Arctic Chill Griping Much Of US
The Arctic blast we have been following continues to power through the Plains and Midwest with temperatures dropping into the single digits and teens. It’s very clear where the cold air is located by analyzing the latest infrared satellite image and 24 hour temperature changes.
1) Bitter cold Arctic air racing through the northern Plains and Midwest. The air is cold enough to trick the satellite into thinking there should be cloud cover as you typically need to get high enough in the atmosphere to see temperatures this cold. This loop shows how the cold is locked in place and the clouds move by watching the yellow colors.
2) The leading edge of the jet stream is spinning up a fairly deep cyclone that has been tracking across the Midwest with snow and will race away from the US. over the next 24 hours
3) A weak weather system over the southwestern US is leading to valley rains and mountain snows with cold rain and pockets of snow and ice over the southern Plains where it is falling into the advancing cold air.
4) High pressure ridging into the southeastern US will lead to mild conditions and areas of showers and storms along the advancing cold front.
Infrared Satellite Image:
24 hour temperature changes compared to yesterday. It’s quite clear where the cold air is located and where warm southerly winds have bumped up temperatures in the eastern US.
