Friday, November 22, 2013

inversion, high clouds, etc... (pm.22.nov.13)>

Friday's stats:

Low temp: 48.7F (9.3C)
High temp: 58.5F (14.7C)
Rainfall: none

It is hazy with a few thin patches of high clouds scattered around the area just after sunset this evening.  Although we could easily call it a 'mostly sunny' day, there was a period of fairly extensive high cloudiness for a couple of hours this morning, and the visibility was reduced due to haze for much of this afternoon into the evening.  Temperatures were slightly milder this afternoon than the last two days, while the humidity fluctuated rather dramatically -- from around 25% early this morning to just over 50% during the middle of the afternoon.

There is a lot of warming occurring in the mid- and upper-levels of the atmosphere right now, as a strong ridge of high pressure pumps up across the northwest one-third of India.  With cooler air trapped in the lower levels, we're again seeing the effects of a temperature inversion, with that haze, smoke, and whatever other kinds of pollution unable to escape upward.  I think the warming will translate to our elevation and below as well over the course of the weekend -- through occasional waves of high cloudiness may hinder the sun's effect on the warming air mass.

The high clouds are associated with a strong storm system centered over northeastern Iran this evening.  This system won't ever make it here though, as it is forecast to lift northeastward and eventually northward as it weakens and blows itself out.  Our big challenge this weekend will be the anticipation of how extensive any cloudiness might be, and how that will affect our temps -- but rain and/or snow potential still looks very low anywhere in Himachal Pradesh.

Keep up with CURRENT FORECAST details on the tab above.