After the oppressively hot and humid end to July, August has started on a bit of a cooler note. Only one day so far has reached above the "average" high, with Tuesday reaching 85°. Part of the reason for this subtly cooler stretch has been the pattern aloft.
A Northwest flow has been the dominant feature in the jet stream, resulting in more frequent rain chances and not nearly as much heat and humidity. This type of pattern typically keeps the warmest air locked up over the Southern Plains and Southwest with more prolonged heat below that ridge. On the outer edge, we have frequent waves bring us more chances for rain.
This pattern looks to persist awhile longer into mid-August, as backed up by the Climate Prediction Center outlooks. The outline of that Northwest flow looks to keep subtly cooler than average temperatures along the Great Lakes and Northeastern United States, while most of the country experiences more heat.
Weather systems like to travel along the edge of this pattern, bringing more frequent rain chances along with it. Overall, we might see a little more rainfall than typical between the 11th-15th, similar to the on and off showers we have seen over the last few days.
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