Zonal Flow Makes Short Range Little Easier

I've highlighted 3 areas on the above Sunday morning IR satellite pic.  Working from the west, the 1st is the large expanse of cloud free skies out over AZ and So Cal and essentially the entire desert SW USA.  This will lead to very hot dry conditions for this upcoming week, but as I will show the bulk of this heat should stay west of the Appalachians.  The circled blue area is a cold and dry front that is progressing rather quickly to the ESE and will be crossing our area Tuesday afternoon.  The 3rd is this MCS (mesoscale convective system) that will give us debris clouds from the thunderstorms today, but really should not give us any rainfall as this system will pass to our south through NC. 

Here is what the 500 mb looks like with these systems as shown with the IR pic.  Note the red circling the 588 mb isobar indicating warm temps aloft and obviously at the surface.  Then move north to the blue region where there are 2 distinct areas of vorticity creating the frontal boundary that will progress east.  Then the not so obvious MCS centered over Davenport, IA where Obama is making a visit tomorrow to the AA plant (NO, not the Arnick Addendum...Alcoa) where he will try to put the spin that he and his party is pro business and pro growth!  Ha!  Sorry......I digress.....

Below I will show 4 quick graphics that will show the front passing Tuesday afternoon here in the Harrisburg area.  The first you can see the rain associated with the front. 

 Here are the winds ahead of the front.  Note the southerly direction bringing in warmer and much more humid air.  Tuesday appears to be the most uncomfortable day of the week in terms of heat and humidity.  A good day for a swim....eh?

And the warm, not hot temps. 

Now here are the winds by Wednesday morning coming from the NW ushering in much drier and somewhat cooler air for the end of the week!

By Thursday, a rather large area of high pressure will be sitting over PA giving us beautiful summer weather into the July 4 weekend.  As we approach the weekend, temps and dew points will be on the rise.  Here is the NWS interpretation of the surface map for Thursday.  It will be difficult to locate any clouds on what should be a bright, blue sky sunny day!

Well, that is all.  No off the wall comments as I must get ready to leave for Columbia and get things right with my maker.  And since it might take 15+ minutes just to get out of my neighborhood due to the insanity that has overtaken our little hamlet of Valley Green, I must end this quickly.  But I did say "Blue Sky"....didn't I?  That is one of my favorite Allman Bros songs....click the video below to see if you agree?

Have a great Sunday!

Smitty

AA:  Nice through Monday, getting warmer and more humid until front passes Tuesday with some showers and storms.  Then, Wed-Sat look nice...getting warmer and more humid as we approach the weekend.  Enjoy some good music!