Well we've finally made it to severe wx season and what better way to kick it off with the opportunity for convection...not talking about severe convection unfortunately, however, perhaps some gusty shower or t'storms with potential for small hail or grauple. But since this is a specific event a separate thread for that will come shortly (as in soon)!!
Anyways, the April pattern has been nothing short of miserable...chilly, rainy, snow (well not miserable), windy, yuck. There are indications, however, this pattern may finally relax and we may introduce more of a zonal flow across the country. If anything, hopefully this leads to more seasonable temperatures.
Perhaps the biggest thing to watch moving through the month will be opportunities for severe wx. Signals in the long range keep emerging strong ridging across the west. Obviously this isn't good for severe wx aspects in the central U.S. but this can shift favorable conditions for severe wx farther east...not necessarily into our region, but OV, mid-Atlantic, and if the proper pattern, into the Northeast. If anything, perhaps this can provide us with some opportunities for some NW flow events or some EML advection...this of course would have to occur via EML air becoming entrained in the exit region of the ridge and traversing through the upper-Midwest into Canada and then from southeast Canada into our area. I think too these EML's may be a bit easier to advect in than ones that pinch off from the SW U.S. b/c those have to traverses through the Plains and OV and stand a better chance at being moderating from warm/moist Gulf air surging northward.
Actually having a ridge setting up in the west for May makes the weather geek in me happy as I was going to go to OK the end of May guhhhhhhhh