Posted 05/20/2020 10:34 AM EDT
I don’t do a lot of social media but I do occasionally browse Facebook and Twitter just to see if anything interesting is going on. Lately, I’ve seen a lot of complaining about our pattern of cloudy and rainy weather. Folks complain but almost no one can explain why our weather has been the way it is.
The culprit is a large upper-level low pressure (storm) system parked over the Tennesee Valley. The system is sandwiched between two other upper-level systems – one to the east and another to the west. Since it has nowhere to go, it’s just been sitting up there spinning away. This morning’s GOES water vapor imagery shows this storm system well.
Unfortunately, no one is budging and as a result, this system is going to stick around for a few more days. The low will finally start a slow journey northeast on Thursday and continue to push off to the Atlantic coast Friday and Saturday. Until that happens, we’re stuck under its influence and our weather will continue to be cloudy and wet.
Odds for showers today will stay mainly along and south of I-70. Here in the Valley, we could see a few light showers or sprinkles just about anytime throughout the day. Chances for rain will increase Thursday and Friday as the system finally begins its northeast trek over east-central Ohio. Rainfall amounts locally should end up in the quarter-inch to half-inch range through Friday evening. A little instability enters the picture on Friday and a thunderstorm or two will be possible.
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
After this extended period of gloomy weather, there is good news for the holiday weekend. The upper level system should complete its passage and exit the region returning mainly dry weather to the region on Saturday. An upper level trough of high pressure will nudge in and our weather pattern going forward will be nothing like this week. Temperatures will also trend warmer with temperatures in the low-80s Sunday and Memorial Day.
The only caveat will be a cold front off to the northeast. The front will find the going tough as it creeps southeast and could bring a shower or thunderstorm during the afternoon Sunday and Monday. We will need to keep a slight chance for a shower or storm in the forecast just in case.
Those warmer temperatures over the weekend might have some staying power. Long range outlooks indicate summerlike temperatures will remain through the end of the month.
A clear, concise explanation of the current wx pattern! Thanks, Joe!
Hope so this gloomy weather is so depressing in the current state of people having to stay home. We are at its mercy and can only hope for nicer weather to come.