In its seasonal battle with winter, summer has launched a powerful invasion. Over the past 24 hours, strong southwesterly winds have raked the Heartland, pushing afternoon highs near or above 70 degrees F. After a mild, nearly snowless winter, we are now getting an early taste of summer; perhaps spring will be especially brief this year.
Of course, such intense winds and heat in March usually signify an approaching cold front and this, indeed, is the case. The winds are generated by a combination of high pressure to our east and low pressure along an atmospheric trough, to our west; as the latter pushes across Missouri tonight, thunderstorms will ignite and, by morning, the air will be chilly once again, exacerbated by a northwest wind behind the front.
Despite summer's early victory, the war will continue. Winter may have given us a break this year but we should not underestimate its staying power. An unexpected dip in the jet stream could open the door for its return, complete with heavy snow or, worse yet, an ice storm. Its white flag of surrender won't appear for at least another six weeks.
