This was originally posted here on August 6, 2018 and is being posted again today as the “Oppenheimer” film has garnered such praise this summer.
The United States dropped the first atomic bomb on Hiroshima, Japan on this date in 1945. Soon after 7am local time, a US weather surveillance aircraft escorting the Enola Gay triggered yet another air raid alert in Japan. The plane left the area and the all clear was sounded at 7.31am. Its message to the Enola Gay’s crew: “Weather good, possible to drop bomb.”
44 minutes later the Enola Gay released its payload. 70,000 people died instantly as the temperature of the blast soared to 4000 degrees Celsius (7232 degrees Fahrenheit) Another 70,000 were to die by the end of 1945.
The second atomic bomb would be dropped just 3 days later at Nagasaki.
Many find it interesting how the weather forecast impacts decisions that are made regarding historical events. With luck, no such event will occur today.
Temperatures throughout this August weekend on the Delmarva Peninsula should reach the mid to upper 80’s under a mix of sun and clouds. Monday should remain warm as well with a chance of scattered thunderstorms.
We are monitoring the threat for severe weather on Monday. We expect storms will start across the piedmont during the afternoon, then move east through the evening. The primary threat is damaging winds, but large hail is possible. pic.twitter.com/5tWjHOhndq
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) August 6, 2023