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Heat and Fire Weather Concerns West; Heavy Rain and Thunderstorms from Plains to mid-Atlantic

Thunderstorms and locally heavy rainfall is expected from the Central Plains to the Ohio Valley, mid-Atlantic and across the Southeast. Severe weather from the Upper Midwest to Central Plains increases on Friday. Major to Extreme HeatRisk continues across the Southern Plains to the lower Mississippi Valley late this week. Fire weather concerns for the northern Rockies and northern Plains today. Read More >

Upper Air Observations


Decoded Upper Level Winds

Plotted Upper Air Soundings

GOES Derived Atmospheric Vertical Soundings

Alternate Sources for Upper Air Soundings
Ohio State

California Wind Profiler Data Can be Found Here

Why Do Forecasters Still Rely on Weather Balloons?

Twice every day, from nearly 100 locations in the United States, the National Weather Service launches weather balloons, carrying instrument packages called radiosondes. Radiosonde sensors measure upper-air conditions such as atmospheric pressure, temperature and humidity, wind speed and direction. The data is important for aviation safety, and meteorologists use radiosonde information to prepare weather forecasts.