Nice, but cloudy due to another winter storm

Overall, the weather in our region has been consistent and nice, and is expected to stay that way. Today's forecast calls for a high around 36F this afternoon, with mostly cloudy skies. Winds are coming from the NE around 10-15 mph.

However, just because it's been nice in our region doesn't mean it's been nice in others. Currently, there is a larger winter storm moving over the country. In the surface map below we can see a low pressure cell located in southern Illinois. The cold front is located in the eastern part of the states, with a low front ahead of it. The occluded front indicates the cold front is catching up and taking over the warm front. The radar shows precipitation occuring on the east coast, as well as in norther Iowa and southern Michigan.

The jet stream map shows the cold polar air masses moving throughout the county; with a trough located in the souther parts of the states and a ridge in the north central parts of the states.

The wind map below illustrates strong wind patterns associated with the low pressure cell. We can see this by looking at the counterclockwise movement of the wind south of Wisconsin. It is these wind patterns coming from the NE that are the result of our cloudy skies.

Tonight's forecast calls for cloudy skies with a low of around 26F. Winds will continue to come in from the NE around 15 mph.