Next 3-4 Days Look Peaceful...

Temperatures today are running 10-15 degrees cooler than yesterday and it's a reminder that we are still in the first week of January.  Even though we are gaining 1-2 minutes of extra light each day, that low sun angle makes heating difficult.  We need another 6-8 weeks before the sun angle gets high enough to really make a difference.

Low clouds linger over much of Louisiana and that's reflected in the 40s to our north & west.  Where the sun has been out most of the day, temperatures have warmed to near 60.

Found another one of those interesting features on this afternoon's satellite view.  Yesterday I mentioned the snows in Texas & Oklahoma.  I drew in where the low clouds linger and you can see the snow on the ground to the SW of the cloud cover.  But wait, what or why is there a gap in the snowfall?   Any ideas?  I have no clue.

There is a weak system coming out of the NE Gulf that will bring some snow/rain up the East coast for tomorrow and Monday.  The coldest air is over the Great Lakes, but it's not brutally cold.  Notice all the higher dew points (60s) have been swept to our east and we have a much drier feel over us.  With bright sunshine the next 2-3 days, if you're dressed for it, we ill be enjoying some of the best weather in the nation.   But don't think Winter is done.

 When I was working, I always watched the airmass up over Alaska & northern Canada.   When they got super cold, it was time to pay attention to the upper air pattern over the lower 48.  As you can see, Alaska is back to 35-40 below zero with central Canada 30-35 below.  The typical "rule of thumb" was that in 10-14 days, the super cold air would move southward into the lower 48.   Didn't always work out that way, but often it did.   It won't happen this week as even the North Shore should stay slightly above freezing.  I have all my potted plants back out side with no signs of a freeze for at least the next 2 weeks.  Enjoy your weekend and Go Saints!   Stay tuned!