Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Current Conditions:
Temperature: 14°F
Feels Like: 14°F
Wind: Calm
Humidity: 67%
Pressure: 1024.6 mb (Relatively Stable)

Well it is official! We currently experienced the coldest (recorded) winter in Eau Claire, WI. Average temperatures hovered around 7.5°F, tying the meteorological winter of 1903-1904. Meteorological winter is defined as the months of December through February. This can most likely be explained by a repeatedly entrenching meander bend of the subpolar jet, bringing continuous blasts of cold air to the Midwest. As we move into the first week of March, record-breaking lows have been threatening over the last four days.

Currently, we are experiencing overcast skies, temperatures in the mid-teens, and calm winds. Snow was falling late last night and this morning. This could potentially be because of the low pressure system pushing south from Canada, or maybe because of the upper atmosphere trough currently over the Minnesota-Iowa border.

 
As the week progresses, we can expect snow showers and a gradual warming trend. A low pressure system south of Hudson Bay will be affecting the northern portions of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region. The southern portions of the country will be warm and sunny.

The subpolar jet is currently taking a much more horizontal path on its southern extent. This will allow for a trend of warmer temperatures, hopefully lasting until the subtropical jet starts to push the subpolar jet northward.

Overcast skies and calm wind conditions are present over a good portion of the Midwest. 

A thermal inversion is currently over the area, according to this sounding from Minneapolis, Minnesota. This helps to keep a concentration of low-level moisture because warm air is essentially putting a "lid" on the lower atmosphere, and working against convective processes.