March like weather in January

Record highs got smashed today in the upper midwest. In some areas by 10 degrees or more. Check this out below from the National Weather Service office in Des Moines, Iowa!

Here is a 4pm eastern national surface chart. This map looks like late March, early April vs the

first week in January.

Temperatures out to the west of the Great lakes were in the 50s/60s. That is coming for the lakes on Friday. With some modification due to the snow pack in West Michigan. But I think highs in the mid/upper 40s and low 50s should be reasonable for Friday afternoon temperatures.

Only things that may hinder the warming on Friday is that we do have a nice inversion layer setting up roughly from 875mb down to the surface (Circled in the hot pink). There will be some moisture streaming in on a 15mph southerly wind late Thursday into Friday. Not so concerned about fog forming Late Thu/Friday. But stratus clouds could be a possibly early on Friday and Limit the heating into the 40s. Along with a low January sun angle not helping us much either.

Saturday through next Tuesday looks quiet with above normal temperatures. Long range models do indicate a "possible" major pattern change for the middle to later part of next week. 1-11-12 to 1-13-12 ish. With in the cards another good rain event or possibly a snow event.

Models Below for the middle of next week.

This is the Canadian model valid at 12z Wed. Right before a possible phase in the middle of next week. Then a trough/arctic invasion behind the system.

Here is the Euro showing a possible app runner with strong arctic invasion behind it.

Finally the GFS showing a bomb off the east coast with an arctic invasion behind the system.

Stay Tuned!!