Dangerously Foggy

Be careful on the roads, Eau Claire residents. There is a dense fog advisory in effect until 7 am Sunday. Current visibility is 0.2 miles, so avoid driving and be super cautious if walking so that traffic can see you. Also, be careful of icy sidewalks as the rain from today starts to freeze. The current temperature in Eau Claire is 31 degrees F. The dew point is 29 degrees F and the barometric pressure reading is 29.82 in. The relative humidity is 92%.

The low pressure systems across the country are causing dense fog in their paths.

Today, we received just over half an inch of precipitation in the form of rain. The skies stayed gloomy all day, covered with altostratus clouds. The skies are still overcast with altostratus clouds, but the wind is now completely calm. The warmest point of today was at 5:05 am when the temperature hit 41 degrees F. Tomorrow will feel much colder than today, with a high of 39 degrees F and a 20% chance of precipitation, most likely in the form of snow.

In the water vapor map below, you can see the moisture associated with the storm front that moved through our area, now to the east.

Between the warmer temperatures lately and the rain we received today, the snow cover is definitely starting to diminish.

Hopefully, we won't see too much more of the white stuff tomorrow for the Easter holiday.

Rain is in the Air

Altocumulus clouds at sunset in Eau Claire tonight created a beautiful mackerel sky.

Well, Eau Claire residents, I hope you had a chance to get outside today and experience some real spring weather! At 2:25 pm, we reached 45 degrees F. Even though the sun has been down for a couple hours now, we are still sitting at 38 degrees F. If your parking lot is anything like mine after the last few days, you might need to carry an extra pair of socks for your walk through your own personal pond to your car.

Temperatures today would have heated up even more, had it not been for the cloud cover throughout the day. We saw partly cloudy skies for the majority of the day, which then turned to mostly cloudy skies by late afternoon. At sunset, the sky was covered with a mackerel sky of altocumulus clouds. This type of cloud cover is a good indicator that we will see precipitation in the form of rain within the next 12 to 24 hours. In the picture above, you can see that the clouds have hard edges, as opposed to airbrushed edges. This means that the clouds are warm enough to contain water droplets, as opposed to ice crystals. Expect a chance of rain overnight and an even greater probability of rain tomorrow.

Currently in Eau Claire, the barometric pressure is 30.17 in and falling rapidly. This rapid falling of pressure is telling us that a low pressure system is moving into our area. This helps to confirm that the current mackerel sky is a precursor to rain, as precipitating weather conditions are associated with low pressure systems.

As you can see in the surface map forecast for tomorrow morning, the low pressure system moving into our area is associated with a warm front. The air will be warm enough for rain instead of snow precipitation, as was also indicated by the hard edges of the clouds tonight.

Air traveling through our area is warmer than the air traveling through a week ago because of the current jet stream. As you can see in the map below, we are no longer receiving a direct supply of cold northern air from Canada.

Right now, the wind is calm. This is true for most of Wisconsin at the moment. The wind will pick up a bit as the low pressure system moves into our area. That is why areas to the east of us are already experiencing higher winds.

The current dew point is 26 degrees F. The relative humidity is 66%, which has been rising throughout the last few hours as the coming low pressure system brings more moisture. In the water vapor map below, you can see the densely moist air mass moving across the country towards us.

Just remember to pack an umbrella if you are heading out to visit family tomorrow. Good night, Eau Claire!

Clear and Mild Tonight

The skies today remained pretty clear. There were only a few cirrus clouds streaking across the sky by midday today. This stayed the same through the evening.




It was a beautiful spring day with calm winds and a warming sunshine. At 1:45 pm, the temperature hit 42 degrees F. This is slightly below what I predicted but still a welcome change from the last few weeks. Right now, the temperature is still sitting at 33 degrees F. With how warm and calm the air is outside, it is hard to believe that the temperature will drop another 10 degrees throughout the night.

The current barometric pressure reading is 30.30 in and falling. The dew point is 20 degrees F and the relative humidity is 62%. There is still no wind in Eau Claire, and this should remain true for most of the night. We will not see winds stronger than 5 mph this evening.

Dig Out Your Waders!

Well, Eau Claire residents, today the ice rinks on the side walks have begun to turn into swimming pools.

my wet walk home from UWEC

And, as forecasted, the mostly overcast skies this morning transformed to nearly clear blue skies with only a few cumulus humilis clouds. And, drum roll please, the temperature reached 42 degrees F at 5:05 pm in Eau Claire, WI! Currently, the temperature is sitting at 40 degrees F with a real feel of 37 degrees F. For the remainder of the week, expect temperatures in the mid-40s or higher. To put this into perspective, Eau Claire has not seen this high of a temperature since December 6th.

Right now, we are experiencing a light 0.7 mph wind out of the E/NE with gusts up to 3.8 mph. The barometric pressure is 30.29 in and falling, the dew point is 17 degrees F, and the relative humidity is 40%.

We can attribute the fair weather in Eau Claire to the high pressure system that is currently over our area. More fair weather is on the horizon.

The trough is slowly but surely making its way out to the Atlantic Ocean.

We still have a fair amount of snow on the ground and, as much as many of us would like to see it disappear, we need to be patient. A rapid melt would mean severe runoff and flooding. A nice slow melt will help replenish the ground water table and give us a good growing year. For you oat farmers out there, don't worry; with the temperatures in the forecast, you should still have enough time to get the seeds in the ground.

A Week of Mild Weather Ahead

The sunny cumulus humilis skies of yesterday morphed into stratocumulus skies today, bringing us a gray day. Above, you can see the transition starting from cumulus humilis to stratocumulus. Although the gray waves in the sky today looked threatening, don't worry, stratocumulus clouds are not "bad weather" clouds.



Clear weather in Eau Claire courtesy of a High pressure system.

Currently in Eau Claire, conditions are overcast with a 35 degree F temperature and no wind. The barometric pressure reading is 30.25 inches of mercury and holding steady. The dew point is 22 degrees F and the relative humidity is at 65%.

no threat for winter weather any time soon

Tonight, we will see a slight clearing of cloud and a drop in temperature to around 19 degrees F. Winds should remain relatively calm, only reaching gusts of 5 mph. As the clouds break a bit tonight, you may be able to catch a glimpse of the full moon.

cool, calm, and collected

Looking to the future of the week, we will finally see some warmer temperatures as an upper trough slowly creeps out to the east. The exit of this trough will mean that mild weather will take its place. It has certainly been a strange start to 2013. So much for "boring February." We are about to see the mildest weather in Wisconsin since January...that seems weird to say, doesn't it?

trough exiting our area and moving  slowly eastward, bringing mild conditions

Throughout the week, expect mildly cloudy mornings with sunnier afternoons. And, brace yourselves for this one, we will finally see 40 degree F temperatures by the end of the week! By the weekend, we will finally have a chance of rain precipitation instead of snow, so pack your umbrellas for your Easter egg hunts. At the initial onset of the precipitation, we may see a bit of wet snow, but this will turn to rain soon after. We are currently looking at a 70% chance that this precipitation will happen, so just keep tabs on the forecast as we get closer to the holiday weekend.

"Average" On Its Way

The current temperature in Eau Claire is 27 degrees F with a wind chill of 22 degrees F.

The conditions are fair with a clear sky and calm winds only gusting at 0.7 mph. The dew point is 18 degrees F, the barometric pressure is 30.18 in and rising, and the relative humidity is currently 74%.

The high pressure system moving through our area will keep the skies calm and clear tonight. Temperatures are expected to dip down to 16 degrees F tonight.

The cold temperatures are coming from the north from Canada into our area. There is still quite a bit of lingering moisture in the air south and southwest of Wisconsin from the low pressure system that just brought winter weather to the central United States. The good news is that temperatures will finally be starting to move back into the range of the normal averages over the coming days and weeks.

Saturday Recap

Who's ready for some sunshine? That's what this week has in store for us. Temperatures are still low, but at least we will see some snow melting away over the next few days.

Yesterday's high temperature was 33 degrees F at 3:45 pm (12 degrees below average) and the low was 24 degrees F at 7:05 am (1 degree below average). The wind yesterday was coming out of the N at 16 mph with gusts up to 25 mph. These northern winds had a lot to do with the cold temperatures.

On the following map, you can see the large amounts of precipitation that hit the states surrounding us yesterday.

The precipitation was in the form of snow. The states with the greatest amount of precipitation did not receive the large amounts of accumulation that had been forecasted. As predicted, though, accumulation did not occur north of I-90 in Wisconsin. Only the southwestern-most counties of the state received much of anything at all. The rest of the state just received higher winds.

Missing Out on the Snow...Finally

By sunset yesterday, it was still cold but still calm.





stratocumulus clouds at sunset
 



This morning in Eau Claire, conditions are fair and sunny. The current temperature is 25 degrees F with a real feel of 18 degrees F. The dew point is also 18 degrees F. Right now, we are experiencing wind gusts of 6 mph out of the NE. The barometric pressure is 30.13 in and rising and the relative humidity is 71%.

 

Today in the Chippewa Valley, we can expect clouds to creep in to block out some of the sun, but the temperatures will still be warmer than yesterday. We are expected to reach a high of around 34 degrees F by this afternoon. Over the past 24 hours, these are the temperature changes the United States has seen.

 

 

 

There is only a 20% chance of precipitation today, but by tomorrow, the cloud cover and chance of flurries will definitely increase.

 

This is the jet stream forecast for today.

 

 

This kind of wind flow is bringing these kinds of current temperatures to the country today.

 

 

Although the current surface map of the country does not look threatening...

 

 

...by Sunday morning, a low pressure system will be bringing precipitation in the form of snow to the Midwest once again.

 

 

Over the next 24 hours, the central part of the nation will receive quite a bit of measurable snowfall.

 

 

Luckily, the precipitation will finally miss us, remaining south of Wisconsin for the most part. The low pressure system will really only have an impact on counties south of I-90, but we may still end up with a few light snow flurries. Nothing measurable is anticipated.

But Mr. Weatherman, Why is it so darn cold out?

In Eau Claire, we have been experiencing an exceptionally cold March. Well, we aren't alone. The entire Midwest and East Coast of the United States has been in the icebox much longer than usual this year. But why, despite our calendars telling us that spring has arrived, is the weather still ready for Santa to make a second appearance? The answer: an abnormal jet stream path. The jet stream this year is causing our part of the country to experience temperatures much colder than normal and other places, like Maine and far eastern Canada, to experience much warmer temperatures than normal.

The following article will help to explain why your winter blues are going to be hanging around longer than usual.

http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/midwest-east-more-snow-more-cold-into/8372208

Some Light Reading While You're Cooped up Inside

After discussing the truth behind a number of weather wives' tales in class, it made me wonder, is the myth of "earthquake weather" fact or fiction? There has been a notion throughout the ages that certain kinds of weather can foreshadow seismic activity. The belief of "earthquake weather" dates back to Aristotle's 4th century BCE idea that earthquakes are caused by winds being trapped in subterranean caverns, bringing hot and calm conditions above ground. Researchers have altered Aristotle's idea throughout the centuries, but today, the notion of "earthquake weather" is dismissed by most geologists. Although this myth has been debunked, current research about earthquakes may wet your taste buds for a whole new reason...

What could be better than turning water into wine? How about turning water into gold?

http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/earthquakes_turn_water_into_go/8380237

Weather Forecast: Cold

Currently in Eau Claire, the temperature is 2 degrees F and the conditions are clear and sunny. Visibility is 7 miles and the winds are calm at the moment. The dew point is -1 degrees F, the relative humidity is 79%, and the barometric pressure is currently 30.06 in and rising slowly.

cold temperatures across the nation this morning

Although we are battling cold air right now, we may see slightly warmer temperatures over the next few days, at least breaking above freezing. No precipitation is anticipated today in the Chippewa Valley, so hopefully the sun will work its magic to melt some of our lingering snow cover as the temperature creeps up to 30 degrees F today.

Right now, it is looking like we will have relatively clear skies and sunshine over the next seven days. The only precipitation on the horizon is on Tuesday when a weak low pressure system will track into the area, bringing light flurries.

A National Perspective

Thursday's high temperature was far below the average for this time of March. Yesterday hit 24 degrees F at its warmest point. This is 19 degrees below Eau Claire's average for March 21st. The low of -4 degrees F was 28 degrees below average. To put this in perspective with the rest of the nation, the extreme high was 88 degrees F in Riverside, California and the extreme low was -29 degrees F in Eagle, Alaska. If you are getting the cold weather blues, just be thankful you aren't living in Eagle, Alaska. Their high was -27 degrees F yesterday. Yikes! I bet those 9 mph western wind gusts yesterday don't seem so bad now, do they?

At least we escaped a day of accumulating precipitation in Eau Claire. We were, however, close to the record low temperature for Eau Claire. Set in 1965, Eau Claire's record low was -6 degrees F, just 2 degrees colder than we experienced yesterday. On the flipside, we were well below the record high of 62 degrees F set in 2009.

 

Keep dreaming, Eau Claire.

Seasonally Confused

First Day of Spring in Wisconsin:
Who else feels seasonally confused?

Spring??

As the last day of winter, yesterday was bitterly cold but sunny with a strong biting wind that packed a wallop. Unfortunately for any Eau Claire residents who were hoping to feel spring-like temperatures any time soon, I would not recommend holding your breath. We aren't out of the arctic temperatures yet.

Right now in Eau Claire, WI, conditions are hazy and very cold. The current temperature is 6 degrees F with a wind chill of -12 degrees F. The dew point is -3 degrees F, and the relative humidity is 58%. The barometric pressure is standing at 30.11 in and slowly rising.  The current wind speed is 3.8 mph out of the SW with gusts reaching 12.1 mph. Due to the current haze, visibility is only 3 miles .

 

 

Although there are only a few cumulus clouds speckled throughout the Eau Claire sky right now, there is  50% chance of precipitation in the form of snow today. These flurries will not be anything big, so don't get too worried.

 

 

We are currently about 7" shy of setting a new record for March snowfall in Eau Claire. Luckily, we will not be setting that record today, as we are going to remain in a high pressure system throughout the day.

 

 

We will, however, watch to see if anything develops from the stationary front over the Rocky Mountains over the next few days, as well as the occluded front over the UP and Great Lakes. Right now, it is looking like the occluded front may extend and our chances for some lake effect snow will increase by Wednesday evening.

 

 

 

The jet stream over Wisconsin is bringing down cold air from the NW, giving us a nice Canadian shock for our first day of spring.

 

 

 

Welcome to "spring" in Wisconsin, everyone. 

Be Cautious With Your Travels

Eau Claire will remain in a winter weather advisory until 1:00am Tuesday. We will be seeing 2-4" of snow today, but precipitation from the cold front should stop by the afternoon, being replaced by strong winds that will cause lots of blowing and drifting. Be careful on the roads this afternoon, since visibility will be poor.

Current wind speeds in Eau Claire are around 8 mph. Interestingly enough, the winds are coming coming out of the S/SE. Usually SE winds are an indicator of fair weather.

Below, you can see how the winds correspond to the current jet stream.

We are currently experiencing 24 degree F temperatures. In case you aren't near a window, we are currently experiencing overcast conditions and light snow. The relative humidity is 82% and visibility is 2.5 miles. The current dew point is 19 degrees F.

The current surface map for the country is an exciting sight. The low pressure systems moving across the nation are firing up quite a few precipitating storms.

As you can see in the following water vapor map, there is a lot of moisture moving across the country right now.