The calendar may say September 1st, but the weather feels more like the middle of summer as an extended stretch of unseasonably warm and muggy conditions begins today.

Our weather pattern is dominated by a sprawling surface high pressure system over the Mid-Atlantic.  The winds aloft are also steering storms to our north.

The air flow around these features draws heat and humidity straight from the Gulf Of Mexico. This will keep unseasonably warm weather across Southeast Wisconsin right through Labor Day weekend.

Today also marks the first day of meteorological autumn.  Meteorological seasons begin the first day of every third month... conveniently splitting the year into four, three month seasons.  Astronomical seasons, on the other hand, are marked by equinoxes and solstices.  Later this month, on the 23rd, the Autumnal Equinox occurs marking the first day of Astronomical Fall. The noon sun will shine directly over the equator providing nearly equal amounts of day and night across the globe.