Monday, August 20, 2007
Action Day?: No
Temperature: Upper 70s
Short-Term Discussion: On Monday, expect cloudy skies to persist as a warm front off to our west edges closer to the region. In advance of the warm front, we should see rain showers develop. Some of these rain showers could make their way into our region during the day. Overall, air temperatures should increase slightly, with highs ranging in the upper 70s. Ozone and PM 2.5 concentrations are likely to increase slightly as well, as dewpoint temperatures begin to creep up. The main pollutant to watch will PM 2.5, but with low precursor pollutants across the region, expect for levels to average in the good (GREEN) range. Ozone will also remain in the good (GREEN) range thanks to the cloud cover and increased threat of an afternoon shower.
Extended: As we take a peek into this week, we notice that after a cool start to the week, conditions will warm up nicely. The main weather changer will come in the form of a warm front passage early in the week. Not only will we see warmer temperatures but air quality levels are likely to increase as well. Here is how things are shaping up… As we start off the week, we expect a round of rain to push through the region as a warm front makes its way from west to east through our area. This warm front is associated with a larger scale system developing across the Midwestern US. Once this front passes off to our north, we expect the warmer and more humid conditions to make a return to the region. As a result, air quality levels should also increase back into at least the moderate range. By the end of the week, this system from the Midwestern US should move into our region, delivering another round of rain before it pushes off to our east. On the backside of this system, another area of high pressure should build in across the Midwest and drop in a reinforcing shot of cooler and drier air to the region. It will be at this time that air quality levels fall back into the good range.
