Pretty Fitting for a Monday

Observation time: 4:45 pm

Precipitation: Light rain
Sky conditions: Overcast
Wind: 24 mph from the east
Temperature: 44 degrees

Today we are sitting at the "head" of a still-developing mid-latitude cyclone. As this system defines itself more, winds will be circulating around the low pressure zone. The upper midwest and northeast should see plenty of rain, while areas in the path of the cold front to the south are in for the potential of severe weather.

Today's Rant

If you needed another reminder that today was a Monday, the weather has certainly given it to you. Things have been dreary, windy, cold, and rainy since yesterday really, and this trend doesn't seem to have an end in sight. We are currently to the north of the tip of a cold front that is bringing some nasty storms in the south, and we are east of a dry line. To put it another way, we are located in what is going to be the "head" area of a developing mid-latitude cyclone. This has been a slow-moving system that has been bringing these conditions to many people north of the front for a couple of days now, and it seems to be in no hurry to move on to the east. The only relief in sight right now is some high pressure hanging out to our west in Washington. Usually what happens out there will make it to our area in a few days thanks to the regular jet stream pattern. But as for now, we are stuck dealing with these very strong winds and cloudy skies.

Forecast for Tomorrow

Unfortunately, tomorrow is not looking much better. As I stated above, this system is going nowhere fast, and will almost certainly continue to bring us rain for the near future. As this system develops into a better defined cyclone, strong storms can be expected in the southeast once again, while it should just be rain, and lots of it, in the northeast and in the upper midwest. Thanks to the rotation of the cyclone, our winds should be coming from the north tomorrow, meaning the temperature may drop a little bit more than it already has today. Those winds are going to be strong again as well, so expect it to feel much colder. Rain is basically a certainty at this point, as really none of the region is going to be dry with the way this thing is shaping up. We really are finally seeing some signs of spring now, as April was drier than usual up until this past weekend, and now all of a sudden we are getting slammed.