WKU Meteorology

October is a month of building arctic cold across the prairies of Canada, so when zonal flow across the northern United States persists for the first 20 days of the month as we have seen thus far, eventually the dam breaks and the arctic air must be discharged south. When that happens, you typically see the type of wild weather headed for the Mid-South over the next two weeks. Continue reading →

Current conditions show the slow-moving storm that brought heavy snow to the northern Rockies this past weekend now located over Ontario. A secondary low has developed along the cold front and is located over the Midwest. Two vorticity maxima can be seen in those same areas that are associated with the surface lows. The strong ridge over the SE has kept much of the eastern United States dry and well-above normal recently, but the approaching system should bring an end to the 80+ degree weather, for many cases until next spring. Continue reading →

The Mid-South will have two good rain chances over the next 10 days. The big question will be whether the 2nd of the two rains is a drought-denter or a drought-buster. Continue reading →

After the first real fall-like air mass of the season, a split-flow pattern will return to the Mid-South and temperatures will once again warm above normal. Rain chance look slim until the weekend of 10/12, when the first big winter storm of the season may wallop the northern Rockies and northern Plains. Continue reading →

The AMS Board for Private Sector Meteorologists (BPSM) has reached across private industry to connect a cross-section of professionals working in private sector positions related to meteorology willing to volunteer their time to work with students interested in learning more about the private sector. Continue reading →

Model trends show that Tropical Storm Kyle appears to be headed for Nova Scotia rather than New England, which will set a chain of events in motion that will diminish the chance for rain in the Mid-South next week. However, chilly air is still expected to arrive in time for Fall Break next week. Continue reading →

Aside from the gusty winds from the remnants of Hurricane Ike a week ago, September has been a dull month weather-wise for the Mid-South with a split flow pattern that has kept Kentucky comfortably warm and dry. The good news is, a series of events in the southwestern Atlantic is shaping up to create a dramatic change in the synoptic pattern. Continue reading →

Since my last post in eary August, the weather over the Mid-South has been typical of August — Boring!! However, the models are showing signs of an active pattern for much of the eastern United States over the next couple of weeks. Fall is here! Continue reading →

The last post mentioned that the heat wave this week would be short-lived due to a negative NAO that would develop mid-week. This negative NAO will now combine with a negative EPO and positive PNA to bring an “Autumn preview” to the Great Lakes and a welcome cool snap to the Mid-South, along with a good chance of some precipitation. Continue reading →

A nasty 594 ridge is poised to bring the Mid-South close to the 100F mark this weekend. Will tropical thunderstorms from the remnants of Dolly keep us from triple digits? Continue reading →