Current Weather Conditions for Tuesday February 21st, 2012

Sorry for the absence of my weather blog updates the last few days. I was at my cabin in McNaughton, WI helping my dad tap our maple trees. In don't hold you accountable if you couldn't locate McNaughton on a map because apparently my internet service can't either. So there haven't been any posts lately, anyways here is where McNaughton, WI is if you were wondering.

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Currently the temperature in Eau Claire is 34 degrees Fahrenheit with 16 mph SW winds. On top of that a think layer of alto-stratus clouds is successfully blocking out the sunset. Not exactly the beautiful weather we had last week. Let's take a look at what is causing the current weather.
  
The map above is an upper airmass plot of the continental United States also including parts of Canada, Mexico, and Cuba. Notice the NW direction the wind barbs are indicating in the Western U.S. and how it shifts gradually to the SW direction we are experiencing in Eau Claire. Also pay mind to the isobars on the map and there orientation. The isobars current pattern is showing a rather large low pressure system affecting the United States. The center of this low pressure system is located in Central Canada, that's right the Continental Polar airmass is back! The low barometric pressures also seen in Eau Claire ushered in by the Continental Polar airmass are the reason for the thick cloud cover and strong winds.

Expect this weather pattern to remain intact overnight. However, I predict tomorrow will be warmer than today due to a warm front that should make it's way to the Eau Claire area after this cold front moves out. I still expect we will have some cloud cover due to low barometric pressures.