Turbulent Weather Day Today....

Dec. 27, 2008 | This is a strong area of low pressure that has tracked to our northwest.  When we run into these situations, we end up in the warm air.  The moisture being pulled into our area is a very rare event for this time of the year.  The dewpoints are running around fifty making things feel like late spring or early summer out there.  Also, the temperatures are popping to near record levels.  Will we break the Milwaukee record?  It is going to be awfully close.  Yesterday we did tie the record of 51 degrees set back in 1936.  Today’s record high is 55.  Okay, back to the weather…

Areas of moderate showers and isolated T’storms will be affecting the area as we head through the day.  Expect those temperatures to top out in the mid-fifties in most spots,  but upper-forties as you head well west.  With the warm, damp air flowing over the cold snowpack, this is causing widespread dense fog.  As these showers move through the area, it might increase the visibilities for a short while, but after it moves through, expect those distances to fall quickly.  This is why we have the dense fog advisory until 6pm tonight. 

With the rapid melting of the snow, and no place for the melt and rainwater to go, we are seeing rivers rising quickly (flood warnings for many of them) and peoples’ lots collecting water in a hurry.  (River ice jamming could be a problem.)  That’s why we also have a flash flood watch until this evening for some of those showers and t’storms dropping up to an inch of water in some spots in a relatively short time. 

As we head into tonight, I don’t expect widespread heavy rain, but there should still be some shower activity around the area, as well as some patches of fog continuing.  Later into the evening, the cold front will approach and with it, a band of rain, freezing rain, and snow.  Once this moves through, the winds are going to pick up and the temperatures are going to drop.  Again, this shouldn’t be until late tonight.  Some of us could see a bit of snow that we may have to shovel. 

Tomorrow is going to be colder and windy, but not extremely cold.  Temperatures should top out in the low-thirties with a chance of a few morning snow showers. 

Monday looks to be mostly sunny and mild with temperatures topping out in the low-forties.  Other than that, I think most of the week should be pretty quiet.  I do have my eye on a system for Friday, but that is a long way off.