I showed this graphic on the air last night. It is a plot of our high temperatures through the month of February (through the 26th). The slanted turquoise line represents how the normal high increases from 58° to 63° over the course of the month.
Our highs have been running above normal for the most part this month. Notice we've had a few dips (cooler days), but generally the cool downs have not lasted more then a couple of days.
We have another round of colder air coming our way. In fact today's highs in the 60s will probably the warmest out of the next 5 days.
The next map illustrates the current wind flow. Strong low pressure over the Great Lakes (this is the system that brought Texas a blizzard a few days ago) is helping to bring down colder air from Canada. It will arrive in our neck of the woods via a series of weak cold fronts.
Unlike of the previous cool downs, this time the air probably won't modify as much as there is a decent snow pack now, thanks to the recent snowstorm across the Plains and Mid-West. Here is the current U.S. snow cover map.
The next animation shows the mid-level weather pattern projected by the ECMWF (Euro) computer model.
Areas of green and yellow depict where we have some mid-level "lift" and this animation also shows the trof deepening (getting stronger) over the eastern half of the country going into this weekend. This will allow the cold air to make it down to the Gulf and even Florida!
Euro model temperature projections. Blues/purples colder. Last few frames show the colder air moving out and some warmer air (greens) moving in next week, which signals a warm up (at least a temporary one).
Though we may have a warm up early to middle next week, the overall long range projection indicate a cooler then normal pattern the first couple of weeks of March, before Spring may settle in for good.
Winter lovers in the south are still hoping for snow. I wish I could give you something to grasp on to, but right now it would appear this cold spell will also be a dry spell. As some of the coldest air arrives on Saturday, there may be enough moisture around for a few sprinkles or flurries in north Mississippi, but nothing significant (meaning you'll still be able to your lawn!)
I'll have more details on the upcoming cool down tonight on Fox 40 News at 9 and WLBT at 10PM.
Have a great day!
- Eric
