I think it's time I made an appointment with the "Baro-Clinic"

No, the Baro Clinic isn't where Meteorologists go to get a check up!

I labeled the baroclinic zone on the map to the left. Can you figure out what's so special about this area? Think temperature and look again. Nothing yet? Memphis, Tennessee was 64° today and Chicago was 34°. Big difference, right? Now look at Memphis versus Orlando, Florida. There's only a five degree change there. The baroclinic zone is the place on the map where there is the biggest change in temperature within a small area. Most often these are located where cold fronts are (as in this case).

I know what you're saying: "Big whoop. Baroclinic zone. Who cares?"

When we have developing storms in the winter they often follow this baroclinic zone. Have you ever driven down I-39 toward Bloomington in winter and noticed how you drove right out of the snow? That's the baroclinic zone, my friend! Over the next week the baroclinic zone is going to be right over us (as there's snow on the ground from here down to I-80 and there's nothing down in Central Illinois). This indicates a heightened chance of some sort of snow event over the next few weeks.
If forecasting weather was that easy though. The baroclinic zone is just one of thousands of pieces that make up the forecasting puzzle. Next week may actually turn out to be a yawner.

Looking at the upper-level flow pattern next week reveals quite a bit of moisture in the southern stream. However, it doesn't look like the southern and northern streams will phase (come together) over us. This means the moisture in the southwestern U.S. will likely stay under the southern stream of the jet and continue into the Mid-Atlantic. We still may get nicked by something up here but it appears the best dynamics will stay south of Rockford for a week or so.