Wednesday, May 7, 2014

Current Conditions
Temperature: 55°F
Feels Like: 51°F
Wind: East @ 14 mph, Gusts @ 20 mph
Humidity: 69%
Pressure: 1010.0 mb ê

A pleasant day in the Chippewa Valley should give way to the potential for severe thunderstorms as the evening progresses, through Thursday. The day started out with increasing cloud cover until it was entirely overcast. A strong, but small, storm cell rolled through the area, with the strongest part of the storm passing just a few miles to our south, traveling northeast. With a warm front and low pressure system pushing in from the south and a cold front and high pressure system moving in from the northwest, conditions are right for some severe weather potential. Tornado watches are out over the Plains region right now and storms predicted to have the potential to bring large hail and damaging winds are being monitored. The next few days should bring storms, with the greatest potential being from this evening through Thursday, during which temperatures are expected to reach up into the mid-upper 70's

This map shows the current pressure and frontal systems moving across the country. A few areas to take note of and watch are the high pressure system pushing a cold front in the southerly directions, coming from Montana and pushing out. Another area to watch is the low pressure system pushing a warm front to the north. These systems, along with the presence of a dry line in the Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas region have the potential to bring severe storms with tornadic potential.

This map shows the current jet stream patterns over the country. The subtropical jet is pushing up, which is allowing the warm front to push north. It appears as though the current track has the potential to take on an omega-high pattern if the meander continues to lengthen.

This map shows the current surface conditions for the Midwest region. Currently, the low pressure systems to the south are affecting the region, characterized by counter-clockwise rotating systems. Much of the northern extent of the viewing area is covered by clouds. In our area, dominant winds are out of the east-southeast.

This sounding shows the atmospheric conditions for Minneapolis, Minnesota. Currently, the potential for severe atmospheric activity is moderate, along with the chance for non-severe atmospheric activity.