First Day to 70 in Jackson

Happy Mother's Day! And a nice day it should be, with what may be our first "official" day this year with a high temperature over 70 degrees.
At the Jackson Climate Station the high temp the last two days almost made it to 70, with a high Saturday of 67 and the high Friday of 68.
Other thermometers around the area did reach 70 or better, at the Teton County offices that instrument was 70 both Friday & Saturday. The automated station at the USFS office hit 71 Friday and 72 Saturday.
Everyone's thermometer should get over 70 today.
The reason we are getting warmer is due to a large and warm Ridge of High pressure that is sitting over the Western US. There is some very warm air over California that is pushing north under that Ridge today. For example, it was in the 90's in Central California yesterday, and 109 degrees in Death Valley, the hottest place in the Country.
That's quite a change from the weather we had at the beginning of the month in Jackson, with a high around 40 and 5 inches-plus of snow in the valley on May 1st.
If Mom needs it cooler, she could go to Northern Michigan, where it will be cold enough to snow on Mother's Day. Or, to Pt. Barrow, Alaska where highs will be in the 30's.
Back to work for me on Monday morning with the Jackson Hole Forecast.
But thought I'd better get updated on what the weather pattern is and prep myself before diving back in tomorrow.
Happy Mother's Day!

Posted by Meteorologist Jim Woodmencey
Graphics from NWS

                                                          

Maps below shows weather pattern @ 10,000-ft.
And Surface Map for Sunday

Surface Map for Mother's Day