WesternPacificWeather.com

NWPAC outlook, 18 FEB

Small surges of cooler air continue to propagate across the north region, while temperatures across the central warm up just a bit ahead of a slight cool-down this weekend. The south continues to bake in the late winter sun, and the tropics are damp, but mostly quiet in terms of significant activity. 

NORTH

Temperatures are mixed across the north region, as cooler air infiltrates portions of Mongolia and northern China behind a frontal system, while locations to the east and south warm up a bit ahead of the incoming air mass. Conditions are mostly fair across the north region, as the frontal system that is passing through is relatively dry at the surface. The cooler air mass will press on through the entirety of the region over the next couple of days, bringing slightly cooler, but seasonable, temperatures to most locales.

CENTRAL

Temperatures across the central region are warming up ahead of the next frontal system and cold air mass to the north. The cooler air will start to sweep down into the region this weekend, bringing temperatures down to more seasonable levels for the late winter season. Southeastern China and Taiwan will see clouds and rain today as high pressure to the north pushes moisture into the area from the east, however, most other locations across the region will see just a few clouds. The newly-developing surge I spoke of yesterday is bringing some strong winds to portions of western China, which will continue as the new air mass builds up prior to passing through next week.

 SOUTH

Temperatures across Cambodia and southern Vietnam continue to stay very hot as the seasonal northeast monsoon brings in drier air to the area, clearing the skies for the increasing intensity of the afternoon sun. Eastern shorelines of Indochina and the northern Philippines will see clouds and showers and the monsoonal flow presses a shallow layer of moisture into these areas, but once lifted over coastal mountain ranges, the air dries out considerably on the lee sides, clearing the skies and warming the air. Singapore could see quite a bit of rainfall this afternoon, but all other major metropolitan locations will see fair to partly cloudy skies.

TROPICS 

The tropics remain mostly quiet in terms of significant system development, but moisture is starting to build across the region, and coupled with some weak pulses of energy sliding along the I.T.C.Z. (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) are helping to create clouds and some showers in some locales. The islands of Micronesia stand the best chance of rainfall today, as the current wave is quite elongated and not very well-defined. In the northern portions of the tropics, the Marianas and Wake Island continue to see mostly continental energy sliding through, with a few clouds and gusty winds.

Have a great Thursday!

Courtesy: CIMSS, HKO, Tropical Tidbits, Intellicast, Weather.com, MeteoEarth