Back to the (cold) Grind

Observation time: 1:25 pm

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 10 mph from the North
Temperature: 1 degree

This map from accuweather.com shows the high pressure system that moved in early this morning, causing the clear skies and cold temps.

Today's Rant

It's back to the same-old-same-old. High pressure is dominating our area once again, creating clear skies and cold temperatures. We received 5+ inches of snow yesterday, but long gone are the warmer temperatures that came with it. With the winds again whipping out of the North we are seeing wind chills down around -10. I did call for cooler temps. in yesterday's forecast, as well as some sun, which only made sense with the current pattern we have been in lately.

Forecast for Tomorrow

What wind we will see tomorrow, although it doesn't look like much from current models, should be coming from a more westerly, or even southwesterly direction. This should bring some clouds if we're lucky, meaning warmer temperatures again and maybe a chance of some precipitation.

Winter Wonderland

Observation Time: 10 am

Precipitation: Snow
Sky conditions: Overcast
Wind: 2 mph from the Southeast
Temperature: 26 degrees

The weather.com radar shows the snow mass that has been slowly making its way through our area

Today's Rant

Well I definitely blew it on the forecast for today. Instead of cold and clear, we are warm and snowy this morning. There is about 2 inches of snow outside my door right now and the forecast is calling for anywhere from 4-7 inches when this storm is finally passed. This is a slow-moving, spiraling storm. It actually kind of looks like a hurricane on the past radar loop. This is making it impact our area for a long period of time. All-in-all, I can't complain. I like this kind of weather as opposed to extreme cold and the snow is always welcome with me.

Forecast for Tomorrow

I expect tomorrow to be colder because of the new snow. Based on current cloud cover, I would also expect some tomorrow, although there should be some sun as well with the winds shifting from a more westerly direction.

Warming Trend?

Observation time: 11:45 am

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 5 mph from the Southwest
Temperature: 13 degrees

The weather.com cloud map shows my predicted clouds approaching

Today's Rant

Today is much warmer, however relative that may be. We are up about 15 degrees from yesterday already and the temperature should continue to rise as clouds move in this afternoon. This matches my prediction from yesterday, although I originally thought it might be a bit warmer than it is. Either way, I am thankful for the break from the cold, and the next few days should be staying above zero as well.

Forecast for Tomorrow

Looking at the wind patterns I expect tomorrow to be cooler and clear, although it shouldn't get as cold as it has been lately as the wind speeds are expected to stay more under control. They will be coming from the Northwest again but are not predicted to be as brutal.

The Classes Must Go On!

Observation time: 2:00 pm

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 9 mph from the West
Temperature: -3 degrees

A webcam from near my apartment shows today's mostly clear skies

Today's Rant

Cold weather be damned! School must go on. At least that's what UWEC told its students this morning around 6 am, while the wind chills hung dangerously low around -40. Given the extreme cold, the local technical college and most of the surrounding school districts cancelled classes today and tomorrow already. The University of Minnesota and University of Wisconsin-Madison were also closed or partially closed. All in all, I was not too upset as I have access to a bus route less than a block from my home, but I did feel bad for those who aren't as lucky. The National Weather Service had our area in a Wind Chill Warning that stated frostbite could occur in as little as 5 minutes. Many of my classmates have much longer walks than that...All of this aligns with my predictions from yesterday. We have clear skies and brutally cold temperatures again.

Forecast for Tomorrow

The wind forecast for tomorrow calls for winds between 10 and 20 mph from the South/Southwest, so I expect slightly warmer temperatures, as well as some clouds. If it gets warm enough, we should even see some snow, which is the only thing I like about this cold season...

Colder Than the Arctic

Observation time: 12:45 pm

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 14 mph from the West
Temperature: -11 degrees

A wind chill map from weather.com shows that almost all of the country is dealing with wind chill effects today

Today's Rant

There is nothing else to say except BRRRRRR! I really can't describe it any other way. In fact, a news report I was watching this morning claimed that we were actually colder this morning than places north of the Arctic Circle! I was dead on with my predictions from yesterday (unfortunately) as we have cloudless skies and wicked winds driving our "feels like" temperatures down below -30! The Great Lakes region is stuck in this relentless cycle of cold air that is even forcing schools and some businesses to shut down for safety. I however, will be heading out the door in just a couple of hours to attend class. Lucky me...

Forecast for Tomorrow

With the wind forecast being about the same as it was for today, I can't expect anything other than what we have seen today. I expect clear skies and frigid temperatures to continue, and wind chills will likely stay dangerously low, especially overnight and tomorrow morning.

A Snowy Morning

Observation time: 11:35 am

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Overcast
Wind: 10 mph from the West
Temperature: 11 degrees

The DOT camera at the I-94/US-53 interchange shows some slick roads following last night's snowfall

Today's Rant

This is about the only time that I can stand cold weather: when it snows. This is what makes all the suffering worth while to me. Outside my apartment this morning I woke up to around 1.5-2 inches of fresh fluffy snow. I was not expecting this as neither I nor the other forecasts I looked at called for it. Yesterday I predicted less wind and slightly warmer temperatures, and I was correct. We are up about 8 degrees from this time yesterday with only about half as much wind, although the wind chill still hovers right around zero.

Forecast for Tomorrow

I expect another cold, dry day tomorrow as winds are supposed to continue coming from the northwest at about 10-20 mph. With the potential for winds that high, it is possible we could see some pretty cold temperatures and dangerous wind chills. Bundle up going to class.

Back to the Cold

Observation time: 10:30 am

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 18 mph from the West
Temperature: 3 degrees

A temperature change map from weather.com shows that we a quite a bit colder today than yesterday

Today's Rant

The cold air has found us once again. The combination of clear skies and winds from the West and North have made for a completely different day than yesterday as wind chills once again are approaching -20 degrees. My prediction from yesterday called for clouds and much lower temperatures and little to no chance of precipitation. I'm going to take my 2 out of 3 and run with it.

Forecast for Tomorrow

Based on the wind forecasts for tomorrow I expect another chilly and dry day as winds will continue to come out of the Northwest. The actual wind speeds are expected to be slightly lower than today, so if we are lucky it might not get quite as cold as it was today.

A Much Nicer Day Two

Observation time: 10:30 am

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Overcast
Wind: 8 mph from the Southwest
Temperature: 19 degrees

Radar from weather.com shows the snow that moved through overnight as well as a system forming to the west that could produce more later today.

Today's Rant

Today we woke up to much milder conditions than yesterday, although it is still pretty chilly to most people. It snowed lightly overnight and in the early morning, and it has stayed cloudy as I predicted yesterday and the temperature continues to rise. The current forecast also calls for more snow later this afternoon and evening.

Forecast for Tomorrow

After checking the wind forecasts for tomorrow, I expect the clouds to stay and the temperature to drop again. The winds are predicted to be coming from the northwest again and the very cold condition shouldn't produce much, if any, precipitation.

A Brutal Start to the Semester

Observation time: 8:50 am

Precipitation: None
Sky conditions: Clear
Wind: 6 mph from the North
Temperature: -11 degrees

Taken from a DOT traffic cam, roughly 20 minutes prior to this post. As you can see, not a cloud in the sky.

Today's Rant

Today is an absolutely freezing cold start to this blog. The sun is out, but in the winter that can be a bad thing. It actually makes it colder. The cold wind from Canada isn't helping either, driving the wind chill down below -20 degrees even as we approach 9 am. This has been sort of an (unfortunate) ongoing pattern this winter: frigid stretches of weather with a warm day here and there just to torment us.

Forecast for Tomorrow

It looks like we should be getting a low pressure system in the area tomorrow, which means clouds, warmer weather, and possibly even some precipitation. This would make a great setting going into the weekend.