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Warmer weather to arrive next week

Posted at 9:17 PM, May 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-05-06 21:17:03-04

After a cool first week of May, changing weather patterns should provide warm weather for the rest of the month.

Here's why we'll struggle to stay warm through this weekend: Another Omega Block. An Omega Block is a pattern that develops at about 18,000 feet in the atmosphere (the 500 mb pressure level). Two low pressure centers cut-off from the jet stream flow and then sit and spin over an area for days. In between, we also find a ridge of high pressure. Its stalled out too. If you under the persistent high pressure, like Ohio was a few weeks ago, you'll enjoy dry & mild weather. But if you're near or under the stalled low pressure centers, then your weather is often cool and unsettled. See the image below. Notice the stalled low pressures (blue) over the west and near the East Coast. The stalled high pressure lies across the Plains (orange). This pattern resembles the Greek Letter Omega.

In this case, we are close to the stalled low pressure between the Appalachian Mountains the East Coast. Under the low, at the surface, we'll likely be battling a few weak cold fronts and winds mainly out of the north through early next Monday. Even if we warm up briefly, we'll cool down again quickly. That's how the pattern goes.

But, there's change in the air. Notice the 500 mb pattern (BELOW) for next Tuesday. The Omega Block decays, allowing for high pressure and much warmer air to finally move into Northern Ohio! And, what's more: longer range guidance models suggest this warmer pattern will persist for much of the rest of May!

That means: Short sleeve Weather is coming...soon! Starting next week!