Rainy bookends to this week

The week ahead in Mecklenburg county will start wet, dry out for most of the work week, and then turn wet again by next weekend. Today - Super Bowl Sunday - will be very damp thanks to low pressure developing along a cold front stalling just to the south of the state line. Temperatures which began the day in the low to mid-50s won't budge much and will be accompanied by cool easterly breezes.

The moisture which is inundating the region today is being transported by the subtropical jet stream as shown in the annotation on this graphic:

This upper level "river" of air originates over the Pacific Ocean, streams across central America, and then over the Gulf of Mexico. It steers low pressure systems which form and track northeastward along its path.

Clouds and rain will continue tonight through Monday, with another inch or more adding to current totals in local gauges. Tomorrow's outdoor conditions will be a carbon copy of today's, with similar temperatures and easterly winds. Then, as low pressure pushes across Southside Virginia Monday night there could be a rumble of thunder accompanied by gusty winds.

Sunshine looks to return to Mecklenburg county Tuesday afternoon and continue throughout the rest of the work week. Temperatures will be at or a bit above February averages.