Thursday, May 1, 2014

Current Conditions:
Temperature: 46°F
Feels Like: 41°F
Wind: Northwest @ 10 mph
Humidity: 79%
Pressure: 1008.1 mb é

Less rain today, but misty conditions stayed around as the low pressure system is finally starting to move out of the area. The low pressure system that had been bringing precipitation to the area for the last week has finally started to move to the northeast after moving very slowly through the country. A number of high pressure systems are forming and moving across the Rockies, currently. Conditions are expected to warm up as we head into the weekend and next week, while the chance for rain will decrease as well. Tomorrow there is a decent chance for some rain but then it should clear up for the weekend.

An interesting weather pattern is starting to take form in the Pacific as El Nino pattern seems to be forming. An El Nino pattern has a massive influence on the weather patterns across the entirety of the Americas. El Nino patterns will lead to warmer and wetter conditions across the entire region. In the images below, there is a number of pictures that show the movement of the warm mass of water moving through the Pacific.

The large low pressure system with the mid-latitude cyclone that has been moving across the country is now centered to the north of the Great Lakes. The system is weakening as the presence of the large occlusion signifies that the storm is cutting off its moisture supply.

This map shows the current jet stream patterns across the country. Currently, we are sitting in the middle of the jet stream trough. The trough is getting smaller and moving north compared to where it was in the past week.

This map shows the current surface conditions over the Midwest. Conditions over much of the eastern half of the viewing area are completely overcast, tapering off moving west. Rain is still present, mostly in the northeast.

This sounding from Minneapolis, Minnesota shows the current atmospheric conditions in the area. There is a chance for some atmospheric activity in the form of non-severe conditions.