The storm system that has been plaguing the West Coast for the last few days has finally moved east, after bringing unseasonably heavy rains and mountain snows to much of California. Now, a much different weather pattern is developing. The system responsible for the wet weather was an upper-level trough (lower pressure) - this is being replaced by an upper-level ridge (higher pressure). These system are apparent in this 500 mb model forecast map for tonight. The upper-level trough is over the four-corners region while an upper-level ridge is along the immediate West Coast. I'll get into more detail about these types of systems in a future post, but for now, suffice it to say that upper-level ridges are usually associated with "nicer" weather. This ridge is forecast to strengthen over California right into the end of next week. This will shunt weather systems over the Pacific northward into the northwestern U.S. and Canada. And in the Bay Area, our air flow will become more offshore instead of onshore - this will largely prevent coastal stratus/fog from forming, resulting in nice weather even near the ocean. Highs this weekend will be in the 60s to near 70ยบ, and gradually warming into the 70s (coast/bay) and 80s (inland) by Wednesday and Thursday.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Fantastic weather ahead
The storm system that has been plaguing the West Coast for the last few days has finally moved east, after bringing unseasonably heavy rains and mountain snows to much of California. Now, a much different weather pattern is developing. The system responsible for the wet weather was an upper-level trough (lower pressure) - this is being replaced by an upper-level ridge (higher pressure). These system are apparent in this 500 mb model forecast map for tonight. The upper-level trough is over the four-corners region while an upper-level ridge is along the immediate West Coast. I'll get into more detail about these types of systems in a future post, but for now, suffice it to say that upper-level ridges are usually associated with "nicer" weather. This ridge is forecast to strengthen over California right into the end of next week. This will shunt weather systems over the Pacific northward into the northwestern U.S. and Canada. And in the Bay Area, our air flow will become more offshore instead of onshore - this will largely prevent coastal stratus/fog from forming, resulting in nice weather even near the ocean. Highs this weekend will be in the 60s to near 70ยบ, and gradually warming into the 70s (coast/bay) and 80s (inland) by Wednesday and Thursday.
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