Campus Weather Forecast
- Friday Evening Forecast (03/20/2026)
Friday Night: Clear. Low 55°F
Saturday: Sunny. High 88°F
Saturday Night: Mostly Clear. Low 63°F
Sunday: Increasing Clouds. High 81°F
Sunday Night: Mostly Cloudy. Low 41°F
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General Discussion:
A record breaking upper level ridge centered over the Baja region will lead to near record breaking highs during the first half of the weekend. However, a cold front is expected to make its way through the midwest Sunday afternoon, bringing a break from the very warm temperatures and increased cloud cover throughout the later hours of Sunday into early Monday morning.
-Scheerer
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Forecasters: Scheerer, Perrette
Date Issued: 03/20/2026 22:00Z
Technical Discussion:
Key Messages:
- Very warm temperatures will persist throughout the first half of the weekend.
- A cold front will move through Sunday afternoon, bringing a break from the unseasonable temperatures
Friday Night
As of Friday 21z, much of the midwest is in a meridional flow regime with upper level winds from the northwest at around 60 kt due to a very impressive and historic upper level ridge currently over the southwestern U.S.. Compared to the other upper level ridges in the month of March, this ridge is 28 dam (or 3km) higher than average, which is very impressive. This ridge is the leading factor of the near record breaking highs observed over the last few days (low 80s Thursday and upper 80s Friday). Low level conditions will remain dry throughout the night due to the 850mb high pressure system being situated over the Gulf, blocking sufficient moisture from reaching mid-MO. At the surface, conditions will continue to feel warmer than average (lows in the mid 50s) and dry.
Saturday
Kinks in the upper level flow will develop throughout the morning hours of Saturday. This will lead to increased vorticity values and lift in the low to mid levels. However, sufficient moisture will not be present for cloud cover throughout the day due to blocking from the Baja high. Moisture from the northern Pacific will advect around the ridge during the late night hours of Saturday, which could make its way into mid-MO. This would lead to an increase in high clouds throughout the night with mostly clear conditions expected.
Sunday
Upper level flow will become more zonal by Sunday morning as the upper level high retreats to the southwest into the Pacific Ocean. Warm air advection will move into mid-MO due to prefrontal compressional warming. This will cause temperatures to warm into the lower 80s by the early afternoon. However, a potent cold front is expected to pass during the afternoon hours with strong cold air advection behind the front. This will lead to a much needed break from the very warm temperatures. Along with this, the associated 850mb low over northern New England will advect moisture from the Atlantic into mid-MO. Along with forcing from the front, upper level moisture will increase, leading to cloud cover increasing throughout the day and mostly cloudy conditions by Sunday night.
-Scheerer
- Campus Weather Forecast
Campus Weather Forecast 03/19/2026
Friday Morning Forecast (03/20/2026)
Friday: Mostly Sunny. High 83°F
Friday Night: Clear. Low 55°F
Saturday: Sunny. High 85°F
Saturday Night: Partly Cloudy. Low 61°F
Sunday: Increasing Clouds. High 76°F
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General Discussion:
A strong high pressure located in the southwestern U.S. keeps temperatures 20 to 25 degrees above average (Avg: 58°F) throughout the weekend. Columbia is expected to tie the record high Friday (Record: 84°F). A cold front will enter the region Sunday afternoon, bringing temperatures back to average (Avg: 58°F).
-Hughley
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Forecasters: Fields, Hughley
Date Issued: 03/20/2026 1530Z
Technical Discussion:
Key Messages:
- Clear conditions will persist into weekend due to blocking occurring in Southwest U.S.
- Temperatures will reach near record highs before cooler air enters the region by Sunday afternoon.
Friday
There is a northwesterly upper-level flow due to a dominant high-pressure system centered over the desert Southwest, assisted by a deep trough located over the East coast. There is little to no divergence aloft as this ridge passes, which will help support calm weather for the Midwest. This is evidenced by the low vorticity and omega values (-1 to –3) seen throughout the day. Relative humidity is low with values ranging from 30%-55% on Friday, so there will be little cloud coverage to prevent intense surface heating. The lack of moisture is due to the absence of a low-level jet and weak, disorganized winds at 850 mb. These factors lead to high temperatures in the low 80s.
Saturday
Shortwaves are seen in the continuing northwesterly flow at 250 mb. This causes a slight increase in vorticity, but active weather is further suppressed by a lack of moisture (only 20%-45%) and lift (OMEGA ranging from –1 to +1) throughout the day. There is a continued absence of a low-level jet, with variable winds at 850 mb, which continues the trend of little to no moisture advection. This is evidenced by dewpoint depressions at 850 mb remaining around 15°C all day. The warming trend continues as well due to WAA beginning in the afternoon and ending Sunday afternoon, bringing Saturday highs into the mid-80s.
Sunday
Upper-level flow has a zonal shift as the high in the desert Southwest weakens, and the deep trough to the East travels into the Atlantic. Shortwaves are seen at 500 mb which cause an increase in vorticity, but 700 mb relative humidity values are at their lowest for the weekend (15%-30%). There is a significant increase in lift due to the passage of a cold front, but low moisture inhibits the production of rainfall and active weather. Before the frontal passage, the low-level jet picks up. However, due to its southwesterly orientation, it is advecting warm, dry air. As the cold front passes, it decreases high temperatures into the mid-70s heading into Monday.
Future forecasters should monitor changes in moisture as the cold front passes.
-Fields