World and Nation

A Load of Pressure

A Load of Pressure

Did you feel like there’s been extra pressure on you? Maybe it was due to all of your professors conspiring to schedule their exams all on the same week? While that could be true, it could from the air column above you exerting extra pressure instead. There has been a slow-moving high pressure system that has dominated the eastern half of the US. Over the last seven days, the sea-level pressure in Boston has averaged about 1025 millibars — roughly one to two standard deviations above normal. That system has moved well off the coast, but another one has already moved in to take its place. For those graduate students, MIT athletes and others stuck at MIT during spring break, the good news is that this system too will also be a slow-mover, so another rain-free stretch of weather is expected over the next seven days.

For those fortunate enough to go away during Spring Break, there are warmer than normal conditions over the western half of the US. Highs in Denver will be in the mid 70s˚F for the next couple of days. LA will be sunny and warm with highs in the mid 60s. Finally, for those heading down to Fort Myers, Florida, it will be sunny with high temperatures in the mid 80s. In general, thanks mainly to this “extra” pressure over the eastern US, any travel plans over the next couple of days should go smoothly.

Today: Mostly Sunny. Highs in the upper 40s˚F (9˚C). North winds 10 to
15 mph.

Tonight: Mostly clear. Lows near 30˚F (-1˚C). North winds 10 to 15 mph.

Tomorrow: Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s˚F (11˚C).

Sunday: Sunny. Highs in the upper 50s˚F (15˚C).

Monday: Sunny again. Highs in the mid 50s (-13˚C).