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Forecast Discussion:
Very nice niceness continues. Figure 1 is the surface map for midday today and high pressure dominates. The dry front to the north will cool temperatures a bit on Monday, but nothing too notable.
Note: I'll be on a big family vacation at the end of the month. There will be no updates to this column for the period October 26-Nov 4. I'll probably create a page of links to my favorite forecast pages in my absence.
The longer range forecast:
Our approaching trough, though still weak, seems to be grabbing some moisture from the tropics and tropical systems (like Willa) that will increase rain chances. Tuesday into Wednesday looks just a 'bit' more moist now (Figure 2). Don't worry, extreme niceness will return right after that.
The 500mb map for today (Sunday) shows the warm ridge overhead and Willa beginning to send moisture north (Figure 3). Figure 4 is the upper-air pattern Wednesday a.m. with the trough coming in from the west. Willa is closer and more moisture is being temporarily pulled north. The forecast mid-atmospheric moisture map (Figure 5) shows this plume of water that will make cloudy skies and 'some' precipitation fall (though snow levels should remain around 9000 feet). Enjoy this nice week!
