Blog Article
Mother's Day Weather: PNW Streak & Perfect Midwest Thursday
The Pacific Northwest enjoys a 13-day nice weather streak for Mother's Day, while the Midwest prepares for a rare, perfect spring day on Thursday.
A Pacific Northwest Mother's Day Streak and a Perfect Thursday for the Midwest
Happy Mother's Day, y'all. If you have been keeping an eye on the radar, you know the southern tier of the country is dealing with some intense weather today, from severe storms in Texas to heavy rain along the Gulf Coast. But if you live in the Northwest or the Midwest, you are sitting under a massive dome of high pressure that is serving up some of the most comfortable air of the spring.
If you want to see exactly where your hometown lands today or later this week, you can always check the interactive map on our Nice Weather outlook page.
The Pacific Northwest's Incredible Run
For folks taking Mom out for brunch in Seattle, Portland, or Spokane, you have a "Beautiful" Sunday lined up. In fact, the Seattle area is currently riding a 13-day streak of nice weather. Today features highs right around 74 degrees with crisp dewpoints in the 40s and practically zero chance of rain. The only tiny knock on the forecast is a bit of a breeze and a UV index approaching 7. Make sure you grab some sunscreen if you are heading out to a trailhead or a patio this afternoon.
We are also seeing fantastic conditions stretch into the Central Plains and Midwest. Kansas City and Des Moines are both in the "Beautiful" tier today. If you are heading to the ballpark in Chicago to watch the White Sox host the Mariners, the weather is looking "Nice" with highs in the low 70s and comfortable humidity, though it will be a little breezy in the stands.
Clearing Your Calendar for Thursday
As we head through the workweek, that comfortable, dry air mass is going to slowly shift eastward. Monday and Tuesday look gorgeous for places like Indianapolis, Louisville, and Omaha. But I want to draw your attention specifically to Thursday, May 14.
Our data is highlighting a rare, top-tier "Perfect" zone setting up across the Mississippi and Ohio Valleys on Thursday. St. Louis is leading the pack with an incredible score of 89.4 out of 100, followed closely by Rockford, Peoria, and Evansville.
What makes Thursday so special? The pressure gradient is finally going to relax. For the first half of the week, persistent 13 to 15 mph winds are keeping a lot of places from reaching that perfect score. By Thursday, the winds in the Midwest drop below 10 mph. Combine that with crystal clear skies featuring only 9 percent cloud cover, afternoon highs settling around 76 degrees, and crisp dewpoints in the 50s. That is a flawless spring day.
If you live in Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, or western Tennessee, Thursday is the day to schedule a long walk, a bike ride, or an evening cookout.
Late Week West Coast Warmth
By Friday and Saturday, the best weather shifts back out to California. Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento will lock into the "Beautiful" category as we head into next weekend, with highs in the mid-70s to near 80 degrees and completely dry conditions.
Enjoy the sunshine where you can find it today, and stay weather aware if you are down south.