MACON, Ga. — Here in central Georgia we are finally seeing some sunshine after a weekend of clouds and occasional rain. You may have found yourself wondering, what was causing that dreary weather?
Well, it’s a weather pattern that we haven’t seen the last of. You may have heard us say it before - it's called the wedge.
Let’s break down what that really is.
The wedge begins when a high-pressure system sets up over the northeast.
Because of its clockwise motion, it draws a cool northeasterly flow that becomes trapped or dammed against the eastern side of the Appalachian Mountains.
This forces the flow further to the south, and pushes it into north and central Georgia. This is why the wedge is scientifically known as cold air damming.
So, what does that mean for our weather?
Well, similar to the conditions we had this weekend, the wedge causes cooler and cloudier weather and we often have steady rain as well.
But, luckily, a wedge typically it eliminates the chance for severe weather, which is one positive to the dreary conditions. Wedge events can also be difficult to forecast, because it can be hard to determine how far south the flow will reach.
Now, the wedge or cold air damming can happen year-round, but it is most common in the winter, especially in December and March.
So, you will certainly hear us talk about it more as summer comes to an official close.
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