Smitty's attempt to educate and to a much lesser extent, entertain, about all facets of life; but primarily the meteorological and the climatological aspects of the earth sciences.
If you opened my "Winter Outlook" using 1988, 1995, and 2010 as my go to analog years, or were the recipient of duplicate emails, you noticed I had a few glitches my first time back on Blogger in a year. So this post is just as much practice as it is to show Sunday's weather event and the whys behind the upcoming gusty day. Before I jump in, I do thank you all for reading these blog postings and the several nice compliments I received back from many of you. Let's now take a plunge (likely not as invigorating as the one shown below!) into the windy Sunday...
For starters, look at the wind gusts modeled for later this Sunday afternoon! Note the wind speeds over the Great Lakes and the "Hurricane west wind" (thanks Gordon Lightfoot) over Lake Erie! Also note many of the wind gusts at this time are aided in places of topographic relief.
These surface wind gusts are being created by a strong pressure gradient and a powerful jet stream across our region. A very deep mid-latitude cyclone is developing north of the Great Lakes while a large high pressure is sinking deep into the southern plains. Note how the isobars are bending south across the mid-Atlantic states; that clearly indicates the location of a cold front that will be marching towards the east today! Take a look...
The storm is forming in response to crashing mid atmospheric heights (cold pool moving SE) and a powerful jet stream moving across the CONUS. First the anomalous 500 mb heights. As the atmosphere gets colder, the air becomes more dense and "heavier" and therefore the 500 mb level lowers towards the surface of the earth. The map below shows how far from "normal" these heights are...
That rather large blob of unappealing green has its sights aimed directly at the mid-Atlantic region. The tight pressure gradient is is creating a strong jet across the Ohio Valley and through the Appalachians.
With a jet like that above our heads here in PA, expect some precipitation and certainly some gusty winds to be sure. Currently as I type this, there are NWS Wind Advisories issued for western PA. I believe wind gusts here will be enhanced as the front passes through later this afternoon as a line of showers with possible thundershowers embedded with the front. That front is ushering in colder air from O Canada. Remember, I like to study the 850 mb level for air mass changes as the friction of terra firma is greatly reduced 1 mile up. You can also clearly see the front up the Ohio Valley into PA.
The coldest 850 mb temps reside over PA later Tuesday into Wednesday...
Look for the wind to play a role in some of the NFL games today. And though it pains me to say this, at least I have the Steelers to view if I want to see quality football this fall...if you catch my drift!
OK practice is over. Now to post the appropriate song...one that reminds me of my youth!
Enjoy your Sunday funday!
Smitty
AA: Quite windy today. A strong cold front will pass through today with fast moving rain showers and gusty winds...maybe even some thunder? Winds will remain gusty right through Wednesday with windchills in the upper 30s to low 40s through midweek.
