Current Weather Conditions for March 12th, 2012

 Currently in Eau Claire
Temperature (Fahrenheit): 50 degrees
Wind: SW at 9 mph
Cloud Cover: Overcast (nimbostratus and stratus)
Precipitation: Scattered rainshowers
Dewpoint: 1030.2 g/kg


The Eau Claire area did see the rain I called for overnight and earlier this morning. However the thunderstorms I predicted (hoped for) didn't show. I am sure some of you out there were looking forward to a good thunderstorm just as much as I was. For those of you who don't understand how someone could really want a thunderstorm, there is actually some science behind people's love for thunderstorms. During a thunderstorm the atmosphere is cleared of positive ion buildup and there is a high concentration of negative ions instead, for many people this induces a euphoric feeling. So all you haters out there now understand why I also want big bad weather systems. Anyways what is Eau Claire in for the rest of the day?

http://www.accuweather.com/en/us/wisconsin/weather-radar

First take a look at the radar above. You will notice that most of the precipitation is going to be north of Eau Claire the rest of the day. However there is one band of moderate precipitation with an southeast to northwest orientation. I predict Eau Claire will likely see this precipitation move through the area around 5pm to 6pm. After that I expect the majority of the precipitation will cease and the current overcast skies composed of precipitation producing nimbostratus and stratus clouds will begin to clear overnight. And as for tomorrow...

As you can see Eau Claire is currently in the general vicinity of the occluded front on the surface map. As the cold front overtakes the warm front winds will begin to shift to W winds more quickly. This cold front front will also cause the cloud cover to begin clearing. W winds will continue into tomorrow morning but as soon as the low pressure system currently over Utah moves into the Central United States wind direction will shift to SE. This will most likely occur later in the afternoon. Overall tomorrow should be a nice sunny day with mild W winds shifting to SE winds later on. I except the high for the day (mid 60's) will arrive in the early evening when the wind direction shifts to SE due to the warmer Gulf air drawn up by the low pressure system.