April 30, 2018

A Toasty Day

Current Conditions

Temperature: 80 °F
Dew Point: 44 °F
Winds: SSW 14 mph
Pressure: 1006.4 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Well what a nice day today! Temperatures peaked at 83 °F and winds stayed relatively low making the conditions ideal for any outdoor activities today! However it wasn't just Wisconsin that experienced a warm day. Across the US temperatures were higher than they have been the past couple of weeks (figure 1).

Figure 1. High temperatures for the United States on April 30, 2018.

In particular, you can see the warmest temperatures round out on the bottom of Arizona and New Mexico and move northwards through the Great Plains. This happens to be following the current jet stream shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. Jet stream over the United States.

Although the temperatures are nice, in the southeastern United States this warm weather from the jet stream spells bad weather for them. Luckily the severe weather won't be reaching Wisconsin. Speaking of adverse weather, the surface map for today is showing some precipitation heading our way now (figure 3).

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States.

This line of storms is headed our way tomorrow and creates the possibility for some rain and thunderstorms. I for one am looking forward to a nice storm since we haven't had one yet this spring.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction had the right idea, some warmer weather and an approaching warm front. By this evening the cloud cover had begun to thicken, signaling the approaching precipitation which is also hinted at by the wind direction.

Prediction

Speaking of wind direction and clouds, the cirrus clouds this morning that have morphed into patchy altostratus clouds and the SSW wind direction hint at the warm front approaching from the west that is sure to bring at least some precipitation tomorrow. Break out those umbrellas and rain boots!

April 29, 2018

Lazy Sunday Weather

Current Conditions

Temperature: 65 °F
Dew Point: 21 °F
Winds: S 12 mph
Pressure: 1020.7 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a relaxing Sunday with mild temperatures all day. Currently its 65 °F which is the high for today. Figure 1 shows the clear skies for the Midwest due to the high pressure dome in the area.

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

The high pressure dome almost looks like a bulldozer clearing away the clouds and low pressure systems to the east and west. Speaking of which, the northwest United States is experiencing some precipitation from the low pressure systems being fed by that maritime polar air current feeding moisture into the area. Other than this, there is no appreciable weather happening in the country.

Figure 2 is a wind map of the United States and shows just how powerful the high pressure dome in the area is.

Figure 2. Wind map of the United States.

If you look at the entire Midwest you can see the clockwise wind pattern from the high pressure system. Pretty impressive I'd say! In the west you can also see the divide in the winds caused by the warm front coming our way.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's was another easy prediction; warmer temperatures today with no cloud cover.

Prediction

For tomorrow expect some cloud cover but continued warm temperatures as a warm front approaches from the west. We shouldn't be seeing any rain though (figure 3)!

Figure 3. Prediction map for the United States on April 30, 2018.

April 28, 2018

Clear and a Little Cool

Current Conditions

Temperature: 55 °F
Dew Point: 14 °F
Winds: NE 13 mph
Pressure: 10233.7 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was calm and clear. There were no clouds this morning and the sky stayed clear the rest of the day. The temperature rose steadily after 9:00 AM this morning and peaked at the current temperature of 55 °F (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather overview for the United States on April 28, 2018.

 Winds have been calm except for a couple of hours of gusts that came out of the north. The barometric pressure has also risen today which can be attributed to the high pressure dome shown in figure 2.

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States.

The high pressure dome has left the Midwest with some cooler weather from the continental polar air mass but clear skies. The northeastern United States is experiencing some rain from a low pressure system as is the western coast, but nothing that is causing any damage.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct: clear skies and cooler temperatures.

Prediction

As the high pressure dome continues to move south, expect warmer temperatures tomorrow with continued clear skies.

April 27, 2018

The Clouds are Coming

Current Conditions

Temperature: 52 °F
Dew Point: 36 °F
Winds: ENE 18 mph
Pressure: 1008.8 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was relatively calm. The cloud have been changing throughout the day but no precipitation yet. This morning a layer of cumulostratus clouds were lining the sunrise (figure 1).

Figure 1. Sunrise with cumulostratus clouds above. 

By the afternoon the sky had a mix of cirrus, cumulofractostratus, and cumulus humilis clouds. These clouds are from the incoming cold and partial warm  front in figure 2.

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States.

The surface map in figure 2 shows the cloud cover over much of the state currently with some possible precipitation. The eastern coast is also experiencing some precipitation from a series of low pressure systems.
In addition, the increased cloud cover in our area is dropping the temperature a bit earlier than it has in previous days (figure 3).

Figure 3. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 27, 2018.

Around 2:00 PM today the temperature began to fall. The barometric pressure has risen slight, but not by much. In the next hour Eau Claire could be seeing some precipitation which is possible given the cloud cover and the weather conditions in figure 3.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday I was correct about the cooler temperatures and increased cloud cover but there is a chance for precipitation.

Prediction

By tomorrow the front should have passed clearing up the skies. However with the incoming cooler air expect lower temperatures in the 50s.

April 26, 2018

Warming Up Again!

Current Conditions

Temperature: 67 °F
Dew Point: 35 °F
Winds: W 20 mph
Pressure: 1008.8 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a beautiful day. The morning was a bit chilly with a temperature of 32 °F and low winds. By the afternoon the temperature had risen to the low 60s and the winds had also picked up (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire on April 26, 2018.

The barometric pressure has also dropped throughout the day. Taking a look at the sky, we have a mix of different clouds (figure 2).

Figure 2. Sky in Eau Claire on April 26, 2018.

We have a few cumulus humilis in the background with some cirrocumulus and altocumulus that are not pictured. This morning there was a solid cirrostratus cloud cover that then converted to what we have now. This sequence is predictive of the cold front that we have coming into the area which is shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States.

While there is some cloud cover now, once the front passes things should clear up.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction regarding the cloud cover was correct, there was definitely an increase. However today's temperature was warmer than predicted, which is definitely not a bad thing!

Prediction

Tomorrow things should cool off with the approaching cold front. We should also be seeing some increased cloud cover as the front moves closer to the area. We will not be getting any precipitation though.

April 25, 2018

Cooling Down a Bit

Current Conditions

Temperature: 54 °F

Dew Point: 28 °F

Winds: NNW 8 mph

Pressure: 1020.7 mb

Visibility: 10 miles 

Today's skies cleared up from last night with not a cloud in the sky by 9:00 AM. The surface map in figure 1 supports this observation.

Figure 1. Surface Map of the United States.

Right now Wisconsin is between two cold fronts, which means clear weather for us but some overcast skies could become prevalent in the next day or two. Throughout the day the temperature steady rose from 32 °F this morning to a high of 61 °F. Although the temperature was fairly warm, the winds kept it feeling cool with winds up to 10 mph (figure 2). 

Figure 2. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 25, 2018.

In other areas of the US things are relatively quiet. The western US has a seen a spike in temperatures this week reminiscent of summer, but that should subside by next week. 

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct: skies were clear and there was definitely abundant sunshine. It was a little disappointing how much cooler it was today though. 

Prediction

For tomorrow temperatures will be similar to today but with an increase in cloud cover due to the approaching cold front to the north (figure 3).

Figure 3. Predictive map of the United States for April 26, 2018.

April 24, 2018

Yet Another Beautiful Day

Current Conditions

Temperature: 48 °F
Dew Point: 36 °F
Winds: NNE 4 mph
Pressure: 1022.3 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today started off with clear skies and a temperature of 35 °F with no winds. As the day progressed some cirrostratus clouds moved in followed by altocumulus clouds. By early evening stratus clouds were covering portions of the skies. This progression along with the wind direction indicate a low pressure system moving in to the area. Indeed, the surface map in figure 1 shows just that.

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

Just to the south of Wisconsin is a low pressure system. Because winds rotate counter-clockwise around a low pressure system, the winds to the north of it come from the E/NE direction, which is exactly what Eau Claire is experiencing.
The increase in cloud cover can also be seen in the water vapor satellite image in figure 2.

Figure 2. Water vapor satellite of the United States.

In the northeast there is some light precipitation, but otherwise the country is currently looking quite in terms of weather.  However, next week we could be seeing some interesting weather. A fast-moving airstream over the United States will experience a trough over the Arizona/New Mexico also called an Omega trough. After the air comes out of the trough, it produces 'divergence aloft' which means the air is diverging from the narrow trough it came out from. This means that air can rise in the area directly below which creates storms. The increase in moisture and temperature will add to this scenario and create a severe weather risk in the southern United States (figure 3).

Figure 3. Omega trough projected for the United States next week.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct; the temperature was lower and there was increased cloud cover from yesterday. There also was no precipitation.

Prediction

Surprisingly, tomorrow we should see some more clear skies. The predictive map shows the low pressure system moving out of the area and taking the cloud cover with it (figure 4). Go enjoy the sunshine while you can!

Figure 4. Predictive weather map of the United States for April 25, 2018.

April 23, 2018

Is it Summer Yet?

Current Conditions

Temperature: 67 °F
Dew Point: 28 °F
Winds: 0 mph
Pressure: 1020.0 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was another beautiful yet uneventful day. This morning's sky consisted of some cirrostratus and cirrocumulus clouds that quickly faded by early morning (figure 1).

Figure 1. Sunrise on the UW-Eau Claire campus.

Temperatures rose from the upper 30s to the upper 60s by mid-afternoon. Winds were minimal, occasionally gusting up to 5 mph. Figure 2 shows the barometric pressure drop, which although small is hinting at the low pressure system moving in from the west.

Figure 2. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI.

Figure 2 also shows the large dew point depression which means there's no rain in the forecast for tonight!
In the surface map in figure 3, one can see the low pressure system to the west that will be moving into the area tomorrow.

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States.

This low pressure system is causing relatively low precipitation compared to the low pressure system in the southeastern United States which is currently creating flooding conditions in the Carolinas. Otherwise, things seem fairly quite across the country and certainly much more subdued compared to last weekend when the blizzard hit! On a good note, Oklahoma is set to have the latest start to tornado season yet, so maybe there is some good coming out of this weird spring weather...

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct; the weather was warmer, even getting up to 70! If I didn't have so much homework I would have spent some of the day outside of the geography lab...

Prediction

Tomorrow will be overcast and about 10 degrees colder than today due to some cloud coverage from the low pressure system to the west. This shouldn't produce any precipitation however (figure 4).

Figure 4. Forecast surface map for April 24, 2018.

April 22, 2018

A Beautiful Day

Current Conditions

Temperature: 63 °F
Dew Point: 30 °F
Winds: S 7 mph
Pressure: 1025.7 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

What a fantastic day! The temperature was beautiful, peaking in the low 60s today with clear skies (figure 1).

Figure 1. Sky on the UW-Eau Claire campus.

Today proved to be even nicer than yesterday, which was hard to beat. As figure 2 shows, the low barely dipped below 30, and the high today went up to 63 degrees. Winds were minimal with mainly southerly winds. There were a few cirrostratus clouds this morning but the sky cleared up so the southerly wind won't be bringing any weather our way for a while.

Figure 2. Overview of the weather for Eau Claire, WI on April 22, 2018.

Last night was the Lyrid meteor shower, and it did not disappoint! Skies were perfectly clear and the meteors were fairly consistent. Getting out in the early hours of the morning was well worth it!

Looking at the surface map in figure 3, the southeastern United States has a low pressure system creating some rain events for the area, but luckily its staying away from the Midwest (for now).

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was on point; low 60s although the sky did clear up for most of the day.

Prediction

For tomorrow, expect more clear skies and warm temperatures due to the southerly wind bringing up that warm air! The temperature should be in the mid-60s with low wind speeds, a perfect day to spend outside (figure 4).

Figure 4. Prediction map for the United States on April 23, 2018.

April 21, 2018

Happy Earth Day!

Current Conditions

Temperature: 60 °F
Dew Point: 29 °F
Winds: N 6 mph
Pressure: 1027.4 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a very nice day overall. This morning it was overcast and the temperature was 31 °F with no winds. Mid-afternoon the sky had some cirrocumulus clouds that gave way to cirrostratus later this afternoon. The winds are still N/W so there should be no precipitation from this change in cloud formation. Figure 1 shows the overview for the day, including the beautiful rise in temperature!

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 21, 2018.

 The pressure decreased slightly, which could be due to the low pressure system to the south (figure 2).

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States April 21, 2018.

Although some clouds are accumulating, the high pressure system in the area is keeping the weather nice for the time being.

Previous Prediction

I am happy to say my prediction was wrong yesterday...its actually 60, not in the mid-50s! The high pressure systems did contribute to the clear skies though and the warm temperatures.

Prediction

For tomorrow, expect much of the same as today. Temperatures will be in the low 60s and skies will be partly cloudy. The wind direction and cloud types mentioned earlier support this prediction.

*FYI*

Tonight into tomorrow early morning a meteor shower will be happening, and its supposed to be decent viewing in western Wisconsin so you should go check it out! To read about it, go here.

April 20, 2018

Sunny and Warm!

Current Conditions

Temperature: 54 °F

Dew Point: 20 °F

Winds: W 5 mph

Pressure: 1031.2 mb

Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a nice day overall. This morning skies were clear and the temperature was 30 °F with SW winds at around 3 mph (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 20, 2018.

 The skies stayed clear the entire afternoon and there were some cirrocumulus clouds (figure 2). 

Figure 2. Cirrocumulus clouds in Eau Claire, WI.

This cloud type combined with the westerly wind indicates some fair weather for the weekend, which is good news for the Eau Claire jazz events going on.

Near the Rockies there are a couple of low pressure systems causing some light precipitation, but the rest of the country is clear of any major weather events (figure 3).

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States on April 20, 2018. 

Also note in the surface map the high pressure system which is keeping the skies clear.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct: the skies were clear and the temperatures were high! However the wind did shift to the west, but it still indicates good weather like the north wind does. 

Prediction

Tomorrow I predict continued high temperatures with occasional clouds due to the lingering high pressure system. Temperatures will probably be in the mid-50s, which means spending some time outdoors!

April 19, 2018

A Pleasant Surprise

Current Conditions

Temperature: 48 °F
Dew Point: 19 °F
Winds: N 7 mph
Pressure: 1031.8 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Well today was a nice change from the weather Wisconsin has been getting. The temperatures were quite mild, reaching a high of 49 °F. Overall, the upper Midwest had mild temperatures today (figure 1).

Figure 1. High Temperatures for the United States on April 19, 2018.

Taking a look at the surface map, you can see Wisconsin is smack dab in the middle of the trough of the high pressure system that came down from Canada (figure 2).

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States on April 19, 2018.

The high pressure system that is now sitting in the Gulf of Mexico was the very same one that caused the huge snowstorm just last weekend. This huge trough has brought a lull in severe weather in the eastern United States for the time being. Just west of the Rockies there are a couple of low pressure systems causing some precipitation but not much. The moisture from the Pacific that's feeding the two low pressure system west of the Rockies is shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. Water vapor satellite image of the United States on April 19, 2018. 

Currently the sky is mostly clear with a couple of cirrus fibratus clouds and one or two lone cirrus cumulus (figure 4). These clouds paired with the northerly wind direction indicate fair weather ahead of us.

Figure 4. Cirrus fibratus clouds in Eau Claire, WI.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct: there were clearer skies and warmer temperatures. However, the snow never did fall, at least not while I was awake. This was a pleasant surprise and not one that many are upset about I imagine. 

Prediction

For tomorrow, I predict the same conditions as today. The high pressure system seems to be sticking around in the area as well as the northerly wind, so skies will stay clear and warmer temperatures will continue. 

April 18, 2018

Prepare for More Snow

Current Conditions

Temperature: 37 °F
Dew Point: 26 °F
Winds: NE 9 mph
Pressure: 1014.6 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was uneventful so far. Temperatures started off in the low 30s and haven't risen much over the course of the day. Winds have also been consistent, with a NE direction as shown in figure 1.

Figure 1. Weather Overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 18, 2018.

Wind speeds have also been minimal over the course of the day. Currently, Eau Claire is facing the next 1-3 inches of snow which should be falling sometime within the next hour or so. Hopefully the warm sun will melt the snow off of sidewalks and roads tomorrow! The low pressure system bringing the next batch of snow is visible on the surface map in figure 2.

Figure 2. Surface map on April 18, 2018.

The low pressure system over Illinois can also be seen in the wind map (figure 3).

Figure 3. Wind map of the United States on April 18, 2018.

In the top right corner of the surface map you can see the remnants of Blizzard Evelyn as it travels farther north. Hopefully the high pressure systems following the current low pressure system will move in this weekend so we can finally get some warmer weather!

Previous Prediction

Yesterday I predicted more snow and although it hasn't fallen yet, its only a matter of time before the snow begins to fall.

Prediction

For tomorrow, I predict warmer temperatures as the low pressure system moves out of the area. There will be a few lingering clouds however.

April 17, 2018

Recuperating

Current Conditions:

Temperature:  39 °F
Dew Point: 21 °F
Winds: NW 4 mph
Pressure: 1014.1 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was pretty uneventful after Blizzard Evelyn moved through the area this past weekend. Skies were patchy with periods of sun and overcast skies. The temperature stayed between 30 and 40 °F most of the day and winds were out of the NW consistently around 5-8 mph (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 17, 2018.

Luckily the sun is a bit more powerful in April, because without it the roads and sidewalks would most likely still be covered in snow right now! The south is also recovering after some severe weather bringing tornadoes hit the area while Evelyn was slamming the north. Temperatures continue to be cooler for northern Minnesota and Wisconsin due to winds from the NW, but this will hopefully change in the coming weeks.

Previous Prediction

My prediction from yesterday was correct: the area saw clearer skies due to the high pressure system.

Prediction

Well, if you're looking for more snow, you're in luck! Tomorrow the Eau Claire area is expected to receive another 1-3 inches of snow sometime later in the day. If you want to know more about this coming storm, read the story here. And just when you thought winter was over...

April 9-16, 2018

From Warm to Cold

Current Conditions:

Temperature: 25 °F
Dew Point: 21 °F
Winds: N 9 mph
Pressure: 1013.9 mb
Visibility: 3 miles

Weather Recap April 9-15, 2018

Well, the weather certainly was a bit crazy over the course of my trip to AAG in New Orleans. On Sunday afternoon myself and five others traveled to a friend's parent's house to stay the night before leaving on Monday morning. By early evening it was snowing and it continued into Monday morning. Luckily, our flight left on time and we arrived in New Orleans mid-afternoon.  The temperature was in the mid-70s with light winds. Throughout the entire week excluding Friday and Saturday, the weather was fantastic with clear skies, temperatures in the 70s-80s, and light winds (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather history for April 9-15, 2018.

The lows were in the 60s and the pressure gradually rose until the low pressure systems moved in on Friday. Until Friday, there was not a lot of exciting weather events with the consistent good weather, which was quite relaxing (figure 2).

Figure 2. Relaxing in Louie Armstrong Park in New Orleans, LA.

Friday, things changed a bit. In the southern US, a series of low pressure fronts brought severe weather that resulted in heavy rains, winds, and tornadoes. A video overview of this can be viewed at the link posted here. The sky became overcast by early afternoon and the temperature dropped considerably. In figure 1, one can see the dew point depression decrease Friday to Saturday. The humidity during this time was quite high. Our flight left early Saturday morning so luckily we were able to get out of New Orleans before the severe weather struck. However, that's where our luck ran out. At 5:30 AM on Saturday we found out out connecting flight to Minneapolis was cancelled due to the winter storm ravaging the area. So instead, the group decided to rent a car and drive from St. Louis to Minneapolis. Saturday was okay, we encountered some minor rain and sleet upon arriving in Madison where we crashed at another friend's parent's house. Sunday morning we had more snow and the roads were a bit more dicey. During this time the temperature was also cooler, which added to the bad road conditions. The temperature decrease can be attributed to the dipping of the jet stream shown in figure 3.

Figure 3. Jet stream on April 15, 2018.

We were able to get to Eau Claire and then to Minneapolis to pick up our cars. However, the storm picked up late Sunday and the roads were less than ideal (figure 4).

Figure 4. Road conditions on April 15, 2018 from Minneapolis to Eau Claire, WI.

It took a good extra hour to get back from the cities and by that time it was 6:30 PM. It was a very long day...

Winter Storm Evelyn

The winter storm that hit deserves a special mention as well. This storm was the result of a series of low pressure systems building over the Rockies. Moisture from the west coast and the Gulf gave the storm its fuel as it headed over the Midwest. This would be bad enough, but the storm was also moving at around 10 mph, very slow for a storm. This meant that the areas hit by the storm received higher than normal amounts of snow as it crawled across the region. In addition, the low pressure systems were caged in by two high pressure systems which sandwiched the storm and concentrated it even more than normal. This really was the 'perfect' spring snow storm with all the right elements in all the right places.

Fun fact: In my hometown of Shawano, WI, they received almost 40 inches of snow! Too bad I wasn't there to shovel for my Mom...

Current Weather

Today, the snow is still lingering, but not nearly as severe as yesterday. From the current surface analysis in figure 5, one can see the strongest part of the storm has passed east and northward.

Figure 5. Surface map of the United States on April 16, 2018.

There is still some lingering snow however and this will continue for the rest of the day for some parts of Wisconsin. The low pressure in the current conditions also indicates that the low pressure system is still in the area.

Prediction

Due to being gone for the past week, I do not have a previous prediction to comment on, but I will be making a prediction for tomorrow. Based on the prediction map in figure 6, I predict that skies will clear up tomorrow with a high pressure system moving into the area.

Figure 6. Predictive forecast map for April 17, 2018.

Although this would be a reason to celebrate, its a little early to be doing that. On Wednesday, the Eau Claire area could see up to 3 more inches of snow. At this point, I wonder if we'll ever see spring...

April 8, 2018

Dreary

Current Conditions

Temperature: 31 °F
Dew Point: 7 °F
Winds: SSW 4 mph
Pressure: 1018.6 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today has been uneventful once again. Skies have been overcast the entire day with temperatures starting out in the low teens and just barely reaching 30. Wind direction has shifted to the SW since around 9 this morning and the pressure has just barely gone down over the course of the day which are both shown in figure 1.
 

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on April 8, 2018.

In California, warm, strong winds are increasing the risk for fires. The overcast skies seen in Wisconsin today are a result of the occluded front moving from the Rockies towards the Midwest. Both of these events are shown in the weather graphic in figure 2.

Figure 2. Wind map of the United States.

The front moving towards Wisconsin is also shown in the surface map in figure 3.

Figure 3. Surface map of the United States on April 8, 2018.

The occluded front moving towards Wisconsin is pushing cloud cover ahead of it and possibly some snow later this afternoon.

Previous Prediction

Although the chance of snow this afternoon still holds, skies were mainly overcast today and not clear.  Temperatures were also low as I predicted.

Prediction

For tomorrow, I predict some snow in the morning as the front approaches and overcast skies the rest of the day with temperatures slightly higher than today.