May 8, 2014 - 3:30 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 71° F

Wind: SE at 8 mph

Barometric Pressure: 1005.4 mb

Relative Humidity: 66%

Dew Point: 55° F

For those of you following this blog that are not my professor (I'd be surprised if there are any of you), this will be my last post. Hope you enjoyed reading!

Figure 1 - Surface conditions map.

Today has been a very warm day in Eau Claire. It was also pretty sunny for most of the morning, though clouds have started to cover the sky and winds are out of the southeast. It shouldn't be too much longer until thunderstorms enter the area. I was thinking that we would see some storms last night or earlier in the day today, so it looks like they are a bit late. The barometer continues to drop as low pressure moves in, foreshadowing the coming rain. Personally, I'm itchin' for a good thunderstorm. I haven't seen one in a while, and I'm starting to get impatient. Figure 1 shows the low pressure to the southwest with the cold front that is pushing those storms in this direction and giving us the winds from the southeast.

Figure 2 - Lightning strikes in the US during the last hour.

Figure 2 shows cloud-to-ground lightning strikes in the US for the last hour and Figure 3 shows the water vapor in the atmosphere. Both of these correlate with the low pressure dome, cold front, and dry lines in figure 1. That is, of course, not surprising. It just means that storms are heading this way. The storms should be done by tomorrow morning, however it looks like there is still plenty of rain in the future, so I'm expecting the low pressure dome that will be moving out to be quickly replaced by another one. Friday will most likely get winds from the southwest or west, while Saturday and Sunday will probably have winds from the southeast again.

Figure 3 - Atmospheric water vapor above the US.

May 6, 2014 - 3:10 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 62° F

Feels Like: 62° F

Wind: SE at 15 mph (gusting to 30 mph)

Barometric Pressure: 1013.7 mb

Relative Humidity: 43%

Dew Point: 34° F





Right now, it is beautiful in the Chippewa Valley. It is pretty windy, but warm temperatures and sunny skies are making this one of the most comfortable days yet this year. We are still getting southeast winds but, like yesterday, this doesn't seem to be from low pressure to our south but rather high pressure to the north (Figure 1).





If you plan on enjoying the outdoors at all this week, today is the day. It looks like Wisconsin, as well as a good chunk of the Plains will be getting some pretty wicked storms for the next few days. This time of year is always a bit volatile thanks to warm air masses from the south and cold air masses from the north colliding. This is why spring is tornado season in the US.  

Figures 2 and 3 show areas that will probably be hit with some damaging storms Wednesday and Thursday. As I guessed, the pressure has dropped a little since yesterday, and will probably continue to do so leading up to the stormy couple of days we will see at the end of the week.

Figure 2 - Accuweather forecast for Wednesday night.

Figure 3 - Accuweather forecast for Thursday.

May 5, 2014 - 12:15 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 53° F

Feels Like: 49° F

Wind: SE at 12 mph 

Barometric Pressure: 1017.3 mb

Relative Humidity: 47%

Dew Point: 32° F

Figure 1 - Surface conditions map of the US.

Winds from the southeast many times show there will be poor weather in the near future. In this case, however, those southeast winds are not caused by a low pressure system to our south but instead by a high pressure system to our north (Figure 1). The clouds will probably clear up for the most part during this afternoon thanks to that increase in pressure.

Figure 2 - Jet stream above the US.

As I guessed last week, we wouldn't see a rise in temperatures until that jet stream straightened out. As you can see in figure 2, it has. We are no longer in a trough here in Wisconsin, so we are getting slightly warmer temperatures than the low 40s we had last week.

It looks like there is a pretty good chance for thunderstorms starting Tuesday night and lasting the rest of the week. I'd look for a drop in pressure starting tomorrow afternoon. I'm guessing that stationary front out west will eventually starting pushing east, bringing low pressure with it. The Dakotas and Minnesota will probably be getting some rain or storms tonight and tomorrow as that low pressure travels east.

May 1, 2014 - 10:25 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 45° F

Feels Like: 45° F

Wind: N at 3 mph 

Barometric Pressure: 1009.3 mb

Relative Humidity: 88%

Dew Point: 40° F

Figure 1 - Surface conditions in the US.

Today we saw some light drizzles, but nothing more than that. The skies stayed overcast with a light northerly wind as the system of low pressure moved out of the area. Tomorrow does have a fairly high chance of rain, but after that the chance of rain will lessen. Temperatures will probably stay around the same as they were today (low to mid 50s).

Figure 2 - Current jet stream patterns over the US.

As you can see in figure 2, we are still situated in a trough from the jet stream. If temperatures are forecasted to stay the same, I'm guessing this means the jet stream will stay in roughly this pattern through the weekend. Once it straightens out, we should start to see some warmer temperatures.

April 29, 2014 - 7:45 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 39° F

Feels Like: 33° F

Wind: N at 8 mph 

Barometric Pressure: 1005.4 mb

Relative Humidity: 91%

Dew Point: 36° F

Rain yesterday, rain today, and there's going to be rain tomorrow too. We really can't complain, though. At least winter is finally over. The low pressure dome to the south of us is still bringing steady showers to the area, and it doesn't look to be ending any time soon. Luckily, it's not heavy downpours or violent thunder storms here, just a continuous drizzle. 

I don't think there will be any major changes in the weather for the next few days, though the % chance of rain is lower later in the week. The rain might die out, but it will probably still be grey and cloudy. 

April 28, 2014 - 7:20 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 44° F

Feels Like: 36° F

Wind: E at 21 mph (gusting to 32 mph)

Barometric Pressure: 1006.6 mb

Relative Humidity: 79%

Dew Point: 39° F

Figure 1 - Surface conditions for the US.

Today, as well as yesterday, was wet and gloomy. Minor storms came through our area yesterday, and the rain continued into today. Currently it isn't raining, but it's still overcast and very windy. In figure 1, you can see the amount of clouds and precipitation all over the country right now. The cold front passing through the South right now is pushing that squall line ahead of it in Louisiana and Mississippi. This is a line of thunderstorms, which in this case is quite severe. In the water vapor map in figure 2, we can see why there is so much precipitation in the Midwest and in the South: there is a lot of moisture in the air, especially with that squall line.

Figure 2 - Current water vapor in the atmosphere for the US.

Figure 3 - Wind conditions in the US.

Figure 3 is a wind map of the country, courtesy of earth.nullschool.net. Here we can see the large low pressure system in the middle of the country that is affecting both the rain in the Midwest and the cold front pushing the severe storms down south. We can also see why we currently have strong easterly winds.

Figure 4 - AccuWeather forecast.

It looks like the week will continue to be rainy and chilly. The image from AccuWeather (figure 4) shows the anticipated path of the jet stream. It also illustrates the effect that ridges and troughs in the jet stream have on local weather. In the ridges and outside of the trough, weather is warm and humid. Inside the trough, however, we have chilly temperatures from the north. With any luck, the jet stream will straighten out towards the end of the week or early next week and bring warmer weather with it. Until then, keep your umbrella handy.

April 23, 2014 - 8:50 P.M.

Current Weather Conditions

Temperature: 43° F

Feels Like: 39° F

Wind: SE at 7 mph

Barometric Pressure: 1016.3 mb

Relative Humidity: 79%

Dew Point: 38° F

As you can see from the surface conditions map in figure 1, we'll be getting quite a bit of rain tonight and tomorrow. Figure 2 shows the water vapor in the atmosphere, and there is no shortage of it in our area. On the bright side, the occluded front that we can see where the cold and warm fronts are meeting usually means that a storm is faltering, so we will probably get rain sans storms here in Wisconsin.

Figure 1 - Surface conditions for the US.

Figure 2 - Water Vapor map for the US.

Next week looks to be heading in the wrong direction, as far as the progression of seasons goes. As of now, it looks like the temperatures will remain cool with possibilities of snow. The forecast is a bit early, so hopefully that changes between now and then.