Rain showers and some light snow is due to hit the Midwest tonight and tomorrow. The pressure trough associated with these storms droops down over the Midwest and upper Mississippi Valley, causing stronger winds over the area. However, these storms miss the Southern Plains leaving the South primarily dry for Tuesday. Rain and mountain snow also pinpoints the Northwest Tuesday with winds gusting up to 60 mph on the leeside of the Rocky Mountains. The following graphic depicts the pressure trough at 925mb over the Midwest, valid Tuesday at noon to show you where to expect breezy conditions in the Southern Midwest and Ohio Valley. The winds at the surface will not be as strong as the upper-level map displays, but it can give you a better idea of where the stronger winds will be located.
In Champaign-Urbana, however, we’re in store for a nice warm up throughout the week! For Tuesday, we can expect a high of 45°F with a morning low of 33°F. As a system advances over the Midwest tomorrow, we’re going to see some morning rain showers and overcast skies. As we move into the afternoon hours the rain and clouds will subside leaving the remainder of the day partly cloudy. Tomorrow, expect breezy conditions with a SW wind at 15-22mph and gusts possible from 30-40mph. Don’t be discouraged as the mid-week slump approaches on Wednesday because the warm temperatures will lift your spirits! On Wednesday, we will have a high near 53°F with a low of 32°F in the morning. Winds will come from the SW at 8-16mph with mostly cloudy skies throughout the day. There will be a small chance of rain in the afternoon and into the evening hours, but I wouldn’t change my plans over it.
On Tuesday the actual high reached 48°F just 3 degrees warmer than my forecast, while my low was just 1 degree shy of the actual low of 34°F. The rain showers predicted brought down .1" of rain keeping the morning sky overcast. Winds were indeed from the SW, but the average wind speeds were not as strong as I thought with an average wind speed of 14.9 mph. My predicted high of 53°F , was just 2 degrees off of the high of 55°F, while the low was just as I forecasted at 32°F . I was correct with forecasting the winds from the SW, but the average winds were lower than I had expected at 8.9 mph. The minimal chance of rain I mentioned also did not occur.
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