Windy Conditions Across Much of the Country

We are expecting some high winds to envelope the country this New Years Eve, with continuation of these winds tomorrow.  Let's get started!

This map will update with time

In the above map, we have the alerts from the National Weather Service, or NWS for short.  Wind alerts are these two colors:

High Wind Warnings are found across the Western Plains, and in a little pocket in Eastern Iowa.  Wind Advisories cover essentially the entire Midwest.  This image will explain:

These two images can become very important for nowcasting where the winds will be, and why.  On the left, we have current sea level pressure.  This is what your local weatherman shows you all the time.  It is useful for delineating where high and low pressure systems are.  Another less-known aspect to the pressure level is that when we see a tighter gradient of isobars, or the lines that show the pressure, stronger winds tend to occur.  I mentioned this in my morning video.  The second image on the right shows the pressure change that locations have experienced over the past three hours.  This image shows where pressure systems are going, and whether or not they'll strengthen.  In that image, we can tell that the high pressure system in Idaho will move down to the Wyoming/Nebraska border, strengthening in the process.  We can also tell that the low pressure system will move into Missouri and stay at a similar strength.  Thus, we will have a strong high pressure system coupled with a strong low pressure system.  This will create confluent flow, like this:

In low pressure systems, the winds flow counterclockwise around the low.  In high pressure systems, the winds will flow clockwise.  The stronger the pressure system, the more tightly packed the isobars, and the stronger the winds.  When you get a strong high pressure and a strong low pressure parked next to each other, their common side will have winds going the same direction, thus increasing the wind speed.  Add in the fact that the winds are strong already due to the strength of these pressure systems, we're talking about some pretty strong winds.  That's what's happening across the Plains today.  That's all I have for today.  Make sure to like our Facebook page and subscribe to our brand new YouTube channel.  Stay safe, and stay tuned!