...lol I mean that would be insane to clean house, finally start spending more and build a better lineup with the productive veteran leadership we've been missing...and not get better. I mean those have been core issues we seem to have addressed.

I think it's way to early to give up on the season...because there are a different set of variables at play, and 8 games is not enough time to see how things are gonna come together. It just sucks for the time being,get.

I think if we can be around .500 at the end of April that would give things enough time to gel.

I agree it's early and baseball is a marathon. 

Something that has bothered me is all of these top prospects has been underwhelming except for Gunner.

You can go through all of them and with the exception of Gunner non has lived up to there billing.

Holiday- decent player but he was the overall #1 prospect for a good while. Doesn't look like the superstar he was made out to be.

Cowser- not an everyday center fielder. Can't hit off speed pitching.

Westburg - can't stay healthy. 

Adley. - huge regression for the last 1.5 years. Not only offensely but defensely too.

 

Add all of this up and you end up with the last year and a half of Baltimore baseball.

This has to change for the Orioles to get back into the post season. 

 

Edit - I forgot to add in Mayo. Huge bust potential here. It's early but early returns looks like he can't hit Major league quality pitching.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

Happy Easter, happy spring to all!  And @mappy, here are some tulips for you!!

[snowfan]

2 hours ago, Chris78 said:

I agree it's early and baseball is a marathon. 

Something that has bothered me is all of these top prospects has been underwhelming except for Gunner.

You can go through all of them and with the exception of Gunner non has lived up to there billing.

Holiday- decent player but he was the overall #1 prospect for a good while. Doesn't look like the superstar he was made out to be.

Cowser- not an everyday center fielder. Can't hit off speed pitching.

Westburg - can't stay healthy. 

Adley. - huge regression for the last 1.5 years. Not only offensely but defensely too.

 

Add all of this up and you end up with the last year and a half of Baltimore baseball.

This has to change for the Orioles to get back into the post season. 

 

Edit - I forgot to add in Mayo. Huge bust potential here. It's early but early returns looks like he can't hit Major league quality pitching.

I think my biggest concern is the injury bug that has hit the org the past year to 18 months. And every time its a key piece. Overall very frustrating time since the end of the 24 regular season.

[Maestrobjwa]

4 hours ago, Chris78 said:

I agree it's early and baseball is a marathon. 

Something that has bothered me is all of these top prospects has been underwhelming except for Gunner.

You can go through all of them and with the exception of Gunner non has lived up to there billing.

Holiday- decent player but he was the overall #1 prospect for a good while. Doesn't look like the superstar he was made out to be.

Cowser- not an everyday center fielder. Can't hit off speed pitching.

Westburg - can't stay healthy. 

Adley. - huge regression for the last 1.5 years. Not only offensely but defensely too.

 

Add all of this up and you end up with the last year and a half of Baltimore baseball.

This has to change for the Orioles to get back into the post season. 

 

Edit - I forgot to add in Mayo. Huge bust potential here. It's early but early returns looks like he can't hit Major league quality pitching.

And speaking of Adley...how about HIS start to the season? I'm starting to see the Adley of 2022-June 2024.

 

Now Mayo...I think we need to give the bat a little more time. Now once the offense heats up and he still isn't hitting by middle of the year...then yeah that might be a problem. Defensively he seemed to be making strides until yesterday, lol

[Chris78]

33 minutes ago, Maestrobjwa said:

And speaking of Adley...how about HIS start to the season? I'm starting to see the Adley of 2022-June 2024.

 

Now Mayo...I think we need to give the bat a little more time. Now once the offense heats up and he still isn't hitting by middle of the year...then yeah that might be a problem. Defensively he seemed to be making strides until yesterday, lol

I hope they can pull it together. This season may spiral out of control fairly quickly. 

That's what happened last year 

Season was basically over by Memorial day.

[Chris78]

Chris Bassett - Charlie Morton vibes

[Chris78]

Just now, Chris78 said:

Chris Bassett - Charlie Morton vibes

Framber Valdez so far 0.75 Era through 2 starts.

[nj2va]

The tomb is empty, He is Risen!

[WxUSAF]

Woof. Getting swept by the pirates!?!