April 10, 2015
1130.18z
UNISYS Enhanced Infrared North and West Image (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

The system in the Pacific offshore of the west coast of California appears to have a feature like a roll cloud. The location today is where the high pressure usually exists. It is that chronic high pressure system that causes the drought.

April 10, 2015
1230.17z
UNISYS Water Vapor GOES West Satellite (click here for 12 hour loop - thank you)

The satellite below is Canadian. It shows the reach of the vortex that touched down in Illinois, USA. 

April 10, 2015
1200 UTC
Canadian Satellite

The lower left side of the satellite image shows a formation of clouds reaching out of the Antarctica vortex to the Equator. It appears to deliver water vapor to the Intertropical Convergence Zone. Realizing there is southern hemispheric water vapor at the ICZ, the Illinois vortex is actually a global system. 

Why is that important? The vortexes, including the storm that touched down in Illinois, dissipate heat. If the northern hemisphere is so dry it can't dissipate it's heat without the assistance of the southern hemisphere water vapor, that is a worry. What happens if the southern hemisphere becomes as dry as the northern hemisphere. 

Why is the northern hemisphere hotter and drier? Because most of Earth's human population is in the northern hemisphere. It is the northern hemispher that is most industrialized.