May 8, 2018

Rain!

Current Conditions

Temperature: 59 °F
Dew Point: 54 °F
Winds: S 10 mph
Pressure: 1013.5 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today started off warm and mild and transitioned to the storms that we're seeing now. The surface map in figure 1 shows the low pressure system that moved into the area carrying rain and cooler temperatures with it.

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

There is a series of low pressure systems moving eastward and bringing some precipitation with them. Unfortunately this means that the coming days will be much cooler...
The storm that is currently over Eau Claire, WI can be seen in the water vapor satellite image in figure 2 as well.

Figure 2. Water vapor satellite image of the United States.

The cloud cover over Wisconsin in general is quite apparent in the image. Hopefully this low pressure system will clear up by next week, but the start of a stationary front just to the north of us and the southerly wind direction has me wary.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was spot on! We had a low pressure system move into the area and it brought with it overcast skies.

Prediction

The low pressure system doesn't seem to be going anywhere so I would guess that skies will continue to be overcast tomorrow with much lower temperatures.

This post marks the end of my semester-long weather blog for this class. I look back at my first posts and realize how much my knowledge of weather expanded over the course of the semester. It was a fun ride, but now its time to move onto bigger and better things, like graduating...

May 7, 2018

Hot n' Toasty

Current Conditions

Temperature: 76 °F
Dew Point: 42 °F'
Winds: WSW 6 mph
Pressure: 1014.9 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a predictable day given the high pressure dome in the area. The skies were clear in the morning with partly cloudy skies later this evening. The whole country experienced similar weather conditions, meaning no severe or interesting weather (figure 1).

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

The surface map shows the high pressure dome sitting over the Midwest and the northeast creating clear skies and beautiful summer-like conditions. There is a small amount of rain to the west of Wisconsin but that shouldn't impact the area until tomorrow morning.

Temperatures were also quite high today. Figure 2 shows the high temperatures for the country.

Figure 2. High temperatures for the United States.

In figure 2 one can see the high temperatures at the most extreme from western Texas up through the Plains. Although those high temperatures feel nice, we should see a drop in temperature in Wisconsin starting tomorrow as the rain hits.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was spot on; we had higher temperatures and clear skies because of the high pressure dome.

Prediction

For tomorrow I would expect overcast skies as a low pressure system moves into the area. There will most likely be some rain showers tomrrow evening into tomorrow night as the low pressure system moves closer to western Wisconsin (figure 3).

Figure 3. Prediction map for May 8, 2018.

May 6, 2018

Perfect Day for Running

Current Conditions

Temperature: 72 °F
Dew Point: 34 °F
Winds: N 7 mph
Pressure: 1019.0 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was absolutely gorgeous. The morning was a bit cooler and temperatures soon rose into the low 70s with clear skies turning to partly overcast later this afternoon. The Eau Claire marathon was today and runners could not have asked for a better day. The nice weather can be attributed to the high pressure dome that is currently sitting over Wisconsin (figure 1).

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

The high pressure dome is not just creating clear skies for Wisconsin but also for much of the Midwest. There are some rain showers in the northwest and northeast but these are small-scale storms that should not cause any damage. The water vapor satellite image for today in figure 2 shows the cold fronts in the surface map as dark lines (indicating no moisture).

Figure 2. Water vapor satellite of the United States.

As I mentioned earlier it did get cloudier today. Mid-morning there were a few cirrus clouds which morphed into a stratus layer of cirrus that then transitioned into cirrocumulus clouds (figure 3).

Figure 3. Cirrocuulus clouds over UW-Eau Claire.

I was not able to capture it but the cirrus clouds created a halo around the sun that was pretty neat to see!

Previous Prediction

The temperature did cool off from yesterday, but it was by no means any less nice of a day. There was also a thunderstorm last night that I didn't predict happening.

Prediction

For tomorrow we should continue to see fair skies due to the northerly wind and cirrus clouds in the sky. Also expect the temperature to rise as the high pressure dome moves farther south.

May 5, 2018

Scorcher

Current Conditions

Temperature: 78 °F
Dew Point: 36 °F
Winds: W 8 mph
Pressure: 1012.2 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

What a beautiful day, just the kind of weather that makes you want to sit inside a testing center for 5 hours am I right? Just kidding, that's a big no, but it couldn't be helped. What most people did was go outside and enjoy the 80 DEGREE WEATHER. You heard right. What a great day. Skies were clear early this morning and the temperature only continued to climb throughout the day. The high pressure dome is still in the area which is creating those clear skies (figure 1).

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

There is a small bit of cloud cover now but it shouldn't be making any precipitation. With how warm it was today, I would guess that the cloud cover we're experiencing is due to convection and not a separate moisture source. Speaking of the warm temperatures, we can thank the jet stream for pulling those up from the Gulf (figure 2).

Figure 2. Jet stream map over the United States.

If you look back to my past couple of posts, you might notice that the jet stream is slowly shifting eastwards, which may mean cooler temperatures in the future. We'll have to wait and see what actually happens though.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct with a high temperature of 80 °F and clear skies. I for one am happy to see this prediction come true.

Prediction

Tomorrow skies will again be clear with no fronts in sight, but the temperature might cool off a bit with a new high pressure dome moving into the area (figure 3).

Figure 3. Prediction map for April 6, 2018.

May 4, 2018

May the 4th be with You

Current Conditions

Temperature: 72 °F
Dew Point: 31 °F
Winds: NW 10 mph
Pressure: 1013.2 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was a gorgeous day all around. The temperature started in the low 60s and steadily climbed into the 70s with mostly clear skies (figure 1).

Figure 1. Weather overview for Eau Claire, WI on May 4, 2018.

The dew point depression is more than 40 degrees so there's no chance of thunderstorms today either. Winds have gotten a bit gusty at times but with the warm weather those winds feel quite nice. Taking a look at the surface map, Eau Claire isn't experiencing any interesting weather at the moment (figure 2).

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States. 

The high pressure dome that's sitting on the entire western and central portion of the states is keeping those skies clear and sunny. A cold front with associating low pressure fronts is creating some heavy thunderstorms in the northeast but nothing severe. In the southeastern United States the Bermuda High is over Florida which is creating clear skies down there as well.

Previous Prediction

Yesterday's prediction was correct; we got warm weather in the 70s and mostly clear skies.

Prediction

For tomorrow expect even warmer temperatures that might even peak into the 80s with clear skies becoming more cloudy as the day progresses. I wouldn't expect any rain however.

And finally, may the 4th be with you all...

May 3, 2018

Hot and Muggy

Current Conditions

Temperature: 62 °F

Dew Point: 58 °F

Winds: SE 9 mph

Pressure: 1009.5 mb

Visibility: 10 miles

Today turned out to be hot and and steamy! The temperature quickly rose into the mid-70s by early afternoon and the wind speeds were relatively low. The skies became overcast later in the evening and by 6:30 PM there was a slight drizzle. This was short-lived however and it isn't predicted to rain until later tonight. Figure 1 shows an overview of the weather conditions today. 

Figure 1. Weather overview for May 3, 2018.

In the northeastern United States residents have been experiencing record highs this past week. That will be coming to a close tomorrow when the storm system that caused the severe weather in the Plains will be barreling through the area. It is expected to created high winds, thunderstorms, and even tornadoes (figure 2). To read more, go here.

Figure 2. Wind and thunderstorm predictions for the northeastern United States.

The storm system heading to the northeast is following the current jet stream path that can be seen in figure 3. 

Figure 3. Jet stream on May 3, 2018.

Previous Prediction

The skies definitely cleared up as I had predicted, but the temperature was the same if not higher than yesterday's high temperature. We also had rain last night which I did not predict. 

Prediction

Tomorrow should bring clear skies and more warm weather with temperatures in the mid to upper-70s. 

May 2, 2018

Humidity Strikes

Current Conditions

Temperature: 67 °F
Dew Point: 44 °F
Winds: W 8 mph
Pressure: 1010.8 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today started off quite foggy and humid. There were low stratus clouds in the sky and a drizzle falling around 7:00 AM. Down by the Chippewa River there was steam fog along the banks as well. However the temperature was still mild sitting in the upper 50s. As the day progressed the skies cleared up and we saw sun by the early afternoon. The surface map in figure 1 shows the cold front now to the east of Eau Claire that had passed over late last night and early this morning.

Figure 1. Surface map of the United States.

One can see that now there is a high pressure dome sitting over Wisconsin which should bring clearer skies in the coming days. While Wisconsin is sitting in the clear, Oklahoma and Kansas are another story. The Rockies have set up a nice barrier for warm, moist air that is coming in from the Gulf and being pulled up by the jet stream (figure 2).

Figure 2. Jet stream moving up through the United States pulling moist air in from the Gulf of Mexico.

This air is creating severe weather in the plains where tornadoes are supposed to hit tonight. The weather vapor satellite image in figure 3 shows the moisture that is  fueling the severe storms in the area.

Figure 3. Water vapor satellite of the United States.

This seems extreme but May is the beginning of tornado season for the area so we should expect severe weather like this to continue for the summer.

Previous Prediction

The front passed slower than I expected so there was still some cloud cover and rain this morning. However the temperature did drop today, although I was expecting lower temperatures than what we received.

Prediction

For tomorrow I would expect cooler temperatures due to the high pressure air mass that will be in the area. Skies should clear up because of the passing front and the now westerly wind direction.

Additional Information

Here's an interesting weather story from Accuweather that describes what conditions will be like across the United States in summer 2018. The predictions are made by a special long-term forecaster, which I had not heard of before. Check it out!

May 1, 2018

Another Gorgeous Day in Wisconsin

Current Conditions

Temperature: 70 °F
Dew Point: 55 °F
Winds: SSW 9 mph
Pressure: 1007.4 mb
Visibility: 10 miles

Today was another gorgeous day that started off with a fantastic sunrise (figure 1).

Figure 1. Sunrise on May 1, 2018.

What the picture doesn't show is the approaching altostratus clouds and the cumulus mediocris that foretold of the incoming cold front from the west. This was an exciting sight to see because this meant incoming storms, and we haven't had a good storm yet this year. As the day went on, the temperature increased as well as the cloud cover. The surface map in figure 2 shows the cold front and associated low pressure systems.

Figure 2. Surface map of the United States.

Although the cooler weather came with the front, the storms passed just to the south of us. The sky is currently overcast with cooler weather setting in from the high earlier today of 76 °F (figure 3).

Figure 3. Temperature map of the United States.

Although Wisconsin isn't seeing any severe weather, the southern United States, particularly from
Oklahoma to Iowa is a different story. The incoming warm and moist air of the maritime tropical air mass is coming up through Texas and heading northwards. The jetstream is the force pulling it north. The Rockies are acting as a barrier between the moist warm air and the cooler dry air to the west. This is creating the perfect conditions for a dryline which is then producing the severe weather. May is also the month with the most tornadoes in the United States, and it looks like Oklahoma could be seeing one in the next couple days. The water vapor satellite image in figure 4 shows the incoming moisture that is feeding this weather system.

Figure 4. Water vapor satellite image of the United States.

Hopefully Wisconsin will get to see some severe weather another time...

Previous Prediction

My previous prediction was incorrect, there was not any precipitation (although I wish there had been some). However it is worth noting that all the indicators were there such as the SSW wind and the cloud progression from cirrus to stratus.

Prediction

By tomorrow the front should have passed so the area will be experiencing cooler temperatures with the incoming continental polar high pressure air mass in addition to some cloud cover from the back end of the front.