Weird Wind Patterns

So this map has been making the rounds as a very cool visualization of the wind patterns throughout the USA.

hint.fm...




However, I began to notice a few things as I looked at it that seemed odd.

Right there in the middle you see what appears to be a vortex, almost like a large drain.




The app allows you to zoom in, so I did to see if perhaps my eyes were deceiving me...




So my question is... this thing that looks like a giant tornado.... what is it? What is this phenomenon?

reply to post by HunkaHunka


Does it help to know the air is rising there? A low pressure zone? Hot air?

Then again maybe this is associated with the tornado touchin down in Dallas?

That's a pretty cool map.

The vortex you are looking at is simply a low pressure system. Take a look at the current weather map:



It matches up almost exactly.

I was wondering if it was just being affected by the Mississippi but it looks to be too far away for that.

Nice find poster.

My area looks normal as always, it is also the same path every storms seems to take.

Originally posted by tsawyer2
That's a pretty cool map.

The vortex you are looking at is simply a low pressure system. Take a look at the current weather map:

It matches up almost exactly.

Thank you... this makes it rather clear what I was looking at....