Once every year or so the remnants of a tropical storm will make it into the Great Lake region. It usually helps to have a ridging pattern that pulls the storm north, sometime in fall when the hurricane season is peaking. This year we appear to be off to an early start.
PWAT values today into Wednesday
We are not expecting tropical storm force wind gusts or flooding rain. The extra moisture moving north however will fuel showers and storms across Wisconsin. As I watch it rain, I will be thinking about how far that moisture has traveled to get here.
250mb upper level wind pattern.
Alberto is being allowed north as the upper level ridge driving the hot weather Memorial Day weekend departs to the northeast. It will merge with a low pressure system heading east across the US/CAN border Wednesday night. The polar jet remains abnormally far north for this time of year.
Widespread Rain
When Alberto arrives on Wednesday in will bring the best chance for widespread rain Wisconsin has seen in awhile. Rainfall amounts are not out of the ordinary. Up to one inch is expected by Wednesday night.
NAM GIF loop through Thursday morning.
Another chance for rain Thursday. The rain will help cool off the region which has been running near record high values since Saturday.
5 Day forecast for Wisconsin Rapids.