What is an upper level trough? How is that affecting the East Coast?

Question

I was reading the weather description and it said an upper level trough was moving through in the next few days and a cold front. However the whole east coast is littered with storms if you look at it. Basically how are these storms forming? What is an upper level trough, how does that create storms?

I'm trying to study meteorology on my own. And learn what is needed to create storms. It's interesting stuff.

Answer 1

A trough over the surface level is a region of low pressure within V-shaped isobars(line connecting places of equal pressure).It usually projects from  a large and distant depression. There is a sudden wind shift across the axis of the trough which is associated with cloud and rain. Sometimes this feature is seen(in the upper level weather charts) only at higher levels and can not be seen near the surface over a place.Slowly this may descend and spread at surface level and become a low pressure system and may produce storms.

So, an upper level trough is a line  along which there exists a trough of low pressure in the upper air with an associated change of wind direction .It may lead to convection and subsequent formation of thunder storms and rain.