: what is the weather like where you are?
Current Conditions
Clear
Currently: 66°F
Weekend Showers?
Over the last couple of months I have noted some indications of a mild winter ahead. There are three things in particular that I have highlighted.
1. Long range computer models indicate a good chance of above normal temps.
2. A weak El Nino is forming in the Pacific.
3. Recent climate trends (the last couple decades) have been warmer than normal.
Up until Monday of this week, the only talk of a cold winter I heard was the honking of a small flock of Canada Geese. This particular flock of geese was heading south in the middle of August. I thought to myself what do they know that I dont. Then Monday the Farmers Almanac came out with their winter forecast. They are predicting bitter cold and snowy conditions for much of the United States. They claim their forecast is 80 to 85 percent correct. I havent followed their forecasts close enough to say definitively how accurate they are, however, I do know that the last 2 times they predicted snowy conditions for the Midwest, it didnt happen. The Almanac predicted snowy conditions last winter but we ended up with a paltry 43.5 inches in Wausau. Normal snowfall is 58.6 inches. Are we overdue for a cold winter? I am not sure. Over the last decade, by my subjective judgment, there have only been 3 real Wisconsin winters. Two of them were rather snowy and one was a record breaking winter. The record-breaker was the winter of 1995-96. During that year we had almost 100 inches of snow and set several record cold temps.
Back to the present: Weatherwise, August has been a great month. We caught up on rainfall and temperatures were very comfortable. Thus I think it is fitting that we end the month on a high note. After a crisp start this morning, temps should warm into the middle and upper 70s this afternoon with plenty of sunshine. Another nice day is on the way for Friday. A few more clouds may develop in the afternoon but high temps should once again reach the mid to upper 70s. It should be a great day over at Lambeau field for the last Packer pre-season game against the Titans. Game time is 3 p.m.
Unfortunately, the "great" weather will end on Friday. The weather may end up tolerable over the weekend, it just won't be as nice as the last couple of days. There are two storms we have been talking about this week. One is a low pressure system moving in from the northern Rockies and the other is tropical storm Ernesto. These to will try to combine over the central part of the country over the weekend, however they may not come together in a way that brings heavy rain to our area. Storms can sometimes destructively interfere with each other. In any case I am still calling for a chance of rain from late Saturday all the way through Monday, but the chances are only in the 30 to 40% range at this point. The highest chance of steadier rainfall is in the southern half of the state. Even if no rain develops in our area it still looks cloudy and cooler for the weekend. High temps will be in the mid 70s Saturday and then linger around 70 on Sunday and Monday. By Tuesday the storminess should start to clear out of the Midwest leaving us with nice Fall weather for the middle of next week.
Weather History:
On this date in 1989 thunderstorms developing along a stationary front spread severe weather from Minnesota to Indiana through the course of the day and night. Thunderstorms in Minnesota produced baseball size hail near Saint Michael and Hutchinson, and drenched Moose Lake with nine inches of rain in six hours. Tucson AZ hit 100 degrees for a record 79th time in the year, surpassing a record established the previous year. (Sources: The National Weather Summary, Storm Data)
Have a fabulous holiday weekend! Meteorologist Justin Loew
