Monday, March 3, 2014

Current Conditions:
Temperature: 2°F
Feels Like: 2°F
Wind: Calm
Humidity: 54%
Pressure: 1034.3 mb ê

After a weekend of very cold temperatures and very high pressure, we are looking at a big shift in the weather as the week progresses. The subpolar jet is beginning to take a much more horizontal path in our area, allowing for warmer air to push north. It has yet to be overcome by the subtropical jet, of course, as we move into the first week of March, however, it has started its shift. A high pressure dome is currently sitting over the central portion of the country, which has led to clear skies and aided in allowing chilly temperatures over this past weekend. As the week progresses, we can most likely expect a low pressure system to move in, providing increased cloud cover and a noticeable rise in temperatures. 

A high pressure dome is currently spanning most of the central portion of the country. Other than that, there is not much that is significant as far as pressure systems go.

This shows the current path of the subpolar jet, with the green circle centered on Eau Claire, WI. As we can see, the subpolar jet has taken on a much more horizontal path, though it is still being fed with cold air from a low pressure anticyclone on the west coast of Canada, south of Alaska. 

This is another look at the subpolar jet from Unisys. As we can see, again, the jet is much flatter on its southern extent, though here in the upper Midwest, we are still experiencing the affects of cold air from the north being funneled down to us.

Here is a Unisys surface map, showing no significant activity, wind speed, or cloud cover over Wisconsin.

The LI and KI values from this sounding from Minneapolis, MN show no significant activity or likelihood for storms, given the current atmospheric conditions.