CURRENTLY AT THE CAL U WEATHER CENTER, THE TEMPERATURE IS 73 F, WITH A DEW POINT OF 47 F.  WINDS ARE SLIGHT AND VARIABLE.  PRESSURE IS 1014 MB AND DROPPING.

UPPER LEVEL ANALYSIS SHOWS A PATTERN OF TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL US AND RIDGES ON BOTH COASTS THROUGHOUT ALL OF THE MANDATORY HEIGHT LEVELS. AT 250 MB HEIGHTS, THE TROUGH IS CENTERED OVER THE ROCKIES.  STRONG WINDS OF 140-160 KNOTS CAN BE FOUND FROM TX TO MN.  AT 700 MB HEIGHT, THE TROUGH HAS EXPANDED TO COVER THE MIDDLE US.  AT 800 MB HEIGHT, THE LINE OF STRONG WINDS HAVE SHIFTED EASTWARD.  AT 850 MB HEIGHT, A THETA-E RIDGE COINCIDES WITH STRONG CONVERGENCE ALONG WHERE STORMS WILL LOCATED TODAY.

SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS CLOUD COVER OVER THE VAST MAJORITY OF THE US, AND WELL AS COLD CLOUD TOPS AND HIGH AMOUNTS OF WATER VAPOR ASSOCIATED WITH THE LP THAT STRETCHES FROM TX TO MI.  SURFACE ANALYSIS REVEALS A 990 LP OVER MN, A 1024 HP MOVING INTO NV, AND A 1026 HP MOVING OFF THE NE COAST.  AGAIN, STRONG CONVERGENCE AND A THETA-E RIDGE CAN BE FOUND ALONG THE STORM LINE.

MODELS ARE IN GENERAL GOOD AGREEMENT.  AS AN LP MOVES TO THE NORTH OF THE FA, PRECIP WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA SATURDAY.  WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL ACCOMPANY THE MOISTURE BEING BROUGHT IN FROM THE GULF. A HP WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA ON SUNDAY, AND WILL BRING A BRIEF RESPITE FROM THE RAIN.  AFTER A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIP ON TUESDAY, COLDER BUT DRY WEATHER SHOULD REMAIN IN THE REGION.  THE ONLY DISAGREEMENT FROM THE MODELS WAS THE UKMET, WHICH SHOWS THE PRECIP STAYING THROUGH SUNDAY.