How troughs and ridges shape weather forecasting

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- Meteorologists study the upper levels of the atmosphere to better understand troughs and ridges, which helps them predict both day-to-day weather conditions and long-range patterns. These atmospheric features are key to understanding larger weather systems.Troughs are areas of low pressure, often linked to unsettled weather. As air converges and rises within a trough, it cools and condenses, leading to cloud formation, precipitation, and potential storms. Troughs can also contri