Thursday Afternoon Technical Discussion

Synopsis

The same weather pattern that we saw last week has repeated itself this week. An anomalous cutoff upper level low is sitting over the great lakes region bringing much unsettled weather. It will weaken and begin to push north over the next couple of days. A broad area of higher pressures will slowly build in behind it providing calm weather for the weekend. By the middle of next week it appears there will be more troughiness in the eastern half of the country.

Short term

A large cutoff low with accompanying surface low have provided the environment for yet another substantial rain event for the parts of the state. The low has now been well occluded and is pushing into Canada so; as a result, the steady rain has given way to wrap around clouds and drizzle. Slightly more precipitation may in the mountainous regions of western Pa due to orographic enhancement. Clouds will be slow to clear on Friday as anticyclonic flow remains aloft. By Saturday though, the area of high pressure should gain enough influence to clear out the sky. Expect temperatures to remain slightly below normal.

Long term

During the second half of the weekend into the beginning of next week, expect a broad surface high to keep the weather tranquil for the entire state of Pennsylvania. The east remains under a weak trough in the upper levels which will keep temperatures from rebounding too much. Yet another piece of energy comes through the flow towards the middle of next week, which will provide the trigger for the next chance of rain.  

Steven Fuhrman