High pressure system over North America

The image at left represents a depiction of pressure contours, fronts, high and low pressure systems, and IR satellite imagery from the National Weather Service. It is valid at 8AM (12 UTC) this morning. The continent is dominated by a massive high pressure system that extends into New England. Note the large area of clear skies associated with this system. A band of cloud associated with a long cold front that extends from the Labrador sea to the southeastern U.S. and is moving out to sea. Arrows indicate the direction of winds circulating around the high pressure system. Note how over New England, northwesterly winds (winds blowing FROM the northwest) push the band of cloud out to sea.

Note that this image is updated and archived every six hours at the NWS/HPC Surface analysis archive and can be accessed on the course weatherpage.