IEM Daily Feature
Friday, 04 December 2015

850 Warmth

Posted: 04 Dec 2015 05:36 AM

After a stretch of chilly weather and some snow, temperatures have once again returned to above average levels. The temperatures we experience at the ground level of the atmosphere are heaviest influenced by the air that can be found a few thousand feet above us. An important vertical level that meteorologists look at to help guide temperature forecasts is found at 850 hPa. This level of the atmosphere is sampled twice a day by weather balloons and the featured chart displays the climatology at this level from the Omaha balloon launch site. This year's time series is shown as well. We have not seen very cold conditions this fall with a majority of the site spent above average and currently temperatures have warmed well above freezing which bodes well for warm temperatures for us at the surface too.

Voting:
Good = 28
Bad = 19
Abstain = 14