Monday, September 28, 2009

Blustery Monday

A low-pressure system tracking through the Great Lakes today and into New England will bring blustery winds to the Commonwealth from the Southwest at 15-25mph. Here is a snapshot of the surface at 2PM this afternoon:
The red shade is the warm air ahead of the cold front, associated with the surface low pressure in the Great Lakes. The pressure gradient associated with this low is pretty tight, which will lead to the sometimes blustery winds in Central Virginia today at 15-25mph. The strongest winds, though, will be closer to the Low, where Wind Advisories are in effect today across the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes. Winds in the warned regions will be 25-45mph, with some higher gusts possible.
In addition to the wind, there will be a slight chance for a few late afternoon and evening showers and storms east of I-95 and into Southeast Virginia. Because of all the wind shear, though, and the drier air rapidly moving into the state, storm chances are low.
As this system tracked through the Northern Plains Sunday, here are some of the max wind gusts reported:
North Dakota:
Dickinson 59 MPH
Hettinger 58MPH
Killdeer 56MPH
St Anthony 54MPH
Garrison 53MPH
Jamestown 53MPH
Williston 51MPH
Minot 51MPH
Watford city 50MPH
Bismarck 8N 50MPH
Minot AFB 49MPH
Bismarck Airport 48MPH
South Dakota:
Chamberlain 55 MPH
Huron 53 MPH
Madison 53 MPH
Yankton 48 MPH
Sioux Falls 47 MPH
Brookings 46 MPH
Mitchell 46 MPH
Minnesota:
Windom 45 MPH
Slayton 45 MPH
Marshall 44 MPH
Worthington 43 MPH
Pipestone 43 MPH
Jackson 39 MPH
Luverne 39 MPH
Iowa:
Spencer 46 MPH
Storm Lake 45 MPH
Le Mars 44 MPH
Orange City 44 MPH
Sheldon 43 MPH
Cherokee 40 MPH