2/20 – The Chief’s “Very Warm Lundi Gras” Monday Morning Forecast

Today is a continuation of a steep temperature moderation period that started yesterday as a strong upper level high pressure builds in over the Gulf Coast behind an exiting trough. Temps jumped up 10 degrees from Saturday to Sunday and will do the same again today, jumping another 10 degrees. Max temps should be touching mid to upper 70s by the afternoon, which is already several degrees above normal. The upper high pressure centered near Cuba may flatten slightly today as a broad weakness slides east across the country. However, the base of the trough is so far north that it won’t produce any sensible changes to weather locally. We should still be on the warming trend going into Tuesday with morning lows in the mid-60s with high temps bumping up to around 80. No rain expected through this period.

Models have trended further north and weaker with the fronts forecast to eject northeast out of Mexico on Wednesday. High-pressure to the SE will bring back a blocking pattern to the SE as warm and humid air mass from the GOM will continue to pump in. This will also continually warm temperatures to near 80 degrees later in the week. Wednesday through Friday could bring a few showers to the area but no significant rainfall is expected through the long term.