Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RR" "RUC13" "RUC" received at GSD on 10/23/12


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
148 PM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO PREVAIL THROUGH FORECAST PERIOD. NORTHEAST WINDS NEAR 10 TO 12 KNOTS WITH HIGHER GUSTS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS EAST COAST TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON AND AFTER OOZ WINDS SHOULD DECREASE TO AROUND 8 TO 10 KNOTS. PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS THE REGION EXPECTED TO INCREASE ON MONDAY WITH EAST COAST TERMINALS WINDS AROUND 14-15 KNOTS AROUND 15Z WITH GUSTS TO 20-22 KNOTS POSSIBLE. FOR TERMINAL KAPF NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 8 KNOTS SHOULD PREVAIL THEN INCREASING TO ABOUT 14 KNOTS BY 15Z MONDAY. EAST COAST TERMINALS COULD HAVE PERIODS OF CEILINGS FROM 4 TO 6 KFT AS STRATOCUMULUS STREAM IN FROM ATLANTIC WATERS. 60 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 942 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012/ UPDATE... A VERY PLEASANT MORNING IS SHAPING UP FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA AREA UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN STATES IS THE DOMINANT SYNOPTIC FEATURE KEEPING THE FLORIDA PENINSULA DRY WITH NORTHERLY FLOW. A FEW LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS ARE SEEN JUST OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST AND ARE PUSHING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH. ADDED A SMALL POCKET OF ISOLATED SHOWERS ALONG THE OFFSHORE WATERS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. LATEST HRRR KEEPS LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY OFFSHORE AND MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FLORIDA KEYS WHERE SLIGHTLY DEEPER MOISTURE RESIDES. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 727 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012/ AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. A LIGHT DRAINAGE FLOW ALONG THE E CST IS ALREADY TRYING TO SHIFT TO THE NNE SO THE MORE INLAND TERMINALS MIGHT SEE THIS SHIFT AROUND 13Z. FLOW IS NOT NECESSARILY STRONG SO SEA BREEZE AT KAPF IS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE SHORT TERM GUIDANCE DEPICTS THIS TO OCCUR SO LEFT OUT OF THE FORECAST BUT THERE COULD BE A SHORT-LIVED SEA BREEZE AROUND 19-22Z. /KOB PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 353 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012/ EXTENDED PERIOD...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE... CENTERED OVER THE MID ATLC STATES WEDNESDAY...WILL SLOWLY MOVE NE THROUGH THE WEEK AS A COLD FRONT MOVES FROM THE GREAT PLAINS EAST -WARD TO THE ATLC COAST BY SATURDAY. AS THIS HIGH PRESSURE CENTER MOVES NE...A SURFACE LOW OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN WILL ALSO MOVE NE ACROSS E CUBA INTO THE ATLC AND OVER THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS. A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN OVER S FLA WHICH WILL LEAD TO BREEZY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA THAT MAY BECOME WINDY EASTERN ZONES IN THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK. POPS WILL REMAIN MINIMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. MARINE... A LIGHT NORTHERLY WIND FLOW BECOMES NE TODAY AND INCREASES TO AROUND 15 KNOTS ATLC/GULF WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON WHICH PERSISTS OVERNIGHT. WINDS CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY INCREASE WITH CAUTION CRITERIA EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WITH WINDS AT ADVISORY LEVELS FROM MIDWEEK ON. HAVE TAPERED ATLC WINDS DOWNWARD FROM GFS GUIDANCE A BIT AS EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOT ETCHED IN STONE AS OF YET. FIRE WEATHER... MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TODAY COULD FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 30S WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND NORTHERN COLLIER COUNTY. AS WINDS SHIFT NORTHEASTERLY LATE TODAY AND INTO THE WEEK...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY RISE AGAIN AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE MOVES ONSHORE. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 69 84 74 84 / 0 10 10 20 FORT LAUDERDALE 72 85 77 86 / - 10 10 20 MIAMI 72 86 75 86 / - 10 10 20 NAPLES 65 88 69 88 / 0 - - 10 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...10/CD AVIATION/RADAR...60/BD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
942 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .UPDATE... A VERY PLEASANT MORNING IS SHAPING UP FOR THE SOUTH FLORIDA AREA UNDER MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND SEASONABLE TEMPERATURES. STRONG HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN STATES IS THE DOMINANT SYNOPTIC FEATURE KEEPING THE FLORIDA PENINSULA DRY WITH NORTHERLY FLOW. A FEW LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS ARE SEEN JUST OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST AND ARE PUSHING SLOWLY TO THE SOUTH. ADDED A SMALL POCKET OF ISOLATED SHOWERS ALONG THE OFFSHORE WATERS THROUGH THE AFTERNOON HOURS. LATEST HRRR KEEPS LIGHT SHOWER ACTIVITY OFFSHORE AND MAINLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE FLORIDA KEYS WHERE SLIGHTLY DEEPER MOISTURE RESIDES. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 727 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012/ AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE PERIOD. A LIGHT DRAINAGE FLOW ALONG THE E CST IS ALREADY TRYING TO SHIFT TO THE NNE SO THE MORE INLAND TERMINALS MIGHT SEE THIS SHIFT AROUND 13Z. FLOW IS NOT NECESSARILY STRONG SO SEA BREEZE AT KAPF IS POSSIBLE. HOWEVER, NONE OF THE SHORT TERM GUIDANCE DEPICTS THIS TO OCCUR SO LEFT OUT OF THE FORECAST BUT THERE COULD BE A SHORT-LIVED SEA BREEZE AROUND 19-22Z. /KOB PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 353 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012/ EXTENDED PERIOD...WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...HIGH PRESSURE... CENTERED OVER THE MID ATLC STATES WEDNESDAY...WILL SLOWLY MOVE NE THROUGH THE WEEK AS A COLD FRONT MOVES FROM THE GREAT PLAINS EAST -WARD TO THE ATLC COAST BY SATURDAY. AS THIS HIGH PRESSURE CENTER MOVES NE...A SURFACE LOW OVER THE CENTRAL CARIBBEAN WILL ALSO MOVE NE ACROSS E CUBA INTO THE ATLC AND OVER THE SOUTHERN BAHAMAS. A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN OVER S FLA WHICH WILL LEAD TO BREEZY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA THAT MAY BECOME WINDY EASTERN ZONES IN THE LATTER PART OF THE WEEK. POPS WILL REMAIN MINIMAL THROUGH THE PERIOD. MARINE... A LIGHT NORTHERLY WIND FLOW BECOMES NE TODAY AND INCREASES TO AROUND 15 KNOTS ATLC/GULF WATERS LATE THIS AFTERNOON WHICH PERSISTS OVERNIGHT. WINDS CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY INCREASE WITH CAUTION CRITERIA EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WITH WINDS AT ADVISORY LEVELS FROM MIDWEEK ON. HAVE TAPERED ATLC WINDS DOWNWARD FROM GFS GUIDANCE A BIT AS EXACT TRACK OF THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM NOT ETCHED IN STONE AS OF YET. FIRE WEATHER... MINIMUM RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TODAY COULD FALL INTO THE MID TO UPPER 30S WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND NORTHERN COLLIER COUNTY. AS WINDS SHIFT NORTHEASTERLY LATE TODAY AND INTO THE WEEK...THE RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL SLOWLY RISE AGAIN AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE MOVES ONSHORE. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 83 69 84 74 / - 0 10 10 FORT LAUDERDALE 84 72 85 77 / - - 10 10 MIAMI 85 72 86 75 / - - 10 10 NAPLES 87 65 88 69 / - 0 - - && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...10/CD AVIATION/RADAR...60/BD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
844 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 844 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 NO MAJOR FORECAST CHANGES ANTICIPATED THIS EVENING...AS CENTRAL ILLINOIS REMAINS SANDWICHED BETWEEN TWO WEATHER SYSTEMS. THE FIRST SHORT-WAVE THAT BROUGHT WIDESPREAD SHOWERS/STORMS TO THE AREA EARLIER TODAY IS NOW WELL TO THE NORTHEAST OVER THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES...WHILE THE SECOND WAVE IS STILL UPSTREAM ACROSS EASTERN KANSAS/OKLAHOMA. THIS SECOND FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY TRIGGER A RENEWED ROUND OF SHOWERS/THUNDER ACROSS CENTRAL ILLINOIS...BUT NOT UNTIL LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. WITH AN OVERALL LACK OF FORCING DUE TO SHORT-WAVE RIDGING...ONLY ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH MIDNIGHT. ONCE KANSAS WAVE BEGINS TO APPROACH...INCREASING SYNOPTIC LIFT WILL LEAD TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF SCATTERED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TOWARD DAWN. CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE HANDLES THIS QUITE WELL...SO NO ZONE UPDATE IS NEEDED AT THIS TIME. BARNES && .AVIATION... ISSUED 633 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 SHORT-WAVE RIDGING IN THE WAKE OF A SYSTEM NOW OVER SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WILL LEAD TO A LULL IN THE PRECIP ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS EVENING. THE EXCEPTION MAY BE ACROSS THE FAR NORTHERN KILX CWA...WHERE THE HRRR SUGGESTS SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ALONG/NEAR A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS. HAVE INCLUDED VCSH AT KPIA BETWEEN 02Z AND 05Z ACCORDINGLY. ADDITIONAL CONVECTION CURRENTLY DEVELOPING WEST OF THE SAINT LOUIS AREA WILL TRACK E/NE THIS EVENING...AND GENERALLY STAY SOUTH OF THE KILX TERMINALS. NEXT ROUND OF RENEWED CONVECTION WILL LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL VERY LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...AS SHORT-WAVE TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER OKLAHOMA LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE AREA. STILL DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE EXACT TIMING AND AREAL COVERAGE WITH THIS SECOND ROUND OF PRECIP...SO HAVE ONLY INCLUDED VCTS FROM AROUND DAWN INTO EARLY TO MID-AFTERNOON. AFTER THAT...WAVE WILL SHIFT OFF TO THE EAST AND ANY PRECIP WILL COME TO AN END BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. CEILINGS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN IN THE VFR CATEGORY THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD...BUT COULD DROP TO MVFR IN THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY AT AROUND 10KT. BARNES && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE AXIS HAS SHIFTED EAST OF ILLINOIS SETTING UP SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO ILLINOIS. AIDED BY A STRONG LOW LEVEL JET /LLJ/... MOISTURE AND WARM AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE NORTHWARD INTO C IL TONIGHT AND THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS WILL BE THE RULE UNTIL THE COLD FRONT ARRIVES THURSDAY NIGHT AND GETS A SHOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT. MUCH COOLER AIR WILL BE THE RULE FOR THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY ONLY IN THE LOW 50S. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS FROM THE INITIAL MCV HAVE PUSHED OUT OF NEARLY ALL OF OUR AREA EXCEPT ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-70. A BREAK IN THE ACTION IS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA UNTIL THE NEXT UPPER SHORTWAVE ARRIVES TONIGHT. IT WILL TRIGGER OUR NEXT ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY MORNING. INSTABILITY AND SHEAR PARAMS SHOULD SUPPORT STRONG STORMS...BUT LITTLE TO NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED. HAIL WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. WE KEPT HIGH CHANCE POPS GOING TUESDAY MORNING IN OUR NORTHEAST COUNTIES...BEFORE THE SHORTWAVE MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST TUES AFTN. THEN A DRY PERIOD IS EXPECTED FROM TUES AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...WHEN WE SEE OUR WARMEST HIGHS OF THE WEEK. WED SHOULD SEE 850MB TEMPS CLIMB INTO THE 16-18C RANGE. ADIABATIC WARMING WOULD PUT HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S IF THAT OCCURS. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. INCREASING CLOUDS AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE COLD FRONT ON THURS WILL WORK TO CAP HIGH TEMPS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. THERE ARE STILL TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MODELS...WITH NAM THE SLOWEST AND THE GFS THE FASTEST. THE CANADIAN AND ECMWF ARE THE MID-GROUND. THE CONSENSUS OF THE FASTER 3 IS FOR THE FRONT TO REACH NEAR BMI/CMI BY 7PM THURSDAY. WE KEPT SOME LOW CHANCE POPS IN THE FAR NW THUR MORN AND EXPANDED POPS TO THE SE THURS AFTN. WITH MOST OF THE PRECIP BEGIN POST-FRONTAL...WE MAY REMAIN DRY UNTIL LATER AFTERNOON NORTHWEST OF THE IL RIVER. MOISTURE LEVELS AND FRONTAL DYNAMICS LOOK FAVORABLE FOR SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY NIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IT DEPARTS TO THE SOUTHEAST. THEN A SECONDARY SHORTWAVE IS FORECAST TO LIFT NORTHEAST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT...BRINGING A CHANCE OF MORE RAIN TO AT LEAST AREAS SOUTHEAST OF I-55. THE PATH OF THAT WAVE HAS SHIFTED FARTHER TO THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE 12Z RUN OF THE GFS AND CANADIAN. THE ECMWF HAS THE FARTHEST NW TRACK OF THE EXTENDED MODELS. WE KEPT LIKELY POPS FOR FRI NIGHT WHEN THE WAVE REACHES ITS CLOSEST POINT TO CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST IL. SOME LINGERING SHOWERS ON SATURDAY MORNING SHOULD END BY NOON SATURDAY. THE COLD AIR WILL ARRIVE BEHIND THAT FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTWAVE...SO HIGHS ON SATURDAY WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH THE LOWER 50S ON BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS. THE COLD AIR WILL DROP LOWS INTO THE LOW TO MID 30S EACH NIGHT FROM SAT NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...WITH DAYTIME HIGHS AROUND 50...10-14 DEG F BELOW NORMAL. AT LEAST NEXT WEEKEND AND MONDAY LOOKS DRY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AFTER SATURDAY MORNINGS SHOWERS. && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
633 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE AXIS HAS SHIFTED EAST OF ILLINOIS SETTING UP SOUTHWEST FLOW INTO ILLINOIS. AIDED BY A STRONG LOW LEVEL JET /LLJ/... MOISTURE AND WARM AIR WILL CONTINUE TO SURGE NORTHWARD INTO C IL TONIGHT AND THE NEXT FEW DAYS. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS WILL BE THE RULE UNTIL THE COLD FRONT ARRIVES THURSDAY NIGHT AND GETS A SHOVE TO THE SOUTHEAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT. MUCH COOLER AIR WILL BE THE RULE FOR THE WEEKEND AND EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY ONLY IN THE LOW 50S. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS FROM THE INITIAL MCV HAVE PUSHED OUT OF NEARLY ALL OF OUR AREA EXCEPT ALONG AND SOUTH OF I-70. A BREAK IN THE ACTION IS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA UNTIL THE NEXT UPPER SHORTWAVE ARRIVES TONIGHT. IT WILL TRIGGER OUR NEXT ROUND OF SHOWERS AND STORMS AFTER MIDNIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY MORNING. INSTABILITY AND SHEAR PARAMS SHOULD SUPPORT STRONG STORMS...BUT LITTLE TO NO SEVERE WEATHER IS EXPECTED. HAIL WOULD BE THE PRIMARY HAZARD WITH THE STRONGEST STORMS. WE KEPT HIGH CHANCE POPS GOING TUESDAY MORNING IN OUR NORTHEAST COUNTIES...BEFORE THE SHORTWAVE MOVES OFF TO THE NORTHEAST TUES AFTN. THEN A DRY PERIOD IS EXPECTED FROM TUES AFTERNOON THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING...WHEN WE SEE OUR WARMEST HIGHS OF THE WEEK. WED SHOULD SEE 850MB TEMPS CLIMB INTO THE 16-18C RANGE. ADIABATIC WARMING WOULD PUT HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S IF THAT OCCURS. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY. INCREASING CLOUDS AND THE ARRIVAL OF THE COLD FRONT ON THURS WILL WORK TO CAP HIGH TEMPS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. THERE ARE STILL TIMING DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE MODELS...WITH NAM THE SLOWEST AND THE GFS THE FASTEST. THE CANADIAN AND ECMWF ARE THE MID-GROUND. THE CONSENSUS OF THE FASTER 3 IS FOR THE FRONT TO REACH NEAR BMI/CMI BY 7PM THURSDAY. WE KEPT SOME LOW CHANCE POPS IN THE FAR NW THUR MORN AND EXPANDED POPS TO THE SE THURS AFTN. WITH MOST OF THE PRECIP BEGIN POST-FRONTAL...WE MAY REMAIN DRY UNTIL LATER AFTERNOON NORTHWEST OF THE IL RIVER. MOISTURE LEVELS AND FRONTAL DYNAMICS LOOK FAVORABLE FOR SOME LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN THURSDAY NIGHT BEHIND THE FRONT. THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SLOW DOWN AS IT DEPARTS TO THE SOUTHEAST. THEN A SECONDARY SHORTWAVE IS FORECAST TO LIFT NORTHEAST ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE FRONT FRIDAY NIGHT...BRINGING A CHANCE OF MORE RAIN TO AT LEAST AREAS SOUTHEAST OF I-55. THE PATH OF THAT WAVE HAS SHIFTED FARTHER TO THE SOUTHEAST WITH THE 12Z RUN OF THE GFS AND CANADIAN. THE ECMWF HAS THE FARTHEST NW TRACK OF THE EXTENDED MODELS. WE KEPT LIKELY POPS FOR FRI NIGHT WHEN THE WAVE REACHES ITS CLOSEST POINT TO CENTRAL/SOUTHEAST IL. SOME LINGERING SHOWERS ON SATURDAY MORNING SHOULD END BY NOON SATURDAY. THE COLD AIR WILL ARRIVE BEHIND THAT FRIDAY NIGHT SHORTWAVE...SO HIGHS ON SATURDAY WILL STRUGGLE TO REACH THE LOWER 50S ON BRISK NORTHWEST WINDS. THE COLD AIR WILL DROP LOWS INTO THE LOW TO MID 30S EACH NIGHT FROM SAT NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...WITH DAYTIME HIGHS AROUND 50...10-14 DEG F BELOW NORMAL. AT LEAST NEXT WEEKEND AND MONDAY LOOKS DRY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME AFTER SATURDAY MORNINGS SHOWERS. && .AVIATION... ISSUED 633 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 SHORT-WAVE RIDGING IN THE WAKE OF A SYSTEM NOW OVER SOUTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN WILL LEAD TO A LULL IN THE PRECIP ACROSS MUCH OF CENTRAL ILLINOIS THIS EVENING. THE EXCEPTION MAY BE ACROSS THE FAR NORTHERN KILX CWA...WHERE THE HRRR SUGGESTS SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP ALONG/NEAR A SURFACE TROUGH EXTENDING ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL ILLINOIS. HAVE INCLUDED VCSH AT KPIA BETWEEN 02Z AND 05Z ACCORDINGLY. ADDITIONAL CONVECTION CURRENTLY DEVELOPING WEST OF THE SAINT LOUIS AREA WILL TRACK E/NE THIS EVENING...AND GENERALLY STAY SOUTH OF THE KILX TERMINALS. NEXT ROUND OF RENEWED CONVECTION WILL LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL VERY LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING...AS SHORT-WAVE TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER OKLAHOMA LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH THE AREA. STILL DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE EXACT TIMING AND AREAL COVERAGE WITH THIS SECOND ROUND OF PRECIP...SO HAVE ONLY INCLUDED VCTS FROM AROUND DAWN INTO EARLY TO MID-AFTERNOON. AFTER THAT...WAVE WILL SHIFT OFF TO THE EAST AND ANY PRECIP WILL COME TO AN END BY LATE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. CEILINGS WILL GENERALLY REMAIN IN THE VFR CATEGORY THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD...BUT COULD DROP TO MVFR IN THUNDERSTORMS. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY AT AROUND 10KT. BARNES && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
256 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 255 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 LATEST SURFACE MAP SHOWED HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER EASTERN PARTS OF KENTUCKY AND TENNESSEE. LITTLE IN THE WAY OF CLOUD COVER OVER ILLINOIS...WITH JUST SOME MID AND HIGH CLOUDS IN THE FAR NORTH AND FAR SOUTH. THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS FOR THIS PACKAGE INCLUDE THE EXTENT OF THE UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER THIS WEEK...AS WELL AS TIMING OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TONIGHT AND MONDAY AND AGAIN LATER THIS WEEK. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... FAIRLY SHARP THERMAL GRADIENT AT 850 MB NOTED ON EVENING UPPER AIR ANALYSIS...WITH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM 5C AT LINCOLN AND DAVENPORT TO THE MID TEENS IN WESTERN IOWA/MISSOURI. LATEST LAPS ANALYSIS SHOWING TEMPS OF 10C ALREADY MOVING INTO THE FAR WESTERN CWA AS PROGGED BY THE 00Z NAM...AND ANOTHER 5 DEGREE RISE IS EXPECTED BY AFTERNOON. SURFACE TEMPS STILL LOOK LIKELY TO REACH THE 70-75 RANGE TODAY...WARMEST WEST...AND WILL HEAD TOWARD THE 80 DEGREE RANGE MONDAY AND ESPECIALLY ON TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BEGIN TO LIFT NORTHEAST ON MONDAY. EVENING MODEL SUITE KEEPS THE MAIN WARM FRONT WELL TO OUR NORTH EARLY THIS WEEK...BUT AN UPPER WAVE AND STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL JET WILL HELP DEVELOP SOME CONVECTION TO OUR WEST LATER THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD OVERNIGHT. WILL CONTINUE WITH BEST SHOWER/STORM CHANCES WEST OF I-55 LATE TONIGHT AND OVER ABOUT THE NORTHWEST 2/3 OF THE CWA THROUGH EARLY MONDAY AFTERNOON. BUFKIT DATA SHOWING ELEVATED CAPES OVER 1000 J/KG BY LATE TONIGHT...SO A FEW STRONGER STORMS ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION...ALTHOUGH SEVERE WEATHER THREAT PER LATEST SPC CONVECTIVE OUTLOOKS IS ONLY AROUND 5 PERCENT. AFTER THAT...MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY... SOME SPREAD AMONG THE MODELS BECOMES MORE APPARENTLY BY MIDWEEK... WITH REGARD TO THE BROAD UPPER TROUGHING THAT WILL TAKE SHAPE ACROSS THE WESTERN UNITED STATES. THE GFS IS FASTEST IN CUTTING OFF A LARGE UPPER LOW OVER SASKATCHEWAN BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY... WHEREAS THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN MODELS WAIT UNTIL LATE THURSDAY NIGHT OVER MINNESOTA. THIS RESULTS IN SOME TIMING DIFFERENCES IN STARTING THE NEXT ROUND OF SHOWERS/STORMS WITH THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT. HAVE KEPT SOME SMALL CHANCES WEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THEN CONTINUED WITH INCREASING CHANCES OVER THE CENTRAL AND WESTERN CWA ON THURSDAY AND ACROSS THE EAST THURSDAY NIGHT. WHILE ALL OF THE MODELS HAVE THE FRONT THROUGH THE AREA ON FRIDAY AND THE RAIN THREAT PASSED...HAVE KEPT SLIGHT CHANCES FOR NOW AS THE CONSISTENCY OF SOME OF THE MODELS HAS NOT BEEN IDEAL THE LAST FEW RUNS. SHARPENING SHORTWAVE OVER THE PLAINS LATE FRIDAY WILL HELP DEVELOP ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ON THE NORTH SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY. HAVE ADDED RAIN CHANCES TO THE ENTIRE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT...AND ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST HALF ON SATURDAY. TEMPERATURE-WISE...WILL LIKELY SEE 70S CONTINUE INTO THURSDAY WITH THE SLOWER TREND IN THE FRONT. THE WEEKEND STILL LOOKS CHILLY...WITH HIGHS ON SATURDAY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S. HOWEVER...THE GFS SOLUTION IS QUITE A BIT COOLER THAN THE ECMWF...WITH 850 MB TEMPS DOWN TO AROUND -7C...SO THE POTENTIAL IS THERE FOR EVEN LOWER TEMPERATURES LATER IN THE WEEKEND. GEELHART && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1150 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EARLY OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE CENTRAL IL AIRPORTS. PATCHY FOG EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AFTER 08Z/3 AM WITH MVFR VSBYS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY AT DEC AND CMI WHERE SSE WINDS STAY LIGHTER LONGER TONIGHT. THIS DUE TO MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER (WITH CURRENT TEMP/DEWPOINT SPREAD OF ABOUT 4F AND DOWN TO 2F AT DEC) TO SUPPORT PATCHY FOG DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT UNTIL 14Z/9 AM SUNDAY MORNING...THOUGH RETURN SSE WINDS INCREASING TO 5-10 KTS DURING OVERNIGHT SHOULD LIMIT EXTENT AND DENSENESS OF FOG. NAM HITS THE FOG HARDEST LATER TONIGHT WHILE GFS AND HRRR MODELS OUT TO 12Z/7 AM IS NOT AS WIDESPREAD WITH THE FOG (HRRR VSBY MAINLY 5-6 MILES). MOST MODELS LIFT ANY FOG THAT DEVELOPS BY 14Z/9 AM SUNDAY. FEW CUMULUS CLOUDS APPEAR AFTER 15Z/10 AM SUNDAY WITH SCATTERED THIN CIRRUS CLOUDS MOVING INTO CENTRAL IL LATER TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. BROKEN CUMULUS CLOUDS OF 4-5K FT TO SPREAD NE FROM MO ACROSS CENTRAL IL BETWEEN 02Z-04Z SUNDAY EVENING PER GFS AND NAM FORECAST SOUNDINGS (REACHING SPI FIRST AND CMI LAST). WEAK 1017 MB SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN OH/TN VALLEYS TO DRIFT EAST INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES BY SUNDAY EVENING WITH INCREASING SSE FLOW OVER CENTRAL IL LATER TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY SUNDAY. EXPECT SSE WINDS OF 10-14 KTS AFTER 15Z/10 AM SUNDAY AND GUSTS 15-19 KTS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MOST MODELS KEEP CENTRAL IL DRY THROUGH 06Z/1 AM MON WITH WARM AIR/MOISTURE ADVECTION SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING FROM SW TO NE ACROSS CENTRAL IL DURING OVERNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT... JUST BEYOND THIS 24 HOUR TAF FORECAST. 07 && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
1155 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 900 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 FORECAST LOOKS ON TRACK TONIGHT AND JUST A FEW MINOR UPDATES DONE. STILL HAVE A NARROW BAND OF CUMULUS/STRATOCUMULUS CLOUDS WITH 3-4K FOOT BASES SE OF DECATUR AND CHAMPAIGN TO THE WABASH RIVER. THESE CLOUDS SHOULD DISSIPATE BY MIDNIGHT AT IT DRIFTS SLOWLY NE INTO EAST CENTRAL IL. KEEPING PATCHY FOG OVERNIGHT UNTIL 9 AM SUNDAY...AND ALSO ADDING AREAS OF FOG LATER TONIGHT OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL IL WHERE SSE WINDS STAY LIGHTER LONGER DURING TONIGHT. LOWS IN THE LOWER 40S LOOK ON TRACK WITH LIGHT SSE WINDS INCREASING TO 5-10 MPH TOWARD DAYBREAK. WEAK 1017 MB HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN OHIO VALLEY INTO MID TN AND AL AND RIDGING INTO NE IL AND WI AT MID EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE WAS BRINGING CLEAR SKIES ACROSS IL EXCEPT FOR THAT NARROW BAND OF LOW CLOUDS SE OF DECATUR/CHAMPAIGN. HIGH PRESSURE TO DRIFT EAST INTO THE CENTRAL APPLACHIANS BY DAWN SUNDAY AND MID ATLANTIC STATES BY SUNSET SUNDAY AS UPPER LEVEL RIDGE BUILDS EAST INTO IL. LIGHT WINDS THIS EVENING TO BECOME SSE 5-10 MPH BY DAWN SUNDAY AND BE STRONGEST OVER WESTERN IL WHICH WILL KEEP FOG FROM FORMING AS MUCH. EASTERN IL WILL LIKELY SEE THE MOST FOG DEVELOP AFTER 2 AM AND DISSIPATE BY 9 AM SUNDAY. DID NOT MENTION DENSE FOG AT THIS TIME DUE TO SSE WINDS INCREASING A BIT LATER TONIGHT. TEMPS CURRENTLY IN THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S AND SHOULD SETTLE TOWARD THE DEWPOINTS IN THE LOW TO MID 40S FOR LOWS BY DAYBREAK AND COOLEST OVER EAST CENTRAL IL. 07 && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1150 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE EARLY OVERNIGHT ACROSS THE CENTRAL IL AIRPORTS. PATCHY FOG EXPECTED TO DEVELOP AFTER 08Z/3 AM WITH MVFR VSBYS POSSIBLE ESPECIALLY AT DEC AND CMI WHERE SSE WINDS STAY LIGHTER LONGER TONIGHT. THIS DUE TO MOIST BOUNDARY LAYER (WITH CURRENT TEMP/DEWPOINT SPREAD OF ABOUT 4F AND DOWN TO 2F AT DEC) TO SUPPORT PATCHY FOG DEVELOP LATER TONIGHT UNTIL 14Z/9 AM SUNDAY MORNING...THOUGH RETURN SSE WINDS INCREASING TO 5-10 KTS DURING OVERNIGHT SHOULD LIMIT EXTENT AND DENSENESS OF FOG. NAM HITS THE FOG HARDEST LATER TONIGHT WHILE GFS AND HRRR MODELS OUT TO 12Z/7 AM IS NOT AS WIDESPREAD WITH THE FOG (HRRR VSBY MAINLY 5-6 MILES). MOST MODELS LIFT ANY FOG THAT DEVELOPS BY 14Z/9 AM SUNDAY. FEW CUMULUS CLOUDS APPEAR AFTER 15Z/10 AM SUNDAY WITH SCATTERED THIN CIRRUS CLOUDS MOVING INTO CENTRAL IL LATER TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. BROKEN CUMULUS CLOUDS OF 4-5K FT TO SPREAD NE FROM MO ACROSS CENTRAL IL BETWEEN 02Z-04Z SUNDAY EVENING PER GFS AND NAM FORECAST SOUNDINGS (REACHING SPI FIRST AND CMI LAST). WEAK 1017 MB SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE EASTERN OH/TN VALLEYS TO DRIFT EAST INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES BY SUNDAY EVENING WITH INCREASING SSE FLOW OVER CENTRAL IL LATER TONIGHT AND ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY SUNDAY. EXPECT SSE WINDS OF 10-14 KTS AFTER 15Z/10 AM SUNDAY AND GUSTS 15-19 KTS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. MOST MODELS KEEP CENTRAL IL DRY THROUGH 06Z/1 AM MON WITH WARM AIR/MOISTURE ADVECTION SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING FROM SW TO NE ACROSS CENTRAL IL DURING OVERNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT... JUST BEYOND THIS 24 HOUR TAF FORECAST. 07 && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 300 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 INITIAL CONCERNS WILL BE FOR FOG TO FORM TONIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THE DEPARTING LOW. THEN ATTENTION TURNS TO THE DRAMATIC WARM-UP AND PERIODIC RAIN CHANCES AS A COUPLE OF LOW PRESSURE SYSTEMS LIFT THROUGH THE PLAINS NEXT WEEK. AN AIRMASS CHANGE BACK TO COOLER WEATHER WILL BEGIN WITH A LATE WEEK COLD FRONT...STARTING A PERIOD OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPS. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY. BREAKS HAVE DEVELOPED IN THE CLOUD COVER THE LAST COUPLE HOURS...DUE TO MIXING OF DRY AIR FROM ALOFT. THE MOST CLEARING HAS OCCURRED NORTH OF I-74...WHERE CLEARING LAST NIGHT ALLOWED FOR SOME DENSE FOG TO FORM. WE EXPECT ENOUGH CLEARING BY EVENING THAT RADIATIONAL COOLING WILL PUSH TEMPS DOWN TO THE WET-BULB TEMPS OVERNIGHT. NAM FORECAST SOUNDINGS ARE INDICATING FOG AND STRATUS WILL LIKELY FORM. THE HIGH RESOLUTION RAPID REFRESH /HRRR/ MODEL OUTPUT IS SHOWING STRATUS/FOG FORMING ALREADY DURING THE EVENING. WE WILL BE ADDING FOG TO THE FORECAST FOR TONIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...SOME OF THE FOG MAY BECOME LOCALLY DENSE. THE FOG SHOULD BURN OFF BY 9AM ON SUNDAY...WITH SUNSHINE AS WE HEAD INTO THE AFTERNOON. MID LEVEL WARM ADVECTION WILL CRANK UP SUNDAY AFTERNOON...BRINGING SOME SCATTERED MID CLOUDS. THAT MAY KEEP HIGHS A LITTLE LOWER THAN FULL SUN...BUT WE STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO RANGE FROM MID 70S IN THE SW TO AROUND 70 IN THE NE. LOW PRESSURE IN THE PLAINS WILL APPROACH NORTHWEST MISSOURI BY 12Z MONDAY...WITH SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLY AFFECTING OUR WESTERN COUNTIES SUN NIGHT. THE NAM AND ECMWF KEEP OUR COUNTIES RELATIVELY DRY UNTIL LATE...BUT THE CANADIAN AND GFS CONTINUE TO BE MORE AGGRESSIVE WITH PRECIP. WE KEPT A MENTION OF PRECIP...BUT TRIMMED THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE POPS. WARM FRONTOGENESIS DEVELOPS ACROSS NORTHERN ILLINOIS ON MONDAY AS THE SURFACE LOW SLOWLY LIFTS INTO IOWA. THE LOW WILL CONTINUE MOVING NORTHEAST INTO WISCONSIN BY TUESDAY...KEEPING OUR AREA IN THE WARM SECTOR AND FIRMLY IN THE THERMAL RIDGE. HOWEVER...THE PROXIMITY OF THE ASSOCIATED FRONTAL BOUNDARIES AND WEAK SHORTWAVES IN THE UPPER FLOW WILL KEEP RAIN AND STORM CHANCES IN OUR FORECAST FOR MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. WE PULLED POPS BACK TO JUST SLIGHT CHANCE ON TUESDAY...AS THE WARM FRONT ADVANCES NORTH INTO WISCONSIN/MICHIGAN. THE WARM FRONT WILL LIFT TOWARD UPPER MICHIGAN ON WEDNESDAY...HELPING OUR AREA REMAIN DRY WITH SUNSHINE. 850 MB TEMPS SHOULD CLIMB INTO THE 16-17C RANGE. ADIABATIC WARMING SHOULD PUSH HIGH TEMPS TO NEAR 80 AROUND JACKSONVILLE...WITH MID TO UPPER 70S COMMON. LONG TERM...THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT WAS EXPECTED TO PASS ACROSS OUR AREA ON THURSDAY...BUT THE 12Z GFS SLOWED THE FRONT DOWN BY 12 HOURS...AND THE 12Z ECMWF DELAYED IT BY 6 HOURS. THE GFS NOW SHOWS A DRY DAY ON THURSDAY...WHILE THE ECMWF HAS SOME SHOWERS AND STORMS NW OF I-55 IN THE AFTERNOON. WE KEPT THE ALL-BLEND POPS FROM THE 00Z ECMWF/12Z GFS WHICH ARE LOWER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. HOWEVER...TRENDS MAY BE FOR MORE DRY AND WARM WEATHER ON THURSDAY. IF THAT HAPPENS...OUR CURRENT HIGHS WILL BE A BIT TOO LOW...EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE SOUTHEAST. ANOTHER WRINKLE IN THE LATEST MODELS IS THAT THE FRONT ONLY SLOWLY MOVES ACROSS ILLINOIS THUR NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. THAT SLOWER SCENARIO WOULD KEEP RAIN IN OUR FORECAST THUR NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING...WHEN THE FRONT FINALLY DEPARTS TO THE SOUTHEAST. THE ARRIVAL OF COLDER AIR FOR NEXT WEEKEND IS STILL IN AGREEMENT...WITH THE GFS COLDER THAN THE ECMWF BY 3-4C. BELOW NORMAL TEMPS LOOK TO BE THE RULE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES INTO THE MID MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY...KEEPING WARM AIR SHUNTED TO THE WEST OF ILLINOIS. SHIMON && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTHERN INDIANA
810 PM EDT MON OCT 22 2012 .AVIATION... /00 UTC TAFS/ CONTD CONVECTION ALONG TAIL OF SHORTWAVE TROF MOVG EWD THROUGH NRN INDIANA WITH STRONG PARCEL FORCING PER 40KT 8H JET SAMPLED PER KIWX VWP. SHORT DURATION /NEXT 2HRS/ TEMPO TSRA AT KFWA TO COVER WITH FAIRLY STRONG CONFIDENCE OF OCCRNC. BULK OF PRECIP PUSHED WELL N-E OF KSBN WITH ONLY VCSH MENTION THERE. HAVE SIDED MORE OPTIMISTIC WITH FCST THIS CYCLE/PRIMARILY VFR MET CONDS...WITH THE ASSUMPTION THAT WARM SECTOR DOMINANCE WL MAINTAIN ACRS NRN INDIANA. EXCEPTION TO WHICH /ASIDE FM INITIAL TSRA AT KFWA/ WL BE W/POTNL CONVECTION ASSOCD WITH SHORTWAVE CRNTLY ACRS ECNTL MO AS IT LIFTS NEWD. TIMING OF PD SHRA WITH TEMPO FUEL ALT CONDS ERLY TUE AM. AT THIS TIME TSRA CHCS REMAIN UNCERTAIN/CONDITIONAL AND AWAIT HIR CONFIDENCE BEFORE MENTION. && .SHORT TERM... /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/ COMPLEX SHORT TERM FORECAST GIVEN PROBLEMATIC MCV ROTATING THROUGH WESTERN LAKES THIS AFTERNOON. CONVECTION HAS FIRED AHEAD OF MAIN SHORT WAVE IN AREA OF STRONG THETA E ADVECTION WITH LOW LEVEL JET. SATELLITE AND RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS MCV DEVELOPED OVER NORTHERN IL AND LIFTING NORTH INTO WI. 12Z 4KM WRF WAS A TOTAL BUST WITH NO INDICATION OF THIS LINE OF CONVECTION AT 18Z. HRRR WAS PERFORMING WELL ON A FEW OF ITS RUNS AND GENERALLY FOLLOWED WITH SOME EXTRAPOLATION. MOST SPECTRAL GUIDANCE DID NOT MODEL MCV AND ASSOCIATED SUBSIDENCE IN ITS WAKE WHICH HAS LIMITED ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. SPECTRAL MODELS SEEM OVER AGGRESSIVE WITH ADDITIONAL PCPN DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING INTO EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS IN AREA NEAR WARM FRONT BUT BETWEEN SYNOPTIC SHORT WAVES. HAVE TIMED CURRENT CONVECTION ACROSS CWA INTO EARLY EVENING HOURS WITH A DIMINISHING TREND. KEPT CHANCE POPS GOING ENTIRE AREA THIS EVENING. SECOND SHORT WAVE AND PV ANOMALY APPROACH LATE TONIGHT AND THIS FEATURE SLOWER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. NOW LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL IMPACT MOST OF AREA ON TUESDAY. HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING/DETAIL OF POPS WITH LIKELY LATE TONIGHT AND TUE MORNING ALL BUT SE AREAS. KEPT A CHANCE ACROSS NORTHEAST TUE AFTERNOON WITH SHORT WAVE OVER THE AREA BUT MOVING EAST. TEMPS WILL REMAIN WARM THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH LOWS IN UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. HIGHS ON TUE AGAIN TRICKY WITH CLOUDS AND PCPN BUT SINCE WE MANAGED TO REACH 70 MOST AREAS TODAY SEE SIMILAR NUMBERS ON TUE WITH MID 70S POSSIBLE SOUTH WHERE RAIN ENDS IN MORNING. BLENDED GUIDANCE LOOKS GOOD. && .LONG TERM... /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/ UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER WILL BE IN STORE INTO THURSDAY WITH CONTINUED SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW INTO THE REGION. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THURSDAY WITH 850 MB TEMPS IN THE +15 TO +17 CELSIUS RANGE. SOUNDINGS WOULD SUGGEST THAT TEMPS WILL ONLY MIX THROUGH AROUND 900 MB YIELDING HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S WEDS AND THURS AFTERNOON WHICH IS INLINE WITH PREV GRIDS AND NEAR OR ABOVE GUIDANCE. IF FULL MIX OUT THROUGH 850 MB OCCURS...TEMPS COULD JUMP INTO THE LOWER 80S. FORECAST BECOMES MORE MUDDLED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST IN TERMS OF HANDLING OF SEVERAL LARGE SCALE FEATURES. FIRST IS LARGE TROUGH WHICH WILL BE DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS WITH MAIN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IN CENTRAL CANADA. THIS FEATURE DRIVES A STRONG COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA IN THURS NGT/FRI TIME FRAME. FROM HERE THE MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE ON HANDLING OF PROGRESSIVENESS OF THE TROUGH. 12Z GFS HAS KEPT A POSITIVELY TILTED SYSTEM SWEEPING THROUGH AND COLDER AIR ARRIVING BEHIND IT WITH LITTLE LINGERING PRECIP. 00Z ECMWF STALLED THE FRONT ACROSS THE REGION WITH ADDITIONAL ENERGY MOVING ALONG IT TO BRING CHANCES INTO SATURDAY. 12Z GEFS/GEM/00Z ECMWF THEN INDICATE TROUGH BECOMES SOMEWHAT NEGATIVELY TILTED. THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT THE 2ND FEATURE OF CONCERN...WHAT WILL LIKELY BECOME TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY LATER TODAY. MODELS GENERALLY INTENSIFY THE SYSTEM AND TRACK INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. THIS WILL CAUSE A BLOCKY PATTER TO ESTABLISH WITH MODELS BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH ON POSSIBLE PHASING OF SOME OF THE TROPICAL ENERGY AND THE TROUGH...DEVELOPING A LARGE STORM SYSTEM THAT COULD BRING IN A BLAST OF COLD AIR AND CHANCES FOR RAIN OR SNOW INTO NEXT WEEK. 12Z ECMWF HAS BACKED OFF ON MORE WESTWARD SOLUTION OF THIS PHASING AND SOMEWHAT MORE REALISTIC BOMBING OUT OF THE SYSTEM OFF THE EAST COAST. COLDER AIR WILL STILL ARRIVE REGARDLESS WITH POTENTIAL FOR LAKE EFFECT POSSIBLY IN PLAY. HAVE TRIED TO KEEP FOR THE MOST PART WITH PREV GRIDS AND UNDERCUT GUIDANCE WITH TRENDS OF ALL MODELS STILL SUGGESTING A DROP TO WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPS. REMOVED SOME OF THE MIXED PRECIP WORDING WITH 1000-850 MB THICKNESS VALUES GENERALLY IN THE 1300 TO 1310 DM RANGE. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...LASHLEY LONG TERM...FISHER AVIATION...MURPHY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
556 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 222 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 AS OF 2 PM...SKIES ACROSS THE TRI-STATE AREA RANGED FROM CLEAR TO MOSTLY CLOUDY DUE TO STRATUS THAT DEVELOPED THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES WERE IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S IN AREAS WHERE THE CLOUDS HAVE BURNED OFF AND IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOW 60S WHERE THE CLOUDS HAVE REMAINED. WINDS WERE BEGINNING TO TURN TO THE SOUTHEAST FROM WEST TO EAST AS A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM LOCATED OVER EASTERN KANSAS MOVES AWAY TO THE NORTHEAST. TONIGHT...THROUGH MODELS AND LOCAL FORECASTER COLLABORATION... EXPECTING FOG AND STRATUS TO DEVELOP AGAIN. THE KEY TO THE ENTIRE SHORT TERM FORECAST DEPENDS ON THE STRATUS AND FOG DEVELOPMENT. AT THIS TIME...FOG AND STRATUS IS NOT EXPECTED TO FORM AS FAR WEST AS MONDAY MORNING. LOW TEMPERATURES WILL BE HIGHER TO THE EAST AS A RESULT OF CLOUD COVER AND HIGHER DEW POINTS AND COOLER TO THE WEST WITH CLEAR SKIES. FOR TOMORROW...THE FOG AND STRATUS WILL BEGIN BURNING OFF DURING THE MID TO LATE MORNING HOURS. DOWNSLOPE SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL PICK UP AND AND BRING IN SOME DRIER AIR...HELPING TO ERODE THE FOG AND STRATUS. HIGH TEMPERATURES COULD SOAR TO THE MID TO UPPER 80S AS A RESULT OF DOWNSLOPE FLOW FROM THE SOUTHWEST AND DRY AIR MOVING IN. HOWEVER...DUE TO CONCERNS OVER THE COVERAGE AND TIMING OF THE FOG AND STRATUS...DID NOT FORECAST NEAR RECORD TEMPERATURES ALTHOUGH IT IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE TO NEAR RECORD HIGHS. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 230 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY DRY AIR REMAINS IN PLACE AHEAD OF A LONG WAVE TROUGH MOVING SOUTH THROUGH THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. WEDNESDAY AHEAD OF THE TROUGH A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA...SLOWLY MOVING SOUTH THROUGH THE DAY. THE FRONT WILL EXIT THE AREA BY MIDNIGHT. BEHIND THE FRONT 1000-500MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY INCREASES. DURING THE NIGHT THE LONG WAVE TROUGH MOVES OVER THE AREA. LIFT INCREASES DURING THE LATE EVENING...PEAKING AROUND MIDNIGHT THEN TAPERING OFF AS THE MAIN AREA OF LIFT WITHIN THE LONG WAVE TROUGH EXITS THE AREA BY SUNRISE THURSDAY. PRECIP CHANCES DURING THE NIGHT FOLLOW THE SAME TREND AS THE LIFT SINCE THERE WILL BE AMPLE MOISTURE TO WORK WITH THROUGH THE NIGHT. ONE CONCERN IS THE RIGHT EXIT REGION OF THE 500 AND 300 MB JET WILL BE OVER THE MAJORITY OF THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THE ENVIRONMENT WILL ONLY BE SATURATED FROM 850-700MB. GIVEN THESE CONCERNS KEPT PRECIP CHANCES BELOW 50 PERCENT DESPITE THE PLENTIFUL LIFT IN THE SATURATED LAYER. ON A SIDE NOTE...AM NOT ANTICIPATING THE RAIN TO CHANGE PHASE SINCE SOUNDINGS ARE NOT SATURATED ABOVE -10C AND DEW POINTS AT THE SURFACE REMAIN ABOVE 0C. FOR THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY...THE PERIOD WILL START OUT WITH SOME LINGERING PRECIP CHANCES OVER THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE AREA AS THE FIRST SHORT WAVE TROUGH DEPARTS THE AREA. THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TROUGH WITHIN THE MAIN UPPER LEVEL WAVE MOVES OVER THE AREA. SNOWFALL CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA THURSDAY NIGHT AND/OR FRIDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS AT THIS TIME LOOK TO BE FAIRLY MINIMAL. OTHERWISE THE PRECIP CHANCES WILL END BY THE WEEKEND AS THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH DEPARTS THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT AND THE JET STREAM MOVES NORTH OF THE AREA. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE PERIOD WILL BE NEAR NORMAL WEDNESDAY WITH BELOW NORMAL VALUES EXPECTED THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES FOR THE WEEKEND WILL WARM AS A WARMER AIR MASS MOVES INTO THE AREA. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z TUESDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 555 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE TAF PERIOD AT BOTH MCK AND GLD. FOG AND LOW STRATUS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TONIGHT...WITH MORE CONFIDENCE IN FOG DEVELOPING AT MCK THAN GLD. AN AREA OF LOW STRATUS OVER SOUTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA AND NORTH CENTRAL KANSAS WILL ADVECT WESTWARD EARLY TONIGHT WHICH GIVES BETTER CONFIDENCE TO MCK. AT GLD THE WIND DIRECTION WILL PLAY A LARGE PART IN DETERMINING IF FOG DEVELOPS AND HOW DENSE IT WILL BE. IF WINDS TURN TO THE SOUTHWEST EARLIER THAN EXPECTED...BRINGING IN DRIER AIR...DENSE FOG DOES NOT SEEM LIKELY. WHILE THE HRRR IS CONTINUING TO DEVELOP A THICK LAYER OF FOG AT GLD BY 09Z...THE GFS LAMP GUIDANCE HAS PULLED BACK ON ITS PREVIOUSLY BULLISH VISIBILITY FORECAST. THE UPS FOG FORECASTING TECHNIQUE LEADS TO DENSE FOG LIKELY AT BOTH SITES...BUT AGAIN...THE WIND DIRECTION AND RESULTING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL DETERMINE IF FOG REACHES GLD LATE TONIGHT INTO EARLY TOMORROW. IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT AN ASSUMPTION OF THE UPS TECHNIQUE IS THAT NO DRY AIR WILL BE ADVECTED...WHICH MAY HAPPEN WITH SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS. LOCAL CLIMATOLOGY ALSO DOES NOT SUPPORT FOG OR LOW STRATUS WHEN WINDS TURN TO THE SOUTHWEST. ANY FOG AND LOW STRATUS THAT DEVELOPS OVERNIGHT WILL DISSIPATE BY MID MORNING LEADING TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AND LIGHT WEST-SOUTHWEST WINDS AT GLD DURING THE DAY ON TUESDAY. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 222 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY BECOME A CONCERN ON TUESDAY. DOWNSLOPE WINDS FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL PICK UP...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. WIND SPEEDS OF 10 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 25 IS FORECAST FOR THE WESTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA. RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL DEPEND HIGHLY UPON FOG AND STRATUS DEVELOPMENT DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. IF THE FOG AND STRATUS HANGS ON LONGER LIKE TODAY...RELATIVE HUMIDITY VALUES WILL REMAIN TOO HIGH FOR DANGEROUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. AT THIS TIME...ISSUED A FIRE WEATHER WATCH FOR PORTIONS OF THE AREA DUE TO UNCERTAINTY OF FOG AND STRATUS DEVELOPMENT. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...FIRE WEATHER WATCH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR KSZ001-013-014-027>029- 041-042. CO...FIRE WEATHER WATCH TUESDAY AFTERNOON FOR COZ252>254. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...RRH LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...JJM/MENTZER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
240 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 116 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 TRICKY FORECAST THROUGH TOMORROW. A LOT OF IT WILL DEPEND ON WHEN STRATUS FORMS TONIGHT...THE EXTENT OF THE STRATUS AND WHEN IT WILL BURN OFF TOMORROW. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. IN GENERAL THE MODELS DO SAY STRATUS WILL FORM BUT DIFFER ON THE TIMING. FOR THE STRATUS THAT DEVELOPED LAST NIGHT/THIS MORNING TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE AREA...THE RUC FOLLOWED BY THE GFS DID THE BEST. THE NAM WAS A LITTLE QUICK IN DISSIPATING THE MOISTURE. IF GO BY THE RUC...STRATUS DEVELOPS EARLY IN THE EVENING IN THE EAST WITH THE GFS HOLDING OFF UNTIL NEAR 06Z WITH THE NAM BETWEEN 06Z AND 09Z. AM LEANING TOWARD THE EARLIER DEVELOPMENT WITH ANY FOG TO THE EAST OF THE AREA. THAT AND HOW STRONG THE WINDS WILL BE WILL DETERMINE THE MINS. MODELS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WRONG THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS. AT THIS TIME WILL GO NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW GUIDANCE. HOW FAST THE STRATUS BURNS OFF WILL BE THE BIG FACTOR ON MAXES MONDAY. THE WIND FIELD ENDS UP LIGHT AND VARIABLE OR LIGHT UPSLOPE. BELIEVE THE MODELS ARE TOO FAST IN SCOURING OUT THE MOISTURE WITH NO STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND DOWNSLOPE COMPONENT. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 230 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 FOR MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT...THE CLOSED LOW OFF THE COAST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL MOVE ONSHORE MONDAY NIGHT. THE CLOSED LOW FILLS AS ANOTHER DEVELOPS BY TUESDAY NIGHT ALONG THE US/CANADIAN BORDER WHILE A LONG WAVE TROUGH DIVES SOUTH ACROSS THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. AHEAD OF THE LONG WAVE TROUGH THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL REMAIN FROM THE SOUTHWEST...WITH NUMEROUS SHORT WAVE TROUGHS MOVING OVER THE AREA. HOWEVER DUE TO A DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE WILL KEEP THE FORECAST DRY. AT THE SURFACE A TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA LATE MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING...BRINGING DRIER AIR IN BEHIND IT. AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE EASTERN PART OF THE AREA...LIGHT WINDS AND LOW DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS MAY ALLOW FOG TO DEVELOP FROM MCCOOK SOUTHEAST TO HILL CITY. THE DRIER AIR AND BREEZY SOUTH WINDS WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO NEAR RECORD VALUES FOR SOME LOCATIONS TUESDAY. IN ADDITION...WIND GUSTS NEAR 30 MPH MAY LEAD TO HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. SEE FIRE WEATHER SECTION BELOW. LATE TUESDAY NIGHT A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA...BRINGING AN END TO THE ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. FOR THE WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY PERIOD...THE LONG WAVE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE PLAINS WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WITHIN THIS FEATURE A SHORT TROUGH AND THE LEFT EXIT OF THE 500MB JET MOVE OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT...BEHIND A COLD FRONT AT THE SURFACE. PRECIP CHANCES WILL LINGER INTO THURSDAY AS THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH AND JET MOVE EAST OF THE AREA. THURSDAY NIGHT ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE AREA BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF PRECIP CHANCES. AGAIN THE CHANCES LINGER INTO THE FOLLOWING DAY AS THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH DRIFTS ACROSS THE AREA. SOUNDINGS SHOW THE TEMPERATURE PROFILE NEARING THE 0C LINE OVERNIGHT THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING...BUT DISAGREE WITH THE PLACEMENT OF THE RAIN AND SNOW. AT THIS POINT WILL ONLY PLACE A RAIN/SHOW MIX IN THE FORECAST AND WAIT UNTIL THIS SYSTEM IS IN THE NEARER TERM BEFORE DETERMINING THE PLACEMENT OF THE RAIN/SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT NEAR/ABOVE NORMAL WEDNESDAY AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH DURING THE AFTERNOON...THEN COOL TO WELL BELOW NORMAL BY THE END OF THE WEEK. TEMPERATURES RECOVER SOME DURING THE WEEKEND AS A WARMER AIR MASS MOVES INTO THE AREA. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1144 AM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WHERE AND WHEN STRATUS DEVELOPS TONIGHT. MODELS SHOW IT THEY DIFFER ON HOW FAST TO DO IT. AM THINKING EARLIER RATHER LATER WHICH FAVORS THE RUC...WHICH WAS HANDLING THE CURRENT WIND/STRATUS WELL RIGHT NOW...AND THE GFS. FOR KMCK CHOSE TO ONLY INTRODUCE A SCT LOW DECK BEGINNING AT 02Z AND BRING IN THE MVFR CEILINGS AT 07Z. HOWEVER THAT COULD BE TOO LATE AND BROUGHT IN A LITTLE BEFORE 06Z. FOR KGLD IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE LATER. IFR CEILINGS LOOK TO DEVELOP NEAR 09Z AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING. && .FIRE WEATHER... ISSUED AT 230 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 TUESDAY AFTERNOON RELATIVE HUMIDITIES WILL DROP TO AROUND 15 PERCENT AND WIND GUSTS WILL NEAR 30 MPH FOR LOCATIONS WEST OF A TRENTON NEBRASKA TO COLBY AND RUSSELL SPRINGS LINE. CURRENTLY THE WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY FOR WINDS AND RELATIVE HUMIDITIES TO MEET CRITERIA ARE TOO SHORT TO WARRENT A FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHT. HOWEVER THERE WILL BE A BRIEF PERIOD DURING THE AFTERNOON THAT CONDITIONS WILL CRITERIA. && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 230 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 HERE ARE THE CURRENT HIGH TEMPERATURE RECORDS FOR LOCATIONS THAT WILL NEAR THEM ON TUESDAY. LOCATION RECORD YEAR SET/TIED GOODLAND 88 2003 HILL CITY 86 1975 BURLINGTON 87 2003 TRIBUNE 88 && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...BULLER FIRE WEATHER...JTL CLIMATE...JTL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
136 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 116 PM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 TRICKY FORECAST THROUGH TOMORROW. A LOT OF IT WILL DEPEND ON WHEN STRATUS FORMS TONIGHT...THE EXTENT OF THE STRATUS AND WHEN IT WILL BURN OFF TOMORROW. THIS IS COMPOUNDED BY THE FACT THAT THE MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING TROUBLE WITH THE TEMPERATURES AND THE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. IN GENERAL THE MODELS DO SAY STRATUS WILL FORM BUT DIFFER ON THE TIMING. FOR THE STRATUS THAT DEVELOPED LAST NIGHT/THIS MORNING TO THE NORTH AND EAST OF THE AREA...THE RUC FOLLOWED BY THE GFS DID THE BEST. THE NAM WAS A LITTLE QUICK IN DISSIPATING THE MOISTURE. IF GO BY THE RUC...STRATUS DEVELOPS EARLY IN THE EVENING IN THE EAST WITH THE GFS HOLDING OFF UNTIL NEAR 06Z WITH THE NAM BETWEEN 06Z AND 09Z. AM LEANING TOWARD THE EARLIER DEVELOPMENT WITH ANY FOG TO THE EAST OF THE AREA. THAT AND HOW STRONG THE WINDS WILL BE WILL DETERMINE THE MINS. MODELS HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE PLACE AND WRONG THE LAST COUPLE OF NIGHTS. AT THIS TIME WILL GO NEAR TO SLIGHTLY BELOW GUIDANCE. HOW FAST THE STRATUS BURNS OFF WILL BE THE BIG FACTOR ON MAXES MONDAY. THE WIND FIELD ENDS UP LIGHT AND VARIABLE OR LIGHT UPSLOPE. BELIEVE THE MODELS ARE TOO FAST IN SCOURING OUT THE MOISTURE WITH NO STRONG SUBSIDENCE AND DOWNSLOPE COMPONENT. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 253 AM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 THE GFS/EC AND TO A LESSER EXTENT GEM ARE STARTING TO COME MORE IN LINE WITH ONE ANOTHER ON THE EVOLUTION OF THE NEXT MAJOR SYSTEM TO AFFECT THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS. CURRENT REGIME OF SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WILL GRADUALLY TRANSITION TO A BROAD TROUGH WED-SAT. SEVERAL SHORT WAVES ARE FORECAST TO MOVE THROUGH THE TROUGH...ONE WED-WED NIGHT AND ANOTHER THU NIGHT-FRI NIGHT. AT THE SURFACE...A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA WEDNESDAY USHERING IN THE FIRST OF SEVERAL SURGES OF CANADIAN AIR. GFS/EC/GEM ALL SHOW 850 MB TEMPS DROPPING BELOW 0C BY FRIDAY MORNING. GFS CONTINUES TO HAVE A WETTER SOLUTION DURING THIS PERIOD IN CONTRAST TO THE EC. AFTER COLLABORATION...CURRENT FCST IS LEANING TOWARD THE DRIER EC SOLUTION. GIVEN FORECAST TEMPS FOR FRIDAY HAVE MENTIONED A LIGHT RAIN-SNOW MIX FOR PRECIP TYPE...COULD END UP BEING ALL LIGHT SNOW. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1144 AM MDT SUN OCT 21 2012 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WHERE AND WHEN STRATUS DEVELOPS TONIGHT. MODELS SHOW IT THEY DIFFER ON HOW FAST TO DO IT. AM THINKING EARLIER RATHER LATER WHICH FAVORS THE RUC...WHICH WAS HANDLING THE CURRENT WIND/STRATUS WELL RIGHT NOW...AND THE GFS. FOR KMCK CHOSE TO ONLY INTRODUCE A SCT LOW DECK BEGINNING AT 02Z AND BRING IN THE MVFR CEILINGS AT 07Z. HOWEVER THAT COULD BE TOO LATE AND BROUGHT IN A LITTLE BEFORE 06Z. FOR KGLD IT DOES LOOK A LITTLE LATER. IFR CEILINGS LOOK TO DEVELOP NEAR 09Z AND CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...DLF AVIATION...BULLER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
1239 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ...UPDATED FOR THE SYNOPSIS... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 1237 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 THE 250MB UPPER LEVEL ANALYSIS FROM 21/12Z SHOWED A WEST TO EAST JET FROM THE COAST OF OREGON EAST THROUGH MONTANA AND THEN CURVING SOUTHEAST TO WESTERN KENTUCKY. JETLET SPEEDS WERE IN THE 130-140KT RANGE ACROSS IDAHO AND SOUTHWESTERN MONTANA, AND IN THE 110KT RANGE OVER INDIANA AND WESTERN OHIO. ANOTHER SOUTHERLY JET IN THE 100 TO 120 KNOT RANGE WAS JUST OFF THE NEW ENGLAND COAST NORTHWARD INTO TO NOVA SCOTIA, CANADA. THE 500MB ANALYSIS SHOWED BROAD RIDGING OVER THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND MIDWESTERN STATES, WITH AN OPEN WAVE DOWN SOUTHWESTWARD OFF THE BAJA COAST. A LARGE LOW PRESSURE CENTER OVER EASTERN ONTARIO HAD A TRAILING TROUGH SOUTHWARD THROUGH PENNSYLVANIA AND NEW YORK EXTENDING TO OFF THE EASTERN COAST OF SOUTH CAROLINA. ANOTHER LARGE SCALE LOW PRESSURE AREA WAS OVER WESTERN CANADA. THE 700MB PRESSURE PATTERN WAS VERY SIMILAR TO THE 500MB LEVEL, BUT WITH A WEAK TROUGH OVER THE COLORADO AND NEBRASKA BORDER. THE TEMPERATURE AND WINDS AT DDC AT H7 WERE +12C AND 18015KT. THE 850MB ANALYSIS SHOWED A COLD FRONT FROM EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA TO EXTREME NORTHWEST KANSAS TO NORTHERN UTAH. A GOOD SWATH OF 850MB MOISTURE WAS FLOWING NORTH INTO CENTRAL AND EASTERN KANSAS THIS MORNING. DDC`S 850MB TEMP WAS +21C AND THE WINDS WERE 19015KT. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE SUBTROPICAL 500 HPA LOW MENTIONED IN THE SYNOPSIS WILL BECOME ABSORBED IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST TODAY. THIS FEATURE WILL NOT MOVE ACROSS KANSAS UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS UL FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY AND SW KANSAS WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR. 850 HPA TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LOOK TO BE VERY WARM FOR OCTOBER (IN THE LOWER 20 DEG C). THIS COULD EASILY SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY AND THE HRRR SHOWS SOME PATCHY FOG ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING. WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE STRONG DUE TO THE DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE SYNOPTIC WAVE WITH TIME AND LACK OF STRONG HEIGHT FALLS ALOFT. AN INCREASE IN MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS INTO MONDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S DEG F ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO 50S DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 405 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ON MONDAY AN UPPER LEVEL SUBTROPICAL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. LAYER MOISTURE IS LIMITED WITH THIS SYSTEM SO WILL CONTINUE WITH A DRY FORECAST. LIGHT NORTH WINDS BECOME LIGHT SOUTHEASTERLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING OUT JUST SOUTH OF THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE THE COOLEST IN THE NORTH FROM SCOTT CITY TO HAYS IN THE MID 70S AND WARMER SOUTH FROM THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. FOR MONDAY NIGHT A WARM FRONT MOVES BACK NORTH FROM OKLAHOMA ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WITH LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS BECOMING SOUTH. 850MB TEMPS RISE TO 22 TO 24C. THERE COULD BE SOME STRATUS IN THE EAST FA FROM SAINT JOHN TO PRATT AS HIGHER DEWPOINTS RETURN. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S WEST TOWARDS THE COLORADO BORDER TO AROUND 60 EAST FROM SAINT JOHN TO MEDICINE LODGE. FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES FROM THE WESTERN CONUS AND INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION AND ROCKIES. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM, WESTERN KANSAS WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS PRESSURES FALL IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. A DRYLINE WILL SET UP IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS WITH VERY DRY SURFACE AIR IN THE WEST. IF WINDS MIX DEEPLY ENOUGH IN THE WEST COULD BE CLOSE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND IN THE 50S. ON THURSDAY THE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS PUSHING A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS KANSAS. WILL KEEP A SMALL POP GOING FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR HAYS TO COLDWATER AND EAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING, HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DRY SLOT INTRUSION. THE BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LOOKS EAST INTO CENTRAL KANSAS WITH THE DEEPER MOISTURE. HIGHS ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ARE FORECAST TO BE ONLY IN THE 60S. FOR FRIDAY A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS RE-ESTABLISHING THE COLDER AIRMASS. A FEW RAIN SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP IN THE COLDER AIR IN THE EAST FA AROUND MEDICINE LODGE AND WILL COVER WITH A LOW POP. THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS LOOK TO DEEP WITH THE TROUGH AXIS THAN THE NEW ECMWF AND HAS MUCH MORE PRECIPITATION BREAKING OUT. FOR NOW WILL SIDE WITH THE DRIER ECMWF. HIGHS ON FRIDAY LOOK TO BE ONLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 5OS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ON FRIDAY MORNING LOOK TO BE IN UPPER 30S TO MID 40S. FOR NEXT WEEKEND DRY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE AND HIGHS ONLY IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD GET DOWN BELOW THE FREEZING MARK DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SURFACE RIDGE SETS UP AND WHERE WINDS CAN GO LIGHT FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1201 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 THIS AFTERNOON WILL START WITH WEAK HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED SOUTHWEST OF KANSAS, AND A COLD FRONT MOVING SOUTH THROUGH NEBRASKA. A FEW CLOUDS WILL BE BKN OVER THE HYS TAF SITE THROUGH MID AFTERNOON, IN THE 18,000 FT RANGE. THOSE CLOUDS WILL DISSIPATE BY 20Z, AND A SOUTHWEST FLOW OF 08G16KT WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED ACROSS ALL THREE TAF SITES, ALONG WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. THE APPROACHING FRONT WILL BRING A WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTH TO NORTHWEST TONIGHT, SHIFTING AT HYS AROUND 06Z, AT GCK AROUND 07Z AND AT DDC BY 09Z. WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE 34010-12KTS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 87 46 78 53 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 86 43 76 48 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 87 47 80 50 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 88 46 80 47 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 84 47 75 51 / 0 0 10 0 P28 90 54 83 59 / 0 0 10 10 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...BURKE SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...KRUSE AVIATION...BURKE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
1201 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ...UPDATED FOR THE 18Z TAF AND AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 1100 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 THE 21.00Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED A STRONG 130 KT WESTERLY JET LOCATED ACROSS SW OREGON. THIS JET WEAKENED SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND THEN INCREASED TO AROUND 125 KT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT 500 HPA, A SUBTROPICAL LOW WAS LOCATED SW OF CALIFORNIA. A BROAD TROF EXTENDED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AT 700 AND 850 HPA, A WARM PLUME PREVAILED ACROSS THE PLAINS. AT THE SFC, A FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE WEST COAST. ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES INTO THE PLAINS. YET ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OFFSHORE OF THE EAST COAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE SUBTROPICAL 500 HPA LOW MENTIONED IN THE SYNOPSIS WILL BECOME ABSORBED IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST TODAY. THIS FEATURE WILL NOT MOVE ACROSS KANSAS UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS UL FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY AND SW KANSAS WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR. 850 HPA TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LOOK TO BE VERY WARM FOR OCTOBER (IN THE LOWER 20 DEG C). THIS COULD EASILY SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY AND THE HRRR SHOWS SOME PATCHY FOG ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING. WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE STRONG DUE TO THE DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE SYNOPTIC WAVE WITH TIME AND LACK OF STRONG HEIGHT FALLS ALOFT. AN INCREASE IN MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS INTO MONDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S DEG F ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO 50S DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 405 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ON MONDAY AN UPPER LEVEL SUBTROPICAL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. LAYER MOISTURE IS LIMITED WITH THIS SYSTEM SO WILL CONTINUE WITH A DRY FORECAST. LIGHT NORTH WINDS BECOME LIGHT SOUTHEASTERLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING OUT JUST SOUTH OF THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE THE COOLEST IN THE NORTH FROM SCOTT CITY TO HAYS IN THE MID 70S AND WARMER SOUTH FROM THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. FOR MONDAY NIGHT A WARM FRONT MOVES BACK NORTH FROM OKLAHOMA ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WITH LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS BECOMING SOUTH. 850MB TEMPS RISE TO 22 TO 24C. THERE COULD BE SOME STRATUS IN THE EAST FA FROM SAINT JOHN TO PRATT AS HIGHER DEWPOINTS RETURN. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S WEST TOWARDS THE COLORADO BORDER TO AROUND 60 EAST FROM SAINT JOHN TO MEDICINE LODGE. FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES FROM THE WESTERN CONUS AND INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION AND ROCKIES. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM, WESTERN KANSAS WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS PRESSURES FALL IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. A DRYLINE WILL SET UP IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS WITH VERY DRY SURFACE AIR IN THE WEST. IF WINDS MIX DEEPLY ENOUGH IN THE WEST COULD BE CLOSE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND IN THE 50S. ON THURSDAY THE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS PUSHING A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS KANSAS. WILL KEEP A SMALL POP GOING FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR HAYS TO COLDWATER AND EAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING, HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DRY SLOT INTRUSION. THE BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LOOKS EAST INTO CENTRAL KANSAS WITH THE DEEPER MOISTURE. HIGHS ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ARE FORECAST TO BE ONLY IN THE 60S. FOR FRIDAY A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS RE-ESTABLISHING THE COLDER AIRMASS. A FEW RAIN SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP IN THE COLDER AIR IN THE EAST FA AROUND MEDICINE LODGE AND WILL COVER WITH A LOW POP. THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS LOOK TO DEEP WITH THE TROUGH AXIS THAN THE NEW ECMWF AND HAS MUCH MORE PRECIPITATION BREAKING OUT. FOR NOW WILL SIDE WITH THE DRIER ECMWF. HIGHS ON FRIDAY LOOK TO BE ONLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 5OS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ON FRIDAY MORNING LOOK TO BE IN UPPER 30S TO MID 40S. FOR NEXT WEEKEND DRY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE AND HIGHS ONLY IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD GET DOWN BELOW THE FREEZING MARK DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SURFACE RIDGE SETS UP AND WHERE WINDS CAN GO LIGHT FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z MONDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1201 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 THIS AFTERNOON WILL START WITH WEAK HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED SOUTHWEST OF KANSAS, AND A COLD FRONT MOVING SOUTH THROUGH NEBRASKA. A FEW CLOUDS WILL BE BKN OVER THE HYS TAF SITE THROUGH MID AFTERNOON, IN THE 18,000 FT RANGE. THOSE CLOUDS WILL DISSIPATE BY 20Z, AND A SOUTHWEST FLOW OF 08G16KT WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED ACROSS ALL THREE TAF SITES, ALONG WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES. THE APPROACHING FRONT WILL BRING A WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTH TO NORTHWEST TONIGHT, SHIFTING AT HYS AROUND 06Z, AT GCK AROUND 07Z AND AT DDC BY 09Z. WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE 34010-12KTS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 87 47 78 53 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 86 44 76 48 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 87 47 80 50 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 88 47 80 47 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 84 48 75 51 / 0 0 10 0 P28 90 55 83 59 / 0 0 10 10 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...KRUSE AVIATION...BURKE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS DODGE CITY KS
609 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ...UPDATED FOR AVIATION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 1100 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 THE 21.00Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED A STRONG 130 KT WESTERLY JET LOCATED ACROSS SW OREGON. THIS JET WEAKENED SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND THEN INCREASED TO AROUND 125 KT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT 500 HPA, A SUBTROPICAL LOW WAS LOCATED SW OF CALIFORNIA. A BROAD TROF EXTENDED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AT 700 AND 850 HPA, A WARM PLUME PREVAILED ACROSS THE PLAINS. AT THE SFC, A FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE WEST COAST. ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES INTO THE PLAINS. YET ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OFFSHORE OF THE EAST COAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE SUBTROPICAL 500 HPA LOW MENTIONED IN THE SYNOPSIS WILL BECOME ABSORBED IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST TODAY. THIS FEATURE WILL NOT MOVE ACROSS KANSAS UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS UL FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY AND SW KANSAS WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR. 850 HPA TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LOOK TO BE VERY WARM FOR OCTOBER (IN THE LOWER 20 DEG C). THIS COULD EASILY SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY AND THE HRRR SHOWS SOME PATCHY FOG ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING. WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE STRONG DUE TO THE DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE SYNOPTIC WAVE WITH TIME AND LACK OF STRONG HEIGHT FALLS ALOFT. AN INCREASE IN MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS INTO MONDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S DEG F ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO 50S DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 405 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ON MONDAY AN UPPER LEVEL SUBTROPICAL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. LAYER MOISTURE IS LIMITED WITH THIS SYSTEM SO WILL CONTINUE WITH A DRY FORECAST. LIGHT NORTH WINDS BECOME LIGHT SOUTHEASTERLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING OUT JUST SOUTH OF THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE THE COOLEST IN THE NORTH FROM SCOTT CITY TO HAYS IN THE MID 70S AND WARMER SOUTH FROM THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. FOR MONDAY NIGHT A WARM FRONT MOVES BACK NORTH FROM OKLAHOMA ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WITH LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS BECOMING SOUTH. 850MB TEMPS RISE TO 22 TO 24C. THERE COULD BE SOME STRATUS IN THE EAST FA FROM SAINT JOHN TO PRATT AS HIGHER DEWPOINTS RETURN. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S WEST TOWARDS THE COLORADO BORDER TO AROUND 60 EAST FROM SAINT JOHN TO MEDICINE LODGE. FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES FROM THE WESTERN CONUS AND INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION AND ROCKIES. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM, WESTERN KANSAS WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS PRESSURES FALL IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. A DRYLINE WILL SET UP IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS WITH VERY DRY SURFACE AIR IN THE WEST. IF WINDS MIX DEEPLY ENOUGH IN THE WEST COULD BE CLOSE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND IN THE 50S. ON THURSDAY THE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS PUSHING A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS KANSAS. WILL KEEP A SMALL POP GOING FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR HAYS TO COLDWATER AND EAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING, HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DRY SLOT INTRUSION. THE BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LOOKS EAST INTO CENTRAL KANSAS WITH THE DEEPER MOISTURE. HIGHS ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ARE FORECAST TO BE ONLY IN THE 60S. FOR FRIDAY A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS RE-ESTABLISHING THE COLDER AIRMASS. A FEW RAIN SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP IN THE COLDER AIR IN THE EAST FA AROUND MEDICINE LODGE AND WILL COVER WITH A LOW POP. THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS LOOK TO DEEP WITH THE TROUGH AXIS THAN THE NEW ECMWF AND HAS MUCH MORE PRECIPITATION BREAKING OUT. FOR NOW WILL SIDE WITH THE DRIER ECMWF. HIGHS ON FRIDAY LOOK TO BE ONLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 5OS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ON FRIDAY MORNING LOOK TO BE IN UPPER 30S TO MID 40S. FOR NEXT WEEKEND DRY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE AND HIGHS ONLY IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD GET DOWN BELOW THE FREEZING MARK DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SURFACE RIDGE SETS UP AND WHERE WINDS CAN GO LIGHT FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z MONDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 603 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 A WEAK UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS THIS AFTERNOON BUT LAYER MOISTURE IS LACKING FOR ANY CONVECTION. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE TAF SITES AFTER MIDNIGHT SHIFTING LIGHT AND VARIABLE WINDS TO THE NORTH TO NORTHWEST AROUND 10KT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT DEEP MIXING IN THE WARM SECTOR BY 21Z COULD LEAD TO 10-20KT SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDS THROUGH 00Z. MODEL FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS INCREASING AFTER MIDNIGHT. EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS TAF PERIOD. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 87 47 78 53 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 86 44 76 48 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 87 47 80 50 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 88 47 80 47 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 84 48 75 51 / 0 0 10 0 P28 90 55 83 59 / 0 0 10 10 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...KRUSE AVIATION...KRUSE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS DODGE CITY KS
410 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ...UPDATED FOR LONG TERM... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 1100 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 THE 21.00Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED A STRONG 130 KT WESTERLY JET LOCATED ACROSS SW OREGON. THIS JET WEAKENED SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND THEN INCREASED TO AROUND 125 KT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT 500 HPA, A SUBTROPICAL LOW WAS LOCATED SW OF CALIFORNIA. A BROAD TROF EXTENDED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AT 700 AND 850 HPA, A WARM PLUME PREVAILED ACROSS THE PLAINS. AT THE SFC, A FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE WEST COAST. ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES INTO THE PLAINS. YET ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OFFSHORE OF THE EAST COAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE SUBTROPICAL 500 HPA LOW MENTIONED IN THE SYNOPSIS WILL BECOME ABSORBED IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST TODAY. THIS FEATURE WILL NOT MOVE ACROSS KANSAS UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS UL FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY AND SW KANSAS WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR. 850 HPA TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LOOK TO BE VERY WARM FOR OCTOBER (IN THE LOWER 20 DEG C). THIS COULD EASILY SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY AND THE HRRR SHOWS SOME PATCHY FOG ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING. WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE STRONG DUE TO THE DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE SYNOPTIC WAVE WITH TIME AND LACK OF STRONG HEIGHT FALLS ALOFT. AN INCREASE IN MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS INTO MONDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S DEG F ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO 50S DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .LONG TERM...(MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 405 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ON MONDAY AN UPPER LEVEL SUBTROPICAL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES RAPIDLY NORTHEASTWARD FROM NEW MEXICO ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS. LAYER MOISTURE IS LIMITED WITH THIS SYSTEM SO WILL CONTINUE WITH A DRY FORECAST. LIGHT NORTH WINDS BECOME LIGHT SOUTHEASTERLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT WITH THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY STALLING OUT JUST SOUTH OF THE OKLAHOMA BORDER. HIGH TEMPS WILL BE THE COOLEST IN THE NORTH FROM SCOTT CITY TO HAYS IN THE MID 70S AND WARMER SOUTH FROM THE UPPER 70S TO LOWER 80S. FOR MONDAY NIGHT A WARM FRONT MOVES BACK NORTH FROM OKLAHOMA ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS WITH LIGHT SOUTHEAST WINDS BECOMING SOUTH. 850MB TEMPS RISE TO 22 TO 24C. THERE COULD BE SOME STRATUS IN THE EAST FA FROM SAINT JOHN TO PRATT AS HIGHER DEWPOINTS RETURN. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND RANGE FROM THE UPPER 40S WEST TOWARDS THE COLORADO BORDER TO AROUND 60 EAST FROM SAINT JOHN TO MEDICINE LODGE. FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES FROM THE WESTERN CONUS AND INTO THE 4 CORNERS REGION AND ROCKIES. AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM, WESTERN KANSAS WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S. THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS PRESSURES FALL IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. A DRYLINE WILL SET UP IN THE AFTERNOON ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS WITH VERY DRY SURFACE AIR IN THE WEST. IF WINDS MIX DEEPLY ENOUGH IN THE WEST COULD BE CLOSE TO CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ARE FORECAST TO BE MILD AND IN THE 50S. ON THURSDAY THE UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS PUSHING A STRONG COLD FRONT ACROSS KANSAS. WILL KEEP A SMALL POP GOING FOR A FEW THUNDERSTORMS FROM NEAR HAYS TO COLDWATER AND EAST FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY MORNING, HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH AN UPPER LEVEL DRY SLOT INTRUSION. THE BETTER CHANCE FOR THUNDERSTORMS LOOKS EAST INTO CENTRAL KANSAS WITH THE DEEPER MOISTURE. HIGHS ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT ARE FORECAST TO BE ONLY IN THE 60S. FOR FRIDAY A SECONDARY UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS RE-ESTABLISHING THE COLDER AIRMASS. A FEW RAIN SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP IN THE COLDER AIR IN THE EAST FA AROUND MEDICINE LODGE AND WILL COVER WITH A LOW POP. THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS LOOK TO DEEP WITH THE TROUGH AXIS THAN THE NEW ECMWF AND HAS MUCH MORE PRECIPITATION BREAKING OUT. FOR NOW WILL SIDE WITH THE DRIER ECMWF. HIGHS ON FRIDAY LOOK TO BE ONLY IN THE MID TO UPPER 5OS. OVERNIGHT LOWS ON FRIDAY MORNING LOOK TO BE IN UPPER 30S TO MID 40S. FOR NEXT WEEKEND DRY NORTHWESTERLY FLOW CONTINUES BEHIND THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WITH A COLD AIRMASS IN PLACE AND HIGHS ONLY IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. OVERNIGHT LOWS COULD GET DOWN BELOW THE FREEZING MARK DEPENDING ON WHERE THE SURFACE RIDGE SETS UP AND WHERE WINDS CAN GO LIGHT FOR BOTH SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MORNINGS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1200 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VFR CIGS EXPECTED THROUGH TAF PD. A LEE SURFACE LOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT BY EVENING. SOME PATCHY FOG POSSIBLE THIS MORNING BUT THIS LOOKS TO REMAIN EAST OF THE TERMINALS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 87 47 78 53 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 86 44 76 48 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 87 47 80 50 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 88 47 80 47 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 84 48 75 51 / 0 0 10 0 P28 90 55 83 59 / 0 0 10 10 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...KRUSE AVIATION...SUGDEN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 ...UPDATE TO SHORT TERM DISCUSSION... .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 1100 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 THE 21.00Z 250 HPA RAOB MAP SHOWED A STRONG 130 KT WESTERLY JET LOCATED ACROSS SW OREGON. THIS JET WEAKENED SOMEWHAT ACROSS THE NORTHERN ROCKIES AND THEN INCREASED TO AROUND 125 KT ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. AT 500 HPA, A SUBTROPICAL LOW WAS LOCATED SW OF CALIFORNIA. A BROAD TROF EXTENDED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST. AT 700 AND 850 HPA, A WARM PLUME PREVAILED ACROSS THE PLAINS. AT THE SFC, A FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE WEST COAST. ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED ACROSS THE CENTRAL CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES INTO THE PLAINS. YET ANOTHER FRONTAL SYSTEM WAS LOCATED OFFSHORE OF THE EAST COAST. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 115 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VERY WARM TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TODAY WITH HIGHS NEAR 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE SUBTROPICAL 500 HPA LOW MENTIONED IN THE SYNOPSIS WILL BECOME ABSORBED IN THE SW FLOW ALOFT ACROSS THE DESERT SOUTHWEST TODAY. THIS FEATURE WILL NOT MOVE ACROSS KANSAS UNTIL THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. THIS UL FEATURE WILL EVENTUALLY MOVE A COLD FRONT ACROSS THE REGION. THIS FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TODAY AND SW KANSAS WILL REMAIN IN THE WARM SECTOR. 850 HPA TEMPERATURES ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS LOOK TO BE VERY WARM FOR OCTOBER (IN THE LOWER 20 DEG C). THIS COULD EASILY SUPPORT TEMPERATURES AROUND 90 DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. SURFACE DEWPOINTS WILL ALSO INCREASE TODAY AND THE HRRR SHOWS SOME PATCHY FOG ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS THIS MORNING. WINDS IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA ARE NOT EXPECTED TO BE STRONG DUE TO THE DEAMPLIFICATION OF THE SYNOPTIC WAVE WITH TIME AND LACK OF STRONG HEIGHT FALLS ALOFT. AN INCREASE IN MID TO HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS IS EXPECTED TONIGHT AND INTO TOMORROW MORNING. OVERNIGHT LOWS INTO MONDAY MORNING ARE EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 40S DEG F ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO 50S DEG F ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 251 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 MEDIUM RANGE MODELS INDICATE A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT PREVAILING ACROSS THE WESTERN HIGH PLAINS TO BEGIN THE PERIOD. MEANWHILE, AN EMBEDDED UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL LIFT NORTHEAST OUT OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE TEXAS PANHANDLE INTO NORTHERN OKLAHOMA AND EASTERN KANSAS MONDAY. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING THE POSSIBILITY FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO EXTREME NORTHERN TEXAS, OKLAHOMA, AND POTENTIALLY PORTIONS OF SOUTHEASTERN KANSAS MONDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. HOWEVER, A SURFACE LOW PROJECTED GENERALLY ACROSS CENTRAL KANSAS WITH AN ASSOCIATED DRYLINE EXTENDING SOUTHWARD INTO OKLAHOMA, IS EXPECTED TO KEEP THE BULK OF AVAILABLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE JUST OFF TO OUR SOUTH AND EAST. COMBINED WITH A GENERALLY WEAK FLOW ALOFT, THIS WILL RESULT IN FAIRLY DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS MONDAY WITH ANY PRECIP DEVELOPMENT STAYING JUST OFF TO OUR SOUTH AND EAST. THE DRY CONDITIONS WILL THEN CONTINUE THROUGH MID WEEK AS A LARGER UPPER LEVEL TROUGH BEGINS TO APPROACH FROM THE WEST. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE ABOVE NORMAL MONDAY EVEN AS A WEAK COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO PUSH SOUTHWARD JUST INTO SOUTHWESTERN KANSAS EARLY IN THE DAY BEFORE STALLING OUT. THE NAM, GFS, AND ECMWF SHOW H85 TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE LOWER TEENS(C) ACROSS WEST CENTRAL KANSAS TO NEAR 20C ACROSS SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS AS COOLER AIR FILTERS SOUTH ON THE BACKSIDE OF A SURFACE LOW WORKING NORTHEAST ALONG THE BOUNDARY. LOOK FOR HIGHS UP INTO THE 70S(F) FOR THE MOST PART WITH LOWER 80S(F) POSSIBLE IN SOUTH CENTRAL KANSAS. WARMER TEMPERATURES ARE LIKELY TUESDAY AS A LEE SIDE TROUGH QUICKLY DEVELOPS ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO HELPING TO LIFT THE STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY BACK NORTH ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS DURING THE DAY. THE RETURN OF A LOW LEVEL SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL ENHANCE WARM AIR ADVECTION INTO THE AREA WITH H85 TEMPERATURES BACK UP INTO THE LOWER 20S(C) ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST KANSAS. WIDESPREAD 80S(F) ARE EXPECTED FOR HIGHS TUESDAY AFTERNOON WITH NEAR 90F POSSIBLE IN SOME LOCATIONS IN EXTREME SOUTHWEST KANSAS. A COOLING TREND WILL THEN TAKE PLACE BY THE END OF THE WEEK AS A BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGH BEGINS TO PUSH EAST THROUGH THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST INTO THE WESTERN HIGH PLAINS HELPING TO USHER AN ATTENDANT COLD FRONT SOUTHEASTWARD INTO WESTERN KANSAS SOMETIME DURING THE LATE WEDNESDAY TO THURSDAY TIME FRAME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1200 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 VFR CIGS EXPECTED THROUGH TAF PD. A LEE SURFACE LOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN COLORADO THIS AFTERNOON WITH AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT BY EVENING. SOME PATCHY FOG POSSIBLE THIS MORNING BUT THIS LOOKS TO REMAIN EAST OF THE TERMINALS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 87 47 77 55 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 86 44 75 51 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 87 47 77 52 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 88 47 78 54 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 84 48 71 54 / 0 0 0 0 P28 90 55 81 58 / 0 0 10 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SUGDEN SHORT TERM...SUGDEN LONG TERM...JJOHNSON AVIATION...SUGDEN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
1046 PM MDT SAT OCT 20 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY) ISSUED AT 147 PM MDT SAT OCT 20 2012 MODELS HAVING A HARD TIME RESOLVING THE TEMPERATURE AND WIND FIELD FOR THE CURRENT PERIOD. THIS ALONG WITH ANOTHER EXPECTED VARIABLE WIND FIELD TONIGHT MAKE FOR A COMPLICATED MIN FORECAST. THERE WAS A WIDE RANGE IN LOWS LAST NIGHT. USED A BLEND OF THE RUC AND NAM FOR THE WINDS. SHOULD GET WARM AIR ADVECTION OVER THE FORECAST AREA BEFORE THE PREFRONTAL TROUGH AND THEN COLD FRONT START MOVING THROUGH. EXPECT ONCE AGAIN WHERE THE TROUGH LINE IS WILL BE WHERE COOLEST MINS SHOULD BE BUT DO EXPECT A WIDE RANGE ONCE AGAIN BUT A LITTLE WARMER THAN LAST NIGHT. MODELS DIFFERING ON THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEXT COLD FRONT WHICH DOES NOT LOOK TOO STRONG. MODELS HAVE TENDED TO SLOW THIS DOWN AND LOOKS TO NOT BE THROUGH THE ENTIRE FORECAST AREA BY THE END OF MAX HEATING TIME. THERE IS A 5 TO NEARLY 10 DEGREE DIFFERENCE IN MAXES. USING A CLUSTER OF THE BEST RECENT PERFORMING GUIDANCE...2 METER AND 850 MB TEMPERATURE BIASES SUPPORT A LITTLE WARMER MAXES...ESPECIALLY IN THE SOUTHEAST HALF OF THE AREA. IT DOES LOOK LIKE A BIG GRADIENT ACROSS THE AREA RANGING FROM THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 60S IN THE NORTHWEST CORNER TO THE LOWER 80S IN THE SOUTHEAST. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY) ISSUED AT 235 PM MDT SAT OCT 20 2012 FOR SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...THE COLD FRONT WILL EXIT THE AREA SUNDAY EVENING. MEANWHILE A CLOSED LOW WILL REMAIN ANCHORED JUST OFF THE COAST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...WITH SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT AND NUMEROUS SHORT WAVE TROUGHS MOVING OVER THE AREA. THE STRONGEST UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL BE THE REMNANTS OF THE STORM SYSTEM CURRENTLY WEST OF BAJA CALIFORNIA...WHICH WILL APPROACH THE AREA OVERNIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY MORNING. AHEAD OF THE DISTURBANCE NAM/SREF SHOW SOME WEAK ISENTROPIC LIFT OVER THE FAR EASTERN PART OF THE AREA AROUND 850 TO 880MB. HOWEVER IT IS VERY SHALLOW SO WILL ONLY HAVE SILENT CHANCES IN FOR THOSE PERIODS FOR THE FAR EAST. OTHERWISE AM NOT EXPECTING AN PRECIPITATION OVER THE AREA DURING THIS TIME FRAME DUE TO THE A DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE. FOR TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY...THE MAJORITY OF THE PERIOD WILL REMAIN DRY. THE CLOSED LOW OFF THE COAST OF THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WILL MOVE ONSHORE WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS DISAGREE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CLOSED LOW ONCE IT MOVES ON SHORE. THE GFS/DGEX/UKMET/GEM DIVE THE CLOSED LOW SOUTH AT VARYING SPEEDS BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WHILE THE 0Z ECMWF HAS A SHORT WAVE TROUGH KICK OUT OF THE CLOSED LOW BEFORE IT MOVES ONSHORE...KEEPING BOTH FURTHER NORTH ALONG THE US/CANADIAN BORDER. MEANWHILE THE GFS HAS A COLD FRONT MOVING THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT...AND DEPENDING ON THE MODEL OF CHOICE...EITHER THE LEFT EXIT OR RIGHT ENTRANCE OF THE 500MB JET OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA. DESPITE THE MODEL DISAGREEMENT CONSENSUS HAS PRECIP CHANCES OVER THE NORTHERN HALF OF THE AREA...WHICH SEEMS REASONABLE. ON A SIDE NOTE THE 12Z ECMWF IS NOW IN LINE WITH THE OTHER MODELS REGARDING THE TRACK OF THE CLOSED LOW AND FRONTAL PASSAGE...GIVING MORE WEIGHT TO THE NOTION OF PRECIP CHANCES WEDNESDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES FOR THE PERIOD WILL BE WELL ABOVE NORMAL TUESDAY...TRANSITIONING TO BELOW NORMAL BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1045 PM MDT SAT OCT 20 2012 COLD FRONT IS MOVING ACROSS SOUTH DAKOTA AND CENTRAL WYOMING LATE THIS EVENING. EXPECT FRONT TO REACH KMCK/KGLD AROUND 14Z. UNTIL THEN... SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST SURFACE WINDS WILL RANGE FROM 5-15 KNOTS. WINDS WILL SWITCH TO THE NORTH WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE...AND POSSIBLY GUST TO 20 KNOTS. EXPECT ONLY CIRRUS/VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...MENTZER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CARIBOU ME
529 PM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SYNOPSIS... LOW PRESSURE WILL REMAIN NORTH OF THE REGION TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD DOWN FROM CANADA MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION INTO MIDWEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... UPDATE: ADJUSTED THE POPS USING THE DOWNSCALED NAM WHICH IS ALIGNING WELL W/THE LATEST RADAR LOOP SHOWING SCATTERED SHOWERS OVER THE CWA. SKY COVER WAS ADJUSTED AS WELL TO INCREASE THE PERCENTAGES TO SHOW MORE CLOUDS THROUGH THE EVENING. TEMPERATURES WERE ADJUSTED DOWNWARD INTO THE EVENING USING THE HRRR WHICH SHOWED THE COOLING TREND NICELY. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... SURFACE LOW PRESSURE ALONG WITH INTENSE UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM WILL PASS TO THE NORTH OF THE STATE TONIGHT AND REMAIN OVER THE MARITIMES MONDAY. THIS SYSTEM IN CONJUNCTION WITH STRONG HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE SOUTHEASTERN STATES WILL COMBINE TO PRODUCE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT AND GUSTY WINDS MONDAY. HAVE BLENDED THE NAM12...GFS40...SREF AND ECMWF TO INITIALIZE THE POP GRIDS THEN HAVE MANUALLY ADJUSTED THE MODEL COMBINATION. DO NOT EXPECT ANY SIGNIFICANT QPF THIS PERIOD. FOR WINDS HAVE USED A BLEND OF GMOS AND NAM12. TRANSITION TEMPERATURE AND DEW POINT OBSERVATIONS TO GRIDS GENERATED WITH GMOS. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... WHATS LEFT OF COLD ADVCN SC ACROSS WRN AND NRN PTNS OF THE FA SHOULD CLR AWAY OVRNGT MON AS THE UPPER TROF CONTS TO MOVE E THRU THE MARITIMES...ALLOWING FOR FOR BLO FZG LOW TEMPS. TUE SHOULD BE FAIR AND COOL WITH INCREASING HI CLDNSS OVR WRN/SRN PTNS OF THE FA AS A WEAK S/WV BRINGS SOME OVRNG PRECIP TO CNTRL AND SRN NEW ENG. CLDNSS FROM THIS SYSTEM SHOULD REACH ITS NRN MOST EXTENT OVR OUR FA TUE EVE AND OVR NGT AS THE SFC WV MOVES ESE OFF SE NEW ENG. HI/MID CLDNSS THEN DIMINISHES N TO S ACROSS THE FA LATE TUE NGT INTO WED AS SFC HI PRES RIDGE FROM CNTRL CAN STRENGTHENS OVR THE FA WITH CONTD SEASONABLY COOL HI TEMPS AND THEN CHILLY OVRNGT LOWS WED NGT WITH GOOD RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS DIRECTLY UNDER THE SFC HI. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... THU BEGINS SUNNY ACROSS THE FA...THEN SOME INCREASE IN HI/MID CLDNSS FROM QB MOVES IN LATE IN THE DAY AS A WARM FRONT FROM THE ERN GREAT LKS APCHS. HI TEMPS SHOULD RECOVER TO NEAR SEASONAL NORMS. SHWRS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT COULD CLIP NW PTNS OF THE FA THU NGT AS THE WARM FRONT TRAVERSES W TO E ACROSS THE FA BY 12Z FRI. WITH CLDNSS AND MILDER AIR ACROSS THE REMAINDER OF THE REGION...OVRNGT LOWS SHOULD BE MUCH MILDER. FRI SHOULD BE FAIR AND SIGNIFICANTLY WARMER WITH HI/MID CLDNSS AT TMS ACROSS THE N HALF OF THE FA. HI TEMPS SHOULD BE WELL IN THE 50S NORTH AND LOWER 60S SOUTH...AND THIS MAY BE CONSERVATIVE. A WEAK COLD FRONT FROM QUEBEC THEN MOVES INTO THE FA FRI NGT WITH SOME CLDNSS AND A SLGT CHC OF SHWRS. AFTWRDS...THIS FRONT WILL BACK N OF THE REGION AS A WARM FRONT SAT WITH MORE IN THE WAY OF CLDNSS THEN SHWRS. A DEEPENING UPPER TROF FROM THE MIDWEST ALONG WITH A STRONGER SFC COLD FRONT FROM CNTRL CAN BRINGS THE NEXT CHC OF SHWRS TO THE FA BEGINNING LATE SAT NGT ACROSS WRN AREAS AND SPREADING TO THE REST OF THE REGION ON SUN. TEMPS WILL CONT MILD TO WARM...ALTHOUGH NOT AS WARM DURG DAYLIGHT HRS DUE TO GREATER CLD CVR AND/OR SHWRS AND INCREASING SRLY COMPONENT OF WINDS BRINGING COOLER MARINE AIR OFF THE GULF OF ME/N ATLC. && .AVIATION /22Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... NEAR TERM: EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS THIS FORECAST PERIOD. SHORT TO LONG TERM: MAINLY VFR XPCTD ALL TAF SITES THRU FRI. && .MARINE... NEAR TERM: HAVE BLENDED THE NAM12 AND GFS40 FOR WIND GRIDS. PRIMARY WAVE SYSTEM IS CURRENTLY LONG PERIOD SOUTHERLY WAVES 6-7 FEET/9-11 SECONDS WHICH WAS GENERATED IN SOUTHERLY FETCH OFF EAST COAST YESTERDAY. THIS SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO SUBSIDE TO 2-3 FEET BY 1200Z MONDAY...HOWEVER LOCAL WEST TO SOUTHEAST FETCH WILL DEVELOP ACROSS GULF OF MAINE TONIGHT AS WINDS INCREASE IN OFF-SHORE GRADIENT. THE SCA WILL THEREFORE BE KEPT IN PLACE. NEW SWAN/NAM NOT AVAILABLE..WILL KEEP PREVIOUS SWAN WHICH IS IN LINE WITH LATEST WNA TO MAINTAIN RESOLUTION CLOSE TO COAST. SHORT TO LONG TERM: INITIALLY...SCA CONDITIONS MON NGT INTO TUE MORN...THEN DIMINISHING TO WELL BLO SCA THRESHOLDS LATER TUE THRU FRI. KEPT CLOSE TO WW3 WV HT GUIDANCE THRU THIS PTN OF THE FCST. && .CAR WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ME...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR ANZ052. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT MONDAY FOR ANZ050-051. && $$ NEAR TERM...HEWITT/MIGNONE SHORT TERM...VJN LONG TERM...VJN AVIATION...HEWITT/MIGNONE MARINE...HEWITT/MIGNONE/VJN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
403 PM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY WITH MORE SUNSHINE AND WARM TEMPERATURES INTO MONDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH OHIO MONDAY NIGHT...WITH SHOWERS POSSIBLE THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. WARM AIR AND DRY WEATHER WILL PERSIST THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... THE LATEST RAP MID-LEVEL ANALYSIS INDICATES A CLOSED LOW IN QUEBEC CONTINUING TO PULL AWAY FROM THE AREA. ON THE FAR SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THIS FEATURE...THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY IS IN A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. AT THE SURFACE...A HIGH...CENTERED NEAR CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...IS SLOWLY MOVING NORTHEASTWARD. A WEST- NORTHWESTERLY LOW-LEVEL FLOW OFF OF LAKE ERIE IS PROVIDING MOISTURE ALONG WITH DIURNAL HEATING TO ALLOW BROKEN CUMULUS TO DEVELOP ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. THIS AFTERNOON...THE SURFACE HIGH WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT NORTHWARD AND BRING A DRY AND WARMER DAY TO THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. THE 850MB FLOW WILL BACK TO MORE ZONAL...WITH CLOUD COVERAGE DIMINISHING THIS EVENING WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND ALSO AS MOISTURE ADVECTS EASTWARD. HIGH TEMPS ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TO LAMP GUIDANCE...RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE EASTERN RIDGES TO NEAR 60 IN EASTERN OHIO AND NORTHERN WV. TONIGHT...A 500MB RIDGE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST...AND THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT SLOWLY EASTWARD ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA. WITH A DEEP LAYER OF DRY AIR OVER THE AREA...CLEAR SKIES AND NEAR CALM WINDS ARE IN THE FORECAST OVERNIGHT. THIS SETUP WILL BE SUITABLE FOR RADIATIONAL COOLING WITH LOWS NEAR NORMAL SEASONAL VALUES. WITH COOLER AIR OVER RELATIVELY WARMER RIVERS...SOME RADIATIONAL FOG WILL SET UP ALONG THE RIVER VALLEYS NEAR DAWN. GFS/NAM MODEL SOUNDINGS SUPPORT ONLY LIMITED DEVELOPMENT OF DIURNAL CUMULUS ON MONDAY WITH CLOUD COVERAGE INCREASING FROM THE WEST IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. ABUNDANT SUNSHINE EARLY ON AND WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL PRODUCE HIGH TEMPS THAT ARE 1-2 DEGREES ABOVE A MAV/MET BLEND...AROUND 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SHWRS XPCD TO FORM MON NGT ALONG DIFFUSE WMFNT IN WARM AIR ADVCTN PATTERN...PSBLY ENHANCED TUE-TUE NGT BY LOW-AMPLITUDE SHRTWV TROF. QPF NOT XPCD TO BE SGFNT. PCPN GRADIENT WILL BE SHARP...WITH GREATEST CHC OF PCPN IN NRN ZONES IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO BNDRY. RDG AT H5 WILL AMPLIFY WED OVER THE RGN...LEADING TO DECRG PCPN CHCS. SLY LOW-LVL JET FROM MS RVR VLY WILL SPREAD OVER THE RGN AND WILL ADVCT EWD TEMPS OF 18-19C AT H9...LEADING TO UNSEASONABLY WARM AMS BY MID-WK. MAXIMA IN UPR 70S-NR 80 PSBL AS THE WK PROGRESSES AND CLD CVR DECRS IN CVRG. /KRAMAR/ && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/... H5 RDG BUILDS EWD WED NGT AS SFC HIPRES MOVES EWD INTO ATLC. STG SWLY FLOW ALOFT WILL SPREAD EWD ON THU AHD OF CLOSED LOW OVER CANADA...YIELDING SLY SFC FLOW AS PRES FALLS TO THE NW OF FCST AREA. MEANWHILE...A TROPICAL WAVE IS XPCD TO ADVC NWD ALONG ERN CONUS...LEAVING FCST AREA BTWN THE TWO SYSTEMS. CDFNT ASSOCIATED WITH THE CANADIAN SYSTEM WILL MOVE SLOWLY SEWD THU BFR STALLING IN CNTRL OH. THIS BNDRY WILL BE THE FOCUS FOR ANY PCPN LATE IN THE WK. POPS WERE FOCUSED IN WRN ZONES FRI AND WERE INCRD SAT-SUN AS EJECTING JET MAXIMUM DRIVES BNDRY EWD. TEMPS WILL RMN ABV NRML THU-FRI. IN WAKE OF CDFNT...TEMPS WILL RETURN TO NEAR OR BLW-NRML LVLS. && .AVIATION /20Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE TERMINALS THROUGHOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TAF PERIOD AS HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD IN FROM THE SOUTH. DIURNALLY DRIVEN VFR CEILINGS WILL CLEAR TONIGHT WITH WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS DECREASING TO NEAR CALM. RIVER VALLEY FOG MAY DEVELOP NEAR DAWN ON MONDAY...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS LOW. A TEMPO GROUP FOR MVFR VISIBILITIES IS FORECAST WITH MODEL SUPPORT AT KZZV...ALTHOUGH IFR RESTRICTIONS CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN THE 09Z-13Z WINDOW. KAGC/KHLG MAY ALSO HAVE NEAR DAWN RESTRICTIONS...HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN THE TAFS AT THIS POINT. .OUTLOOK.../MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THIS PERIOD. THE BEST CHC FOR RESTRICTIONS TO VSBY AND CIGS WILL BE MON NGT THRU TUE NGT WITH SHWRS...MAINLY AT NRN TERMINALS. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...KRAMAR
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
203 PM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY WITH MORE SUNSHINE AND WARMER TEMPERATURES INTO MONDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL THEN MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH OHIO MONDAY NIGHT WITH PERHAPS SHOWERS INTO TUESDAY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW WITH WARM TEMPERATURES INTO FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH MONDAY/... 18Z ENHANCED SHORT TERM FORECAST UPDATE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO INCREASE SKY COVERAGE ACROSS THE AREA FOR THIS AFTERNOON. THE LATEST RAP MID-LEVEL ANALYSIS INDICATES A CLOSED LOW IN QUEBEC CONTINUING TO PULL AWAY FROM AREA. ON THE FAR SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THIS FEATURE...THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY IS IN A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. AT THE SURFACE...A HIGH...CENTERED NEAR ACROSS CENTRAL WEST VIRGINIA...IS SLOWLY MOVING NORTHEASTWARD. A WEST-NORTHWESTERLY LOW-LEVEL FLOW OFF OF LAKE ERIE IS PROVIDING MOISTURE ALONG WITH DIURNAL HEATING TO ALLOW FOR BROKEN CUMULUS TO DEVELOP ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA. THIS AFTERNOON...THE SURFACE HIGH WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT NORTHWARD AND BRING A DRY AND WARMER DAY TO THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. THE 850MB FLOW WILL BACK TO MORE ZONAL...WITH CLOUD COVERAGE DIMINISHING THIS EVENING WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND ALSO AS MOISTURE ADVECTS EASTWARD. HIGH TEMPS ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TO LAMP GUIDANCE...RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE EASTERN RIDGES TO NEAR 60 IN EASTERN OHIO AND NORTHERN WV. TONIGHT...A 500MB RIDGE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST AND THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT SLOWLY EASTWARD ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA. WITH A DEEP LAYER OF DRY AIR OVER THE AREA...CLEAR SKIES AND NEAR CALM WINDS ARE IN THE FORECAST OVERNIGHT. THIS SETUP WILL BE SUITABLE FOR RADIATIONAL COOLING WITH LOWS NEAR NORMAL SEASONAL VALUES. WITH COOLER AIR OVER RELATIVELY WARMER RIVERS...SOME RADIATIONAL FOG WILL SETUP ALONG THE RIVER VALLEYS NEAR DAWN. MONDAY...GFS/NAM MODEL SOUNDINGS SUPPORT ONLY LIMITED DEVELOPMENT OF DIURNAL CUMULUS ON MONDAY WITH CLOUD COVERAGE INCREASING FROM THE WEST IN THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS A WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. ABUNDANT SUNSHINE EARLY ON AND WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL AID HIGH TEMPS THAT ARE 1-2 DEGREES ABOVE A MAV/MET BLEND...AROUND 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... RECENT SREF MODEL OUTPUT CONTINUES TO SHOW AN UPPER LEVEL SHORT- WAVE TROUGH WILL FLATTEN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...INDUCING A WARM FRONT TO MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH OHIO AND LAKE ERIE MONDAY NIGHT. THIS COULD PRODUCE SHOWERS ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY...MAINLY NORTH OF I-70 LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...WITH POINTS NORTH ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR HAVING THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF RAINFALL. EVEN WITH INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND THE RISK FOR SHOWERS...LOWS MONDAY NIGHT CAN BE 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL WHILE TUESDAY`S HIGHS CAN BE 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... HIGHLIGHTS... - VERY WARM WEATHER WED - FRI WITH TEMPS NEARLY 10F ABOVE NORMAL - HIGH CONFIDENCE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY - LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY COMBINATION OF BUILDING HEIGHTS AT MID LEVELS AND SSW SURFACE FLOW CORRELATES TO TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER MID WEEK. H8 TEMPS CLIMB INTO THE 13 TO 16C RANGE WED AND THUR. RECORD HIGHS FOR THE 24TH AND 25TH OF OCT ARE IN THE LOWER 80S...SO DO NOT FORESEE ANY BENCHMARKS BEING TAKEN DOWN. WITH ATMOSPHERE STAYING WELL MIXED...INCREASE TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE INHERITED GRIDDED DATA SET FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED DAYS. THIS PUTS THE FORECAST JUST ABOVE THE HIGHEST GUIDANCE NUMBERS ON MAX AND MIN TEMPS. UNCERTAINTY GROWS THE REMINDER OF THE LONG TERM WITH DISCREPANCIES OF WHEN THE BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL CROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ECMWF AND CANADIAN MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH FROPA THUR NGT INTO FRI MORNING THEN A BREAK BEFORE A STRONG LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES SAT NGT. ON THE OTHER HAND...GFS KEEPS FRONT AT BAY UNTIL LATE SATURDAY WHEN A WAVE RIDES ALONG THE BOUNDARY AND SUFFICIENT STEERING WINDS EXIST PERMITTING AN EASTWARD PROGRESSION THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA. MODEL PREFERENCE WAS ECMWF AND CMC SOLUTIONS. && .AVIATION /18Z SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE TERMINALS THROUGHOUT THE MAJORITY OF THE TAF PERIOD AS HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO BUILD IN FROM THE SOUTH. DIURNALLY DRIVEN VFR CEILINGS WILL CLEAR TONIGHT WITH WEST-SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS DECREASING TO NEAR CALM. RIVER VALLEY FOG MAY DEVELOP NEAR DAWN ON MONDAY...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS LOW. A TEMPO GROUP FOR MVFR VISIBILITIES IS FORECAST WITH MODEL SUPPORT AT KZZV...ALTHOUGH IFR RESTRICTIONS CANNOT BE RULED OUT IN THE 09Z-13Z WINDOW. KAGC/KHLG MAY ALSO HAVE NEAR DAWN RESTRICTIONS...HOWEVER CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN THE TAFS AT THIS POINT. .OUTLOOK.../MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THIS PERIOD. THE ONLY POTENTIAL FOR RESTRICTIONS WILL BE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WITH WARM FRONTAL SHOWERS MAINLY NORTH. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WOODRUM NEAR TERM...WOODRUM AVIATION...WOODRUM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
1114 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL PROVIDE THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY WITH MORE SUNSHINE AND WARMER TEMPERATURES TODAY AND MONDAY. A WARM FRONT WILL THEN MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH OHIO MONDAY NIGHT WITH PERHAPS SHOWERS INTO TUESDAY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL FOLLOW WITH WARM TEMPERATURES INTO FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 15Z ENHANCED SHORT TERM FORECAST UPDATE HAS BEEN ISSUED TO ACCOUNT FOR THE LATEST TRENDS IN SKY COVERAGE AND TO ADD RIVER VALLEY FOG FOR MONDAY MORNING. THE LATEST RAP MID-LEVEL ANALYSIS INDICATES A CLOSED LOW IN QUEBEC CONTINUING TO PULL AWAY FROM AREA. ON THE FAR SOUTHWESTERN PERIPHERY OF THIS FEATURE...THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY IS IN A NORTHWESTERLY FLOW. AT THE SURFACE...A HIGH...CENTERED NEAR HUNTINGTON...WEST VIRGINIA...IS SLOWLY MOVING NORTHEASTWARD. A NORTHWESTERLY LOW-LEVEL FLOW OFF OF LAKE ERIE IS ALLOWING FOR STRATOCUMULUS TO FILTER ACROSS LOCATIONS PRIMARILY NORTHEAST OF A FRANKLIN-INDIANA LINE WITH CUMULUS DEVELOPING ACROSS THE EASTERN RIDGES. OTHERWISE...SKIES ARE MOSTLY CLEAR ACROSS THE AREA. TODAY...THE SURFACE HIGH WILL CONTINUE TO SHIFT NORTHWARD AND BRING A DRY AND WARMER DAY TO THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. AN INITIAL NORTHWESTERLY 850MB FLOW OFF OF LAKE ERIE WILL INDUCE DIURNAL CUMULUS ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA TODAY. THE FLOW WILL BACK TO MORE ZONAL TODAY...WITH CLOUD COVERAGE DIMINISHING THIS EVENING WITH THE LOSS OF HEATING AND ALSO AS MOISTURE ADVECTS EASTWARD. HIGH TEMPS ARE FAIRLY CLOSE TO LAMP GUIDANCE...RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE EASTERN RIDGES TO NEAR 60 IN EASTERN OHIO AND NORTHERN WV. TONIGHT...A 500MB RIDGE WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST AND THE SURFACE HIGH WILL SHIFT SLOWLY EASTWARD ACROSS WEST VIRGINIA. WITH A DEEP LAYER OF DRY AIR OVER THE AREA...CLEAR SKIES AND NEAR CALM WINDS ARE IN THE FORECAST. THE SETUP WILL BE SUITABLE FOR RADIATIONAL COOLING WITH LOWS NEAR NORMAL SEASONAL VALUES. WITH COOLER AIR OVER WARMER RIVERS...SOME RADIATIONAL FOG WILL SETUP ALONG THE RIVER VALLEYS NEAR DAWN. && .SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE WILL MAINTAIN WARM MOSTLY SUNNY CONDITIONS MONDAY. LOWS TONIGHT WILL BE NEAR NORMAL. HIGHS MONDAY CAN BE NEARLY 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL PER CONSENSUS OF RECENT GFS NAM AND ECMWF MOS. RECENT SREF MODEL OUTPUT CONTINUES TO SHOW AN UPPER LEVEL SHORT-WAVE TROUGH WILL FLATTEN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...INDUCING A WARM FRONT TO MOVE NORTHEASTWARD THROUGH OHIO AND LAKE ERIE MONDAY NIGHT. THIS COULD PRODUCE SHOWERS ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY...MAINLY NORTH OF I-70 LATE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...WITH POINTS NORTH ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR HAVING THE HIGHEST CHANCE OF RAINFALL. EVEN WITH INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND THE RISK FOR SHOWERS...LOWS MONDAY NIGHT CAN BE 10 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL WHILE TUESDAY`S HIGHS CAN BE 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... HIGHLIGHTS... - VERY WARM WEATHER WED - FRI WITH TEMPS NEARLY 10F ABOVE NORMAL - HIGH CONFIDENCE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY - LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY COMBINATION OF BUILDING HEIGHTS AT MID LEVELS AND SSW SURFACE FLOW CORRELATES TO TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER MID WEEK. H8 TEMPS CLIMB INTO THE 13 TO 16C RANGE WED AND THUR. RECORD HIGHS FOR THE 24TH AND 25TH OF OCT ARE IN THE LOWER 80S...SO DO NOT FORESEE ANY BENCHMARKS BEING TAKEN DOWN. WITH ATMOSPHERE STAYING WELL MIXED...INCREASE TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE INHERITED GRIDDED DATA SET FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED DAYS. THIS PUTS THE FORECAST JUST ABOVE THE HIGHEST GUIDANCE NUMBERS ON MAX AND MIN TEMPS. UNCERTAINTY GROWS THE REMINDER OF THE LONG TERM WITH DISCREPANCIES OF WHEN THE BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL CROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ECMWF AND CANADIAN MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH FROPA THUR NGT INTO FRI MORNING THEN A BREAK BEFORE A STRONG LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES SAT NGT. ON THE OTHER HAND...GFS KEEPS FRONT AT BAY UNTIL LATE SATURDAY WHEN A WAVE RIDES ALONG THE BOUNDARY AND SUFFICIENT STEERING WINDS EXIST PERMITTING AN EASTWARD PROGRESSION THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA. MODEL PREFERENCE WAS ECMWF AND CMC SOLUTIONS. && .AVIATION /15Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST EVERYWHERE EXCEPT KDUJ/KFKL TODAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE SOUTH. AT KDUJ/KFKL...MVFR CEILINGS WILL SLOWLY LIFT TO VFR BY AROUND 22Z. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHWESTERLY AT AROUND 10KTS THIS AFTERNOON WITH SCATTERED DIURNAL VFR CUMULUS ACROSS MOST OF THE TERMINALS. SKIES WILL CLEAR TONIGHT WITH WINDS BECOMING NEAR CALM. RIVER VALLEY FOG MAY DEVELOP NEAR DAWN ON MONDAY...ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS TOO LOW TO INCLUDE IN ANY OF THE RIVER VALLEY TAFS AT THIS TIME. .OUTLOOK.../MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR WILL PREVAIL THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THIS PERIOD. THE ONLY POTENTIAL FOR RESTRICTIONS WILL BE MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY WITH WARM FRONTAL SHOWERS MAINLY NORTH. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...WOODRUM NEAR TERM...WOODRUM AVIATION...WOODRUM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
442 AM EDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE...OVER VIRGINIA...WILL PROVIDE THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY WITH AN INCREASE IN SUNSHINE TODAY AND WARMER TEMPERATURES MONDAY. THEN A WARM FRONT...MOVING NORTHEAST THROUGH OHIO...MAY BRING SHOWERS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...BUT WILL BE FOLLOWED BY CONTINUED WARM TEMPERATURES INTO AT LEAST FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... MAIN FORECAST CONCERN IS HOW QUICKLY CLOUDS WILL EXIT. WILL FIRST CONCENTRATE ON THE WANING OF THE CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT. YESTERDAY`S MODELS WERE INDICATING THAT NW FLOW WOULD HOLD ON THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. HOWEVER...LATEST MODEL DATA IS SHOWING A QUICKER CHANGE TO THE FLOW...BECOMING MORE WESTERLY THIS MORNING. ADDITIONALLY... THE COLD CORE ALOFT WILL BE SHUNTED TO THE NORTH BY LATE MORNING WHICH WILL ALSO AID IN CLOUD DISSIPATION. AT THE SURFACE...BROAD HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC BY EARLY AFTERNOON...TO PROVIDE AMPLE SUBSIDENCE...PARTICULARLY IN THE SOUTH...TO ALLOW SOUTHERN AND WESTERN COUNTIES TO SEE LESS CLOUDS AND HENCE MORE SUN EARLIER. LATEST HIRES MODEL OUTPUT IS SHOWING CLOUDS DISSIPATING FASTER. THIS LINES UP WELL WITH LATEST RUC SOUNDINGS WHICH SHOWS MOISTURE LAYER DRYING OUT MORE QUICKLY THIS MORNING. STILL THINK THERE WILL BE AT LEAST SCT CLOUDS ACROSS MUCH OF THE SOUTH THIS MORNING AFTER SUNRISE...WITH BKN-OVC SKIES ACROSS THE NORTH. HAVE ADDED PATCHY FOG SOUTH AND WEST OF PITTSBURGH PER RECENT SURFACE DATA. SUNSHINE WILL HAVE MORE INFLUENCE ON HIGH TEMPS ACROSS THE SOUTH THAN OVER THE NORTH. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL LEVELS IN THE SOUTHERN HALF...BELOW NORMAL IN THE NORTH. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY/... UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MIDWEST TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN LOCKED OVER THE MID-ATLANTIC. RIDGE WILL DRIFT EASTWARD MONDAY...AS WILL THE HIGH PRESSURE...ALLOWING FOR A WARMER FLOW AT ALL LEVELS. EXPECT PLENTY OF SUNSHINE FOR MOST OF MONDAY WITH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPS. A SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL FLATTEN THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. A SERIES OF SHORTWAVES WILL MOVE ACROSS THE NORTH IN ZONAL FLOW...WHICH WILL PROVIDE THE RISK FOR SHOWERS. FOR NOW...WILL KEEP THE HIGHEST POPS ACROSS THE NORTH...CLOSER TO THE CENTER OF THE WAVES. EVEN WITH INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND THE RISK FOR SHOWERS... TUESDAY`S TEMPS WILL BE 10 TO 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... HIGHLIGHTS... - VERY WARM WEATHER WED - FRI WITH TEMPS NEARLY 10F ABOVE NORMAL - HIGH CONFIDENCE FORECAST THROUGH THURSDAY - LOW CONFIDENCE FORECAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY COMBINATION OF BUILDING HEIGHTS AT MID LEVELS AND SSW SURFACE FLOW CORRELATES TO TEMPERATURES WELL ABOVE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER MID WEEK. H8 TEMPS CLIMB INTO THE 13 TO 16C RANGE WED AND THUR. RECORD HIGHS FOR THE 24TH AND 25TH OF OCT ARE IN THE LOWER 80S...SO DO NOT FORESEE ANY BENCHMARKS BEING TAKEN DOWN. WITH ATMOSPHERE STAYING WELL MIXED...INCREASE TEMPS SLIGHTLY ABOVE INHERITED GRIDDED DATASET FOR THE AFOREMENTIONED DAYS. THIS PUTS THE FORECAST JUST ABOVE THE HIGHEST GUIDANCE NUMBERS ON MAX AND MIN TEMPS. UNCERTAINTY GROWS THE REMINDER OF THE LONG TERM WITH DISCREPANCIES OF WHEN THE BAROCLINIC ZONE WILL CROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. ECMWF AND CANADIAN MODELS REMAIN IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH FROPA THUR NGT INTO FRI MORNING THEN A BREAK BEFORE A STRONG LOW PRESSURE APPROACHES SAT NGT. ON THE OTHER HAND...GFS KEEPS FRONT AT BAY UNTIL LATE SATURDAY WHEN A WAVE RIDES ALONG THE BOUNDARY AND SUFFICIENT STEERING WINDS EXIST PERMITTING AN EASTWARD PROGRESSION THROUGH THE COMMONWEALTH OF PA. MODEL PREFERENCE WAS ECMWF AND CMC SOLUTIONS. && .AVIATION /09Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... BROAD SWATH OF HIGH-BASED STRATOCU THAT FORMED UNDER THE CROSSING UPR LOW PRES LOOK TO PERSIST FOR MUCH OF THE NGT GIVEN THE WWD AND SWD EXTENT OF THE BLANKET. THOSE CLOUDS COMBINED WITH A PRES GRADIENT SUFFICIENT TO MAINTAIN SOME SFC WND...SHOULD PRECLUDE FOG FORMATION OVRNGT AT KPIT AND PORTS NORTH. SO OVERALL...TAFS WILL BE VFR TODAY INTO TONIGHT...EXCEPT...KZZV WILL HAVE PERIODS OF IFR FOG THROUGH 12Z...KFKL AND KDUJ CAN HAVE PERIODS OF MVFR STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS THROUGH 14Z. OVERALL...THE TAFS FEATURE A VFR FORECAST...EXCEPT FOR A PRE-DAWN MVFR MENTION AT THE AIRPORTS DISCUSSED ABOVE. REGARDLESS...GENL VFR WL RTN FOR ALL AS THE HIGH PRES BUILDS ON SUNDAY PROGRESSES. .OUTLOOK.../MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... GENL VFR IS ANTICIPATED INTO AT LEAST TUESDAY...AND PERHAPS THROUGH THURSDAY DUE TO UNCERTAINTIES REGARDING TRACK OF THE NEXT LOW PRES SYS AND ITS IMPACTS ON THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1046 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .UPDATE... UPDATED TO INCLUDE 06Z AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. && .DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 357 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ THE FIRST HALF OF THE PERIOD WILL BE WARM WITH MORNING FOG AND LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE ON TUESDAY...FOLLOWED BY SOME SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS FOR WEDNESDAY LINGERING INTO THURSDAY. MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED FOR THE END OF THE WEEK WITH HIGHS RUNNING AROUND 10 DEGREES BELOW CLIMATOLOGY PUTTING THE MINNEAPOLIS STREAK OF 16 CONSECUTIVE MONTHS ABOVE NORMAL IN JEOPARDY. TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY...AFTERNOON SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS HIGH CLOUDS MOVING WITH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE HIGH PLAINS. LOW STRATUS LINGERED ACROSS THE MIDWEST KEEPING TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S AND 60S...BUT AFTERNOON HIGHS MANAGED RANGED FROM THE 70S TO EVEN A FEW 80S IN IOWA WHERE THERE WERE A FEW BREAKS IN THE CLOUDS. A LARGER LOOK AT THE CURRENT WEATHER SHOWED A SHORTWAVE AND AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS OZARKS WITH ANOTHER BROAD LONGWAVE TROUGH OFF THE WASHINGTON COAST. TONIGHT UPPER LEVEL SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO INDUCE SOUTHERLY LOWER LEVEL FLOW AND DRAW UP BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE FROM THE GULF. FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A THICK STRATUS DECK ADVECTING ACROSS THE REGION...AND THE LOW LEVEL SATURATION MAY BE ENOUGH TO PRODUCE A FEW HUNDREDTHS OF LIGHT PRECIP. GIVEN THE LOW VISIBILITIES ONGOING ACROSS NEBRASKA...HAVE KEPT AREAS OF FOG IN THE GRIDS AS WELL. THE CLOUDS SHOULD MIX OUT NEAR THE IA/MN BORDER TUESDAY AFTERNOON WHICH WILL GREATLY INFLUENCE HIGH TEMPERATURES. THE LINGERING WARM MOIST AIR AND POTENTIAL FOR OVERCAST SKIES WILL KEEP TUESDAY NIGHT TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S ACROSS THE REGION. ON WEDNESDAY AT 125KT H250JET WILL MOVE ACROSS THE MN/DAKOTA BORDER WHILE THE H850 THERMAL GRADIENT TIGHTENS OVER CENTRAL MINNESOTA. THE SURFACE FRONT WILL BY DEFINITION HAVE A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE ASSOCIATED WITH IT...WITH AN UNSTABLE WARM SECTOR LOCATED ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA INTO WISCONSIN. GIVEN THE STRONG FRONTOGENETIC FORCING AND INCREASING UPPER LEVEL DYNAMICS...A FEW STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS MAY BE POSSIBLE MAINLY SOUTH AND EAST OF HWY 169 IN MINNESOTA AND I94 IN WISCONSIN. THE MOST LIKELY SCENARIO WILL BE OVERCAST SKIES AND CLOUDS EARLY ON WEDNESDAY WITH A CLEARING TREND BY MID DAY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST AND PERHAPS A FEW THUNDERSTORMS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND LASTING THROUGH THE EVENING AS THEY DEVELOP INTO A LINE AND MOVE INTO WISCONSIN. FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY FORECAST MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW A BAND OF PRECIP DRIVEN BY FRONTOGENETIC FORCING IN THE H850 TO H700 LAYER...SO SHOULD HAVE SOME COOL RAIN WITH NORTHWEST WINDS LASTING THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH A FEW SNOWFLAKES POSSIBLE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST. FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...AN ARCTIC AIRMASS WILL BRING MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES FOR FRIDAY AND THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. H850 TEMPS OF -5 TO -9C WILL KEEP SURFACE HIGH TEMPS IN THE LOWER 40S...AND LOW TEMPS IN THE 20S. THE GFS 22.12 BRINGS A SHORTWAVE AND SOME LIGHT PRECIP ACROSS THE REGION FOR MONDAY...WHILE THE ECMWF HAS A DRIER SOLUTION. ASIDE FROM ADJUSTING TEMPS UPWARD IN THE METRO AREA...DID NOT DEVIATE FROM A MODEL CONSENSUS DURING THIS TIME FRAME. && .AVIATION.../06Z TAF ISSUANCE/ THINKING HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM 00Z SET OF TAFS AND ACCOMPANYING DISCUSSION. ONLY REAL CHANGE WAS FOR A SOMEWHAT SLOWER INVASION OF LOWER CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES... WHICH WAS MENTIONED AS A POSSIBILITY. THINGS SEEM TO BE IN LINE WITH SREF GUIDANCE AND LATEST NARRE-TL AS WELL. DIDN/T CHANGE PREVIOUS FORECAST MUCH OTHER THAN TO PUSH BACK TIMING SOME... AND OTHERWISE KEPT THINGS FAIRLY PESSIMISTIC THROUGH THE DAY AS VERY MOIST PROFILE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY ON TUESDAY. IMPROVEMENT SHOULD OCCUR ON THE BACKSIDE OF UPPER WAVE AND SURFACE IMPULSE LATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW EVENING... SO DID ALLOW FOR RETURN OF VFR CONDITIONS DURING THAT TIME FRAME. KMSP...THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME UNCERTAINTY STILL ON THE TIMING OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF IFR AND LIFR CONDITIONS... AS WELL AS EXACTLY HOW LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL GET LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. STAYED CLOSE TO PREVIOUS FORECAST... WHICH IS IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE UPSTREAM OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS THE TIME-HEIGHT FORECASTS FROM THE RAP AND NAM. HOWEVER... TIMING COULD STILL VARY SEVERAL HOURS FROM INDICATED... PARTICULARLY WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WEDNESDAY...IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE... MVFR LIKELY. WINDS NORTHEAST 5-10 KTS. THURSDAY...IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES EXPECTED IN THE MORNING. WINDS NORTHWEST 10-15 KTS. FRIDAY...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED. WINDS NORTHWEST AROUND 10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS BILLINGS MT
857 PM MDT MON OCT 22 2012 .SHORT TERM...VALID FOR TUE AND WED... MID LEVEL WARM FRONT...WHICH PRODUCED WIDESPREAD MODERATE PRECIPITATION...HAS LIFTED NORTH OF OUR FORECAST AREA. NEXT FEATURE IS A MID LEVEL SHORT WAVE RIDING THE NOSE OF A STRONG 500MB JET MAKING ITS WAY THROUGH THE UTAH ROCKIES. RADAR ECHOES PICKING UP OVER THE BIG HORNS. THE GFS AND HRRR MODELS SEEM TO BE HANDLING THIS THE BEST AND LEANED ON THEM FOR THIS UPDATE. THESE MODELS TAKE DECENT Q VECTOR FORCING ACROSS OUR CENTRAL AND EASTERN ZONES LATER TONIGHT. WILL BUMP POPS UP OVER THE EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT. WILL ALSO ADD SOME FOG TO MANY AREAS THAT PICKED UP PRECIP TODAY AND ARE DEALING WITH DEWPOINT DEPRESSIONS LESS THAN 4 DEGREES AT THIS TIME. THIS INCLUDES LIVINGSTON AND BILLINGS. BT .LONG TERM...VALID FOR THU...FRI...SAT...SUN...MON... CONFIDENCE IN THE EXTENDED FORECAST WAS HIGHER THU THROUGH SAT THAN IN THE SUN THROUGH MON TIME FRAME AS MODELS WERE IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH SAT...BUT MARKEDLY DIFFERENT FOR SUN AND MON. CONFINED FORECAST ADJUSTMENTS TO THE EARLIER PERIODS. THERE WAS GOOD MODEL AGREEMENT THAT JET ENERGY WILL REMAIN S OF THE FORECAST AREA THROUGH SAT WITH BROAD TROUGHING OVER THE NORTHERN PART OF THE COUNTRY. THIS PATTERN LEFT THE FORECAST AREA UNDER WEAK FLOW ALOFT FOR THU...THEN A NW FLOW WITH WEAK SHORTWAVES IN THE FLOW FOR FRI AND SAT. WILL HAVE LOW PRECIPITATION CHANCES FOR THE PLAINS WITH HIGHER CHANCES FOR UPSLOPE AREAS...AND BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. POPS LOOKED GOOD FOR THU AND THU NIGHT. DID LOWER TEMPERATURES ON THU A FEW DEGREES GIVEN 850 MB TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM NEAR ZERO DEGREES C SW TO AROUND -6 DEGREES C NE. CONTINUED HIGH CHANCE MOUNTAIN POPS FRI AND FRI NIGHT WITH LOW POPS OVER THE PLAINS AS PACIFIC MOISTURE WAS FORECAST TO FLOW INTO THE REGION IN FASTER FLOW ALOFT. ADJUSTED FRI HIGHS BASED ON 850 MB TEMPERATURES. SAT WILL BE SIMILAR TO FRI. 12Z GFS CAME IN WITH A TROUGH FOR SUN THAT MOVES OUT OF THE AREA ON MON. ECMWF CONTINUED TO ADVERTISE A RIDGE FOR THIS PERIOD. THUS MADE NO CHANGES TO THE INHERITED FORECAST OF LOW POPS AND A WARMING TREND. ARTHUR && .AVIATION... AREAS OF HIGH ELEVATION SNOW ALONG WITH LOW ELEVATION RAIN ...WILL REDEVELOP OVERNIGHT. AS A RESULT...PERIODS OF IFR/LIFR CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE OVER ALL ROUTES. WEST SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE BY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...AND CONTINUE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON IN MOST AREAS...BUT ESPECIALLY FROM KBIL WEST. MOUNTAIN OBSCURATIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY. AAG && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMP/POPS... TUE WED THU FRI SAT SUN MON ----------------------------------------------------------- BIL 037/053 029/038 023/032 019/034 022/038 025/046 029/051 32/W 43/W 32/J 22/J 22/W 22/W 22/W LVM 032/048 024/036 017/036 017/038 017/039 026/046 029/047 32/W 43/J 43/J 32/W 32/W 22/W 22/W HDN 038/058 030/041 025/035 019/036 021/041 018/045 024/050 42/W 33/W 32/J 22/W 22/W 22/W 22/W MLS 039/055 029/040 023/033 019/032 019/036 016/040 022/046 42/W 33/W 21/B 22/J 22/W 22/W 22/W 4BQ 038/059 030/039 025/034 019/032 020/036 018/040 024/049 42/W 34/W 31/B 22/J 22/J 12/W 22/W BHK 035/058 030/039 024/032 020/030 019/035 018/040 024/046 42/W 32/W 21/B 22/J 22/J 22/W 22/W SHR 037/056 031/039 024/034 020/037 021/040 018/043 024/051 62/W 34/W 43/J 32/W 22/W 22/W 22/W && .BYZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MT...NONE. WY...NONE. && $$ WEATHER.GOV/BILLINGS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
329 AM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY... LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A LARGE UPPER LOW CIRCULATING OVER QUEEN CHARLOTTE ISLANDS SENDING A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW INTO NORTH DAKOTA WITH PERIODIC SHORTWAVES MOVING THROUGH. THIS WILL BE THE TREND THROUGH MONDAY AND BEYOND. SEVERAL JET STREAKS WERE EVIDENT MOVING THROUGH THE AFOREMENTIONED LONGWAVE TROUGH...AIDING THE LIFT/PRECIPITATION ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA EARLY THIS MORNING. AT THE SURFACE...A COLD FRONT WAS MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WITH SCATTERED RAIN SHOWERS MOST CONCENTRATED BETWEEN BISMARCK AND GARRISON...AND BETWEEN JAMESTOWN AND RUGBY. THE RUC CONTINUES TO HANDLE THE CURRENT PICTURE WELL AND HAVE FOLLOWED IT THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS WITH THE PRECIPITATION WANING AS IT EXITS THE RUGBY/HARVEY AREA BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z TODAY. ELSEWHERE...EXPECT A DRY DAY BUT MUCH COOLER AS THE SHORTWAVE EXITS EARLY THIS MORNING. THE NEXT SHORTWAVE ARRIVES IN OUR SOUTHWEST ZONES AFTER 00Z MONDAY WITH GOOD CONSENSUS ON THE AREAL COVERAGE OF PRECIPITATION SUNDAY NIGHT. EXPECT A CHC TO LIKELY POPS ACROSS THE WEST...SPREADING NORTHEAST EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THERE COULD BE A BRIEF MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW NORTHWEST LATE SUNDAY NIGHT AND NORTH CENTRAL EARLY MONDAY MORNING AS AN AREA/POCKET OF SUBFREEZING H85 AIR MATERIALIZES. FOR MONDAY...SOME UNCERTAINTY EXISTS ON HOW FAR EAST THE PRECIPITATION SHIELD EXPANDS...WITH THE NAM AND SREF KEEPING MOST OF THE QPF IN THE WEST...WHILE THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE A BIT MORE OPTIMISTIC WEST AND ALSO ACROSS THE CENTRAL PORTION. HAVE UTILIZED A BLEND WITH A CHC OF POPS WEST TAPERING TO SLIGHT CHC EAST. AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT YESTERDAY/SATURDAY...H85 TEMPS RANGED FROM +10C NORTH TO +14C SOUTH. BEHIND THE COLD FRONT TODAY...H85 TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM +2C NORTH TO +6C SOUTH. THUS MUCH COOLER TODAY WITH EXPECTED HIGHS IN THE UPPER 40S NORTH TO UPPER 50S SOUTH. MONDAY LOOKS TO BE A REPEAT PERFORMANCE WITH THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. OVERNIGHT LOWS SUNDAY NIGHT WILL RANGE FROM 30 NORTH TO 40 FAR SOUTH. .LONG TERM...MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. AN ACTIVE PATTERN IS EXPECTED. MAIN CHALLENGES WILL BE TIMING OF PRECIP THROUGH THE PERIOD AND POSSIBLE PRECIP TYPES. SOME MODEL DIFFERENCES EXIST WITH EVOLUTION OF WESTERN CONUS TROUGH INITIALLY OVER THE WEST. GFS CUTS OFF DEEPER 500MB LOW OVER SOUTHERN CANADA NEAR NORTH DAKOTA BY THURSDAY WHILE ECMWF IS WEAKER WITH THIS FEATURE. BOTH MODELS DEEPEN UPPER LOW BY LATE WEEK AND TAKE IT TOWARD HUDSON BAY LEAVING OUR REGION IN COLD CYCLONIC FLOW. EVEN WITH DIFFERENCES IN THESE FEATURES...MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH SENSIBLE WEATHER IMPACTS ON OUR REGION. TUESDAY WILL BE LAST MILD DAY WITH SOUTHERLY FLOW AHEAD OF COLD FRONT. BY 00Z FRI...850MB TEMPS RANGE FROM AROUND -6C SOUTH TO -8C NORTH AND DECREASE A COUPLE MORE DEGREES BY FRI AND SAT. CONSEQUENTLY...EXPECT MAX TEMPS BY FRI AND SAT TO ONLY BE IN THE 30S F. BEST PRECIP CHANCES APPEAR TO BE MONDAY NIGHT POSSIBLY MIXING WITH SNOW NORTH AND NORTHWEST. HARD TO RULE OUT PRECIP IN ANY GIVEN TIME PERIOD THE REMAINDER OF THE EXTENDED...BUT MODELS INDICATE BETTER CHANCE ACROSS SOUTHERN AND EASTERN PARTS OF AREA CLOSER TO SURFACE LOW AND FRONTAL SYSTEM. IN TERMS OF PRECIP TYPE... TEMPERATURES INITIALLY WILL SUPPORT RAIN PRECIP TYPE DURING THE DAY THROUGH MIDWEEK THEN SUPPORT SNOW DAY/NIGHT BY LATE WEEK WHEN COLDER AIR IS IN PLACE. HOWEVER...PRECIP PROBABILITIES FROM MID TO LATE WEEK ARE RELATIVELY LOW FOR ANY GIVEN PERIOD...IN THE SLIGHT CHANCE TO CHANCE RANGE. && .AVIATION...A COLD FRONT AND ASSOCIATED SHOWERS CONTINUE TO PUSH EASTWARD ACROSS THE STATE AS OF 08Z SUNDAY. DESPITE SHOWERS...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS AT TAF SITES THROUGH SUNDAY. NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED...MAINLY IN THE 10-15 KT RANGE. ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL BRING SHOWERS TO SOUTHWESTERN ND SUNDAY EVENING AND SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD SUNDAY NIGHT. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KS LONG TERM/AVIATION....JNS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1018 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 1018 PM CDT/ FORECAST GENERALLY LOOKS IN GOOD SHAPE TONIGHT. EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES TO PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH THE CLOUD DECK LOWERING BY MORNING. AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND FOG SHOULD EXPAND LATER TONIGHT AS WELL. TRICKY FORECAST FOR TUESDAY. SOME OF THE NEWER GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING CLOUDS WILL BE SLOWER TO ERODE THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. THUS DELAYED CLEARING SOME AND EXTENDED THE DRIZZLE AND FOG INTO MID MORNING. WILL EVENTUALLY SEE CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH EXACT TIMING HAVING BIG IMPLICATIONS ON HIGH TEMPERATURES. DECIDED TO LEAVE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST AS IS FOR NOW. BUT LATEST NAM AND RAP WOULD SUGGEST THE SLOWER EROSION OF CLOUDS COULD KEEP HIGHS FIVE TO TEN DEGREES COOLER THAN CURRENT FORECAST ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 29. MEANWHILE MOST SREF MEMBERS ARE LESS AGGRESSIVE WITH THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. THUS WILL LET MIDNIGHT SHIFT EVALUATE FURTHER AND MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. /CHENARD && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 18Z TAF ISSUANCE/ MVFR STRATUS IS THE DOMINANT CATEGORY IN THE SIOUX FALLS FORECAST AREA AT THIS TIME. ONE MINOR EXCEPTION EXISTS WITH VFR IN OUR EXTREME SOUTHEASTERN ZONES AROUND SPENCER AND STORM LAKE IOWA DUE TO SLIGHTLY DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR. OVERALL...CONFIDENCE IS FAIRLY LOW WITH THE DETAILS IN THIS AVIATION FORECAST TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. THE HUMIDITY TIME SECTIONS AND MOISTURE FIELDS OFF OF THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO PAINT A PICTURE OF MVFR TO IFR STRATUS IN MUCH OF OUR FORECAST AREA TONIGHT...WITH THE GFS BEING A BIT MORE PESSIMISTIC WITH THE OUTLOOK THEN THE NAM. FOR NOW...HEDGED TOWARD A GRADUAL LOWERING OF THE VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS THROUGH THE NIGHT AS THE SURFACE BASED TEMPERATURE INVERSION BECOMES STRONGER AND LOWERS CLOSER TO THE GROUND. AT THIS TIME...RIGHT NOW BOTH THE HUMIDITY TIME SECTIONS OFF OF THE NAM AND GFS POINT TO CLEARING TO A VFR CATEGORY DURING THE LATE MORNING HOURS FOR MUCH OF OUR FORECAST AREA ON TUESDAY. HOWEVER ONE EXCEPTION EXISTS NEAR KSUX IN NORTHWEST IOWA WHERE HIGHER LEVELS OF MOISTURE AROUND 2000 TO 2500 FEET STAY ENTRENCHED NEARLY ALL DAY TUESDAY AS MOISTURE WORKS THROUGH EASTERN NEBRASKA. FOR NOW WE DID SCATTER OUT SIOUX CITY FOR TUESDAY AFTERNOON...BUT THIS WILL HAVE TO BE WATCHED AS THERE IS A CHANCE THEY COULD STAY MVFR BROKEN CEILINGS AT LEAST THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. WILL ALTER THESE FORECASTS IF NEED BE AFTER THE 00Z DATA COMES IN. /MJF && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS ARE DRIZZLE/FOG SCENARIO TONIGHT...PRECIP CHANCES MIDWEEK...THEN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES INTO THE WEEKEND. TONIGHT...FORECASTER CONFIDENCE: MODERATE. A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NRN PLAINS AHEAD OF A SEASONABLY STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. ALTHOUGH LARGE SCALE ASCENT WILL BE RATHER WEAK OVERNIGHT...THE COMBINATION OF PLENTIFUL BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE /SPEC HUMIDITY AOA 8 G/KG/ AND WEAK LOW LEVEL LIFT IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE AREAS OF FOG/DRIZZLE OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA. NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF QPF /MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS/ HOWEVER DO BELIEVE A FEW AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE JAMES VALLEY WILL SEE MEASURABLE RAINFALL. FOG MAY ALSO BE A CONCERN...BUT DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT HOW DENSE IT MAY GET. FUTURE SHIFTS WILL HAVE MONITOR VSBY TRENDS. TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE: LOW TO MODERATE. RESIDUAL STRATUS/FOG/DRIZZLE IS LIKELY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...BEFORE AN INCREASING S/SWLY LOW LEVEL FLOW GRADUALLY NUDGES THE STRATUS DECK NORTH/EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. MODELS CAN STRUGGLE WITH THE EROSION/MOVEMENT OF STRATUS SO THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY HOW QUICKLY CLOUDS MAY ERODE. ATTM...MODEL CONSENSUS PUSHES HIGHER LOW LEVEL RH VALUES OUT BETWEEN 15-18Z TUE AND THIS SEEMS REASONABLE. WILL CONTINUE TO BANK ON SEEING AT LEAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TUESDAY...WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH H8 TEMPS +13 TO +18C RANGE SHOULD ALLOW FOR VERY MILD TEMPS IN THE 70S TO NEAR 80F. INCREASING CLOUDS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY NIGHT...BUT WILL MAINTAIN DRY CONDITIONS FOR NOW. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...FORECASTER CONFIDENCE: MODERATE TO HIGH. UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE REGION BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. STRONGEST UPPER LEVEL FORCING /Q-VECTOR CONVERGENCE AND FGEN/ LOOKS TO REMAIN PRIMARILY NORTH OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY...ALTHOUGH WILL MAINTAIN LOW POPS AS THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY REGARDING TIMING OF PRECIPITATION. THE BRUNT OF FORCING/SATURATION WILL AFFECT THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY DUE TO A COMBINATION OF UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AND A MODERATE MID-LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC ZONE. QPF AMOUNTS STILL A BIT TRICKY TO PIN DOWN AT THIS TIMEFRAME...BUT MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES THAT 0.25"-0.50" IS POSSIBLE...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. FROPA IS PROGGED TO BE A BIT QUICKER IN 12Z SUITE OF MODELS...SO BEGAN TO TAPER PRECIP CHANCES SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER 18Z THURSDAY. TEMPS SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL WED...COOLING ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE FRONT. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND A COLD ARCTIC AIR AIRMASS WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEK...RESULTING IN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD. ONLY REAL CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WHICH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION OVER LATE THIS WEEKEND. MF/KS && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. MN...NONE. NE...NONE. SD...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BROWNSVILLE TX
1219 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. && .AVIATION...SCT TO OCCASIONALLY BKN CLOUDS AT 2500 TO 3000 FT SHOULD CONTINUE TO RISE TO ABOUT 3500 TO 4000 FT OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS LEADING TO VFR CIG/VISBY. SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST WINDS AT 15 TO 2O KTS WITH GUSTS 25 TO 28 KNOTS EXPECTED THROUGH ABOUT 6 TO 7 PM. TONIGHT...WINDS SHOULD DIMINISH TO 6 TO 10 KNOTS BY EARLY EVENING WITH CLEAR SKIES INITIALLY. INTERMITTENT CLOUD COVERAGE BETWEEN 2000 TO 3000 FT HAS JUST ENOUGH PROBABILITY TO GET SET UP TO RESULT IN MVFR FORECAST FOR THE TAF SITES THROUGH THE LATE NIGHT/EARLY MORNING. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN MVFR FOR THE TAF SITES WITH FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN MVFR NORTH OF EBG IN ZAPATA...BROOKS...AND JIM HOGG COUNTIES. A FEW STREAMER SHOWERS MAY WORK IN IN THE EARLY MORNING...ESPECIALLY NEAR THE COAST BUT SHOULD NOT BE SIGNIFICANT OPERATIONAL IMPACT. TUESDAY MORNING WINDS WILL RETURN OUT OF THE SOUTHEAST BUT GUSTS SHOULD ONLY BE IN THE 15 T0 20 KNOT RANGE BY LATE MORNING. BRIEF BOUTS OF SCT TO BKN AT 2500 FT OR SO WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH ANY CLOUD BASES RISING ABOVE 3000 FT AT ALL SITES BY 11 AM OR SO. PREVAILING CONDITIONS SHOULD BE VFR. /68-JGG/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1127 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST MARINE DISCUSSION BELOW. MARINE...LATEST BUOY REPORT CONTINUES TO SHOW RISING SEA HEIGHTS ALONG THE GULF WATERS. STEADY SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH SOMEWHAT BY MID AFTERNOON BUT ROUGH SEAS WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY. WITH THE RECENT INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHT ABOVE WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXPECTED HAVE ISSUED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH 6 PM TONIGHT FOR STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS FOR THE GULF WATERS. THE ADVISORY FOR THE LAGUNA ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 953 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ DISCUSSION...MAIN PLAYERS IN THE WEATHER THIS MORNING ARE THE ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE LAGUNA MADRE...AND WINDS WHICH HAVE ALREADY STARTED OVER THE MARINE AREAS AND ARE BEGINNING TO INCREASE OVER LAND. SURFACE AND UPPER AIR ANALYSIS...COMBINED WITH WATER VAPOR SHOW AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ADVANCING INTO THE PANHANDLE REGION OF TEXAS. THE SUBTROPICAL JET MAX TO THE SOUTH WILL HAVE ITS RIGHT EXIT REGION OVER SOUTH TEXAS PUTTING US IN AN INCREASINGLY CONVERGENT PATTERN ALOFT AND WEAKLY INCREASING MID GULF RIDGING...AS THE JET MAX AND ASSOCIATED UPPER LOW HELP DEEPEN TROUGHING OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND IN THE LEE OF THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS. SEQUENTIAL SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS OUR GRADIENT IS NOT RELAXING VERY MUCH...BUT RUC13 AND NAM12 GUIDANCE AND LINEAR EXTRAPOLATION OF THE INVOLVED FEATURES SHOWS IT SHOULD START TO BACK OFF BY ABOUT 4 OR 5 PM TODAY. THROUGH 700 PM TONIGHT...EXPECT A MARKED INCREASE IN SURFACE WIND SPEED THROUGH 1100 AM AT ALL LOCATIONS WITH SUSTAINED WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH AT TIMES. DID ISSUE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE LAGUNA DUE TO OBS TRENDS AND THE FACT THAT A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN OUR SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT IS NOT EXPECTED SOON. THE SHOWERS OVER THE LAGUNA SHOULD CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE DRIER MID LEVEL AIR WORKS TO THE SURFACE AND STABILIZES THE BOUNDARY LAYER. DID ADD A SCHC/ISO MENTION A LITTLE FURTHER IN INTO KENEDY COUNTY WHERE THERE WILL BE SLIGHTLY BETTER SFC CONVERGENCE AND THE LATEST SREF TRIES TO PAINT A LITTLE PRECIP THIS AFTERNOON. PRECIP SHOULD BE VERY LIGHT AND LOW IMPACT. TONIGHT WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MID AND LOW CLOUD POSSIBLE. NO CHANGES TO THESE GRIDS AT THIS TIME. /68-JGG/ MARINE...ISSUED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WITH MORNING MARINE UPDATE DUE TO SUSTAINED WINDS PICKING UP AT TCOON/OBS SITES ALONG THE LAGUNA. WINDS SHOULD NOT DIMINISH UNTIL MID TO LATE AFTERNOON AT MOST LOCATIONS. EXPECT WINDS IN THE NEARSHORE WATERS...WHICH ARE BORDERLINE ADVISORY LEVELS RIGHT NOW WILL DIMINISH AS THE HEATING OF THE DAY CONTINUES SO KEPT THESE WATERS EXERCISE CAUTION FOR NOW. /68-JGG/ PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 621 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE LATER THIS MORNING...GENERALLY AFTER 14Z...TO BREEZY LEVELS AS HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO INTERACTS WITH LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DECREASE MONDAY EVENING...AROUND 3Z. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 440 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST LATER TODAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A WEAKEN PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TEXAS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTHEAST WINDS ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY. WILL MAINTAIN ISOLATED POPS FOR TODAY AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE /PWATS OF 1.40 INCHES/ AND LIFT SHOULD PRODUCE SEA BREEZE CONVECTION LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...500 MB RIDGING WILL REMAIN ANCHORED IN PLACE OVER MEXICO AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES THROUGH FRIDAY MAINTAINING GENERALLY HOT AND RAINFREE CONDITIONS OVER DEEP SOUTH TX. A BROAD MID LEVEL TROUGH IS THEN EXPECTED TO DIG ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE LOWER 48 STATES AFTER FRIDAY. AS THIS FEATURE DIGS IN...IT WILL PUSH A FAIRLY STRONG COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO DEEP SOUTH TX SATURDAY MORNING. THIS TROUGH AXIS IS EXPECTED TO START TO SHIFT FURTHER EAST AFTER THIS WEEKEND ALLOWING FOR RIDGING TO BUILD EAST SLOWLY. SOME DECENT MOISTURE VALUES POOL OVER DEEP SOUTH TX JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL ACCORDINGLY INCLUDE A MENTION OF SLGT CHC POPS FROM FRI THROUGH SUN. THE ECMWF WANTS TO DRY OUT THE MOISTURE LEVELS QUICKER VERSUS THE GFS WITH THE GFS TRYING TO SPIN UP SOME COASTAL SURFACE TROFFING WHICH MAY ENHANCE POPS LATER IN THE FORECAST PERIOD. AM NOT READY TO GO MUCH HIGHER THAN 20 % POPS UNTIL BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS SURFACE TROFFING ACTUALLY FORMS OR NOT. OTHER THAN THE DIFFERENCES ON THE COASTAL TROFFING..THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT ON THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THE FROPA ON SATURDAY AND ARE ALSO IN AGREEMENT IN THE PLACEMENT AND STRENGTH OF THE 500 MB FEATURES THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY WITH THE GFS MEX MOS TEMPS AND POPS IS PRETTY STABLE THROUGH MON. WILL GO AT OR ABOVE THE MEX MOS TEMPS FOR THE DAYS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL GO WITH A GFS AND ECMWF BLEND FOR SAT AND SUN. PREFER THE GFS MEX MOS POPS THROUGH DAYS 7 AND 8. OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN THE LONGER RANGE FORECAST WORDING AND REASONING IS ABOVE AVERAGE. MARINE /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...CURRENTLY BUOY 42020 REPORTS A SOUTHEAST WIND AROUND 18 KNOTS AND SEAS AT 4.3 FEET WITH A PERIOD OF 6 SECONDS AT 250 AM CDT. BUOY 42020 AND THE TEXAS COASTAL OCEAN OBSERVATION NETWORK (TCOON) PLATFORMS OVERNIGHT HAVE INDICATED THAT SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE NOT OCCURRING AT THIS TIME OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WATERS EAST OF PADRE ISLAND FROM 0 TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THEREFORE...THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE HIGH OVER THE GULF AND LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS SHOULD RESULT IN SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION CONDITIONS TODAY. MODERATE SOUTHEAST WINDS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY AS WEAK HIGH PRESSURE PREVAILS OVER THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...SURFACE RIDGING WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN STATES AND THE GULF OF MEXICO WHICH WILL MAINTAIN A MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE SURFACE FLOW IN PLACE OVER THE LOWER TX BAY AND GULF WATERS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN THE BAY WATERS AND GULF SEAS CLOSE TO SCEC OR SCA LEVELS THROUGH FRI. MEANWHILE IN THE CENTRAL CARIB... NHC CONTINUES TO MONITOR A LARGE LOW PRESSURE FOR SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. THE GFS/ECMWF AND CMC GUIDANCE ALL TAKE THIS FEATURE IS A GENERAL NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING WEEK WHICH SHOULD KEEP THIS FEATURE OUT OF THE GULF OF MEX MOVING UP INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FROM NHC CONCERNING THIS FEATURE. && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR GMZ130-132-135. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR GMZ150-155- 170-175. && $$ THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 68/67
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS BROWNSVILLE TX
1127 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST MARINE DISCUSSION BELOW. && .MARINE...LATEST BUOY REPORT CONTINUES TO SHOW RISING SEA HEIGHTS ALONG THE GULF WATERS. STEADY SOUTHEAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH SOMEWHAT BY MID AFTERNOON BUT ROUGH SEAS WILL REMAIN A POSSIBILITY. WITH THE RECENT INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHT ABOVE WHAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN EXPECTED HAVE ISSUED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH 6 PM TONIGHT FOR STRONG WINDS AND ROUGH SEAS FOR THE GULF WATERS. THE ADVISORY FOR THE LAGUNA ALSO REMAINS IN EFFECT. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 953 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ DISCUSSION...MAIN PLAYERS IN THE WEATHER THIS MORNING ARE THE ISOLATED SHOWERS OVER THE LAGUNA MADRE...AND WINDS WHICH HAVE ALREADY STARTED OVER THE MARINE AREAS AND ARE BEGINNING TO INCREASE OVER LAND. SURFACE AND UPPER AIR ANALYSIS...COMBINED WITH WATER VAPOR SHOW AN UPPER LEVEL LOW ADVANCING INTO THE PANHANDLE REGION OF TEXAS. THE SUBTROPICAL JET MAX TO THE SOUTH WILL HAVE ITS RIGHT EXIT REGION OVER SOUTH TEXAS PUTTING US IN AN INCREASINGLY CONVERGENT PATTERN ALOFT AND WEAKLY INCREASING MID GULF RIDGING...AS THE JET MAX AND ASSOCIATED UPPER LOW HELP DEEPEN TROUGHING OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND IN THE LEE OF THE SIERRA MADRE MOUNTAINS. SEQUENTIAL SFC ANALYSIS SHOWS OUR GRADIENT IS NOT RELAXING VERY MUCH...BUT RUC13 AND NAM12 GUIDANCE AND LINEAR EXTRAPOLATION OF THE INVOLVED FEATURES SHOWS IT SHOULD START TO BACK OFF BY ABOUT 4 OR 5 PM TODAY. THROUGH 700 PM TONIGHT...EXPECT A MARKED INCREASE IN SURFACE WIND SPEED THROUGH 1100 AM AT ALL LOCATIONS WITH SUSTAINED WINDS 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH AT TIMES. DID ISSUE A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR THE LAGUNA DUE TO OBS TRENDS AND THE FACT THAT A SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN OUR SFC PRESSURE GRADIENT IS NOT EXPECTED SOON. THE SHOWERS OVER THE LAGUNA SHOULD CONTINUE FOR ANOTHER COUPLE OF HOURS BEFORE DRIER MID LEVEL AIR WORKS TO THE SURFACE AND STABILIZES THE BOUNDARY LAYER. DID ADD A SCHC/ISO MENTION A LITTLE FURTHER IN INTO KENEDY COUNTY WHERE THERE WILL BE SLIGHTLY BETTER SFC CONVERGENCE AND THE LATEST SREF TRIES TO PAINT A LITTLE PRECIP THIS AFTERNOON. PRECIP SHOULD BE VERY LIGHT AND LOW IMPACT. TONIGHT WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO GRADUALLY DIMINISH WITH A LITTLE BIT OF MID AND LOW CLOUD POSSIBLE. NO CHANGES TO THESE GRIDS AT THIS TIME. /68-JGG/ MARINE...ISSUED A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WITH MORNING MARINE UPDATE DUE TO SUSTAINED WINDS PICKING UP AT TCOON/OBS SITES ALONG THE LAGUNA. WINDS SHOULD NOT DIMINISH UNTIL MID TO LATE AFTERNOON AT MOST LOCATIONS. EXPECT WINDS IN THE NEARSHORE WATERS...WHICH ARE BORDERLINE ADVISORY LEVELS RIGHT NOW WILL DIMINISH AS THE HEATING OF THE DAY CONTINUES SO KEPT THESE WATERS EXERCISE CAUTION FOR NOW. /68-JGG/ PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 621 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ DISCUSSION...UPDATED FOR LATEST AVIATION DISCUSSION BELOW. AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL GRADUALLY INCREASE LATER THIS MORNING...GENERALLY AFTER 14Z...TO BREEZY LEVELS AS HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO INTERACTS WITH LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS. SOUTHEAST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DECREASE MONDAY EVENING...AROUND 3Z. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 440 AM CDT MON OCT 22 2012/ SHORT TERM /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL MOVE NORTHEAST LATER TODAY. THIS WILL RESULT IN A WEAKEN PRESSURE GRADIENT ACROSS DEEP SOUTH TEXAS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES WILL MAINTAIN LIGHT TO MODERATE SOUTHEAST WINDS ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH TUESDAY. WILL MAINTAIN ISOLATED POPS FOR TODAY AS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE /PWATS OF 1.40 INCHES/ AND LIFT SHOULD PRODUCE SEA BREEZE CONVECTION LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE TUESDAY AFTERNOON. LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...500 MB RIDGING WILL REMAIN ANCHORED IN PLACE OVER MEXICO AND THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES THROUGH FRIDAY MAINTAINING GENERALLY HOT AND RAINFREE CONDITIONS OVER DEEP SOUTH TX. A BROAD MID LEVEL TROUGH IS THEN EXPECTED TO DIG ACROSS THE NORTH CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE LOWER 48 STATES AFTER FRIDAY. AS THIS FEATURE DIGS IN...IT WILL PUSH A FAIRLY STRONG COLD FRONT SOUTH INTO DEEP SOUTH TX SATURDAY MORNING. THIS TROUGH AXIS IS EXPECTED TO START TO SHIFT FURTHER EAST AFTER THIS WEEKEND ALLOWING FOR RIDGING TO BUILD EAST SLOWLY. SOME DECENT MOISTURE VALUES POOL OVER DEEP SOUTH TX JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL ACCORDINGLY INCLUDE A MENTION OF SLGT CHC POPS FROM FRI THROUGH SUN. THE ECMWF WANTS TO DRY OUT THE MOISTURE LEVELS QUICKER VERSUS THE GFS WITH THE GFS TRYING TO SPIN UP SOME COASTAL SURFACE TROFFING WHICH MAY ENHANCE POPS LATER IN THE FORECAST PERIOD. AM NOT READY TO GO MUCH HIGHER THAN 20 % POPS UNTIL BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT ON WHETHER OR NOT THIS SURFACE TROFFING ACTUALLY FORMS OR NOT. OTHER THAN THE DIFFERENCES ON THE COASTAL TROFFING..THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT ON THE TIMING AND STRENGTH OF THE FROPA ON SATURDAY AND ARE ALSO IN AGREEMENT IN THE PLACEMENT AND STRENGTH OF THE 500 MB FEATURES THROUGH NEXT WEEKEND. RUN TO RUN CONSISTENCY WITH THE GFS MEX MOS TEMPS AND POPS IS PRETTY STABLE THROUGH MON. WILL GO AT OR ABOVE THE MEX MOS TEMPS FOR THE DAYS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL GO WITH A GFS AND ECMWF BLEND FOR SAT AND SUN. PREFER THE GFS MEX MOS POPS THROUGH DAYS 7 AND 8. OVERALL CONFIDENCE IN THE LONGER RANGE FORECAST WORDING AND REASONING IS ABOVE AVERAGE. MARINE /TODAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...CURRENTLY BUOY 42020 REPORTS A SOUTHEAST WIND AROUND 18 KNOTS AND SEAS AT 4.3 FEET WITH A PERIOD OF 6 SECONDS AT 250 AM CDT. BUOY 42020 AND THE TEXAS COASTAL OCEAN OBSERVATION NETWORK (TCOON) PLATFORMS OVERNIGHT HAVE INDICATED THAT SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE NOT OCCURRING AT THIS TIME OVER THE GULF OF MEXICO WATERS EAST OF PADRE ISLAND FROM 0 TO 60 NAUTICAL MILES OFFSHORE. THEREFORE...THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THAT WAS IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 AM WILL BE ALLOWED TO EXPIRE. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE HIGH OVER THE GULF AND LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS SHOULD RESULT IN SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION CONDITIONS TODAY. MODERATE SOUTHEAST WINDS EXPECTED ON TUESDAY AS WEAK HIGH PRESSURE PREVAILS OVER THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO. TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY...SURFACE RIDGING WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN STATES AND THE GULF OF MEXICO WHICH WILL MAINTAIN A MODERATE TO STRONG ONSHORE SURFACE FLOW IN PLACE OVER THE LOWER TX BAY AND GULF WATERS THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK. THIS WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN THE BAY WATERS AND GULF SEAS CLOSE TO SCEC OR SCA LEVELS THROUGH FRI. MEANWHILE IN THE CENTRAL CARIB... NHC CONTINUES TO MONITOR A LARGE LOW PRESSURE FOR SOME POSSIBLE DEVELOPMENT. THE GFS/ECMWF AND CMC GUIDANCE ALL TAKE THIS FEATURE IS A GENERAL NORTHEASTERLY DIRECTION THROUGHOUT THE UPCOMING WEEK WHICH SHOULD KEEP THIS FEATURE OUT OF THE GULF OF MEX MOVING UP INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. PLEASE REFER TO THE LATEST TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK FROM NHC CONCERNING THIS FEATURE. && .BRO WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... TX...NONE. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR WINDS UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR GMZ130-132-135. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM CDT THIS EVENING FOR GMZ150-155- 170-175. && $$ THIS PRODUCT IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON THE WEB AT: HTTP://WEATHER.GOV/RGV 68/67
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
1145 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY 319 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 THE MAIN CHALLENGES THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK REST WITH WHETHER THE STRATUS/FOG WILL REDEVELOP TONIGHT...THE RAIN/THUNDER CHANCES SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY...AND TEMPERATURES AS A COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE REGION. FIRST...TWO BANDS OF STRATUS AND FOG LINGERED THROUGH THIS MORNING WITH ONE BAND ASSOCIATED WITH AN INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH IN NORTHEAST WISCONSIN AND A SECOND BAND ASSOCIATED WITH WEAK 925/850MB CONVERGENCE ABOVE A SURFACE RIDGE ALONG AND WEST OF THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. DIURNAL HEATING AND MIXING HAS ERODED THE EDGES OF THESE BANDS AND CONVERTED THE STRATUS INTO A CUMULUS FIELD...BUT THE QUESTION REMAINS WITH WHETHER THIS STRATUS REDEVELOPS OVERNIGHT AGAIN. THE RAP HAS DONE THE BEST WITH SHOWING THIS LOW LEVEL MOISTURE BEING TRAPPED UNDER AN INVERSION AROUND 900MB THAT STRENGTHENS TONIGHT AS LOW LEVEL WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE STRATUS/FOG FIELD ACROSS MINNESOTA AND IOWA APPEARS TO ALSO BE TIED TO THE 925/850MB TEMPERATURE GRADIENT WHERE LOW LEVEL WINDS COME AROUND TO THE WEST-SOUTHWEST. THE 20.12Z NAM/GFS/RAP SLOWLY BRINGS THIS LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURE GRADIENT THROUGH THE REGION OVERNIGHT...BUT WITH THE SURFACE RIDGE STILL OVERHEAD AND A SHALLOW INVERSION IN PLACE IT APPEARS THAT SOME STRATUS OR FOG WILL AGAIN DEVELOP TONIGHT. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH AT THIS POINT TO PUT DENSE FOG IN THE FORECAST...BUT IT IS A POSSIBILITY...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN. WINDS FROM THE SURFACE ON UP WILL BE OUT OF THE SOUTH TOMORROW AS A WARMER AIR MASS MOVES INTO THE REGION. THE NEXT CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION WILL COME IN TOMORROW NIGHT AS A CUT OFF MID LEVEL LOW CURRENTLY OFF THE BAJA OF CALIFORNIA GETS CAUGHT IN THE SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT AND QUICKLY TRACKS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS AND INTO THE MID TO UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION BY EARLY MONDAY. THIS FEATURE WILL HELP TO BRING A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM UP ALONG A STALLING OUT COLD FRONT TOMORROW NIGHT INTO MONDAY WHICH WILL INCREASE THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT OUT OF THE GULF OVER THIS PERIOD. BASED ON 20.12Z NAM/GFS BUFKIT SOUNDINGS...THERE DOES APPEAR TO BE SOME ELEVATED INSTABILITY THAT DEVELOPS EARLY MONDAY WITH 0-3KM MUCAPE CLIMBING UP TO AROUND 1000 J/KG. A VEERING WIND PROFILE WITH HEIGHT MAY PROVIDE ENOUGH WIND SHEAR FOR A FEW ISOLATED HAILERS TO FORM AS WELL. THIS COLD FRONT WILL THEN BECOME STATIONARY ON MONDAY AS ANOTHER SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS ALONG THE SOUTHERN PERIPHERY OF IT IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THE 20.12Z GFS/ECMWF ARE MORE ROBUST WITH QPF THROUGH THE DAY ON MONDAY COMPARED TO THE NAM WITH THE HIGHER PROBABILITIES OF RAIN ACROSS SOUTHERN WISCONSIN. WITH SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT...ANOTHER LOW WILL TRACK ACROSS MONTANA AND HELP TO BRING THE WARM AIR MASS IN PLACE THROUGH THE PLAINS FURTHER NORTH ACROSS THE REGION. WITH SOME INSTABILITY LINGERING ALONG THE FRONT...CAN NOT RULE OUT SOME SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY AS THE FRONT KICKS BACK TO THE NORTH AS A WARM FRONT. DEW POINTS SOUTH OF THE FRONT LOOK TO BE FAIRLY HUMID FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR WITH THEM CLIMBING INTO THE 50S TOMORROW NIGHT AND THEN INTO THE 60S BY TUESDAY. CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH WITH THE EXACT TIMING AND INTENSITY OF THE SHOWERS/STORMS GOING FROM MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...BUT THERE SHOULD BE BREAKS IN THE ROUNDS OF SHOWERS/STORMS. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY 319 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 WARM AIR WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE REGION WITH SOUTHWESTERLY LOW TO UPPER LEVEL FLOW IN PLACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE CENTRAL US INTO THE GREAT LAKES. AS THE SURFACE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH TUESDAY NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...THE NEXT LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP IN THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND TRACK THROUGH THE UPPER GREAT LAKES REGION BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL HELP TO BRING A COLD FRONT THROUGH WEDNESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH SHOWERS/THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOPING ALONG IT. THE 20.12Z ECMWF/GEM IS THE PREFERRED SOLUTION WITH A QUICKER TREND OF BRINGING THE COLD FRONT THROUGH COMPARED TO THE 20.12Z GFS WHICH WAITS UNTIL THURSDAY TO BRING IT THROUGH. HAVE KEPT SOME CHANCES IN THERE FOR THURSDAY TO ACCOUNT FOR THE GFS SOLUTION...BUT IF IT STARTS TO TREND TOWARD THE OTHER GUIDANCE IT MAY END UP DRY THAT DAY. THE NEXT FEATURE TO WATCH IS WITH NEXT FRIDAY AND WHICH WAY THE MODELS TREND WITH ANOTHER SYSTEM THAT LIFTS OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. MUCH OF THE PREVIOUS GUIDANCE HAS KEPT THIS SYSTEM WELL TO THE SOUTHEAST AND NOT AFFECTING THE REGION...THOUGH THE 20.12Z ECMWF CAME IN WITH A SOLUTION FURTHER TO THE NORTHWEST. THIS WOULD PRODUCE A LENGTHY BAND OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE SOUTHERN PLAINS INTO THE WESTERN GREAT LAKES WITH THE WESTERN EDGE OF IT COVERING THE FORECAST AREA. SURFACE WET BULB TEMPERATURES AND THE TEMPERATURE PROFILE ABOVE THE GROUND LOOK WARM ENOUGH FOR THE P-TYPE TO BE ALL LIQUID...BUT IT WILL BE CLOSE TO FREEZING AND WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED OVER THE NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION...THROUGH 06Z MONDAY 1144 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 LOW CLOUDS ARE NO LONGER A CONCERN AS THE PATCH OF CLOUDS IN THE I35 CORRIDOR HAS DISSIPATED THIS EVENING. STILL SOME CONCERN FOR FOG OVERNIGHT BUT IF IT DOES FORM...IT WILL NOT BE UNTIL LATE AFTER A BAND OF HIGH CLOUDS CLEARS THE AREA. HAVE TIMED THESE CLOUDS PAST THE TAF SITES BETWEEN 08 AND 10Z SO WOULD EXPECT ANY FOG THAT FORMS TO WAIT AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER THESE CLOUDS CLEAR OUT. THEN THERE IS STILL THE ISSUE OF THE STRONGER WINDS ALOFT AND IF THESE WILL CREATE TOO MUCH TURBULENT MIXING AT THE INVERSION LEVEL TO ALLOW THE FOG TO FORM. THE 21.00Z NAM STILL SHOWS WINDS OF 20 TO 25 KNOTS FROM ABOUT 950 MB AND ABOVE. LATEST VWP WINDS FROM KDMX AND KMPX CONTINUE TO VERIFY THESE WINDS WITH SPEEDS OF 15 AND 20 KNOTS RESPECTIVELY AT 950 MB SO WILL LIMIT ANY VISIBILITY REDUCTION FROM FOG TO 4 MILES AT KLSE AND 2 MILES AT KRST. ONCE THE FOG THREAT IS OVER SUNDAY MORNING...THE REST OF THE PERIOD LOOKS TO HAVE VFR CONDITIONS WITH INCREASING SOUTH WINDS AND SOME GUSTS AT KRST DURING THE AFTERNOON. AN APPROACHING SYSTEM FROM THE SOUTHWEST WILL BRING CEILINGS DOWN WITH A THREAT FOR RAIN BUT THIS WILL NOT BE UNTIL AFTER 06Z MONDAY. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 319 PM CDT SAT OCT 20 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...HALBACH LONG TERM...HALBACH AVIATION...04
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS ALBANY NY
454 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE SOUTHWEST TODAY AND TONIGHT...AS A WEAK WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE TRAVELS ALONG IT. THIS WILL BRING CLOUDS AND SOME RAIN TO THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF RAIN EXPECTED FROM THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION AND AREAS SOUTH AND WEST. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN SOMEWHAT COOL DUE TO CLOUDS AND RAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BEFORE GRADUALLY WARMING FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... AS OF 445 AM EDT...HIGH CLOUDS ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION...WITH MID LEVEL CLOUDS SLOWLY APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. TEMPS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S IN MOST VALLEYS...WITH MID 30S ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS. CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE/THICKEN FROM W TO E THROUGH MID MORNING. SOME SUNSHINE MAY BE DIMLY VISIBLE AT TIMES UNTIL THEN...ESP FOR AREAS E OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY...AND INTO SOUTHERN VT. AS ONE SHORTWAVE...CURRENTLY OVER LOWER MICHIGAN...TRANSLATES EASTWARD TODAY...INCREASING ISENTROPIC LIFT TO THE EAST OF THIS FEATURE SHOULD ALLOW RAIN TO EXPAND INTO WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION BY MID TO LATE MORNING. 00Z/23 MODELS AND 03Z/SREFS HAVE TRENDED FURTHER NORTH WITH THE EXPECTED RAIN SHIELD WITH THIS SYSTEM...AND THIS IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY RECENT UPSTREAM RADAR TRENDS...AS WELL AS THE LATEST HRRR MODEL. THEREFORE...HAVE RAISED POPS INTO THE LIKELY RANGE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION...FOR THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...WITH THE NORTHERN EDGE OF LIKELY POPS JUST N OF SARATOGA...AND INTO EXTREME SW VT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS INITIAL SURGE OF RAINFALL WEAKENS A BIT UPON MOVING FURTHER E INTO OUR REGION...AS IT OUTRUNS THE BEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT CURRENTLY FEEDING INTO IT FROM THE OHIO VALLEY REGION. HOWEVER...RENEWED SHOWERS/RAIN WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE SHORTWAVE AS IT TRANSLATES NEAR OR JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD BE GENERALLY LIGHT TO MODERATE...WITH AN AREA OF ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF INCH EXPECTED JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION...ACROSS THE SCHOHARIE VALLEY AND CATSKILLS. SOMEWHAT HIGHER AMTS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN ANY EMBEDDED BANDS THAT DEVELOP...AS MID LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING INCREASES LATER THIS AFTERNOON. SOME WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL PASS ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD SUPPORT A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER. HOWEVER...OVERALL ELEVATED INSTABILITY LOOKS MUCH WEAKER THAN WHAT OCCURRED UPSTREAM DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHERE SOME CG LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE NOTED. SO...HAVE KEPT OUT MENTION OF THUNDER AT THIS TIME. FOR TEMPS...GIVEN THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AND EVENTUAL RAIN...HAVE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS IN MOST AREAS...WITH MID TO UPPER 50S EXPECTED FOR MAX TEMPS. GIVEN INITIAL DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 40S...WET BULB COOLING MAY ACTUALLY ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL ONCE THE RAIN DEVELOPS LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SHOULD THE RAIN DEVELOP ANY SOONER...EVEN COOLER MAX TEMPS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... TONIGHT...THE FIRST SHORTWAVE SHOULD TRANSLATE E/SE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. THEN...A SECOND SHORTWAVE SHOULD APPROACH SOUTHERN AREAS CLOSER TO DAYBREAK. THIS SHOULD FAVOR SOUTHERN AREAS FOR THE BEST CHC FOR RAIN OVERNIGHT...AFTER THE INITIAL SURGE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL THIS EVENING. THEREFORE...WILL TREND LIKELY POPS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. NORTHERN AREAS MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME THIN SPOTS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOP AT TIMES OVERNIGHT...WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR COOLER TEMPS...AND SOME PATCHY FOG. HAVE GENERALLY SIDED WITH A MAV/MET MOS BLEND...WHICH WERE FAIRLY CLOSE IN MOST AREAS. WED-WED NT...MAIN FORCING MECHANISMS FOR LIFT SHOULD MOVE S AND E OF REGION WED MORNING. IN THEIR WAKE...VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF DYNAMICS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WEAK LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT SHOULD PERSIST...AND MAY ACTUALLY INTENSIFY WED NT. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP SOME SLIGHT CHC POPS FOR WED AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS...THEN EXPAND POPS NORTHWARD...AND INCLUDE CHC POPS ACROSS THE EASTERN CATSKILLS. THIS WILL BE FOR LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AND AREAS OF DRIZZLE IN THE PERSISTENT LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT...AND WELL AS FOR THE INTERACTION OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH THE MOIST AND LIGHT SE FLOW. FOR TEMPS...SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS AGAIN FOR WED...WITH MAINLY 55-60 EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS DUE TO CLOUDS AND SOME LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. FOR WED NT...SIDED CLOSER TO THE WARMER MET MOS...DUE TO EXPECTED CLOUD COVER...WITH WIDESPREAD 40S TO LOWER 50S. THU-THU NT...DESPITE STRONGLY RISING MID AND UPPER TROPOSPHERIC HEIGHTS...A PERSISTENT MOIST SE FLOW MAY ACT TO KEEP LOW CLOUDS AND SOME SPOTTY DRIZZLE FAIRLY PERSISTENT THROUGH THIS PERIOD. HAVE THEREFORE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS...WITH GENERALLY 60-65 EXPECTED FOR MAXES...AND 40S TO LOWER 50S FOR MINS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE TO THE LONG RANGE FORECAST WITH LOTS OF SPREAD IN THE GUIDANCE AS TO HOW A POTENTIAL STORM ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S EVOLVES. THE FIRST PART OF THE LONG RANGE FORECAST...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...LOOKS QUIET...WITH DRY WEATHER... INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70. THERE COULD BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ADVANCING INTO WESTERN AREAS SATURDAY AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THE APPROACH OF A STRONG NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM FROM THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. THIS NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM...COMBINED WITH HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGING JUST OFF THE CANADIAN COAST...IS PREDICTED TO INFLUENCE THE MOVEMENT OF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM CURRENTLY DEVELOPING IN THE CARIBBEAN. DECENT CONSENSUS THAT THESE UPPER FEATURES WILL INTERACT WITH THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SUPPORTING NORTHWARD MOVEMENT. HOWEVER...THE EXACT POSITION OF THESE STEERING FEATURES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE STORM IMPACTS THE EASTERN U.S. OR STAYS MAINLY OUT TO SEA. SO...THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE IMPACTS IS STILL ANYWHERE FROM NO IMPACT TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT...BUT AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL UPPER PATTERN CONFIGURATION AND STORM TRACK WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN NY AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. STILL AT THE WAIT AND SEE STAGE FOR THIS POTENTIAL SYSTEM...WHICH AGAIN COULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT OR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN. EVEN THE GUIDANCE THAT KEEPS THE STORM WELL OFFSHORE SHOWS OUR REGION IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A STRONG UPPER JET SEGMENT AND DECENT BOUNDARY LAYER THERMAL GRADIENT ALONG A COLD FRONT... ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADVANCING NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM THAT COULD BE GOING NEGATIVE TILT AND TRENDING TOWARD BECOMING A CUT OFF UPPER LOW. SO EVEN IF WE DO NOT SEE A DIRECT IMPACT FROM THE STORM...SOME ENHANCED RAINFALL ALONG THE COLD FRONT...AND WITHIN THE REGION OF STRONG UPPER DYNAMICS...COULD OCCUR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. JUST INDICATING CLOUDY WITH CHANCES OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S SUNDAY AND UPPER 40S TO MID 50S MONDAY. && .AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SOME HIGH THIN CLOUDS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES AND VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH THIS MORNING. THE SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD TRACK ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH THE DAY AND EVENING. AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN SHOULD TRACK ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS FROM ABOUT 17Z THROUGH ABOUT 01Z. THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE STEADIER RAIN SHOULD BE ABOUT KALB AND KPSF. HOWEVER...PUTTING VCSH IN KGFL. SOME TEMPO MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE RAIN AT KALB...KPSF ANDK POU THIS AFTERNOON ADN EARLY EVENING. THE EXACT END OF THE RAIN IS UNKNOWN BUT KEPT VCSH THROUGH 06Z AT ALL SITES UNTIL THE EXACT TIMING OF THE EXIT OF THE RAIN IS KNOWN. WINDS SHOULD BE LIGHT EAST TO NORTHEAST AT 5 KT OR LESS TROUGH THE TAF PERIOD ENDING AT 06Z TOMORROW. OUTLOOK... TUE...MAINLY VFR. CHANCES -SHRA INCREASING AS THE DAY PROGRESSES WITH THE BEST CHANCE AT KPOU. TUE NIGHT-WED...VFR/MVFR. CHC -SHRA ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF KALB. THU-FRI...VFR. NO SIG WX. SAT...VFR. SLGT CHC -SHRA. && .FIRE WEATHER... FIRE WEATHER RELATED CONCERNS SHOULD REMAIN MINIMAL OVER THE NEXT 3 DAYS DUE TO LIGHT WINDS AND PERSISTENT HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. REFER TO LATEST FWFALY FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS. && .HYDROLOGY... RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD GENERALLY BE ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF OF AN INCH FOR AREAS NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH/WEST OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH TO THE NORTH AND EAST. SOME MINOR...WITHIN BANK RISES ARE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS WHERE RAINFALL AMTS REACH ONE HALF INCH OR GREATER...SUCH AS ON THE ESOPUS...RONDOUT AND SCHOHARIE CREEKS. GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR LATE THURSDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY SATURDAY. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. NY...NONE. MA...NONE. VT...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...KL NEAR TERM...KL SHORT TERM...KL LONG TERM...NAS AVIATION...NAS FIRE WEATHER...KL HYDROLOGY...KL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
310 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 310 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WARM FRONT CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS...ROUGHLY ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR. HAVE BEEN SEEING SHOWERS AND STORMS INCREASING ACROSS WESTERN ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY OVER MISSOURI...AS AN UPPER WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA AND AN APPARENT MESOSCALE VORTEX TRACKS ACROSS MISSOURI PER WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. INITIAL FORECAST CONCERN INVOLVES CONVECTIVE TRENDS FOR PRIMARILY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH ITS EFFECTS ON TEMPERATURES. IN THE LONGER RANGE...THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY REMAINS AN ISSUE...ALONG WITH RAIN TRENDS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... LATEST HRRR DOING A REASONABLE JOB WITH THE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI...AND IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE RAIN OVER MOST OF THE CWA THROUGH EARLY MORNING. AS SUCH...HAVE RAMPED UP RAIN CHANCES TO THE LIKELY RANGE IN MOST AREAS...PRIMARILY ALONG AND EAST OF I-55. ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CONVECTION YESTERDAY REALLY THREW OFF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST...AND WILL HAVE TO KEEP THAT POTENTIAL IN MIND FOR TODAY...ESPECIALLY IF CLOUDS ARE SLOW TO MOVE OUT. HAVE LOWERED HIGHS FOR TODAY BY A FEW DEGREES IN MOST AREAS...CLOSER TO A MET/MAV BLEND. HOWEVER...HAVE KEPT HIGHS NEAR 80 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY AND OVER THE EASTERN 2/3 OF THE CWA ON THURSDAY AS WELL. UPPER WAVE CURRENTLY OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO FORM A CLOSED LOW AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TO THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. 50-70 KNOT JET AT 500 MB WILL FOLLOW A WAVE SLIDING ALONG THE SOUTHERN JET STREAM TO FEED INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE BRINGS THE FRONT INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CWA THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AND ENTERING THE SOUTHEAST CWA TOWARD MIDNIGHT. A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SOME STRONGER STORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON... ALTHOUGH RAPIDLY INCREASING CLOUDS MAY THWART THIS POTENTIAL. HOWEVER...THE RAIN WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...AND HAVE INTRODUCED LIKELY POPS NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE BULK OF THE RAIN BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL SPREAD THE LIKELY POPS FROM WEST TO EAST...WITH THE RAIN DIMINISHING WEST OF I-55 AFTER MIDNIGHT. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... MODELS HAVE BEEN BACKING OFF ON THE IDEA OF A SECONDARY WAVE FEEDING THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH THE 00Z ECMWF THE ONLY ONE STILL WITH THIS GENERAL TREND. WILL DROP THE RAIN CHANCES NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...AND LOWER THEM QUITE A BIT FURTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS WOULD SUGGEST COMPLETELY DRY CONDITIONS BY EARLY FRIDAY EVENING EVERYWHERE...SO WILL NEED TO SEE IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. HAVE REMOVED THE RAIN ON SATURDAY ASIDE FROM SOME SLIGHT CHANCES EAST OF I-57...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING. WEEKEND TREND STILL LOOKS QUITE CHILLY...WITH HIGHS IN MANY AREAS STRUGGLING TO REACH THE 50 DEGREE MARK. SUB-FREEZING LOWS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 BY SUNDAY MORNING. BEYOND THAT...THE FORECAST TRENDS BECOME COMPLICATED BY A TROPICAL SYSTEM MOVING NORTHWARD OFF THE EAST COAST. ECMWF MODEL IS MORE AFFECTED AND FORMS A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES...LINGERING THE CHILLY WEATHER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHEREAS THE GFS IS MORE PROGRESSIVE AND MILDER. NEITHER SOLUTION CURRENTLY YIELDS ANY PRECIPITATION FOR OUR AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. GEELHART && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1141 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 SHORT-WAVE TROUGH EVIDENT ON 04Z WATER VAPOR IMAGERY OVER EASTERN KANSAS WILL LIFT NORTHEASTWARD...BRINGING ANOTHER ROUND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO CENTRAL ILLINOIS LATE TONIGHT INTO TUESDAY MORNING. 0430Z RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS SCATTERED SHOWERS ACROSS CENTRAL MISSOURI...WITH A CLUSTER OF CONVECTION DEVELOPING ACROSS SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. AS UPPER WAVE APPROACHES AND LOW-LEVEL JET INCREASES...THINK SHOWERS/STORMS WILL BECOME MORE WIDESPREAD ACROSS MISSOURI OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF HOURS. THIS PRECIPITATION WILL THEN SPREAD NORTHEASTWARD INTO CENTRAL ILLINOIS TOWARD DAWN. BASED ON THE 01Z HRRR AND LATEST RADAR TRENDS...HAVE INTRODUCED PREDOMINANT SHOWERS AT KSPI BY 08Z...THEN FURTHER NORTHEAST TO KBMI AND KCMI BY 10Z. WILL CARRY SHOWERS FOR ABOUT 7 TO 8 HOURS AT EACH TERMINAL...ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST TOWARD MIDDAY. TIMING OF INDIVIDUAL THUNDERSTORMS AT EACH TAF SITE REMAINS DIFFICULT...SO WILL ONLY MENTION VCTS AT THIS TIME. ONCE UPPER WAVE TRACKS OFF TO THE NORTHEAST...SHOWERS WILL COME TO AN END AND SKIES WILL GRADUALLY CLEAR BY TUESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING. WINDS WILL INITIALLY BE FROM THE SOUTH AT AROUND 10KT TONIGHT...THEN WILL INCREASE AND GUST TO AROUND 20KT ONCE THE RAIN ENDS TUESDAY AFTERNOON. BARNES && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTHERN INDIANA
1238 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .AVIATION... A STATIONARY FRONT WAS JUST NORTH OF THE INDIANA LINE WITH SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING EAST ALONG AND NEAR THE FRONT. ADDED SOME TEMPO IFR CIGS AT SBN 10-14Z GIVEN SOME UPSTREAM IFR CONDITIONS AND THE ONGOING SHOWERS. THE LATEST GFS/LAMP GUIDANCE ALSO SUPPORTS IFR CONDITIONS. OTHERWISE...CONDITIONS SHOULD GRADUALLY IMPROVE LATER IN THE DAY AS WINDS CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTH. FWA SHOULD BE MAINLY VFR...ALTHOUGH A TEMPO IFR AREA IS POSSIBLE EARLY THIS MORNING. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 320 PM EDT MON OCT 22 2012/ SHORT TERM... /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/ COMPLEX SHORT TERM FORECAST GIVEN PROBLEMATIC MCV ROTATING THROUGH WESTERN LAKES THIS AFTERNOON. CONVECTION HAS FIRED AHEAD OF MAIN SHORT WAVE IN AREA OF STRONG THETA E ADVECTION WITH LOW LEVEL JET. SATELLITE AND RADAR MOSAIC SHOWS MCV DEVELOPED OVER NORTHERN IL AND LIFTING NORTH INTO WI. 12Z 4KM WRF WAS A TOTAL BUST WITH NO INDICATION OF THIS LINE OF CONVECTION AT 18Z. HRRR WAS PERFORMING WELL ON A FEW OF ITS RUNS AND GENERALLY FOLLOWED WITH SOME EXTRAPOLATION. MOST SPECTRAL GUIDANCE DID NOT MODEL MCV AND ASSOCIATED SUBSIDENCE IN ITS WAKE WHICH HAS LIMITED ANY FURTHER DEVELOPMENT. SPECTRAL MODELS SEEM OVER AGGRESSIVE WITH ADDITIONAL PCPN DEVELOPMENT THIS EVENING INTO EARLY OVERNIGHT HOURS IN AREA NEAR WARM FRONT BUT BETWEEN SYNOPTIC SHORT WAVES. HAVE TIMED CURRENT CONVECTION ACROSS CWA INTO EARLY EVENING HOURS WITH A DIMINISHING TREND. KEPT CHANCE POPS GOING ENTIRE AREA THIS EVENING. SECOND SHORT WAVE AND PV ANOMALY APPROACH LATE TONIGHT AND THIS FEATURE SLOWER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS. NOW LOOKS LIKE THIS WILL IMPACT MOST OF AREA ON TUESDAY. HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING/DETAIL OF POPS WITH LIKELY LATE TONIGHT AND TUE MORNING ALL BUT SE AREAS. KEPT A CHANCE ACROSS NORTHEAST TUE AFTERNOON WITH SHORT WAVE OVER THE AREA BUT MOVING EAST. TEMPS WILL REMAIN WARM THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH LOWS IN UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. HIGHS ON TUE AGAIN TRICKY WITH CLOUDS AND PCPN BUT SINCE WE MANAGED TO REACH 70 MOST AREAS TODAY SEE SIMILAR NUMBERS ON TUE WITH MID 70S POSSIBLE SOUTH WHERE RAIN ENDS IN MORNING. BLENDED GUIDANCE LOOKS GOOD. LONG TERM... /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/ UNSEASONABLY WARM WEATHER WILL BE IN STORE INTO THURSDAY WITH CONTINUED SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW INTO THE REGION. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH THURSDAY WITH 850 MB TEMPS IN THE +15 TO +17 CELSIUS RANGE. SOUNDINGS WOULD SUGGEST THAT TEMPS WILL ONLY MIX THROUGH AROUND 900 MB YIELDING HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S WEDS AND THURS AFTERNOON WHICH IS INLINE WITH PREV GRIDS AND NEAR OR ABOVE GUIDANCE. IF FULL MIX OUT THROUGH 850 MB OCCURS...TEMPS COULD JUMP INTO THE LOWER 80S. FORECAST BECOMES MORE MUDDLED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST IN TERMS OF HANDLING OF SEVERAL LARGE SCALE FEATURES. FIRST IS LARGE TROUGH WHICH WILL BE DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS WITH MAIN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IN CENTRAL CANADA. THIS FEATURE DRIVES A STRONG COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA IN THURS NGT/FRI TIME FRAME. FROM HERE THE MODELS BEGIN TO DIVERGE ON HANDLING OF PROGRESSIVENESS OF THE TROUGH. 12Z GFS HAS KEPT A POSITIVELY TILTED SYSTEM SWEEPING THROUGH AND COLDER AIR ARRIVING BEHIND IT WITH LITTLE LINGERING PRECIP. 00Z ECMWF STALLED THE FRONT ACROSS THE REGION WITH ADDITIONAL ENERGY MOVING ALONG IT TO BRING CHANCES INTO SATURDAY. 12Z GEFS/GEM/00Z ECMWF THEN INDICATE TROUGH BECOMES SOMEWHAT NEGATIVELY TILTED. THIS BRINGS TO LIGHT THE 2ND FEATURE OF CONCERN...WHAT WILL LIKELY BECOME TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY LATER TODAY. MODELS GENERALLY INTENSIFY THE SYSTEM AND TRACK INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. THIS WILL CAUSE A BLOCKY PATTER TO ESTABLISH WITH MODELS BOUNCING BACK AND FORTH ON POSSIBLE PHASING OF SOME OF THE TROPICAL ENERGY AND THE TROUGH...DEVELOPING A LARGE STORM SYSTEM THAT COULD BRING IN A BLAST OF COLD AIR AND CHANCES FOR RAIN OR SNOW INTO NEXT WEEK. 12Z ECMWF HAS BACKED OFF ON MORE WESTWARD SOLUTION OF THIS PHASING AND SOMEWHAT MORE REALISTIC BOMBING OUT OF THE SYSTEM OFF THE EAST COAST. COLDER AIR WILL STILL ARRIVE REGARDLESS WITH POTENTIAL FOR LAKE EFFECT POSSIBLY IN PLAY. HAVE TRIED TO KEEP FOR THE MOST PART WITH PREV GRIDS AND UNDERCUT GUIDANCE WITH TRENDS OF ALL MODELS STILL SUGGESTING A DROP TO WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPS. REMOVED SOME OF THE MIXED PRECIP WORDING WITH 1000-850 MB THICKNESS VALUES GENERALLY IN THE 1300 TO 1310 DM RANGE. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...LASHLEY LONG TERM...FISHER AVIATION...SKIPPER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
507 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT STALLING ACROSS LAKE ERIE AND NEW YORK STATE WILL CAUSE SCATTERED SHOWERS TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS UPPER OHIO VALLEY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...MAINLY NORTH OF PITTSBURGH. HIGH PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW WITH DRY WARM WEATHER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...BEFORE A STRONG COLD FRONT BRINGS SHOWERS THIS WEEKEND AND A COOL DOWN FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... BASED ON BLEND OF RECENT RADAR DATA AND RAP MODEL OUTPUT...HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING AND COVERAGE OF EASTBOUND ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY INTO MIDDAY. LIGHTNING DATA SHOWS NIL CLOUD TO GROUND STRIKES...SO WILL CONTINUE NOT TO MENTION ANY THUNDER. USING BLEND OF NAM AND GFS MODEL OUTPUT TO ADJUST SHOWER COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT...CONTINUED TO FORECAST A SLIGHTLY HIGHER COVERAGE OF SHOWERS NORTH OF PITTSBURGH...WITH LITTLE IF ANY SOUTH. RECENT SREF MODEL OUTPUT SHOWS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS VIRGINIA AND THE CAROLINAS...EXPANDING NORTHWARD TOWARD THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY. SO EXPECT LAST OF THE WARM FRONTAL ISOLATED SHOWERS TO EXIT NORTHEAST PAST THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE SUBSIDENCE WILL PROMOTE DRY WARM CONDITIONS THE REST OF WEDNESDAY. CONTINUED FORECAST OF TEMPERATURES TO BE AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL...AS SUPPORTED BY RECENT GFS AND NAM MOS. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... RECENT SREF MODEL OUTPUT SHOWS HIGH PRESSURE SUBSIDENCE MAINTAINING DRY WARM CONDITIONS ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. CONTINUED FORECAST OF MUCH WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES THIS PERIOD WITH HIGHS THURSDAY NEARLY 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... BLEND OF RECENT GFS/ECMWF/NAEFS MODEL OUTPUT SHOW THE EASTWARD PASSAGE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THROUGH THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY SATURDAY...WITH A CHANCE OF THE FIRST PREFRONTAL SHOWERS ARRIVING LATE FRIDAY NIGHT. HAVE CONTINUED MENTION OF A CHANCE OF SHOWERS SATURDAY INTO MONDAY...DUE TO FRONTAL DYNAMICS...POST SYSTEM COLD INSTABILITY...AND POSSIBLE INTERACTION WITH A DEEPENING COASTAL LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. FORECASTED TEMPERATURES TO COOL SHARPLY WITH THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE SATURDAY...WITH TEMPERATURES GENERALLY 5 TO 10 DEGREES COLDER THAN NORMAL SUNDAY AND MONDAY. && .AVIATION /09Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL CONFIDENCE WITH 06Z TAFS. AT FKL/DUJ...MAIN QUESTION IS WHETHER CONDITIONS MAY DROP TO MVFR DURING TIME PERIOD. ELSEWHERE...CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN VFR...ALTHOUGH CLOUD HEIGHTS ARE A BIT IN QUESTION. MODEL SOUNDINGS REALLY DON/T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH AGREEMENT ON AMOUNT OF MOISTURE PRESENT. WILL STICK PRETTY CLOSE TO INHERITED BKN CIGS AT MID LEVELS. SCATTERED SHOWERS SHOULD NOT DROP MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN INTERSTATE 80. THINK THAT BULK OF RAINFALL WILL REMAIN NORTH OF FKL/DUJ...SO WILL KEEP EXPLICIT RAIN MENTION OUT OF TAFS AT THIS TIME. .OUTLOOK.../WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PREVAIL THROUGH DAYTIME FRIDAY. RESTRICTIONS CAN OCCUR FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY DUE TO SHOWERS ASSOCIATED WITH A STRONG COLD FRONT. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
200 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT STALLING ACROSS LAKE ERIE AND NEW YORK STATE MAY CAUSE SCATTERED SHOWERS TO MOVE EASTWARD ACROSS UPPER OHIO VALLEY INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING...MAINLY NORTH OF PITTSBURGH. HIGH PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW WITH DRY WARM WEATHER THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...BEFORE A STRONG COLD FRONT BRINGS SHOWERS THIS WEEKEND AND A COOL DOWN FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... BASED ON BLEND OF RECENT RADAR DATA AND RAP MODEL OUTPUT...HAVE ADJUSTED TIMING AND COVERAGE OF EASTBOUND ISOLATED SHOWERS ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THROUGH THIS MORNING. LIGHTNING DATA SHOWS ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS OVER NORTHERN OHIO...HOWEVER EXPECT THESE TO DIE BEFORE REACHING PLACES LIKE NEW PHILADELPHIA OHIO OR FRANKLIN PENNSYLVANIA. THEN USED BLEND OF NAM AND GFS MODEL OUTPUT TO ADJUST SHOWER COVERAGE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. COMPOSITE OF THIS MODEL OUTPUT SHOW A HIGHER CHANCE OF SHOWERS NORTH OF PITTSBURGH THAN SOUTH. CONTINUED FORECAST OF TEMPERATURES TO BE AS MUCH AS 15 DEGREES WARMER THAN NORMAL...AS SUPPORTED BY RECENT GFS AND NAM MOS. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... RECENT SREF MODEL OUTPUT SHOWS BROAD HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS VIRGINIA AND THE CAROLINAS...EXPANDING NORTHWARD TOWARD THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THIS PERIOD. SO EXPECT LAST OF THE WARM FRONTAL ISOLATED SHOWERS TO EXIT NORTHEAST PAST THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. HIGH PRESSURE SUBSIDENCE WILL PROMOTE DRY WARM CONDITIONS THE REST OF WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. CONTINUED FORECAST OF WARMER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES THIS PERIOD WITH HIGHS THURSDAY NEARLY 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... THERE IS GFSE/ECMWF/NAEFS AGREEMENT THAT THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY WILL CONTINUE TO BE IN A DRY AND WARM SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES THROUGH THIS PERIOD WILL BE AROUND 15 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. A COLD FRONT IS PROGGED TO APPROACH FROM THE WEST ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND CROSS THE FORECAST AREA ON SATURDAY. THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY IN REGARDS TO THE TIMING OF ITS PASSAGE AND DUE TO THIS THE FORECAST DOES NOT WAVER TOO FAR FROM THE HPC SOLUTION. AFTER THE COLD FRONT PASSES...THERE IS A QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR THE LATE WEEKEND INTO MONDAY. THE 00Z ECMWF/12Z CANADIAN AMPLIFY A NORTHERN STREAM MID-LEVEL TROUGH AND BEGIN TO TAP INTO TROPICAL MOISTURE FROM WHAT IS NOW TD 18. MEANWHILE...THE 12Z GFS INDICATES A MUCH FLATTER PATTERN...TAKING THE TROPICAL SYSTEM FURTHER EASTWARD INTO THE ATLANTIC AND LEAVING THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY IN A SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW. GIVEN THE HIGH DEGREE OF UNCERTAINTY...THE FORECAST REMAINS FAIRLY CLOSE TO HPC AND ALSO CONSIDERS THE NAEFS MEAN WITH LOW CHANCE POPS AND TEMPS 5 TO 10 DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL NORMALS. && .AVIATION /05Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL CONFIDENCE WITH 06Z TAFS. AT FKL/DUJ...MAIN QUESTION IS WHETHER CONDITIONS MAY DROP TO MVFR DURING TIME PERIOD. ELSEWHERE...CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN VFR...ALTHOUGH CLOUD HEIGHTS ARE A BIT IN QUESTION. MODEL SOUNDINGS REALLY DON/T SEEM TO HAVE MUCH AGREEMENT ON AMOUNT OF MOISTURE PRESENT. WILL STICK PRETTY CLOSE TO INHERITED BKN CIGS AT MID LEVELS. SCATTERED SHOWERS SHOULD NOT DROP MUCH FARTHER SOUTH THAN INTERSTATE 80. THINK THAT BULK OF RAINFALL WILL REMAIN NORTH OF FKL/DUJ...SO WILL KEEP EXPLICIT RAIN MENTION OUT OF TAFS AT THIS TIME. .OUTLOOK.../WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... VFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE TO PREVAIL UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY WHEN A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND BRINGS SHOWERS WITH RESTRICTIONS. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...NONE. OH...NONE. PA...NONE. WV...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
315 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... SHRTWV ACROSS EASTERN SD/NE NEBRASKA ALONG WITH AMPLE MOISTURE SURGING NORTHWARD FROM EARLIER CONVECTION ACROSS SOUTHERN IA...HAS LED TO MORE NUMEROUS SHRA/TSRA DEVELOPMENT ACROSS S MN. IT LOOKS AS THOUGH THESE STORMS WERE ABLE TO TAP SOME ELEVATED INSTABILITY ACROSS S MN DURING THE OVERNIGHT HRS. HOWEVER...THIS SHOULD BE SHORT LIVED AS DEEPER MOISTURE WILL LIFT NORTHWARD ALLOWING FOR MAINLY -DZ/FG TO PERSIST ACROSS S MN BEFORE DRIER AIR BEGINS TO EVADE FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS. THE DRIER AIR IS ALSO ANOTHER PROBLEM AS THE FG/STRATUS HAS DEVELOPED AS FAR SOUTH AS KANSAS WHICH MAY CONTINUE THE LOWER CLDS/FG IN S MN THEN PREVIOUS FORECAST THAT HAD SOME SUNSHINE THIS AFTN. BIGGEST FACTOR FOR CONTINUING FG/LOW CLDS THRU MIDDAY IS WHETHER THE DEPTH OF THE STRATUS ACROSS NE/KS IS SHALLOW ENOUGH TO MIX OUT. WITH A MORE PESSIMISTIC FORECAST ON CLD CVR...HAD LOWERED AFTN TEMPS A FEW DEGREES. MAINLY FOLLOWING A SURGE OF HIGHER DEW PTS WHICH WILL LEAD TO TEMPS IN THE 60S...WITH A FEW 70S ALONG THE IA BORDER. AFT THE MORNING CONVECTION...MOST OF THE SHORT TERM FORECAST WILL DEAL WITH THE STRONG SHRTWV/LONG WAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND HOW IT WILL TRANSLATE ACROSS THE PLAINS...AND INTO THE UPPER MIDWEST BY MIDWEEK. MODELS ARE DEPICTING SEVERAL WEAK SHRTWV/S RIDING NE ALONG A NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY LATER TONIGHT ACROSS EASTERN MN. ALONG AND AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...VERY MILD AIR WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL CONVECTION...BUT UNCERTAINTIES EXIST ON HOW WIDESPREAD THE ACTIVITY BECOMES IN THE NEXT 24 HRS. WILL LEAN TOWARD ONLY CHC POPS THROUGH LATE TONIGHT...BEFORE THE MAIN SHRTWV AND UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT SHOULD INDUCE A LONG AREA OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES ARE OVER ONE INCH ALONG AND SOUTH OF THIS FRONT...SO RAINFALL AMTS COULD BE LOCALLY HEAVY IN SC/EC MN AS WELL AS WC WI ON WED/EARLY THU. ONCE THE MUCH COOLER AIR BEGINS TO FILTER ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST...EXPECT RAINFALL AMTS TO LESSEN...WITH THE CHC OF -SN IN WC MN EARLY THU MORNING BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ABRUPTLY ENDS BY MIDDAY. COOL -RA WILL OCCUR IN THE EASTERN FA WHICH DEEPER MOISTURE WILL HOLD ON UNTIL THE LATE AFTN. THE EXTENDED PERIOD REMAINS THE SAME WITH THE LARGE LONG WAVE TROUGH DEVELOPING ACROSS THE U.S...MAINLY EAST OF THE ROCKIES. THERE REMAINS SOME SUBTLE WAVES LATE IN THE WEEKEND...EARLY NEXT WEEK ALONG THE TRANSITION ZONE OF MORE PACIFIC AIR MOVING ACROSS THE ROCKIES. THIS MAY GENERATE A FEW RAIN OR SNOW SHOWERS SUNDAY...AND POSSIBLE MONDAY. HOWEVER...BY MONDAY THE ATMOSPHERE SHOULD BE WARM ENOUGH TO BE ALL IN THE FORM OF RAIN. ..JLT.. && .AVIATION.../06Z TAF ISSUANCE/ THINKING HAS NOT CHANGED MUCH FROM 00Z SET OF TAFS AND ACCOMPANYING DISCUSSION. ONLY REAL CHANGE WAS FOR A SOMEWHAT SLOWER INVASION OF LOWER CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES... WHICH WAS MENTIONED AS A POSSIBILITY. THINGS SEEM TO BE IN LINE WITH SREF GUIDANCE AND LATEST NARRE-TL AS WELL. DIDN/T CHANGE PREVIOUS FORECAST MUCH OTHER THAN TO PUSH BACK TIMING SOME... AND OTHERWISE KEPT THINGS FAIRLY PESSIMISTIC THROUGH THE DAY AS VERY MOIST PROFILE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA OVERNIGHT THROUGH MOST OF THE DAY ON TUESDAY. IMPROVEMENT SHOULD OCCUR ON THE BACKSIDE OF UPPER WAVE AND SURFACE IMPULSE LATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON AND TOMORROW EVENING... SO DID ALLOW FOR RETURN OF VFR CONDITIONS DURING THAT TIME FRAME. KMSP...THERE IS DEFINITELY SOME UNCERTAINTY STILL ON THE TIMING OF ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE OF IFR AND LIFR CONDITIONS... AS WELL AS EXACTLY HOW LOW CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL GET LATE TONIGHT AND TUESDAY MORNING. STAYED CLOSE TO PREVIOUS FORECAST... WHICH IS IN LINE WITH SOME OF THE UPSTREAM OBSERVATIONS AS WELL AS THE TIME-HEIGHT FORECASTS FROM THE RAP AND NAM. HOWEVER... TIMING COULD STILL VARY SEVERAL HOURS FROM INDICATED... PARTICULARLY WITH THE IMPROVEMENT OF CONDITIONS ON TUESDAY. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ WEDNESDAY...IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE... MVFR LIKELY. WINDS NORTHEAST 5-10 KTS. THURSDAY...IFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES EXPECTED IN THE MORNING. WINDS NORTHWEST 10-15 KTS. FRIDAY...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED. WINDS NORTHWEST AROUND 10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && $$ JLT/TRH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
349 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM... ISSUED AT 214 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (TODAY AND TONIGHT) FOCUS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TSRA CHANCES TODAY...TURNING TO TEMPS ONCE PRECIP HAS ENDED. ONGOING TSRA JUST W OF THE CWA IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ENE THRU THE CWA TODAY. THE 23/04Z HRRR AND 23/00Z 4KM NCEP WRF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND HANDLE THE ONGOING SITUATION RATHER WELL. PLAN IS TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THESE MDLS FOR POPS TODAY...PROVIDED THIS TREND CONTINUES. THESE MDLS...AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PRECIP ENDING BY EARLY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST AS THE S/W WILL BE NEARING THE IL/IN BOARDER BY 21Z. WITH PRECIP COMING TO AN END AND CLOUDS CLEARING THRU THE AFTERNOON...AMPLE INSOLATION SHUD BE AVAILABLE FOR A QUICK WARM UP TODAY. MADE ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST FOR TEMPS TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAISED TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES ACROSS CNTL MO AS 850MB TEMPS SHUD BE NEARING 18C ACCORDING TO THE NAM. WHILE THIS IS A WARM OUTLIER AMONG THE 00Z GUIDANCE...THIS SOLN SEEMS PROBABLE GIVEN THE WARM 850MB TEMPS ADVECTING NEWD BEHIND THIS S/W. THAT SAID...MDL SOUNDINGS FOR TODAY SUGGEST MUCH OF THE REGION WILL NOT MIX TO 850MB AND HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THE WARMER GUIDANCE...BUT REMAINED JUST UNDER ACROSS CNTL MO. SIMILAR TRENDS CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SLY TO SWLY WINDS WILL REMAIN AOA 7 KTS. TILLY && .LONG TERM... ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ONCE THE S/W RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING TSRA MOVES E OF THE AREA...THE SHORT TERM IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN DRY UNTIL THURS. MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT UNTIL WED NIGHT. THE GFS SUGGESTS A REINFORCING S/W ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE UPPER LOW WHICH HELPS TO SPEED UP FROPA THURS NIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TWD THE CONSENSUS OF THE OTHER MDLS...BUT KEPT CHANCE POPS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FASTER GFS SOLN. UNTIL THURS...FOCUS REMAINS TEMPS. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH THE 23/00Z GUIDANCE AND SAW NO REASON TO MAKE MANY CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST. OVERALL...CONTINUED TREND GOING AOA WARMEST GUIDANCE. (FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) MDL TRENDS DO NOT CHANGE MUCH EARLY IN THE EXTD PERIOD. THE 22/18Z DGEX DEVELOPS AN AMPLIFIED TROF WITH THE SYSTEM AFFECTING THE CWA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD AND CONTINUES TO DEEPEN THIS TROF THRU THE WEEKEND. THIS SOLN IS AN OUTLIER AMONG THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...EVEN AMONG THE GEFS...AND HAVE TRENDED TWD THE OTHER OPERATIONAL MDLS THRU THE PERIOD. THE GEM BEGINS TO SPEED UP TO COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE GFS LATE FRI INTO SAT. HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THESE SOLNS REGARDING POPS LOWERING POPS FRI NIGHT ACROSS NWRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA AND KEPT SAT DRY. REMAINDER OF THE EXTD IS DRY FOR NOW...BUT MDLS SUGGEST A COUPLE OF S/WS THAT MAY BRING PRECIP ACROSS NRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA LATE IN THE EXTD PERIOD. AS FOR TEMPS...MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT EARLY IN THE PERIOD...LARGE DIFFERENCES BEGIN BY SUN AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SOLNS THRU THE PERIOD. HAVE TRENDED TWD A COMPROMISE OF THE GFS/ECMWF/GEM FOR FRI. WITH UNCERTAINTY GROWING THRU THE EXTD...HAVE TRENDED TWD A BLEND OF THE GFS/ECMWF BEYOND FRI AS THESE SOLNS REMAIN SOMEWHAT CLOSE. TILLY && .AVIATION... ISSUED AT 1057 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 AN INITIAL BATCH OF SCATTERED SHOWERS WAS MOVING NEWD THROUGH COU LATE THIS EVNG. A BETTER COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IS EXPECTED LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG AHEAD OF A SHORTWAVE TROUGH NOW OVER ERN PORTIONS OF KS AND OK WHICH WILL MOVE E-NEWD THROUGH MO LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG. AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NEWD THROUGH SWRN MO SHOULD MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG. WILL INCLUDE VCTS IN THE TAFS AND A TEMPO GROUP OF SHOWERS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUDS LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG BUT THIS SHOULD BE VFR OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS/STORMS. SLY SFC WINDS WILL CONTINUE THIS FORECAST PERIOD AS THE WARM FRONT HAS MOVED N OF THE TAF SITES. THERE MAY BE SOME LLWS LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH TO INCLUDE IN THE TAFS WITH THE SWLY LOW LEVEL JET TRANSLATING NEWD THROUGH OR NEAR COU AND UIN LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG. THE CLOUDS SHOULD SCATTER OUT TUE AFTN INTO TUE EVNG WITH THE WARM FRONT WELL N OF OUR AREA AND THE SHORTWAVE E OF THE REGION. SPECIFICS FOR KSTL...THE SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS SWRN MO SHOULD MOVE NEWD UP THE I-44 CORRIDOR AND INTO STL LATE TGT BY 08-09Z TUE. WILL INCLUDE VCTS ALONG WITH A TEMPO GROUP OF SHOWERS AFTER THIS TIME. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD MOVE NE OF STL BY LATE TUE MRNG. VFR LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUD CEILING SHOULD PREVAIL LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG...THEN THE CLOUDS SHOULD SCATTER OUT TUE AFTN OR EARLY TUE EVNG. SLY SFC WIND WILL CONTINUE LATE TGT AND INCREASE TO AROUND 13-14 KTS TUE AFTN...THEN WEAKEN TUE EVNG. GKS && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 319 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 RECORD HIGHS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 86(1939) 91(1939) 86(1939) OCTOBER 24 85(1940) 86(1940) 84(1940) RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 67(2010) 65(1963) 63(1991) OCTOBER 24 66(1991) 65(1991) 65(1991) OCTOBER 25 69(1939) 68(1939) 63(1963) MILLER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ST LOUIS 83 63 86 66 / 80 5 0 10 QUINCY 83 62 83 64 / 60 10 5 10 COLUMBIA 86 64 86 65 / 60 10 0 10 JEFFERSON CITY 86 64 86 65 / 70 10 0 10 SALEM 80 62 83 62 / 80 5 0 5 FARMINGTON 82 59 83 59 / 80 5 0 5 && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. IL...NONE. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
215 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM... ISSUED AT 214 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (TODAY AND TONIGHT) FOCUS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TSRA CHANCES TODAY...TURNING TO TEMPS ONCE PRECIP HAS ENDED. ONGOING TSRA JUST W OF THE CWA IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ENE THRU THE CWA TODAY. THE 23/04Z HRRR AND 23/00Z 4KM NCEP WRF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND HANDLE THE ONGOING SITUATION RATHER WELL. PLAN IS TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THESE MDLS FOR POPS TODAY...PROVIDED THIS TREND CONTINUES. THESE MDLS...AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PRECIP ENDING BY EARLY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST AS THE S/W WILL BE NEARING THE IL/IN BOARDER BY 21Z. WITH PRECIP COMING TO AN END AND CLOUDS CLEARING THRU THE AFTERNOON...AMPLE INSOLATION SHUD BE AVAILABLE FOR A QUICK WARM UP TODAY. MADE ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST FOR TEMPS TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAISED TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES ACROSS CNTL MO AS 850MB TEMPS SHUD BE NEARING 18C ACCORDING TO THE NAM. WHILE THIS IS A WARM OUTLIER AMONG THE 00Z GUIDANCE...THIS SOLN SEEMS PROBABLE GIVEN THE WARM 850MB TEMPS ADVECTING NEWD BEHIND THIS S/W. THAT SAID...MDL SOUNDINGS FOR TODAY SUGGEST MUCH OF THE REGION WILL NOT MIX TO 850MB AND HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THE WARMER GUIDANCE...BUT REMAINED JUST UNDER ACROSS CNTL MO. SIMILAR TRENDS CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SLY TO SWLY WINDS WILL REMAIN AOA 7 KTS. TILLY && .LONG TERM... ISSUED AT 324 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 (TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) CURRENT WV IMAGERY DEPICTS SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER WESTERN OKLAHOMA. THIS TROUGH AND ASSOCIATED VORTICITY MAXIMA WILL TRANSLATE ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE CWFA EARLY TOMORROW AND WEAKEN WITH TIME. VERTICAL FORCING FOR ASCENT WILL INCREASE IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THIS FEATURE DUE TO DCPVA. IN ADDITION... LL FORCING VIA WAA/MOISTURE TRANSPORT VIA A 35-KT LLJ WILL ALSO HELP SUPPORT LL CONVERGENCE/ASCENT FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS EARLY TOMORROW... ESPECIALLY FROM MISSISSIPPI RIVER EAST. WENT HIGH CHANCE POPS FOR 12-18 UTC TOMORROW IN THIS GENERAL AREA BUT DID NOT GO HIGHER DUE TO EXPECTED WEAKER FORCING AT LOW LEVELS COMPARED TO TODAY AND UNCERTAINTY ON FAVORED REGION FOR DEVELOPMENT. PRECIPITATION CHANCES SHOULD DIMINISH BY EARLY AFTERNOON... THOUGH CONFIDENCE IN THIS IS NOT AS HIGH AS IT OTHERWISE WOULD BE AFTER OBSERVING PRECIPITATION STILL ONGOING AS OF 2000 UTC TODAY WITH CONTINUED WARM/MOIST ADVECTION. TEMPERATURES TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WILL LIKELY BE VERY WARM...SOME 20 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. SOME CONCERN WITH TUESDAYS HIGHS BEING TOO WARM IF CLOUDS/PRECIP LINGER LONGER THAN EXPECTED LIKE THEY DID TODAY. IN ADDITION...SOME WEAK CAA/NEUTRAL ADVECTION BEHIND SHORTWAVE TROUGH MAY KEEP TEMPS A FEW DEGREES COOLER ON TUEDAY. FOR WEDNESDAY...DEEPER MIXING AND LOW/MIDLEVEL TEMPS AT LEAST AS WARM AS TUESDAY SHOULD SUPPORT HIGHS IN MID 80S AREAWIDE...WHICH IS AOA WARMER MAV GUIDANCE AND NEAR OR ABOVE RECORD VALUES FOR THE DATE. FOR MORE INFORMATION...PLEASE SEE CLIMO SECTION BELOW. (THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY) A FAILRY POTENT COLD FRONT ATTENDANT FROM A SFC LOW TRAVELLING ACROSS WI AND INTO CANADA WILL INCREASE CHANCES OF SHOWERS AND STORMS FROM NW TO SE ACROSS THE AREA ON THURSDAY. WENT WITH A GFS/ECMWF BLEND REGARDING FRONTAL PLACEMENT AND ASSOCIATED WEATHER ELEMENTS. FRONT LOOKS TO BE NEAR KCOU-KUIN LINE BY 1800 UTC THURSDAY AND APRPOACHING KUNO-KSTL LINE BY 0000 UTC FRIDAY. WITH MOST OF AREA AHEAD OF FRONT FOR AT LEAST A GOOD PART OF THE DAY...WENT AOA MEX GUIDANCE FOR HIGH TEMPERATURES. SHOWERS AND STORMS LOOK TO BE ALONG/JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT WITH POST-FRONTAL...MORE STRATIFORM PRECIPITATION BEHIND FRONT IN PRESENCE OF FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING. STILL LOOKS LIKE THERE IS AT LEAST SOME POTENTIAL FOR SOME SEVERE STORMS WITH THE FRONT AS 30-50 KNOTS OF DEEP LAYER SHEAR AND STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES WILL EXIST. HOWEVER...FAIRLY WEAK SFC CONVERGENCE ALONG FRONT AND ONLY MARGINAL INSTABILITY (500-1000 J/KG SBCAPE) LOOK TO PRECLUDE A HIGHER THREAT AT THIS TIME. BEHIND THE FRONT...MUCH COOLER TEMPERATUERS WILL BE IN THE OFFING WITH HIGHS ONLY IN L/M 50S THROUGH THE WEEKEND. STILL QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY FOR SUNDAY-MONDAY AS GFS/ECMWF HAVE FLIP-FLOPPED A FEW TIMES REGARDING HOW DEEP THE TROUGH WILL BE CARVING OUT IN THE EASTERN THIRD OF THE COUNTRY AND ITS POTENTIAL INTERACTION WITH WHAT IS NOW NAMED TROPICAL DEPRESSION 18 OUT IN CARIBBEAN SEA. TEMPERATURES MAY REBOUND A BIT FASTER THAN CURRENTLY FORECAST IF FLOW IS MORE ZONAL ACROSS OUR REGION ALLOWING COLDER AIR TO STAY FURTHER TO THE NORTH. GOSSELIN && .AVIATION... ISSUED AT 1057 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 AN INITIAL BATCH OF SCATTERED SHOWERS WAS MOVING NEWD THROUGH COU LATE THIS EVNG. A BETTER COVERAGE OF SHOWERS AND STORMS IS EXPECTED LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG AHEAD OF A SHORTWAVE TROUGH NOW OVER ERN PORTIONS OF KS AND OK WHICH WILL MOVE E-NEWD THROUGH MO LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG. AN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS MOVING NEWD THROUGH SWRN MO SHOULD MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG. WILL INCLUDE VCTS IN THE TAFS AND A TEMPO GROUP OF SHOWERS DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUDS LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG BUT THIS SHOULD BE VFR OUTSIDE OF SHOWERS/STORMS. SLY SFC WINDS WILL CONTINUE THIS FORECAST PERIOD AS THE WARM FRONT HAS MOVED N OF THE TAF SITES. THERE MAY BE SOME LLWS LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG BUT IT DOES NOT APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH TO INCLUDE IN THE TAFS WITH THE SWLY LOW LEVEL JET TRANSLATING NEWD THROUGH OR NEAR COU AND UIN LATE TGT AND EARLY TUE MRNG. THE CLOUDS SHOULD SCATTER OUT TUE AFTN INTO TUE EVNG WITH THE WARM FRONT WELL N OF OUR AREA AND THE SHORTWAVE E OF THE REGION. SPECIFICS FOR KSTL...THE SHOWERS AND STORMS ACROSS SWRN MO SHOULD MOVE NEWD UP THE I-44 CORRIDOR AND INTO STL LATE TGT BY 08-09Z TUE. WILL INCLUDE VCTS ALONG WITH A TEMPO GROUP OF SHOWERS AFTER THIS TIME. THE SHOWERS AND STORMS SHOULD MOVE NE OF STL BY LATE TUE MRNG. VFR LOW-MID LEVEL CLOUD CEILING SHOULD PREVAIL LATE TGT AND TUE MRNG...THEN THE CLOUDS SHOULD SCATTER OUT TUE AFTN OR EARLY TUE EVNG. SLY SFC WIND WILL CONTINUE LATE TGT AND INCREASE TO AROUND 13-14 KTS TUE AFTN...THEN WEAKEN TUE EVNG. GKS && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 319 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 RECORD HIGHS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 86(1939) 91(1939) 86(1939) OCTOBER 24 85(1940) 86(1940) 84(1940) RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 67(2010) 65(1963) 63(1991) OCTOBER 24 66(1991) 65(1991) 65(1991) OCTOBER 25 69(1939) 68(1939) 63(1963) MILLER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ST LOUIS 83 63 86 66 / 60 5 0 10 QUINCY 83 62 83 64 / 20 10 5 10 COLUMBIA 86 64 86 65 / 20 10 0 10 JEFFERSON CITY 86 64 86 65 / 20 10 0 10 SALEM 80 62 83 62 / 60 5 0 5 FARMINGTON 82 59 83 59 / 60 5 0 5 && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. IL...NONE. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
410 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FOCUS THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD IS FOG AND TEMPERATURES TODAY...THEN RAIN/SNOW CHANCES FOCUSED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. BEYOND THAT...COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWS A LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH RIDGING ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS OBSERVED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS...WITH SUBSIDENCE ALOFT ACROSS NEBRASKA HELPING TO KEEP THE MID-LEVELS DRY THIS MORNING. SEVERAL OTHER SHORTWAVES OF NOTE WITHIN THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WERE ONE OVER NEVADA...WITH ANOTHER STILL OVER THE OCEAN. AT THE SURFACE...SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST FLOW WAS BRINGING IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WITH THE DRY AIR ALOFT...FOG HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS ALMOST ALL OF NEBRASKA BY 08Z. THIS HAS KEPT TEMPERATURES UP...WITH READINGS IN THE MID 40S TO LOW 50S. THE OTHER FEATURE TO NOTE IS LOW PRESSURE ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE ROCKIES. .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT ACCORDING TO THE RUC AND THE NAM...FOG SHOULD SLOWLY DISSIPATE FROM THE WEST...BUT PLACES OVER THE EASTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA...EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 COULD SEE THE FOG LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. THE FOG WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY SO IF IT FAILS TO DISSIPATE BY 18Z OR 19Z...TEMPERATURES COULD BE UP TO 10 DEGREES TO WARM IN PLACES. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS IN CASE TEMPERATURE FORECAST NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. 850MB TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE TODAY /BETWEEN 15C AND 23C/ DUE TO WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST. ASSUMING SKIES CLEAR...TEMPERATURES SHOULD WARM CONSIDERABLY...WITH LOW 80S POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER NEVADA WILL LIFT INTO MONTANA TODAY...WHICH WILL GIVE THE FRONT TO THE WEST A BIT OF A PUSH EASTWARD. THE NAM PUSHES A DRYLINE ACROSS THE SANDHILLS THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD DROP DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOW 30S. GOING SOUTH...DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE 30S AS WELL AS THE DRYLINE PROGRESSES EAST. THIS WILL PROMOTE DEEP MIXING TO NEAR 700MB. WINDS THROUGH THE MIXED LAYER WILL BE STRONGEST ACROSS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA...WHERE GUSTS TO 30 MPH LOOK POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. GOING SOUTH...WINDS ALOFT DECREASE SO WINDY CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED. WITH THE TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TODAY...LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...WITH VALUES DROPPING TO THE MID 20S WHERE WINDS WILL BE STRONG. AS IS FORECAST...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE MET...ALTHOUGH MARGINAL CONDITIONS WILL BE LIKELY IN A FEW LOCATIONS FOR AT LEAST A FEW HOURS TODAY. AGAIN...CLOUD COVER COULD HAMPER THIS FROM OCCURRING...SO WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS FOR POTENTIAL FIRE WEATHER ISSUES TODAY. THE MONTANA WAVE LIFTS INTO CANADA TONIGHT...WITH A COLD FRONT TO THE WEST PROGRESSING SOUTHEAST ACROSS NEBRASKA TONIGHT. BY MID MORNING WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE THROUGH MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. COULD AGAIN SEE SOME FOG WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT THIS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO AREAS RIGHT ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT WHERE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE POOLS. A THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL ALSO MOVE ONLAND TONIGHT...WHICH WILL THEN PROGRESS ACROSS UTAH AND INTO COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY. AS THIS IS ONGOING...A 700MB TROUGH WILL PASS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE SHOWING GOOD FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING...WHILE THE LOCATION OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK PUTS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA IN AN AREA OF GOOD LARGE-SCALE LIFT. THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN QUITE CONSISTENT IN TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE BEST FORCING FROM THE DIFFERENT MODELS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS SO CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED IN GETTING PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. IT MAY TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO SATURATE THE LOW LEVELS...SO ONLY BEGAN CHANCES FOR RAIN IN THE FAR NORTHERN PARTS OF SHERIDAN AND CHERRY COUNTIES WEDNESDAY MORNING AND SLOWLY EXPANDING SOUTH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEDNESDAY EVENING LOOKS TO SEE THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION IN AREAS NORTHWEST OF AN IMPERIAL TO VALENTINE LINE...AND THOUGH DO HAVE RAIN CHANCES TO THE EAST...LOWERED CHANCES BEFORE MIDNIGHT AS TOO MUCH DRY AIR LOOKS TO EXIST IN THESE AREAS. THE PRECIPITATION AREA DOES SHIFT TO THE SOUTH AND EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT...BUT AS THE PRIMARY SHORTWAVE TROUGH EXITS THE AREA BY 12Z THURSDAY MORNING...LARGE-SCALE FORCING WILL DETERIORATE SO CHANCES HAVE LOWERED FOR THURSDAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...EXPECT THE FORECAST AREA TO SEE PRIMARILY DRY CONDITIONS. THERE IS ANOTHER SHORTWAVE THAT WILL ROUND THE LONGWAVE TROUGH LATER THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...BUT THE TREND CONTINUES TO GO SOUTH SO PRECIPITATION CHANCES LOOK TO STAY TO THE SOUTH. TEMPERATURE PROFILES CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PRECIPITATION TYPE BEGIN AS RAIN...BUT CHANGE OVER TO A RAIN/SNOW MIX WITH SNOW BECOMING THE DOMINANT TYPE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AREAS AFTER MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HAVE RAIN OR SNOW IN THE FORECAST ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR THURSDAY MORNING AS THE PROFILES HUG 0C IN THE LOWEST LEVELS ABOVE THE SURFACE. DON/T EXPECT MUCH ACCUMULATION OF SNOW...WITH PRECIPITATION ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A THIRD OF AN INCH MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. .LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND AS HIGHS WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE 30S AND 40S FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. LOWS ALSO WILL BE QUITE COLD...ALTHOUGH THE 23.00Z MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE A BIT WARMER FOR BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS WITH THE SURFACE HIGH NOW LOOKING TO STAY OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. LOWS SHOULD STILL EASILY DROP INTO THE 20S...WITH TEENS POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE TREND NOW LOOKS FOR WARMER CONDITIONS GOING INTO NEXT WEEK AS RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY. THIS WILL BRING MILD TEMPERATURES BACK INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH 850MB TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE TEENS AGAIN BY MONDAY...COMPARED TO READINGS BELOW 0C WHICH WILL BE EXPERIENCED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE FORECAST IS DRY THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WILL PUSH THE MOISTURE ACROSS THE PLAINS WELL TO THE SOUTHEAST. && .AVIATION... LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VSBY IMPROVE TO VFR FROM WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83. EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VIS IMPROVE TO IFR/MVFR CIGS AROUND 18Z AND THEN VFR BY 21Z. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE FCST AREA TONIGHT WITH MVFR/IFR CIGS POSSIBLE AFTER 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT. && .FIRE WEATHER... POTENTIAL RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL BE MONITORED ACROSS WRN NEB THIS AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF A CLEARING LINE FCST TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE PANHANDLE THIS MORNING. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION...BROOKS AVIATION/FIRE WEATHER...CDC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
318 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... LATEST WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A LONG FETCH OF MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW WITH SEVERAL DISTURBANCES EJECTING OUT FROM AN UPPER LOW/LONG WAVE TROUGH ANCHORED ALONG THE WEST COAST. THE NEXT PLUME OF MOISTURE IS NOW EXPANDING OVER SOUTHEAST MONTANA AND THIS WILL CONTINUE MOVING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE DAY. LATEST REGIONAL RADAR SHOWS PERSISTENT RAIN IN THE NORTH CENTRAL UP TO THE NORTHERN BORDER WITH SNOW IN THE FAR NORTHWEST. FURTHER SOUTH THE PRECIPITATION WAS MORE RAGGED AND SCATTERED. A SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE FROM NORTHEAST WYOMING ACROSS NORTHERN SOUTH DAKOTA TODAY WITH AN INVERTED TROUGH REACHING INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON. THE NAM/GFS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH FRONTOGENESIS INITIATING IN THE H85-H7 LAYER FROM AROUND GARRISON TO RUGBY AND INTO BOTTINEAU TODAY. THIS AREA COINCIDES NICELY WITH A MAXIMUM IN THE OMEGA/LIFT SIGNATURE PER GFS...BUT A LITTLE LESS ROBUST IN THE NAM. HOWEVER BOTH MODELS ALONG WITH THE LATEST HRRR AGREE THAT THIS WILL BE THE TARGET FOR HIGHEST POPS AND QPF. THUS WILL TAILOR THE NORTH CENTRAL WITH NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND THEN TAPER THE WORDING FURTHER SOUTH FROM SCATTERED TO ISOLATED. SOUTH CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA WILL BE IN THE WARM SECTOR PORTION OF THE LOW TODAY WITH HIGHS REACHING THE MID 50S...AND MID 60S IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST. IT WILL REMAIN COOL IN THE NORTH AND WEST WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S. FOR TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY...WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED SURFACE LOW EXITING THE AREA THIS EVENING...OUR ATTENTION TURNS TO THE NEXT JET STREAK EJECTING INTO NORTH DAKOTA AFTER 06Z WEDNESDAY. THE NAM/GFS BOTH SHOW FRONTOGENESIS IN THE ANOTHER H85-H65 LAYER BEING INITIATED IN THE FAR SOUTH AND SOUTHEAST AFTER 06Z. THIS BECOMES THE FOCUS FOR MORE PRECIPITATION AFTER 06Z WEDNESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH THE DAY WEDNESDAY...WITH LIKELY POPS IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST AND ISOLATED TO SCATTERED IN THE SOUTH. THE ONLY THREAT FOR SNOW APPEARS DURING THE EARLY MORNING IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST WHERE ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS MAY DEVELOP WITH COLDER AIR ALREADY IN PLACE. SOUNDINGS SUPPORT RAIN ELSEWHERE...ESPECIALLY WHERE THE POPS ARE IN THE LIKELY CATEGORY IN THE FAR SOUTHEAST. .LONG TERM...WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. MODELS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH BROAD TROUGH OVER CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA THROUGH MOST OF THE PERIOD. CLOSED UPPER LOW CENTER MOVES TO HUDSON BAY BY 00Z SATURDAY WITH NORTHWEST FLOW SETTING UP OVER NORTHERN PLAINS AS MAIN TROUGH AXIS SHIFTS EAST. MAIN IMPACT ON OUR AREA WILL BE BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES WITH HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE 30S TO NEAR 40 ALONG SD BORDER AND LOWS IN THE 20S. OTHER THEN A LOW CHANCE OF PRECIP WEDNESDAY NIGHT ACROSS THE SOUTH AS UPPER WAVE ROTATES ACROSS THE REGION...MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED UNTIL MONDAY WHEN A SYSTEM APPROACHES. && .AVIATION...AS OF 08Z TAF LOCATIONS GENERALLY IN IFR TO LIFR CATEGORY DUE TO LOW CEILINGS WITH EXCEPTION OF KJMS WHICH WAS STILL MVFR. EXPECT SHOWERS CONTINUING INTO THE AFTERNOON...ENDING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST. EXACT TIMING OF TRANSITION TO MVFR AND VFR APPEARS TO BE AROUND 18Z FOR KDIK AND AFTER 21Z FOR KISN...KMOT...KBIS AND KJMS. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KS LONG TERM/AVIATION....JNS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1110 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 1018 PM CDT/ FORECAST GENERALLY LOOKS IN GOOD SHAPE TONIGHT. EXPECT CLOUDY SKIES TO PERSIST THROUGH THE NIGHT...WITH THE CLOUD DECK LOWERING BY MORNING. AREAS OF DRIZZLE AND FOG SHOULD EXPAND LATER TONIGHT AS WELL. TRICKY FORECAST FOR TUESDAY. SOME OF THE NEWER GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING CLOUDS WILL BE SLOWER TO ERODE THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. THUS DELAYED CLEARING SOME AND EXTENDED THE DRIZZLE AND FOG INTO MID MORNING. WILL EVENTUALLY SEE CLEARING FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...WITH EXACT TIMING HAVING BIG IMPLICATIONS ON HIGH TEMPERATURES. DECIDED TO LEAVE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST AS IS FOR NOW. BUT LATEST NAM AND RAP WOULD SUGGEST THE SLOWER EROSION OF CLOUDS COULD KEEP HIGHS FIVE TO TEN DEGREES COOLER THAN CURRENT FORECAST ALONG AND EAST OF INTERSTATE 29. MEANWHILE MOST SREF MEMBERS ARE LESS AGGRESSIVE WITH THE COOLER TEMPERATURES. THUS WILL LET MIDNIGHT SHIFT EVALUATE FURTHER AND MAKE NECESSARY ADJUSTMENTS. /CHENARD && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 06Z TAF ISSUANCE/ AVIATION FORECAST FOR THE TAF SITES CONTINUE TO SHOW BELOW NORMAL CONFIDENCE IN THE DETAILS. CURRENTLY...CEILINGS ARE ALL OVER THE MAP IN REGARDS TO CATEGORY...RANGING ANYWHERE FROM VFR TO IFR. MOST OF THE IFR CEILINGS ARE BOTTLED UP IN PARTS OF SOUTHWEST MN. BUT ALONG THE I 29 CORRIDOR...MANY OF THE LOWER CLOUDS HAVE SCATTERED OUT CREATING VFR CONDITIONS...ONLY TO GO BACK TO MVFR IN THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY AND POINTS WESTWARD. IN GENERAL...A WEAK WIND SHIFT TO THE SOUTH WILL LIKELY EDGE NORTHWARD TO THE I 90 CORRIDOR BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY. PLENTY OF IFR AND LIFR CONDITIONS EXIST IN EASTERN NEBRASKA. THEREFORE CONTINUE TO BE WORRIED THAT A LOWERING OF CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES WILL BE IN STORE FOR OUR AREA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY TUESDAY WITH SOME LOCATIONS INTO THE IFR CATEGORY. ON TUESDAY...THERE WILL BE CLEARING BUT WITH WIND SPEEDS NOT OVERLY STRONG OUT OF THE SOUTH...THE CLEARING WILL LIKELY BE DELAYED UNTIL THE AFTERNOON FOR MANY AREAS. IN ADDITION...THE NEXT COLD FRONT ALSO LOOKS SLOWER SO BACKED OFF ON THE WIND SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST SEVERAL HOURS. /MJF && .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS ARE DRIZZLE/FOG SCENARIO TONIGHT...PRECIP CHANCES MIDWEEK...THEN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES INTO THE WEEKEND. TONIGHT...FORECASTER CONFIDENCE: MODERATE. A BROAD AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NRN PLAINS AHEAD OF A SEASONABLY STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MOVING THROUGH THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. ALTHOUGH LARGE SCALE ASCENT WILL BE RATHER WEAK OVERNIGHT...THE COMBINATION OF PLENTIFUL BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE /SPEC HUMIDITY AOA 8 G/KG/ AND WEAK LOW LEVEL LIFT IS EXPECTED TO PRODUCE AREAS OF FOG/DRIZZLE OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA. NOT EXPECTING MUCH IN THE WAY OF QPF /MAYBE A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS/ HOWEVER DO BELIEVE A FEW AREAS ALONG AND EAST OF THE JAMES VALLEY WILL SEE MEASURABLE RAINFALL. FOG MAY ALSO BE A CONCERN...BUT DIFFICULT TO PINPOINT HOW DENSE IT MAY GET. FUTURE SHIFTS WILL HAVE MONITOR VSBY TRENDS. TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...FORECAST CONFIDENCE: LOW TO MODERATE. RESIDUAL STRATUS/FOG/DRIZZLE IS LIKELY EARLY TUESDAY MORNING...BEFORE AN INCREASING S/SWLY LOW LEVEL FLOW GRADUALLY NUDGES THE STRATUS DECK NORTH/EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. MODELS CAN STRUGGLE WITH THE EROSION/MOVEMENT OF STRATUS SO THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY HOW QUICKLY CLOUDS MAY ERODE. ATTM...MODEL CONSENSUS PUSHES HIGHER LOW LEVEL RH VALUES OUT BETWEEN 15-18Z TUE AND THIS SEEMS REASONABLE. WILL CONTINUE TO BANK ON SEEING AT LEAST PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES TUESDAY...WHICH WHEN COMBINED WITH H8 TEMPS +13 TO +18C RANGE SHOULD ALLOW FOR VERY MILD TEMPS IN THE 70S TO NEAR 80F. INCREASING CLOUDS ARE LIKELY TUESDAY NIGHT...BUT WILL MAINTAIN DRY CONDITIONS FOR NOW. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...FORECASTER CONFIDENCE: MODERATE TO HIGH. UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE SLOWLY ACROSS THE REGION BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. STRONGEST UPPER LEVEL FORCING /Q-VECTOR CONVERGENCE AND FGEN/ LOOKS TO REMAIN PRIMARILY NORTH OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY...ALTHOUGH WILL MAINTAIN LOW POPS AS THERE IS SOME UNCERTAINTY REGARDING TIMING OF PRECIPITATION. THE BRUNT OF FORCING/SATURATION WILL AFFECT THE AREA ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY DUE TO A COMBINATION OF UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE AND A MODERATE MID-LEVEL FRONTOGENETIC ZONE. QPF AMOUNTS STILL A BIT TRICKY TO PIN DOWN AT THIS TIMEFRAME...BUT MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES THAT 0.25"-0.50" IS POSSIBLE...WITH LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. FROPA IS PROGGED TO BE A BIT QUICKER IN 12Z SUITE OF MODELS...SO BEGAN TO TAPER PRECIP CHANCES SIGNIFICANTLY AFTER 18Z THURSDAY. TEMPS SHOULD BE NEAR NORMAL WED...COOLING ON THURSDAY BEHIND THE FRONT. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND A COLD ARCTIC AIR AIRMASS WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEK...RESULTING IN BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD. ONLY REAL CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANOTHER SERIES OF UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCES WHICH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION OVER LATE THIS WEEKEND. MF/KS && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. MN...NONE. NE...NONE. SD...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
351 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 AT 3 AM...A WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM SIOUX CITY IOWA /KSUX/ TO MUSCATINE IOWA /KMUT/. THERE IS LITTLE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT. MEANWHILE FURTHER NORTH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A BAND OF 900 TO 800 MB FRONTOGENESIS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. THE RUC SHOWS THAT THIS BAND OF FRONTOGENESIS LIFTS QUICKLY NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR AND BY LATE MORNING IT EXTENDS FROM HUDSON WISCONSIN TO MILWAUKEE. THE MESO MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS...SO FOLLOWED THEM. FURTHER SOUTHEAST...A SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL BE LIFTING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE MID MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES. THERE IS MODERATE 850 MB MOISTURE INTO PARTS OF OF NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING...SO KEPT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE AREAS THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING. FOR THIS AFTERNOON...WEAK 300K ISENTROPIC LIFT CONTINUES NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR. AS A RESULT...KEPT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS AREA. FOR TONIGHT...THE 23.00Z MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE WEAK TO MODERATE 850 MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THE REGION. THE MESO MODELS /ARW...NMM...AND SPC WRF/ SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SO KEPT THE 20 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF RAIN ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. ON WEDNESDAY...THE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT A WARM AIR MASS BETWEEN 850 MB AND 675 MB WILL ADVECT NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS CAP SHOULD GREATLY INHIBIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...THUS WENT DRY IN THE MORNING...AND SLOWLY INCREASED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THINKING THAT THE STRONG CAP WILL LIMIT ANY SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TO ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THE 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE GFS GENERATES SOME LIGHT SHOWERS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...THUS...ITS MLCAPES ARE RUNNING BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 J/KG. MEANWHILE THE NAM/WRF IS DRY AND ALLOWS TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB TO AROUND 80. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TEMPERATURES AND MID 60 DEW POINTS /HIGHEST THIS LATE IN THE YEAR SINCE OCTOBER 26 2010/ WILL RESULT IN THE ML CAPES AROUND 2500 J/KG. INITIALLY THINKING THAT THE CONVECTION WILL START TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT BETWEEN 24.19 AND 24.21Z AS ELEVATED CELLS AND THEN BECOME SURFACE BASED BETWEEN 24.21Z AND 25.00Z. THE NAM HAS A WEAK LOW ALONG THIS FRONT WHICH HELPS INCREASE THE 0-1KM BULK SHEAR WHICH MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA AND SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. OTHERWISE...THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. ON THURSDAY...THE MODELS STILL DIFFER ON THE TIMING OF THE FRONT. THE GFS IS THE SLOWEST AND LINGER PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH THE DAY. MEANWHILE THE GEM IS THE FASTEST AND HAS THE AFTERNOON DRY. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES...DID NOT GET TOO FANCY WITH TRYING TO TIME THE PRECIPITATION OUT OF THE AREA. REGARDLESS...THE MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE WILL BE THE RAPIDLY FALLING TEMPERATURES IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 ON THURSDAY NIGHT...THE MODELS WERE IN GOOD CONSENSUS THAT THE PRECIPITATION WOULD BE ENDING ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN DURING THE EVENING. AS A RESULT...CONFINED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO THAT TIME PERIOD. ON MONDAY...THE 23.00Z GFS WAS VERY SIMILAR WITH ITS 22.18Z RUN AT GENERATING SOME WARM AIR ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. MEANWHILE THE ECMWF CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT THIS PRECIPITATION WILL DRY UP AS IT HEADS INTO THE AREA. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES MENTIONED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NORTH OF AN OELWEIN IOWA TO MEDFORD WISCONSIN LINE. THE PRECIPITATION HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE EARLY MORNING. HOWEVER SINCE IT WAS VERY UNCLEAR IT WAS EVEN GOING TO OCCUR...JUST OPTED TO GO WITH RAIN FOR NOW. && .AVIATION...THROUGH 06Z WEDNESDAY 1139 PM CDT MON OCT 22 2012 THE SURFACE LOW HAS MOVE NORTH INTO WESTERN IOWA THIS EVENING AND THE TWO WARM FRONTS HAVE CONSOLIDATED INTO ONE AND IT EXTENDS FROM THE LOW ALONG THE I80 CORRIDOR. ISENTROPIC UP GLIDE OVER THE FRONT HAS SLOWLY BEEN BRINGING THE CEILINGS DOWN ACROSS THE AREA WITH IFR CONDITIONS ALREADY IN PLACE AT KRST. AS THE FRONT MOVES NORTH OVERNIGHT...EXPECT TO SEE THE IFR CONDITIONS MOVE SLOWLY NORTH AS WELL AND SPREAD INTO KLSE. SOME DRIZZLE OCCURRING NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT ALONG WITH SOME FOG AND EXPECT THESE WILL IMPACT THE TAF SITES AS WELL. WITH THE HIGHER ELEVATION AT KRST...EXPECT THAT THEY WILL GO DOWN TO LIFR CONDITIONS UNTIL THE WARM FRONT GOES THROUGH. THE VALLEY LOCATION AT KLSE SHOULD PROTECT IT A LITTLE MORE AND WHILE THE CEILINGS WILL GO IFR EXPECTING THE VISIBILITY TO STAY MVFR. ONCE THE WARM FRONT GOES THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING THE WINDS WILL SWING AROUND TO THE SOUTHEAST OR SOUTH AND INCREASE THE MIXING. THE DRIZZLE WILL END WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT AND EXPECT TO SEE IMPROVEMENTS IN BOTH THE VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS. THE VISIBILITY SHOULD GO UP TO VFR BY EARLY AFTERNOON BUT THE 23.00Z NAM HOLDS ON THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE BEHIND THE FRONT. SO SIMILAR TO THE PREVIOUS FORECASTS...WILL TREND TOWARD A MORE PESSIMISTIC FORECAST BY KEEPING THE CEILINGS MVFR. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BOYNE LONG TERM...BOYNE AVIATION...04
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DENVER/BOULDER CO
928 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE...A WEAK DISTURBANCE HAS CREATED SOME ISOLATED SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS NEAR SUMMIT COUNTY THIS MORNING. HAVE UPDATED THE GRIDS TO ADD MENTION OF THESE. ATMOSPHERE SEEMS TO BE MIXING QUITE WELL ALREADY THIS MORNING AS WINDS ARE BECOMING GUSTY OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST ALREADY OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE AND INTO THE URBAN CORRIDOR. && .AVIATION...WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE PROBLEM OF THE DAY TODAY. STRONGER SOUTHWEST WINDS OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE ARE OCCURRING AS THE BOUNDARY LAYER IS MIXING SOONER THAN FORECAST. THESE ARE SPREADING INTO THE AREA AIRPORTS ALTHOUGH THERE IS A NORTHWEST DIRECTION COMING OUT OF LARIMER...BOULDER AND WELD COUNTIES. BELIEVE THE SOUTHWEST SHOULD BECOME PREVAILING SOON. ADDED GUSTS INTO THE TAFS AS WELL. BOTH THE NAM AND THE GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW A SWITCH TO WK NNELY FOR A FEW HOURS AROUND 00Z BEFORE BECOMING MORE SSW AFTER 03Z. THIS COULD BE AN INITIAL SURGE AS THE HRRR AND RUC ARE PICKING UP ON IT AS WELL. HOWEVER THE MAIN COLD FRONT IS STILL EXPECTED TO MOVE INTO THE AREA BY 12Z WITH WINDS BECOMING MORE NLY. LATEST SOUNDINGS SHOW SOME POTENTIAL FOR 3000-4000 FT BKN CEILINGS WED MORNING BETWEEN 12Z AND 16Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 311 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...LOW CLOUDS AND FOG HAVE DEVELOPED OVER FAR NERN CO EARLY THIS MORNING BUT SHOULD GRADUALLY BURN OFF AFTER 15Z. MEANWHILE RATHER STG SWLY FLOW ALOFT WILL BE OVER THE AREA THRU TONIGHT AS AN UPPER LEVEL LOW REMAINS OVER THE PACIFIC NW. SOME MOISTURE IS EMBEDDED IN THIS FLOW AND WILL AFFECT MAINLY WRN AREAS OF JACKSON COUNTY. THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE NAM AND GFS WITH RESPECT TO PCPN CHANCES OVER ZN 31 TODAY AND TONIGHT AS THE NAM IS DRIER WHILE THE GFS IS MUCH MORE WET. BASED ON POSITION OF UPPER LEVEL JET APPEARS BEST CHC OF PCPN WOULD STAY NW OF ZN 31 HOWEVER WILL KEEP IN CHC POPS TODAY AND TONIGHT. ELSEWHERE WILL KEEP FCST DRY. AS FAR AS HIGHS 850-700 MB TEMPS ARE SIMILAR TO SUN HOWEVER LOW LEVEL FLOW EAST OF THE MTNS WILL BE MORE SWLY THIS AFTN. THUS WOULD THINK HIGHS WOULD RISE INTO THE LOWER TO MID 70S ACROSS MOST OF NERN CO. MEANWHILE AFTN HUMIDITY LEVELS OVER THE PALMER DIVIDE DROP DOWN TO AROUND 15 PERCENT AND COMBINED WITH GUSTY WSW WINDS COULD SEE RED FLAG CONDITIONS FOR A FEW HOURS IN ZNS 46 AND 47. FOR TONIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A CHC OF SHOWERS OVER ZN 31 BUT WILL KEEP REST OF THE AREA DRY. A CDFNT WILL MOVE INTO NERN CO AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR LOW CLOUDS TO DVLP TOWARDS SUNRISE. LONG TERM...OVERALL NO BIG CHANGES IN THE FORECAST WITH THE MAIN AREA OF CONCERN IN THE WEDNESDAY TO FRIDAY WINDOW. THE MDLS HAVE A STRONG SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT OVER COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY WITH A 130KT UPPER LEVEL JET OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN COLORADO AT 00Z THURSDAY. THE NAM/GFS MDLS INDICATE WEAK TO MODERATE QG ASCENT OVER THE CWFA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. SEE NO REASON TO ARGUE WITH THE LIKELY POPS IN THE GRIDS AT THIS TIME FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY. SPATIAL CROSS-SECTIONS INDICATE THE AMS SATURATING WEDNESDAY EVENING WITH UPSLOPE DEVELOPING TO AROUND 750 MB OVERNIGHT WITH A MOIST SWLY FLOW ALOFT OVERRUNNING THE AIRMASS. NAM12 SPATIAL CROSS-SECTIONS ALSO INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR BANDING ASSOCIATED WITH CONVECTIVE SYMMETRIC INSTABILITY OR C.S.I. AREA THE THE GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR ACCUMULATING SNOWFALL WILL BE NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70...ON THE COLDER SIDE OF THE UPPER JET SO ZONES 31...33 AND 35 SHOULD DO THE BEST. BUT WITH BANDED BANDS ZONES 30..32 AND 38 MAY ALSO SEE SOME DECENT SNOWFALL. WL ALSO MENTION A SLIGHT CHANCE OF TSTMS WEDNESDAY AFTN/EVENING AS WELL. WILL KEEP THE HIGHEST POPS/ACCUMULATION IN THESE AREA. ALTHOUGH THE AMS WILL REMAIN SATURATED THURSDAY MORNING... INCREASING MID LEVEL SUBSIDENCE SHOULD ALLOW FOR LIGHT SNOWFALL TO TAPER OFF BY 18Z THURSDAY. A SHORT WAVE RIDGE WILL BE OVER COLORADO BY THURSDAY AFTN AHEAD OF ANOTHER WEAK SHORT WAVE DROPPING OUT OF THE NORTHERN ROCKIES. THIS NEXT SYSTEM WILL DROP ACROSS NORTHERN COLORADO AROUND 06Z FRIDAY BRINGING WITH IT ANOTHER SURGE OF COLD AIR ALONG WITH ANOTHER CHANCE FOR SNOW. THIS SYSTEM MORE PROGRESSIVE AND WITH NO UPSLOPE ASSOCIATED WITH IT AS THE SHORT WAVE BRUSHES ACROSS THE CWFA. AS A RESULT...THE BEST CHC FOR PCPN MAY BE IN BE IN THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS AND FAR NORTHEAST PLAINS. IT IS STILL PROGGED TO BE DRIER OVER THE WEEKEND. A STRONG NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT WILL BE OVER THE STATE WITH JUST ENOUGH MOISTURE FOR A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS. TEMPERATURES WILL MODIFY SOME BUT THEY WILL BE BELOW NORMAL THROUGH SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. AVIATION...WINDS EARLY THIS MORNING HAVE BEEN LIGHT SLY AND THE HRRR KEEPS THEM THAT WAY THRU 18Z. BY EARLY AFTN THEY MAY BECOME MORE SWLY AS MIXING OF THE BNDRY LAYER OCCURS. BY 00Z THE NAM CONTINUES TO SHOW A SWITCH TO WK NNELY FOR A FEW HOURS BEFORE BECOMING MORE SSW AFTER 03Z. OVERNIGHT A CDFNT WILL MOVE INTO THE AREA BY 12Z WITH WINDS BECOMING MORE NLY. LATEST SOUNDINGS SHOW SOME POTENTIAL FOR 3000-4000 FT BKN CEILINGS WED MORNING BETWEEN 12Z AND 16Z. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... RED FLAG WARNING FROM NOON TODAY TO 6 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ246-247. && $$ SHORT TERM...RPK LONG TERM....COOPER UPDATE/AVIATION...KRIEDERMAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS ALBANY NY
735 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE SOUTHWEST TODAY AND TONIGHT...AS A WEAK WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE TRAVELS ALONG IT. THIS WILL BRING CLOUDS AND SOME RAIN TO THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF RAIN EXPECTED FROM THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION AND AREAS SOUTH AND WEST. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN SOMEWHAT COOL DUE TO CLOUDS AND RAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BEFORE GRADUALLY WARMING FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... AS OF 645 AM EDT...HIGH CLOUDS ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION...WITH MID LEVEL CLOUDS SLOWLY APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. TEMPS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S IN MOST VALLEYS...WITH MID 30S ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS. CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE/THICKEN FROM W TO E THROUGH MID MORNING. SOME SUNSHINE MAY BE DIMLY VISIBLE AT TIMES UNTIL THEN...ESP FOR AREAS E OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY...AND INTO SOUTHERN VT. AS ONE SHORTWAVE...CURRENTLY OVER LOWER MICHIGAN...TRANSLATES EASTWARD TODAY...INCREASING ISENTROPIC LIFT TO THE EAST OF THIS FEATURE SHOULD ALLOW RAIN TO EXPAND INTO WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION BY MID TO LATE MORNING. 00Z/23 MODELS AND 03Z/SREFS HAVE TRENDED FURTHER NORTH WITH THE EXPECTED RAIN SHIELD WITH THIS SYSTEM...AND THIS IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY RECENT UPSTREAM RADAR TRENDS...AS WELL AS THE LATEST HRRR MODEL. THEREFORE...HAVE RAISED POPS INTO THE LIKELY RANGE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION...FOR THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...WITH THE NORTHERN EDGE OF LIKELY POPS JUST N OF SARATOGA...AND INTO EXTREME SW VT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS INITIAL SURGE OF RAINFALL WEAKENS A BIT UPON MOVING FURTHER E INTO OUR REGION...AS IT OUTRUNS THE BEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT CURRENTLY FEEDING INTO IT FROM THE OHIO VALLEY REGION. HOWEVER...RENEWED SHOWERS/RAIN WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE SHORTWAVE AS IT TRANSLATES NEAR OR JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD BE GENERALLY LIGHT TO MODERATE...WITH AN AREA OF ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF INCH EXPECTED JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION...ACROSS THE SCHOHARIE VALLEY AND CATSKILLS. SOMEWHAT HIGHER AMTS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN ANY EMBEDDED BANDS THAT DEVELOP...AS MID LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING INCREASES LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...HAVE INCLUDED A SMALLER AREA WITHIN THE MORE GENERAL 0.25-0.50 REGION OF 0.50-0.75. SOME WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL PASS ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD SUPPORT A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER. HOWEVER...OVERALL ELEVATED INSTABILITY LOOKS MUCH WEAKER THAN WHAT OCCURRED UPSTREAM DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHERE SOME CG LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE NOTED. SO...HAVE KEPT OUT MENTION OF THUNDER AT THIS TIME. FOR TEMPS...GIVEN THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AND EVENTUAL RAIN...HAVE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS IN MOST AREAS...WITH MID TO UPPER 50S EXPECTED FOR MAX TEMPS. GIVEN INITIAL DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 40S...WET BULB COOLING MAY ACTUALLY ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL ONCE THE RAIN DEVELOPS LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SHOULD THE RAIN DEVELOP ANY SOONER...EVEN COOLER MAX TEMPS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... TONIGHT...THE FIRST SHORTWAVE SHOULD TRANSLATE E/SE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. THEN...A SECOND SHORTWAVE SHOULD APPROACH SOUTHERN AREAS CLOSER TO DAYBREAK. THIS SHOULD FAVOR SOUTHERN AREAS FOR THE BEST CHC FOR RAIN OVERNIGHT...AFTER THE INITIAL SURGE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL THIS EVENING. THEREFORE...WILL TREND LIKELY POPS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. NORTHERN AREAS MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME THIN SPOTS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOP AT TIMES OVERNIGHT...WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR COOLER TEMPS...AND SOME PATCHY FOG. HAVE GENERALLY SIDED WITH A MAV/MET MOS BLEND...WHICH WERE FAIRLY CLOSE IN MOST AREAS. WED-WED NT...MAIN FORCING MECHANISMS FOR LIFT SHOULD MOVE S AND E OF REGION WED MORNING. IN THEIR WAKE...VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF DYNAMICS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WEAK LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT SHOULD PERSIST...AND MAY ACTUALLY INTENSIFY WED NT. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP SOME SLIGHT CHC POPS FOR WED AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS...THEN EXPAND POPS NORTHWARD...AND INCLUDE CHC POPS ACROSS THE EASTERN CATSKILLS. THIS WILL BE FOR LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AND AREAS OF DRIZZLE IN THE PERSISTENT LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT...AND WELL AS FOR THE INTERACTION OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH THE MOIST AND LIGHT SE FLOW. FOR TEMPS...SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS AGAIN FOR WED...WITH MAINLY 55-60 EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS DUE TO CLOUDS AND SOME LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. FOR WED NT...SIDED CLOSER TO THE WARMER MET MOS...DUE TO EXPECTED CLOUD COVER...WITH WIDESPREAD 40S TO LOWER 50S. THU-THU NT...DESPITE STRONGLY RISING MID AND UPPER TROPOSPHERIC HEIGHTS...A PERSISTENT MOIST SE FLOW MAY ACT TO KEEP LOW CLOUDS AND SOME SPOTTY DRIZZLE FAIRLY PERSISTENT THROUGH THIS PERIOD. HAVE THEREFORE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS...WITH GENERALLY 60-65 EXPECTED FOR MAXES...AND 40S TO LOWER 50S FOR MINS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE TO THE LONG RANGE FORECAST WITH LOTS OF SPREAD IN THE GUIDANCE AS TO HOW A POTENTIAL STORM ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S EVOLVES. THE FIRST PART OF THE LONG RANGE FORECAST...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...LOOKS QUIET...WITH DRY WEATHER... INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70. THERE COULD BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ADVANCING INTO WESTERN AREAS SATURDAY AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THE APPROACH OF A STRONG NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM FROM THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. THIS NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM...COMBINED WITH HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGING JUST OFF THE CANADIAN COAST...IS PREDICTED TO INFLUENCE THE MOVEMENT OF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM CURRENTLY DEVELOPING IN THE CARIBBEAN. DECENT CONSENSUS THAT THESE UPPER FEATURES WILL INTERACT WITH THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SUPPORTING NORTHWARD MOVEMENT. HOWEVER...THE EXACT POSITION OF THESE STEERING FEATURES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE STORM IMPACTS THE EASTERN U.S. OR STAYS MAINLY OUT TO SEA. SO...THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE IMPACTS IS STILL ANYWHERE FROM NO IMPACT TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT...BUT AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL UPPER PATTERN CONFIGURATION AND STORM TRACK WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN NY AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. STILL AT THE WAIT AND SEE STAGE FOR THIS POTENTIAL SYSTEM...WHICH AGAIN COULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT OR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN. EVEN THE GUIDANCE THAT KEEPS THE STORM WELL OFFSHORE SHOWS OUR REGION IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A STRONG UPPER JET SEGMENT AND DECENT BOUNDARY LAYER THERMAL GRADIENT ALONG A COLD FRONT... ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADVANCING NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM THAT COULD BE GOING NEGATIVE TILT AND TRENDING TOWARD BECOMING A CUT OFF UPPER LOW. SO EVEN IF WE DO NOT SEE A DIRECT IMPACT FROM THE STORM...SOME ENHANCED RAINFALL ALONG THE COLD FRONT...AND WITHIN THE REGION OF STRONG UPPER DYNAMICS...COULD OCCUR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. JUST INDICATING CLOUDY WITH CHANCES OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S SUNDAY AND UPPER 40S TO MID 50S MONDAY. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SOME HIGH THIN CLOUDS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES AND VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH MUCH OF THIS MORNING. THE SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD TRACK ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH THE DAY AND EVENING. AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN CURRENTLY IN WESTERN NY IS TRACKING TOWARD EASTERN NY. A FEW SHOWERS COULD BEGIN TO AFFECT TAF SITES BETWEEN 15Z- 17Z. ONCE THE RAIN STARTS AND BECOMES STEADY...IT SHOULD LAST UNTIL AROUND 00Z-01Z. THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE STEADIER RAIN SHOULD BE ABOUT KALB AND KPSF. HOWEVER...PUTTING VCSH IN KGFL. SOME TEMPO MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE RAIN AT KALB...KPSF AND POU THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE EXACT END OF THE RAIN IS UNKNOWN BUT KEPT VCSH THROUGH 12Z AND SOME MVFR CEILINGS AT ALL SITES UNTIL THE EXACT TIMING OF THE EXIT OF THE RAIN IS KNOWN. WINDS SHOULD BE LIGHT EAST TO NORTHEAST AT 5 KT OR LESS TROUGH THE TAF PERIOD ENDING AT 06Z TOMORROW. OUTLOOK... WED...VFR/MVFR. CHC -SHRA ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF KALB. THU-FRI...VFR. NO SIG WX. SAT...VFR. SLGT CHC -SHRA. && .FIRE WEATHER... FIRE WEATHER RELATED CONCERNS SHOULD REMAIN MINIMAL OVER THE NEXT 3 DAYS DUE TO LIGHT WINDS AND PERSISTENT HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. REFER TO LATEST FWFALY FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS. && .HYDROLOGY... RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD GENERALLY BE ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF OF AN INCH FOR AREAS NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH/WEST OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH TO THE NORTH AND EAST. SOME MINOR...WITHIN BANK RISES ARE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS WHERE RAINFALL AMTS REACH ONE HALF INCH OR GREATER...SUCH AS ON THE ESOPUS...RONDOUT AND SCHOHARIE CREEKS. GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR LATE THURSDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY SATURDAY. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. NY...NONE. MA...NONE. VT...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...KL NEAR TERM...KL SHORT TERM...KL LONG TERM...NAS AVIATION...NAS FIRE WEATHER...KL HYDROLOGY...KL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS ALBANY NY
644 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A WARM FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE SOUTHWEST TODAY AND TONIGHT...AS A WEAK WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE TRAVELS ALONG IT. THIS WILL BRING CLOUDS AND SOME RAIN TO THE REGION THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING...WITH THE BEST CHANCE OF RAIN EXPECTED FROM THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION AND AREAS SOUTH AND WEST. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN SOMEWHAT COOL DUE TO CLOUDS AND RAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BEFORE GRADUALLY WARMING FOR THE END OF THE WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... AS OF 645 AM EDT...HIGH CLOUDS ARE GRADUALLY INCREASING ACROSS THE REGION...WITH MID LEVEL CLOUDS SLOWLY APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. TEMPS HAVE DROPPED INTO THE UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S IN MOST VALLEYS...WITH MID 30S ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE SOUTHERN ADIRONDACKS. CLOUDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE/THICKEN FROM W TO E THROUGH MID MORNING. SOME SUNSHINE MAY BE DIMLY VISIBLE AT TIMES UNTIL THEN...ESP FOR AREAS E OF THE HUDSON RIVER VALLEY...AND INTO SOUTHERN VT. AS ONE SHORTWAVE...CURRENTLY OVER LOWER MICHIGAN...TRANSLATES EASTWARD TODAY...INCREASING ISENTROPIC LIFT TO THE EAST OF THIS FEATURE SHOULD ALLOW RAIN TO EXPAND INTO WESTERN AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION BY MID TO LATE MORNING. 00Z/23 MODELS AND 03Z/SREFS HAVE TRENDED FURTHER NORTH WITH THE EXPECTED RAIN SHIELD WITH THIS SYSTEM...AND THIS IS FURTHER SUPPORTED BY RECENT UPSTREAM RADAR TRENDS...AS WELL AS THE LATEST HRRR MODEL. THEREFORE...HAVE RAISED POPS INTO THE LIKELY RANGE FOR CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE REGION...FOR THIS AFTERNOON/EVENING...WITH THE NORTHERN EDGE OF LIKELY POPS JUST N OF SARATOGA...AND INTO EXTREME SW VT. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THIS INITIAL SURGE OF RAINFALL WEAKENS A BIT UPON MOVING FURTHER E INTO OUR REGION...AS IT OUTRUNS THE BEST LOW LEVEL MOISTURE TRANSPORT CURRENTLY FEEDING INTO IT FROM THE OHIO VALLEY REGION. HOWEVER...RENEWED SHOWERS/RAIN WILL LIKELY DEVELOP ON THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE SHORTWAVE AS IT TRANSLATES NEAR OR JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION LATER THIS AFTERNOON OR EARLY THIS EVENING. RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD BE GENERALLY LIGHT TO MODERATE...WITH AN AREA OF ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF INCH EXPECTED JUST S/W OF THE CAPITAL REGION...ACROSS THE SCHOHARIE VALLEY AND CATSKILLS. SOMEWHAT HIGHER AMTS ARE POSSIBLE WITHIN ANY EMBEDDED BANDS THAT DEVELOP...AS MID LEVEL FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING INCREASES LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...HAVE INCLUDED A SMALLER AREA WITHIN THE MORE GENERAL 0.25-0.50 REGION OF 0.50-0.75. SOME WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY WILL PASS ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS LATER THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD SUPPORT A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER. HOWEVER...OVERALL ELEVATED INSTABILITY LOOKS MUCH WEAKER THAN WHAT OCCURRED UPSTREAM DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WHERE SOME CG LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE NOTED. SO...HAVE KEPT OUT MENTION OF THUNDER AT THIS TIME. FOR TEMPS...GIVEN THE EXPECTED INCREASE IN CLOUD COVER AND EVENTUAL RAIN...HAVE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS IN MOST AREAS...WITH MID TO UPPER 50S EXPECTED FOR MAX TEMPS. GIVEN INITIAL DEWPOINTS IN THE LOWER 40S...WET BULB COOLING MAY ACTUALLY ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL ONCE THE RAIN DEVELOPS LATER THIS MORNING INTO THE AFTERNOON. SHOULD THE RAIN DEVELOP ANY SOONER...EVEN COOLER MAX TEMPS WOULD BE POSSIBLE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... TONIGHT...THE FIRST SHORTWAVE SHOULD TRANSLATE E/SE ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE REGION THIS EVENING. THEN...A SECOND SHORTWAVE SHOULD APPROACH SOUTHERN AREAS CLOSER TO DAYBREAK. THIS SHOULD FAVOR SOUTHERN AREAS FOR THE BEST CHC FOR RAIN OVERNIGHT...AFTER THE INITIAL SURGE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAINFALL THIS EVENING. THEREFORE...WILL TREND LIKELY POPS SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT HOURS. NORTHERN AREAS MAY ACTUALLY HAVE SOME THIN SPOTS IN THE CLOUDS DEVELOP AT TIMES OVERNIGHT...WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR COOLER TEMPS...AND SOME PATCHY FOG. HAVE GENERALLY SIDED WITH A MAV/MET MOS BLEND...WHICH WERE FAIRLY CLOSE IN MOST AREAS. WED-WED NT...MAIN FORCING MECHANISMS FOR LIFT SHOULD MOVE S AND E OF REGION WED MORNING. IN THEIR WAKE...VERY LITTLE IN THE WAY OF DYNAMICS WILL REMAIN. HOWEVER...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WEAK LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT SHOULD PERSIST...AND MAY ACTUALLY INTENSIFY WED NT. THEREFORE...WILL KEEP SOME SLIGHT CHC POPS FOR WED AFTERNOON ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS...THEN EXPAND POPS NORTHWARD...AND INCLUDE CHC POPS ACROSS THE EASTERN CATSKILLS. THIS WILL BE FOR LIGHT RAIN SHOWERS AND AREAS OF DRIZZLE IN THE PERSISTENT LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT...AND WELL AS FOR THE INTERACTION OF THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH THE MOIST AND LIGHT SE FLOW. FOR TEMPS...SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS AGAIN FOR WED...WITH MAINLY 55-60 EXPECTED IN MOST AREAS DUE TO CLOUDS AND SOME LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE. FOR WED NT...SIDED CLOSER TO THE WARMER MET MOS...DUE TO EXPECTED CLOUD COVER...WITH WIDESPREAD 40S TO LOWER 50S. THU-THU NT...DESPITE STRONGLY RISING MID AND UPPER TROPOSPHERIC HEIGHTS...A PERSISTENT MOIST SE FLOW MAY ACT TO KEEP LOW CLOUDS AND SOME SPOTTY DRIZZLE FAIRLY PERSISTENT THROUGH THIS PERIOD. HAVE THEREFORE SIDED CLOSER TO THE COOLER MET MOS...WITH GENERALLY 60-65 EXPECTED FOR MAXES...AND 40S TO LOWER 50S FOR MINS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NOT A WHOLE LOT OF CHANGE TO THE LONG RANGE FORECAST WITH LOTS OF SPREAD IN THE GUIDANCE AS TO HOW A POTENTIAL STORM ALONG THE EAST COAST OF THE U.S EVOLVES. THE FIRST PART OF THE LONG RANGE FORECAST...FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...LOOKS QUIET...WITH DRY WEATHER... INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 60S TO AROUND 70. THERE COULD BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS ADVANCING INTO WESTERN AREAS SATURDAY AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE TIMING OF THE APPROACH OF A STRONG NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM FROM THE MIDWEST AND GREAT LAKES. THIS NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM...COMBINED WITH HIGH AMPLITUDE UPPER RIDGING JUST OFF THE CANADIAN COAST...IS PREDICTED TO INFLUENCE THE MOVEMENT OF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM CURRENTLY DEVELOPING IN THE CARIBBEAN. DECENT CONSENSUS THAT THESE UPPER FEATURES WILL INTERACT WITH THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SUPPORTING NORTHWARD MOVEMENT. HOWEVER...THE EXACT POSITION OF THESE STEERING FEATURES WILL DETERMINE WHETHER THE STORM IMPACTS THE EASTERN U.S. OR STAYS MAINLY OUT TO SEA. SO...THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE IMPACTS IS STILL ANYWHERE FROM NO IMPACT TO A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT...BUT AN EXTREMELY UNUSUAL UPPER PATTERN CONFIGURATION AND STORM TRACK WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR THE WORST CASE SCENARIO OF HEAVY RAIN AND WINDS IN EASTERN AND NORTHERN NY AND WESTERN NEW ENGLAND. STILL AT THE WAIT AND SEE STAGE FOR THIS POTENTIAL SYSTEM...WHICH AGAIN COULD HAVE MINIMAL IMPACT OR SIGNIFICANT IMPACT OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN. EVEN THE GUIDANCE THAT KEEPS THE STORM WELL OFFSHORE SHOWS OUR REGION IN THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A STRONG UPPER JET SEGMENT AND DECENT BOUNDARY LAYER THERMAL GRADIENT ALONG A COLD FRONT... ASSOCIATED WITH THE ADVANCING NORTHERN STREAM SYSTEM THAT COULD BE GOING NEGATIVE TILT AND TRENDING TOWARD BECOMING A CUT OFF UPPER LOW. SO EVEN IF WE DO NOT SEE A DIRECT IMPACT FROM THE STORM...SOME ENHANCED RAINFALL ALONG THE COLD FRONT...AND WITHIN THE REGION OF STRONG UPPER DYNAMICS...COULD OCCUR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. JUST INDICATING CLOUDY WITH CHANCES OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 50S TO LOWER 60S SUNDAY AND UPPER 40S TO MID 50S MONDAY. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SOME HIGH THIN CLOUDS ARE SPREADING ACROSS THE REGION AHEAD OF AN UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES AND VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL THROUGH THIS MORNING. THE SYSTEM IN THE GREAT LAKES SHOULD TRACK ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH THE DAY AND EVENING. AN AREA OF LIGHT RAIN SHOULD TRACK ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AREAS FROM ABOUT 17Z THROUGH ABOUT 01Z. THE NORTHERN PERIPHERY OF THE STEADIER RAIN SHOULD BE ABOUT KALB AND KPSF. HOWEVER...PUTTING VCSH IN KGFL. SOME TEMPO MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE DURING THE RAIN AT KALB...KPSF ANDK POU THIS AFTERNOON ADN EARLY EVENING. THE EXACT END OF THE RAIN IS UNKNOWN BUT KEPT VCSH THROUGH 06Z AT ALL SITES UNTIL THE EXACT TIMING OF THE EXIT OF THE RAIN IS KNOWN. WINDS SHOULD BE LIGHT EAST TO NORTHEAST AT 5 KT OR LESS TROUGH THE TAF PERIOD ENDING AT 06Z TOMORROW. OUTLOOK... TUE...MAINLY VFR. CHANCES -SHRA INCREASING AS THE DAY PROGRESSES WITH THE BEST CHANCE AT KPOU. TUE NIGHT-WED...VFR/MVFR. CHC -SHRA ESPECIALLY SOUTH OF KALB. THU-FRI...VFR. NO SIG WX. SAT...VFR. SLGT CHC -SHRA. && .FIRE WEATHER... FIRE WEATHER RELATED CONCERNS SHOULD REMAIN MINIMAL OVER THE NEXT 3 DAYS DUE TO LIGHT WINDS AND PERSISTENT HIGH RELATIVE HUMIDITIES. REFER TO LATEST FWFALY FOR MORE SPECIFIC DETAILS. && .HYDROLOGY... RAINFALL AMTS SHOULD GENERALLY BE ONE QUARTER...TO ONE HALF OF AN INCH FOR AREAS NEAR AND TO THE SOUTH/WEST OF THE GREATER CAPITAL REGION THROUGH THURSDAY...WITH LESS THAN ONE QUARTER OF AN INCH TO THE NORTH AND EAST. SOME MINOR...WITHIN BANK RISES ARE POSSIBLE FOR AREAS WHERE RAINFALL AMTS REACH ONE HALF INCH OR GREATER...SUCH AS ON THE ESOPUS...RONDOUT AND SCHOHARIE CREEKS. GENERALLY DRY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED FOR LATE THURSDAY THROUGH AT LEAST EARLY SATURDAY. && .ALY WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CT...NONE. NY...NONE. MA...NONE. VT...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...KL NEAR TERM...KL SHORT TERM...KL LONG TERM...NAS AVIATION...NAS FIRE WEATHER...KL HYDROLOGY...KL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
1036 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 1036 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 HAVE MADE TWEEKS TO TEMPS TODAY AND ADDED CHC POPS IN SOUTHEAST FOR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH AREA CURRENTLY IS ENHANCING PCPN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...PARTICULARLY SOUTHEAST HALF OF FORECAST AREA. WAVE SHOULD MOVE PAST AREA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND SHORTWAVE RIDGING SHOULD BUILD HEIGHTS AND ALLOW FOR SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDENCE TO BRING AN END TO PCPN AND SOME BREAKS IN CLOUDS. THE SLOWEST AREA OF IMPROVEMENT WILL LIKELY BE IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE REMNANT PCPN MAY LINGER AS AREA OF SHOWERS FORMED AT NOSE OF LOW- LEVEL JET IN ERN MISSOURI MOVES EAST. ELSEWHERE...CAPPING SHOULD INHIBIT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT. BREAKS IN CLOUDS SHOULD ALLOW TEMPS TO RESPOND. TEMPS ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALREADY NEAR 70F AND WITH SOME SUN AND SOUTH WINDS ADVECTING IN WARMER TEMPS...70S STILL LIKELY. BARKER && .AVIATION... ISSUED 648 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WILL BE A BREAK IN THE PCPN THIS MORNING AS AREA WILL BE IN BETWEEN COMPLEXES. THE NEXT ROUND OF PCPN SHOULD REACH SPI/PIA AROUND 15Z...DEC/BMI AROUND 16Z AND THEN CMI AROUND 17Z. PCPN WILL BE MAINLY SHOWERS BUT THUNDERSTORM ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMPLEX SO WILL ALSO HAVE A 2HR TEMPO GROUP FOR THUNDER AT EACH SITE DURING THE LATE MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON. PCPN COULD LINGER BEHIND THE MAIN AREA SO WILL BE KEEPING SHRA AND VCTS AT EACH SITE FOR COUPLE HOURS AFTER TEMPO GROUP. ON BACK SIDE OF PCPN WINDS SHOULD ALSO INCREASE SO WILL KEEP GUSTY WINDS DURING AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY THROUGH THE PERIOD. CLOUDS WILL SCATTER OUT COUPLE OF HOURS BEHIND THE SYSTEM AND THEN MOSTLY CLEAR AROUND SUNSET FOR THE EVENING. NAM TRYING TO BRING SOME SC INTO THE AREA OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER...UNSURE OF THIS SOLUTION SO WILL KEEP CLEAR FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT HOURS FOR NOW. AUTEN && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 310 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WARM FRONT CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS...ROUGHLY ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR. HAVE BEEN SEEING SHOWERS AND STORMS INCREASING ACROSS WESTERN ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY OVER MISSOURI...AS AN UPPER WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA AND AN APPARENT MESOSCALE VORTEX TRACKS ACROSS MISSOURI PER WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. INITIAL FORECAST CONCERN INVOLVES CONVECTIVE TRENDS FOR PRIMARILY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH ITS EFFECTS ON TEMPERATURES. IN THE LONGER RANGE...THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY REMAINS AN ISSUE...ALONG WITH RAIN TRENDS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... LATEST HRRR DOING A REASONABLE JOB WITH THE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI...AND IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE RAIN OVER MOST OF THE CWA THROUGH EARLY MORNING. AS SUCH...HAVE RAMPED UP RAIN CHANCES TO THE LIKELY RANGE IN MOST AREAS...PRIMARILY ALONG AND EAST OF I-55. ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CONVECTION YESTERDAY REALLY THREW OFF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST...AND WILL HAVE TO KEEP THAT POTENTIAL IN MIND FOR TODAY...ESPECIALLY IF CLOUDS ARE SLOW TO MOVE OUT. HAVE LOWERED HIGHS FOR TODAY BY A FEW DEGREES IN MOST AREAS...CLOSER TO A MET/MAV BLEND. HOWEVER...HAVE KEPT HIGHS NEAR 80 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY AND OVER THE EASTERN 2/3 OF THE CWA ON THURSDAY AS WELL. UPPER WAVE CURRENTLY OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO FORM A CLOSED LOW AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TO THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. 50-70 KNOT JET AT 500 MB WILL FOLLOW A WAVE SLIDING ALONG THE SOUTHERN JET STREAM TO FEED INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE BRINGS THE FRONT INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CWA THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AND ENTERING THE SOUTHEAST CWA TOWARD MIDNIGHT. A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SOME STRONGER STORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON... ALTHOUGH RAPIDLY INCREASING CLOUDS MAY THWART THIS POTENTIAL. HOWEVER...THE RAIN WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...AND HAVE INTRODUCED LIKELY POPS NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE BULK OF THE RAIN BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL SPREAD THE LIKELY POPS FROM WEST TO EAST...WITH THE RAIN DIMINISHING WEST OF I-55 AFTER MIDNIGHT. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... MODELS HAVE BEEN BACKING OFF ON THE IDEA OF A SECONDARY WAVE FEEDING THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH THE 00Z ECMWF THE ONLY ONE STILL WITH THIS GENERAL TREND. WILL DROP THE RAIN CHANCES NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...AND LOWER THEM QUITE A BIT FURTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS WOULD SUGGEST COMPLETELY DRY CONDITIONS BY EARLY FRIDAY EVENING EVERYWHERE...SO WILL NEED TO SEE IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. HAVE REMOVED THE RAIN ON SATURDAY ASIDE FROM SOME SLIGHT CHANCES EAST OF I-57...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING. WEEKEND TREND STILL LOOKS QUITE CHILLY...WITH HIGHS IN MANY AREAS STRUGGLING TO REACH THE 50 DEGREE MARK. SUB-FREEZING LOWS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 BY SUNDAY MORNING. BEYOND THAT...THE FORECAST TRENDS BECOME COMPLICATED BY A TROPICAL SYSTEM MOVING NORTHWARD OFF THE EAST COAST. ECMWF MODEL IS MORE AFFECTED AND FORMS A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES...LINGERING THE CHILLY WEATHER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHEREAS THE GFS IS MORE PROGRESSIVE AND MILDER. NEITHER SOLUTION CURRENTLY YIELDS ANY PRECIPITATION FOR OUR AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. GEELHART && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
944 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... 858 AM CDT UPDATED GRIDS AND ZFP HAVE BEEN SENT WITH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO FIRST PERIOD. MORNING WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A WELL DEFINED SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING EASTWARD OVER IA/MO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO PERCOLATE IN THE VERY MOIST AIRMASS OUT AHEAD OF THIS SHORTWAVE. MAJORITY OF THE ASCENT WITH THIS WAVE SHOULD BE EAST OF THE CWA BY LATE AFTERNOON WITH SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE EXPECTED TO DECREASE TOWARD EVENING. HAVE BUMPED UP SKY COVER CONSIDERABLY TODAY WITH NO HOPE OF SEEING ANY BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST UNTIL THIS SHORTWAVE PASSES EAST OF THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. EVEN THEN ONCE THE MID/HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE CLEARS OUT THINKING ITS VERY LIKELY STRATUS DECK WILL STICK AROUND AS OUR LATE OCTOBER SUN ANGLE IS ROUGHLY THE SAME AS EARLY FEBRUARY AND WITH SUCH LATE CLEARING OF HIGH CLOUDS AND VERY MOIST LOW LEVELS THINK IT WILL BE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FOR THE SUN TO EAT AWAY AT THE STRATUS. IN FACT...THERE IS A VERY REAL CHANCE THAT STRATUS COULD STICK AROUND TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING AS WELL AND HAVE BUMPED UP SKY GRIDS SOME TONIGHT. AFTERNOON FORECAST MAY NEED TO CONSIDER ADJUSTING SKY COVER UP FURTHER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. GIVEN THE ANTICIPATED THICK OVERCAST MOST OF TODAY HAVE TAKEN A HATCHET TO THE GOING HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST. GENERALLY WOULD EXPECT TEMPS TO REMAIN NEARLY STEADY MOST OF THE DAY IN THE LOW TO MID 60S...WITH A COUPLE/FEW DEGREE TEMP RISE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FAR WESTERN CWA WHICH COULD POSSIBLY MAKE A RUN AT 70 DEGREES STILL. IZZI //PREV DISCUSSION... 326 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS STALLED ACROSS THE IL/WI STATELINE. TO THE NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY TEMPS HAVE HELD IN THE MID/UPR 50S WITH DEW PTS IN THE LOW/MID 50S WITH AREAS OF DENSE FOG. SOUTH OF THE BOUNDARY TEMPS HAVE REMAINED VERY MILD FOR MID OCTOBER IN THE 60S...ALONG WITH ANOMALOUSLY HIGH DEW PTS OF AROUND 60. IR IMAGERY EARLY THIS MORNING DEPICTED THE LEADING EDGE OF HIGH BASED CLOUDS FLOATING NORTH ALONG A CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHERN IL...TO FAR SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN LINE. THIS AREA OF HIGH CLOUDS AND VERY MOIST AIRMASS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELEVATED SHORTWAVE LIFTING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN STEADILY GROWING IN COVERAGE ACROSS MISSOURI...AND BASED ON CURRENT TRAJECTORIES THE LEADING PRECIP SHOULD ARRIVE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST CWFA AROUND DAYBREAK. THEN STEADILY LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REMAINING CWFA BY MID-MORNING. CURRENT GUIDANCE INDICATES CAPE OF AROUND 500-750J/KG IN THE 15-18 TIMEFRAME...WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE HIGHEST CONFIDENCE TIMING FOR CONVECTION TO OCCUR. SO HAVE CARRIED LIKELY SHRA/TSRA AT THAT TIME. AS THE ELEVATED WAVE ARRIVES ACROSS THE CWFA THIS MORNING...IT WILL REMAIN PROGRESSIVE AND ALLOW PRECIP TO DIMINISH IN COVERAGE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS THE CWFA THIS AFTN. SUPPORTING THIS DRYING TREND WILL BE THE SLOW RISE IN HEIGHTS ALOFT...INDICATING WEAK DIFFLUENCE ALOFT. WITH REGARDS TO TEMPS TODAY...GUIDANCE IS DEMONSTRATING A HIGHER CONFIDENCE THAT TEMPS WILL EASILY WARM INTO THE 70S. THE CHALLENGE IS DETERMINE THE LOCATIONS THAT WILL WARM INTO THE MID 70S...WHICH CURRENTLY APPEARS TO BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A ROCKFORD TO KANKAKEE LINE. THE OTHER WILDCARD FOR LOCATIONS NORTH OF THIS LINE WILL BE THE CLOUD COVER AND LINGERING PRECIP. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS BY 21Z ALL BUT A FEW SHRA SHOULD HAVE DEPARTED THE CWFA TO THE NORTH...ALTHOUGH CLOUDS MAY STILL BE MOSTLY CLOUDY. PWAT VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE 1 INCH THRU THE DAY TDY...WITH A HANDFUL OF LOCATIONS RISING TO NEARLY 1.5 INCHES. THE COMBINATION OF MILD TEMPS AND HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL MAKE TODAY AND WED FEEL MORE LIKE SUMMER. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL LINGER THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT...AND SHOULD BE JUST STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT DENSE FG FROM FORMING. THUS WILL ONLY MENTION PATCHY FG IN THE FORECAST TONIGHT. ANOTHER MILD NIGHT APPEARS LIKELY FOR TONIGHT WITH TEMPS ONLY COOLING INTO THE LOW 60S. A FEW GUIDANCE MEMBERS WERE WARMER THAN THIS IN THE MID 60S AT A HANDFUL OF POINTS...HOWEVER FELT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WOULD BE AROUND 60 TO PSBLY LOW 60S. DRY WEATHER SHOULD LAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS WELL. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... 500MB RIDGE PUSHES OVERHEAD WITH WEAK DIFFLUENT FLOW IN THE LLVLS...SUGGESTING MUCH OF WED THRU AT LEAST DAYBREAK THUR WILL REMAIN DRY. FOR WED THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A RUN AT TEMPS AROUND 80...PSBLY WARMING INTO THE LOW 80S FOR A FEW LOCATIONS WED AFTN. THE DEEPER MOISTURE WILL PEEL OFF TO THE NORTHEAST WITH THE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY...WHICH MAY AID IN SLIGHTLY LOWER DEW PTS AND PWAT VALUES HOVER AROUND 1 INCH WED AFTN. IF DEW PTS CAN FALL INTO THE MID/UPR 50S...THIS WOULD ALLOW THE SFC TO WARM MORE EFFICIENTLY AND ALLOW THE SFC TO EASILY REACH 80 DEG IN MANY LOCATIONS OF THE CWFA. CURRENT TEMP PLUMES FROM THE SREF AND VARIOUS OTHER GUIDANCE SOURCES...INDICATE TEMPS WED WILL BE IN THE MID/UPR 70S OVER THE FAR NORTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES IN IL. MEANWHILE FURTHER SOUTH OR SOUTH OF I-88...TEMPS COULD WARM INTO THE UPR 70S TO AROUND 80. CLOUDS WILL ALSO PLAY A ROLE...HOWEVER CURRENTLY FORECASTING P-CLOUDY CONDS WED. THEN FOR THUR AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BNDRY...TEMPS COULD WARM AGAIN INTO THE MID/UPR 70S MAINLY FOR FAR EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE CWFA. 500MB TROUGH AXIS WILL BEGIN TO PUSH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WED NGT/EARLY THUR...WITH THE MAIN VORT MAX ROUNDING THE TROUGH AXIS EARLY THUR MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DOWNSTREAM RIDGE WILL EXTEND FROM QUEBEC TO THE CAROLINAS...WHICH MAY ALLOW THE FRONTAL BNDRY TO SLOW SLIGHTLY. IF THE BNDRY SLOWS FURTHER...PRECIP COULD REMAIN WEST OF THE CWFA THRU THE EARLY AFTN HOURS AND ALLOW TEMPS TO BE EVEN WARMER...GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR COMPRESSIONAL HEATING TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE DEPARTING SFC RIDGE AND UPSTREAM TROUGH. INSTABILITY WILL DEVELOP WITH THE PASSAGE THUR AFTN...THEN SHUD STABILIZE IN THE EVENING HOURS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS WILL TURN NW...WITH MUCH COOLER AIR STEADILY ADVECTING ACROSS THE CWFA. THERMAL RIDGE OF 15 TO 17 DEG C AT 850MB RAPIDLY TRANSITIONS TO AROUND 5 DEG C BY 06Z FRI. FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... POTENT ANTI-CYCLONIC FLOW QUICKLY ARRIVES FRI...AND SHUD PUSH THE PRECIP/CLOUDS TO THE EAST ACROSS IN/MI. HOWEVER A FEW EASTERN AREAS COULD CONTINUE TO SEE A SLIGHT CHC POPS FRI. FRI APPEARS TO BE THE WARMEST DAY IN THE FINAL PERIODS OF THE EXTENDED...WITH TEMPS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOW 50S. THESE HIGH TEMPS MAY ACTUALLY ARRIVE EARLY IN THE DAY...AS COLD AIR CONTINUES TO POUR IN FROM THE NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE DAY. LAKE EFFECT CONDS DEVELOP AND BECOME OPTIMAL FRI NGT/SAT/SAT NGT FOR THE FAVORED AREAS OF NORTHWEST IN. THERMAL TROUGH OVERHEAD WILL CONTINUE TO COOL WITH 0 TO -3 DEG C AT 850MB POISED TO PUSH OVERHEAD SAT/SUN. THUS IT APPEARS TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO WARM BEYOND THE LOW/MID 40S. AT THIS TIME IT DOES NOT APPEAR CLOUDS WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER. IN ADDITION DRY WEATHER SHOULD REMAIN THRU THE BULK OF THE EXTENDED...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NORTHWEST IN. ANY LINGERING PRECIP DURING THE NOCTURNAL HOURS FRI/SAT/SUN COULD BECOME MIXED WITH SOME WET SNOW...AS TEMPS WILL BE COOLING INTO THE MID 30S EACH OF THESE NIGHTS. SAT NGT COULD BE THE COOLEST DAY AS GUIDANCE HAS INDICATED THE SFC RIDGE PUSHING OVER CENTRAL WI. THIS COULD ALLOW WINDS TO DIMINISH AND CLOUDS TO REMAIN MINIMAL...ALLOWING FOR OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING TO TAKE PLAY SAT NGT. IF THIS SCENARIO WERE TO VERIFY...TEMPS COULD EASILY BOTTOMOUT IN THE UPR 20S ACROSS THE CWFA. BEACHLER && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 14Z... * LIFR/IFR REST OF MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. * WIND GRADUALLY VEERING FROM E TO S LATE MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. * PERIODS OF -RA WITH LOCAL SHRA REST OF MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. TRS //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 14Z... TROUGH/WARM FRONT HAS NOT LIFTED NWRD AS SOON AS MODELS EARLIER INDICATED AND EVEN LATEST AVAILABLE HI RES HRRR AND RAP PLACE IT TOO FAR N NEAR/TO WI BORDER BY 15-16Z WHICH LOOKS TO BE A COUPLE HRS TOO FAST. LIFR AND IFR EXPECTED TO PERSIST TIL BOUNDARY DOES LIFT N PAST TERMINALS AND WINDS BECOME SRLY BTWN 17Z-19Z THEN CIGS SHUD LIFT AND VSBYS IMPROVE. BETWEEN AREA OF RA AND TS MOVING ENE OVER NRN IN AND ANOTHER AREA OF MAINLY RA AND A FEW TS MOVING SLIGHTLY N OF E FM ERN MO ACROSS THE MS RIVER ARE SCT DISORGANIZED -SHRA AND ISOLD SHRA. MODELS SHOW BULK OF QPF E OF LOCAL TERMINALS BY 18Z AS UPPER TROUGH FROM NRN MO SSE TO NERN AR MOVES OVER AND PAST THE LOCAL AREA. MODELS DO INDICATE SPOTTY QPF 18Z-00Z BUT AMOUNTS OF ONLY A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. DO NOT SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT FORCING MECHANISMS FOR ADDITIONAL SHRA GENERATION BEYOND EARLY AFTERNOON. TRS PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z... TWO MAIN CONCERNS/CHALLENGES...CIGS AND TSRA THIS MORNING. LIFR CIGS HAVE REMAINED LOCKED IN AND WITH CONTINUED LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS OFF THE LAKE...EXPECT AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS OF LIFR CIGS UNTIL WINDS START TO TURN MORE SOUTHERLY AND CIGS LIFT. CONFIDENCE REGARDING TIMING REMAINS LOW. ONCE CIGS DO LIFT...MVFR CIGS LIKELY TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY/MID AFTERNOON. ONE COMPLEX OF TSRA OVER EASTERN IL/WESTERN INDIANA WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF THE TERMINALS WHILE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. SHORT TERM GUIDANCE STILL SUGGESTS FURTHER SHRA DEVELOPMENT ACROSS WESTERN IL THIS MORNING BUT CONFIDENCE REGARDING TSRA POTENTIAL IS DECREASING AND TRENDS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES. SOUTHERLY WINDS MAY GUST INTO THE MID TEENS THIS AFTERNOON BUT THIS WILL BE DEPENDENT ON SUNSHINE AND LOW LEVEL MIXING WHICH MAY NOT OCCUR. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL PERSIST TONIGHT AND SHOULD BEGIN TO GUST SOME WEDNESDAY MORNING. WITH THE WARM FRONT EXPECTED TO BE WELL NORTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...NOT EXPECTING ANY WIDESPREAD FOG OR LOW CIG PROBLEMS BUT HAVE INCLUDED SOME MVFR VIS AT RFD/DPA. //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 14Z... * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE LIFR AND IFR CIGS WILL LIFT TO MVFR LATE MORNING-EARLY AFTERNOON AND TO VFR EARLY-MID AFTERNOON. * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE SCT -SHRA/ISOLD SHRA REST OF MORNING INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN TIMING OF WINDS VEERING FM E TO S. TRS //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z THURSDAY-12Z TUESDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * WEDNESDAY NIGHT...VFR. * THURSDAY...STRONG/GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS. SHRA/TSRA THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...ALONG/AHEAD OF WIND SHIFT/COLD FRONT. * FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * SUNDAY AND MONDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 308 AM...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY JUST SOUTH OF LAKE MICHIGAN EARLY THIS MORNING. IT WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY LIFT NORTH LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS LIFTS NORTH INTO SOUTHERN CANADA. HOWEVER...WITH HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS ONTARIO...THE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN FAIRLY STRONG ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OR QUARTER OF THE LAKE WITH EASTERLY WINDS 15-25 KTS INTO TONIGHT...SLOWLY TURNING SOUTHEAST AND WEAKENING BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. NEW LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER EASTERN COLORADO TONIGHT AND MOVE NORTHEAST TO NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE GRADIENT WILL STEADILY TIGHTEN AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING BUT FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A FAIRLY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION. BUT WINDS STILL EXPECTED TO REACH 30 KTS OR SO. WINDS WILL DIMINISH AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY THURSDAY EVENING THEN SHIFT OUT OF THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING ACROSS THE PLAINS...THE GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT WILL LIKELY SUPPORT GUSTS TO 30 KTS. COULD BE AN HOUR OR TWO OF HIGHER GUSTS WITH/JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. LIGHT WINDS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF THE LAKE...COMBINED WITH THE VERY MOIST LOW LEVELS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO AREAS OF FOG AND MAYBE SOME PATCHY DENSE FOG...THIS MORNING WHICH SHOULD IMPROVE AS WINDS TURN MORE SOUTHERLY. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
648 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 310 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WARM FRONT CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS...ROUGHLY ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR. HAVE BEEN SEEING SHOWERS AND STORMS INCREASING ACROSS WESTERN ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY OVER MISSOURI...AS AN UPPER WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA AND AN APPARENT MESOSCALE VORTEX TRACKS ACROSS MISSOURI PER WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. INITIAL FORECAST CONCERN INVOLVES CONVECTIVE TRENDS FOR PRIMARILY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH ITS EFFECTS ON TEMPERATURES. IN THE LONGER RANGE...THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY REMAINS AN ISSUE...ALONG WITH RAIN TRENDS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... LATEST HRRR DOING A REASONABLE JOB WITH THE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI...AND IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE RAIN OVER MOST OF THE CWA THROUGH EARLY MORNING. AS SUCH...HAVE RAMPED UP RAIN CHANCES TO THE LIKELY RANGE IN MOST AREAS...PRIMARILY ALONG AND EAST OF I-55. ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CONVECTION YESTERDAY REALLY THREW OFF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST...AND WILL HAVE TO KEEP THAT POTENTIAL IN MIND FOR TODAY...ESPECIALLY IF CLOUDS ARE SLOW TO MOVE OUT. HAVE LOWERED HIGHS FOR TODAY BY A FEW DEGREES IN MOST AREAS...CLOSER TO A MET/MAV BLEND. HOWEVER...HAVE KEPT HIGHS NEAR 80 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY AND OVER THE EASTERN 2/3 OF THE CWA ON THURSDAY AS WELL. UPPER WAVE CURRENTLY OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO FORM A CLOSED LOW AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TO THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. 50-70 KNOT JET AT 500 MB WILL FOLLOW A WAVE SLIDING ALONG THE SOUTHERN JET STREAM TO FEED INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE BRINGS THE FRONT INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CWA THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AND ENTERING THE SOUTHEAST CWA TOWARD MIDNIGHT. A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SOME STRONGER STORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON... ALTHOUGH RAPIDLY INCREASING CLOUDS MAY THWART THIS POTENTIAL. HOWEVER...THE RAIN WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...AND HAVE INTRODUCED LIKELY POPS NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE BULK OF THE RAIN BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL SPREAD THE LIKELY POPS FROM WEST TO EAST...WITH THE RAIN DIMINISHING WEST OF I-55 AFTER MIDNIGHT. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... MODELS HAVE BEEN BACKING OFF ON THE IDEA OF A SECONDARY WAVE FEEDING THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH THE 00Z ECMWF THE ONLY ONE STILL WITH THIS GENERAL TREND. WILL DROP THE RAIN CHANCES NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...AND LOWER THEM QUITE A BIT FURTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS WOULD SUGGEST COMPLETELY DRY CONDITIONS BY EARLY FRIDAY EVENING EVERYWHERE...SO WILL NEED TO SEE IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. HAVE REMOVED THE RAIN ON SATURDAY ASIDE FROM SOME SLIGHT CHANCES EAST OF I-57...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING. WEEKEND TREND STILL LOOKS QUITE CHILLY...WITH HIGHS IN MANY AREAS STRUGGLING TO REACH THE 50 DEGREE MARK. SUB-FREEZING LOWS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 BY SUNDAY MORNING. BEYOND THAT...THE FORECAST TRENDS BECOME COMPLICATED BY A TROPICAL SYSTEM MOVING NORTHWARD OFF THE EAST COAST. ECMWF MODEL IS MORE AFFECTED AND FORMS A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES...LINGERING THE CHILLY WEATHER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHEREAS THE GFS IS MORE PROGRESSIVE AND MILDER. NEITHER SOLUTION CURRENTLY YIELDS ANY PRECIPITATION FOR OUR AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. GEELHART && .AVIATION... ISSUED 648 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WILL BE A BREAK IN THE PCPN THIS MORNING AS AREA WILL BE IN BETWEEN COMPLEXES. THE NEXT ROUND OF PCPN SHOULD REACH SPI/PIA AROUND 15Z...DEC/BMI AROUND 16Z AND THEN CMI AROUND 17Z. PCPN WILL BE MAINLY SHOWERS BUT THUNDERSTORM ARE EMBEDDED IN THE COMPLEX SO WILL ALSO HAVE A 2HR TEMPO GROUP FOR THUNDER AT EACH SITE DURING THE LATE MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON. PCPN COULD LINGER BEHIND THE MAIN AREA SO WILL BE KEEPING SHRA AND VCTS AT EACH SITE FOR COUPLE HOURS AFTER TEMPO GROUP. ON BACK SIDE OF PCPN WINDS SHOULD ALSO INCREASE SO WILL KEEP GUSTY WINDS DURING AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY THROUGH THE PERIOD. CLOUDS WILL SCATTER OUT COUPLE OF HOURS BEHIND THE SYSTEM AND THEN MOSTLY CLEAR AROUND SUNSET FOR THE EVENING. NAM TRYING TO BRING SOME SC INTO THE AREA OVERNIGHT. HOWEVER...UNSURE OF THIS SOLUTION SO WILL KEEP CLEAR FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT HOURS FOR NOW. AUTEN && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED AVIATION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
647 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM... ISSUED AT 214 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (TODAY AND TONIGHT) FOCUS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TSRA CHANCES TODAY...TURNING TO TEMPS ONCE PRECIP HAS ENDED. ONGOING TSRA JUST W OF THE CWA IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ENE THRU THE CWA TODAY. THE 23/04Z HRRR AND 23/00Z 4KM NCEP WRF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND HANDLE THE ONGOING SITUATION RATHER WELL. PLAN IS TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THESE MDLS FOR POPS TODAY...PROVIDED THIS TREND CONTINUES. THESE MDLS...AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PRECIP ENDING BY EARLY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST AS THE S/W WILL BE NEARING THE IL/IN BOARDER BY 21Z. WITH PRECIP COMING TO AN END AND CLOUDS CLEARING THRU THE AFTERNOON...AMPLE INSOLATION SHUD BE AVAILABLE FOR A QUICK WARM UP TODAY. MADE ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST FOR TEMPS TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAISED TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES ACROSS CNTL MO AS 850MB TEMPS SHUD BE NEARING 18C ACCORDING TO THE NAM. WHILE THIS IS A WARM OUTLIER AMONG THE 00Z GUIDANCE...THIS SOLN SEEMS PROBABLE GIVEN THE WARM 850MB TEMPS ADVECTING NEWD BEHIND THIS S/W. THAT SAID...MDL SOUNDINGS FOR TODAY SUGGEST MUCH OF THE REGION WILL NOT MIX TO 850MB AND HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THE WARMER GUIDANCE...BUT REMAINED JUST UNDER ACROSS CNTL MO. SIMILAR TRENDS CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SLY TO SWLY WINDS WILL REMAIN AOA 7 KTS. TILLY && .LONG TERM... ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ONCE THE S/W RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING TSRA MOVES E OF THE AREA...THE SHORT TERM IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN DRY UNTIL THURS. MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT UNTIL WED NIGHT. THE GFS SUGGESTS A REINFORCING S/W ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE UPPER LOW WHICH HELPS TO SPEED UP FROPA THURS NIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TWD THE CONSENSUS OF THE OTHER MDLS...BUT KEPT CHANCE POPS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FASTER GFS SOLN. UNTIL THURS...FOCUS REMAINS TEMPS. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH THE 23/00Z GUIDANCE AND SAW NO REASON TO MAKE MANY CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST. OVERALL...CONTINUED TREND GOING AOA WARMEST GUIDANCE. (FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) MDL TRENDS DO NOT CHANGE MUCH EARLY IN THE EXTD PERIOD. THE 22/18Z DGEX DEVELOPS AN AMPLIFIED TROF WITH THE SYSTEM AFFECTING THE CWA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD AND CONTINUES TO DEEPEN THIS TROF THRU THE WEEKEND. THIS SOLN IS AN OUTLIER AMONG THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...EVEN AMONG THE GEFS...AND HAVE TRENDED TWD THE OTHER OPERATIONAL MDLS THRU THE PERIOD. THE GEM BEGINS TO SPEED UP TO COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE GFS LATE FRI INTO SAT. HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THESE SOLNS REGARDING POPS LOWERING POPS FRI NIGHT ACROSS NWRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA AND KEPT SAT DRY. REMAINDER OF THE EXTD IS DRY FOR NOW...BUT MDLS SUGGEST A COUPLE OF S/WS THAT MAY BRING PRECIP ACROSS NRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA LATE IN THE EXTD PERIOD. AS FOR TEMPS...MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT EARLY IN THE PERIOD...LARGE DIFFERENCES BEGIN BY SUN AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SOLNS THRU THE PERIOD. HAVE TRENDED TWD A COMPROMISE OF THE GFS/ECMWF/GEM FOR FRI. WITH UNCERTAINTY GROWING THRU THE EXTD...HAVE TRENDED TWD A BLEND OF THE GFS/ECMWF BEYOND FRI AS THESE SOLNS REMAIN SOMEWHAT CLOSE. TILLY && .AVIATION... ISSUED AT 628 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 A LARGE AREA OF RAIN WITH SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS OVER CENTRAL AND EASTERN MO WILL CONTINUE TO PROGRESS EASTWARD AND IMPACT THE TAFS SITES DURING THE MORNING HOURS. OBSERVATIONS DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITHIN THE RAIN AREA SUGGESTS MUCH OF THE RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH VFR CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY LOWERING TO MVFR WITH SOME OF THE EMBEDDED THUNDER. ENDING OF THE PRECIPITATION IS A LITTLE UNCERTAIN. THERE CONTINUE TO BE NEW CELLS DEVELOPING IN WEST CENTRAL MO ON THE BACK EDGE. AT THIS TIME I HAVE ENDED PRECITATION AT KUIN AND THE ST LOUIS AREA TAF SITES AT 16Z BUT IT COULD BE A LITTLE LATER. AFTER THE PRECIPATION ENDS...VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVIAL WITH DECREASING CLOUDS. SPECIFICS FOR KSTL... LIGHT RAIN SHOULD BEGIN WITH THE NEXT HOUR AND CONTINUE THROUGH LATE MORNING. UPSTREAM OBSERVATIONS OVERNIGHT SUGGESTS MUCH OF THE RAIN WILL OCCUR WITH VFR CONDITIONS OCCASIONALLY LOWERING TO MVFR WITH SOME OF THE EMBEDDED THUNDER. ENDING OF THE PRECIPITATION IS A LITTLE UNCERTAIN. AT THIS TIME I HAVE ENDED PRECITATION AT 16Z BUT IT COULD BE A LITTLE LATER. AFTER THE PRECIPATION ENDS...VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVIAL WITH DECREASING CLOUDS. GLASS && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 319 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 RECORD HIGHS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 86(1939) 91(1939) 86(1939) OCTOBER 24 85(1940) 86(1940) 84(1940) RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 67(2010) 65(1963) 63(1991) OCTOBER 24 66(1991) 65(1991) 65(1991) OCTOBER 25 69(1939) 68(1939) 63(1963) MILLER && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... ST LOUIS 83 63 86 66 / 80 5 0 10 QUINCY 83 62 83 64 / 60 10 5 10 COLUMBIA 86 64 86 65 / 60 10 0 10 JEFFERSON CITY 86 64 86 65 / 70 10 0 10 SALEM 80 62 83 62 / 80 5 0 5 FARMINGTON 82 59 83 59 / 80 5 0 5 && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. IL...NONE. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
633 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE... .AVIATION... LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VSBY IMPROVE TO VFR FROM WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83. EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VIS IMPROVE TO IFR/MVFR CIGS AROUND 18Z AND THEN VFR BY 21Z. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE FCST AREA TONIGHT. A NARROW AREA OF MVFR/IFR CIGS MAY DEVELOP POSSIBLE AFTER 09Z TONIGHT. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 410 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FOCUS THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD IS FOG AND TEMPERATURES TODAY...THEN RAIN/SNOW CHANCES FOCUSED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. BEYOND THAT...COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWS A LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH RIDGING ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS OBSERVED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS...WITH SUBSIDENCE ALOFT ACROSS NEBRASKA HELPING TO KEEP THE MID-LEVELS DRY THIS MORNING. SEVERAL OTHER SHORTWAVES OF NOTE WITHIN THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WERE ONE OVER NEVADA...WITH ANOTHER STILL OVER THE OCEAN. AT THE SURFACE...SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST FLOW WAS BRINGING IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WITH THE DRY AIR ALOFT...FOG HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS ALMOST ALL OF NEBRASKA BY 08Z. THIS HAS KEPT TEMPERATURES UP...WITH READINGS IN THE MID 40S TO LOW 50S. THE OTHER FEATURE TO NOTE IS LOW PRESSURE ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE ROCKIES. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT ACCORDING TO THE RUC AND THE NAM...FOG SHOULD SLOWLY DISSIPATE FROM THE WEST...BUT PLACES OVER THE EASTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA...EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 COULD SEE THE FOG LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. THE FOG WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY SO IF IT FAILS TO DISSIPATE BY 18Z OR 19Z...TEMPERATURES COULD BE UP TO 10 DEGREES TO WARM IN PLACES. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS IN CASE TEMPERATURE FORECAST NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. 850MB TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE TODAY /BETWEEN 15C AND 23C/ DUE TO WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST. ASSUMING SKIES CLEAR...TEMPERATURES SHOULD WARM CONSIDERABLY...WITH LOW 80S POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER NEVADA WILL LIFT INTO MONTANA TODAY...WHICH WILL GIVE THE FRONT TO THE WEST A BIT OF A PUSH EASTWARD. THE NAM PUSHES A DRYLINE ACROSS THE SANDHILLS THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD DROP DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOW 30S. GOING SOUTH...DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE 30S AS WELL AS THE DRYLINE PROGRESSES EAST. THIS WILL PROMOTE DEEP MIXING TO NEAR 700MB. WINDS THROUGH THE MIXED LAYER WILL BE STRONGEST ACROSS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA...WHERE GUSTS TO 30 MPH LOOK POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. GOING SOUTH...WINDS ALOFT DECREASE SO WINDY CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED. WITH THE TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TODAY...LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...WITH VALUES DROPPING TO THE MID 20S WHERE WINDS WILL BE STRONG. AS IS FORECAST...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE MET...ALTHOUGH MARGINAL CONDITIONS WILL BE LIKELY IN A FEW LOCATIONS FOR AT LEAST A FEW HOURS TODAY. AGAIN...CLOUD COVER COULD HAMPER THIS FROM OCCURRING...SO WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS FOR POTENTIAL FIRE WEATHER ISSUES TODAY. THE MONTANA WAVE LIFTS INTO CANADA TONIGHT...WITH A COLD FRONT TO THE WEST PROGRESSING SOUTHEAST ACROSS NEBRASKA TONIGHT. BY MID MORNING WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE THROUGH MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. COULD AGAIN SEE SOME FOG WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT THIS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO AREAS RIGHT ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT WHERE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE POOLS. A THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL ALSO MOVE ONLAND TONIGHT...WHICH WILL THEN PROGRESS ACROSS UTAH AND INTO COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY. AS THIS IS ONGOING...A 700MB TROUGH WILL PASS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE SHOWING GOOD FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING...WHILE THE LOCATION OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK PUTS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA IN AN AREA OF GOOD LARGE-SCALE LIFT. THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN QUITE CONSISTENT IN TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE BEST FORCING FROM THE DIFFERENT MODELS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS SO CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED IN GETTING PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. IT MAY TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO SATURATE THE LOW LEVELS...SO ONLY BEGAN CHANCES FOR RAIN IN THE FAR NORTHERN PARTS OF SHERIDAN AND CHERRY COUNTIES WEDNESDAY MORNING AND SLOWLY EXPANDING SOUTH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEDNESDAY EVENING LOOKS TO SEE THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION IN AREAS NORTHWEST OF AN IMPERIAL TO VALENTINE LINE...AND THOUGH DO HAVE RAIN CHANCES TO THE EAST...LOWERED CHANCES BEFORE MIDNIGHT AS TOO MUCH DRY AIR LOOKS TO EXIST IN THESE AREAS. THE PRECIPITATION AREA DOES SHIFT TO THE SOUTH AND EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT...BUT AS THE PRIMARY SHORTWAVE TROUGH EXITS THE AREA BY 12Z THURSDAY MORNING...LARGE-SCALE FORCING WILL DETERIORATE SO CHANCES HAVE LOWERED FOR THURSDAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...EXPECT THE FORECAST AREA TO SEE PRIMARILY DRY CONDITIONS. THERE IS ANOTHER SHORTWAVE THAT WILL ROUND THE LONGWAVE TROUGH LATER THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...BUT THE TREND CONTINUES TO GO SOUTH SO PRECIPITATION CHANCES LOOK TO STAY TO THE SOUTH. TEMPERATURE PROFILES CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PRECIPITATION TYPE BEGIN AS RAIN...BUT CHANGE OVER TO A RAIN/SNOW MIX WITH SNOW BECOMING THE DOMINANT TYPE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AREAS AFTER MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HAVE RAIN OR SNOW IN THE FORECAST ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR THURSDAY MORNING AS THE PROFILES HUG 0C IN THE LOWEST LEVELS ABOVE THE SURFACE. DON/T EXPECT MUCH ACCUMULATION OF SNOW...WITH PRECIPITATION ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A THIRD OF AN INCH MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND AS HIGHS WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE 30S AND 40S FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. LOWS ALSO WILL BE QUITE COLD...ALTHOUGH THE 23.00Z MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE A BIT WARMER FOR BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS WITH THE SURFACE HIGH NOW LOOKING TO STAY OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. LOWS SHOULD STILL EASILY DROP INTO THE 20S...WITH TEENS POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE TREND NOW LOOKS FOR WARMER CONDITIONS GOING INTO NEXT WEEK AS RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY. THIS WILL BRING MILD TEMPERATURES BACK INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH 850MB TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE TEENS AGAIN BY MONDAY...COMPARED TO READINGS BELOW 0C WHICH WILL BE EXPERIENCED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE FORECAST IS DRY THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WILL PUSH THE MOISTURE ACROSS THE PLAINS WELL TO THE SOUTHEAST. AVIATION... LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VSBY IMPROVE TO VFR FROM WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83. EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VIS IMPROVE TO IFR/MVFR CIGS AROUND 18Z AND THEN VFR BY 21Z. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE FCST AREA TONIGHT WITH MVFR/IFR CIGS POSSIBLE AFTER 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT. FIRE WEATHER... POTENTIAL RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL BE MONITORED ACROSS WRN NEB THIS AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF A CLEARING LINE FCST TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE PANHANDLE THIS MORNING. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...CDC AVIATION...CDC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
556 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .AVIATION...12Z KGRI TAF...STRATUS CONTINUES TO COVER A GOOD PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS THIS MORNING WITH LIFR/IFR CIGS MIXED THROUGHOUT AREAS OF FG/BR/-DZ. EXPECT THE LIFR/IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH AROUND 23/16Z...WHEN CIGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO IMPROVE MORE SUBSTANTIALLY AS WINDS BEGIN TO INCREASE OUT OF THE SOUTH AND SOME MIXING ALLOWS FOR CIGS/VSBYS TO BEGIN TO LIFT/IMPROVE. THIS IMPROVING TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...WITH A RETURN TO VFR CIGS/VSBYS EXPECTED BY 23/19Z...AS INDICATED BY LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 516 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER NIGHT...AND ANOTHER SET OF SEVERAL TRICKY FORECAST ELEMENTS DURING THE NEXT 72 HOURS...NAMELY HIGH TEMPS AND PRECIP/FOG TRENDS...AND WHETHER ANY STORMS WED NIGHT MIGHT GO SEVERE. 09Z OBJECTIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT THE ENTIRE CWA LIES NORTH OF A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY SNAKING EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN/EASTERN KANSAS AND EXTENDING FROM A WEAK 1003MB LOW IN SOUTHEAST CO. BREEZES ACROSS THE CWA RANGE FROM LIGHT/VARIABLE TO LIGHT EASTERLY...WITH LITTLE IF ANY TEMP/DEWPOINT DEPRESSION WITH VALUES RANGING GENERALLY 47-53 ALL AREAS. AS EXPECTED 24 HOURS AGO...VARYING DEGREES OF FOG HAVE SETTLED IN OVERNIGHT...WITH THE ENTIRE CWA SEEING NO BETTER THAN 2-3 MILE VISIBILITY...AND THE MOST CONCENTRATED ZONE OF DENSE FOG 1/4 MILE OR LOWER VSBY FOCUSED FROM I-80 SOUTHWARD INTO KANSAS PER AUTOMATED OBS AND WEBCAMS. LIGHT DRIZZLE HAS SEEMINGLY BEEN OFF AND ON OVERNIGHT...BUT IS LIKELY STILL PRESENT IN MUCH OF THE CWA. ALOFT...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY AND LATEST MODEL DATA CONFIRM BROAD WEST- SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS...WHICH IS POSITIONED DOWNSTREAM FROM A LARGE SCALE TROUGH ANCHORED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH A CLOSED 500MB LOW OFF THE WASHINGTON STATE COAST. CLOSER TO HOME...A SMALL SCALE SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS CURRENTLY DEPARTING EASTWARD ACROSS MO...PROMOTING CONSIDERABLE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA. STARTING OFF EARLY THIS MORNING...THE MOST IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS THE ONGOING CWA-WIDE DENSE FOG ADVISORY VALID THROUGH 15Z...AND WILL LET IT RIDE AS-IS FOR NOW. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...AUTOMATED OBS SUGGEST THAT SO FAR THE MAJORITY OF ANY LOCALLY DENSE FOG HAS BEEN CONFINED TO AREAS SOUTH OF THE I-80 CORRIDOR...BUT VARIOUS SHORT TERM VISIBILITY GUIDANCE FROM THE HRRR/SREF SUGGEST THAT A NORTHWARD EXPANSION OF DENSE FOG IS QUITE POSSIBLE YET THIS MORNING...AND AM NOT ABOUT TO CANCEL ANY OF THIS ADVISORY UNTIL TRENDS CAN BE MONITORED FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS. IN FACT...AM STARTING TO EVEN WONDER IF THE 15Z EXPIRATION TIME WILL BE LONG ENOUGH...WITH BOTH THE HRRR AND HOURLY GFS LAMP GUIDANCE SUGGESTING THAT SOME AREAS COULD REMAIN RATHER SOCKED IN UNTIL AT LEAST 16Z-17Z. DAY SHIFT WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR AN EXTENSION. AS FOR THE OFF AND ON LIGHT DRIZZLE SUCH AS OBSERVED HERE AT THE WFO TONIGHT...HAVE IT MENTIONED CWA-WIDE THROUGH 12Z...BUT HAVE THEN ATTEMPTED TO CONFINE IT TO ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES EAST OF HWY 281 POST-SUNRISE...WHERE NAM SOUNDINGS INDICATED THAT THE SATURATED LAYER WOULD REMAIN DEEPER...GENERALLY NEAR/IN EXCESS OF 2500 FT. THAT BEING SAID...CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT POST-SUNRISE LIGHT DRIZZLE EVEN IN THE TRI-CITIES AREA WESTWARD GIVEN SUCH A MOIST LOW LEVEL PROFILE. AS FOR SKY COVER...CONFIDENCE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER TODAY THAT MUCH OF THE CWA WILL SEE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS OF PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AT SOME POINT...BUT EXACTLY WHEN IS STILL IN QUESTION. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE 00Z/06Z NAM SOLUTION OF KEEPING NEARLY ALL AREAS SOCKED IN WITH STRATUS AND AT LEAST LIGHT FOG THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...BUT THEN ERODING FROM WEST-EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON AS EVIDENCED BY THE 900MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELD. THIS MEANS THAT FAR EASTERN COUNTIES ALONG THE HWY 81 WOULD BE LAST TO SEE ANY CLEARING. AFTER BUSTING HIGH TEMPS BY 10+ DEGREES YESTERDAY DUE TO WIDESPREAD LOW STRATUS...AM IN NO HURRY TO GO WITH THE WARM END OF AVAILABLE GUIDANCE/MODEL SOLUTIONS TODAY ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN ZONES. AFTER TRYING VARIOUS SOLUTIONS ON FOR SIZE...ENDED UP GOING WITH THE 00Z NAM ALMOST EXACTLY...AS ITS TEMP FIELD SEEMED TO BEST-CAPTURE THE GRADUAL WEST-EAST CLEARING. THIS RESULTS IN A DECENT RANGE FROM NEAR 80 FAR WEST ...LOW-MID 70S CENTRAL AND UPPER 60S EAST. PLEASE NOTE THESE VALUES ARE AT LEAST A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST ALL AREAS...AND AS MUCH AS 5-8 DEGREES COOLER IN THE EAST. LIKE YESTERDAY...COULD EASILY FORESEE HIGHS BEING OFF BY 5+ DEGREES DEPENDING ON STRATUS/FOG TRENDS. TONIGHT...KEPT OUT ALL MENTION OF PRECIP CWA-WIDE...AND AM NOT EXPECTING A DENSE FOG REPEAT SUCH AS THE ONGOING ONE...BUT DID INSERT A PATCHY FOG MENTION INTO SEVERAL COUNTIES NORTH OF I-80 AFTER MIDNIGHT IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHEST BOUNDARY LAYER RELATIVE HUMIDITY POOLING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE INVADING COLD FRONT. CLOUD TRENDS TONIGHT ARE CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR QUITE AN INCREASE IN STRATUS TOWARD SUNRISE NEAR THIS BOUNDARY...FOLLOWING WHAT SHOULD BE A FAIRLY CLEAR EVENING FOR MOST AREAS. ALOFT...THE BIG PICTURE INVOLVES A LEAD SHORTWAVE TRACKING ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...WHICH HELPS DRIVE THE SURFACE FRONT INTO THE NORTHERN CWA...WHILE A TROUGH AXIS SETS UP FROM SOUTHWEST-NORTHEAST ACROSS KS. KEPT LOWS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AND A GUIDANCE BLEND...RANGING FROM LOW-MID 40S NORTHWEST TO UPPER 50S/NEAR 60 SOUTHEAST WHERE DEWPOINTS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. WEDNESDAY...OTHER THAN THE LINGERING PATCHY FOG MENTION NORTH IN THE MORNING...HAVE KEPT OUT ANY OTHER WEATHER MENTION THROUGH SUNSET...AS THE GENERAL MODEL CONSENSUS IS TO KEEP ANY LIGHT DAYTIME DRIZZLY PRECIP NORTHEAST OF THE CWA...AND ANY LATE-DAY CONVECTION ALONG/NEAR THE INVADING COLD FRONT JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE CWA. THAT BEING SAID...SKY COVER AND TEMP TRENDS ARE AGAIN QUITE A CHALLENGE...AS QUITE A BIT OF STRATUS SHOULD DOMINATE MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST CWA WITH MORE SUNSHINE SOUTHEAST. FORTUNATELY...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING WHAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A SHARP TEMP GRADIENT...AND ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST...AIMING FOR A RANGE FROM UPPER 50S FAR NORTH...MID 60S TO LOW 70S TRI CITIES AREA...AND LOW 80S FAR SOUTHEAST IN THE HEBRON-BELOIT CORRIDOR. AGAIN THOUGH...5+ DEGREE DEVIATIONS FROM CURRENT FORECAST ARE VERY POSSIBLE IF NOT LIKELY. PONDERED GOING WITH A NON-DIURNAL TEMP TREND BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT MODELS ARE NOT REALLY SHOWING MUCH OF AN AFTERNOON DROP SO STUCK WITH TRADITIONAL MID-LATE AFTERNOON HIGHS ALL AREAS FOR NOW. THIS COLD FRONT WILL NOT EXACTLY BLAST THROUGH THE AREA...AND BY SUNSET WILL JUST BE REACHING FAR SOUTHEAST ZONES...WHILE MOST OF THE CWA WILL ALREADY BE IN SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS 15-20 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS CLEARLY STILL THE MAIN 12-HOUR WINDOW FOR POTENTIALLY DECENT RAIN AMOUNTS...AND ACTUALLY RAISED POPS INTO THE 60-70 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN CWA...WHILE LEAVING SOUTHWEST AREAS IN THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE. IN SHORT...LARGE SCALE FORCING/MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS RAMPS UP AS A POTENT OPEN WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...FEATURING A 110+KT 300MB JET STREAK. LEFT THE POP/WEATHER GRIDS AS ONE 12-HOUR BLOCK FOR NOW...BUT GENERAL THINKING IS THAT MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/STORMS WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL NEAR/AFTER MIDNIGHT...UNLESS SOME EVENING ACTIVITY FLARES UP IN THE FAR SOUTH/SOUTHEAST NEAR THE MAIN SURFACE FRONT. LATEST NAM CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEALTHY CORRIDOR OF MUCAPE 1500+ J/KG IN THE 850-700MB LAYER MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST 1/2 OF THE CWA...DROPPING OFF SHORTLY TO THE NORTHWEST. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP ISOLATED THUNDER EVEN IN THIS NORTHWEST AREAS. WITH VERY STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR OF 60+ KNOTS MOVING IN...HAVE INCREASING CONCERNS THAT AT LEAST MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL COULD OCCUR IN SOUTHEAST COUNTIES...AND DESPITE SPC KEEPING THE OFFICIAL DAY2 SLIGHT RISK OUTLOOK JUST EAST OF THE CWA...AT LEAST FOR NOW...WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD THIS MENTION TO THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AS THESE STRONG DYNAMICS ARE HARD TO IGNORE. DEPENDING ON HOW WIDESPREAD STORMS ARE...COULD FORESEE SOME FORTUNATE AREAS RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE EXCEPTION. ALTHOUGH SOME SNOW OR RAIN/SNOW MIX COULD TRY DEVELOPING IN WESTERN NEBRASKA IN THE COLDER AIR WELL BEHIND THE FRONT...LATEST CONSENSUS IS THAT WINTRY PRECIP WED NIGHT SHOULD FOCUS AT LEAST 50 MILES WEST OF THE CWA...AND THUS WILL KEEP ANY SNOW MENTION OUT FOR NOW. THURSDAY...SPLIT THE DAY INTO 6-HOUR BLOCKS...WITH ALL PRECIP GONE BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND POTENTIALLY EVEN GONE BY MID-MORNING IN MOST AREAS PER SOME OF THE LATEST TRENDS INCLUDING THE 00Z ECMWF...WHICH QUICKLY SHUTS OFF THE MID LEVEL LIFT/SATURATION FROM NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST. LATER ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED...BUT FOR NOW KEPT 20-40 POPS ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA IN THE MORNING FOR GENERAL LIGHT RAIN...WITH NO THUNDER MENTION AND STILL NO SNOW MENTION...ALTHOUGH SUPPOSE A FEW FLURRIES COULD SNEAK INTO FAR NORTHWEST ZONES JUST BEFORE PRECIP SHUTS OFF FOR GOOD GIVEN SURFACE TEMPS FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE MID 30S EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...EXPECT INCREASING SUNSHINE AS THE DAY WEARS ON...ALTHOUGH IT WILL REMAIN QUITE BREEZY WITH SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. FOR HIGH TEMPS...RAW NAM VALUES ARE WELL INTO THE MID 50S ALL AREAS...BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO GO QUITE THIS WARM YET...AND THUS ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH MOST NEB ZONES TOPPING OUT UPPER 40S AND KS LOWER 50S. THURS NIGHT...THIS LOOKS TO BE THE MOST UNEVENTFUL PERIOD OF THE NEXT 72 HOURS...AS AN EXPANSIVE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH...AND ANY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAILING MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD REMAIN NO CLOSER THAN THE NEB/CO/KS BORDER AREA. DESPITE A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN MID LEVEL CLOUDS...OPTED TO LOWER LOW TEMPS 2-3 DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS FCST AND POSSIBLY NOT ENOUGH...BUT AT LEAST GETTING ALL AREAS INTO THE SUB-FREEZING 26-32 RANGE. LONG TERM...STARTING 12Z FRIDAY...THE LONGWAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WEST COAST THIS MORNING WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE PLAINS ON FRIDAY...WITH SEVERAL EMBEDDED WEAK DISTURBANCES EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT IN THE WAY OF CHANCES FOR PRECIP ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. SOME DISCREPANCIES EVIDENT WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS TROUGH AS IT PUSHES EAST LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WITH THE EC QUICKLY BUILDING A RIDGE OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST RESULTING IN RISING HEIGHTS ACROSS THE PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO THE LONGWAVE TROUGH INTERACTS WITH A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD...AND THE LATEST GFS DEPICTING A MORE ZONAL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE REGION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS THE AFOREMENTIONED TROPICAL DISTURBANCE INSTEAD TRACKS OUT INTO THE OPEN ATLANTIC. EITHER WAY...THIS APPEARS TO BE A DRY PATTERN FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT FEATURES FORECAST TO IMPACT THE AREA IN THE DIVERGENT UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERNS DEPICTED AMONGST THE LONG TERM MODELS. THEREFORE...EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS...WITH CONTINUED UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES...TO AT LEAST START THE EXTENDED PERIODS...WITH TEMPERATURES POSSIBLY WARMING CLOSER TO CLIMATOLOGY...WHILE REMAINING DRY...EARLY NEXT WEEK IF THE EC SOLUTION ENDS UP BEING CORRECT. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SYNOPTIC SCALE PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK...STUCK WITH ALLBLEND MODEL SOLUTION THIS MORNING...WITH NO NOTABLE TWEAKS TO SPEAK OF. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR KSZ005>007- 017>019. && $$ SHORT TERM...PFANNKUCH LONG TERM/AVIATION...ROSSI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
516 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER NIGHT...AND ANOTHER SET OF SEVERAL TRICKY FORECAST ELEMENTS DURING THE NEXT 72 HOURS...NAMELY HIGH TEMPS AND PRECIP/FOG TRENDS...AND WHETHER ANY STORMS WED NIGHT MIGHT GO SEVERE. 09Z OBJECTIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT THE ENTIRE CWA LIES NORTH OF A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY SNAKING EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN/EASTERN KANSAS AND EXTENDING FROM A WEAK 1003MB LOW IN SOUTHEAST CO. BREEZES ACROSS THE CWA RANGE FROM LIGHT/VARIABLE TO LIGHT EASTERLY...WITH LITTLE IF ANY TEMP/DEWPOINT DEPRESSION WITH VALUES RANGING GENERALLY 47-53 ALL AREAS. AS EXPECTED 24 HOURS AGO...VARYING DEGREES OF FOG HAVE SETTLED IN OVERNIGHT...WITH THE ENTIRE CWA SEEING NO BETTER THAN 2-3 MILE VISIBILITY...AND THE MOST CONCENTRATED ZONE OF DENSE FOG 1/4 MILE OR LOWER VSBY FOCUSED FROM I-80 SOUTHWARD INTO KANSAS PER AUTOMATED OBS AND WEBCAMS. LIGHT DRIZZLE HAS SEEMINGLY BEEN OFF AND ON OVERNIGHT...BUT IS LIKELY STILL PRESENT IN MUCH OF THE CWA. ALOFT...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY AND LATEST MODEL DATA CONFIRM BROAD WEST- SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS...WHICH IS POSITIONED DOWNSTREAM FROM A LARGE SCALE TROUGH ANCHORED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH A CLOSED 500MB LOW OFF THE WASHINGTON STATE COAST. CLOSER TO HOME...A SMALL SCALE SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS CURRENTLY DEPARTING EASTWARD ACROSS MO...PROMOTING CONSIDERABLE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA. STARTING OFF EARLY THIS MORNING...THE MOST IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS THE ONGOING CWA-WIDE DENSE FOG ADVISORY VALID THROUGH 15Z...AND WILL LET IT RIDE AS-IS FOR NOW. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...AUTOMATED OBS SUGGEST THAT SO FAR THE MAJORITY OF ANY LOCALLY DENSE FOG HAS BEEN CONFINED TO AREAS SOUTH OF THE I-80 CORRIDOR...BUT VARIOUS SHORT TERM VISIBILITY GUIDANCE FROM THE HRRR/SREF SUGGEST THAT A NORTHWARD EXPANSION OF DENSE FOG IS QUITE POSSIBLE YET THIS MORNING...AND AM NOT ABOUT TO CANCEL ANY OF THIS ADVISORY UNTIL TRENDS CAN BE MONITORED FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS. IN FACT...AM STARTING TO EVEN WONDER IF THE 15Z EXPIRATION TIME WILL BE LONG ENOUGH...WITH BOTH THE HRRR AND HOURLY GFS LAMP GUIDANCE SUGGESTING THAT SOME AREAS COULD REMAIN RATHER SOCKED IN UNTIL AT LEAST 16Z-17Z. DAY SHIFT WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR AN EXTENSION. AS FOR THE OFF AND ON LIGHT DRIZZLE SUCH AS OBSERVED HERE AT THE WFO TONIGHT...HAVE IT MENTIONED CWA-WIDE THROUGH 12Z...BUT HAVE THEN ATTEMPTED TO CONFINE IT TO ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES EAST OF HWY 281 POST-SUNRISE...WHERE NAM SOUNDINGS INDICATED THAT THE SATURATED LAYER WOULD REMAIN DEEPER...GENERALLY NEAR/IN EXCESS OF 2500 FT. THAT BEING SAID...CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT POST-SUNRISE LIGHT DRIZZLE EVEN IN THE TRI-CITIES AREA WESTWARD GIVEN SUCH A MOIST LOW LEVEL PROFILE. AS FOR SKY COVER...CONFIDENCE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER TODAY THAT MUCH OF THE CWA WILL SEE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS OF PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AT SOME POINT...BUT EXACTLY WHEN IS STILL IN QUESTION. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE 00Z/06Z NAM SOLUTION OF KEEPING NEARLY ALL AREAS SOCKED IN WITH STRATUS AND AT LEAST LIGHT FOG THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...BUT THEN ERODING FROM WEST-EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON AS EVIDENCED BY THE 900MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELD. THIS MEANS THAT FAR EASTERN COUNTIES ALONG THE HWY 81 WOULD BE LAST TO SEE ANY CLEARING. AFTER BUSTING HIGH TEMPS BY 10+ DEGREES YESTERDAY DUE TO WIDESPREAD LOW STRATUS...AM IN NO HURRY TO GO WITH THE WARM END OF AVAILABLE GUIDANCE/MODEL SOLUTIONS TODAY ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN ZONES. AFTER TRYING VARIOUS SOLUTIONS ON FOR SIZE...ENDED UP GOING WITH THE 00Z NAM ALMOST EXACTLY...AS ITS TEMP FIELD SEEMED TO BEST-CAPTURE THE GRADUAL WEST-EAST CLEARING. THIS RESULTS IN A DECENT RANGE FROM NEAR 80 FAR WEST ...LOW-MID 70S CENTRAL AND UPPER 60S EAST. PLEASE NOTE THESE VALUES ARE AT LEAST A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST ALL AREAS...AND AS MUCH AS 5-8 DEGREES COOLER IN THE EAST. LIKE YESTERDAY...COULD EASILY FORESEE HIGHS BEING OFF BY 5+ DEGREES DEPENDING ON STRATUS/FOG TRENDS. TONIGHT...KEPT OUT ALL MENTION OF PRECIP CWA-WIDE...AND AM NOT EXPECTING A DENSE FOG REPEAT SUCH AS THE ONGOING ONE...BUT DID INSERT A PATCHY FOG MENTION INTO SEVERAL COUNTIES NORTH OF I-80 AFTER MIDNIGHT IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHEST BOUNDARY LAYER RELATIVE HUMIDITY POOLING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE INVADING COLD FRONT. CLOUD TRENDS TONIGHT ARE CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR QUITE AN INCREASE IN STRATUS TOWARD SUNRISE NEAR THIS BOUNDARY...FOLLOWING WHAT SHOULD BE A FAIRLY CLEAR EVENING FOR MOST AREAS. ALOFT...THE BIG PICTURE INVOLVES A LEAD SHORTWAVE TRACKING ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...WHICH HELPS DRIVE THE SURFACE FRONT INTO THE NORTHERN CWA...WHILE A TROUGH AXIS SETS UP FROM SOUTHWEST-NORTHEAST ACROSS KS. KEPT LOWS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AND A GUIDANCE BLEND...RANGING FROM LOW-MID 40S NORTHWEST TO UPPER 50S/NEAR 60 SOUTHEAST WHERE DEWPOINTS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. WEDNESDAY...OTHER THAN THE LINGERING PATCHY FOG MENTION NORTH IN THE MORNING...HAVE KEPT OUT ANY OTHER WEATHER MENTION THROUGH SUNSET...AS THE GENERAL MODEL CONSENSUS IS TO KEEP ANY LIGHT DAYTIME DRIZZLY PRECIP NORTHEAST OF THE CWA...AND ANY LATE-DAY CONVECTION ALONG/NEAR THE INVADING COLD FRONT JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE CWA. THAT BEING SAID...SKY COVER AND TEMP TRENDS ARE AGAIN QUITE A CHALLENGE...AS QUITE A BIT OF STRATUS SHOULD DOMINATE MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST CWA WITH MORE SUNSHINE SOUTHEAST. FORTUNATELY...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING WHAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A SHARP TEMP GRADIENT...AND ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST...AIMING FOR A RANGE FROM UPPER 50S FAR NORTH...MID 60S TO LOW 70S TRI CITIES AREA...AND LOW 80S FAR SOUTHEAST IN THE HEBRON-BELOIT CORRIDOR. AGAIN THOUGH...5+ DEGREE DEVIATIONS FROM CURRENT FORECAST ARE VERY POSSIBLE IF NOT LIKELY. PONDERED GOING WITH A NON-DIURNAL TEMP TREND BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT MODELS ARE NOT REALLY SHOWING MUCH OF AN AFTERNOON DROP SO STUCK WITH TRADITIONAL MID-LATE AFTERNOON HIGHS ALL AREAS FOR NOW. THIS COLD FRONT WILL NOT EXACTLY BLAST THROUGH THE AREA...AND BY SUNSET WILL JUST BE REACHING FAR SOUTHEAST ZONES...WHILE MOST OF THE CWA WILL ALREADY BE IN SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS 15-20 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS CLEARLY STILL THE MAIN 12-HOUR WINDOW FOR POTENTIALLY DECENT RAIN AMOUNTS...AND ACTUALLY RAISED POPS INTO THE 60-70 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN CWA...WHILE LEAVING SOUTHWEST AREAS IN THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE. IN SHORT...LARGE SCALE FORCING/MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS RAMPS UP AS A POTENT OPEN WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...FEATURING A 110+KT 300MB JET STREAK. LEFT THE POP/WEATHER GRIDS AS ONE 12-HOUR BLOCK FOR NOW...BUT GENERAL THINKING IS THAT MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/STORMS WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL NEAR/AFTER MIDNIGHT...UNLESS SOME EVENING ACTIVITY FLARES UP IN THE FAR SOUTH/SOUTHEAST NEAR THE MAIN SURFACE FRONT. LATEST NAM CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEALTHY CORRIDOR OF MUCAPE 1500+ J/KG IN THE 850-700MB LAYER MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST 1/2 OF THE CWA...DROPPING OFF SHORTLY TO THE NORTHWEST. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP ISOLATED THUNDER EVEN IN THIS NORTHWEST AREAS. WITH VERY STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR OF 60+ KNOTS MOVING IN...HAVE INCREASING CONCERNS THAT AT LEAST MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL COULD OCCUR IN SOUTHEAST COUNTIES...AND DESPITE SPC KEEPING THE OFFICIAL DAY2 SLIGHT RISK OUTLOOK JUST EAST OF THE CWA...AT LEAST FOR NOW...WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD THIS MENTION TO THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AS THESE STRONG DYNAMICS ARE HARD TO IGNORE. DEPENDING ON HOW WIDESPREAD STORMS ARE...COULD FORESEE SOME FORTUNATE AREAS RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE EXCEPTION. ALTHOUGH SOME SNOW OR RAIN/SNOW MIX COULD TRY DEVELOPING IN WESTERN NEBRASKA IN THE COLDER AIR WELL BEHIND THE FRONT...LATEST CONSENSUS IS THAT WINTRY PRECIP WED NIGHT SHOULD FOCUS AT LEAST 50 MILES WEST OF THE CWA...AND THUS WILL KEEP ANY SNOW MENTION OUT FOR NOW. THURSDAY...SPLIT THE DAY INTO 6-HOUR BLOCKS...WITH ALL PRECIP GONE BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND POTENTIALLY EVEN GONE BY MID-MORNING IN MOST AREAS PER SOME OF THE LATEST TRENDS INCLUDING THE 00Z ECMWF...WHICH QUICKLY SHUTS OFF THE MID LEVEL LIFT/SATURATION FROM NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST. LATER ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED...BUT FOR NOW KEPT 20-40 POPS ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA IN THE MORNING FOR GENERAL LIGHT RAIN...WITH NO THUNDER MENTION AND STILL NO SNOW MENTION...ALTHOUGH SUPPOSE A FEW FLURRIES COULD SNEAK INTO FAR NORTHWEST ZONES JUST BEFORE PRECIP SHUTS OFF FOR GOOD GIVEN SURFACE TEMPS FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE MID 30S EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...EXPECT INCREASING SUNSHINE AS THE DAY WEARS ON...ALTHOUGH IT WILL REMAIN QUITE BREEZY WITH SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. FOR HIGH TEMPS...RAW NAM VALUES ARE WELL INTO THE MID 50S ALL AREAS...BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO GO QUITE THIS WARM YET...AND THUS ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH MOST NEB ZONES TOPPING OUT UPPER 40S AND KS LOWER 50S. THURS NIGHT...THIS LOOKS TO BE THE MOST UNEVENTFUL PERIOD OF THE NEXT 72 HOURS...AS AN EXPANSIVE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH...AND ANY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAILING MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD REMAIN NO CLOSER THAN THE NEB/CO/KS BORDER AREA. DESPITE A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN MID LEVEL CLOUDS...OPTED TO LOWER LOW TEMPS 2-3 DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS FCST AND POSSIBLY NOT ENOUGH...BUT AT LEAST GETTING ALL AREAS INTO THE SUB-FREEZING 26-32 RANGE. .LONG TERM...STARTING 12Z FRIDAY...THE LONGWAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WEST COAST THIS MORNING WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE PLAINS ON FRIDAY...WITH SEVERAL EMBEDDED WEAK DISTURBANCES EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT IN THE WAY OF CHANCES FOR PRECIP ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. SOME DISCREPANCIES EVIDENT WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS TROUGH AS IT PUSHES EAST LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WITH THE EC QUICKLY BUILDING A RIDGE OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST RESULTING IN RISING HEIGHTS ACROSS THE PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO THE LONGWAVE TROUGH INTERACTS WITH A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD...AND THE LATEST GFS DEPICTING A MORE ZONAL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE REGION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS THE AFOREMENTIONED TROPICAL DISTURBANCE INSTEAD TRACKS OUT INTO THE OPEN ATLANTIC. EITHER WAY...THIS APPEARS TO BE A DRY PATTERN FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT FEATURES FORECAST TO IMPACT THE AREA IN THE DIVERGENT UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERNS DEPICTED AMONGST THE LONG TERM MODELS. THEREFORE...EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS...WITH CONTINUED UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES...TO AT LEAST START THE EXTENDED PERIODS...WITH TEMPERATURES POSSIBLY WARMING CLOSER TO CLIMATOLOGY...WHILE REMAINING DRY...EARLY NEXT WEEK IF THE EC SOLUTION ENDS UP BEING CORRECT. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SYNOPTIC SCALE PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK...STUCK WITH ALLBLEND MODEL SOLUTION THIS MORNING...WITH NO NOTABLE TWEAKS TO SPEAK OF. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1243 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ AVIATION...06Z TAF. STRATUS CONTINUES TO ENCOMPASS A GOOD PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN LIFR THROUGH THE EARLY MORNING HOURS TUESDAY. IN PRESENCE OF LLVL MOISTURE AND MIXING ABOVE THE MOISTURE/CLOUD DECK...LOOK FOR INTERMITTENT DRIZZLE FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST PART OF THE NIGHT WITH VSBYS IN THE LIFR CATEGORY IN AREAS OF FG/BR. THE LIFR/IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST INTO THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY TUESDAY...WITH IMPROVEMENT BY MIDDAY...AS CLOUDS BEGIN TO SCATTER AND DRY AIR BEGINS TO ADVECT IN ACROSS THE REGION. WINDS OVERNIGHT WILL CONTINUE TO BE LIGHT AND VARIABLE...EVENTUALLY REACHING ABOUT 10 KTS OUT OF THE SOUTH TUESDAY AFTERNOON. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR NEZ039>041- 046>049-060>064-072>077-082>087. KS...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR KSZ005>007- 017>019. && $$ SHORT TERM...PFANNKUCH LONG TERM/AVIATION...ROSSI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CLEVELAND OH
720 AM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A FRONT WILL LINGER ACROSS LAKE ERIE THROUGH MID WEEK. NEXT COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH LATE FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... TWEAKED THE TIMING OF THE SHOWERS THIS MORNING. ORIGINAL DISCUSSION... FRONTAL BOUNDARY LINGERING ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND LOWER GREAT LAKES. TWO SEPARATE WAVES WILL MOVE ALONG THE BOUNDARY TODAY. THE FIRST WAVE IS WITH THE CONVECTION THIS MORNING. EXPECT A BREAK BY LATE MORNING THEN A SECOND WAVE LATER THIS AFTERNOON. WHERE WILL THE SHOWERS SET UP. STILL DOUBTS IN MY MIND...BEST CHANCES WOULD BE THE LAKESHORE COUNTIES WITH DECREASING CHANCES THE FURTHER SOUTH YOU GO. EXPECT TEMPS TO REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL WITH TEMPS IN THE LOWER TO MID 70S. IF GET SOME CLOUD BREAKS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE SECOND WAVE COULD EVEN BE A LITTLE WARMER. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... SECOND WAVE WILL EXIT AREA OVERNIGHT WITH A CHANCE OF A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS INTO WEDNESDAY MORNING. UPPER RIDGE BUILDS QUICKLY OVER THE AREA WEDNESDAY AND REMAINS IN PLACE TO THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. AS A RESULT MUCH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THURSDAY. BUT ALL GOOD THINGS COME TO AN END. THE ECMWF IS COMING MORE IN LINE WITH THE GFS TIMING OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. MODELS PUSH FRONT INTO NW OH FRIDAY AND ACROSS MOST OF AREA FRIDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THIS PERIOD IS BECOMING A LITTLE MORE CLEAR BUT IT STILL HAS SOME DIFFERENCES. THE FRONT IS EAST OF THE AREA BY SATURDAY MORNING WITH COLD AIR FLOWING IN FROM MICHIGAN. BY SATURDAY EVENING THE LAKE AND 850 MB TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCE WILL BE NEAR 14C. THE THREAT OF SHOWERS WILL BE DECREASING FROM WEST TO EAST SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE BUILDING IN SLOWLY FROM THE NORTHWEST SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY AND THAT WILL DECREASE ANY LAKE ENHANCED SHOWERS THAT TRY TO MOVE INTO NORTHWEST OHIO FROM LAKE MICHIGAN. HOWEVER...LAKE EFFECT SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE EASTERN COUNTIES. ON MONDAY THE 00Z ECMWF HAS A MORE PRONOUNCED TROF OVER THE EASTERN LAKES. IF THIS OCCURS IT MAY KEEP THE THREAT OF PRECIPITATION GOING LONGER AND IT WILL BRING IN A LITTLE COLDER AIR...SO WE WILL HAVE TO CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE PRECIPITATION TYPE. AT THIS TIME STILL JUST FORECASTING RAIN. DIDN`T MAKE MUCH IN THE WAY OF CHANGES TO THE EXTENDED FOR TEMPERATURES...THEY WILL BE BELOW NORMAL. && .AVIATION /11Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... ONE SHORT WAVE WAS MOVING THROUGH THE AREA THIS MORNING AND CAUSING SOME SHOWERS. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE WILL MOVE THROUGH FOR THE AFTERNOON. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS ARE OVER CENTRAL IL AND WEST CENTRAL INDIANA. THEY SEEM TO BE MOVING FASTER THAN ONE WOULD THINK BASED ON THE LOCATION OF THE SHORT WAVE. THE HRRR MODEL SEEMS TO HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON THIS SO WENT WITH THAT TIMING. CONFIDENCE IS MODERATE ON HOW IT WILL ALL PLAY OUT WITH THE BEST CHANCES OVER NORTHWEST OHIO AND ALONG THE LAKESHORE. A STATIONARY FRONT JUST TO THE NORTH OF LAKE ERIE WILL HELP FOCUS THE PRECIPITATION. CONDITIONS WILL BE MAINLY VFR EXCEPT BRIEFLY MVFR OR LESS IN THE HEAVIER SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. HOWEVER...SOME MVFR CEILINGS COULD DEVELOP IN THE HIGH MOISTURE NEAR LAKE ERIE. CONFIDENCE IS LOW. .OUTLOOK...NON VFR POSSIBLE IN SHOWERS AT TIMES FRIDAY EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY. && .MARINE... A BOUNDARY MAY TRY TO DRIFT INTO THE EASTERN PORTION OF LAKE ERIE LATER TODAY INTO WEDNESDAY. OTHER THAN THAT MAINLY A SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW THROUGH FRIDAY. CONDITIONS SHOULD NOT MEET SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA. THE ONLY THREAT ON THE LAKE THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE A NEED FOR A SPECIAL MARINE WARNING BECAUSE OF THUNDERSTORMS AND THAT IS A SMALL CHANCE. A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT AND NORTHERLY WINDS BEHIND IT MAY PROMPT A NEED FOR A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. PA...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DJB NEAR TERM...DJB SHORT TERM...DJB LONG TERM...KIELTYKA AVIATION...KIELTYKA MARINE...KIELTYKA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
920 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 920 AM CDT/ DENSE FOG PERSISTING ACROSS NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE FORECAST AREA LONGER THAN EARLIER ANTICIPATED. FOR NOW...HAVE EXTENDED DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND I-29 CORRIDOR FROM SIOUX FALLS NORTHWARD UNTIL 10 AM...THOUGH HRRR SUGGESTS LOW VISIBILITY MAY LAST EVEN LONGER THAN THAT...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND WEST/UPSLOPE OF BUFFALO RIDGE. WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THAT OVER THE NEXT HOUR AND ADJUST AGAIN IF NECESSARY PRIOR TO 15Z. FOG/STRATUS WILL HOLD TEMPERATURES DOWN ACCORDINGLY...AND HAVE BEGUN TO TREND AFTERNOON READINGS LOWER ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CWA...THOUGH AGAIN...FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY IF FOG PERSISTS LATER INTO THE MORNING. LEFT HIGHS IN THE 70S ALONE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST CWA...AS MODELS STILL SHOW BOUNDARY AND ASSOCIATED SHIFT TO SOUTHWEST LOW LEVEL FLOW PUSHING INTO THAT AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS SHOULD ALLOW DECENT DRYING/MIXING IN AREAS WEST OF THE JAMES VALLEY. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 12Z TAF ISSUANCE/ AVIATION FORECAST FOR THE TAF SITES CONTINUE TO SHOW BELOW NORMAL CONFIDENCE IN THE DETAILS. OBSERVATION HAS DROPPED OUT AT KHON AND WEB CAMS DO NOT SHOW FOG HAS SET IN THERE. SATELLITE INDICATES LOWER CLOUDS HAVE WORKED INTO THE AREA...BUT NOT SURE AT WHAT HEIGHT. AS SUCH...HAVE ADDED NO AMENDMENT NOTE TO KHON TAF UNTIL OBSERVATION EQUIPMENT IS FIXED. WIDESPREAD DENSE FOG HAS SET IN EAST OF THE JAMES RIVER VALLEY IN EASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA INTO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND NORTHWEST IOWA. FOG AND LOW CEILINGS WILL BE STUBBORN TO LEAVE AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT...AND MOST LIKELY WILL NOT MIX OUT AT KSUX. KFSD WAS A TOUGH CALL BUT FOR NOW HAVE THEM BREAKING OUT IMMEDIATELY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. IF TRENDS CONTINUES...THE BREAK IN MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS MAY NOT COME TILL AFTER 24/03Z WHEN THE COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH. LIGHT NORTH FLOW TRANSITIONING TO NORTHEAST IS EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT. && .PREV DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 420 AM CDT/ BROAD SWATH OF STRATUS BLANKETING MUCH OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS REMAINS THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR TODAY. MODELS HOLD ONTO THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE THROUGH MUCH OF THE MORNING RESULTING IN THE WIDESPREAD LOW CLOUDS AND PATCHY DRIZZLE AND FOG WILL LIKELY STICK AROUND THROUGH MID TO LATE MORNING. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE ACROSS THE WEST LATER THIS MORNING WHICH SHOULD BEGIN MIXING DRIER AIR INTO THE LOW LEVELS WHICH SHOULD SCOUR OUT THE CLOUDS BY AFTERNOON. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW QUICKLY THE CLEARING WILL WORK INTO OUR EASTERN HALF AND WHETHER OUR FAR NORTHEAST WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT CLEARING BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LARGE IMPLICATIONS ON TEMPERATURE TRENDS...AS HEFTY WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL EASILY PLACE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S IN THE WEST. DID KNOCK BACK HIGHS SLIGHTLY TO THE UPPER 60S IN OUR NORTHEAST GIVEN THE POTENTIAL TO BE CLOUDY FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE MILDER TEMPERATURES WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS A LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW TRACKS INTO THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES BY WEDNESDAY AND DROPS A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THE SURFACE FRONT DIGS THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT THEN STALLS JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH LITTLE IMPACT OUTSIDE OF SOME INCREASED CLOUD COVERAGE. ON WEDNESDAY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN EASTERN KANSAS AND PUSHES NORTHEAST INTO WESTERN IOWA LATE IN THE DAY. THE PRECISE TIMING OF THIS FEATURE AND THE POTENTIAL LIFTING OF THE WARM FRONT INTO OUR SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES ARE STILL A BIT UNCERTAIN. HOWEVER...WITH INCREASED SHEAR AND NAM MUCAPE APPROACHING 2000 J/KG NEAR THE BOUNDARY...COULD SEE SOME THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN ADDITION TO SHOWERS. A LARGE DETERRENT TO ANY SURFACED BASED/SEVERE CONVECTION WILL BE THE STRONG CAPPING IN PLACE IN THIS AREA. A SECOND AREA TO WATCH FOR POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN CWA...WITH STRONG 850 MB FRONTOGENESIS SETTING UP ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. WILL KEEP CHANCEY POPS IN PLACE FOR THE DAY WITH LARGE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE BOUNDARY PLACEMENTS AND CONDITIONAL CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL. THE MID LEVEL TROUGH STARTS KICKING EASTWARD WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH THE MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS SHIFTING INTO OUR CENTRAL CWA BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY. IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY STRONG POTENTIAL FOR SOME DECENT RAINFALL WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY AND HAVE BOOSTED POPS TO CATEGORICAL FOR THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN CWA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND A QUARTER TO HALF INCH LOOK REASONABLE AT THIS POINT. MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL ARRIVE DURING THIS TIME...WITH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY SHOWING LITTLE TO NO DIURNAL CHANGE OR EVEN SOME FALLING TEMPERATURES. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40S. IN THE EXTENDED...BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING SETTLES OVER THE CENTRAL STATES AND WILL KEEP COOL AND DRY CONDITIONS IN PLACE INTO THE END OF THE WEEK. MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS DRY AND COLD PATTERN WHICH PLACE WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S AND LOWS IN THE 20S. MODELS DO DIVERGE A BIT FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A MORE ZONAL MID LEVEL PATTERN IN THE GFS BRINGING A WAVE THROUGH THE MISSOURI VALLEY ON SUNDAY. MEANWHILE THE ECMWF ALSO HINTS AT A WAVE...BUT DROPS IT THROUGH SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. DID ADD A SLIGHT CHANCE POP IN OUR NORTHEAST FOR SUNDAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. MN...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR MNZ071-072- 080-081-089-090-097-098. NE...NONE. SD...DENSE FOG ADVISORY UNTIL 10 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR SDZ040-056- 062. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
631 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 AT 3 AM...A WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM SIOUX CITY IOWA /KSUX/ TO MUSCATINE IOWA /KMUT/. THERE IS LITTLE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT. MEANWHILE FURTHER NORTH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A BAND OF 900 TO 800 MB FRONTOGENESIS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. THE RUC SHOWS THAT THIS BAND OF FRONTOGENESIS LIFTS QUICKLY NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR AND BY LATE MORNING IT EXTENDS FROM HUDSON WISCONSIN TO MILWAUKEE. THE MESO MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS...SO FOLLOWED THEM. FURTHER SOUTHEAST...A SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL BE LIFTING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE MID MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES. THERE IS MODERATE 850 MB MOISTURE INTO PARTS OF OF NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING...SO KEPT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE AREAS THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING. FOR THIS AFTERNOON...WEAK 300K ISENTROPIC LIFT CONTINUES NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR. AS A RESULT...KEPT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS AREA. FOR TONIGHT...THE 23.00Z MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE WEAK TO MODERATE 850 MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THE REGION. THE MESO MODELS /ARW...NMM...AND SPC WRF/ SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SO KEPT THE 20 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF RAIN ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. ON WEDNESDAY...THE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT A WARM AIR MASS BETWEEN 850 MB AND 675 MB WILL ADVECT NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS CAP SHOULD GREATLY INHIBIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...THUS WENT DRY IN THE MORNING...AND SLOWLY INCREASED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THINKING THAT THE STRONG CAP WILL LIMIT ANY SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TO ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THE 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE GFS GENERATES SOME LIGHT SHOWERS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...THUS...ITS MLCAPES ARE RUNNING BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 J/KG. MEANWHILE THE NAM/WRF IS DRY AND ALLOWS TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB TO AROUND 80. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TEMPERATURES AND MID 60 DEW POINTS /HIGHEST THIS LATE IN THE YEAR SINCE OCTOBER 26 2010/ WILL RESULT IN THE ML CAPES AROUND 2500 J/KG. INITIALLY THINKING THAT THE CONVECTION WILL START TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT BETWEEN 24.19 AND 24.21Z AS ELEVATED CELLS AND THEN BECOME SURFACE BASED BETWEEN 24.21Z AND 25.00Z. THE NAM HAS A WEAK LOW ALONG THIS FRONT WHICH HELPS INCREASE THE 0-1KM BULK SHEAR WHICH MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA AND SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. OTHERWISE...THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. ON THURSDAY...THE MODELS STILL DIFFER ON THE TIMING OF THE FRONT. THE GFS IS THE SLOWEST AND LINGER PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH THE DAY. MEANWHILE THE GEM IS THE FASTEST AND HAS THE AFTERNOON DRY. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES...DID NOT GET TOO FANCY WITH TRYING TO TIME THE PRECIPITATION OUT OF THE AREA. REGARDLESS...THE MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE WILL BE THE RAPIDLY FALLING TEMPERATURES IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 ON THURSDAY NIGHT...THE MODELS WERE IN GOOD CONSENSUS THAT THE PRECIPITATION WOULD BE ENDING ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN DURING THE EVENING. AS A RESULT...CONFINED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO THAT TIME PERIOD. ON MONDAY...THE 23.00Z GFS WAS VERY SIMILAR WITH ITS 22.18Z RUN AT GENERATING SOME WARM AIR ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. MEANWHILE THE ECMWF CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT THIS PRECIPITATION WILL DRY UP AS IT HEADS INTO THE AREA. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES MENTIONED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NORTH OF AN OELWEIN IOWA TO MEDFORD WISCONSIN LINE. THE PRECIPITATION HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE EARLY MORNING. HOWEVER SINCE IT WAS VERY UNCLEAR IT WAS EVEN GOING TO OCCUR...JUST OPTED TO GO WITH RAIN FOR NOW. && .AVIATION...TODAY AND TONIGHT 630 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 A WARM FRONT CURRENTLY DRAPED ACROSS CENTRAL IOWA WILL LIFT NORTHWARD TODAY. IFR CEILINGS/VISIBILITIES COMMON TO THE NORTH OF THE FRONT AT BOTH TAF SITES. EXPECT THESE CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THROUGH MID MORNING...BEFORE CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES IMPROVE. CEILING HEIGHTS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE INTO THE MVFER CATEGORY BETWEEN 14Z-16Z AND REMAIN THERE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE TAF PERIOD. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BOYNE LONG TERM...BOYNE AVIATION...RABERDING
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHEYENNE WY
920 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE... WENT AHEAD AND LET THE HIGH WIND WARNING EXPIRE THIS MORNING AS OBSERVED WINDS HAVE STAYED DOWN BELOW WARNING CRITERIA. THERE IS STILL A CHANCE FOR WINDS TO BECOME STRONG AS WE MIX OUT...BUT DO NOT THINK WE WILL HIT HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA ANY MORE TODAY. STILL FAIRLY DENSE FOG OUT IN THE PANHANDLE AND WILL CONTINUE THE SPS WE HAVE GOING THROUGH NOON. FOG MAY BURN OFF EARLIER THAN THAT...BUT FOR NOW...WILL GO FOR NOON. DEFINITELY SOME QUESTIONS ON THE UPCOMING WINTER EVENT THAT WE WILL NEED TO WORK OUT FOR THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE. WAITING FOR THE 12Z MODEL RUNS TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON HIGHLIGHTS. CLAYCOMB && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 623 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY... LOTS OF FORECAST CONCERNS OVER THE SHORT TERM. WINDS HAVE BEEN APPROACHING HIGH WIND CRITERIA IN THE ARLINGTON AREA OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...BUT HAVE GENERALLY REMAINED BELOW 50MPH. THE GFS SHOWS 700MB 50-60 KTS TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE THROUGH 12Z BEFORE DECREASING TO 45 KTS BY 18Z. BELIEVE THAT THE LACK OF MIXING IS KEEPING WIND GUSTS BELOW 50 KTS DESPITE THE FAVORABLE SFC PRESSURE PATTERN AND STRONG WINDS JUST OFF THE SFC. WILL KEEP THE HIGH WIND WARNING GOING THROUGH THE MORNING BUT CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING MARGINAL FOR WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS OUTSIDE OF ARLINGTON. THE SFC LOW CURRENTLY OVER NORTHERN WYOMING IS PROGGED TO SHIFT EASTWARD INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA BY MIDDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE LLVL FLOW TO GO MORE WESTERLY...BUT STILL EXPECT BREEZY- TO-WINDY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH 700MB FLOW AT THE AFOREMENTIONED 30-40 KTS. LOW CLOUDS AND FOG HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE HRRR MODEL SHOWS LIFR CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH AROUND 15Z. SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE HAVE REPORTED DENSE FOG. CURRENTLY HAVE AN SPS OUT TO COVER THE DENSE FOG THREAT BUT MAY NEED TO CONSIDER AN ADVISORY IF THE CONDITIONS PERSIST. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER THE WEST COAST WITH THE MOISTURE STREAMING ACROSS WESTERN WY. THIS TROUGH WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY WITH THE MOISTURE AND LIFT PRODUCING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER THE WESTERN ZONES BY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE OVER THE SHORT TERM INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL MAJOR WINTER STORM EVENT BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. THE MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT IN SHOWING THE LARGE SCALE TROUGH AXIS BEING LOCATED OVER UTAH AND IDAHO ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A 125 KT UPPER LEVEL JET IS SITUATED OVER WYOMING ON WEDNESDAY. A SW-NE ORIENTED MIDLEVEL FRONTOGENESIS LINE DEVELOPS FROM RAWLINS TO DOUGLAS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. SNOW BECOMES LIKELY TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH 700MB TEMPS AROUND -4C. A STRONG SHORTWAVE IN THE TROUGH IS FORECASTED TO MOVE OVER COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. INCREASING LARGE SCALE LIFT AND UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD SNOW TO DEVELOP MAINLY AFTER 00Z THURS OVER THE PLAINS. IT IS THE 00Z-12Z PERIOD THAT SNOWFALL RATES WILL BE HIGHEST IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING WITH EXCELLENT LARGE SCALE UPWARD MOTION AND DEEP LAYERED SATURATION. THE SHORTWAVE QUICKLY PROGRESSES EASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON THURS MORNING WITH SNOWFALL RATES COMING DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY. THURS WILL BE QUITE COLD FOR LATE OCTOBER WITH LLVL UPSLOPE AND 700MB TEMPS AROUND -10C. WITH A LACK OF LARGE SCALE FORCING ON THURS...LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE CONFINED TO THE MTNS AND FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE. WITH REGARD TO WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS...DECIDED TO ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE AND THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY RANGES. HAVE THE WATCH CONTINUING THROUGH THE 00Z FRI AS LIGHT SNOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THURS AFTN OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FUTURE SHIFTS CAN DECIDE IF THE HIGHLIGHTS SHOULD BE ENDED OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS AFTER THE SNOWFALL RATES COME DOWN ON THURS MORNING AS THE MODELS ARE SHOWING. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE ON THE LOW END OF WARNING CRITERIA WITH THIS EVENT. WINDS WILL NOT BE MUCH OF A CONCERN WITH THIS SYSTEM...HOWEVER OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS ON WED EVENING. MUCH WEAKER WINDS CWA-WIDE ON THURS AS THE SFC HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE PLAINS. LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODEL OUTPUT OFFER FAIRLY SIMILAR SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH SOME DIVERGENCE NOTED EARLY NEXT WEEK. INITIALLY...A TRAILING SHORTWAVE WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE BROAD TROUGH FROM NRN UTAH INTO COLORADO THURSDAY NIGHT. MEANWHILE...UPSLOPE FLOW WILL PERSIST IN THE LLVLS PARTICULARLY FOR LOCATIONS NEAREST THE LARAMIE RANGE. SO...WOULD EXPECT ANOTHER BOUT OF LIGHT SNOW ON THURSDAY NIGHT ADDING ANOTHER INCH OR TWO TO THE THE SNOWFALL TOTALS. THE SHORTWAVE WILL ACCELERATE EAST OUT ONTO THE PLAINS FOR FRIDAY...LEAVING NORTHWEST FLOW TO PREVAIL ACROSS THE CWFA. THERE MAY BE SOME LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES CONTINUING MAINLY FOR OROGRAPHIC AREAS ON FRIDAY MORNING...WITH A GRADUAL DRYING TREND DURING THE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLD ON FRIDAY WITH H7 TEMPERATURES REMAINING AROUND -10C. THIS WILL KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 30S ACROSS THE AREA. FRANKLY WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND WOULD NOT BE AT ALL SURPRISED TO ONLY SEE 20S AT SOME AREAS ON FRIDAY. ON SATURDAY...THE LATEST GFS TRACKING ANOTHER SHORTWAVE INTO THE AREA IN NORTHWEST FLOW. THE ECMWF/UKMET/GEM/GFES DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH A SOLUTION...SO HAVE CONSIDER IT TO BE THE OUTLIER AND HAVE DISCOUNTED. AS SUCH A DRY DAY IS IN STORE ON SATURDAY WITH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CLIMB INTO THE 30S AND 40S. WINDS WILL INCREASE FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AS LLVL GRADIENT TIGHTENS. SO EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY WARMER...THE WINDS WILL MAKE IT FEEL MUCH COOLER IN THESE AREAS. NORTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY. BUT THE ECMWF IS SHOWING THE EARLY SIGNS OF ANTICYLONIC FLOW DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA BY LATE SUNDAY. COMPARATIVELY THE GFS MAINTAINS NORTHWEST FLOW OVR THE AREA AS A RESULT OF A STRONGER TROUGH OVER WRN CANADA. THE GEM/UKMET SOLUTIONS OVER A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF. IN ANY CASE...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN DRY WITH TEMPERATURES MODERATING BACK INTO THE 50S AND 60S FOR THE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY TIMEFRAME. AVIATION...12Z TAF ISSUANCE... MAIN AVIATION CONCERN WILL BE THE FOG...SOME OF WHICH HAS BEEN LOCALLY DENSE THAT HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE WESTERN NEBRASKA AIRFIELDS THIS MORNING. THESE LOW CIGS WILL HANG ON UNTIL AROUND 15 OR 16Z BEFORE LIFTING. SE WYOMING TERMINALS WILL HAVE GUSTY WINDS TO CONTEND WITH BY LATE THIS MORNING AND MORE SO DURING THE AFTERNOON TIMEFRAME. EXPECT TO SEE THESE GUSTS APPROACH 30 OR 40 KNOTS THROUGH THIS PERIOD. SNOW WILL DEVELOP AT KRWL AFTER 03Z OR SO...AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO IMPACT THE REGION. FIRE WEATHER... A WINDY START TO THE DAY FOR AREAS WEST ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE TODAY...AS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH HAVE BEEN COMMON. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY BEFORE RELAXING THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MEANWHILE...FOGGY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE WESTERN PANHANDLE WILL PERSIST THROUGH MID/LATE MORNING BEFORE LIFTING. ONE MORE WARM DAY IS IN STORE TODAY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL REACH THE 50S WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AND 60S AND 70S OUT ON THE EASTERN PLAINS. BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY TOMORROW HOWEVER...AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS TO PUSH THROUGH THE AREA. PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW THROUGH THE DAY AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES SOUTH. PRECIPITATION WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL FILTER IN FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS WELL...WITH HIGHS ONLY CLIMBING INTO THE 20S AND 30S. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ103-WYZ105-WYZ110-WYZ112-WYZ114. WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ106-WYZ115-WYZ116-WYZ117-WYZ118. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/FIRE WEATHER...FINCH LONG TERM/AVIATION...HAHN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHEYENNE WY
623 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY... LOTS OF FORECAST CONCERNS OVER THE SHORT TERM. WINDS HAVE BEEN APPROACHING HIGH WIND CRITERIA IN THE ARLINGTON AREA OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...BUT HAVE GENERALLY REMAINED BELOW 50MPH. THE GFS SHOWS 700MB 50-60 KTS TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE THROUGH 12Z BEFORE DECREASING TO 45 KTS BY 18Z. BELIEVE THAT THE LACK OF MIXING IS KEEPING WIND GUSTS BELOW 50 KTS DESPITE THE FAVORABLE SFC PRESSURE PATTERN AND STRONG WINDS JUST OFF THE SFC. WILL KEEP THE HIGH WIND WARNING GOING THROUGH THE MORNING BUT CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING MARGINAL FOR WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS OUTSIDE OF ARLINGTON. THE SFC LOW CURRENTLY OVER NORTHERN WYOMING IS PROGGED TO SHIFT EASTWARD INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA BY MIDDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE LLVL FLOW TO GO MORE WESTERLY...BUT STILL EXPECT BREEZY- TO-WINDY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH 700MB FLOW AT THE AFOREMENTIONED 30-40 KTS. LOW CLOUDS AND FOG HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE HRRR MODEL SHOWS LIFR CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH AROUND 15Z. SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE HAVE REPORTED DENSE FOG. CURRENTLY HAVE AN SPS OUT TO COVER THE DENSE FOG THREAT BUT MAY NEED TO CONSIDER AN ADVISORY IF THE CONDITIONS PERSIST. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER THE WEST COAST WITH THE MOISTURE STREAMING ACROSS WESTERN WY. THIS TROUGH WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY WITH THE MOISTURE AND LIFT PRODUCING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER THE WESTERN ZONES BY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE OVER THE SHORT TERM INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL MAJOR WINTER STORM EVENT BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. THE MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT IN SHOWING THE LARGE SCALE TROUGH AXIS BEING LOCATED OVER UTAH AND IDAHO ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A 125 KT UPPER LEVEL JET IS SITUATED OVER WYOMING ON WEDNESDAY. A SW-NE ORIENTED MIDLEVEL FRONTOGENESIS LINE DEVELOPS FROM RAWLINS TO DOUGLAS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. SNOW BECOMES LIKELY TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH 700MB TEMPS AROUND -4C. A STRONG SHORTWAVE IN THE TROUGH IS FORECASTED TO MOVE OVER COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. INCREASING LARGE SCALE LIFT AND UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD SNOW TO DEVELOP MAINLY AFTER 00Z THURS OVER THE PLAINS. IT IS THE 00Z-12Z PERIOD THAT SNOWFALL RATES WILL BE HIGHEST IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING WITH EXCELLENT LARGE SCALE UPWARD MOTION AND DEEP LAYERED SATURATION. THE SHORTWAVE QUICKLY PROGRESSES EASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON THURS MORNING WITH SNOWFALL RATES COMING DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY. THURS WILL BE QUITE COLD FOR LATE OCTOBER WITH LLVL UPSLOPE AND 700MB TEMPS AROUND -10C. WITH A LACK OF LARGE SCALE FORCING ON THURS...LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE CONFINED TO THE MTNS AND FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE. WITH REGARD TO WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS...DECIDED TO ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE AND THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY RANGES. HAVE THE WATCH CONTINUING THROUGH THE 00Z FRI AS LIGHT SNOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THURS AFTN OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FUTURE SHIFTS CAN DECIDE IF THE HIGHLIGHTS SHOULD BE ENDED OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS AFTER THE SNOWFALL RATES COME DOWN ON THURS MORNING AS THE MODELS ARE SHOWING. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE ON THE LOW END OF WARNING CRITERIA WITH THIS EVENT. WINDS WILL NOT BE MUCH OF A CONCERN WITH THIS SYSTEM...HOWEVER OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS ON WED EVENING. MUCH WEAKER WINDS CWA-WIDE ON THURS AS THE SFC HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE PLAINS. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODEL OUTPUT OFFER FAIRLY SIMILAR SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH SOME DIVERGENCE NOTED EARLY NEXT WEEK. INITIALLY...A TRAILING SHORTWAVE WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE BROAD TROUGH FROM NRN UTAH INTO COLORADO THURSDAY NIGHT. MEANWHILE...UPSLOPE FLOW WILL PERSIST IN THE LLVLS PARTICULARLY FOR LOCATIONS NEAREST THE LARAMIE RANGE. SO...WOULD EXPECT ANOTHER BOUT OF LIGHT SNOW ON THURSDAY NIGHT ADDING ANOTHER INCH OR TWO TO THE THE SNOWFALL TOTALS. THE SHORTWAVE WILL ACCELERATE EAST OUT ONTO THE PLAINS FOR FRIDAY...LEAVING NORTHWEST FLOW TO PREVAIL ACROSS THE CWFA. THERE MAY BE SOME LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES CONTINUING MAINLY FOR OROGRAPHIC AREAS ON FRIDAY MORNING...WITH A GRADUAL DRYING TREND DURING THE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLD ON FRIDAY WITH H7 TEMPERATURES REMAINING AROUND -10C. THIS WILL KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 30S ACROSS THE AREA. FRANKLY WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND WOULD NOT BE AT ALL SURPRISED TO ONLY SEE 20S AT SOME AREAS ON FRIDAY. ON SATURDAY...THE LATEST GFS TRACKING ANOTHER SHORTWAVE INTO THE AREA IN NORTHWEST FLOW. THE ECMWF/UKMET/GEM/GFES DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH A SOLUTION...SO HAVE CONSIDER IT TO BE THE OUTLIER AND HAVE DISCOUNTED. AS SUCH A DRY DAY IS IN STORE ON SATURDAY WITH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CLIMB INTO THE 30S AND 40S. WINDS WILL INCREASE FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AS LLVL GRADIENT TIGHTENS. SO EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY WARMER...THE WINDS WILL MAKE IT FEEL MUCH COOLER IN THESE AREAS. NORTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY. BUT THE ECMWF IS SHOWING THE EARLY SIGNS OF ANTICYLONIC FLOW DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA BY LATE SUNDAY. COMPARATIVELY THE GFS MAINTAINS NORTHWEST FLOW OVR THE AREA AS A RESULT OF A STRONGER TROUGH OVER WRN CANADA. THE GEM/UKMET SOLUTIONS OVER A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF. IN ANY CASE...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN DRY WITH TEMPERATURES MODERATING BACK INTO THE 50S AND 60S FOR THE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY TIMEFRAME. && .AVIATION...12Z TAF ISSUANCE... MAIN AVIATION CONCERN WILL BE THE FOG...SOME OF WHICH HAS BEEN LOCALLY DENSE THAT HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS THE WESTERN NEBRASKA AIRFIELDS THIS MORNING. THESE LOW CIGS WILL HANG ON UNTIL AROUND 15 OR 16Z BEFORE LIFTING. SE WYOMING TERMINALS WILL HAVE GUSTY WINDS TO CONTEND WITH BY LATE THIS MORNING AND MORE SO DURING THE AFTERNOON TIMEFRAME. EXPECT TO SEE THESE GUSTS APPROACH 30 OR 40 KNOTS THROUGH THIS PERIOD. SNOW WILL DEVELOP AT KRWL AFTER 03Z OR SO...AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO IMPACT THE REGION. && .FIRE WEATHER... A WINDY START TO THE DAY FOR AREAS WEST ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE TODAY...AS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH HAVE BEEN COMMON. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY BEFORE RELAXING THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MEANWHILE...FOGGY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE WESTERN PANHANDLE WILL PERSIST THROUGH MID/LATE MORNING BEFORE LIFTING. ONE MORE WARM DAY IS IN STORE TODAY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL REACH THE 50S WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AND 60S AND 70S OUT ON THE EASTERN PLAINS. BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY TOMORROW HOWEVER...AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS TO PUSH THROUGH THE AREA. PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW THROUGH THE DAY AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES SOUTH. PRECIPITATION WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL FILTER IN FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS WELL...WITH HIGHS ONLY CLIMBING INTO THE 20S AND 30S. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...HIGH WIND WARNING UNTIL 9 AM TUESDAY FOR WYZ104-WYZ105-WYZ106- WYZ109-WYZ110. WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ103-WYZ105-WYZ110-WYZ112-WYZ114. WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ106-WYZ115-WYZ116-WYZ117-WYZ118. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...FINCH LONG TERM/AVIATION/FIRE WEATHER...HAHN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GRAND JUNCTION CO
1042 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1042 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 PUBLIC REPORT THAT STRONG WINDS ARE BUFFETING VEHICLES NEAR RIDGWAY. WITH REMOTE MOUNTAIN SITES IN THE NWRN SAN JUANS AND DOUGLAS PASS INDICATING GUSTY WINDS...WILL EXPAND THE WIND ADVISORY TO INCLUDE THESE AREAS. THESE REPORTS CONFIRM HRRR MODEL SURFACE WIND GUST TRENDS THAT SHOW THE UNCOMPAHGRE RIDGE TOP INTO THE NWRN SAN JUANS BEING THE BULLSEYE FOR STRONGEST WINDS. UPDATE ISSUED AT 925 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WINDS CONTINUE TO BE PROBLEMATIC TODAY WITH GUSTS APPROACHING 45 MPH AT SEVERAL LOCATIONS. WITH TIGHT GRADIENT FLOW AND A WELL MIXED LAYER (AT LEAST UP TO 600 MB FROM THE MORNING SOUNDING)...WINDS FROM ALOFT WILL TRANSLATE TO THE SURFACE...ESPECIALLY WITH THE BOUNDARY LAYER NEARLY DRY ADIABATIC. SURFACE WINDS HAVE BEEN ERRATIC...ESPECIALLY ALONG THE I70 CORRIDOR...BUT LAMP GUIDANCE SUGGEST THAT WINDS WILL BECOME EVEN MORE ERRATIC. HAVE ELECTED TO ISSUE ANOTHER WIND ADVISORY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY. APPEARS THAT WINDS WILL DECOUPLE FAIRLY QUICKLY THIS EVENING AS SURFACE FRONT BEGINS TO SEEP INTO THE FORECAST AREA. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 409 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 TODAY: PATTERN SHOWS ONLY SLIGHT CHANGE TODAY AS THE BROAD TROUGH OVER THE PACIFIC COAST STAYS PUT. AS A RESULT...VIGOROUS SOUTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA. HOWEVER...BOTH GFS40 AND NAM12 INDICATED 7H HEIGHT GRADIENT WILL RELAX ACROSS THE AREA RESULTING IN DECREASED WIND SPEED. CONSEQUENTLY...IT NOW APPEARS UNLIKELY THAT WIND CRITERIA WILL BE MET THIS AFTERNOON AND THEREFORE CANCELLED THE WIND ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE STATIONARY FRONT JUST NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA OVER THE PAST SEVERAL DAYS WILL SAG SOUTHWARD AS LOW PRESSURE MOVES EASTWARD ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THE BOUNDARY WILL COME TO REST NEAR THE NORTHEAST UTAH/NORTHWEST COLORADO BORDER AREA THIS AFTERNOON. LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE ALONG THE BOUNDARY COMBINED WITH CHANNELED VORTICITY ALOFT SHOULD FOCUS SHOWER ACTIVITY IN THIS AREA. ADDED SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS THE EXTREME NORTH DURING THE AFTERNOON AS FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATED THE ATMOSPHERE TO BE CONDITIONALLY UNSTABLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY. ADVECTION OF COOLER AIR ACROSS THE NORTHERNMOST ZONES WILL RESULT IN ABOUT 5 DEGREES OF COOLING TODAY WHILE TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE LARGELY UNCHANGED SOUTH. FELT MAV MOS WAS A BIT AGGRESSIVE WITH THE COOLING ACROSS THE NORTH SO HEWED CLOSER TO THE MET GUIDANCE. TONIGHT-THURSDAY: COMPLICATED PATTERN WILL EVOLVE AS ENERGY CONTINUES TO EJECT FROM THE PACIFIC LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM TONIGHT...BEFORE THE MAIN TROUGH SHIFTS EAST OVER THE WESTERN CONUS WED THROUGH THU. A SURFACE FRONT WILL GENERALLY REMAIN STALLED ALONG...AND JUST TO THE NORTH OUR THE CWA BORDER TONIGHT. SO THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT WE SHOULD CONTINUE TO SEE A FEW SHOWERS OVER NORTHEAST UT AND FAR NORTHWEST CO ALONG AND JUST TO THE SOUTH OF THIS BAROCLINIC ZONE. ALSO CANNOT RULE OUT THE POSSIBILITY OF A FEW LIGHTNING STRIKES. THE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN TIGHT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. SO GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE OVER EXPOSED HIGHER TERRAIN...BUT ESPECIALLY ALONG THE CO/WY BORDER. WINDS IN THE VALLEYS SHOULD DIMINISH BY OR SHORTLY AFTER SUNSET AS THE AIR MASS DECOUPLES. NIGHTTIME TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN VERY MILD DUE TO THE UNSETTLED NATURE OF THE PATTERN. THE FRONT WILL FINALLY DROP SOUTHWARD AND INTO THE AREA EARLY WED AS THE MAIN UPPER PATTERN SHIFTS EAST. THE FRONT WILL THEN PROCEED SOUTHWARD THROUGH THE DAY...REACHING THE I-70 CORRIDOR EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON AND TO THE SOUTHERN BORDER LATE AFTERNOON TO EARLY EVENING. WINDS WILL AGAIN MIX INTO THE LOWER ELEVATIONS EARLY IN THE DAY AHEAD OF THE FRONT...AND DUE TO THE CONTINUED TIGHT GRADIENT RESULTING FROM THE APPROACHING TROUGH. THE CHANCE FOR SHOWERS...AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS...WILL ALSO SPREAD TO THE SOUTH. HOWEVER MODELS INDICATE THAT MOISTURE WILL BE SOMEWHAT LIMITED ACROSS OUR CWA AS THIS SYSTEM PASSES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE SOUTHERN PORTION. THAT SAID...MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW GOOD UPPER LEVEL SUPPORT WITH THE NOSE OF THE 120+ JET CORE RAKING THE AREA THROUGH THE DAY. INSTABILITY ALSO INCREASES AS TEMPS AT 500 MB DROP FROM AROUND -15C AT GJT WED MORNING TO AROUND -20C IN THE AFTERNOON. THEN AS THE MAIN TROUGH AXIS PASSES WED NIGHT 500 MB TEMPS DROP TO -26 AT GJT BY 12Z THU. THEN ON THU...A REINFORCING COLD SHOT WILL APPROACH FROM THE NORTHWEST TO KEEP THE AIR MASS UNSETTLED...AND SNOW ONGOING OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. SNOW LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO FALL AS THE FRONT PASSES ON WED...WITH SNOW LOWERING INTO THE VALLEYS WED NIGHT. THE NORTH WILL REMAIN FAVORED...WITH MOUNTAIN SNOW LIKELY WED-THU. AGREE WITH THE PREVIOUS SHIFT THAT ACCUMULATIONS COULD RANGE FROM 3-6 INCHES OVER THE NORTHWEST FACING SLOPES OF THE PARK...GORE...FLATTOPS AND ELKHEAD RANGES. MUCH COOLER DAYTIME TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ON WED ESPECIALLY OVER THE NORTH...WITH ANOTHER BIG DROP ON THU. OVERNIGHT LOWS WED NIGHT WILL ALSO BE UP TO 10 DEGREES COOLER THAN TONIGHT`S VALUES. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 418 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 A TRAILING SHORTWAVE SWEEPS EASTWARD ACROSS THE REGION THURSDAY NIGHT FINALLY CARRYING THE MAIN TROUGH AXIS EAST OF THE AREA BY SUNRISE FRIDAY. EXPECT THIS FEATURE WILL SUSTAIN SNOW OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL MOUNTAINS OVERNIGHT. AS BEFORE...MOISTURE NOT LOOKING ALL THAT IMPRESSIVE AND AT THIS POINT IT APPEARS ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 1 TO 3 INCHES. THE SOUTH REMAINS MOISTURE STARVED SO WILL CONTINUE WITH LOW END POPS OVER THE SAN JUANS WITH LESS THAN 10 PERCENT POPS ACROSS THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. MODELS INDICATED SHOWERS WILL DISSIPATE BY MIDDAY FRIDAY WITH A RETURN TO DRY WEATHER UNDER NORTHWEST FLOW MOVING INTO THE WEEKEND. GFS MAINTAINS A FAIRLY VIGOROUS NORTHWEST FLOW WITH A SERIES OF WEAK DISTURBANCES BRUSHING THE NORTHERN COLORADO MOUNTAINS BRINGING OCCASIONAL LIGHT SHOWERS SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY. IN CONTRAST...BOTH THE ECMWF AND THE GEM MODELS BUILD A FLAT RIDGE OVER THE REGION AND NO PRECIPITATION. GIVEN MODEL DIFFERENCES FEEL COMPELLED TO HOLD THE LINE WITH THE BLENDED MODEL SOLUTION WHICH FEATURED SLIGHT CHANCES OVER THE NORTHERN MOUNTAINS INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE INFLUX OF COLDER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BRING SOME OF THE COLDEST TEMPERATURES EXPERIENCED SO FAR THIS FALL WITH HIGHS RUNNING ABOUT 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL FRIDAY. OVERNIGHT LOWS SATURDAY MORNING THREATEN TO BRING SEASON ENDING FREEZING TEMPERATURES TO SOUTHEAST UTAH...THE GRAND VALLEY...AND THE LOWER ELEVATIONS OF MONTEZUMA AND DOLORES COUNTIES IN SOUTHWEST COLORADO. A WARMING TREND BEGINS SATURDAY AND WILL CONTINUE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH HIGHS RETURNING TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS BY MONDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1042 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 MECHANICAL TURBULENCE AND LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR WILL BE THE MAIN AVIATION HAZARD TODAY. SOUTHWEST WIND WITH GUSTS IN THE 25-35KT RANGE WILL BE COMMON. SURFACE WINDS ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER 01Z THIS EVENING AS COLD FRONT SEEPS INTO NORTHEAST UTAH AND NORTHWEST COLORADO. ISOLATED SHOWERS NEAR THE WYOMING BORDER WILL PARTIALLY OBSCURE MOUNTAIN TOPS. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS MAY OCCUR AS WELL. && .GJT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... CO...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM MDT THIS EVENING FOR COZ001>003-007-008- 017-018. UT...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...PF SHORT TERM...NL/EH LONG TERM...NL AVIATION...PF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LINCOLN IL
1211 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... ISSUED 1036 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 HAVE MADE TWEEKS TO TEMPS TODAY AND ADDED CHC POPS IN SOUTHEAST FOR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH AREA CURRENTLY IS ENHANCING PCPN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY...PARTICULARLY SOUTHEAST HALF OF FORECAST AREA. WAVE SHOULD MOVE PAST AREA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AND SHORTWAVE RIDGING SHOULD BUILD HEIGHTS AND ALLOW FOR SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDENCE TO BRING AN END TO PCPN AND SOME BREAKS IN CLOUDS. THE SLOWEST AREA OF IMPROVEMENT WILL LIKELY BE IN THE SOUTHEAST WHERE REMNANT PCPN MAY LINGER AS AREA OF SHOWERS FORMED AT NOSE OF LOW- LEVEL JET IN ERN MISSOURI MOVES EAST. ELSEWHERE...CAPPING SHOULD INHIBIT ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT. BREAKS IN CLOUDS SHOULD ALLOW TEMPS TO RESPOND. TEMPS ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS ALREADY NEAR 70F AND WITH SOME SUN AND SOUTH WINDS ADVECTING IN WARMER TEMPS...70S STILL LIKELY. && .AVIATION... ISSUED 1159 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 SUBSIDENCE BEHIND SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH ILLINOIS AT PRESENT SHOULD DIMINISH REMAINING PRECIP THIS AFTERNOON AND ALLOW FOR ADDITIONAL BREAKS IN IFR CIGS. HOWEVER...ABUNDANT MOISTURE EVIDENT IN MVFR OVERCAST TO WEST WILL LIKELY PUSH EAST OVERNIGHT IMPACTING CENTRAL ILLINOIS TERMINALS. WILL BRING IN MVFR CIGS AND LINGER UNTIL MIXING ALLOWS SOME LIFTING MIDMORNING WEDNESDAY. WITH SOME PARTIAL CLEARING...SOUTH WINDS WILL LIKELY DEVELOP SOME GUSTING LATE THIS AFTERNOON. SOME GUSTING WILL ONCE AGAIN DEVELOP WITH LIFTING CIGS ON WEDNESDAY MORNING. BARKER && .PREV DISCUSSION... ISSUED 310 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WARM FRONT CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN ILLINOIS...ROUGHLY ALONG THE I-80 CORRIDOR. HAVE BEEN SEEING SHOWERS AND STORMS INCREASING ACROSS WESTERN ILLINOIS AND ESPECIALLY OVER MISSOURI...AS AN UPPER WAVE MOVES INTO THE AREA AND AN APPARENT MESOSCALE VORTEX TRACKS ACROSS MISSOURI PER WATER VAPOR IMAGERY. INITIAL FORECAST CONCERN INVOLVES CONVECTIVE TRENDS FOR PRIMARILY THIS MORNING...ALONG WITH ITS EFFECTS ON TEMPERATURES. IN THE LONGER RANGE...THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT ON THURSDAY REMAINS AN ISSUE...ALONG WITH RAIN TRENDS THURSDAY AND FRIDAY. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT... LATEST HRRR DOING A REASONABLE JOB WITH THE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI...AND IT CONTINUES TO INCREASE THE RAIN OVER MOST OF THE CWA THROUGH EARLY MORNING. AS SUCH...HAVE RAMPED UP RAIN CHANCES TO THE LIKELY RANGE IN MOST AREAS...PRIMARILY ALONG AND EAST OF I-55. ANY LINGERING RAIN SHOULD BE TAPERING OFF EARLY IN THE AFTERNOON. THE CONVECTION YESTERDAY REALLY THREW OFF THE HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST...AND WILL HAVE TO KEEP THAT POTENTIAL IN MIND FOR TODAY...ESPECIALLY IF CLOUDS ARE SLOW TO MOVE OUT. HAVE LOWERED HIGHS FOR TODAY BY A FEW DEGREES IN MOST AREAS...CLOSER TO A MET/MAV BLEND. HOWEVER...HAVE KEPT HIGHS NEAR 80 DEGREES ON WEDNESDAY AND OVER THE EASTERN 2/3 OF THE CWA ON THURSDAY AS WELL. UPPER WAVE CURRENTLY OVER THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST IS EXPECTED TO FORM A CLOSED LOW AS IT MOVES NORTHEAST TO THE CANADIAN PRAIRIES BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. 50-70 KNOT JET AT 500 MB WILL FOLLOW A WAVE SLIDING ALONG THE SOUTHERN JET STREAM TO FEED INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE BRINGS THE FRONT INTO THE NORTHWESTERN CWA THURSDAY AFTERNOON...AND ENTERING THE SOUTHEAST CWA TOWARD MIDNIGHT. A NARROW WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY EXISTS FOR SOME STRONGER STORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THURSDAY AFTERNOON... ALTHOUGH RAPIDLY INCREASING CLOUDS MAY THWART THIS POTENTIAL. HOWEVER...THE RAIN WILL BE ON THE INCREASE...AND HAVE INTRODUCED LIKELY POPS NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER DURING THE AFTERNOON. WITH THE BULK OF THE RAIN BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL SPREAD THE LIKELY POPS FROM WEST TO EAST...WITH THE RAIN DIMINISHING WEST OF I-55 AFTER MIDNIGHT. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... MODELS HAVE BEEN BACKING OFF ON THE IDEA OF A SECONDARY WAVE FEEDING THE AREA BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH THE 00Z ECMWF THE ONLY ONE STILL WITH THIS GENERAL TREND. WILL DROP THE RAIN CHANCES NORTHWEST OF THE ILLINOIS RIVER ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...AND LOWER THEM QUITE A BIT FURTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE GFS AND CANADIAN MODELS WOULD SUGGEST COMPLETELY DRY CONDITIONS BY EARLY FRIDAY EVENING EVERYWHERE...SO WILL NEED TO SEE IF THIS TREND CONTINUES. HAVE REMOVED THE RAIN ON SATURDAY ASIDE FROM SOME SLIGHT CHANCES EAST OF I-57...MAINLY DURING THE MORNING. WEEKEND TREND STILL LOOKS QUITE CHILLY...WITH HIGHS IN MANY AREAS STRUGGLING TO REACH THE 50 DEGREE MARK. SUB-FREEZING LOWS ARE EXPECTED ALONG AND WEST OF I-55 BY SUNDAY MORNING. BEYOND THAT...THE FORECAST TRENDS BECOME COMPLICATED BY A TROPICAL SYSTEM MOVING NORTHWARD OFF THE EAST COAST. ECMWF MODEL IS MORE AFFECTED AND FORMS A CUTOFF LOW OVER THE GREAT LAKES...LINGERING THE CHILLY WEATHER INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WHEREAS THE GFS IS MORE PROGRESSIVE AND MILDER. NEITHER SOLUTION CURRENTLY YIELDS ANY PRECIPITATION FOR OUR AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. GEELHART && .ILX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1141 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION... 858 AM CDT UPDATED GRIDS AND ZFP HAVE BEEN SENT WITH SIGNIFICANT CHANGES TO FIRST PERIOD. MORNING WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS A WELL DEFINED SHORTWAVE TROUGH MOVING EASTWARD OVER IA/MO. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS LIKELY TO CONTINUE TO PERCOLATE IN THE VERY MOIST AIRMASS OUT AHEAD OF THIS SHORTWAVE. MAJORITY OF THE ASCENT WITH THIS WAVE SHOULD BE EAST OF THE CWA BY LATE AFTERNOON WITH SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM COVERAGE EXPECTED TO DECREASE TOWARD EVENING. HAVE BUMPED UP SKY COVER CONSIDERABLY TODAY WITH NO HOPE OF SEEING ANY BREAKS IN THE OVERCAST UNTIL THIS SHORTWAVE PASSES EAST OF THE AREA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. EVEN THEN ONCE THE MID/HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE CLEARS OUT THINKING ITS VERY LIKELY STRATUS DECK WILL STICK AROUND AS OUR LATE OCTOBER SUN ANGLE IS ROUGHLY THE SAME AS EARLY FEBRUARY AND WITH SUCH LATE CLEARING OF HIGH CLOUDS AND VERY MOIST LOW LEVELS THINK IT WILL BE TOO LITTLE TOO LATE FOR THE SUN TO EAT AWAY AT THE STRATUS. IN FACT...THERE IS A VERY REAL CHANCE THAT STRATUS COULD STICK AROUND TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW MORNING AS WELL AND HAVE BUMPED UP SKY GRIDS SOME TONIGHT. AFTERNOON FORECAST MAY NEED TO CONSIDER ADJUSTING SKY COVER UP FURTHER TONIGHT INTO TOMORROW. GIVEN THE ANTICIPATED THICK OVERCAST MOST OF TODAY HAVE TAKEN A HATCHET TO THE GOING HIGH TEMPERATURE FORECAST. GENERALLY WOULD EXPECT TEMPS TO REMAIN NEARLY STEADY MOST OF THE DAY IN THE LOW TO MID 60S...WITH A COUPLE/FEW DEGREE TEMP RISE POSSIBLE LATE THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY FAR WESTERN CWA WHICH COULD POSSIBLY MAKE A RUN AT 70 DEGREES STILL. IZZI //PREV DISCUSSION... 326 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS STALLED ACROSS THE IL/WI STATELINE. TO THE NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY TEMPS HAVE HELD IN THE MID/UPR 50S WITH DEW PTS IN THE LOW/MID 50S WITH AREAS OF DENSE FOG. SOUTH OF THE BOUNDARY TEMPS HAVE REMAINED VERY MILD FOR MID OCTOBER IN THE 60S...ALONG WITH ANOMALOUSLY HIGH DEW PTS OF AROUND 60. IR IMAGERY EARLY THIS MORNING DEPICTED THE LEADING EDGE OF HIGH BASED CLOUDS FLOATING NORTH ALONG A CENTRAL IOWA...NORTHERN IL...TO FAR SOUTHWEST LOWER MICHIGAN LINE. THIS AREA OF HIGH CLOUDS AND VERY MOIST AIRMASS WAS ASSOCIATED WITH AN ELEVATED SHORTWAVE LIFTING NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHWEST MISSOURI. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS HAVE BEEN STEADILY GROWING IN COVERAGE ACROSS MISSOURI...AND BASED ON CURRENT TRAJECTORIES THE LEADING PRECIP SHOULD ARRIVE ALONG THE SOUTHWEST CWFA AROUND DAYBREAK. THEN STEADILY LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS THE REMAINING CWFA BY MID-MORNING. CURRENT GUIDANCE INDICATES CAPE OF AROUND 500-750J/KG IN THE 15-18 TIMEFRAME...WHICH APPEARS TO BE THE HIGHEST CONFIDENCE TIMING FOR CONVECTION TO OCCUR. SO HAVE CARRIED LIKELY SHRA/TSRA AT THAT TIME. AS THE ELEVATED WAVE ARRIVES ACROSS THE CWFA THIS MORNING...IT WILL REMAIN PROGRESSIVE AND ALLOW PRECIP TO DIMINISH IN COVERAGE FROM SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS THE CWFA THIS AFTN. SUPPORTING THIS DRYING TREND WILL BE THE SLOW RISE IN HEIGHTS ALOFT...INDICATING WEAK DIFFLUENCE ALOFT. WITH REGARDS TO TEMPS TODAY...GUIDANCE IS DEMONSTRATING A HIGHER CONFIDENCE THAT TEMPS WILL EASILY WARM INTO THE 70S. THE CHALLENGE IS DETERMINE THE LOCATIONS THAT WILL WARM INTO THE MID 70S...WHICH CURRENTLY APPEARS TO BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A ROCKFORD TO KANKAKEE LINE. THE OTHER WILDCARD FOR LOCATIONS NORTH OF THIS LINE WILL BE THE CLOUD COVER AND LINGERING PRECIP. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS BY 21Z ALL BUT A FEW SHRA SHOULD HAVE DEPARTED THE CWFA TO THE NORTH...ALTHOUGH CLOUDS MAY STILL BE MOSTLY CLOUDY. PWAT VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE 1 INCH THRU THE DAY TDY...WITH A HANDFUL OF LOCATIONS RISING TO NEARLY 1.5 INCHES. THE COMBINATION OF MILD TEMPS AND HIGH MOISTURE CONTENT IN THE ATMOSPHERE WILL MAKE TODAY AND WED FEEL MORE LIKE SUMMER. SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL LINGER THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT...AND SHOULD BE JUST STRONG ENOUGH TO PREVENT DENSE FG FROM FORMING. THUS WILL ONLY MENTION PATCHY FG IN THE FORECAST TONIGHT. ANOTHER MILD NIGHT APPEARS LIKELY FOR TONIGHT WITH TEMPS ONLY COOLING INTO THE LOW 60S. A FEW GUIDANCE MEMBERS WERE WARMER THAN THIS IN THE MID 60S AT A HANDFUL OF POINTS...HOWEVER FELT THE GENERAL CONSENSUS WOULD BE AROUND 60 TO PSBLY LOW 60S. DRY WEATHER SHOULD LAST THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS WELL. WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY... 500MB RIDGE PUSHES OVERHEAD WITH WEAK DIFFLUENT FLOW IN THE LLVLS...SUGGESTING MUCH OF WED THRU AT LEAST DAYBREAK THUR WILL REMAIN DRY. FOR WED THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR A RUN AT TEMPS AROUND 80...PSBLY WARMING INTO THE LOW 80S FOR A FEW LOCATIONS WED AFTN. THE DEEPER MOISTURE WILL PEEL OFF TO THE NORTHEAST WITH THE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY...WHICH MAY AID IN SLIGHTLY LOWER DEW PTS AND PWAT VALUES HOVER AROUND 1 INCH WED AFTN. IF DEW PTS CAN FALL INTO THE MID/UPR 50S...THIS WOULD ALLOW THE SFC TO WARM MORE EFFICIENTLY AND ALLOW THE SFC TO EASILY REACH 80 DEG IN MANY LOCATIONS OF THE CWFA. CURRENT TEMP PLUMES FROM THE SREF AND VARIOUS OTHER GUIDANCE SOURCES...INDICATE TEMPS WED WILL BE IN THE MID/UPR 70S OVER THE FAR NORTHERN TIER OF COUNTIES IN IL. MEANWHILE FURTHER SOUTH OR SOUTH OF I-88...TEMPS COULD WARM INTO THE UPR 70S TO AROUND 80. CLOUDS WILL ALSO PLAY A ROLE...HOWEVER CURRENTLY FORECASTING P-CLOUDY CONDS WED. THEN FOR THUR AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BNDRY...TEMPS COULD WARM AGAIN INTO THE MID/UPR 70S MAINLY FOR FAR EASTERN SECTIONS OF THE CWFA. 500MB TROUGH AXIS WILL BEGIN TO PUSH INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WED NGT/EARLY THUR...WITH THE MAIN VORT MAX ROUNDING THE TROUGH AXIS EARLY THUR MORNING ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. IT APPEARS THAT THE DOWNSTREAM RIDGE WILL EXTEND FROM QUEBEC TO THE CAROLINAS...WHICH MAY ALLOW THE FRONTAL BNDRY TO SLOW SLIGHTLY. IF THE BNDRY SLOWS FURTHER...PRECIP COULD REMAIN WEST OF THE CWFA THRU THE EARLY AFTN HOURS AND ALLOW TEMPS TO BE EVEN WARMER...GIVEN THE POTENTIAL FOR COMPRESSIONAL HEATING TO OCCUR BETWEEN THE DEPARTING SFC RIDGE AND UPSTREAM TROUGH. INSTABILITY WILL DEVELOP WITH THE PASSAGE THUR AFTN...THEN SHUD STABILIZE IN THE EVENING HOURS WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS WILL TURN NW...WITH MUCH COOLER AIR STEADILY ADVECTING ACROSS THE CWFA. THERMAL RIDGE OF 15 TO 17 DEG C AT 850MB RAPIDLY TRANSITIONS TO AROUND 5 DEG C BY 06Z FRI. FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY... POTENT ANTI-CYCLONIC FLOW QUICKLY ARRIVES FRI...AND SHUD PUSH THE PRECIP/CLOUDS TO THE EAST ACROSS IN/MI. HOWEVER A FEW EASTERN AREAS COULD CONTINUE TO SEE A SLIGHT CHC POPS FRI. FRI APPEARS TO BE THE WARMEST DAY IN THE FINAL PERIODS OF THE EXTENDED...WITH TEMPS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE LOW 50S. THESE HIGH TEMPS MAY ACTUALLY ARRIVE EARLY IN THE DAY...AS COLD AIR CONTINUES TO POUR IN FROM THE NORTHWEST THROUGHOUT THE DAY. LAKE EFFECT CONDS DEVELOP AND BECOME OPTIMAL FRI NGT/SAT/SAT NGT FOR THE FAVORED AREAS OF NORTHWEST IN. THERMAL TROUGH OVERHEAD WILL CONTINUE TO COOL WITH 0 TO -3 DEG C AT 850MB POISED TO PUSH OVERHEAD SAT/SUN. THUS IT APPEARS TEMPS WILL STRUGGLE TO WARM BEYOND THE LOW/MID 40S. AT THIS TIME IT DOES NOT APPEAR CLOUDS WILL BE A MAJOR PLAYER. IN ADDITION DRY WEATHER SHOULD REMAIN THRU THE BULK OF THE EXTENDED...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF NORTHWEST IN. ANY LINGERING PRECIP DURING THE NOCTURNAL HOURS FRI/SAT/SUN COULD BECOME MIXED WITH SOME WET SNOW...AS TEMPS WILL BE COOLING INTO THE MID 30S EACH OF THESE NIGHTS. SAT NGT COULD BE THE COOLEST DAY AS GUIDANCE HAS INDICATED THE SFC RIDGE PUSHING OVER CENTRAL WI. THIS COULD ALLOW WINDS TO DIMINISH AND CLOUDS TO REMAIN MINIMAL...ALLOWING FOR OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING TO TAKE PLAY SAT NGT. IF THIS SCENARIO WERE TO VERIFY...TEMPS COULD EASILY BOTTOMOUT IN THE UPR 20S ACROSS THE CWFA. BEACHLER && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 16Z... * IFR INTO EARLY AFTERNOON. * WIND CONTINUING TO VEER FROM SE TO S AND SSW REST OF A.M. AND EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. * SCT -SHRA TIL EARLY-MID AFTERNOON. FEW SMALL TS IN AREA. TRS //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 16Z... WARM FRONT HAS SLOWLY MOVED N DURING THE LATE MORNING AND HAD REACHED ORD AT 16Z. WITH THE WIND VEERING TO SOUTHERLY VISIBILITY AND CEILINGS HAVE IMPROVED. MDW GOT UP TO 020 THEN LOWERED BACK TO 014 AS A SHOWER JUST CLIPPED THE AIRFIELD. EXPECT CEILINGS THERE TO RISE AGAIN WITHIN NEXT HR OR SO. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS WITH A FEW HEAVIER SMALL CELLS HAVE BEEN MOVING NE INTO N CENTRAL IL WITH EXTRAPOLATION OF RECENT MOVEMENT HAVING THEM ARRIVE IN THE ORD AND MDW VC 17-18Z. NO ORGANIZATION IN THIS ACTIVITY SEEN AND MAX TOPS REMAINING AOB 250 SO HAVE ONLY INCLUDED MENTION OF VCSH AND NO TS IN TAFORS FOR THE AFTERNOON. TRS PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...UPDATED 14Z... TROUGH/WARM FRONT HAS NOT LIFTED NORTHWARD AS SOON AS MODELS EARLIER INDICATED AND EVEN LATEST AVAILABLE HI RES HRRR AND RAP PLACE IT TOO FAR N NEAR/TO WI BORDER BY 15-16Z WHICH LOOKS TO BE A COUPLE HRS TOO FAST. LIFR AND IFR EXPECTED TO PERSIST TIL BOUNDARY DOES LIFT N PAST TERMINALS AND WINDS BECOME SOUTHERLY BTWN 17Z-19Z THEN CIGS SHUD LIFT AND VSBYS IMPROVE. BETWEEN AREA OF RA AND TS MOVING ENE OVER NRN IN AND ANOTHER AREA OF MAINLY RA AND A FEW TS MOVING SLIGHTLY N OF E FM ERN MO ACROSS THE MS RIVER ARE SCT DISORGANIZED -SHRA AND ISOLD SHRA. MODELS SHOW BULK OF QPF E OF LOCAL TERMINALS BY 18Z AS UPPER TROUGH FROM NRN MO SSE TO NORTHEASTERN AR MOVES OVER AND PAST THE LOCAL AREA. MODELS DO INDICATE SPOTTY QPF 18Z-00Z BUT AMOUNTS OF ONLY A COUPLE HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH. DO NOT SEE ANY SIGNIFICANT FORCING MECHANISMS FOR ADDITIONAL SHRA GENERATION BEYOND EARLY AFTERNOON. TRS PREVIOUS DISCUSSION...UPDATED 12Z... TWO MAIN CONCERNS/CHALLENGES...CIGS AND TSRA THIS MORNING. LIFR CIGS HAVE REMAINED LOCKED IN AND WITH CONTINUED LIGHT NORTHEAST WINDS OFF THE LAKE...EXPECT AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS OF LIFR CIGS UNTIL WINDS START TO TURN MORE SOUTHERLY AND CIGS LIFT. CONFIDENCE REGARDING TIMING REMAINS LOW. ONCE CIGS DO LIFT...MVFR CIGS LIKELY TO CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY/MID AFTERNOON. ONE COMPLEX OF TSRA OVER EASTERN IL/WESTERN INDIANA WILL REMAIN SOUTH OF THE TERMINALS WHILE CONVECTION OVER MISSOURI HAS WEAKENED CONSIDERABLY IN THE PAST FEW HOURS. SHORT TERM GUIDANCE STILL SUGGESTS FURTHER SHRA DEVELOPMENT ACROSS WESTERN IL THIS MORNING BUT CONFIDENCE REGARDING TSRA POTENTIAL IS DECREASING AND TRENDS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR POSSIBLE UPDATES. SOUTHERLY WINDS MAY GUST INTO THE MID TEENS THIS AFTERNOON BUT THIS WILL BE DEPENDENT ON SUNSHINE AND LOW LEVEL MIXING WHICH MAY NOT OCCUR. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL PERSIST TONIGHT AND SHOULD BEGIN TO GUST SOME WEDNESDAY MORNING. WITH THE WARM FRONT EXPECTED TO BE WELL NORTH OF THE AREA TONIGHT...NOT EXPECTING ANY WIDESPREAD FOG OR LOW CIG PROBLEMS BUT HAVE INCLUDED SOME MVFR VIS AT RFD/DPA. //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 16Z... * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE CIGS WILL LIFT TO ABV 020 BY EARLY AFTERNOON. * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE THAT NO ADDITIONAL TS AT/VC TERMINALS THIS AFTERNOON. * HIGH CONFIDENCE WIND DIRECTION WILL REMAIN S-SSW. * MEDIUM CONFIDENCE WINDS WILL BE IN 05-10 KT RANGE. TRS //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z THURSDAY-12Z TUESDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * WEDNESDAY NIGHT...VFR. * THURSDAY...STRONG/GUSTY SOUTHWEST WINDS. SHRA/TSRA THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...ALONG/AHEAD OF WIND SHIFT/COLD FRONT. * FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * SUNDAY AND MONDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 308 AM...A FRONTAL BOUNDARY HAS BECOME NEARLY STATIONARY JUST SOUTH OF LAKE MICHIGAN EARLY THIS MORNING. IT WILL BEGIN TO SLOWLY LIFT NORTH LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT AS LOW PRESSURE OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS LIFTS NORTH INTO SOUTHERN CANADA. HOWEVER...WITH HIGH PRESSURE ACROSS ONTARIO...THE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN FAIRLY STRONG ACROSS THE NORTHERN THIRD OR QUARTER OF THE LAKE WITH EASTERLY WINDS 15-25 KTS INTO TONIGHT...SLOWLY TURNING SOUTHEAST AND WEAKENING BY WEDNESDAY MORNING. NEW LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER EASTERN COLORADO TONIGHT AND MOVE NORTHEAST TO NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON. THE GRADIENT WILL STEADILY TIGHTEN AHEAD OF THIS FRONT WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING BUT FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A FAIRLY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION. BUT WINDS STILL EXPECTED TO REACH 30 KTS OR SO. WINDS WILL DIMINISH AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT LATE THURSDAY AFTERNOON/EARLY THURSDAY EVENING THEN SHIFT OUT OF THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT. WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING ACROSS THE PLAINS...THE GRADIENT BEHIND THE FRONT WILL LIKELY SUPPORT GUSTS TO 30 KTS. COULD BE AN HOUR OR TWO OF HIGHER GUSTS WITH/JUST BEHIND THE FRONT. LIGHT WINDS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN TWO THIRDS OF THE LAKE...COMBINED WITH THE VERY MOIST LOW LEVELS WILL LIKELY LEAD TO AREAS OF FOG AND MAYBE SOME PATCHY DENSE FOG...THIS MORNING WHICH SHOULD IMPROVE AS WINDS TURN MORE SOUTHERLY. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...DENSE FOG ADVISORY...LMZ080-LMZ366-LMZ565-LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671- LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ740-LMZ741-LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ744-LMZ745- LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868-LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878 UNTIL 10 AM WEDNESDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTHERN INDIANA
351 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT ONGOING PRECIP CHANCES THROUGH THIS EVENING AND CONTINUED MODERATING TREND INTO WEDNESDAY WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST ISSUES FOR THE SHORT TERM. CONVECTIVE COMPLEX AIDED BY MCV THIS MORNING HAS DIMINISHED...BUT HAS LEFT SOME RESIDUAL COOL/STABLE LOW LEVELS. RAP INITIALIZATION SOUNDINGS THIS AFTERNOON DO DEPICT SOME WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY PERSISTING FOR 850 HPA BASED PARCELS HOWEVER. REMAINING SCATTERED SHOWER ACTIVITY APPEARS TO BE FAIRLY WELL ALIGNED WITH WEAK DPVA ZONE IN ADVANCE OF REMNANTS OF DAMPENING BAJA OF CALIFORNIA SHORT WAVE. A STRONGER VORT MAX ASSOCIATED WITH THIS DECAYING TROUGH APPEARS TO BE WORKING ACROSS SOUTHERN ILLINOIS THIS AFTERNOON AND SHOULD REMAIN SOUTH OF FORECAST AREA. WILL CARRY SOME CHANCE POPS LATE AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE LEAD SHORT WAVE...WITH PRECIP CHANCES DIMINISHING FROM WEST TO EAST THIS EVENING. STILL CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT AN ISOLD THUNDERSTORM THROUGH 00Z GIVEN WEAK ELEVATED INSTABILITY AND PERIOD OF STRONGEST FORCING WITH THIS SHORT WAVE. OTHERWISE...MILD CONDITIONS IN STORE TONIGHT WITH LOCAL AREA REMAINING IN WARM SECTOR. SOME SCATTERING OF LOW CLOUDS EXPECTED TONIGHT...AND RELATIVELY WEAK SFC GRADIENT SHOULD ALLOW FOR MINS FROM THE MID TO UPPER 50S EAST...TO AROUND 60 FAR WEST. IF LOW CLOUDS DO SCATTER THIS EVENING...GRADIENT SHOULD REMAIN WEAK ENOUGH FOR SOME PATCHY RADIATIONAL FOG TO DEVELOP BUT STRENGTHENING LOW LEVEL HEIGHT GRADIENT LATE TONIGHT LENDS SOME LOW CONFIDENCE IN THIS SCENARIO. UNSEASONABLY WARM CONDITIONS IN STORE FOR TOMORROW AS REINFORCING LOW LEVEL THERMAL RIDGE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES ADVECTS NORTHEAST INTO THE SOUTHERN GREAT LAKES. SOME LINGERING STRATUS IS POSSIBLE MAINLY ACROSS FAR NORTH AND FAR EAST WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT MOST LOCATIONS SHOULD HAVE PLENTY OF AFTERNOON SUNSHINE. DESPITE LIMITED MIXING HEIGHTS...MIXING TO 900 HPA SHOULD SUPPORT HIGHS IN THE UPPER 70S WHICH IS INLINE WITH PREVIOUS FORECAST. THE RECORD HIGH AT KSBN FOR OCTOBER 24TH IS 79 SET BACK IN 1975 WHICH DOES APPEAR TO BE AT RISK OF BEING REACHED. DRY...MILD CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT AS AREA REMAINS IN WARM SECTOR. SOME DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR WILL ADVECT NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF NEXT SIGNIFICANT UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING ACROSS THE ROCKIES WHICH MAY TEND TO OFFSET THE STRONGER GRADIENT WEDNESDAY NIGHT FOR LOWS SIMILAR TO THAT OF TONIGHT. && .LONG TERM.../THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/ ENERGY FROM CLOSED LOW OFF THE WEST COAST WILL BEGIN TO TRANSLATE EASTWARD WITH TIME AND BRING A CONTINUATION OF ACTIVE WEATHER AND MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION. THURSDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... EFFECTS OF LARGE TROUGH DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS WILL FURTHER IMPACT THE REGION WITH WARMEST AIR ARRIVING JUST AHEAD OF APPROACHING COLD FRONT. MODEL SOUNDINGS SUGGEST MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES SHOULD ALLOW MIXING THROUGH AT LEAST 900 MB AND POSSIBLY 850 MB YIELDING HIGHS WELL INTO THE 70S WITH A FEW SPOTS RUNNING TOWARDS 80 POSSIBLE...ESPECIALLY SE. COLD FRONT WILL MOVE TOWARDS THE AREA BY LATE AFTERNOON...INCREASING CLOUDS JUST AHEAD OF IT WITH EASTWARD TREND EXPECTED IN TERMS OF MSTR THROUGH THURS NGT. MINOR DIFFERENCES IN EXACT TIMING OF WIND SHIFT (GIVE OR TAKE A FEW HOURS) WITH ALL MODELS GENERALLY AGREEING OF A SLOW PUSH AS WAVES MOVE ALONG THE FRONT. AREA OF POST FRONTAL SHOWERS/STORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP TO THE WEST AND ENTER WESTERN AREAS DURING THE EVENING. COMBINATION OF SOME DRY AIR ENTRAINMENT AND LESS OPTIMAL TIME FRAME FOR FROPA MAY ALLOW FOR A DECREASE IN COVERAGE OF PRECIP INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. MODELS THEN REFIRE SHOWERS IN MAINLY EASTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY AS MAIN ENERGY FINALLY DIGS IN AND PUSHES FRONT OUT OF THE AREA. WITH INCREASED CLOUD COVER AND CAA UNDERWAY HIGHS ON FRIDAY WILL BE A GOOD 15 TO 25 DEGREES COLDER THAN THURSDAY. SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY... CONFIDENCE IN FORECAST BEGINS TO WANE DURING THIS TIME FRAME WITH MODEL CAMP GENERALLY SPLIT ON HANDLING ON INTERACTION BETWEEN LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY OVER THE WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK. INITIALLY...CONTINUED NW TO N FLOW OVER THE LAKES WILL LIKELY KEEP LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND SOME CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AROUND...POSSIBLY MIXED WITH SNOW. EXACT TRAJECTORIES AND AMOUNT OF RESIDENT MSTR REMAIN IN QUESTION THIS FAR OUT. GENERALLY WENT WITH COMBO OF PREV AND CONSALL TO HANDLE THIS TIME FRAME. RAN PRETTY MUCH WITH EITHER ALLBLEND OF GUIDANCE OR CONSALL FOR MANY PARAMETERS INTO TUESDAY AS EXACT DETAILS OF EVOLUTION OF EAST COAST SYSTEM REMAIN IN FLUX. ECMWF/GEM HAVE REMAINED CONSISTENT ON A STRONG WESTWARD PULL OF THE TROPICAL SYSTEM INTO THE EASTERN STATES VS GFS/GEFS SENDING IT OUT TO SEA. GIVEN THE PATTERN OF LATE NOD GIVEN TO ECMWF/GEM...RESULTING IN ADDITION OF LOW END POPS TUESDAY WHEN PROXIMITY OF ANY WRAP AROUND MSTR WOULD BE MOST FAVORABLE. ALLBLEND RAN A BIT TOO HIGH SO WAS TEMPERED SOMEWHAT TO REMAIN CONSERVATIVE. && .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS...SEVERAL WEAK SHORT WAVES WILL CONTINUE TO ENHANCE SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS THROUGH MID AFTERNOON. AFTER 21Z...THE MORE PRONOUNCED OF THESE SHORT WAVES SHOULD BEGIN TO SHIFT EAST OF THE TERMINALS...AND PRECIP COVERAGE IS EXPECTED TO DIMINISH AFTER THIS TIME. HAVE MAINTAINED TEMPO MVFR CIGS AT KSBN WHERE A PERIOD OF MORE SOLID RAIN SHOWERS IS EXPECTED THROUGH 20Z. ANOTHER STRONGER SHORT WAVE NEAR STL SHOULD MAINTAIN A TRACK PRIMARILY SOUTH OF THE TERMINALS...AND THUS WILL KEEP TAFS TONIGHT. DESPITE SOME WEAK SFC BASED INSTABILITY EXPECTED AGAIN FOR WEDNESDAY...BUILDING MID LEVEL HEIGHTS WILL RESULT IN DRY CONDITIONS. SOME INCREASE IN SOUTH WINDS TOWARD THE END OF THE PERIOD AS LOW LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS IN RESPONSE TO NEXT UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGGING ACROSS THE ROCKIES. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...MARSILI LONG TERM...FISHER AVIATION...MARSILI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
449 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 447 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 12Z RAOBS/LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW SW FLOW ALF OVER THE CENTRAL CONUS BTWN DEEP TROF ALONG THE PACIFIC COAST AND UPR RDG OVER ERN NAMERICA. THERE IS AN AREA OF SHRA/SOME TS OVER MAINLY THE WRN CWA ASSOCIATED WITH A DISTURBANCE MOVING NEWD TO THE N OF H85 WARM FNT STRETCHING FM THE NRN PLAINS INTO THE UPR MIDWEST AND ACCOMPANYING SHARPER H85-5 QVECTOR CNVGC/ISENTROPIC ASCENT BEST SHOWN ON THE 300K SFC IN THE PRESENCE OF STEEP H85-5 LAPSE RATES SHOWN ON THE 12Z MPX RAOB. SMALL HAIL FELL FM A FEW OF THE STRONGER CELLS OVER THE WRN CWA/NW WI EARLIER. THE E HALF OF THE CWA HAS BEEN MAINLY PCPN FREE WITH A DRIER/MORE STABLE PROFILE SHOWN ON THE 12Z APX RAOB. EXCEPT FOR A CLUSTER OF SHRA/EMBEDDED TS OVER SCNTRL WI...AREAS TO THE SW OF H85 WARM FNT ARE GENERALLY DRY WITH STRONG CAP SHOWN ON THE 12Z ABERDEEN SDAKOTA RAOB DOMINATING. HOWEVER... THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF LO CLD AND FOG WITH ABUNDANT LLVL MSTR/SFC DEWPTS AN UNSEASONABLY HI 55 TO 60. LATE THIS AFTN...AS AREA OF SHARPER ISENTROPIC ASCENT/DEEP LYR QVECTOR CNVGC SUPPORTING THE NMRS SHRA/ISOLD TS OVER THE WRN CWA EARLY THIS AFTN SHIFTS TO THE N...EXPECT DIMINISHING POPS S-N OVER THE W. WITH ABSENCE OF UPR SUPPORT FOR PCPN OVER THE E HALF... EXPECT ONLY ISOLD-SCT -SHRA IN THIS AREA. THE ONLY EXCEPTION MIGHT BE THE SCNTRL...WHERE AREA OF SHRA NOW OVER WI AND DRIFTING TO THE NE WILL BRUSH THE AREA. TONIGHT...AS MAIN SHRTWV IN THE NRN PLAINS MOVG NEWD WELL TO THE W LIFTS INTO SCNTRL CAN...UPR HGTS ARE FCST TO RISE SLOWLY OVER THE CWA WITH AREA OF DEEP LYR QVECTOR CNVGC LIFTING TO THE N AND AWAY FM UPR MI. WITH LACK OF DYANMIC SUPPORT AND FCST SDNGS HINTING AT MID LVL DRYING/CAPPING AS SHOWN ON THE ABERDEEN RAOB...SUSPECT THERE WL BE NOTHING MORE THAN ISOLD-SCT -SHRA WITH THE GREATER POPS THIS EVNG OVER THE KEWEENAW INTO NCNTRL LK SUP. OTRW...INFLUX OF LLVL MSTR WITH FLOW VEERING MORE TO THE S WL SUPPORT AREAS OF FOG... ESPECIALLY OVER THE CNTRL CWA WITH UPSLOPE SE VEERING S FLOW. FOG IN THIS AREA MIGHT BECOME DENSE. EXPECT LTL DIURNAL FALL OF TEMP WITH INFLUX OF LLVL MSTR. WED...COLD FNT ATTENDANT TO SHRTWV LIFTING TO THE NE THRU CNTRL CANADA WL LIMP INTO THE WRN ZNS IN THE MRNG. SINCE THERE WL BE LTL IN THE WAY OF LARGE SCALE FORCING AT THAT TIME...EXPECT NOTHING MORE THAN SCT -SHRA TO ACCOMPANY ITS ARRIVAL. HOWEVER...APRCH OF MORE SGNFT SHRTWV LIFTING OUT OF WRN TROF IN THE AFTN WL SUPPORT HIER POPS THERE IN THE AFTN...WITH LOWER POPS TO THE E TOWARD HIER H5 HGTS AND AWAY FM INCOMING DEEP LYR QVECTOR CVNGC/FGEN/MSTR CNVGC ALONG BNDRY. STEEP H7-5 LAPSE RATES SUPPORT MENTION OF TS. AREAS OF FOG WL LIKELY PERSIST MUCH OF THE DAY UNDER CONSIDERABLE CLD COVER...ESPECIALLY OVER THE CNTRL WITH PERSISTENT UPSLOPE LLVL FLOW. ALTHOUGH TEMPS WL BE WELL ABV NORMAL...TENDED TO LOWER GOING FCST MAX TEMPS A BIT TO ACCOUNT FOR EXPECTED FOG/CLD COVER. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 447 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 THE 500MB RIDGE WILL BE JUST TO OUR EAST /STRETCHING THROUGH THE LOWER GREAT LAKES AND HUDSON BAY...WITH A WELL FORECASTED LOW PUSHING IN FROM CENTRAL CANADA. SW FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN OVERHEAD THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT AS THE 500MB LOW SHIFTS FROM AROUND LAKE WINNIPEG AT 00Z FRIDAY TO S HUDSON BAY FRIDAY...BEFORE EJECTING N SATURDAY. THE BEST CHANCE OF SHOWERS THROUGH THE ENTIRE EXTENDED LOOKS TO BE WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THEN PUSHING W TO E DURING THE DAY THURSDAY AS THE ELONGATED SFC LOW STRETCHING FROM THE KEWEENAW THROUGH N TX AT 06Z THURSDAY DEEPENS SLIGHTLY AS IT PUSHES ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND INTO NE ONTARIO BY 00Z FRIDAY. A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL BE POSSIBLE MAINLY OVER THE W HALF WEDNESDAY NIGHT...THEN CENTRAL AND E THURSDAY. THE SWATH OF HEAVIEST RAIN /OVER AN INCH FROM WEDNESDAY EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING/ LOOKS TO HAVE SHIFTED SLIGHTLY WESTWARD. THIS INCLUDES AREAS FROM IWD THROUGH CRYSTAL FALLS...AND N THROUGH THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA. THE FAR EAST THIRD OF THE CWA MAY BE LUCKY TO RECEIVE HALF AN INCH BY THE TIME IT IS DONE. A FEW SNOWFLAKES COULD MIX IN OVER INTERIOR W LOCATIONS THURSDAY NIGHT AS COLD AIR WRAPS IN. THE 23/00Z CANADIAN BRINGS A SECONDARY WAVE THAT LINGERED OVER LAKE WINNIPEG AT 06Z FRIDAY...SLOWLY PUSHING IT TO JUST NW OF LAKE SUPERIOR BY DAYBREAK SATURDAY...AND STILL JUST N OF THE LAKE SUNDAY AFTERNOON. WHILE A TROUGH WILL LIKELY RESIDE NEAR LAKE SUPERIOR THROUGH MUCH OF THIS TIME PERIOD...THE CANADIAN LOOKS TO BE A BIT TOO STRONG/DEEP WITH THE FEATURE /AT LEAST A LITTLE TOO EARLY/. AS A RESULT...WITH LEAN CLOSER TO THE ECMWF...AND UTILIZE A LITTLE LESS OF THE CANADIAN OUTPUT FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON ON. THE 500MB TROUGH WILL LINGER OVERHEAD FROM SATURDAY THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY NIGHT...AS A SFC HIGH PUSHES IN FROM THE W. BY SUNDAY NIGHT THE GFS AND ECMWF SPLIT WAYS...ESPECIALLY WITH THE HANDLING OF THE SYSTEM OFF THE EAST COAST. A MIX OF RAIN AND MOSTLY SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE SATURDAY...WITH ONSHORE ENHANCEMENT SATURDAY NIGHT OVER THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA AS 850MB TEMPS COOL TO AROUND -9C. LOOKING AT THE FCST MODELS CLOSER TO HOME THE GFS REMAINS MORE PROGRESSIVE...AS AN ADDITIONAL 500MB LOW NEARS FROM S CENTRAL CANADA MONDAY NIGHT. THE RESULT WOULD BE BRIEF RIDGING OVER THE UPPER GREAT LAKES MONDAY. THE ECMWF ON THE OTHER HAND SINKS/WRAPS UP A LOW OVER THE OHIO VALLEY. WILL NOT GET TOO SPECIFIC...BUT WILL LIMIT THE QUICKER INFLUENCE OF THE NORTHERN LOW NEARING THE CWA ON DAY 6/7. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 128 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 AS VEERING LLVL FLOW SHIFTING TO THE S ADVECTS MORE LLVL MSTR INTO THE AREA...EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS TO PREDOMINATE THIS FCST PERIOD. DOWNSLOPE NATURE OF THE FLOW MAY LIMIT THE DROP IN CIG/VSBY AT CMX/IWD AT TIMES THIS AFTN/TNGT...BUT WEAKENING WINDS WITH APRCH OF LO PRES TROF LATER IN THE TAF PERIOD INDICATES LIFR CONDITIONS WL PREDOMINATE AT THOSE SITES ON WED MRNG. AT SAW...THE SE-S WIND WL UPSLOPE AND PRESENT A GREATER CHANCE FOR LIFR CONDITIONS. OTRW... -SHRA WL IMPACT MAINLY CMX THIS AFTN...AND THERE COULD BE A TS THERE AS WELL. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 447 PM EDT TUE OCT 23 2012 EXPECT E WINDS UP TO 30 KTS THIS EVENING...WITH A FEW GALE FORCE GUSTS TO 35 KTS WHERE TERRAIN ENHANCES THESE WINDS OVER THE NCENTRAL. ALTHOUGH THE STRONGER SE FLOW WILL PERSIST OVER THE E HALF OVERNIGHT...THE WINDS WILL DIMINISH OVER THE W AFTER MIDNIGHT AS SHARPER PRES GRADIENT SHIFTS TO THE NE IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS WEAKER PRES GRADIENT WILL OVERSPREAD THE ENTIRE LAKE ON WED...RESULTING IN DIMINISHING WINDS EVEN OVER THE E HALF. SOME FOG IS LIKELY TO DEVELOP OVER THE W FOLLOWING THE COLD FROPA. A NEW LOW WILL ORGANIZE ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS WEDNESDAY AND LIFT NORTHEASTWARD ACROSS LAKE SUPERIOR THURSDAY...WITH A FEW GALE FORCE GUSTS OF 35KTS POSSIBLE OVER MAINLY CENTRAL LAKE SUPERIOR THURSDAY NIGHT. A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD INTO THE REGION FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...KC MARINE...KC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED AVIATION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
1251 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM... ISSUED AT 214 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (TODAY AND TONIGHT) FOCUS WILL ONCE AGAIN BE TSRA CHANCES TODAY...TURNING TO TEMPS ONCE PRECIP HAS ENDED. ONGOING TSRA JUST W OF THE CWA IS ANTICIPATED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE ENE THRU THE CWA TODAY. THE 23/04Z HRRR AND 23/00Z 4KM NCEP WRF ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT AND HANDLE THE ONGOING SITUATION RATHER WELL. PLAN IS TO CLOSELY FOLLOW THESE MDLS FOR POPS TODAY...PROVIDED THIS TREND CONTINUES. THESE MDLS...AS WELL AS THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PRECIP ENDING BY EARLY AFTERNOON AT THE LATEST AS THE S/W WILL BE NEARING THE IL/IN BOARDER BY 21Z. WITH PRECIP COMING TO AN END AND CLOUDS CLEARING THRU THE AFTERNOON...AMPLE INSOLATION SHUD BE AVAILABLE FOR A QUICK WARM UP TODAY. MADE ONLY MINOR CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST FOR TEMPS TODAY AND TONIGHT. RAISED TEMPS A COUPLE OF DEGREES ACROSS CNTL MO AS 850MB TEMPS SHUD BE NEARING 18C ACCORDING TO THE NAM. WHILE THIS IS A WARM OUTLIER AMONG THE 00Z GUIDANCE...THIS SOLN SEEMS PROBABLE GIVEN THE WARM 850MB TEMPS ADVECTING NEWD BEHIND THIS S/W. THAT SAID...MDL SOUNDINGS FOR TODAY SUGGEST MUCH OF THE REGION WILL NOT MIX TO 850MB AND HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THE WARMER GUIDANCE...BUT REMAINED JUST UNDER ACROSS CNTL MO. SIMILAR TRENDS CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SLY TO SWLY WINDS WILL REMAIN AOA 7 KTS. TILLY && .LONG TERM... ISSUED AT 349 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 (WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY) ONCE THE S/W RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ONGOING TSRA MOVES E OF THE AREA...THE SHORT TERM IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN DRY UNTIL THURS. MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT UNTIL WED NIGHT. THE GFS SUGGESTS A REINFORCING S/W ROUNDING THE BASE OF THE UPPER LOW WHICH HELPS TO SPEED UP FROPA THURS NIGHT. HAVE TRENDED TWD THE CONSENSUS OF THE OTHER MDLS...BUT KEPT CHANCE POPS TO ACCOUNT FOR THE FASTER GFS SOLN. UNTIL THURS...FOCUS REMAINS TEMPS. NOT MUCH HAS CHANGED WITH THE 23/00Z GUIDANCE AND SAW NO REASON TO MAKE MANY CHANGES TO THE GOING FORECAST. OVERALL...CONTINUED TREND GOING AOA WARMEST GUIDANCE. (FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY) MDL TRENDS DO NOT CHANGE MUCH EARLY IN THE EXTD PERIOD. THE 22/18Z DGEX DEVELOPS AN AMPLIFIED TROF WITH THE SYSTEM AFFECTING THE CWA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE PERIOD AND CONTINUES TO DEEPEN THIS TROF THRU THE WEEKEND. THIS SOLN IS AN OUTLIER AMONG THE OPERATIONAL MDLS...EVEN AMONG THE GEFS...AND HAVE TRENDED TWD THE OTHER OPERATIONAL MDLS THRU THE PERIOD. THE GEM BEGINS TO SPEED UP TO COME INTO BETTER AGREEMENT WITH THE GFS LATE FRI INTO SAT. HAVE THEREFORE TRENDED TWD THESE SOLNS REGARDING POPS LOWERING POPS FRI NIGHT ACROSS NWRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA AND KEPT SAT DRY. REMAINDER OF THE EXTD IS DRY FOR NOW...BUT MDLS SUGGEST A COUPLE OF S/WS THAT MAY BRING PRECIP ACROSS NRN PORTIONS OF THE CWA LATE IN THE EXTD PERIOD. AS FOR TEMPS...MDLS ARE IN RELATIVELY GOOD AGREEMENT EARLY IN THE PERIOD...LARGE DIFFERENCES BEGIN BY SUN AND PROVIDE A VARIETY OF SOLNS THRU THE PERIOD. HAVE TRENDED TWD A COMPROMISE OF THE GFS/ECMWF/GEM FOR FRI. WITH UNCERTAINTY GROWING THRU THE EXTD...HAVE TRENDED TWD A BLEND OF THE GFS/ECMWF BEYOND FRI AS THESE SOLNS REMAIN SOMEWHAT CLOSE. TILLY && .AVIATION... ISSUED AT 1245 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 MAIN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEAKENING AND MOVING AWAY FROM TAF SITES. SO MAIN ISSUE WILL BE THE CLOUDS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. VFR/HIGH END MVFR CIGS TO SCATTER OUT THIS AFTERNOON...WITH WINDS PICKING UP A BIT FROM THE SOUTH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 20 KTS AT TIMES. WINDS TO DIMINISH TOWARDS SUNSET...THEN PICK BACK UP AGAIN BY MID MORNING ON WEDNESDAY AS WINDS MIX DOWN TO SURFACE AND DIURNAL CU POP UP. SPECIFICS FOR KSTL...MAIN AREA OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS WEAKENING AND MOVING AWAY FROM METRO AREA. SO MAIN ISSUE WILL BE THE CLOUDS THROUGH THE FORECAST PERIOD. VFR CIGS TO SCATTER OUT THIS AFTERNOON...WITH WINDS PICKING UP A BIT FROM THE SOUTH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 20 KTS AT TIMES. WINDS TO DIMINISH TOWARDS SUNSET...THEN PICK BACK UP AGAIN BY MID MORNING ON WEDNESDAY AS WINDS MIX DOWN TO SURFACE AND DIURNAL CU POP UP. BYRD && .CLIMATE... ISSUED AT 319 PM CDT SUN OCT 21 2012 RECORD HIGHS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 86(1939) 91(1939) 86(1939) OCTOBER 24 85(1940) 86(1940) 84(1940) RECORD HIGH MINIMUMS DATE ST. LOUIS COLUMBIA QUINCY ---------------------------------------------- OCTOBER 23 67(2010) 65(1963) 63(1991) OCTOBER 24 66(1991) 65(1991) 65(1991) OCTOBER 25 69(1939) 68(1939) 63(1963) MILLER && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. IL...NONE. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
128 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .AVIATION...SKIES HAVE CLEARED AT BOTH THE KLBF AND KVTN TAF SITES...AND SKIES SHOULD SLOWLY CLEAR EAST OF A LINE FROM KANW TO KBBW THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. UNTIL SKIES CLEAR...WIDESPREAD IFR CEILINGS WILL PREVAIL. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE AREA TONIGHT. A NARROW BAND OF MVFR/IFR CEILINGS MAY DEVELOP AFTER 09Z BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS CENTRAL AND SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 410 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FOCUS THROUGH THIS FORECAST PERIOD IS FOG AND TEMPERATURES TODAY...THEN RAIN/SNOW CHANCES FOCUSED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. BEYOND THAT...COLDER TEMPERATURES FOR THE LATTER HALF OF THE WEEK. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY THIS MORNING SHOWS A LONGWAVE TROUGH OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC INTO THE WESTERN CONUS...WITH RIDGING ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. A WEAK SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS OBSERVED ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS...WITH SUBSIDENCE ALOFT ACROSS NEBRASKA HELPING TO KEEP THE MID-LEVELS DRY THIS MORNING. SEVERAL OTHER SHORTWAVES OF NOTE WITHIN THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WERE ONE OVER NEVADA...WITH ANOTHER STILL OVER THE OCEAN. AT THE SURFACE...SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST FLOW WAS BRINGING IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND WITH THE DRY AIR ALOFT...FOG HAS DEVELOPED ACROSS ALMOST ALL OF NEBRASKA BY 08Z. THIS HAS KEPT TEMPERATURES UP...WITH READINGS IN THE MID 40S TO LOW 50S. THE OTHER FEATURE TO NOTE IS LOW PRESSURE ON THE LEE SIDE OF THE ROCKIES. SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT ACCORDING TO THE RUC AND THE NAM...FOG SHOULD SLOWLY DISSIPATE FROM THE WEST...BUT PLACES OVER THE EASTERN PART OF THE FORECAST AREA...EAST OF HIGHWAY 83 COULD SEE THE FOG LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON HOURS. THE FOG WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY SO IF IT FAILS TO DISSIPATE BY 18Z OR 19Z...TEMPERATURES COULD BE UP TO 10 DEGREES TO WARM IN PLACES. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS IN CASE TEMPERATURE FORECAST NEEDS TO BE MODIFIED. 850MB TEMPERATURES WILL INCREASE TODAY /BETWEEN 15C AND 23C/ DUE TO WARM AIR ADVECTION AHEAD OF THE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST. ASSUMING SKIES CLEAR...TEMPERATURES SHOULD WARM CONSIDERABLY...WITH LOW 80S POSSIBLE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA. THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH OVER NEVADA WILL LIFT INTO MONTANA TODAY...WHICH WILL GIVE THE FRONT TO THE WEST A BIT OF A PUSH EASTWARD. THE NAM PUSHES A DRYLINE ACROSS THE SANDHILLS THIS AFTERNOON...WHICH COULD DROP DEWPOINTS INTO THE LOW 30S. GOING SOUTH...DEWPOINTS WILL DROP INTO THE 30S AS WELL AS THE DRYLINE PROGRESSES EAST. THIS WILL PROMOTE DEEP MIXING TO NEAR 700MB. WINDS THROUGH THE MIXED LAYER WILL BE STRONGEST ACROSS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA...WHERE GUSTS TO 30 MPH LOOK POSSIBLE THIS AFTERNOON. GOING SOUTH...WINDS ALOFT DECREASE SO WINDY CONDITIONS ARE NOT EXPECTED. WITH THE TEMPERATURES EXPECTED TODAY...LOWEST RELATIVE HUMIDITY WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA...WITH VALUES DROPPING TO THE MID 20S WHERE WINDS WILL BE STRONG. AS IS FORECAST...CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS WILL NOT BE MET...ALTHOUGH MARGINAL CONDITIONS WILL BE LIKELY IN A FEW LOCATIONS FOR AT LEAST A FEW HOURS TODAY. AGAIN...CLOUD COVER COULD HAMPER THIS FROM OCCURRING...SO WILL NEED TO MONITOR TRENDS FOR POTENTIAL FIRE WEATHER ISSUES TODAY. THE MONTANA WAVE LIFTS INTO CANADA TONIGHT...WITH A COLD FRONT TO THE WEST PROGRESSING SOUTHEAST ACROSS NEBRASKA TONIGHT. BY MID MORNING WEDNESDAY SHOULD BE THROUGH MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA. COULD AGAIN SEE SOME FOG WEDNESDAY MORNING...BUT THIS SHOULD BE CONFINED TO AREAS RIGHT ALONG AND BEHIND THE FRONT WHERE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE POOLS. A THE SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL ALSO MOVE ONLAND TONIGHT...WHICH WILL THEN PROGRESS ACROSS UTAH AND INTO COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY. AS THIS IS ONGOING...A 700MB TROUGH WILL PASS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS WEDNESDAY AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. MODELS ARE SHOWING GOOD FRONTOGENETICAL FORCING...WHILE THE LOCATION OF THE UPPER LEVEL JET STREAK PUTS NORTHWEST NEBRASKA IN AN AREA OF GOOD LARGE-SCALE LIFT. THE SIGNAL HAS BEEN QUITE CONSISTENT IN TIMING AND LOCATION OF THE BEST FORCING FROM THE DIFFERENT MODELS OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS SO CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED IN GETTING PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. IT MAY TAKE A BIT OF TIME TO SATURATE THE LOW LEVELS...SO ONLY BEGAN CHANCES FOR RAIN IN THE FAR NORTHERN PARTS OF SHERIDAN AND CHERRY COUNTIES WEDNESDAY MORNING AND SLOWLY EXPANDING SOUTH THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. WEDNESDAY EVENING LOOKS TO SEE THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION IN AREAS NORTHWEST OF AN IMPERIAL TO VALENTINE LINE...AND THOUGH DO HAVE RAIN CHANCES TO THE EAST...LOWERED CHANCES BEFORE MIDNIGHT AS TOO MUCH DRY AIR LOOKS TO EXIST IN THESE AREAS. THE PRECIPITATION AREA DOES SHIFT TO THE SOUTH AND EAST AFTER MIDNIGHT...BUT AS THE PRIMARY SHORTWAVE TROUGH EXITS THE AREA BY 12Z THURSDAY MORNING...LARGE-SCALE FORCING WILL DETERIORATE SO CHANCES HAVE LOWERED FOR THURSDAY. BY LATE AFTERNOON THURSDAY...EXPECT THE FORECAST AREA TO SEE PRIMARILY DRY CONDITIONS. THERE IS ANOTHER SHORTWAVE THAT WILL ROUND THE LONGWAVE TROUGH LATER THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT...BUT THE TREND CONTINUES TO GO SOUTH SO PRECIPITATION CHANCES LOOK TO STAY TO THE SOUTH. TEMPERATURE PROFILES CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PRECIPITATION TYPE BEGIN AS RAIN...BUT CHANGE OVER TO A RAIN/SNOW MIX WITH SNOW BECOMING THE DOMINANT TYPE ACROSS THE NORTHWEST AREAS AFTER MIDNIGHT WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HAVE RAIN OR SNOW IN THE FORECAST ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA FOR THURSDAY MORNING AS THE PROFILES HUG 0C IN THE LOWEST LEVELS ABOVE THE SURFACE. DON/T EXPECT MUCH ACCUMULATION OF SNOW...WITH PRECIPITATION ACCUMULATIONS UP TO A THIRD OF AN INCH MAINLY NORTH OF INTERSTATE 80. LONG TERM...FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY COLD TEMPERATURES WILL BE THE HIGHLIGHT FOR THE WEEKEND AS HIGHS WILL BE HARD PRESSED TO MAKE IT OUT OF THE 30S AND 40S FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. LOWS ALSO WILL BE QUITE COLD...ALTHOUGH THE 23.00Z MODEL SOLUTIONS ARE A BIT WARMER FOR BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS WITH THE SURFACE HIGH NOW LOOKING TO STAY OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. LOWS SHOULD STILL EASILY DROP INTO THE 20S...WITH TEENS POSSIBLE FRIDAY NIGHT. THE TREND NOW LOOKS FOR WARMER CONDITIONS GOING INTO NEXT WEEK AS RIDGING BUILDS OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE COUNTRY. THIS WILL BRING MILD TEMPERATURES BACK INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS WITH 850MB TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE TEENS AGAIN BY MONDAY...COMPARED TO READINGS BELOW 0C WHICH WILL BE EXPERIENCED FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE FORECAST IS DRY THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS THE LONGWAVE TROUGH WILL PUSH THE MOISTURE ACROSS THE PLAINS WELL TO THE SOUTHEAST. AVIATION... LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VSBY IMPROVE TO VFR FROM WEST TO EAST BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z ALONG AND WEST OF HIGHWAY 83. EAST OF HIGHWAY 83...LIFR/IFR CIGS AND VIS IMPROVE TO IFR/MVFR CIGS AROUND 18Z AND THEN VFR BY 21Z. A COLD FRONT WILL DROP INTO THE FCST AREA TONIGHT WITH MVFR/IFR CIGS POSSIBLE AFTER 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT. FIRE WEATHER... POTENTIAL RED FLAG CONDITIONS WILL BE MONITORED ACROSS WRN NEB THIS AFTERNOON DEPENDING ON THE PROGRESS OF A CLEARING LINE FCST TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE PANHANDLE THIS MORNING. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...WFO LBF AVIATION...TAYLOR
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
1236 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .AVIATION...18 KGRI TAF. PREVAILING LIFR CONDITIONS FORECAST THROUGH 20Z...WITH VFR CONDITIONS EVENTUALLY RESTORED BY 22Z...FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER ROUND OF LIFR CONDITIONS WEDNESDAY MORNING. STRATUS PERSISTS ACROSS MUCH OF THE REGION AT THIS HOUR...HOWEVER SATELLITE IMAGERY INDICATES CLEARING TO THE SOUTHEAST AND THE NORTHWEST OF THE TERMINAL. UNFORTUNATELY KGRI WILL BE ONE OF THE LAST LOCATIONS TO EXPERIENCE CLEARING TODAY...BUT EVEN THEN CLOUDS ARE EXPECTED TO SCATTER OUT BY 22Z. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PERSIST THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT...WITH THE REDEVELOPMENT OF STRATUS PROMOTING LIFR CONDITIONS AT THE TERMINAL BY 11Z WEDNESDAY. VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS IN FOG AND/OR DRIZZLE WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE AT THE TERMINAL THROUGH 20Z TODAY...AND AGAIN 11Z AND BEYOND ON WEDNESDAY. THE SURFACE WIND WILL REMAIN GENERALLY LIGHT AND VARIABLE THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1111 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ UPDATE...MORNING UPPER AIR ANALYSIS INDICATES LONG WAVE TROUGHING OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE CONUS AND RIDGING OVER THE EAST. MID AND UPPER LEVEL JET ENERGY EXTENDS FROM CALIFORNIA...NORTHEAST ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS...THEN INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA AND THEN EAST/SOUTHEAST INTO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA AND THE NORTHEASTERN CONUS. TROPOSPHERIC FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS IS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG AS A RESULT...WITH THE WIND PEAKING OUT AT AROUND 70KTS NEAR 200MB. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES INCREASED VALUES OF MID LEVEL MOISTURE EXTENDING ALONG THE JET AXIS FROM THE WESTERN CONUS INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...HOWEVER MUCH OF THIS MID LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS NORTHWEST OF OUR AREA. AT THE SURFACE A STATIONARY FRONT IS NOTED EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWESTERN IOWA...SOUTHWEST TO NEAR KCNK...KGBD AND KDDC. THE LOW LEVEL WIND FIELD ACROSS OUR CWA REMAINS FAIRLY LIGHT THIS MORNING...HOWEVER THE PREDOMINANT WIND DIRECTION REMAINS FROM THE EAST/NORTHEAST DUE TO THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE TO OUR SOUTHEAST. ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE AND SATURATION ACROSS THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE...PRIMARILY ALONG THE 290-295K SURFACES...CONTINUES TO PROMOTE WIDESPREAD STRATUS ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING...WITH CEILINGS HOLDING GENERALLY IN THE 100-300FT AGL RANGE ACROSS OUR AREA. IN ADDITION TO THIS STRATUS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FLUX INTO THE AREA IS ALSO WORKING TO PROMOTE CONTINUED FOG ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA...WITH ENOUGH LOW LEVEL TURBULENT MIXING FOR DRIZZLE AS WELL...PRIMARILY ACROSS OUR EASTERN CWA. AS OF 1530Z THE LOWEST VISIBILITIES EXIST ALONG A LINE FROM KAUH...TO KGRI...TO KEAR...TO KHDE AND KPHG...WHICH IS WHERE VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OF 1/4SM TO 1/2SM ARE IN EXISTENCE. TO THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST OF THIS LINE...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OF AROUND 1SM ARE BEING OBSERVED. IMPROVEMENTS IN VISIBILITY HAVE BEEN NOTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA THROUGH PAST FEW HOURS WITH MOST LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR CWA NOW ABOVE 1/4SM. AS A RESULT...THE DENSE FOG ADVISORY WAS LET GO AT 15Z. THAT BEING SAID...FOG...WITH VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS GENERALLY BETWEEN 1/2SM AND 1SM...STILL PERSISTS ACROSS THE AREA AND WILL LIKELY BE OBSERVED THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY. BIGGEST QUESTION FOR THE REST OF TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT ENOUGH DIABATIC HEATING WILL BE REALIZED FOR COMPLETE FOG DISSIPATION. THE CURRENT HOPE IS THAT THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE...CURRENTLY TO OUR SOUTHEAST...WILL MAKE ENOUGH PROGRESS NORTH/NORTHWEST ACROSS OUR AREA...THUS PUSHING THE BEST ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE TO OUR NORTH AND CARRYING THE CLOUD COVER WITH IT. WITH CLOUD COVER DIMINISHING OVER MUCH OF OUR AREA AND INCREASING DIABATIC HEATING...ENOUGH OF A LOW LEVEL DEWPOINT DEPRESSION SHOULD PRESENT ITSELF FOR COMPLETE FOG DISSIPATION AND SUNNIER SKIES THIS AFTERNOON. IF HOWEVER THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE DOES NOT MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS NORTH/NORTHWEST AS CURRENTLY EXPECTED...THEN THIS AFTERNOON COULD TURN OUT BEING MUCH CLOUDIER THAN FORECAST...WITH FOG POTENTIALLY PERSISTING THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. WITH CURRENT SHORT TERM GUIDANCE SUGGESTING SUNNIER SKIES ACROSS MOST ALL OF THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON...WILL STAY THE COURSE AND CONTINUE PRESENT PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S AND 70S FOR THIS AFTERNOON. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 516 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER NIGHT...AND ANOTHER SET OF SEVERAL TRICKY FORECAST ELEMENTS DURING THE NEXT 72 HOURS...NAMELY HIGH TEMPS AND PRECIP/FOG TRENDS...AND WHETHER ANY STORMS WED NIGHT MIGHT GO SEVERE. 09Z OBJECTIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT THE ENTIRE CWA LIES NORTH OF A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY SNAKING EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN/EASTERN KANSAS AND EXTENDING FROM A WEAK 1003MB LOW IN SOUTHEAST CO. BREEZES ACROSS THE CWA RANGE FROM LIGHT/VARIABLE TO LIGHT EASTERLY...WITH LITTLE IF ANY TEMP/DEWPOINT DEPRESSION WITH VALUES RANGING GENERALLY 47-53 ALL AREAS. AS EXPECTED 24 HOURS AGO...VARYING DEGREES OF FOG HAVE SETTLED IN OVERNIGHT...WITH THE ENTIRE CWA SEEING NO BETTER THAN 2-3 MILE VISIBILITY...AND THE MOST CONCENTRATED ZONE OF DENSE FOG 1/4 MILE OR LOWER VSBY FOCUSED FROM I-80 SOUTHWARD INTO KANSAS PER AUTOMATED OBS AND WEBCAMS. LIGHT DRIZZLE HAS SEEMINGLY BEEN OFF AND ON OVERNIGHT...BUT IS LIKELY STILL PRESENT IN MUCH OF THE CWA. ALOFT...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY AND LATEST MODEL DATA CONFIRM BROAD WEST- SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS...WHICH IS POSITIONED DOWNSTREAM FROM A LARGE SCALE TROUGH ANCHORED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH A CLOSED 500MB LOW OFF THE WASHINGTON STATE COAST. CLOSER TO HOME...A SMALL SCALE SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS CURRENTLY DEPARTING EASTWARD ACROSS MO...PROMOTING CONSIDERABLE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA. STARTING OFF EARLY THIS MORNING...THE MOST IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS THE ONGOING CWA-WIDE DENSE FOG ADVISORY VALID THROUGH 15Z...AND WILL LET IT RIDE AS-IS FOR NOW. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...AUTOMATED OBS SUGGEST THAT SO FAR THE MAJORITY OF ANY LOCALLY DENSE FOG HAS BEEN CONFINED TO AREAS SOUTH OF THE I-80 CORRIDOR...BUT VARIOUS SHORT TERM VISIBILITY GUIDANCE FROM THE HRRR/SREF SUGGEST THAT A NORTHWARD EXPANSION OF DENSE FOG IS QUITE POSSIBLE YET THIS MORNING...AND AM NOT ABOUT TO CANCEL ANY OF THIS ADVISORY UNTIL TRENDS CAN BE MONITORED FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS. IN FACT...AM STARTING TO EVEN WONDER IF THE 15Z EXPIRATION TIME WILL BE LONG ENOUGH...WITH BOTH THE HRRR AND HOURLY GFS LAMP GUIDANCE SUGGESTING THAT SOME AREAS COULD REMAIN RATHER SOCKED IN UNTIL AT LEAST 16Z-17Z. DAY SHIFT WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR AN EXTENSION. AS FOR THE OFF AND ON LIGHT DRIZZLE SUCH AS OBSERVED HERE AT THE WFO TONIGHT...HAVE IT MENTIONED CWA-WIDE THROUGH 12Z...BUT HAVE THEN ATTEMPTED TO CONFINE IT TO ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES EAST OF HWY 281 POST-SUNRISE...WHERE NAM SOUNDINGS INDICATED THAT THE SATURATED LAYER WOULD REMAIN DEEPER...GENERALLY NEAR/IN EXCESS OF 2500 FT. THAT BEING SAID...CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT POST-SUNRISE LIGHT DRIZZLE EVEN IN THE TRI-CITIES AREA WESTWARD GIVEN SUCH A MOIST LOW LEVEL PROFILE. AS FOR SKY COVER...CONFIDENCE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER TODAY THAT MUCH OF THE CWA WILL SEE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS OF PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AT SOME POINT...BUT EXACTLY WHEN IS STILL IN QUESTION. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE 00Z/06Z NAM SOLUTION OF KEEPING NEARLY ALL AREAS SOCKED IN WITH STRATUS AND AT LEAST LIGHT FOG THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...BUT THEN ERODING FROM WEST-EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON AS EVIDENCED BY THE 900MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELD. THIS MEANS THAT FAR EASTERN COUNTIES ALONG THE HWY 81 WOULD BE LAST TO SEE ANY CLEARING. AFTER BUSTING HIGH TEMPS BY 10+ DEGREES YESTERDAY DUE TO WIDESPREAD LOW STRATUS...AM IN NO HURRY TO GO WITH THE WARM END OF AVAILABLE GUIDANCE/MODEL SOLUTIONS TODAY ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN ZONES. AFTER TRYING VARIOUS SOLUTIONS ON FOR SIZE...ENDED UP GOING WITH THE 00Z NAM ALMOST EXACTLY...AS ITS TEMP FIELD SEEMED TO BEST-CAPTURE THE GRADUAL WEST-EAST CLEARING. THIS RESULTS IN A DECENT RANGE FROM NEAR 80 FAR WEST ...LOW-MID 70S CENTRAL AND UPPER 60S EAST. PLEASE NOTE THESE VALUES ARE AT LEAST A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST ALL AREAS...AND AS MUCH AS 5-8 DEGREES COOLER IN THE EAST. LIKE YESTERDAY...COULD EASILY FORESEE HIGHS BEING OFF BY 5+ DEGREES DEPENDING ON STRATUS/FOG TRENDS. TONIGHT...KEPT OUT ALL MENTION OF PRECIP CWA-WIDE...AND AM NOT EXPECTING A DENSE FOG REPEAT SUCH AS THE ONGOING ONE...BUT DID INSERT A PATCHY FOG MENTION INTO SEVERAL COUNTIES NORTH OF I-80 AFTER MIDNIGHT IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHEST BOUNDARY LAYER RELATIVE HUMIDITY POOLING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE INVADING COLD FRONT. CLOUD TRENDS TONIGHT ARE CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR QUITE AN INCREASE IN STRATUS TOWARD SUNRISE NEAR THIS BOUNDARY...FOLLOWING WHAT SHOULD BE A FAIRLY CLEAR EVENING FOR MOST AREAS. ALOFT...THE BIG PICTURE INVOLVES A LEAD SHORTWAVE TRACKING ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...WHICH HELPS DRIVE THE SURFACE FRONT INTO THE NORTHERN CWA...WHILE A TROUGH AXIS SETS UP FROM SOUTHWEST-NORTHEAST ACROSS KS. KEPT LOWS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AND A GUIDANCE BLEND...RANGING FROM LOW-MID 40S NORTHWEST TO UPPER 50S/NEAR 60 SOUTHEAST WHERE DEWPOINTS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. WEDNESDAY...OTHER THAN THE LINGERING PATCHY FOG MENTION NORTH IN THE MORNING...HAVE KEPT OUT ANY OTHER WEATHER MENTION THROUGH SUNSET...AS THE GENERAL MODEL CONSENSUS IS TO KEEP ANY LIGHT DAYTIME DRIZZLY PRECIP NORTHEAST OF THE CWA...AND ANY LATE-DAY CONVECTION ALONG/NEAR THE INVADING COLD FRONT JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE CWA. THAT BEING SAID...SKY COVER AND TEMP TRENDS ARE AGAIN QUITE A CHALLENGE...AS QUITE A BIT OF STRATUS SHOULD DOMINATE MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST CWA WITH MORE SUNSHINE SOUTHEAST. FORTUNATELY...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING WHAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A SHARP TEMP GRADIENT...AND ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST...AIMING FOR A RANGE FROM UPPER 50S FAR NORTH...MID 60S TO LOW 70S TRI CITIES AREA...AND LOW 80S FAR SOUTHEAST IN THE HEBRON-BELOIT CORRIDOR. AGAIN THOUGH...5+ DEGREE DEVIATIONS FROM CURRENT FORECAST ARE VERY POSSIBLE IF NOT LIKELY. PONDERED GOING WITH A NON-DIURNAL TEMP TREND BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT MODELS ARE NOT REALLY SHOWING MUCH OF AN AFTERNOON DROP SO STUCK WITH TRADITIONAL MID-LATE AFTERNOON HIGHS ALL AREAS FOR NOW. THIS COLD FRONT WILL NOT EXACTLY BLAST THROUGH THE AREA...AND BY SUNSET WILL JUST BE REACHING FAR SOUTHEAST ZONES...WHILE MOST OF THE CWA WILL ALREADY BE IN SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS 15-20 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS CLEARLY STILL THE MAIN 12-HOUR WINDOW FOR POTENTIALLY DECENT RAIN AMOUNTS...AND ACTUALLY RAISED POPS INTO THE 60-70 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN CWA...WHILE LEAVING SOUTHWEST AREAS IN THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE. IN SHORT...LARGE SCALE FORCING/MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS RAMPS UP AS A POTENT OPEN WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...FEATURING A 110+KT 300MB JET STREAK. LEFT THE POP/WEATHER GRIDS AS ONE 12-HOUR BLOCK FOR NOW...BUT GENERAL THINKING IS THAT MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/STORMS WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL NEAR/AFTER MIDNIGHT...UNLESS SOME EVENING ACTIVITY FLARES UP IN THE FAR SOUTH/SOUTHEAST NEAR THE MAIN SURFACE FRONT. LATEST NAM CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEALTHY CORRIDOR OF MUCAPE 1500+ J/KG IN THE 850-700MB LAYER MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST 1/2 OF THE CWA...DROPPING OFF SHORTLY TO THE NORTHWEST. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP ISOLATED THUNDER EVEN IN THIS NORTHWEST AREAS. WITH VERY STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR OF 60+ KNOTS MOVING IN...HAVE INCREASING CONCERNS THAT AT LEAST MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL COULD OCCUR IN SOUTHEAST COUNTIES...AND DESPITE SPC KEEPING THE OFFICIAL DAY2 SLIGHT RISK OUTLOOK JUST EAST OF THE CWA...AT LEAST FOR NOW...WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD THIS MENTION TO THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AS THESE STRONG DYNAMICS ARE HARD TO IGNORE. DEPENDING ON HOW WIDESPREAD STORMS ARE...COULD FORESEE SOME FORTUNATE AREAS RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE EXCEPTION. ALTHOUGH SOME SNOW OR RAIN/SNOW MIX COULD TRY DEVELOPING IN WESTERN NEBRASKA IN THE COLDER AIR WELL BEHIND THE FRONT...LATEST CONSENSUS IS THAT WINTRY PRECIP WED NIGHT SHOULD FOCUS AT LEAST 50 MILES WEST OF THE CWA...AND THUS WILL KEEP ANY SNOW MENTION OUT FOR NOW. THURSDAY...SPLIT THE DAY INTO 6-HOUR BLOCKS...WITH ALL PRECIP GONE BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND POTENTIALLY EVEN GONE BY MID-MORNING IN MOST AREAS PER SOME OF THE LATEST TRENDS INCLUDING THE 00Z ECMWF...WHICH QUICKLY SHUTS OFF THE MID LEVEL LIFT/SATURATION FROM NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST. LATER ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED...BUT FOR NOW KEPT 20-40 POPS ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA IN THE MORNING FOR GENERAL LIGHT RAIN...WITH NO THUNDER MENTION AND STILL NO SNOW MENTION...ALTHOUGH SUPPOSE A FEW FLURRIES COULD SNEAK INTO FAR NORTHWEST ZONES JUST BEFORE PRECIP SHUTS OFF FOR GOOD GIVEN SURFACE TEMPS FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE MID 30S EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...EXPECT INCREASING SUNSHINE AS THE DAY WEARS ON...ALTHOUGH IT WILL REMAIN QUITE BREEZY WITH SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. FOR HIGH TEMPS...RAW NAM VALUES ARE WELL INTO THE MID 50S ALL AREAS...BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO GO QUITE THIS WARM YET...AND THUS ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH MOST NEB ZONES TOPPING OUT UPPER 40S AND KS LOWER 50S. THURS NIGHT...THIS LOOKS TO BE THE MOST UNEVENTFUL PERIOD OF THE NEXT 72 HOURS...AS AN EXPANSIVE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH...AND ANY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAILING MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD REMAIN NO CLOSER THAN THE NEB/CO/KS BORDER AREA. DESPITE A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN MID LEVEL CLOUDS...OPTED TO LOWER LOW TEMPS 2-3 DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS FCST AND POSSIBLY NOT ENOUGH...BUT AT LEAST GETTING ALL AREAS INTO THE SUB-FREEZING 26-32 RANGE. LONG TERM...STARTING 12Z FRIDAY...THE LONGWAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WEST COAST THIS MORNING WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE PLAINS ON FRIDAY...WITH SEVERAL EMBEDDED WEAK DISTURBANCES EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT IN THE WAY OF CHANCES FOR PRECIP ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. SOME DISCREPANCIES EVIDENT WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS TROUGH AS IT PUSHES EAST LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WITH THE EC QUICKLY BUILDING A RIDGE OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST RESULTING IN RISING HEIGHTS ACROSS THE PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO THE LONGWAVE TROUGH INTERACTS WITH A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD...AND THE LATEST GFS DEPICTING A MORE ZONAL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE REGION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS THE AFOREMENTIONED TROPICAL DISTURBANCE INSTEAD TRACKS OUT INTO THE OPEN ATLANTIC. EITHER WAY...THIS APPEARS TO BE A DRY PATTERN FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT FEATURES FORECAST TO IMPACT THE AREA IN THE DIVERGENT UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERNS DEPICTED AMONGST THE LONG TERM MODELS. THEREFORE...EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS...WITH CONTINUED UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES...TO AT LEAST START THE EXTENDED PERIODS...WITH TEMPERATURES POSSIBLY WARMING CLOSER TO CLIMATOLOGY...WHILE REMAINING DRY...EARLY NEXT WEEK IF THE EC SOLUTION ENDS UP BEING CORRECT. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SYNOPTIC SCALE PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK...STUCK WITH ALLBLEND MODEL SOLUTION THIS MORNING...WITH NO NOTABLE TWEAKS TO SPEAK OF. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ AVIATION/UPDATE...BRYANT SHORT TERM...PFANNKUCH LONG TERM/AVIATION...ROSSI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS HASTINGS NE
1111 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE...MORNING UPPER AIR ANALYSIS INDICATES LONG WAVE TROUGHING OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE CONUS AND RIDGING OVER THE EAST. MID AND UPPER LEVEL JET ENERGY EXTENDS FROM CALIFORNIA...NORTHEAST ACROSS THE ROCKY MOUNTAIN RANGE INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS...THEN INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA AND THEN EAST/SOUTHEAST INTO SOUTHEASTERN CANADA AND THE NORTHEASTERN CONUS. TROPOSPHERIC FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS IS NOT PARTICULARLY STRONG AS A RESULT...WITH THE WIND PEAKING OUT AT AROUND 70KTS NEAR 200MB. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY INDICATES INCREASED VALUES OF MID LEVEL MOISTURE EXTENDING ALONG THE JET AXIS FROM THE WESTERN CONUS INTO SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...HOWEVER MUCH OF THIS MID LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINS NORTHWEST OF OUR AREA. AT THE SURFACE A STATIONARY FRONT IS NOTED EXTENDING FROM SOUTHWESTERN IOWA...SOUTHWEST TO NEAR KCNK...KGBD AND KDDC. THE LOW LEVEL WIND FIELD ACROSS OUR CWA REMAINS FAIRLY LIGHT THIS MORNING...HOWEVER THE PREDOMINANT WIND DIRECTION REMAINS FROM THE EAST/NORTHEAST DUE TO THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE TO OUR SOUTHEAST. ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE AND SATURATION ACROSS THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE...PRIMARILY ALONG THE 290-295K SURFACES...CONTINUES TO PROMOTE WIDESPREAD STRATUS ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING...WITH CEILINGS HOLDING GENERALLY IN THE 100-300FT AGL RANGE ACROSS OUR AREA. IN ADDITION TO THIS STRATUS...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FLUX INTO THE AREA IS ALSO WORKING TO PROMOTE CONTINUED FOG ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA...WITH ENOUGH LOW LEVEL TURBULENT MIXING FOR DRIZZLE AS WELL...PRIMARILY ACROSS OUR EASTERN CWA. AS OF 1530Z THE LOWEST VISIBILITIES EXIST ALONG A LINE FROM KAUH...TO KGRI...TO KEAR...TO KHDE AND KPHG...WHICH IS WHERE VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OF 1/4SM TO 1/2SM ARE IN EXISTENCE. TO THE NORTHWEST AND SOUTHEAST OF THIS LINE...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS OF AROUND 1SM ARE BEING OBSERVED. IMPROVEMENTS IN VISIBILITY HAVE BEEN NOTED ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA THROUGH PAST FEW HOURS WITH MOST LOCATIONS ACROSS OUR CWA NOW ABOVE 1/4SM. AS A RESULT...THE DENSE FOG ADVISORY WAS LET GO AT 15Z. THAT BEING SAID...FOG...WITH VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS GENERALLY BETWEEN 1/2SM AND 1SM...STILL PERSISTS ACROSS THE AREA AND WILL LIKELY BE OBSERVED THROUGH AT LEAST MIDDAY. BIGGEST QUESTION FOR THE REST OF TODAY IS WHETHER OR NOT ENOUGH DIABATIC HEATING WILL BE REALIZED FOR COMPLETE FOG DISSIPATION. THE CURRENT HOPE IS THAT THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE...CURRENTLY TO OUR SOUTHEAST...WILL MAKE ENOUGH PROGRESS NORTH/NORTHWEST ACROSS OUR AREA...THUS PUSHING THE BEST ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE TO OUR NORTH AND CARRYING THE CLOUD COVER WITH IT. WITH CLOUD COVER DIMINISHING OVER MUCH OF OUR AREA AND INCREASING DIABATIC HEATING...ENOUGH OF A LOW LEVEL DEWPOINT DEPRESSION SHOULD PRESENT ITSELF FOR COMPLETE FOG DISSIPATION AND SUNNIER SKIES THIS AFTERNOON. IF HOWEVER THE LOW LEVEL BAROCLINIC ZONE DOES NOT MAKE AS MUCH PROGRESS NORTH/NORTHWEST AS CURRENTLY EXPECTED...THEN THIS AFTERNOON COULD TURN OUT BEING MUCH CLOUDIER THAN FORECAST...WITH FOG POTENTIALLY PERSISTING THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY. WITH CURRENT SHORT TERM GUIDANCE SUGGESTING SUNNIER SKIES ACROSS MOST ALL OF THE CWA THIS AFTERNOON...WILL STAY THE COURSE AND CONTINUE PRESENT PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES WITH HIGHS IN THE 60S AND 70S FOR THIS AFTERNOON. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 556 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ AVIATION...12Z KGRI TAF...STRATUS CONTINUES TO COVER A GOOD PORTION OF THE CENTRAL PLAINS THIS MORNING WITH LIFR/IFR CIGS MIXED THROUGHOUT AREAS OF FG/BR/-DZ. EXPECT THE LIFR/IFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH AROUND 23/16Z...WHEN CIGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE EXPECTED TO BEGIN TO IMPROVE MORE SUBSTANTIALLY AS WINDS BEGIN TO INCREASE OUT OF THE SOUTH AND SOME MIXING ALLOWS FOR CIGS/VSBYS TO BEGIN TO LIFT/IMPROVE. THIS IMPROVING TREND IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON...WITH A RETURN TO VFR CIGS/VSBYS EXPECTED BY 23/19Z...AS INDICATED BY LATEST SHORT TERM GUIDANCE. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 516 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER NIGHT...AND ANOTHER SET OF SEVERAL TRICKY FORECAST ELEMENTS DURING THE NEXT 72 HOURS...NAMELY HIGH TEMPS AND PRECIP/FOG TRENDS...AND WHETHER ANY STORMS WED NIGHT MIGHT GO SEVERE. 09Z OBJECTIVE SURFACE ANALYSIS CONFIRMS THAT THE ENTIRE CWA LIES NORTH OF A QUASI-STATIONARY BOUNDARY SNAKING EAST-NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN/EASTERN KANSAS AND EXTENDING FROM A WEAK 1003MB LOW IN SOUTHEAST CO. BREEZES ACROSS THE CWA RANGE FROM LIGHT/VARIABLE TO LIGHT EASTERLY...WITH LITTLE IF ANY TEMP/DEWPOINT DEPRESSION WITH VALUES RANGING GENERALLY 47-53 ALL AREAS. AS EXPECTED 24 HOURS AGO...VARYING DEGREES OF FOG HAVE SETTLED IN OVERNIGHT...WITH THE ENTIRE CWA SEEING NO BETTER THAN 2-3 MILE VISIBILITY...AND THE MOST CONCENTRATED ZONE OF DENSE FOG 1/4 MILE OR LOWER VSBY FOCUSED FROM I-80 SOUTHWARD INTO KANSAS PER AUTOMATED OBS AND WEBCAMS. LIGHT DRIZZLE HAS SEEMINGLY BEEN OFF AND ON OVERNIGHT...BUT IS LIKELY STILL PRESENT IN MUCH OF THE CWA. ALOFT...WATER VAPOR SATELLITE IMAGERY AND LATEST MODEL DATA CONFIRM BROAD WEST- SOUTHWEST FLOW OVER THE CENTRAL PLAINS...WHICH IS POSITIONED DOWNSTREAM FROM A LARGE SCALE TROUGH ANCHORED ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST WITH A CLOSED 500MB LOW OFF THE WASHINGTON STATE COAST. CLOSER TO HOME...A SMALL SCALE SHORTWAVE TROUGH IS CURRENTLY DEPARTING EASTWARD ACROSS MO...PROMOTING CONSIDERABLE ELEVATED THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN THAT AREA. STARTING OFF EARLY THIS MORNING...THE MOST IMMEDIATE ISSUE IS THE ONGOING CWA-WIDE DENSE FOG ADVISORY VALID THROUGH 15Z...AND WILL LET IT RIDE AS-IS FOR NOW. TECHNICALLY SPEAKING...AUTOMATED OBS SUGGEST THAT SO FAR THE MAJORITY OF ANY LOCALLY DENSE FOG HAS BEEN CONFINED TO AREAS SOUTH OF THE I-80 CORRIDOR...BUT VARIOUS SHORT TERM VISIBILITY GUIDANCE FROM THE HRRR/SREF SUGGEST THAT A NORTHWARD EXPANSION OF DENSE FOG IS QUITE POSSIBLE YET THIS MORNING...AND AM NOT ABOUT TO CANCEL ANY OF THIS ADVISORY UNTIL TRENDS CAN BE MONITORED FOR AT LEAST A FEW MORE HOURS. IN FACT...AM STARTING TO EVEN WONDER IF THE 15Z EXPIRATION TIME WILL BE LONG ENOUGH...WITH BOTH THE HRRR AND HOURLY GFS LAMP GUIDANCE SUGGESTING THAT SOME AREAS COULD REMAIN RATHER SOCKED IN UNTIL AT LEAST 16Z-17Z. DAY SHIFT WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE POSSIBLE NEED FOR AN EXTENSION. AS FOR THE OFF AND ON LIGHT DRIZZLE SUCH AS OBSERVED HERE AT THE WFO TONIGHT...HAVE IT MENTIONED CWA-WIDE THROUGH 12Z...BUT HAVE THEN ATTEMPTED TO CONFINE IT TO ONLY A HANDFUL OF COUNTIES EAST OF HWY 281 POST-SUNRISE...WHERE NAM SOUNDINGS INDICATED THAT THE SATURATED LAYER WOULD REMAIN DEEPER...GENERALLY NEAR/IN EXCESS OF 2500 FT. THAT BEING SAID...CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT POST-SUNRISE LIGHT DRIZZLE EVEN IN THE TRI-CITIES AREA WESTWARD GIVEN SUCH A MOIST LOW LEVEL PROFILE. AS FOR SKY COVER...CONFIDENCE IS CONSIDERABLY HIGHER TODAY THAT MUCH OF THE CWA WILL SEE AT LEAST A FEW HOURS OF PARTLY TO MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES AT SOME POINT...BUT EXACTLY WHEN IS STILL IN QUESTION. HAVE GENERALLY FOLLOWED THE 00Z/06Z NAM SOLUTION OF KEEPING NEARLY ALL AREAS SOCKED IN WITH STRATUS AND AT LEAST LIGHT FOG THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS...BUT THEN ERODING FROM WEST-EAST THROUGH THE AFTERNOON WEARS ON AS EVIDENCED BY THE 900MB RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELD. THIS MEANS THAT FAR EASTERN COUNTIES ALONG THE HWY 81 WOULD BE LAST TO SEE ANY CLEARING. AFTER BUSTING HIGH TEMPS BY 10+ DEGREES YESTERDAY DUE TO WIDESPREAD LOW STRATUS...AM IN NO HURRY TO GO WITH THE WARM END OF AVAILABLE GUIDANCE/MODEL SOLUTIONS TODAY ESPECIALLY IN EASTERN ZONES. AFTER TRYING VARIOUS SOLUTIONS ON FOR SIZE...ENDED UP GOING WITH THE 00Z NAM ALMOST EXACTLY...AS ITS TEMP FIELD SEEMED TO BEST-CAPTURE THE GRADUAL WEST-EAST CLEARING. THIS RESULTS IN A DECENT RANGE FROM NEAR 80 FAR WEST ...LOW-MID 70S CENTRAL AND UPPER 60S EAST. PLEASE NOTE THESE VALUES ARE AT LEAST A FEW DEGREES COOLER THAN PREVIOUS FORECAST ALL AREAS...AND AS MUCH AS 5-8 DEGREES COOLER IN THE EAST. LIKE YESTERDAY...COULD EASILY FORESEE HIGHS BEING OFF BY 5+ DEGREES DEPENDING ON STRATUS/FOG TRENDS. TONIGHT...KEPT OUT ALL MENTION OF PRECIP CWA-WIDE...AND AM NOT EXPECTING A DENSE FOG REPEAT SUCH AS THE ONGOING ONE...BUT DID INSERT A PATCHY FOG MENTION INTO SEVERAL COUNTIES NORTH OF I-80 AFTER MIDNIGHT IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE HIGHEST BOUNDARY LAYER RELATIVE HUMIDITY POOLING IN THE VICINITY OF THE LEADING EDGES OF THE INVADING COLD FRONT. CLOUD TRENDS TONIGHT ARE CERTAINLY A CHALLENGE...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR QUITE AN INCREASE IN STRATUS TOWARD SUNRISE NEAR THIS BOUNDARY...FOLLOWING WHAT SHOULD BE A FAIRLY CLEAR EVENING FOR MOST AREAS. ALOFT...THE BIG PICTURE INVOLVES A LEAD SHORTWAVE TRACKING ACROSS FAR SOUTH CENTRAL CANADA...WHICH HELPS DRIVE THE SURFACE FRONT INTO THE NORTHERN CWA...WHILE A TROUGH AXIS SETS UP FROM SOUTHWEST-NORTHEAST ACROSS KS. KEPT LOWS SIMILAR TO PREVIOUS FORECAST AND A GUIDANCE BLEND...RANGING FROM LOW-MID 40S NORTHWEST TO UPPER 50S/NEAR 60 SOUTHEAST WHERE DEWPOINTS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE. WEDNESDAY...OTHER THAN THE LINGERING PATCHY FOG MENTION NORTH IN THE MORNING...HAVE KEPT OUT ANY OTHER WEATHER MENTION THROUGH SUNSET...AS THE GENERAL MODEL CONSENSUS IS TO KEEP ANY LIGHT DAYTIME DRIZZLY PRECIP NORTHEAST OF THE CWA...AND ANY LATE-DAY CONVECTION ALONG/NEAR THE INVADING COLD FRONT JUST SOUTHEAST OF THE CWA. THAT BEING SAID...SKY COVER AND TEMP TRENDS ARE AGAIN QUITE A CHALLENGE...AS QUITE A BIT OF STRATUS SHOULD DOMINATE MUCH OF THE NORTHWEST CWA WITH MORE SUNSHINE SOUTHEAST. FORTUNATELY...THE LATEST MODEL RUNS ARE IN REASONABLY GOOD AGREEMENT REGARDING WHAT WILL CERTAINLY BE A SHARP TEMP GRADIENT...AND ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST...AIMING FOR A RANGE FROM UPPER 50S FAR NORTH...MID 60S TO LOW 70S TRI CITIES AREA...AND LOW 80S FAR SOUTHEAST IN THE HEBRON-BELOIT CORRIDOR. AGAIN THOUGH...5+ DEGREE DEVIATIONS FROM CURRENT FORECAST ARE VERY POSSIBLE IF NOT LIKELY. PONDERED GOING WITH A NON-DIURNAL TEMP TREND BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT MODELS ARE NOT REALLY SHOWING MUCH OF AN AFTERNOON DROP SO STUCK WITH TRADITIONAL MID-LATE AFTERNOON HIGHS ALL AREAS FOR NOW. THIS COLD FRONT WILL NOT EXACTLY BLAST THROUGH THE AREA...AND BY SUNSET WILL JUST BE REACHING FAR SOUTHEAST ZONES...WHILE MOST OF THE CWA WILL ALREADY BE IN SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS 15-20 MPH. WEDNESDAY NIGHT IS CLEARLY STILL THE MAIN 12-HOUR WINDOW FOR POTENTIALLY DECENT RAIN AMOUNTS...AND ACTUALLY RAISED POPS INTO THE 60-70 PERCENT RANGE ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN CWA...WHILE LEAVING SOUTHWEST AREAS IN THE 40-50 PERCENT RANGE. IN SHORT...LARGE SCALE FORCING/MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS RAMPS UP AS A POTENT OPEN WAVE OVER THE CENTRAL ROCKIES MOVES INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS...FEATURING A 110+KT 300MB JET STREAK. LEFT THE POP/WEATHER GRIDS AS ONE 12-HOUR BLOCK FOR NOW...BUT GENERAL THINKING IS THAT MOST WIDESPREAD COVERAGE OF SHOWERS/STORMS WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL NEAR/AFTER MIDNIGHT...UNLESS SOME EVENING ACTIVITY FLARES UP IN THE FAR SOUTH/SOUTHEAST NEAR THE MAIN SURFACE FRONT. LATEST NAM CONTINUES TO SHOW A HEALTHY CORRIDOR OF MUCAPE 1500+ J/KG IN THE 850-700MB LAYER MAINLY ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST 1/2 OF THE CWA...DROPPING OFF SHORTLY TO THE NORTHWEST. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP ISOLATED THUNDER EVEN IN THIS NORTHWEST AREAS. WITH VERY STRONG DEEP-LAYER SHEAR OF 60+ KNOTS MOVING IN...HAVE INCREASING CONCERNS THAT AT LEAST MARGINALLY SEVERE HAIL COULD OCCUR IN SOUTHEAST COUNTIES...AND DESPITE SPC KEEPING THE OFFICIAL DAY2 SLIGHT RISK OUTLOOK JUST EAST OF THE CWA...AT LEAST FOR NOW...WILL GO AHEAD AND ADD THIS MENTION TO THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK AS THESE STRONG DYNAMICS ARE HARD TO IGNORE. DEPENDING ON HOW WIDESPREAD STORMS ARE...COULD FORESEE SOME FORTUNATE AREAS RECEIVING IN EXCESS OF ONE-HALF INCH OF RAIN BUT THIS WILL PROBABLY BE THE EXCEPTION. ALTHOUGH SOME SNOW OR RAIN/SNOW MIX COULD TRY DEVELOPING IN WESTERN NEBRASKA IN THE COLDER AIR WELL BEHIND THE FRONT...LATEST CONSENSUS IS THAT WINTRY PRECIP WED NIGHT SHOULD FOCUS AT LEAST 50 MILES WEST OF THE CWA...AND THUS WILL KEEP ANY SNOW MENTION OUT FOR NOW. THURSDAY...SPLIT THE DAY INTO 6-HOUR BLOCKS...WITH ALL PRECIP GONE BY THE AFTERNOON HOURS...AND POTENTIALLY EVEN GONE BY MID-MORNING IN MOST AREAS PER SOME OF THE LATEST TRENDS INCLUDING THE 00Z ECMWF...WHICH QUICKLY SHUTS OFF THE MID LEVEL LIFT/SATURATION FROM NORTHWEST-SOUTHEAST. LATER ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED...BUT FOR NOW KEPT 20-40 POPS ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA IN THE MORNING FOR GENERAL LIGHT RAIN...WITH NO THUNDER MENTION AND STILL NO SNOW MENTION...ALTHOUGH SUPPOSE A FEW FLURRIES COULD SNEAK INTO FAR NORTHWEST ZONES JUST BEFORE PRECIP SHUTS OFF FOR GOOD GIVEN SURFACE TEMPS FORECAST TO DROP INTO THE MID 30S EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. OTHERWISE...EXPECT INCREASING SUNSHINE AS THE DAY WEARS ON...ALTHOUGH IT WILL REMAIN QUITE BREEZY WITH SUSTAINED NORTH WINDS AROUND 20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO AROUND 30 MPH. FOR HIGH TEMPS...RAW NAM VALUES ARE WELL INTO THE MID 50S ALL AREAS...BUT WAS NOT WILLING TO GO QUITE THIS WARM YET...AND THUS ONLY MADE MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO PREVIOUS FORECAST WITH MOST NEB ZONES TOPPING OUT UPPER 40S AND KS LOWER 50S. THURS NIGHT...THIS LOOKS TO BE THE MOST UNEVENTFUL PERIOD OF THE NEXT 72 HOURS...AS AN EXPANSIVE SURFACE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH...AND ANY LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH TRAILING MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE FLOW SHOULD REMAIN NO CLOSER THAN THE NEB/CO/KS BORDER AREA. DESPITE A POTENTIAL INCREASE IN MID LEVEL CLOUDS...OPTED TO LOWER LOW TEMPS 2-3 DEGREES FROM PREVIOUS FCST AND POSSIBLY NOT ENOUGH...BUT AT LEAST GETTING ALL AREAS INTO THE SUB-FREEZING 26-32 RANGE. LONG TERM...STARTING 12Z FRIDAY...THE LONGWAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE WEST COAST THIS MORNING WILL BE CENTERED OVER THE PLAINS ON FRIDAY...WITH SEVERAL EMBEDDED WEAK DISTURBANCES EXPECTED TO HAVE LITTLE IMPACT IN THE WAY OF CHANCES FOR PRECIP ACROSS THE LOCAL AREA. SOME DISCREPANCIES EVIDENT WITH THE HANDLING OF THIS TROUGH AS IT PUSHES EAST LATE IN THE WEEKEND...WITH THE EC QUICKLY BUILDING A RIDGE OVER THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST RESULTING IN RISING HEIGHTS ACROSS THE PLAINS...IN RESPONSE TO THE LONGWAVE TROUGH INTERACTS WITH A TROPICAL DISTURBANCE OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD...AND THE LATEST GFS DEPICTING A MORE ZONAL WEST TO NORTHWEST FLOW ACROSS THE REGION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS THE AFOREMENTIONED TROPICAL DISTURBANCE INSTEAD TRACKS OUT INTO THE OPEN ATLANTIC. EITHER WAY...THIS APPEARS TO BE A DRY PATTERN FOR THE LOCAL AREA AS THERE ARE NO SIGNIFICANT FEATURES FORECAST TO IMPACT THE AREA IN THE DIVERGENT UPPER LEVEL FLOW PATTERNS DEPICTED AMONGST THE LONG TERM MODELS. THEREFORE...EXPECT DRY CONDITIONS...WITH CONTINUED UNSEASONABLY COOL TEMPERATURES...TO AT LEAST START THE EXTENDED PERIODS...WITH TEMPERATURES POSSIBLY WARMING CLOSER TO CLIMATOLOGY...WHILE REMAINING DRY...EARLY NEXT WEEK IF THE EC SOLUTION ENDS UP BEING CORRECT. HOWEVER...DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE SYNOPTIC SCALE PATTERN EARLY NEXT WEEK...STUCK WITH ALLBLEND MODEL SOLUTION THIS MORNING...WITH NO NOTABLE TWEAKS TO SPEAK OF. && .GID WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...BRYANT SHORT TERM...PFANNKUCH LONG TERM/AVIATION...ROSSI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1254 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 920 AM CDT/ DENSE FOG PERSISTING ACROSS NORTHEAST QUARTER OF THE FORECAST AREA LONGER THAN EARLIER ANTICIPATED. FOR NOW...HAVE EXTENDED DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA AND I-29 CORRIDOR FROM SIOUX FALLS NORTHWARD UNTIL 10 AM...THOUGH HRRR SUGGESTS LOW VISIBILITY MAY LAST EVEN LONGER THAN THAT...ESPECIALLY ALONG AND WEST/UPSLOPE OF BUFFALO RIDGE. WILL CONTINUE TO EVALUATE THAT OVER THE NEXT HOUR AND ADJUST AGAIN IF NECESSARY PRIOR TO 15Z. FOG/STRATUS WILL HOLD TEMPERATURES DOWN ACCORDINGLY...AND HAVE BEGUN TO TREND AFTERNOON READINGS LOWER ACROSS THE NORTHEAST CWA...THOUGH AGAIN...FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS MAY BE NECESSARY IF FOG PERSISTS LATER INTO THE MORNING. LEFT HIGHS IN THE 70S ALONE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST CWA...AS MODELS STILL SHOW BOUNDARY AND ASSOCIATED SHIFT TO SOUTHWEST LOW LEVEL FLOW PUSHING INTO THAT AREA DURING THE AFTERNOON. THIS SHOULD ALLOW DECENT DRYING/MIXING IN AREAS WEST OF THE JAMES VALLEY. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 18Z TAF ISSUANCE/ TOUGHEST CALL FOR THE 18Z TAF ISSUANCE IS SHORT TERM DISSIPATION OF THE WIDESPREAD IFR/MVFR STRATUS FIELD. STRONG INVERSION ON KOAX AND KABR MORNING RAOBS DO NOT LEND CONFIDENCE TO THE ABILITY TO MIX OUT THE LOWER CEILINGS THIS AFTERNOON...AND LIKELY WILL DEPEND GREATLY ON ADVECTION/MIXING ON EDGE TO RESULT IN CLEARING...WHICH IS DELAYED ON CURRENT SET BY SEVERAL HOURS OVER PREVIOUS FORECAST FOR KSUX/KFSD. IN FACT...CEILINGS MAY RETURN LOWER FOR A COUPLE HOURS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON AROUND KFSD WITH ADVECTION FROM SOUTH...BACK INTO IFR LEVELS. FRONTAL ZONE OUT ACROSS WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD WILL HAVE BEST DRYING SURGE JUST AHEAD...IMPACTING KHON BY MID AFTERNOON. FOLLOWING FRONTAL PASSAGE...LIKELY THAT SOME AREAS OF MVFR OR IFR CEILINGS WILL SPREAD BACK SOUTHWARD INTO KHON...AND ALSO DEVELOP FARTHER SOUTHEAST TOWARD KFSD/KSUX ALONG WITH INCREASED MOISTURE LEVELS. FOR NOW...HAVE NOT MENTIONED ANY PRECIPITATION... BUT POTENTIAL FOR SOME LIGHT DRIZZLE ONCE AGAIN TOMORROW MORNING FOR KFSD/KSUX AREAS. /CHAPMAN && .PREV DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 420 AM CDT/ BROAD SWATH OF STRATUS BLANKETING MUCH OF THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS REMAINS THE PRIMARY CONCERN FOR TODAY. MODELS HOLD ONTO THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE THROUGH MUCH OF THE MORNING RESULTING IN THE WIDESPREAD LOW CLOUDS AND PATCHY DRIZZLE AND FOG WILL LIKELY STICK AROUND THROUGH MID TO LATE MORNING. SOUTHWESTERLY FLOW WILL BEGIN TO INCREASE ACROSS THE WEST LATER THIS MORNING WHICH SHOULD BEGIN MIXING DRIER AIR INTO THE LOW LEVELS WHICH SHOULD SCOUR OUT THE CLOUDS BY AFTERNOON. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW QUICKLY THE CLEARING WILL WORK INTO OUR EASTERN HALF AND WHETHER OUR FAR NORTHEAST WILL SEE SIGNIFICANT CLEARING BY LATE AFTERNOON. THIS WILL LARGE IMPLICATIONS ON TEMPERATURE TRENDS...AS HEFTY WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL EASILY PLACE HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S IN THE WEST. DID KNOCK BACK HIGHS SLIGHTLY TO THE UPPER 60S IN OUR NORTHEAST GIVEN THE POTENTIAL TO BE CLOUDY FOR THE BETTER PART OF THE DAYLIGHT HOURS. THE MILDER TEMPERATURES WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS A LARGE UPPER LEVEL LOW TRACKS INTO THE SOUTHERN CANADIAN PRAIRIE PROVINCES BY WEDNESDAY AND DROPS A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS. THE SURFACE FRONT DIGS THROUGH THE FORECAST AREA TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND TUESDAY NIGHT THEN STALLS JUST SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WITH LITTLE IMPACT OUTSIDE OF SOME INCREASED CLOUD COVERAGE. ON WEDNESDAY...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN EASTERN KANSAS AND PUSHES NORTHEAST INTO WESTERN IOWA LATE IN THE DAY. THE PRECISE TIMING OF THIS FEATURE AND THE POTENTIAL LIFTING OF THE WARM FRONT INTO OUR SOUTHEASTERN COUNTIES ARE STILL A BIT UNCERTAIN. HOWEVER...WITH INCREASED SHEAR AND NAM MUCAPE APPROACHING 2000 J/KG NEAR THE BOUNDARY...COULD SEE SOME THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY IN ADDITION TO SHOWERS. A LARGE DETERRENT TO ANY SURFACED BASED/SEVERE CONVECTION WILL BE THE STRONG CAPPING IN PLACE IN THIS AREA. A SECOND AREA TO WATCH FOR POTENTIAL PRECIPITATION ON WEDNESDAY WILL BE ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN CWA...WITH STRONG 850 MB FRONTOGENESIS SETTING UP ACROSS CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. WILL KEEP CHANCEY POPS IN PLACE FOR THE DAY WITH LARGE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE BOUNDARY PLACEMENTS AND CONDITIONAL CONVECTIVE POTENTIAL. THE MID LEVEL TROUGH STARTS KICKING EASTWARD WEDNESDAY NIGHT WITH THE MID LEVEL FRONTOGENESIS SHIFTING INTO OUR CENTRAL CWA BY DAYBREAK THURSDAY. IT LOOKS LIKE A VERY STRONG POTENTIAL FOR SOME DECENT RAINFALL WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY THURSDAY AND HAVE BOOSTED POPS TO CATEGORICAL FOR THE CENTRAL AND EASTERN CWA. RAINFALL AMOUNTS OF AROUND A QUARTER TO HALF INCH LOOK REASONABLE AT THIS POINT. MUCH COOLER TEMPERATURES WILL ARRIVE DURING THIS TIME...WITH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY SHOWING LITTLE TO NO DIURNAL CHANGE OR EVEN SOME FALLING TEMPERATURES. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40S. IN THE EXTENDED...BROAD UPPER LEVEL TROUGHING SETTLES OVER THE CENTRAL STATES AND WILL KEEP COOL AND DRY CONDITIONS IN PLACE INTO THE END OF THE WEEK. MODELS ARE IN DECENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS DRY AND COLD PATTERN WHICH PLACE WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE UPPER 30S TO MID 40S AND LOWS IN THE 20S. MODELS DO DIVERGE A BIT FOR THE WEEKEND WITH A MORE ZONAL MID LEVEL PATTERN IN THE GFS BRINGING A WAVE THROUGH THE MISSOURI VALLEY ON SUNDAY. MEANWHILE THE ECMWF ALSO HINTS AT A WAVE...BUT DROPS IT THROUGH SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA. DID ADD A SLIGHT CHANCE POP IN OUR NORTHEAST FOR SUNDAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IA...NONE. MN...NONE. NE...NONE. SD...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
1227 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 AT 3 AM...A WARM FRONT EXTENDED FROM SIOUX CITY IOWA /KSUX/ TO MUSCATINE IOWA /KMUT/. THERE IS LITTLE WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FRONT. MEANWHILE FURTHER NORTH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WERE DEVELOPING ALONG A BAND OF 900 TO 800 MB FRONTOGENESIS ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. THE RUC SHOWS THAT THIS BAND OF FRONTOGENESIS LIFTS QUICKLY NORTHEAST OF THE INTERSTATE 90 CORRIDOR AND BY LATE MORNING IT EXTENDS FROM HUDSON WISCONSIN TO MILWAUKEE. THE MESO MODELS SEEM TO HAVE A FAIRLY GOOD HANDLE ON THIS...SO FOLLOWED THEM. FURTHER SOUTHEAST...A SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL BE LIFTING NORTHEAST THROUGH THE MID MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY INTO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES. THERE IS MODERATE 850 MB MOISTURE INTO PARTS OF OF NORTHEAST IOWA AND SOUTHWEST WISCONSIN THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING...SO KEPT A CHANCE OF SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS IN THESE AREAS THROUGHOUT THIS MORNING. FOR THIS AFTERNOON...WEAK 300K ISENTROPIC LIFT CONTINUES NORTH OF THE WARM FRONT NORTH OF THE INTERSTATE 94 CORRIDOR. AS A RESULT...KEPT ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FORECAST FOR THIS AREA. FOR TONIGHT...THE 23.00Z MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT THERE WILL BE WEAK TO MODERATE 850 MOISTURE TRANSPORT INTO THE REGION. THE MESO MODELS /ARW...NMM...AND SPC WRF/ SUGGEST THAT THERE WILL BE SOME ISOLATED SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS...SO KEPT THE 20 PERCENT PROBABILITY OF RAIN ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA. ON WEDNESDAY...THE MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT THAT A WARM AIR MASS BETWEEN 850 MB AND 675 MB WILL ADVECT NORTHWARD IN ADVANCE OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THIS CAP SHOULD GREATLY INHIBIT THE DEVELOPMENT OF PRECIPITATION AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT FOR MUCH OF THE DAY...THUS WENT DRY IN THE MORNING...AND SLOWLY INCREASED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL AND NORTH-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. THINKING THAT THE STRONG CAP WILL LIMIT ANY SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT TO ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT. THE 0-6 KM BULK SHEAR IS FAVORABLE FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF SUPERCELL THUNDERSTORM DEVELOPMENT. THE GFS GENERATES SOME LIGHT SHOWERS AHEAD OF THIS FRONT...THUS...ITS MLCAPES ARE RUNNING BETWEEN 1000 AND 1500 J/KG. MEANWHILE THE NAM/WRF IS DRY AND ALLOWS TEMPERATURES TO CLIMB TO AROUND 80. THE COMBINATION OF THESE TEMPERATURES AND MID 60 DEW POINTS /HIGHEST THIS LATE IN THE YEAR SINCE OCTOBER 26 2010/ WILL RESULT IN THE ML CAPES AROUND 2500 J/KG. INITIALLY THINKING THAT THE CONVECTION WILL START TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT BETWEEN 24.19 AND 24.21Z AS ELEVATED CELLS AND THEN BECOME SURFACE BASED BETWEEN 24.21Z AND 25.00Z. THE NAM HAS A WEAK LOW ALONG THIS FRONT WHICH HELPS INCREASE THE 0-1KM BULK SHEAR WHICH MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN ISOLATED TORNADOES ACROSS NORTH-CENTRAL IOWA AND SOUTH-CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA. OTHERWISE...THE MAIN SEVERE WEATHER THREATS WILL BE LARGE HAIL AND DAMAGING WIND DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING ACROSS NORTHEAST IOWA...SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA...AND WEST-CENTRAL WISCONSIN. ON THURSDAY...THE MODELS STILL DIFFER ON THE TIMING OF THE FRONT. THE GFS IS THE SLOWEST AND LINGER PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA THROUGH THE DAY. MEANWHILE THE GEM IS THE FASTEST AND HAS THE AFTERNOON DRY. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES...DID NOT GET TOO FANCY WITH TRYING TO TIME THE PRECIPITATION OUT OF THE AREA. REGARDLESS...THE MOST NOTICEABLE FEATURE WILL BE THE RAPIDLY FALLING TEMPERATURES IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONT. .LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 ON THURSDAY NIGHT...THE MODELS WERE IN GOOD CONSENSUS THAT THE PRECIPITATION WOULD BE ENDING ACROSS WESTERN WISCONSIN DURING THE EVENING. AS A RESULT...CONFINED THE PRECIPITATION CHANCES TO THAT TIME PERIOD. ON MONDAY...THE 23.00Z GFS WAS VERY SIMILAR WITH ITS 22.18Z RUN AT GENERATING SOME WARM AIR ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. MEANWHILE THE ECMWF CONTINUE TO SHOW THAT THIS PRECIPITATION WILL DRY UP AS IT HEADS INTO THE AREA. DUE TO THESE DIFFERENCES MENTIONED A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION NORTH OF AN OELWEIN IOWA TO MEDFORD WISCONSIN LINE. THE PRECIPITATION HAS THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE EARLY MORNING. HOWEVER SINCE IT WAS VERY UNCLEAR IT WAS EVEN GOING TO OCCUR...JUST OPTED TO GO WITH RAIN FOR NOW. && .AVIATION...THIS AFTERNOON THRU WEDNESDAY MORNING 1227 PM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 IFR CLOUDS/BR/FG ASSOCIATED WITH A WARM AND VERY MOIST AIRMASS...AND A WARM FRONT...MOVING NORTH ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST LOOK TO PREVAIL ACROSS THE AREA THIS PERIOD. CIGS/VSBYS STRUGGLING TO IMPROVE ACROSS THE AREA AT MID-DAY AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS SLOWLY NORTH INTO THE AREA AND SFC-850MB MOISTURE CONTINUES TO INCREASE. SOME IMPROVEMENT TO MVFR CIGS ACROSS NORTHERN IA BEHIND THE FRONT AT MID DAY. DID SPREAD SOME MVFR CIGS INTO BOTH KRST/KLSE LATER THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE FRONT EXPECTED TO LIFT NORTH OF I-90. HOWEVER...MORE LOWER END MVFR AND IFR CLOUD DECKS BEHIND THE FRONT OVER CENTRAL/SOUTHERN IA TO ADVECT NORTH TONIGHT...AND LOWER WITH DIURNAL COOLING. WITH FG/BR FAILING TO CLEAR THIS AFTERNOON...STAGE IS SET FOR IFR/LIFR VSBYS IN FOG TONIGHT AS THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONTINUES TO INCREASE AND THE AIRMASS COOLS. CARRIED IFR/LIFR CIGS/VSBYS AT BOTH KRST/KLSE IN THE 05Z-15Z TIME-FRAME TONIGHT. AREA MAY END UP COVERED WITH A DENSE FOG ADVISORY FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. CONDITIONS LOOK SLOW TO IMPROVE WED WITH LITTLE CHANGE OF THE AIRMASS AND BROAD LOW LEVEL WARM ADVECTION/ASCENT OVER THE AREA...AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT TO MOVE INTO THE AREA WED NIGHT. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 350 AM CDT TUE OCT 23 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BOYNE LONG TERM....BOYNE AVIATION.....RRS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHEYENNE WY
1212 PM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012 .UPDATE... AVIATION...18Z TAF ISSUANCE...FOG AND LOW CIGS HAVE LIFTED THIS MORNING...WITH GUSTY WEST TO SOUTHWEST WINDS THE MAIN CONCERN FOR TODAY. SE WYOMING TERMINALS WILL SEE GUSTS OF 30 OR 40 KNOTS WITH 20 TO 30 KTS ACROSS THE PANHANDLE AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL DROP SOUTH ACROSS THE AREA AFTER 21Z. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTH AND THEN NORTHEAST BEHIND THE FRONT...AND SNOW WILL DEVELOP AT KRWL...UP THROUGH KDGW AND TO THE NORTHEAST AFTER 03Z OR SO AS THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM BEGINS TO IMPACT THE REGION. RJM && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 920 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ UPDATE... WENT AHEAD AND LET THE HIGH WIND WARNING EXPIRE THIS MORNING AS OBSERVED WINDS HAVE STAYED DOWN BELOW WARNING CRITERIA. THERE IS STILL A CHANCE FOR WINDS TO BECOME STRONG AS WE MIX OUT...BUT DO NOT THINK WE WILL HIT HIGH WIND WARNING CRITERIA ANY MORE TODAY. STILL FAIRLY DENSE FOG OUT IN THE PANHANDLE AND WILL CONTINUE THE SPS WE HAVE GOING THROUGH NOON. FOG MAY BURN OFF EARLIER THAN THAT...BUT FOR NOW...WILL GO FOR NOON. DEFINITELY SOME QUESTIONS ON THE UPCOMING WINTER EVENT THAT WE WILL NEED TO WORK OUT FOR THE AFTERNOON PACKAGE. WAITING FOR THE 12Z MODEL RUNS TO MAKE ANY DECISIONS ON HIGHLIGHTS. CLAYCOMB PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 623 AM MDT TUE OCT 23 2012/ SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH THURSDAY... LOTS OF FORECAST CONCERNS OVER THE SHORT TERM. WINDS HAVE BEEN APPROACHING HIGH WIND CRITERIA IN THE ARLINGTON AREA OVER THE PAST FEW HOURS...BUT HAVE GENERALLY REMAINED BELOW 50MPH. THE GFS SHOWS 700MB 50-60 KTS TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE THROUGH 12Z BEFORE DECREASING TO 45 KTS BY 18Z. BELIEVE THAT THE LACK OF MIXING IS KEEPING WIND GUSTS BELOW 50 KTS DESPITE THE FAVORABLE SFC PRESSURE PATTERN AND STRONG WINDS JUST OFF THE SFC. WILL KEEP THE HIGH WIND WARNING GOING THROUGH THE MORNING BUT CONDITIONS ARE CURRENTLY LOOKING MARGINAL FOR WIDESPREAD HIGH WINDS OUTSIDE OF ARLINGTON. THE SFC LOW CURRENTLY OVER NORTHERN WYOMING IS PROGGED TO SHIFT EASTWARD INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA BY MIDDAY. THIS WILL CAUSE LLVL FLOW TO GO MORE WESTERLY...BUT STILL EXPECT BREEZY- TO-WINDY CONDITIONS TO CONTINUE ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE WITH 700MB FLOW AT THE AFOREMENTIONED 30-40 KTS. LOW CLOUDS AND FOG HAVE DEVELOPED OVER THE WESTERN NEBRASKA PANHANDLE EARLY THIS MORNING. THE HRRR MODEL SHOWS LIFR CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH AROUND 15Z. SOME LOCATIONS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PANHANDLE HAVE REPORTED DENSE FOG. CURRENTLY HAVE AN SPS OUT TO COVER THE DENSE FOG THREAT BUT MAY NEED TO CONSIDER AN ADVISORY IF THE CONDITIONS PERSIST. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY SHOWS THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL TROUGH CURRENTLY OVER THE WEST COAST WITH THE MOISTURE STREAMING ACROSS WESTERN WY. THIS TROUGH WILL PROGRESS EASTWARD OVER THE COURSE OF THE DAY WITH THE MOISTURE AND LIFT PRODUCING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER THE WESTERN ZONES BY AFTERNOON. THE MAIN FORECAST CHALLENGE OVER THE SHORT TERM INVOLVES THE POTENTIAL MAJOR WINTER STORM EVENT BEGINNING ON WEDNESDAY. THE MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT IN SHOWING THE LARGE SCALE TROUGH AXIS BEING LOCATED OVER UTAH AND IDAHO ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON. A 125 KT UPPER LEVEL JET IS SITUATED OVER WYOMING ON WEDNESDAY. A SW-NE ORIENTED MIDLEVEL FRONTOGENESIS LINE DEVELOPS FROM RAWLINS TO DOUGLAS BY MIDDAY WEDNESDAY. SNOW BECOMES LIKELY TO THE WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE ON WEDNESDAY MORNING WITH 700MB TEMPS AROUND -4C. A STRONG SHORTWAVE IN THE TROUGH IS FORECASTED TO MOVE OVER COLORADO ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT. INCREASING LARGE SCALE LIFT AND UPPER LEVEL DIVERGENCE WILL CAUSE WIDESPREAD SNOW TO DEVELOP MAINLY AFTER 00Z THURS OVER THE PLAINS. IT IS THE 00Z-12Z PERIOD THAT SNOWFALL RATES WILL BE HIGHEST IN SOUTHEAST WYOMING WITH EXCELLENT LARGE SCALE UPWARD MOTION AND DEEP LAYERED SATURATION. THE SHORTWAVE QUICKLY PROGRESSES EASTWARD INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS ON THURS MORNING WITH SNOWFALL RATES COMING DOWN SUBSTANTIALLY. THURS WILL BE QUITE COLD FOR LATE OCTOBER WITH LLVL UPSLOPE AND 700MB TEMPS AROUND -10C. WITH A LACK OF LARGE SCALE FORCING ON THURS...LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL LIKELY BE CONFINED TO THE MTNS AND FAVORED UPSLOPE AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE. WITH REGARD TO WINTER WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS...DECIDED TO ISSUE A WINTER STORM WATCH FOR AREAS ALONG THE LARAMIE RANGE AND THE SIERRA MADRE AND SNOWY RANGES. HAVE THE WATCH CONTINUING THROUGH THE 00Z FRI AS LIGHT SNOW WILL LIKELY CONTINUE THROUGH THURS AFTN OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. FUTURE SHIFTS CAN DECIDE IF THE HIGHLIGHTS SHOULD BE ENDED OVER LOWER ELEVATIONS AFTER THE SNOWFALL RATES COME DOWN ON THURS MORNING AS THE MODELS ARE SHOWING. SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS WILL LIKELY BE ON THE LOW END OF WARNING CRITERIA WITH THIS EVENT. WINDS WILL NOT BE MUCH OF A CONCERN WITH THIS SYSTEM...HOWEVER OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 35 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE AS THE COLD FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE PLAINS ON WED EVENING. MUCH WEAKER WINDS CWA-WIDE ON THURS AS THE SFC HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE PLAINS. LONG TERM...THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY... LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODEL OUTPUT OFFER FAIRLY SIMILAR SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH SOME DIVERGENCE NOTED EARLY NEXT WEEK. INITIALLY...A TRAILING SHORTWAVE WILL ROUND THE BASE OF THE BROAD TROUGH FROM NRN UTAH INTO COLORADO THURSDAY NIGHT. MEANWHILE...UPSLOPE FLOW WILL PERSIST IN THE LLVLS PARTICULARLY FOR LOCATIONS NEAREST THE LARAMIE RANGE. SO...WOULD EXPECT ANOTHER BOUT OF LIGHT SNOW ON THURSDAY NIGHT ADDING ANOTHER INCH OR TWO TO THE THE SNOWFALL TOTALS. THE SHORTWAVE WILL ACCELERATE EAST OUT ONTO THE PLAINS FOR FRIDAY...LEAVING NORTHWEST FLOW TO PREVAIL ACROSS THE CWFA. THERE MAY BE SOME LIGHT SNOW OR FLURRIES CONTINUING MAINLY FOR OROGRAPHIC AREAS ON FRIDAY MORNING...WITH A GRADUAL DRYING TREND DURING THE AFTERNOON. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE COLD ON FRIDAY WITH H7 TEMPERATURES REMAINING AROUND -10C. THIS WILL KEEP HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 30S ACROSS THE AREA. FRANKLY WITH SNOW ON THE GROUND WOULD NOT BE AT ALL SURPRISED TO ONLY SEE 20S AT SOME AREAS ON FRIDAY. ON SATURDAY...THE LATEST GFS TRACKING ANOTHER SHORTWAVE INTO THE AREA IN NORTHWEST FLOW. THE ECMWF/UKMET/GEM/GFES DO NOT SUPPORT SUCH A SOLUTION...SO HAVE CONSIDER IT TO BE THE OUTLIER AND HAVE DISCOUNTED. AS SUCH A DRY DAY IS IN STORE ON SATURDAY WITH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL CLIMB INTO THE 30S AND 40S. WINDS WILL INCREASE FOR AREAS ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AS LLVL GRADIENT TIGHTENS. SO EVEN THOUGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE SLIGHTLY WARMER...THE WINDS WILL MAKE IT FEEL MUCH COOLER IN THESE AREAS. NORTHWEST FLOW WILL CONTINUE ON SUNDAY. BUT THE ECMWF IS SHOWING THE EARLY SIGNS OF ANTICYCLONIC FLOW DEVELOPING OVER THE AREA BY LATE SUNDAY. COMPARATIVELY THE GFS MAINTAINS NORTHWEST FLOW OVR THE AREA AS A RESULT OF A STRONGER TROUGH OVER WRN CANADA. THE GEM/UKMET SOLUTIONS OVER A REASONABLE COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF. IN ANY CASE...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO REMAIN DRY WITH TEMPERATURES MODERATING BACK INTO THE 50S AND 60S FOR THE SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY TIMEFRAME. FIRE WEATHER... A WINDY START TO THE DAY FOR AREAS WEST ALONG AND WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE TODAY...AS GUSTS OF 40 TO 50 MPH HAVE BEEN COMMON. THESE WINDS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY BEFORE RELAXING THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT. MEANWHILE...FOGGY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE WESTERN PANHANDLE WILL PERSIST THROUGH MID/LATE MORNING BEFORE LIFTING. ONE MORE WARM DAY IS IN STORE TODAY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES THAT WILL REACH THE 50S WEST OF THE LARAMIE RANGE AND 60S AND 70S OUT ON THE EASTERN PLAINS. BIG CHANGES ARE ON THE WAY TOMORROW HOWEVER...AS A COLD FRONT BEGINS TO PUSH THROUGH THE AREA. PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION FROM RAIN TO SNOW THROUGH THE DAY AS THE FRONT PROGRESSES SOUTH. PRECIPITATION WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW FOR WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATING SNOW IS LOOKING INCREASINGLY POSSIBLE. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL FILTER IN FOR THURSDAY AND FRIDAY AS WELL...WITH HIGHS ONLY CLIMBING INTO THE 20S AND 30S. && .CYS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WY...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ103-WYZ105-WYZ110-WYZ112-WYZ114. WINTER STORM WATCH FROM 6 PM WEDNESDAY TO 6 PM THURSDAY FOR WYZ106-WYZ115-WYZ116-WYZ117-WYZ118. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/FIRE WEATHER...FINCH LONG TERM...HAHN