We should be experiencing temperatures in the 90's during this part of July; however, we're about 5 to 10 degrees below average, and we'll have a few more days of this to enjoy! The dewpoints have also been lowered, creating less of a heat index. So what's behind these unseasonably cool conditions?

A significant trough has developed over the east coast, which in turn, has created an area of high pressure at the surface over the Great Lakes. Look at the picture above. Winds aloft that converge represent an increased density within the atmosphere. A higher density translates to higher pressure at the surface. Imagine somebody pushing their weight down upon your head, in essence, that's what's happening where air converges high above. Our weather at the surface is directly controlled by the winds aloft!

Winds around the surface high travel clockwise, shutting off the Gulf of Mexico, and allowing temperatures to stay slightly below average. We're tapping into cooler air from the NE, and that's helping to take the edge off of the summer.