JET STREAKS AND WHY YOU SHOULD CARE!

You're looking at a forecast of jet stream winds for early Friday morning. The darker red color just North of Rochester is what we call a jet streak. A jet streak is simply an area of faster winds traveling within the main jet stream. As air enters a jet streak, it speeds up. When it leaves a jet streak, it slows down. These accelerations and decelerations cause air to pile up in some areas (convergence) and spread out (divergence) in others. These regions of divergence and convergence have a significant influence on surface pressure. This can enhance precipitation in our area Thursday evening.