Satellite view of the US. Note the circular shape to th clouds located over Mississippi and Alabama. This is a potent upper-level low pressure system, whose counter-clockwise circulation is drawing warm moist air up the eastern seaboard. The brighter yellows and oranges over the Mid-Atlantic show the higher cloud tops associated with thunderstorms as the warm moist air collides with the colder air over New England. Click to enlarge.

More Rain for Us, While Forest Fires Rage on the West Coast.....

A gloomy day across southern New England as a frontal boundry stalled in our vicinity has been a focusing point for clouds and showers to persist throughout the day. Helping to pump in the moisture is a potent upper level low pressure system located over the Southeast. This system is drawing warm, moist air up from the Gulf of Mexico. As it collides into the cooler pool of air above us, showers are the result. Down in the Mid-Atlantic, they are even seeing some strong thunderstorms as a result.

Meanwhile, across the country, wildfires rage on in California. For a link to some amazing video (can you say a "tornadic firestorm?" click here:
http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/weather/2007/10/24/lklv.firenado.cnn

But for us, we have a break in the rain for early afternoon/evening. Unfortunately, tonight's Sox game could end up on the wet side as those showers slide NE up the coast.

As a result, tomorrow is not looking as nice as previously thought, as clouds linger through the morning. Hopefully a small bulge of high pressure to our north will help to clear us out by afternoon.

However, our old friend the upper-level low will play into our forecast again for the weekend. As it meanders up through the Ohio Valley, it will throw more rain and showers our way for the weekend. Oh well, you can't win 'em all.......

On a bright note, taking a peek towards next Tuesday, Halloween Night looks to be on the dry side for the trick or treaters, with highs in the mid 50s and lows in the mid 30s. We'll have a better picture for the big day as we get closer to it. And now for the forecast....

Lowell Regional Forecast

This afternoon: Cloudy with scattered sprinkles. Heavier showers moving in after towards late evening. Temperatures holding steady in the mid 50s.

Tonight: Cloudy. Rain and showers early, tapering off by morning. Lows near 44.

Tomorrow: Cloudy to start, with decreasing clouds by afternoon. Patchy morning fog. Highs near 61.

Thursday Night: Clear and cool as we get a break imbetween systems. Low near 36.

Friday : Increasing clouds, with showers possible by evening. High 59.

Saturday: Cloudy with showers. We could see a batch of heavier showers approach the region during the overnight. High 61

Sunday: Mostly cloudy with a continued chance for showers, especially early in the day. High 63

Monday: Sunny and cool. Highs in the lower 50s.

For WUML Lowell 91.5 FM this is Umass Lowell student meteorologist and WUML weather director John Webster.