DAYS 1-5 (MAY 7-11)
Upper level low pressure continues to impact our weather, but there will be a different overall feel today as we’re now in a warmer southerly air flow. We’ll also see breaks in the clouds and partial sun but this will fuel some convective showers and a few thunderstorms that can move across the region from mid afternoon through early evening. Activity can occur anywhere but will favor areas north of I-90, from west to east, and can produce brief downpours. A surface low associated with the upper low will wander eastward and we’ll find ourselves in slightly drier air behind it on Thursday. During that day, the shower chance will be minimal and we’ll have a northerly air flow, albeit light. But we’re not completely done with the foul weather associated with our blocking pattern, and another surface low will be evolving and moving into our area for late week. I’ve been leaning toward a slightly faster evolution and timing of this system. This means that the rain chance would increase as early as Thursday evening, and then be with us mostly during the day on Friday. What happens as we get to the weekend depends on the progression of low pressure. Some guidance has it slower-moving and wet weather lasting into Saturday. Other guidance keeps the system more progressive and moves it out more quickly. Either can occur, and I’m leaning toward a split with a slight tilt toward the quicker solution. I realize this goes against the general rule of thumb for spring blocking, so yes it’s a bit of an “out on the limb” prognostication. However, if this proves to be how it does go, we’d have improvement Saturday with just a possible lingering shower, and great weather Sunday, so the weekend would turn out pretty decent.
TODAY: Clouds break for sun at times. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms mid afternoon on. Highs 58-65 South of I-90, 65-72 I-90 northward. Wind SE to S up to 10 MPH.
TONIGHT: Variably cloudy. Patchy fog. Chance of a shower. Lows 50-57. Wind variable up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY: Variably cloudy. Chance of a shower. Highs 65-72. Wind NW to N up to 10 MPH.
THURSDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Showers likely. Lows 51-58. Wind N to NE 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY: Cloudy. Rain likely. Temperatures generally steady 51-58. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
FRIDAY NIGHT: Cloudy. Chance of rain. Lows 45-52. Wind NE 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY: Mostly cloudy to partly sunny. Chance of showers. Highs 57-64. Wind NE to NW 5-15 MPH.
SATURDAY NIGHT: Partly cloudy. Lows 48-55. Wind NW up to 10 MPH.
SUNDAY: Partly sunny. Highs 65-72. Wind NW up to 10 MPH.
DAYS 6-10 (MAY 12-16)
No big changes to the previous outlook which suggests the blocking pattern reorganizes and coexists with some progression of the large scale features. This should give us a period of fair and milder weather early to mid next week before an unsettled weather threat evolves.
DAYS 11-15 (MAY 17-21)
Continuing to lean toward a hybrid partial blocking / partial progressive pattern. Overall this is a drier pattern with variable but mostly near normal temperatures, and no sharply defined weather systems in control.