Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Current Weather Conditions for Tuesday April 10th, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 38 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind chill - 31 degrees F
Dew point - 13 degrees F
Wind direction - NE
Wind speed - 6 mph
Barometric pressure - 1030.11 g/kg
Cloud cover - broken (cumulus humilis)
I have big post for you folks today so let's get moving. Let's kick things off with a link -- relating to the unseasonably warm March we had -- that I would like you all to check out.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/noaa-release-unprecedented-mar/63833
Next let's take a peak at a surface map for today and an upper air mass map as well.
Before I address conditions in the Eau Claire area, I want to familiarize you all a bit more with surface maps. Today's topic is the dryline, which is the dashed brown line you have seen in maps I have posted in the past. The dryline depicts the converging boundaries of two airmasses with radically different in moisture content but with very little difference in temperature. Look at the map and you'll notice a dry line on the eastern side of Arizona, extending down into Mexico. Dry lines in this area and just east of the Rocky Mountains are common, due to warm dry air descending over the leeward side of mountains and warm moist air being drawn northward by a low pressure system. Dry lines often cause precipitation, which is exactly what is happening in New England today. As for Eau Claire, well we have another issue to worry about.
As you can see the jet stream moving right over Eau Claire today. This is what explains the colder temperatures and high wind speeds again today. As was the case yesterday, we have to worry about freezing overnight. Tonight and early tomorrow morning will actually be a bigger threat than last night and this morning. I know what your thinking, it was indeed colder and windier yesterday. When it comes to frost, wind is actually our friend because is doesn't allow for cold air to sink to the ground developing frost. If wind speeds continue to die down overnight we are in trouble. Here are the current projections for tomorrow.
I personally think that we will see some frost tomorrow morning. However I predict that we will have clear skies tomorrow and hopefully the sun will be able to burn off the frost quickly.
Temperature - 38 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind chill - 31 degrees F
Dew point - 13 degrees F
Wind direction - NE
Wind speed - 6 mph
Barometric pressure - 1030.11 g/kg
Cloud cover - broken (cumulus humilis)
I have big post for you folks today so let's get moving. Let's kick things off with a link -- relating to the unseasonably warm March we had -- that I would like you all to check out.
http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/noaa-release-unprecedented-mar/63833
Next let's take a peak at a surface map for today and an upper air mass map as well.
Before I address conditions in the Eau Claire area, I want to familiarize you all a bit more with surface maps. Today's topic is the dryline, which is the dashed brown line you have seen in maps I have posted in the past. The dryline depicts the converging boundaries of two airmasses with radically different in moisture content but with very little difference in temperature. Look at the map and you'll notice a dry line on the eastern side of Arizona, extending down into Mexico. Dry lines in this area and just east of the Rocky Mountains are common, due to warm dry air descending over the leeward side of mountains and warm moist air being drawn northward by a low pressure system. Dry lines often cause precipitation, which is exactly what is happening in New England today. As for Eau Claire, well we have another issue to worry about.
As you can see the jet stream moving right over Eau Claire today. This is what explains the colder temperatures and high wind speeds again today. As was the case yesterday, we have to worry about freezing overnight. Tonight and early tomorrow morning will actually be a bigger threat than last night and this morning. I know what your thinking, it was indeed colder and windier yesterday. When it comes to frost, wind is actually our friend because is doesn't allow for cold air to sink to the ground developing frost. If wind speeds continue to die down overnight we are in trouble. Here are the current projections for tomorrow.
I personally think that we will see some frost tomorrow morning. However I predict that we will have clear skies tomorrow and hopefully the sun will be able to burn off the frost quickly.
Monday, April 9, 2012
Current Weather Conditions for Monday April 9th, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 43 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Direction - WNW
Wind Speed - 20 mph and gusting up to 25 mph.
Barometric Pressure - 1030.07 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast
Sorry my little hiatus the past couple days, I was up north at my cabin again and didn't have any internet access. Hope you all had a great weekend whether you were visiting family for Easter or not. Let's get right down to business though. I am sure most of you have noticed how strong winds have been today, but what is causing them?
Yeah the map is busy, but it does a great job at depicting cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, fronts, and pressure systems all at once. What I would like you to take from this surface map is the high pressure system centered over Montana and the low pressure system in southern Michigan. Looking at our current barometric pressure reading of 1030.07 g/kg it is pretty evident that we are under the affect of the high pressure system. Well then why is there overcast skies, you may be wondering? We are in fact right in the middle of these two pressure systems converging, which explains the cloud cover. The mixing of these two pressure systems is also what is causing the gusting winds.
Cooler temperatures than we experienced in March seem to remain the trend in April thus far. As you can see the jet stream is very defined and relatively horizontal in orientation over the northern U.S., causing high speeds.
While we have had an unusually warm spring in Wisconsin so far, it is only early April and we are by no means in the clear in regards to cold-snap risk. Therefore I will continue to keep a close eye on frost risk for you all.
As you can see projections for temperatures below 32 degrees F and frost risk don't bode well for the Northern U.S. It is rather interesting how similar the jet stream for today and at risk areas for tomorrow morning look.
Temperature - 43 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Direction - WNW
Wind Speed - 20 mph and gusting up to 25 mph.
Barometric Pressure - 1030.07 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast
Sorry my little hiatus the past couple days, I was up north at my cabin again and didn't have any internet access. Hope you all had a great weekend whether you were visiting family for Easter or not. Let's get right down to business though. I am sure most of you have noticed how strong winds have been today, but what is causing them?
Yeah the map is busy, but it does a great job at depicting cloud cover, wind speed, wind direction, fronts, and pressure systems all at once. What I would like you to take from this surface map is the high pressure system centered over Montana and the low pressure system in southern Michigan. Looking at our current barometric pressure reading of 1030.07 g/kg it is pretty evident that we are under the affect of the high pressure system. Well then why is there overcast skies, you may be wondering? We are in fact right in the middle of these two pressure systems converging, which explains the cloud cover. The mixing of these two pressure systems is also what is causing the gusting winds.
Cooler temperatures than we experienced in March seem to remain the trend in April thus far. As you can see the jet stream is very defined and relatively horizontal in orientation over the northern U.S., causing high speeds.
While we have had an unusually warm spring in Wisconsin so far, it is only early April and we are by no means in the clear in regards to cold-snap risk. Therefore I will continue to keep a close eye on frost risk for you all.
As you can see projections for temperatures below 32 degrees F and frost risk don't bode well for the Northern U.S. It is rather interesting how similar the jet stream for today and at risk areas for tomorrow morning look.
Thursday, April 5, 2012
Current Weather Conditions for Thursday April 5th, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 43 degrees F
Wind Direction - NE
Wind Speed - 4 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1030.08 g/kg
Cloud Cover - clear
I wasn't lying to you guys yesterday, the weather patterns were indeed boring. Conditions remained very similar today as yesterdays. In today's post there is some important weather I would like to cover.
As you can we again have a high pressure system to the north of Wisconsin centered over Canada. This is what is causing clear conditions and NE winds. These high pressure systems over Canada have caused cooler temperatures than the low pressure systems drawing up warmer air from the south we saw during much of March.
During March the jet-stream was well north of Wisconsin, which allowed for warmer winds to push into the upper Midwest. Remember back to the prior posts when I expressed my concern over the unseasonably warm spring and the affect it would have on early blooming vegetation. Well now that temperatures are cooling down closer to average temperature we could be in serious cold-snap danger.
Tonight temperatures will likely fall beneath 32 degrees F. It is a pretty safe bet this will happen because any heat that was absorbs by the earth's surface will be allowed to escape due to the lack of cloud cover. As you can see on the map above just a very small portion of Wisconsin, west of Eau Claire, is projected to have frost accumulation. Regardless Eau Claire may see frost and if not cold weather could still spell trouble.
Temperature - 43 degrees F
Wind Direction - NE
Wind Speed - 4 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1030.08 g/kg
Cloud Cover - clear
I wasn't lying to you guys yesterday, the weather patterns were indeed boring. Conditions remained very similar today as yesterdays. In today's post there is some important weather I would like to cover.
As you can we again have a high pressure system to the north of Wisconsin centered over Canada. This is what is causing clear conditions and NE winds. These high pressure systems over Canada have caused cooler temperatures than the low pressure systems drawing up warmer air from the south we saw during much of March.
During March the jet-stream was well north of Wisconsin, which allowed for warmer winds to push into the upper Midwest. Remember back to the prior posts when I expressed my concern over the unseasonably warm spring and the affect it would have on early blooming vegetation. Well now that temperatures are cooling down closer to average temperature we could be in serious cold-snap danger.
Tonight temperatures will likely fall beneath 32 degrees F. It is a pretty safe bet this will happen because any heat that was absorbs by the earth's surface will be allowed to escape due to the lack of cloud cover. As you can see on the map above just a very small portion of Wisconsin, west of Eau Claire, is projected to have frost accumulation. Regardless Eau Claire may see frost and if not cold weather could still spell trouble.
Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Current Weather Conditions for Wednesday April 4, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 59 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Direction - NE
Wind Speed - 9 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1029.91 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Clear (some cirrus clouds)
As I had expected a sunny day, relatively warm in regards to recent temperatures, and cooler winds due to a high pressure system to the north of us in Canada. First of let's take a look at the jet stream today.
The jet stream is pretty funky today, it's dipping way down into southern California. Earlier today it was as far south as Arizona. Honestly the weather in Eau Claire today is pretty boring and will continue to be boring throughout tomorrow. As this high pressure system continues to move east the wind direction will shift to due East and clear skies stick around.
Temperature - 59 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Direction - NE
Wind Speed - 9 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1029.91 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Clear (some cirrus clouds)
As I had expected a sunny day, relatively warm in regards to recent temperatures, and cooler winds due to a high pressure system to the north of us in Canada. First of let's take a look at the jet stream today.
The jet stream is pretty funky today, it's dipping way down into southern California. Earlier today it was as far south as Arizona. Honestly the weather in Eau Claire today is pretty boring and will continue to be boring throughout tomorrow. As this high pressure system continues to move east the wind direction will shift to due East and clear skies stick around.
Tuesday, April 3, 2012
Current Weather Conditions for Tuesday April 3rd, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 50 degrees F
Wind Direction - ENE
Wind Speed - 7 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1029.95 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast (status, stratocumulus)
I know you are all wondering where the clearing conditions and warm weather I called for is. Have a little faith in me, I predicted that thunderstorm last night didn't I? I promise the sun will peak out soon.
The pressure system that caused last night thunderstorm is currently centered in the very Southwest corner of Wisconsin. Yesterday we were on the leading right edge of the low pressure system, which caused ESE winds. Currently we are on the backside of the low pressure system, which is causing the NE winds today. Look to the West of Eau Claire into Minnesota, the circle at the base of the weather barbs are not filled in. This means clear skies and is being caused by the high pressure system. Here is a better look below.
I am inclined to think that skies will begin clearing somewhere in the 2:30 pm to 4 pm window and skies will be mostly clear by 7pm tonight. Along with clearing skies temperatures will rise slightly, however they will not reach the high I predicted for today due late clearing. Overnight expect wind direction to shift as well, first to due North and then to due East over the course of tomorrow. Despite clear conditions tomorrow, temperatures will be cooler than today or yesterday due to the high pressure system that will move in and whip cool winds from Canada into Wisconsin. Expect mid to upper 50's (F) for the high.
Temperature - 50 degrees F
Wind Direction - ENE
Wind Speed - 7 mph
Barometric Pressure - 1029.95 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast (status, stratocumulus)
I know you are all wondering where the clearing conditions and warm weather I called for is. Have a little faith in me, I predicted that thunderstorm last night didn't I? I promise the sun will peak out soon.
The pressure system that caused last night thunderstorm is currently centered in the very Southwest corner of Wisconsin. Yesterday we were on the leading right edge of the low pressure system, which caused ESE winds. Currently we are on the backside of the low pressure system, which is causing the NE winds today. Look to the West of Eau Claire into Minnesota, the circle at the base of the weather barbs are not filled in. This means clear skies and is being caused by the high pressure system. Here is a better look below.
I am inclined to think that skies will begin clearing somewhere in the 2:30 pm to 4 pm window and skies will be mostly clear by 7pm tonight. Along with clearing skies temperatures will rise slightly, however they will not reach the high I predicted for today due late clearing. Overnight expect wind direction to shift as well, first to due North and then to due East over the course of tomorrow. Despite clear conditions tomorrow, temperatures will be cooler than today or yesterday due to the high pressure system that will move in and whip cool winds from Canada into Wisconsin. Expect mid to upper 50's (F) for the high.
Monday, April 2, 2012
Current Conditions for Monday April 2nd, 2012
Current Conditions
Temperature - 64 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Speed - 14 mph
Wind Direction - ESE
Barometric Pressure - 1029.27 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast (stratocumulus)
Hope you enjoyed the pictures yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed my accurate prediction of weather conditions for today. I mentioned that the cirrus clouds yesterday along with the wind direction would likely cause rain today. Let's take a look and see what is in store for tonight in the thunderstorm department.
The barometric pressure graph above shows values over the course of the last 24 hours. As you see barometric pressure rose steadily throughout the day yesterday, which is associated with the high pressure system I talked about yesterday. As of around 9:15 a.m. this morning barometric pressure began to fall causing an increase in cloud cover and wind speed.
I know this surface is busy but I want to use this one convey to what the low pressure system is doing currently and will do later tonight. As you can see that low pressure system is presently centered over South Dakota with a barometric pressure reading. Remember back to previous posts, low pressure systems move in a counter clockwise orientation, thus sucking air north on the eastern edge of the system. This exactly what is causing the warm front extending down through Iowa and Illinois. Keeping this fresh in your mind look at the next surface map below.
What I want you to take out of this map is the high pressure system centered over Saskatchewan, Canada. I have mentioned before high pressure systems move in a clockwise motion pushing air outward. What is happening where the two pressure systems are converging? If you answered you're right, and that is exactly what will happen in Eau Claire around 11pm tonight. As for tomorrow we could see a continuation of rain and slightly warmer temperatures than today.
Temperature - 64 degrees Fahrenheit
Wind Speed - 14 mph
Wind Direction - ESE
Barometric Pressure - 1029.27 g/kg
Cloud Cover - Overcast (stratocumulus)
Hope you enjoyed the pictures yesterday. I thoroughly enjoyed my accurate prediction of weather conditions for today. I mentioned that the cirrus clouds yesterday along with the wind direction would likely cause rain today. Let's take a look and see what is in store for tonight in the thunderstorm department.
The barometric pressure graph above shows values over the course of the last 24 hours. As you see barometric pressure rose steadily throughout the day yesterday, which is associated with the high pressure system I talked about yesterday. As of around 9:15 a.m. this morning barometric pressure began to fall causing an increase in cloud cover and wind speed.
I know this surface is busy but I want to use this one convey to what the low pressure system is doing currently and will do later tonight. As you can see that low pressure system is presently centered over South Dakota with a barometric pressure reading. Remember back to previous posts, low pressure systems move in a counter clockwise orientation, thus sucking air north on the eastern edge of the system. This exactly what is causing the warm front extending down through Iowa and Illinois. Keeping this fresh in your mind look at the next surface map below.
What I want you to take out of this map is the high pressure system centered over Saskatchewan, Canada. I have mentioned before high pressure systems move in a clockwise motion pushing air outward. What is happening where the two pressure systems are converging? If you answered you're right, and that is exactly what will happen in Eau Claire around 11pm tonight. As for tomorrow we could see a continuation of rain and slightly warmer temperatures than today.
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