Blog Article
Perfect Weather Glides Across the Northern US This Week
A massive high-pressure system brings a three-day run of crisp, Perfect weather from the Pacific Northwest through the Great Lakes and Northeast.
A Three-Day Tour of Perfect Weather Across the Northern Tier
Severe weather and heavy rain are grabbing the headlines across the central and southern US today, but just to the north, the atmosphere is offering up a massive sigh of relief. A stubborn area of high pressure is acting like a shield for the northern tier of the country, and it is bringing a three-day road trip of "Perfect" weather from coast to coast.
If you want to see exactly where your town lands on the map this week, you can always check out the interactive tool on our Nice Weather outlook page.
Monday: The Pacific Northwest and Upper Midwest
We are starting the week with some truly exceptional air in place. Today, Portland, Oregon, and Detroit, Michigan, are tied for the number one spot on our Nice Weather list, both scoring a 92.0 and easily hitting our "Perfect" category.
What makes it so good? It is all about the dry air. Dewpoints in the Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest are sitting in the low to mid-40s today. That means zero mugginess. If you are heading to Target Field in Minneapolis tonight to watch the Twins host the White Sox, the weather is going to be spectacular. Nearby Bloomington is sitting at number eight on our national list today with high temperatures in the mid-70s and basically a zero percent chance of rain.
Tuesday: The Ohio Valley Takes Over
By Tuesday, that high-pressure system slides a bit further east. The core of the most comfortable air will settle right over the central Great Lakes and the Ohio Valley.
Indianapolis jumps to the number one spot nationwide on Tuesday with a score of 92.0, joined by Milwaukee, Cleveland, and Pittsburgh. You can expect plentiful sunshine, light breezes around 10 mph, and afternoon highs hovering in the low to mid-70s. It is the kind of weather where you want to leave the windows open all day.
Wednesday: Northeast and Mid-Atlantic
By the middle of the week, the "Omega block" pattern that has been stuck over the country will finally break down, allowing all this stable, dry air to build across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Upstate New York and Pennsylvania are going to see some of the best conditions of the entire week on Wednesday. Buffalo, Rochester, and Syracuse all make the top 10 list for the day. This is incredibly good timing for the Belmont Stakes Racing Festival, which kicks off up in Saratoga Springs on Wednesday. You can expect high temperatures right around 73 degrees, crisp dewpoints in the 50s, and virtually no chance of rain.
Why Not Pristine?
You might be wondering why these days are capping out at "Perfect" instead of hitting our ultra-rare "Pristine" category. The main limiting factor is simply the sun. It is early June, and the UV index across these northern zones is sitting right around 7.1 to 7.5. Because you need to pack the sunscreen to stay safe outdoors, our algorithm places a hard cap on the scores, keeping them just shy of Pristine.
The Southern California Streak Continues
We also have to give a quick shoutout to Southern California. While they are not grabbing the number one spots this week, cities like Lancaster, Palmdale, and Chino Hills have quietly built up a 22-day streak of "Nice" or "Beautiful" weather. The dry, stable air out west continues to provide incredibly reliable outdoor conditions for anyone planning trail hikes or patio dinners.