Just caught a good example in the VA area of conditions that reflect two of my staple bullet points in synoptic setups such as the one we are seeing today. (*Heads up for fluky conditions / shifty directions as each synoptic feature changes position / gains and or loses influence) and (*Showers and or thunderstorms possible which can induce some instability / inconsistency into the winds)
First, take a look at the observations from 9:10am, 9:20am and 9:36am. Large variations in speed and direction can be seen in a very small area. First thing to check is the radar… yup a small storm did dissipate overhead with more on the way from the W.
However, the radar did not quite tell the whole story. Surface map check;) Sure enough there is a center of low pressure and a boundary overhead. More consistent W / NW winds are expected this afternoon once the coastal low forms and makes it far enough out into the Atlantic.
Prepared by WeatherFlow Meteorologist Dave Breckenridge