Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RR" "RUC13" "RUC" received at GSD on 10/27/12


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD CA
200 PM PDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SYNOPSIS... WEAK HIGH PRESSURE HAS BEGUN TO MOVE OVER THE REGION. GENERALLY MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE WEEKEND...EXCEPT PATCHY VALLEY FOG IS POSSIBLE TONIGHT AND INTO FRIDAY MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM TO A FEW DEGREES ABOVE AVERAGE BY THE WEEKEND. && .DISCUSSION... VISIBLE SATELLITE IMAGERY IS SHOWING LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION OFF THE MONTEREY BAY COAST AND SLOWLY DRIFTING SOUTHWARD. HIGH-RES RAPID REFRESH(HRRR) IS SHOWING DECREASING CLOUD COVER OVER THE VALLEY AS THE LOW LEVEL CIRCULATION TRAVELS DUE SOUTH AND FURTHER OFFSHORE. CURRENT TIMING HAS THE VALLEY CLEARING OUT JUST BEFORE SUNSET BASED ON BOTH HRRR AND SREF SOLUTIONS. AT THIS POINT...THE BROAD CYCLONIC CIRCULATION OVER THE WEST COAST CONTINUES TO SHIFT EAST WITH A HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE AXIS MOVING CLOSER TO THE WEST COAST ON FRIDAY. YET...SHORT RANGE MODELS DO NOT RELAX THE NORTHWESTERLY FLOW ALOFT UNTIL AFTER FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THEREFORE...WITH LOCALLY BREEZY WINDS ALOFT...FOG AND EXTREMELY COLD SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE FAVORED OVER THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FRIDAY MORNING. HOWEVER...WILL KEEP A MENTION OF PATCHY FOG OVER THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY FOR MORE RURAL AREAS THAT HAVE LESS OF A THRESHOLD TO FOG- UP. IN ADDITION...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP OVERNIGHT...LOWER THEN THURSDAY MORNING BUT NOT BY MUCH AS LOCAL WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO BLOW FOR ONE MORE NIGHT. AFTER FRIDAY...THE GENERAL TREND IS FOR CLEAR CONDITIONS WITH WARMING TEMPERATURES THROUGH SUNDAY. GFS/ECMWF/UKMET/NOGAPS ALL IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH PLACING THE RIDGE AXIS OVER CALIFORNIA BY SUNDAY AS THEY ALL FORM A REX BLOCKING PATTERN OVER THE NORTH- CENTRAL PACIFIC. BY SUNDAY...GUIDANCE PLACES VALLEY MAX TEMP/S SOME 3 TO 5 DEG-F ABOVE NORMAL BEFORE THE START OF ANOTHER COOLING TREND. TOWARD NEXT WEEK...ALL LONGER RANGE MODELS ATTEMPT TO BREAKDOWN THE REX BLOCK AND EJECT A TROF TOWARD THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST/NOR- CAL BY TUESDAY NIGHT/WEDNESDAY. FEEL THAT MODELS MAY BE PREMATURELY BREAKING DOWN THE REX BLOCK TOO SOON...WHICH COULD LAST FOR A WEEK. DUE TO ALL MODELS DOING THIS BREAK DOWN... CERTAINTY IS UP SLIGHTLY ON THE SOLUTION FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. IF THE TROF APPROACHES THE WEST COAST NEXT WEEK...IT WILL HAVE THE DEAL WITH SANDY ALONG THE EAST COAST. EVEN WITH MODEL UNCERTAINTY ON THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SANDY...IT WILL EXIST OVER THE EAST COAST EARLY NEXT WEEK. THEREFORE...THE RIDGE OVER THE MID-WEST WILL HAVE TO AMPLIFY AS IT ADJUSTS TO THE APPROACHING TROF. MODELS DO INDICATE THAT THE PRECIP BAND PUSHING ONTO CALIFORNIA WILL BE FORCED TO SHIFT NORTHEAST AND POSSIBLY MISS CENTRAL CALIFORNIA. THEREFORE...WILL ONLY MENTION A SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIP...STARTING TUESDAY NIGHT...OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD OF THE DISTRICT FOR AREAS FROM FRESNO COUNTY NORTHWARD. && .AVIATION... VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL THRU 00Z SATURDAY...EXCEPT LOCAL MVFR IN MIST IN THE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY 12Z TO 17Z FRIDAY. && .AIR QUALITY ISSUES... NONE. && .CERTAINTY... THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 1 AND 2 IS HIGH. THE LEVEL OF CERTAINTY FOR DAYS 3 THROUGH 7 IS MEDIUM. THIS INFORMATION IS PROVIDED AS PART OF A TRIAL PROJECT CONDUCTED BY THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN JOAQUIN VALLEY - HANFORD. CERTAINTY LEVELS INCLUDE LOW...MEDIUM...AND HIGH. PLEASE VISIT WWW.WEATHER.GOV/HNX/CERTAINTY.PHP /ALL LOWER CASE/ FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND/OR TO PROVIDE FEEDBACK. && .CLIMATE... RECORDS SITE DATE HI_MAX:YEAR LO_MAX:YEAR HI_MIN:YEAR LO_MIN:YEAR KFAT 10-25 91:1966 61:1998 62:1982 36:1971 KFAT 10-26 89:2003 57:2004 58:1927 35:1939 KFAT 10-27 89:2003 58:1896 61:1987 35:1970 KBFL 10-25 94:1917 62:1939 66:1982 35:1899 KBFL 10-26 92:2003 58:1996 61:1959 35:1939 KBFL 10-27 99:1906 56:2004 64:1987 34:1919 && .HNX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ PUBLIC...MOLINA AVN/FW...BEAN SYNOPSIS...BSO WEATHER.GOV/HANFORD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
1139 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .UPDATE... UPDATED THE FORECAST WITH THE LATEST WIND GUIDANCE. BUT NO CHANGES WERE REQUIRED FOR THE WATCHES OR WARNINGS IN EFFECT WITH A WIND ADVISORY STILL IN EFFECT ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE PENINSULA AND A TROPICAL STORM WARNING STILL IN EFFECT FOR THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. 60 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 858 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ UPDATE... AS WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE...THIS PROMPTED SOME CHANGES TO THE WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR THE CWA. THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. HOWEVER...NEED TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT OVER NIGHT FOR THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. THE WIND ADVISORY ACROSS THE PENINSULA HAS ALSO BEEN UPDATED WITH ONLY PALM BEACH...BROWARD AND MIAMI DADE COUNTIES NOW IN THE WIND ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...RECENT REGIONAL RADAR RETURNS INDICATE SHOWER COVERAGE CONTINUING TO DECREASE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL WIDESPREAD SHOWERS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS WITH MAINLY ISOLATED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. 60 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 749 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ AVIATION... SHRA COVERAGE HAS DIMINISHED ACROSS THE AREA QUITE CONSIDERABLY THIS EVENING AS SANDY CONTINUES TO PUSH WELL TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. HOWEVER...KEPT VCSH MENTION THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS AT ALL THE EAST COAST SITES. LATEST HRRR SHOWS MOST OF THE LINGERING SHRAS EXITING THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. GRADUALLY TRENDED WINDS DOWN THROUGH THE PERIOD. UNDERCUT LAMP GUIDANCE QUITE A BIT AS THEY STILL SEEM TO BE TOO HIGH. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 718 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ UPDATE... AS THE WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING WAS DROPPED EARLIER THIS EVENING FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE WITH A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT WITH WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE REMAINING AROUND 20 TO 25 KNOTS SUSTAINED WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO AROUND 35 KNOTS. SO THE ONLY AREAS REMAINING UNDER TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COASTAL ZONE. THE CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE IS ON TRACK INDICATING CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NIGHT FROM THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF HURRICANE SANDY. WINDS ACROSS THE REGION ARE FORECAST TO START SLOWLY SUBSIDING AS HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES ON A NORTHERLY TRACK THIS EVENING AND OVER NIGHT. 60 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ DISCUSSION...HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO SLOWLY DRIFT NORTH OVER THE FAR NORTHERN BAHAMAS. ITS SLOW MOVEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR THE OUTER BANDS TO MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH THIS EVENING. HOWEVER, THE WIND FIELD HAS NOT EXPANDED TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME OF THE MODELS WERE EARLIER INDICATING SO TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS WERE DISCONTINUED FOR COASTAL BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC WATERS INCLUDING BISCAYNE BAY. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIER BANDS ACROSS COASTAL REGIONS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. FOR BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES, THE WARNING WAS REPLACED WITH A WIND ADVISORY ALONG WITH HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND THE MENTION OF HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. AFTER TONIGHT, A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE DEEPENING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA THROUGH SATURDAY AND SANDY WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WITH MUCH DRIER CONDITIONS FILTERING INTO THE REGION AND CLEARING SKY CONDITIONS. AT THIS POINT, A POWERFUL TROUGH WILL BE EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. AND THIS WILL SET THE STAGE TO BRING THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SURGE OF COOLER AND DRIER AIR FOR THE FALL SEASON ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA ARRIVING ON MONDAY. BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEARLY 10 DEGREES BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE THOSE MORNINGS FROM AROUND 50 TO THE WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE MID TO UPPER 50S ALONG BOTH COASTAL METRO AREAS EXCEPT AROUND 60 ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. MARINE...THE WIND OVER THE CWA WATERS TODAY WILL SWING FROM A NORTHERLY DIRECTION TO A NORTHWEST DIRECTION...AND REMAIN NORTHWEST DIRECTION TONIGHT INTO THIS WEEKEND. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL BE AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH MOST OF THE CWA WATERS TODAY...WITH EVEN GUSTS UP TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER THE PALM BEACH ATLANTIC WATERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN NEARLY STEADY TONIGHT OVER ALL OF THE CWA WATERS...WITH GUSTS TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER MOST OF THE CWA WATERS. SO WILL CONTINUE THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE NORTHERN WATERS INTO TONIGHT...EXCEPT FOR A SCA ADVISORY FOR THE GULF WATERS WITH A GALE WATCH FOR TONIGHT. FIRE WEATHER...DRIER AIR WILL FILTER DOWN THE PENINSULA OVER THE WEEKEND BUT RH VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS THROUGH SUNDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 72 83 69 82 / 50 10 - - FORT LAUDERDALE 71 84 69 83 / 30 10 - - MIAMI 72 85 70 83 / 30 10 - - NAPLES 72 84 70 81 / 20 - - - && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL MIAMI DADE-COASTAL PALM BEACH-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE- INLAND BROWARD-INLAND MIAMI DADE-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO BROWARD-METRO MIAMI DADE-METRO PALM BEACH. HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH. HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL MIAMI DADE. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR BISCAYNE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE, FL OUT 20 NM- GULF WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM. && $$ DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...60/BD AVIATION/RADAR...10/CD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
858 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .UPDATE... AS WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE...THIS PROMPTED SOME CHANGES TO THE WATCHES AND WARNINGS FOR THE CWA. THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING THAT WAS IN EFFECT FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH COUNTY HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED. HOWEVER...NEED TO RE-EMPHASIZE THAT THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT OVER NIGHT FOR THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. THE WIND ADVISORY ACROSS THE PENINSULA HAS ALSO BEEN UPDATED WITH ONLY PALM BEACH...BROWARD AND MIAMI DADE COUNTIES NOW IN THE WIND ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...RECENT REGIONAL RADAR RETURNS INDICATE SHOWER COVERAGE CONTINUING TO DECREASE ALTHOUGH THERE ARE STILL WIDESPREAD SHOWERS ACROSS THE ATLANTIC WATERS WITH MAINLY ISOLATED SHOWERS ELSEWHERE. 60 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 749 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ AVIATION... SHRA COVERAGE HAS DIMINISHED ACROSS THE AREA QUITE CONSIDERABLY THIS EVENING AS SANDY CONTINUES TO PUSH WELL TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. HOWEVER...KEPT VCSH MENTION THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS AT ALL THE EAST COAST SITES. LATEST HRRR SHOWS MOST OF THE LINGERING SHRAS EXITING THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. GRADUALLY TRENDED WINDS DOWN THROUGH THE PERIOD. UNDERCUT LAMP GUIDANCE QUITE A BIT AS THEY STILL SEEM TO BE TOO HIGH. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 718 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ UPDATE... AS THE WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING WAS DROPPED EARLIER THIS EVENING FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE WITH A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT WITH WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE REMAINING AROUND 20 TO 25 KNOTS SUSTAINED WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO AROUND 35 KNOTS. SO THE ONLY AREAS REMAINING UNDER TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COASTAL ZONE. THE CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE IS ON TRACK INDICATING CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NIGHT FROM THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF HURRICANE SANDY. WINDS ACROSS THE REGION ARE FORECAST TO START SLOWLY SUBSIDING AS HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES ON A NORTHERLY TRACK THIS EVENING AND OVER NIGHT. 60 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ DISCUSSION...HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO SLOWLY DRIFT NORTH OVER THE FAR NORTHERN BAHAMAS. ITS SLOW MOVEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR THE OUTER BANDS TO MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH THIS EVENING. HOWEVER, THE WIND FIELD HAS NOT EXPANDED TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME OF THE MODELS WERE EARLIER INDICATING SO TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS WERE DISCONTINUED FOR COASTAL BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC WATERS INCLUDING BISCAYNE BAY. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIER BANDS ACROSS COASTAL REGIONS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. FOR BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES, THE WARNING WAS REPLACED WITH A WIND ADVISORY ALONG WITH HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND THE MENTION OF HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. AFTER TONIGHT, A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE DEEPENING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA THROUGH SATURDAY AND SANDY WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WITH MUCH DRIER CONDITIONS FILTERING INTO THE REGION AND CLEARING SKY CONDITIONS. AT THIS POINT, A POWERFUL TROUGH WILL BE EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. AND THIS WILL SET THE STAGE TO BRING THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SURGE OF COOLER AND DRIER AIR FOR THE FALL SEASON ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA ARRIVING ON MONDAY. BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEARLY 10 DEGREES BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE THOSE MORNINGS FROM AROUND 50 TO THE WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE MID TO UPPER 50S ALONG BOTH COASTAL METRO AREAS EXCEPT AROUND 60 ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. MARINE...THE WIND OVER THE CWA WATERS TODAY WILL SWING FROM A NORTHERLY DIRECTION TO A NORTHWEST DIRECTION...AND REMAIN NORTHWEST DIRECTION TONIGHT INTO THIS WEEKEND. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL BE AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH MOST OF THE CWA WATERS TODAY...WITH EVEN GUSTS UP TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER THE PALM BEACH ATLANTIC WATERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN NEARLY STEADY TONIGHT OVER ALL OF THE CWA WATERS...WITH GUSTS TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER MOST OF THE CWA WATERS. SO WILL CONTINUE THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE NORTHERN WATERS INTO TONIGHT...EXCEPT FOR A SCA ADVISORY FOR THE GULF WATERS WITH A GALE WATCH FOR TONIGHT. FIRE WEATHER...DRIER AIR WILL FILTER DOWN THE PENINSULA OVER THE WEEKEND BUT RH VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS THROUGH SUNDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 72 83 69 82 / 50 10 - - FORT LAUDERDALE 71 84 69 83 / 40 10 - - MIAMI 72 85 70 83 / 30 10 - - NAPLES 72 84 70 81 / 10 - - - && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE-INLAND BROWARD- INLAND MIAMI DADE-INLAND PALM BEACH-METRO BROWARD-METRO MIAMI DADE-METRO PALM BEACH. HIGH SURF ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH. HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL MIAMI DADE. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR BISCAYNE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE, FL OUT 20 NM- GULF WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM. && $$ DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...60/BD AVIATION/RADAR...10/CD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TAMPA BAY RUSKIN FL
850 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH TOMORROW... .UPDATE (REST OF TONIGHT)... 00Z WATER VAPOR AND H4 RAP ANALYSIS SHOWS A RATHER BLOCKY PATTERN IN PLACE ACROSS NORTH AMERICA AND THE WESTERN ATLANTIC. PATTERN CONSISTS OF BROAD LONGWAVE TROUGHING IN PLACE OVER MUCH OF THE CONUS... FOLLOWED DOWNSTREAM BY SHARP RIDGING OVER THE NE STATE/EASTERN CANADA...AND THEN SHARPLY DROPPING BACK INTO TROUGHING/UPPER LOW PRESSURE OVER THE CANADIAN MARITIMES. AT THE BASE OF THE EASTERN U.S. RIDGING WE FIND HURRICANE SANDY STILL CHURNING OFF THE FLORIDA EAST COAST. MID/UPPER LEVEL MOISTURE ON THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF THE HURRICANES CIRCULATION HAS BEEN ERODING BACK TO THE EAST THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS...WITH THE 00Z KTBW SOUNDING SHOWING A RATHER DRY PROFILE ABOVE 600-700MB. NEEDLESS TO SAY...A FEW LINGERING SHOWERS ARE STILL ONGOING OVER OUR FAR INLAND ZONES OF POLK/HIGHLANDS COUNTIES...BUT EXPECT THIS ACTIVITY TO DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AS THE DRIER AIR CONTINUES ITS EASTWARD ADVANCE IN THE WAKE OF SANDY. ELSEWHERE...THE REMAINDER OF THE FORECAST AREA WILL SEE A DRY CONDITIONS INTO SATURDAY. WINDS SHOULD BECOME A BIT LESS GUSTY IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS...HOWEVER A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT REMAINS AND WINDS WILL HOLD UP MORE THAN USUAL FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. & .PREVIOUS DISCUSSION (SATURDAY AND SUNDAY)...OVERALL SYNOPTIC PATTERN FOR THE REGION WILL BE DRIVEN BY THE ACTIONS OF HURRICANE SANDY. GRADIENT FLOW AROUND THE WESTERN PERIPHERY OF SANDY HAS STRENGTHENED OVER THE PAST DAY PRODUCING WINDS IN THE 20-25 MPH RANGE WITH THE HIGHEST VALUES INLAND IN THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. GUSTS EXCEEDING 35 MPH HAVE BEEN REPORTED AT A COUPLE WEATHER STATIONS. FOR TONIGHT...EXPECTING WINDS AND GUSTS TO REDUCE SLIGHTLY OVER NIGHT WITH THE MIXING HEIGHTS DROPPING BUT WILL QUICKLY PICK BACK UP AGAIN AFTER SUNRISE. MODELS ARE SHOWING WINDS ~40 KT OFF THE SURFACE DURING THE MID MORNING. EXPECT ANOTHER BREEZY DAY TOMORROW WITH WINDS AGAIN IN THE 20-25 MPH (LOCALLY HIGHER INLAND AND FURTHER SOUTH) WITH GUSTS EXCEED 30 MPH. WIND DIRECTION WILL VEER MORE NNW. AT THE MOMENT...CURRENT FORECAST WILL FALL IN THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA SO WILL MAINTAIN THAT ADVISORY THROUGH TOMORROW. HAVE MAINTAINED A CHANCE OF SHOWERS INLAND TONIGHT BUT RAIN CHANCES WILL GRADUALLY DECREASE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS SANDY EXITS NORTH. SUNDAY FORECAST REMAINS UNCHANGED WITH LOW RAIN CHANCES AND WINDS DYING DOWN. && .AVIATION... VFR NEXT 24 HOURS. MAIN ISSUE WILL BE GUSTY WINDS WHICH WILL START OUT NORTHERLY AND TREND NORTHWESTERLY TONIGHT AND SATURDAY AS HURRICANE SANDY MOVES NORTH OF OUR LATITUDE. SOME LLWS ISSUES POSSIBLE IF SURFACE WINDS BECOME LIGHTER THAN EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. && .MARINE...A TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT IN PLACE OVER THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO WILL CONTINUE ELEVATED WINDS AND SEAS TO ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH THE UPCOMING WEEKEND. WIND GUSTS LATER TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY MAY APPROACH GALE FORCE AT TIMES. LATER THIS WEEKEND...SANDY WILL BE EXITING TO THE NORTHEAST UP THE ATLANTIC SEABOARD...HOWEVER COOLER AIR ARRIVING IN THE STORMS WAKE ALONG WITH A CONTINUED TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL RESULT IN ELEVATED WINDS TO CAUTIONARY OR ADVISORY LEVELS LINGERING INTO MONDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... TPA 69 81 65 80 / 10 10 10 10 FMY 69 82 65 82 / 10 10 10 10 GIF 66 81 62 81 / 20 10 10 10 SRQ 69 82 66 81 / 10 10 10 10 BKV 65 80 58 79 / 10 10 10 10 SPG 72 81 69 78 / 10 10 10 10 && .TBW WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SATURDAY FOR CHARLOTTE- CITRUS-DESOTO-HARDEE-HERNANDO-HIGHLANDS-HILLSBOROUGH- LEE-LEVY-MANATEE-PASCO-PINELLAS-POLK-SARASOTA-SUMTER. BEACH HAZARDS STATEMENT THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING FOR CHARLOTTE-HILLSBOROUGH-LEE-MANATEE-PINELLAS-SARASOTA. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR PINELLAS. GULF WATERS...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 NM-BONITA BEACH TO ENGLEWOOD OUT 20 TO 60 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 NM-ENGLEWOOD TO TARPON SPRINGS OUT 20 TO 60 NM- TAMPA BAY WATERS-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 NM-TARPON SPRINGS TO SUWANNEE RIVER OUT 20 TO 60 NM. && $$ UPDATE/MARINE...MROCZKA AVIATION...JILLSON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
749 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .AVIATION... SHRA COVERAGE HAS DIMINISHED ACROSS THE AREA QUITE CONSIDERABLY THIS EVENING AS SANDY CONTINUES TO PUSH WELL TO THE NORTH OF THE AREA. HOWEVER...KEPT VCSH MENTION THROUGH THE LATE EVENING HOURS AT ALL THE EAST COAST SITES. LATEST HRRR SHOWS MOST OF THE LINGERING SHRAS EXITING THE AREA OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. GRADUALLY TRENDED WINDS DOWN THROUGH THE PERIOD. UNDERCUT LAMP GUIDANCE QUITE A BIT AS THEY STILL SEEM TO BE TOO HIGH. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 718 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ UPDATE... AS THE WINDS ACROSS THE REGION CONTINUE TO SLOWLY SUBSIDE...THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING WAS DROPPED EARLIER THIS EVENING FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE WITH A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT WITH WINDS ACROSS THE LAKE REMAINING AROUND 20 TO 25 KNOTS SUSTAINED WITH HIGHER GUSTS TO AROUND 35 KNOTS. SO THE ONLY AREAS REMAINING UNDER TROPICAL STORM WARNING ARE THE ATLANTIC WATERS TO THE EAST OF PALM BEACH COUNTY AND THE PALM BEACH COUNTY COASTAL ZONE. THE CURRENT FORECAST PACKAGE IS ON TRACK INDICATING CHANCES OF PRECIPITATION AND GUSTY WINDS OVER NIGHT FROM THE OUTER PERIPHERY OF HURRICANE SANDY. WINDS ACROSS THE REGION ARE FORECAST TO START SLOWLY SUBSIDING AS HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES ON A NORTHERLY TRACK THIS EVENING AND OVER NIGHT. 60 PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 245 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ DISCUSSION...HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO SLOWLY DRIFT NORTH OVER THE FAR NORTHERN BAHAMAS. ITS SLOW MOVEMENT WILL CONTINUE TO ALLOW FOR THE OUTER BANDS TO MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH FLORIDA THROUGH THIS EVENING. HOWEVER, THE WIND FIELD HAS NOT EXPANDED TO THE EXTENT THAT SOME OF THE MODELS WERE EARLIER INDICATING SO TROPICAL STORM WARNINGS WERE DISCONTINUED FOR COASTAL BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES AND THE ADJACENT ATLANTIC WATERS INCLUDING BISCAYNE BAY. TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE IN THE HEAVIER BANDS ACROSS COASTAL REGIONS OF PALM BEACH COUNTY. FOR BROWARD AND MIAMI-DADE COUNTIES, THE WARNING WAS REPLACED WITH A WIND ADVISORY ALONG WITH HIGH SURF ADVISORY AND THE MENTION OF HIGH RISK OF RIP CURRENTS. AFTER TONIGHT, A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE DEEPENING ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA THROUGH SATURDAY AND SANDY WILL BEGIN TO ACCELERATE NORTHEAST AWAY FROM THE FLORIDA PENINSULA WITH MUCH DRIER CONDITIONS FILTERING INTO THE REGION AND CLEARING SKY CONDITIONS. AT THIS POINT, A POWERFUL TROUGH WILL BE EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL DAYS ACROSS THE EASTERN U.S. AND THIS WILL SET THE STAGE TO BRING THE FIRST SIGNIFICANT SURGE OF COOLER AND DRIER AIR FOR THE FALL SEASON ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA ARRIVING ON MONDAY. BY TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY MORNINGS, TEMPERATURES WILL BE NEARLY 10 DEGREES BELOW THE AVERAGE FOR LATE OCTOBER. MINIMUM TEMPERATURES WILL RANGE THOSE MORNINGS FROM AROUND 50 TO THE WEST OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE AND THE MID TO UPPER 50S ALONG BOTH COASTAL METRO AREAS EXCEPT AROUND 60 ALONG THE ATLANTIC COAST. MARINE...THE WIND OVER THE CWA WATERS TODAY WILL SWING FROM A NORTHERLY DIRECTION TO A NORTHWEST DIRECTION...AND REMAIN NORTHWEST DIRECTION TONIGHT INTO THIS WEEKEND. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL BE AT LEAST 25 TO 30 MPH MOST OF THE CWA WATERS TODAY...WITH EVEN GUSTS UP TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER THE PALM BEACH ATLANTIC WATERS AND LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THE WIND SPEEDS WILL REMAIN NEARLY STEADY TONIGHT OVER ALL OF THE CWA WATERS...WITH GUSTS TO TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS OVER MOST OF THE CWA WATERS. SO WILL CONTINUE THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE NORTHERN WATERS INTO TONIGHT...EXCEPT FOR A SCA ADVISORY FOR THE GULF WATERS WITH A GALE WATCH FOR TONIGHT. FIRE WEATHER...DRIER AIR WILL FILTER DOWN THE PENINSULA OVER THE WEEKEND BUT RH VALUES WILL REMAIN ABOVE CRITICAL LEVELS THROUGH SUNDAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 72 83 69 82 / 50 10 - - FORT LAUDERDALE 71 84 69 83 / 40 10 - - MIAMI 72 85 70 83 / 30 10 - - NAPLES 72 84 70 81 / 10 - - - && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 11 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL COLLIER-COASTAL MIAMI DADE-FAR SOUTH MIAMI DADE- GLADES-HENDRY-INLAND BROWARD-INLAND COLLIER-INLAND MIAMI DADE-INLAND PALM BEACH-MAINLAND MONROE-METRO BROWARD-METRO MIAMI DADE-METRO PALM BEACH. HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR COASTAL BROWARD- COASTAL MIAMI DADE. TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR COASTAL PALM BEACH. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR BISCAYNE BAY- COASTAL WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM DEERFIELD BEACH TO OCEAN REEF, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO THE TERRITORIAL WATERS OF THE BAHAMAS. TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM JUPITER INLET TO DEERFIELD BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 NM TO 60 NM. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL OUT 20 NM-COASTAL WATERS FROM EAST CAPE SABLE TO CHOKOLOSKEE, FL OUT 20 NM- GULF WATERS FROM CHOKOLOSKEE TO BONITA BEACH, FL EXTENDING FROM 20 TO 60 NM. && $$ DISCUSSION/MARINE/FIRE...60/BD AVIATION/RADAR...10/CD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS JACKSONVILLE FL
252 PM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SHORT TERM...HURRICANE SANDY CONTINUES TO PLOW THROUGH THE BAHAMAS STILL AT CATEGORY 2 WITH 105 MPH MAX SUSTAINED WINDS. BROAD E TO NE FLOW CONTINUES TO PROVIDE A FEED OF MOSTLY LOW LEVEL MOISTURE INTO THE AREA WITH A FEW SHOWERS BEGINNING TO IMPACT FLAGLER COUNTY. PWATS ARE ABOUT 1.2 TO 1.3 INCHES PER RAP MODEL AND BLENDED TOTAL PRECIP WATER...AND WATER VAPOR IMAGERY STILL SHOWS DRIER AIR IN THE MID AND UPPER LEVELS. FOR TONIGHT...SIMILAR TO LAST NIGHT BREEZY/WINDY E TO NE WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED IN THE EVENING AND TAPER OFF OVERNIGHT. WILL ALLOW THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE GA COAST TO END THIS EVENING. ELSEWHERE...T.S. WATCH WILL BE CONTD AT THIS TIME. ISOLD TO POSSIBLY BRIEFLY SCT SHOWER ACTIVITY CAN BE EXPECTED MAINLY FOR ERN ZONES. CURRENT MOS GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO LOOK A BIT LOW PER RADAR IMAGERY. LOWS IN THE LOWER TO MID 60S EXPECTED WITH NEAR 70 TEMPS NEAR THE COAST. GUIDANCE SUGGESTS PATCHY FOG FOR WELL INLAND SE GA WHICH LOOKS PLAUSIBLE GIVEN THE HIGHER DEWPOINT AIR AND DRY CONDITIONS ALOFT AND WINDS MAY RELAX TO ABOUT 3-5 MPH UP THERE. FRIDAY...STRONG NELY WINDS EXPECTED AS SANDY TRANSLATES NWD TO THE NRN BAHAMAS AND STRENGTHENS THE PRES GRADIENT. WINDS OF 25-35 MPH POSSIBLE WITH GUSTS NEAR 40-45 MPH POSSIBLE. THESE WINDS WILL BE MORE POSSIBLE NEARER TO THE COAST. SOME BANDS OF COASTAL SHOWERS ARE ANTICIPATED EARLY AND INCREASING RAIN CHANCES ARE EXPECTED FROM SE TO NW AS MOISTURE INCREASES FROM THAT DIRECTION. ISOLD EMBEDDED TSTMS ARE ANTICIPATED OVER THE SE ZONES AND COASTAL WATERS AND MAY PRODUCE STRONGER WIND GUSTS IN PERIODS OF RAIN. FRI NIGHT...SANDY WILL BE AT POINT OF CLOSEST APPROACH AS THE NHC JOGS THE SYSTEM A BIT NNW. THE SYSTEM IS THEN PROJECTED TO LIFT N AND THEN NNE LATE. WINDY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED ALONG THE COASTAL COUNTIES. ELEVATED RAIN CHANCES EXPECTED BUT MAINLY IN THE CHANCE CATEGORY OVER THE SE 1/3RD OF THE CWA. SOME TSTM POTENTIAL STILL POSSIBLE E ZONES/MARINE ZONES. SUSTAINED WINDS NEAR 25-35 MPH POSSIBLE ALONG THE COASTAL AREAS FROM FERNANDINA TO FLAGLER BEACH. LOWS IN THE 60S EXPECTED. SATURDAY...SANDY IS EXPECTED TO LIFT NEWD AT A FASTER CLIP BUT BANDS OF SHOWERS ARE STILL ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME OVER THE ERN ZONES WITH WINDY CONDITIONS PREVAILING. SOME GLARING DIFFERENCES IN MODEL WINDS AT 850 MB AND GFS IS THE MODEL OF CHOICE HERE. RAIN CHANCES ARE EXPECTED TO DIMINISH THROUGH THE AFTN AND EARLY EVENING AS DEEP MOISTURE AROUND THE SYSTEM MOVES OUT TO SEA. TSTM POTENTIAL LOOKS TOO LOW TO MENTION AT THIS TIME. HIGHS IN THE 70S TO NEAR 80. SAT NIGHT TO SUNDAY...COOLER AND DRIER CONDITIONS EXPECTED AS THE SYSTEM PULLS AWAY WITH DEEP NW FLOW ANTICIPATED. LOWS IN THE 50S EXPECTED AREA WIDE. HIGHS IN THE 70S ON SUNDAY. .LONG TERM...MONDAY-THURSDAY. MUCH COOLER AND DRIER NW FLOW EXPECTED FOR MOST OF THE TIME PERIOD AS WEAK SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION. SOME TROUGHING WILL BE POSSIBLE BY MID WEEK AND MAY SUPPORT LOW END RAIN CHANCES NEAR 20%. TEMPERATURES WILL BE AT OR BELOW NORMAL DURING THE EXTENDED FORECAST. && .AVIATION...MAINLY VFR CONDS WITH OCNL CIGS 3500-5000 FT. ISOLATED COASTAL SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INLAND AND HAVE VCSH AT ALL TERMINALS. && .MARINE...WILL CONTINUE WITH THE TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR THE COASTAL WATERS. WINDS AND SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE AS THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS BETWEEN HURRICANE SANDY AND HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH. EXPECTING TROPICAL STORM CONDITIONS BY LATE TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY NIGHT WITH CONDITIONS BEGINNING TO IMPROVE SUNDAY. RIP CURRENTS/SURF: HIGH RISK OF DANGEROUS RIP CURRENTS WILL CONTINUE INTO THE WEEKEND. BREAKER HEIGHTS WILL INCREASE TO 8 TO 12 FEET FRIDAY INTO THE WEEKEND. HAVE ISSUED A HIGH SURF ADVISORY BEGINNING TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. MINOR TO MODERATE COASTAL FLOODING IS POSSIBLE DURING HIGH TIDES ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AND A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... AMG 62 82 61 77 / 10 10 10 10 SSI 69 78 67 75 / 20 20 50 50 JAX 68 81 64 76 / 20 20 40 40 SGJ 74 83 70 76 / 20 40 60 50 GNV 65 82 64 78 / 10 10 30 20 OCF 68 83 65 79 / 10 20 30 30 && .JAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR CLAY-MARION- PUTNAM. TROPICAL STORM WATCH FOR DUVAL-FLAGLER-NASSAU-ST JOHNS. GA...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING FOR COASTAL CAMDEN- COASTAL GLYNN. LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR COASTAL CAMDEN- COASTAL GLYNN. HIGH SURF ADVISORY FROM 2 AM FRIDAY TO 6 AM EDT SUNDAY FOR COASTAL CAMDEN-COASTAL GLYNN. AM...TROPICAL STORM WARNING FOR ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-ALTAMAHA SOUND GA TO FERNANDINA BEACH FL OUT 20 NM-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-FERNANDINA BEACH TO ST AUGUSTINE FL OUT 20 NM-ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL 20 NM TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-ST AUGUSTINE TO FLAGLER BEACH FL OUT 20 NM. && $$ SHASHY/PETERSON/WALKER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
1027 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP SATURDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AS THE STORM MOVES NORTHWARD OFFSHORE. THIS WILL CAUSE WINDY CONDITIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL BE CONFINED TO THE COASTAL REGION BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS MAKING IT INLAND AS FAR AS THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS SATURDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST SUNDAY AND MOVE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA AS AN AREA OF COLD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN TO THE WEST AS HURRICANE SANDY MOVES NORTHWARD WELL OFFSHORE. AN INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL HELP TO INCREASE WINDS TO 10-15 MPH OVERNIGHT. ANY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFF TO THE EAST OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA...WITH THE BULK OF IT REMAINING OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST. WILL STILL INTRODUCE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAINFALL ACROSS EXTREME EASTERN AREAS TOWARDS MORNING. IT WILL BE ANOTHER WARM NIGHT WITH LOWS MOSTLY IN THE LOWER 60S. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE AFFECTS OF SANDY TO THE EAST...WELL OFFSHORE...AND HIGHER PRESSURE TO THE EAST WILL COMBINE TO CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH AT TIMES SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. MOST OF THE SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN WELL TO THE EAST MAINLY NEAR THE COAST BUT A WESTERN BAND OF SHOWERS COULD BRING A 20-30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS AND LOCATIONS TO THE EAST. THE WESTERN PART INCLUDING THE CSRA LOOK TO BE RAIN FREE. TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE AS WARM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MAINLY DUE TO CLOUDS AND A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S. THE COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AND LOWS DROP INTO THE LOWER 40S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... HURRICANE SANDY WILL BE GONE TO THE NORTH BY MONDAY AND SHOULD HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO A MONSTER EXTRA-TROPICAL STORM JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN. FORTUNATELY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA...JUST COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /02Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH HURRICANE SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTH OVER THE BAHAMAS. PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO PROVIDING N TO NE WINDS. HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY COVERING MUCH OF OUR FA. SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WELL TO OUR NW. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...WITH THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND SHOWER ACTIVITY STAYING EAST OF THE TERMINALS. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR FA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...WITH MAINLY MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR FA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
720 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP SATURDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AS THE STORM MOVES NORTHWARD OFFSHORE. THIS WILL CAUSE WINDY CONDITIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL BE CONFINED TO THE COASTAL REGION BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS MAKING IT INLAND AS FAR AS THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS SATURDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST SUNDAY AND MOVE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA AS AN AREA OF COLD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SATURDAY MORNING/... HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE AREA WILL WEAKEN TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN TO THE WEST AS HURRICANE SANDY MOVES NORTHWARD WELL OFFSHORE. AN INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL HELP TO INCREASE WINDS FROM 5-10 MPH TO 10-15 MPH AFTER MIDNIGHT. IT WILL BE ANOTHER WARM NIGHT WITH LOWS MOSTLY IN THE LOWER 60S. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE AFFECTS OF SANDY TO THE EAST WELL OFFSHORE AND HIGHER PRESSURE TO THE EAST WILL COMBINE TO CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH AT TIMES SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. MOST OF THE SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN WELL TO THE EAST MAINLY NEAR THE COAST BUT A WESTERN BAND OF SHOWERS COULD BRING A 20-30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS AND LOCATIONS TO THE EAST. THE WESTERN PART INCLUDING THE CSRA LOOK TO BE RAIN FREE. TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE AS WARM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MAINLY DUE TO CLOUDS AND A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S. THE COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AND LOWS DROP INTO THE LOWER 40S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... HURRICANE SANDY WILL BE GONE TO THE NORTH BY MONDAY AND SHOULD HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO A MONSTER EXTRA-TROPICAL STORM JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN. FORTUNATELY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA...JUST COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH HURRICANE SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTH OVER THE BAHAMAS. PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO PROVIDING N TO NE WINDS. HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY COVERING MUCH OF OUR FA. SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT WELL TO OUR NW. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY...WITH THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND SHOWER ACTIVITY STAYING EAST OF THE TERMINALS. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR FA LATE TONIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...AND NE SC...WITH MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR FA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
612 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SYNOPSIS... DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE THROUGH FRIDAY. TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHWARD AND REMAIN OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST THIS WEEKEND. SEE THE LATEST ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL MOVE THOUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COOLEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE HAS INCREASED IN THE EASTERLY FLOW SOUTH OF THE PRESSURE RIDGE. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH STRONG RADIATIONAL COOLING HAS RESULTED IN AREAS OF FOG. THE FOG MAY BECOME DENSE AND A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST PART WHERE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE ARE HIGHER. HEATING AND MIXING SHOULD HELP DISSIPATE THE FOG BY 1000 AM. THE TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE IS CLOSE. EXPECT HIGHS MAINLY IN THE LOWER 80S. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ENTRENCHED OVER THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST AND TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY PUSHING NORTHWARD OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST. MOISTURE SHOULD REMAIN SHALLOW THROUGH FRIDAY. MOISTURE MAY BECOME DEEP ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SHOWERS FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE EASTERLY FLOW BETWEEN SANDY OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST AND THE PRESSURE RIDGE TO THE NORTH. THE GFS IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THIS MOISTURE COMPARED TO THE NAM. FORECASTED CHANCE POPS IN THE EAST PART. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SHOW TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY MOVING NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH MOVING INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE NATION. THE ECMWF HAS BEEN PERSISTENT IN ITS PATH WHICH IS MORE WEST THAN THE OTHER MODELS BUT STILL KEEPS THE CENTER WELL EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE FORECAST AREA WILL BECOME DIFFUSE BECAUSE OF THE NORTHERLY FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIRCULATION OF SANDY. THE LACK OF CONVERGENCE INTO THE FRONT PLUS THE MODEL FORECAST OF DEEPER MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY STAYING EAST OF THE AREA SUPPORTS JUST LOW POPS. BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN MIDLANDS. THE COOLEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL CIRCULATE INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /10Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NEAR SURFACE MOISTURE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S. PATCHY FOG ALREADY DEVELOPING AGS/OGB WITH IFR VSBYS. HI-RES HRRR AND SREF INDICATE REDUCED VSBYS SO HIGHER THAN NORMAL CONFIDENCE IN RESTRICTIONS AT TERMINALS THROUGH THE PREDAWN HOURS. IFR VSBYS TO DROP TO LIFR AFTER 08Z-09Z OGB/AGS WHILE CAE/CUB START VFR AND DROP TO IFR AFTER 10Z WITH POSSIBLE LIFR VSBYS AT TIMES BUT LOWER CONFIDENCE IN LIFR AT THIS TIME. FOG SHOULD DISPERSE AFTER 15Z AS NORTHEAST-EASTERLY WINDS PICK UP TO AROUND 10 MPH AND MIXING TAKES PLACE. SOME AFTERNOON CUMULUS BUT NO RESTRICTIONS TO CIGS. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...INCREASING CONFIDENCE IN RESTRICTIONS FRIDAY MORNING IN FOG AND STRATUS. INCREASING WINDS AND GUSTS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT AS SANDY LIFTS NORTHWARD IN THE ATLANTIC. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. GA...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
228 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SYNOPSIS... DRY HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN THE DOMINANT WEATHER FEATURE THROUGH FRIDAY. TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHWARD AND REMAIN OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST THIS WEEKEND. SEE THE LATEST ADVISORY FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER. A COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WILL MOVE THOUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COOLEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... LOW-LEVEL MOISTURE HAS INCREASED IN THE EASTERLY FLOW SOUTH OF THE PRESSURE RIDGE. THIS MOISTURE COMBINED WITH STRONG RADIATIONAL COOLING HAS RESULTED IN AREAS OF FOG. THE FOG MAY BECOME DENSE AND A DENSE FOG ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED ESPECIALLY IN THE EAST PART WHERE DEW POINT TEMPERATURE ARE HIGHER. HEATING AND MIXING SHOULD HELP DISSIPATE THE FOG BY 1000 AM. THE TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE IS CLOSE. EXPECT HIGHS MAINLY IN THE LOWER 80S. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ENTRENCHED OVER THE REGION THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT. THE RIDGE WILL WEAKEN FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST AND TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY PUSHING NORTHWARD OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST. MOISTURE SHOULD REMAIN SHALLOW THROUGH FRIDAY. MOISTURE MAY BECOME DEEP ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SHOWERS FRIDAY NIGHT IN THE EASTERLY FLOW BETWEEN SANDY OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST AND THE PRESSURE RIDGE TO THE NORTH. THE GFS IS MORE PRONOUNCED WITH THIS MOISTURE COMPARED TO THE NAM. FORECASTED CHANCE POPS IN THE EAST PART. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THE MEDIUM RANGE MODELS SHOW TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY MOVING NORTHWARD AHEAD OF THE UPPER-LEVEL TROUGH MOVING INTO THE EASTERN PART OF THE NATION. THE ECMWF HAS BEEN PERSISTENT IN ITS PATH WHICH IS MORE WEST THAN THE OTHER MODELS BUT STILL KEEPS THE CENTER WELL EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. THE COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE FORECAST AREA WILL BECOME DIFFUSE BECAUSE OF THE NORTHERLY FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE CIRCULATION OF SANDY. THE LACK OF CONVERGENCE INTO THE FRONT PLUS THE MODEL FORECAST OF DEEPER MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY STAYING EAST OF THE AREA SUPPORTS JUST LOW POPS. BREEZY NORTHERLY WINDS ARE EXPECTED SATURDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE EASTERN MIDLANDS. THE COOLEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL CIRCULATE INTO THE AREA BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE MIDDLE AND UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... NEAR SURFACE MOISTURE HAS CONTINUED TO INCREASE WITH DEWPOINTS IN THE MID TO UPPER 50S. PATCHY FOG ALREADY DEVELOPING AGS/OGB WITH IFR VSBYS. HI-RES HRRR AND SREF INDICATE REDUCED VSBYS SO HIGHER THAN NORMAL CONFIDENCE IN RESTRICTIONS AT TERMINALS THROUGH THE PREDAWN HOURS. IFR VSBYS TO DROP TO LIFR AFTER 08Z-09Z OGB/AGS WHILE CAE/CUB START VFR AND DROP TO IFR AFTER 10Z WITH POSSIBLE LIFR VSBYS AT TIMES BUT LOWER CONFIDENCE IN LIFR AT THIS TIME. FOG SHOULD DISPERSE AFTER 15Z AS NORTHEAST-EASTERLY WINDS PICK UP TO AROUND 10 MPH AND MIXING TAKES PLACE. SOME AFTERNOON CUMULUS BUT NO RESTRICTIONS TO CIGS. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...INCREASING CONFIDENCE IN RESTRICTIONS FRIDAY MORNING IN FOG AND STRATUS. INCREASING WINDS AND GUSTS EXPECTED THIS WEEKEND ASSOCIATED WITH INCREASED PRESSURE GRADIENT AS SANDY LIFTS NORTHWARD IN THE ATLANTIC. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...NONE. GA...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
521 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... 336 PM CDT PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... 1251 PM CDT THIS UPDATE STILL VALID FOR REST OF AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING... NO BIG CHANGES IN OVERALL FORECAST THINKING THIS AFTERNOON. WE DID SLOW FRONTAL TIMING SLIGHTLY...NOW EXPECT FRONT THROUGH THE ROCKFORD AREA AROUND 4PM CDT AND ACROSS THE CHICAGO METRO BETWEEN 6PM AND 8PM DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION. LATEST RAP GUIDANCE SUGGESTS 300-500 J/KG MUCAPE IMMEDIATELY ALONG THE FRONT WITH 50-60KT DEEP LAYER SHEAR. EXPECT CONVECTIVE COVERAGE TO INCREASE ALONG THE FRONT OVER NEXT FEW HOURS AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS IOWA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WITH INTENSE SHEAR NOTED IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR A MARGINAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. BMD DISCUSSION...LATE TONIGHT AND BEYOND... 300 PM CDT SHARP COLD FRONT TO HAVE MOVED TO NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL IN BY MIDNIGHT...WITH ONLY SOME LINGERING POST FRONTAL LIGHT SHOWERS INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS FROM NORTHWEST IN TO E CENTRAL IL. WITH THE FRONT AND THE POST FRONTAL SHOWERS HAVING MOVED EAST OF THE LOCAL FORECAST AREA DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS THE CLEARING SEEN UPSTREAM OVER SOUTHERN NE AND MUCH OF KS IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IL BY LATE EVENING...CONTINUING EASTWARD TO FAR NORTHEASTERN IL BY DAWN FRIDAY. THIS MORNING/S 12Z RAOBS SHOWED THAT BEHIND THE FRONT THAT COLD AIR HAD PENETRATED AS FAR SOUTH AS SOUTHERN NE WITH KLBF MEASURING AN 850 HPA TEMPERATURE OF -5C. THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO +15C REPORTED AT BOTH KTOP AND KDVN. THIS AIR WAS COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SNOW THIS MORNING IN PARTS OF MN...IA AND NE. WHILE THE FRONTAL PASSAGE SHIFTS LOW LEVEL WINDS TO OUT OF THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST AND DROPS SURFACE TEMPERATURES SIGNIFICANTLY TONIGHT...THE FLOW LOCALLY 850 AND 800 HPA IS EXPECTED TO BACK TO WEST AND THE SOUTHWEST AT INCREASING HEIGHTS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THERE ONLY VERY SLIGHT MID AND UPPER VEERING OF THE FLOW INDICATED DUE TO ANOTHER STRONG JET MAX AND SHORT WAVE TROUGH TO ROTATE NORTHEASTWARD FROM THEE CENTRAL PLAINS TO THE UPPER MIDWEST DURING THE NIGHT. THIS WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ABOVE THE BOUNDARY LAYER KEEPS THE COOL AIR OVER THE LOCAL AREA RATHER SHALLOW AND ANY PRECIPITATION LINGERING INTO THE NIGHT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN LIQUID...ENDING BEFORE THE COLD AIR DEEPENS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE UPSTREAM SHORT WAVE. WITH 850 HPA TEMPERATURE PROGS AVERAGING ABOUT +1 TO -2C OVER THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY FRIDAY AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES SHOULD ONLY RECOVER TO UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S IN THE AFTERNOON. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TO MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY REINFORCES THE LOW LEVEL COLD AIR...WHICH IS EXPECTED TO LIMIT MAX TEMPS FOR SATURDAY TO GENERALLY THE 45-50 DEG F RANGE...WITH SIMILAR HIGHS FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS GRADUALLY VEER TO NORTH FRIDAY NIGHT AND NORTH-NORTHEAST SATURDAY BEFORE BACKING A BIT TO NORTH DURING SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY. WHILE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE COLD LOW LEVEL AIR IS SUFFICIENT FOR LAKE EFFECT INITIATION PER MODEL FORECAST TEMPERATURE PROFILES ANY SIGNIFICANTLY VERTICAL GROWTH IS TO BE CAPPED BY AN OVERLYING INVERSION. THUS...ONLY EXPECT SOME LAKE EFFECT CLOUDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY NEAR THE LAKE AND INLAND TO THE KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHWEST IN AND FAR NORTHEAST IL...ALONG AND NEAR THE IL-IN STATE LINE. BY SUNDAY NIGHT THIS INVERSION LESSENED AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATED ALLOWING A SMALL CHANCE OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT. HOW LONG THE REGION REMAINS UNDER DEEP NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW AND THE VERY COOL AIR MASS DEPENDS ON HOW THE HURRICANE SANDY INTERACTS WITH THE UPPER TROUGH TO BE LOCATED FROM WESTERN HUDSON BAY ACROSS ONTARIO AND THE UPPER GREAT LAKES MONDAY. MODELS IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT IN TURNING SANDY NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD TO OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND COASTS LATE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. MODELS THEN CONTINUE TO MOVE THE EXTRA- TROPICAL SYSTEM NORTH-NORTHWEST OVER THE LOWER GREAT LAKES DURING LATER TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...AND TO FAR SOUTHERN QUEBEC BY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE VERY COOL AIR MASS WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE OVER THE REGION UNTIL AT LEAST LATE INTO NEXT WEEK KEEPING THE STRING OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS GOING. SOME INDICATION THAT AS THE SYSTEM MOVES TO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES AND SOUTHERN QUEBEC THAT MOISTURE WILL BE WRAPPED WEST AND SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES FOR LATER TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WHICH BRINGS A SLIGHT CHANCE RAIN OR RAIN AND SNOW ALMOST TO THE WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MI. HAVE SLIGHT CHANCES INTO NORTHWEST IN WHILE HAVE KEPT NORTHEAST IL BELOW THE SLIGHT CHANCE POP THRESHOLD AS WAY TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AT THIS POINT. TRS && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 22Z... * WIND SHIFT TO WEST IMMINENT * SHOWERS ALONG AND MAINLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE. * MVFR/IFR CIGS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. IZZI //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... A STRONG COLD FRONT IS BEGINNING TO PUSH INTO NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BKN STRATUS DECK AROUND 040 HAS OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS TERMINALS WITH SSW WINDS GUSTING AROUND 30KT. EXPECT LITTLE TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF THE FRONT EXCEPT FOR SOME LOWING OF CIGS TO 020-025. BASED ON FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARIOUS HOURLY MODELS AND A RADAR FIX ON THE COLD FRONT...HAVE FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FRONTAL TIMING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. DID BUMP BACK TIMING SLIGHTLY WITH THE 18Z ISSUANCE TO MATCH LATEST THINKING. A LITTLE LESS CERTAIN ARE THE CONVECTIVE CHANCES WITH THIS SYSTEM. THERE IS MODEST INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT WITH STRONG FORCING AND SUSPECT THAT SCT/BKN LINE TSRA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. NOT SURE AT THIS POINT HOW EXTENSIVE THE COVERAGE MAY BECOME SO WILL STICK WITH VCTS FOR NOW. IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA WITH THE THREAT FOR SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING FOR AN HOUR OR SO AFTER FROPA. EXPECT CIGS TO QUICKLY FALL INTO LOW END MVFR AND IFR CATEGORY...AND STILL CANNOT RULE OUT LIFR...THOUGH ONLY NAM SOUNDINGS ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND THERE MAY BE A SHORT PERIOD WHERE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 KT ARE POSSIBLE AS A STRONG AIR OF PRESSURE RISES MOVES ACROSS THE TERMINALS. OVERNIGHT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...THEN VFR WITH WINDS DIMINISHING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE WITH MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 12 KT AND OCCASIONAL GUSTS ON FRIDAY. BMD //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 22Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WIND DIRECTION/SPEEDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN SPEEDS OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FROPA/PRECIP TIMING. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN CIGS DROPPING BELOW 015...MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN DROPPING BELOW 010. IZZI //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z SATURDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...PREDOMINANTLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 347 AM...THE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN THIS MORNING AS LOW LEVEL WINDS STRENGTHEN AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. ALREADY HAD A SHIP WEST OF BEAVER ISLAND OF 32 KTS AT 07Z. CONTINUED THE OCCASIONAL GALE GUST WORDING BUT DESPITE A VERY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION...ITS POSSIBLE THAT MORE PREVAILING GALES MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD/HALF OF THE LAKE. THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE GALE WARNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING... SHIFTING WINDS TO THE NORTHWEST AND STRONG GUSTS MAY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TO 15-25 KTS FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE PLAINS. THIS HIGH WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH WINDS DIMINISHING FURTHER BUT THE HIGH THEN BECOMES STATIONARY ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES AS THE STRONG REMNANTS OF SANDY MOVE NORTH ALONG THE EAST COAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE REMAINS QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY EARLY/MID NEXT WEEK BUT IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE...THERE COULD BE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NORTHERLY WINDS. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567- LMZ669-LMZ868-LMZ870 UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS UNTIL 10 PM SATURDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
339 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... 336 PM CDT PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... 1251 PM CDT THIS UPDATE STILL VALID FOR REST OF AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING... NO BIG CHANGES IN OVERALL FORECAST THINKING THIS AFTERNOON. WE DID SLOW FRONTAL TIMING SLIGHTLY...NOW EXPECT FRONT THROUGH THE ROCKFORD AREA AROUND 4PM CDT AND ACROSS THE CHICAGO METRO BETWEEN 6PM AND 8PM DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION. LATEST RAP GUIDANCE SUGGESTS 300-500 J/KG MUCAPE IMMEDIATELY ALONG THE FRONT WITH 50-60KT DEEP LAYER SHEAR. EXPECT CONVECTIVE COVERAGE TO INCREASE ALONG THE FRONT OVER NEXT FEW HOURS AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS IOWA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WITH INTENSE SHEAR NOTED IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR A MARGINAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. BMD DISCUSSION...LATE TONIGHT AND BEYOND... 300 PM CDT SHARP COLD FRONT TO HAVE MOVED TO NORTH CENTRAL AND WEST CENTRAL IN BY MIDNIGHT...WITH ONLY SOME LINGERING POST FRONTAL LIGHT SHOWERS INTO THE OVERNIGHT HOURS FROM NORTHWEST IN TO E CENTRAL IL. WITH THE FRONT AND THE POST FRONTAL SHOWERS HAVING MOVED EAST OF THE LOCAL FORECAST AREA DURING THE PREDAWN HOURS THE CLEARING SEEN UPSTREAM OVER SOUTHERN NE AND MUCH OF KS IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD INTO NORTHWEST AND WEST CENTRAL IL BY LATE EVENING...CONTINUING EASTWARD TO FAR NORTHEASTERN IL BY DAWN FRIDAY. THIS MORNING/S 12Z RAOBS SHOWED THAT BEHIND THE FRONT THAT COLD AIR HAD PENETRATED AS FAR SOUTH AS SOUTHERN NE WITH KLBF MEASURING AN 850 HPA TEMPERATURE OF -5C. THIS IS IN CONTRAST TO +15C REPORTED AT BOTH KTOP AND KDVN. THIS AIR WAS COLD ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SNOW THIS MORNING IN PARTS OF MN...IA AND NE. WHILE THE FRONTAL PASSAGE SHIFTS LOW LEVEL WINDS TO OUT OF THE NORTH-NORTHWEST AND NORTHWEST AND DROPS SURFACE TEMPERATURES SIGNIFICANTLY TONIGHT...THE FLOW LOCALLY 850 AND 800 HPA IS EXPECTED TO BACK TO WEST AND THE SOUTHWEST AT INCREASING HEIGHTS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO THERE ONLY VERY SLIGHT MID AND UPPER VEERING OF THE FLOW INDICATED DUE TO ANOTHER STRONG JET MAX AND SHORT WAVE TROUGH TO ROTATE NORTHEASTWARD FROM THEE CENTRAL PLAINS TO THE UPPER MIDWEST DURING THE NIGHT. THIS WEST TO SOUTHWEST FLOW ABOVE THE BOUNDARY LAYER KEEPS THE COOL AIR OVER THE LOCAL AREA RATHER SHALLOW AND ANY PRECIPITATION LINGERING INTO THE NIGHT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN LIQUID...ENDING BEFORE THE COLD AIR DEEPENS WITH THE PASSAGE OF THE UPSTREAM SHORT WAVE. WITH 850 HPA TEMPERATURE PROGS AVERAGING ABOUT +1 TO -2C OVER THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE DAY FRIDAY AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES SHOULD ONLY RECOVER TO UPPER 40S AND LOWER 50S IN THE AFTERNOON. ANOTHER SHORT WAVE TO MOVE ACROSS THE REGION LATE FRIDAY NIGHT AND EARLY SATURDAY REINFORCES THE LOW LEVEL COLD AIR...WHICH IS EXPECTED TO LIMIT MAX TEMPS FOR SATURDAY TO GENERALLY THE 45-50 DEG F RANGE...WITH SIMILAR HIGHS FOR SUNDAY AND MONDAY. NORTHWEST WINDS GRADUALLY VEER TO NORTH FRIDAY NIGHT AND NORTH-NORTHEAST SATURDAY BEFORE BACKING A BIT TO NORTH DURING SUNDAY AND INTO MONDAY. WHILE TEMPERATURE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN THE LAKE AND THE COLD LOW LEVEL AIR IS SUFFICIENT FOR LAKE EFFECT INITIATION PER MODEL FORECAST TEMPERATURE PROFILES ANY SIGNIFICANTLY VERTICAL GROWTH IS TO BE CAPPED BY AN OVERLYING INVERSION. THUS...ONLY EXPECT SOME LAKE EFFECT CLOUDS SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY NEAR THE LAKE AND INLAND TO THE KANKAKEE RIVER VALLEY OF NORTHWEST IN AND FAR NORTHEAST IL...ALONG AND NEAR THE IL-IN STATE LINE. BY SUNDAY NIGHT THIS INVERSION LESSENED AND EVENTUALLY ELIMINATED ALLOWING A SMALL CHANCE OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW AND RAIN SHOWERS SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY NIGHT. HOW LONG THE REGION REMAINS UNDER DEEP NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW AND THE VERY COOL AIR MASS DEPENDS ON HOW THE HURRICANE SANDY INTERACTS WITH THE UPPER TROUGH TO BE LOCATED FROM WESTERN HUDSON BAY ACROSS ONTARIO AND THE UPPER GREAT LAKES MONDAY. MODELS IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT IN TURNING SANDY NORTH-NORTHWESTWARD TO OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND COASTS LATE TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT. MODELS THEN CONTINUE TO MOVE THE EXTRA- TROPICAL SYSTEM NORTH-NORTHWEST OVER THE LOWER GREAT LAKES DURING LATER TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT...AND TO FAR SOUTHERN QUEBEC BY THURSDAY MORNING. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE VERY COOL AIR MASS WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE OVER THE REGION UNTIL AT LEAST LATE INTO NEXT WEEK KEEPING THE STRING OF BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURE CONDITIONS GOING. SOME INDICATION THAT AS THE SYSTEM MOVES TO THE LOWER GREAT LAKES AND SOUTHERN QUEBEC THAT MOISTURE WILL BE WRAPPED WEST AND SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE UPPER GREAT LAKES FOR LATER TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY WHICH BRINGS A SLIGHT CHANCE RAIN OR RAIN AND SNOW ALMOST TO THE WESTERN SHORE OF LAKE MI. HAVE SLIGHT CHANCES INTO NORTHWEST IN WHILE HAVE KEPT NORTHEAST IL BELOW THE SLIGHT CHANCE POP THRESHOLD AS WAY TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY AT THIS POINT. TRS && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 20Z... * SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 30 KT BECOMING NORTHWEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A BRIEF PERIOD OF STRONGER THAN 30KT NW WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT THEN SUBSIDING THEREAFTER. * SHOWERS ALONG AND MAINLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE. * MVFR/IFR CIGS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. BMD //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... A STRONG COLD FRONT IS BEGINNING TO PUSH INTO NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BKN STRATUS DECK AROUND 040 HAS OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS TERMINALS WITH SSW WINDS GUSTING AROUND 30KT. EXPECT LITTLE TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF THE FRONT EXCEPT FOR SOME LOWING OF CIGS TO 020-025. BASED ON FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARIOUS HOURLY MODELS AND A RADAR FIX ON THE COLD FRONT...HAVE FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FRONTAL TIMING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. DID BUMP BACK TIMING SLIGHTLY WITH THE 18Z ISSUANCE TO MATCH LATEST THINKING. A LITTLE LESS CERTAIN ARE THE CONVECTIVE CHANCES WITH THIS SYSTEM. THERE IS MODEST INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT WITH STRONG FORCING AND SUSPECT THAT SCT/BKN LINE TSRA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. NOT SURE AT THIS POINT HOW EXTENSIVE THE COVERAGE MAY BECOME SO WILL STICK WITH VCTS FOR NOW. IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA WITH THE THREAT FOR SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING FOR AN HOUR OR SO AFTER FROPA. EXPECT CIGS TO QUICKLY FALL INTO LOW END MVFR AND IFR CATEGORY...AND STILL CANNOT RULE OUT LIFR...THOUGH ONLY NAM SOUNDINGS ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND THERE MAY BE A SHORT PERIOD WHERE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 KT ARE POSSIBLE AS A STRONG AIR OF PRESSURE RISES MOVES ACROSS THE TERMINALS. OVERNIGHT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...THEN VFR WITH WINDS DIMINISHING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE WITH MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 12 KT AND OCCASIONAL GUSTS ON FRIDAY. BMD //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 20Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WIND DIRECTION/SPEEDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN SPEEDS OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FROPA/PRECIP TIMING. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN CIGS DROPPING BELOW 015...MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN DROPPING BELOW 010. BMD //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z SATURDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...PREDOMINANTLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 347 AM...THE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN THIS MORNING AS LOW LEVEL WINDS STRENGTHEN AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. ALREADY HAD A SHIP WEST OF BEAVER ISLAND OF 32 KTS AT 07Z. CONTINUED THE OCCASIONAL GALE GUST WORDING BUT DESPITE A VERY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION...ITS POSSIBLE THAT MORE PREVAILING GALES MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD/HALF OF THE LAKE. THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE GALE WARNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING... SHIFTING WINDS TO THE NORTHWEST AND STRONG GUSTS MAY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TO 15-25 KTS FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE PLAINS. THIS HIGH WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH WINDS DIMINISHING FURTHER BUT THE HIGH THEN BECOMES STATIONARY ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES AS THE STRONG REMNANTS OF SANDY MOVE NORTH ALONG THE EAST COAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE REMAINS QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY EARLY/MID NEXT WEEK BUT IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE...THERE COULD BE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NORTHERLY WINDS. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567- LMZ669-LMZ868-LMZ870 UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS UNTIL 10 PM SATURDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
232 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... 1251 PM CDT NO BIG CHANGES IN OVERALL FORECAST THINKING THIS AFTERNOON. WE DID SLOW FRONTAL TIMING SLIGHTLY...NOW EXPECT FRONT THROUGH THE ROCKFORD AREA AROUND 4PM CDT AND ACROSS THE CHICAGO METRO BETWEEN 6PM AND 8PM DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION. LATEST RAP GUIDANCE SUGGESTS 300-500 J/KG MUCAPE IMMEDIATELY ALONG THE FRONT WITH 50-60KT DEEP LAYER SHEAR. EXPECT CONVECTIVE COVERAGE TO INCREASE ALONG THE FRONT OVER NEXT FEW HOURS AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS IOWA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WITH INTENSE SHEAR NOTED IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR A MARGINAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. BMD //PREV DISCUSSION... 333 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING AN ACTIVE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER WAS RIDING ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY FROM CENTRAL KANSAS NORTHEAST THROUGH LAKE SUPERIOR. A SERIES OF CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES DEVELOPED LATE LAST NIGHT AND CONTINUE EARLY THIS MORNING. ACROSS NORTHERN IL/NORTHWEST IN FLOW REMAINS SOUTHERLY WITH VERY MILD AND MOIST CONDS. DEW PTS HAVE REMAINED IN THE LOW 60S OVERNIGHT...WHICH BASED ON CLIMATOLOGY IS A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAN THE NORMAL HIGH TEMPS ON THIS DATE. IT APPEARS THE DAY WILL START OFF WITH JUST SOME HIGH BASED CLOUDS OVERHEAD...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE SFC TO WARM-UP EFFICIENTLY. WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR COMPRESSIONAL WARMING TO TAKE PLACE...TEMPS ACROSS THE CWFA COULD EASILY PUSH BACK INTO THE UPR 70S TDY...AND COULD SEE A FEW 80 DEG READINGS SOUTH OF A PONTIAC TO KANKAKEE LINE. THEN THE LARGER FOCUS WILL BE ON THE PRECIP ARRIVAL...CONVECTION CHANCES...AND FRONTAL PASSAGE. MINIMAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST...AS IT APPEARS THE FRONT SHUD ARRIVE ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN CWFA ARND 18-21Z. LAPSE RATES STEEPEN...AND MUCAPE VALUES ARE PROGGED TO APPROACH 1000J/KG THIS AFTN. THE BEST SHEAR SHUD PASS WELL NORTH OF THE REGION...HOWEVER THE ENVIRONMENT OVERHEAD WILL BECOME FAVORABLE FOR CONVECTION EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING FROM WEST TO EAST. HI-RES GUIDANCE WAS SUGGESTING THAT PRECIP MAY BE MORE PLENTIFUL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE BNDRY. HAVE MAINTAINED MENTION OF CONVECTION...HOWEVER HAVE TRIMMED BACK FROM THE DEFINITE MENTION TO LIKELY. COULD EVEN SEE THIS BEING TRIMMED BACK TO CHC THUNDER. THEN THE BDNRY STEADILY MARCHES EAST ACROSS THE CWFA WITH WINDS TURNING WEST/NORTHWEST BY 00Z...AND EXPECT THE FRONT TO HAVE PUSHED EAST OF NORTHWEST IN AROUND 3Z FRI. THE CONVECTIVE THREAT WILL RAPIDLY DIMINISH AS WELL AS THE DRY AIR STEADILY ARRIVES LATE THIS AFTN. TEMPS WILL ALSO QUICKLY FALL POST FRONTAL...AND EXPECT BY 00Z LOCATIONS WEST OF A PONTIAC TO CRYSTAL LAKE LINE WILL HAVE TEMPS ALREADY IN THE UPR 40S. THEN THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RADIATE WITH LOWS IN THE MID 30S ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST...AND LOW 40S FOR NORTHWEST IN. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... 500MB TROUGH AXIS WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION FRI...THEN BEGIN TO WEAKEN THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND. HOWEVER...DESPITE THE WEAKENING THE GENERAL THEME WILL FEATURE A NORTHWEST FLOW. STRONG 500MB RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE CANADIAN MARITIME THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WHICH COULD SLOW THE WEAKENING OF THE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES. ENSEMBLES ARE DEMONSTRATING MINIMAL SPREAD AMONGST EACH MEMBER...THUS EXHIBITING A HIGH CONFIDENCE. SFC ANTI-CYCLONIC FLOW RAPIDLY PUSHES IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FRI...AND SHUD AID IN A QUICK EROSION TO THE CLOUDS/PRECIP. 850MB THERMAL TROUGH WILL STEADILY BUILD OVERHEAD FRI...WITH TEMPS MIDDAY OF 0 TO -2 DEG C. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THE BULK OF FRI WILL REMAIN DRY...HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL BE STEADILY DEVELOPING FOR LAKE EFFECT PRECIP GENERATION FRI EVE. LAKE EFFECT PRECIP LOOKS PROBABLE FOR FRI NGT THRU SUN...AS FLOW WILL GENERALLY BE NORTH. AT TIMES THE WINDS MAY VEER MORE TO THE NORTHEAST...WHICH WOULD FAVOR A BUCKLE IN THE EXPECTED LAKE EFFECT PRECIP COVERAGE AND PUSH IT OVER CHICAGO/WAUKEGAN. TEMPS DURING THE DAY SHUD WARM ENOUGH TO KEEP PRECIP IN A LIQUID STATE OR SHRA. THEN OVERNIGHT TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO RADIATE INTO THE LOW/MID 30S...WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME WET SNOW TO BECOME MIXED WITH THE LGT RA. OTHERWISE AREAS AWAY FROM LAKE MICHIGAN OR WEST OF I-355...SHOULD SEE DRY WEATHER THRU THE FRI-SUN PERIODS AND PSBLY SUNNY SKIES. AFTERNOON TEMPS SAT/SUN WILL STRUGGLE TO WARM WITH THE CONTINUED FEED OF COLD AIR ADVECTION INTO THE AREA. BASED OFF OF THE PLUMES AND GUIDANCE FOR THIS TIMEFRAME...MANY LOCATIONS MAY STRUGGLE TO WARM BEYOND THE LOW/MID 40S. IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT A FEW AREAS NORTH OF I-88 COULD SEE TEMPS HOLD IN THE UPR 30S SAT. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... THE FINAL FEW PERIODS OF THE EXTENDED BECOME VERY CHALLENGING. THE AFOREMENTIONED HIGH LATITUDE RIDGING OVER THE CANADIAN MARITIME IS PROGGED TO MAINTAIN ITSELF...AND GUIDANCE IS INDICATING THAT THE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL INITIALLY WEAKEN. THEN THIS TROUGH WILL UNDERGO SOME ENHANCEMENT TUE/WED. THE OTHER CHALLENGE IS THE TROPICAL SYSTEM IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...WHICH GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SUGGESTING WILL SKIRT THE EAST COAST. ONCE THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SANDY...APPROACHES THE NEW ENGLAND AREA GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING IT WILL MERGE WITH THE TROUGH AND AMPLIFY. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SLUG OF PRECIP PIVOTING WEST/SOUTHWEST ACROSS LOWER MICHIGAN TUE AND ARRIVE ACROSS NORTHERN IL/NORTHWEST IN TUE NGT/WED. OVERALL THE TEMP OUTLOOK FOR THE EXTENDED PERIODS WILL REMAIN COOL...WITH TEMPS GENERALLY IN THE MID/UPR 40S TO PSBLY LOW 50S TUE/WED. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL HINGE UPON CLOUD COVER...HOWEVER AT THIS TIME ANTICIPATE TEMPS IN THE UPR 20S TO LOW 30S. BEACHLER && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 20Z... * SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 30 KT BECOMING NORTHWEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A BRIEF PERIOD OF STRONGER THAN 30KT NW WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT THEN SUBSIDING THEREAFTER. * SHOWERS ALONG AND MAINLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE. * MVFR/IFR CIGS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. BMD //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... A STRONG COLD FRONT IS BEGINNING TO PUSH INTO NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BKN STRATUS DECK AROUND 040 HAS OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS TERMINALS WITH SSW WINDS GUSTING AROUND 30KT. EXPECT LITTLE TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF THE FRONT EXCEPT FOR SOME LOWING OF CIGS TO 020-025. BASED ON FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARIOUS HOURLY MODELS AND A RADAR FIX ON THE COLD FRONT...HAVE FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FRONTAL TIMING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. DID BUMP BACK TIMING SLIGHTLY WITH THE 18Z ISSUANCE TO MATCH LATEST THINKING. A LITTLE LESS CERTAIN ARE THE CONVECTIVE CHANCES WITH THIS SYSTEM. THERE IS MODEST INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT WITH STRONG FORCING AND SUSPECT THAT SCT/BKN LINE TSRA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. NOT SURE AT THIS POINT HOW EXTENSIVE THE COVERAGE MAY BECOME SO WILL STICK WITH VCTS FOR NOW. IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA WITH THE THREAT FOR SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING FOR AN HOUR OR SO AFTER FROPA. EXPECT CIGS TO QUICKLY FALL INTO LOW END MVFR AND IFR CATEGORY...AND STILL CANNOT RULE OUT LIFR...THOUGH ONLY NAM SOUNDINGS ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND THERE MAY BE A SHORT PERIOD WHERE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 KT ARE POSSIBLE AS A STRONG AIR OF PRESSURE RISES MOVES ACROSS THE TERMINALS. OVERNIGHT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...THEN VFR WITH WINDS DIMINISHING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE WITH MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 12 KT AND OCCASIONAL GUSTS ON FRIDAY. BMD //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 20Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WIND DIRECTION/SPEEDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN SPEEDS OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FROPA/PRECIP TIMING. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN CIGS DROPPING BELOW 015...MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN DROPPING BELOW 010. BMD //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z SATURDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...PREDOMINANTLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 347 AM...THE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN THIS MORNING AS LOW LEVEL WINDS STRENGTHEN AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. ALREADY HAD A SHIP WEST OF BEAVER ISLAND OF 32 KTS AT 07Z. CONTINUED THE OCCASIONAL GALE GUST WORDING BUT DESPITE A VERY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION...ITS POSSIBLE THAT MORE PREVAILING GALES MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD/HALF OF THE LAKE. THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE GALE WARNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING... SHIFTING WINDS TO THE NORTHWEST AND STRONG GUSTS MAY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TO 15-25 KTS FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE PLAINS. THIS HIGH WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH WINDS DIMINISHING FURTHER BUT THE HIGH THEN BECOMES STATIONARY ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES AS THE STRONG REMNANTS OF SANDY MOVE NORTH ALONG THE EAST COAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE REMAINS QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY EARLY/MID NEXT WEEK BUT IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE...THERE COULD BE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NORTHERLY WINDS. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567- LMZ669-LMZ868-LMZ870 UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS UNTIL 10 PM SATURDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
1252 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... 1251 PM CDT NO BIG CHANGES IN OVERALL FORECAST THINKING THIS AFTERNOON. WE DID SLOW FRONTAL TIMING SLIGHTLY...NOW EXPECT FRONT THROUGH THE ROCKFORD AREA AROUND 4PM CDT AND ACROSS THE CHICAGO METRO BETWEEN 6PM AND 8PM DEPENDING ON YOUR LOCATION. LATEST RAP GUIDANCE SUGGESTS 300-500 J/KG MUCAPE IMMEDIATELY ALONG THE FRONT WITH 50-60KT DEEP LAYER SHEAR. EXPECT CONVECTIVE COVERAGE TO INCREASE ALONG THE FRONT OVER NEXT FEW HOURS AS A SHORTWAVE TROUGH BEGINS TO LIFT NORTHEAST ACROSS IOWA EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. WITH INTENSE SHEAR NOTED IMMEDIATELY ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE FRONT...WILL HAVE TO MONITOR FOR A MARGINAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT THROUGH THE AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING AS FAST MOVING THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED TO DEVELOP. BMD && .PREV DISCUSSION... 333 AM CDT EARLY THIS MORNING AN ACTIVE ATMOSPHERIC RIVER WAS RIDING ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY FROM CENTRAL KANSAS NORTHEAST THROUGH LAKE SUPERIOR. A SERIES OF CONVECTIVE COMPLEXES DEVELOPED LATE LAST NIGHT AND CONTINUE EARLY THIS MORNING. ACROSS NORTHERN IL/NORTHWEST IN FLOW REMAINS SOUTHERLY WITH VERY MILD AND MOIST CONDS. DEW PTS HAVE REMAINED IN THE LOW 60S OVERNIGHT...WHICH BASED ON CLIMATOLOGY IS A FEW DEGREES WARMER THAN THE NORMAL HIGH TEMPS ON THIS DATE. IT APPEARS THE DAY WILL START OFF WITH JUST SOME HIGH BASED CLOUDS OVERHEAD...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE SFC TO WARM-UP EFFICIENTLY. WITH SOME POTENTIAL FOR COMPRESSIONAL WARMING TO TAKE PLACE...TEMPS ACROSS THE CWFA COULD EASILY PUSH BACK INTO THE UPR 70S TDY...AND COULD SEE A FEW 80 DEG READINGS SOUTH OF A PONTIAC TO KANKAKEE LINE. THEN THE LARGER FOCUS WILL BE ON THE PRECIP ARRIVAL...CONVECTION CHANCES...AND FRONTAL PASSAGE. MINIMAL ADJUSTMENTS TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST...AS IT APPEARS THE FRONT SHUD ARRIVE ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN CWFA ARND 18-21Z. LAPSE RATES STEEPEN...AND MUCAPE VALUES ARE PROGGED TO APPROACH 1000J/KG THIS AFTN. THE BEST SHEAR SHUD PASS WELL NORTH OF THE REGION...HOWEVER THE ENVIRONMENT OVERHEAD WILL BECOME FAVORABLE FOR CONVECTION EARLY THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING FROM WEST TO EAST. HI-RES GUIDANCE WAS SUGGESTING THAT PRECIP MAY BE MORE PLENTIFUL IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE BNDRY. HAVE MAINTAINED MENTION OF CONVECTION...HOWEVER HAVE TRIMMED BACK FROM THE DEFINITE MENTION TO LIKELY. COULD EVEN SEE THIS BEING TRIMMED BACK TO CHC THUNDER. THEN THE BDNRY STEADILY MARCHES EAST ACROSS THE CWFA WITH WINDS TURNING WEST/NORTHWEST BY 00Z...AND EXPECT THE FRONT TO HAVE PUSHED EAST OF NORTHWEST IN AROUND 3Z FRI. THE CONVECTIVE THREAT WILL RAPIDLY DIMINISH AS WELL AS THE DRY AIR STEADILY ARRIVES LATE THIS AFTN. TEMPS WILL ALSO QUICKLY FALL POST FRONTAL...AND EXPECT BY 00Z LOCATIONS WEST OF A PONTIAC TO CRYSTAL LAKE LINE WILL HAVE TEMPS ALREADY IN THE UPR 40S. THEN THEY WILL CONTINUE TO RADIATE WITH LOWS IN THE MID 30S ACROSS THE FAR NORTHWEST...AND LOW 40S FOR NORTHWEST IN. FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY... 500MB TROUGH AXIS WILL PUSH EAST ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION FRI...THEN BEGIN TO WEAKEN THROUGH THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEKEND. HOWEVER...DESPITE THE WEAKENING THE GENERAL THEME WILL FEATURE A NORTHWEST FLOW. STRONG 500MB RIDGE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE ACROSS THE CANADIAN MARITIME THROUGH THE WEEKEND...WHICH COULD SLOW THE WEAKENING OF THE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES. ENSEMBLES ARE DEMONSTRATING MINIMAL SPREAD AMONGST EACH MEMBER...THUS EXHIBITING A HIGH CONFIDENCE. SFC ANTI-CYCLONIC FLOW RAPIDLY PUSHES IN BEHIND THE COLD FRONT FRI...AND SHUD AID IN A QUICK EROSION TO THE CLOUDS/PRECIP. 850MB THERMAL TROUGH WILL STEADILY BUILD OVERHEAD FRI...WITH TEMPS MIDDAY OF 0 TO -2 DEG C. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THE BULK OF FRI WILL REMAIN DRY...HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL BE STEADILY DEVELOPING FOR LAKE EFFECT PRECIP GENERATION FRI EVE. LAKE EFFECT PRECIP LOOKS PROBABLE FOR FRI NGT THRU SUN...AS FLOW WILL GENERALLY BE NORTH. AT TIMES THE WINDS MAY VEER MORE TO THE NORTHEAST...WHICH WOULD FAVOR A BUCKLE IN THE EXPECTED LAKE EFFECT PRECIP COVERAGE AND PUSH IT OVER CHICAGO/WAUKEGAN. TEMPS DURING THE DAY SHUD WARM ENOUGH TO KEEP PRECIP IN A LIQUID STATE OR SHRA. THEN OVERNIGHT TEMPS ARE EXPECTED TO RADIATE INTO THE LOW/MID 30S...WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME WET SNOW TO BECOME MIXED WITH THE LGT RA. OTHERWISE AREAS AWAY FROM LAKE MICHIGAN OR WEST OF I-355...SHOULD SEE DRY WEATHER THRU THE FRI-SUN PERIODS AND PSBLY SUNNY SKIES. AFTERNOON TEMPS SAT/SUN WILL STRUGGLE TO WARM WITH THE CONTINUED FEED OF COLD AIR ADVECTION INTO THE AREA. BASED OFF OF THE PLUMES AND GUIDANCE FOR THIS TIMEFRAME...MANY LOCATIONS MAY STRUGGLE TO WARM BEYOND THE LOW/MID 40S. IT IS CONCEIVABLE THAT A FEW AREAS NORTH OF I-88 COULD SEE TEMPS HOLD IN THE UPR 30S SAT. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY... THE FINAL FEW PERIODS OF THE EXTENDED BECOME VERY CHALLENGING. THE AFOREMENTIONED HIGH LATITUDE RIDGING OVER THE CANADIAN MARITIME IS PROGGED TO MAINTAIN ITSELF...AND GUIDANCE IS INDICATING THAT THE TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES WILL INITIALLY WEAKEN. THEN THIS TROUGH WILL UNDERGO SOME ENHANCEMENT TUE/WED. THE OTHER CHALLENGE IS THE TROPICAL SYSTEM IN THE WESTERN ATLANTIC...WHICH GUIDANCE HAS BEEN SUGGESTING WILL SKIRT THE EAST COAST. ONCE THE TROPICAL SYSTEM...SANDY...APPROACHES THE NEW ENGLAND AREA GUIDANCE IS SUGGESTING IT WILL MERGE WITH THE TROUGH AND AMPLIFY. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SLUG OF PRECIP PIVOTING WEST/SOUTHWEST ACROSS LOWER MICHIGAN TUE AND ARRIVE ACROSS NORTHERN IL/NORTHWEST IN TUE NGT/WED. OVERALL THE TEMP OUTLOOK FOR THE EXTENDED PERIODS WILL REMAIN COOL...WITH TEMPS GENERALLY IN THE MID/UPR 40S TO PSBLY LOW 50S TUE/WED. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL HINGE UPON CLOUD COVER...HOWEVER AT THIS TIME ANTICIPATE TEMPS IN THE UPR 20S TO LOW 30S. BEACHLER && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 18Z... * SOUTH WINDS GUSTING TO NEAR 30 KT BECOMING NORTHWEST LATE THIS AFTERNOON. A BRIEF PERIOD OF STRONGER THAN 30KT NW WINDS ARE POSSIBLE IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...BUT THEN SUBSIDING THEREAFTER. * SHOWERS ALONG AND MAINLY BEHIND A COLD FRONT...WITH SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ALSO POSSIBLE. * MVFR/IFR CIGS IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...POSSIBLY BRIEF LIFR. BMD //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... A STRONG COLD FRONT IS BEGINNING TO PUSH INTO NORTHWESTERN ILLINOIS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BKN STRATUS DECK AROUND 040 HAS OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE NORTHERN ILLINOIS TERMINALS WITH SSW WINDS GUSTING AROUND 30KT. EXPECT LITTLE TO CHANGE OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AHEAD OF THE FRONT EXCEPT FOR SOME LOWING OF CIGS TO 020-025. BASED ON FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT BETWEEN VARIOUS HOURLY MODELS AND A RADAR FIX ON THE COLD FRONT...HAVE FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FRONTAL TIMING LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. DID BUMP BACK TIMING SLIGHTLY WITH THE 18Z ISSUANCE TO MATCH LATEST THINKING. A LITTLE LESS CERTAIN ARE THE CONVECTIVE CHANCES WITH THIS SYSTEM. THERE IS MODEST INSTABILITY ALONG THE FRONT WITH STRONG FORCING AND SUSPECT THAT SCT/BKN LINE TSRA WILL CONTINUE TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. NOT SURE AT THIS POINT HOW EXTENSIVE THE COVERAGE MAY BECOME SO WILL STICK WITH VCTS FOR NOW. IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE FRONT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO RAPIDLY DETERIORATE. RAIN WILL OVERSPREAD THE AREA WITH THE THREAT FOR SOME EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUING FOR AN HOUR OR SO AFTER FROPA. EXPECT CIGS TO QUICKLY FALL INTO LOW END MVFR AND IFR CATEGORY...AND STILL CANNOT RULE OUT LIFR...THOUGH ONLY NAM SOUNDINGS ARE STRONGLY IN FAVOR OF THIS. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST AND THERE MAY BE A SHORT PERIOD WHERE WIND GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30 KT ARE POSSIBLE AS A STRONG AIR OF PRESSURE RISES MOVES ACROSS THE TERMINALS. OVERNIGHT...EXPECT CONDITIONS TO GRADUALLY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...THEN VFR WITH WINDS DIMINISHING AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE WITH MODERATE NORTHWEST WINDS AROUND 12 KT AND OCCASIONAL GUSTS ON FRIDAY. BMD //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 18Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WIND DIRECTION/SPEEDS THROUGH THIS EVENING. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN SPEEDS OVERNIGHT AND FRIDAY. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN FROPA/PRECIP TIMING. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN CIGS DROPPING BELOW 015 AND LIKELY 010...LOW TO MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN LESS THAN 005. BMD //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z SATURDAY-12Z THURSDAY...UPDATED 12Z... * FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY...PREDOMINANTLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. * TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...VFR. && .MARINE... 347 AM...THE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO TIGHTEN THIS MORNING AS LOW LEVEL WINDS STRENGTHEN AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. ALREADY HAD A SHIP WEST OF BEAVER ISLAND OF 32 KTS AT 07Z. CONTINUED THE OCCASIONAL GALE GUST WORDING BUT DESPITE A VERY STRONG MARINE LAYER/INVERSION...ITS POSSIBLE THAT MORE PREVAILING GALES MAY DEVELOP LATER THIS MORNING AND CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON...MAINLY OVER THE NORTHERN THIRD/HALF OF THE LAKE. THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED FOR A POSSIBLE GALE WARNING. THE COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE LAKE LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING... SHIFTING WINDS TO THE NORTHWEST AND STRONG GUSTS MAY ACCOMPANY THE PASSAGE OF THE FRONT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH TO 15-25 KTS FRIDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS THE PLAINS. THIS HIGH WILL SPREAD EAST ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY WITH WINDS DIMINISHING FURTHER BUT THE HIGH THEN BECOMES STATIONARY ACROSS THE WESTERN LAKES AS THE STRONG REMNANTS OF SANDY MOVE NORTH ALONG THE EAST COAST SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE REMAINS QUITE A BIT OF UNCERTAINTY EARLY/MID NEXT WEEK BUT IF CURRENT TRENDS CONTINUE...THERE COULD BE A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NORTHERLY WINDS. CMS && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...GALE WARNING...LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565-LMZ567- LMZ669-LMZ868-LMZ870 UNTIL 10 PM THURSDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WATERS UNTIL 10 PM SATURDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
1028 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .UPDATE... THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE SHOWERS WILL BE ENDING ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN AND EAST CENTRAL PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AROUND SUNRISE AS A COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS. AFTER THAT...EXPECT WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES IN ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI AND WABASH VALLEYS. IT WILL BE MOSTLY DRY...HOWEVER THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS ALL BUT SOUTHWEST PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY. THE RAIN SHOWERS COULD MIX WITH SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT. AFTERNOON HIGHS THROUGH NEXT WEEK WILL ONLY BE IN THE 40S AND 50S...WHILE OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE 30S. && .NEAR TERM /REST OF TONIGHT/... ISSUED AT 945 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 APPEARS THAT MAJORITY OF SHOWER ACTIVITY HAS ENDED ACROSS EASTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA...BUT WHAT IS LEFT ALONG WITH POTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS TO THE SOUTH TO BRUSH EASTERN BORDER MERITS MAINTAINING A SLIGHT CHANCE TO VERY LOW CHANCE ALONG THE EASTERN/SOUTHEASTERN HALF OR SO OF THE AREA. OTHERWISE...TIGHTENED UP TEMPERATURE GRADIENT IN MINS OVERNIGHT AS THERE SHOULD BE CLOUD ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE AREA MOST OF THE NIGHT...WITH WESTERN PORTIONS SEEING MUCH MORE CLEAR SKY TIME. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 MAIN CHALLENGE TO THE SHORT TERM WILL BE WHETHER TO KEEP ANY MORNING POPS IN ON SATURDAY AND THEN WHETHER OR NOT THE EAST SEES ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY MONDAY FROM SANDY. TEMPERATURES AND POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FREEZING WILL ALSO BE A MAIN FOCUS. AT THIS POINT...ALL THE 12Z MODEL RUNS AND THE 00Z ECMWF SUGGEST THE SHOWERS WILL BE JUST EAST OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA BY 12Z SATURDAY WITH DECREASING CLOUD COVER. ALTHOUGH CLOUD COVER WILL BE ON THE LOW SIDE...NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS TO AROUND 15 MPH AND GUSTING TO AROUND 20 WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES DOWN TOWARDS THE COOLER GFS MOS IN THE LOWER 50S FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. MODELS ARE ALL BRINGING SOME HIGH CLOUDS IN SATURDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF AN UPPER TROUGH. HOWEVER...WITH THE NORTH WINDS CONTINUING AT 5 TO 10 MPH...TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING PER SIMILAR MOS LOOK GOOD. NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN WIDESPREAD FREEZING AT THIS TIME TO ISSUE ANY HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN TWO TIERS...WHERE THEY HAVE YET TO HAVE A HARD FREEZE THIS FALL. SUNDAY SHOULD BE NEAR A CARBON COPY OF SATURDAY EXCEPT SLIGHTLY COOLER STILL WITH JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS AND NORTH WINDS CONTINUING NEAR 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 20. 850 MILLIBAR TEMPERATURES COOL A COUPLE OF DEGREES TO -2 TO -4 DEGREES CELSIUS LATE SUNDAY WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN AFTERNOON HIGHS ONLY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S PER THE COOLER 12Z GFS MOS AND ALLBLEND. SUNDAY NIGHT...MODELS AGREE ON A DRY COLUMN WITH SOME LIGHTER NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURES A COUPLE OF DEGREES COLDER SUNDAY NIGHT THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. MOST AREAS WILL SHOULD SEE TEMPERATURES RIGHT AROUND THE FREEZING MARK...SO COULD VERY WELL SEE HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES...BUT FOR NOW A BIT EARLY. FINALLY...THE 00Z ECMWF WAS BY FAR THE FURTHEST WEST OF THE MODELS REGARDING SANDY 00Z MONDAY...AND THE EURO BRINGS LOW QPF AS FAR EAST AS RANDOLPH COUNTY. THE OTHER MODELS...ESPECIALLY THE 12Z GFS...ARE MUCH FURTHER NORTHEAST WITH SANDY AND HAVE THE QPF WELL EAST OF OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA. ALTHOUGH...HPC AND THE HURRICANE CENTER`S OFFICIAL FORECAST SIDE WITH THE EURO...HAVE TO LEND AT LEAST SMALL CREDENCE TO THE OTHER MODELS AND KEEP POPS OUT OF OUR EAST FOR NOW ON MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE WELL BELOW NORMAL DESPITE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AS NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 15 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO NEAR 20 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE LONG TERM STARTS WITH A LARGE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL U.S. AND A STRONG UPPER LOW /SANDY/ OFF THE EAST COAST. THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES WITH THE HANDLING OF SANDY IN THE MODELS AND THIS WILL IMPACT THE FORECAST HERE. THE ECMWF BRINGS THE SYSTEM FURTHER WEST AND WOULD BRING RAIN TO THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND PERHAPS TO THE ENTIRE AREA AS EARLY AS TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE GFS KEEPS THE SYSTEM MORE TO THE EAST AND ONLY BRINGS IN A LITTLE RAIN IN THE NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY. GFS SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO COLDER. ENSEMBLES ARE LITTLE HELP WITH QUITE A BIT OF VARIABILITY IN THE SOLUTIONS. THINK BEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT IS TO LEAVE THE ALLBLEND POPS ALONE EXCEPT FOR MINOR TWEAKING LIKE REMOVING SMALL SLIGHT CHANCES IN THE NORTHEAST MONDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. IF PRECIPITATION OCCURS BEFORE WEDNESDAY A LA THE ECM TEMPERATURES COULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR ALL RAIN...BUT GFS TEMPERATURES ARE QUITE A BIT COOLER AND AFTER COLLABORATION NECESSITATE THE INCLUSION OF A RAIN SNOW MIX. NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IF FLAKES OCCUR. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR 270300Z TAF UPDATE/... ISSUED AT 1028 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THICKER AC DECK CONTINUES TO STEADILY SHIFT EAST THIS EVENING...AND SHOULD CLEAR BOTH KBMG AND KIND BY 05Z. REST OF THE NIGHT SHOULD SEE MAINLY CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AT THE TERMINALS WITH JUST SOME HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS. 00Z DISCUSSION FOLLOWS. WITH EXCEPTION OF BRIEF MVFR CEILINGS THIS EVENING AT KBMG...VFR CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES TO SLOWLY PULL AWAY TO THE EAST. DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT AS A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXPANDS INTO THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. MODEL SOUNDINGS AND RAP LOW LEVEL RH PROGS SHOWING BACK EDGE OF DEEPEST MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS EASTERN INDIANA TONIGHT...AND MAY ACTUALLY SLIP BACK INTO KBMG AND KIND. CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN THIS POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT...BUT WILL KEEP A FEW-SCT MENTION OF 3-4KFT STRATOCU AT BOTH SITES ALL NIGHT. HIGH CLOUDS WILL BECOME THE PREDOMINANT CEILING AT BOTH KHUF AND KLAF OVERNIGHT. NORTHERLY FLOW AROUND 10KTS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. DRIER AIR AND DEEPER SUBSIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH WILL BUILD ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA SATURDAY WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE EXPECTED. MAY SEE DIURNAL CU DURING THE AFTERNOON AT ALL TERMINALS IN A COLD ADVECTION PATTERN. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL GUST TO 20-25KTS DURING THE AFTERNOON AS LOWER LEVEL BECOME WELL MIXED. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...NIELD SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....CP AVIATION...RYAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
946 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .UPDATE... THE NEAR TERM SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE SHOWERS WILL BE ENDING ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN AND EAST CENTRAL PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AROUND SUNRISE AS A COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS. AFTER THAT...EXPECT WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES IN ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI AND WABASH VALLEYS. IT WILL BE MOSTLY DRY...HOWEVER THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS ALL BUT SOUTHWEST PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY. THE RAIN SHOWERS COULD MIX WITH SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT. AFTERNOON HIGHS THROUGH NEXT WEEK WILL ONLY BE IN THE 40S AND 50S...WHILE OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE 30S. && .NEAR TERM /REST OF TONIGHT/... ISSUED AT 945 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 APPEARS THAT MAJORITY OF SHOWER ACTIVITY HAS ENDED ACROSS EASTERN PORTION OF THE FORECAST AREA...BUT WHAT IS LEFT ALONG WITH PROTENTIAL FOR SHOWERS TO THE SOUTH TO BRUSH EASTERN BORDER MERITS MAINTAINING A SLIGHT CHANCE TO VERY LOW CHANCE ALONG THE EASTERN/SOUTHEASTERN HALF OR SO OF THE AREA. OTHERWISE...TIGHTENED UP TEMPERATURE GRADIENT IN MINS OVERNIGHT AS THERE SHOULD BE CLOUD ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN PORTION OF THE AREA MOST OF THE NIGHT...WITH WESTERN PORTIONS SEEING MUCH MORE CLEAR SKY TIME. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 MAIN CHALLENGE TO THE SHORT TERM WILL BE WHETHER TO KEEP ANY MORNING POPS IN ON SATURDAY AND THEN WHETHER OR NOT THE EAST SEES ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY MONDAY FROM SANDY. TEMPERATURES AND POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FREEZING WILL ALSO BE A MAIN FOCUS. AT THIS POINT...ALL THE 12Z MODEL RUNS AND THE 00Z ECMWF SUGGEST THE SHOWERS WILL BE JUST EAST OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA BY 12Z SATURDAY WITH DECREASING CLOUD COVER. ALTHOUGH CLOUD COVER WILL BE ON THE LOW SIDE...NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS TO AROUND 15 MPH AND GUSTING TO AROUND 20 WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES DOWN TOWARDS THE COOLER GFS MOS IN THE LOWER 50S FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. MODELS ARE ALL BRINGING SOME HIGH CLOUDS IN SATURDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF AN UPPER TROUGH. HOWEVER...WITH THE NORTH WINDS CONTINUING AT 5 TO 10 MPH...TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING PER SIMILAR MOS LOOK GOOD. NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN WIDESPREAD FREEZING AT THIS TIME TO ISSUE ANY HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN TWO TIERS...WHERE THEY HAVE YET TO HAVE A HARD FREEZE THIS FALL. SUNDAY SHOULD BE NEAR A CARBON COPY OF SATURDAY EXCEPT SLIGHTLY COOLER STILL WITH JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS AND NORTH WINDS CONTINUING NEAR 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 20. 850 MILLIBAR TEMPERATURES COOL A COUPLE OF DEGREES TO -2 TO -4 DEGREES CELSIUS LATE SUNDAY WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN AFTERNOON HIGHS ONLY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S PER THE COOLER 12Z GFS MOS AND ALLBLEND. SUNDAY NIGHT...MODELS AGREE ON A DRY COLUMN WITH SOME LIGHTER NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURES A COUPLE OF DEGREES COLDER SUNDAY NIGHT THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. MOST AREAS WILL SHOULD SEE TEMPERATURES RIGHT AROUND THE FREEZING MARK...SO COULD VERY WELL SEE HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES...BUT FOR NOW A BIT EARLY. FINALLY...THE 00Z ECMWF WAS BY FAR THE FURTHEST WEST OF THE MODELS REGARDING SANDY 00Z MONDAY...AND THE EURO BRINGS LOW QPF AS FAR EAST AS RANDOLPH COUNTY. THE OTHER MODELS...ESPECIALLY THE 12Z GFS...ARE MUCH FURTHER NORTHEAST WITH SANDY AND HAVE THE QPF WELL EAST OF OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA. ALTHOUGH...HPC AND THE HURRICANE CENTER`S OFFICIAL FORECAST SIDE WITH THE EURO...HAVE TO LEND AT LEAST SMALL CREDENCE TO THE OTHER MODELS AND KEEP POPS OUT OF OUR EAST FOR NOW ON MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE WELL BELOW NORMAL DESPITE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AS NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 15 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO NEAR 20 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE LONG TERM STARTS WITH A LARGE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL U.S. AND A STRONG UPPER LOW /SANDY/ OFF THE EAST COAST. THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES WITH THE HANDLING OF SANDY IN THE MODELS AND THIS WILL IMPACT THE FORECAST HERE. THE ECMWF BRINGS THE SYSTEM FURTHER WEST AND WOULD BRING RAIN TO THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND PERHAPS TO THE ENTIRE AREA AS EARLY AS TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE GFS KEEPS THE SYSTEM MORE TO THE EAST AND ONLY BRINGS IN A LITTLE RAIN IN THE NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY. GFS SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO COLDER. ENSEMBLES ARE LITTLE HELP WITH QUITE A BIT OF VARIABILITY IN THE SOLUTIONS. THINK BEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT IS TO LEAVE THE ALLBLEND POPS ALONE EXCEPT FOR MINOR TWEAKING LIKE REMOVING SMALL SLIGHT CHANCES IN THE NORTHEAST MONDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. IF PRECIPITATION OCCURS BEFORE WEDNESDAY A LA THE ECM TEMPERATURES COULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR ALL RAIN...BUT GFS TEMPERATURES ARE QUITE A BIT COOLER AND AFTER COLLABORATION NECESSITATE THE INCLUSION OF A RAIN SNOW MIX. NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IF FLAKES OCCUR. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR 270000Z TAF ISSUANCE/... ISSUED AT 709 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 WITH EXCEPTION OF BRIEF MVFR CEILINGS THIS EVENING AT KBMG...VFR CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES TO SLOWLY PULL AWAY TO THE EAST. DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT AS A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXPANDS INTO THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. MODEL SOUNDINGS AND RAP LOW LEVEL RH PROGS SHOWING BACK EDGE OF DEEPEST MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS EASTERN INDIANA TONIGHT...AND MAY ACTUALLY SLIP BACK INTO KBMG AND KIND. CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN THIS POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT...BUT WILL KEEP A FEW-SCT MENTION OF 3-4KFT STRATOCU AT BOTH SITES ALL NIGHT. HIGH CLOUDS WILL BECOME THE PREDOMINANT CEILING AT BOTH KHUF AND KLAF OVERNIGHT. NORTHERLY FLOW AROUND 10KTS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. DRIER AIR AND DEEPER SUBSIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH WILL BUILD ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA SATURDAY WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE EXPECTED. MAY SEE DIURNAL CU DURING THE AFTERNOON AT ALL TERMINALS IN A COLD ADVECTION PATTERN. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL GUST TO 20-25KTS DURING THE AFTERNOON AS LOWER LEVEL BECOME WELL MIXED. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...NIELD SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....CP AVIATION...RYAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS INDIANAPOLIS IN
709 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .UPDATE... THE AVIATION SECTION HAS BEEN UPDATED BELOW. && .SYNOPSIS... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE SHOWERS WILL BE ENDING ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN AND EAST CENTRAL PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA AROUND SUNRISE AS A COLD FRONT STALLS ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS. AFTER THAT...EXPECT WELL BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES TO CONTINUE THROUGH NEXT WEEK AS HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES IN ACROSS THE MISSISSIPPI AND WABASH VALLEYS. IT WILL BE MOSTLY DRY...HOWEVER THERE IS A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS ALL BUT SOUTHWEST PARTS OF CENTRAL INDIANA TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY. THE RAIN SHOWERS COULD MIX WITH SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT. AFTERNOON HIGHS THROUGH NEXT WEEK WILL ONLY BE IN THE 40S AND 50S...WHILE OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE IN THE 30S. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 MAIN CHALLENGE TO THE NEAR TERM WILL BE POPS AS THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO STALL ACROSS THE APPALACHIANS IN RESPONSE TO SANDY SHADOWING THE EASTERN COAST. THE 00Z ECMWF WAS THE QUICKEST TO END QPF TONIGHT FOLLOWED BY THE 12Z RUNS OF THE GFS...NAM AND CANADIAN. PREFER TO USE THE NAM QPF FIELD AS A CUTOFF FOR POPS AS IT MATCHES UP BEST WITH THE 13Z RAPID REFRESH REFLECTIVITY PROG. HOWEVER...WILL GO SLIGHTLY WEST OF THAT AS A BUFFER BUT NOT AS FAR WEST AS THE CANADIAN. THIS WOULD LEAVE THE CUTOFF FOR POPS TONIGHT ALONG A LINE FROM ABOUT ANDERSON TO BEECH GROVE TO LOOGOOTEE THROUGH 06Z AND FROM ABOUT MUNCIE TO SEYMOUR FROM 06Z-12Z. POPS WILL TAPER FROM LIKELY SOUTHEAST TO SLIGHT CHANCE FURTHER WEST THROUGH 06Z WITH JUST CHANCE POPS THEREAFTER. ALSO...PARTIAL CLEARING WILL WORK ITS WAY EASTWARD ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. THIS SHOULD BRING TEMPERATURES TO NEAR FREEZING NORTHWEST WITH THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA ONLY EXPECTED TO GET DOWN TO THE MID AND UPPER 30S WITH MORE CLOUD COVER PER SIMILAR MOS. ALLBLEND LOOKS GOOD. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 MAIN CHALLENGE TO THE SHORT TERM WILL BE WHETHER TO KEEP ANY MORNING POPS IN ON SATURDAY AND THEN WHETHER OR NOT THE EAST SEES ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY MONDAY FROM SANDY. TEMPERATURES AND POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT FREEZING WILL ALSO BE A MAIN FOCUS. AT THIS POINT...ALL THE 12Z MODEL RUNS AND THE 00Z ECMWF SUGGEST THE SHOWERS WILL BE JUST EAST OF EAST CENTRAL INDIANA BY 12Z SATURDAY WITH DECREASING CLOUD COVER. ALTHOUGH CLOUD COVER WILL BE ON THE LOW SIDE...NORTH AND NORTHEAST WINDS TO AROUND 15 MPH AND GUSTING TO AROUND 20 WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES DOWN TOWARDS THE COOLER GFS MOS IN THE LOWER 50S FOR AFTERNOON HIGHS. MODELS ARE ALL BRINGING SOME HIGH CLOUDS IN SATURDAY NIGHT AHEAD OF AN UPPER TROUGH. HOWEVER...WITH THE NORTH WINDS CONTINUING AT 5 TO 10 MPH...TEMPERATURES NEAR FREEZING PER SIMILAR MOS LOOK GOOD. NOT ENOUGH CONFIDENCE IN WIDESPREAD FREEZING AT THIS TIME TO ISSUE ANY HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN TWO TIERS...WHERE THEY HAVE YET TO HAVE A HARD FREEZE THIS FALL. SUNDAY SHOULD BE NEAR A CARBON COPY OF SATURDAY EXCEPT SLIGHTLY COOLER STILL WITH JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS AND NORTH WINDS CONTINUING NEAR 15 MPH WITH GUSTS TO NEAR 20. 850 MILLIBAR TEMPERATURES COOL A COUPLE OF DEGREES TO -2 TO -4 DEGREES CELSIUS LATE SUNDAY WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN AFTERNOON HIGHS ONLY IN THE UPPER 40S TO LOWER 50S PER THE COOLER 12Z GFS MOS AND ALLBLEND. SUNDAY NIGHT...MODELS AGREE ON A DRY COLUMN WITH SOME LIGHTER NORTH AND NORTHWEST WINDS WHICH SHOULD ALLOW FOR TEMPERATURES A COUPLE OF DEGREES COLDER SUNDAY NIGHT THAN SATURDAY NIGHT. MOST AREAS WILL SHOULD SEE TEMPERATURES RIGHT AROUND THE FREEZING MARK...SO COULD VERY WELL SEE HEADLINES FOR OUR SOUTHERN COUNTIES...BUT FOR NOW A BIT EARLY. FINALLY...THE 00Z ECMWF WAS BY FAR THE FURTHEST WEST OF THE MODELS REGARDING SANDY 00Z MONDAY...AND THE EURO BRINGS LOW QPF AS FAR EAST AS RANDOLPH COUNTY. THE OTHER MODELS...ESPECIALLY THE 12Z GFS...ARE MUCH FURTHER NORTHEAST WITH SANDY AND HAVE THE QPF WELL EAST OF OUR COUNTY WARNING AREA. ALTHOUGH...HPC AND THE HURRICANE CENTER`S OFFICIAL FORECAST SIDE WITH THE EURO...HAVE TO LEND AT LEAST SMALL CREDENCE TO THE OTHER MODELS AND KEEP POPS OUT OF OUR EAST FOR NOW ON MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO BE WELL BELOW NORMAL DESPITE PLENTY OF SUNSHINE AS NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR 15 KNOTS AND GUSTS TO NEAR 20 KNOTS ARE EXPECTED. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... ISSUED AT 252 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 THE LONG TERM STARTS WITH A LARGE UPPER RIDGE OVER THE WESTERN AND CENTRAL U.S. AND A STRONG UPPER LOW /SANDY/ OFF THE EAST COAST. THERE ARE DISCREPANCIES WITH THE HANDLING OF SANDY IN THE MODELS AND THIS WILL IMPACT THE FORECAST HERE. THE ECMWF BRINGS THE SYSTEM FURTHER WEST AND WOULD BRING RAIN TO THE EASTERN COUNTIES AND PERHAPS TO THE ENTIRE AREA AS EARLY AS TUESDAY AND CONTINUING THROUGH WEDNESDAY. THE GFS KEEPS THE SYSTEM MORE TO THE EAST AND ONLY BRINGS IN A LITTLE RAIN IN THE NORTHEAST ON WEDNESDAY. GFS SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE ALSO COLDER. ENSEMBLES ARE LITTLE HELP WITH QUITE A BIT OF VARIABILITY IN THE SOLUTIONS. THINK BEST COURSE OF ACTION AT THIS POINT IS TO LEAVE THE ALLBLEND POPS ALONE EXCEPT FOR MINOR TWEAKING LIKE REMOVING SMALL SLIGHT CHANCES IN THE NORTHEAST MONDAY NIGHT AND THURSDAY. IF PRECIPITATION OCCURS BEFORE WEDNESDAY A LA THE ECM TEMPERATURES COULD BE WARM ENOUGH FOR ALL RAIN...BUT GFS TEMPERATURES ARE QUITE A BIT COOLER AND AFTER COLLABORATION NECESSITATE THE INCLUSION OF A RAIN SNOW MIX. NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED IF FLAKES OCCUR. && .AVIATION /DISCUSSION FOR 270000Z TAF ISSUANCE/... ISSUED AT 709 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 WITH EXCEPTION OF BRIEF MVFR CEILINGS THIS EVENING AT KBMG...VFR CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED THROUGHOUT THE FORECAST PERIOD. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND LIGHT RAIN CONTINUES TO SLOWLY PULL AWAY TO THE EAST. DRIER AIR WILL FILTER INTO THE REGION OVERNIGHT AS A LARGE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE EXPANDS INTO THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY. MODEL SOUNDINGS AND RAP LOW LEVEL RH PROGS SHOWING BACK EDGE OF DEEPEST MOISTURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS EASTERN INDIANA TONIGHT...AND MAY ACTUALLY SLIP BACK INTO KBMG AND KIND. CONFIDENCE IS LOW IN THIS POSSIBILITY AT THIS POINT...BUT WILL KEEP A FEW-SCT MENTION OF 3-4KFT STRATOCU AT BOTH SITES ALL NIGHT. HIGH CLOUDS WILL BECOME THE PREDOMINANT CEILING AT BOTH KHUF AND KLAF OVERNIGHT. NORTHERLY FLOW AROUND 10KTS WILL CONTINUE OVERNIGHT. DRIER AIR AND DEEPER SUBSIDENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE HIGH WILL BUILD ACROSS CENTRAL INDIANA SATURDAY WITH ABUNDANT SUNSHINE EXPECTED. MAY SEE DIURNAL CU DURING THE AFTERNOON AT ALL TERMINALS IN A COLD ADVECTION PATTERN. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL GUST TO 20-25KTS DURING THE AFTERNOON AS LOWER LEVEL BECOME WELL MIXED. && .IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MK NEAR TERM...MK SHORT TERM...MK LONG TERM....CP AVIATION...RYAN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTHERN INDIANA
201 PM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .AVIATION... 18Z TAFS...SOUTH WINDS OF 15 TO 25 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 30 KNOTS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON WITH PEAK MIXING. SOME DIMINISHMENT IN GUSTS INTO THE 20 TO 25 KNOT RANGE IS EXPECTED THIS EVENING WITH LOSS OF DEEPER MIXING. SOME DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR WHICH HAS ADVECTED IN FROM THE SOUTH WILL CAP ANY CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY THIS AFTERNOON. TOWARD EVENING...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE AGAIN IN ADVANCE OF A COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTHWEST ILLINOIS. A FEW ISOLATED SHOWERS OR STORMS ARE POSSIBLE ALONG THE COLD FRONT...WITH A BETTER CHANCE OF MORE WIDESPREAD RAIN SHOWERS DEVELOPING BEHIND THE FRONT LATE THIS EVENING AT KSBN...AND FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AT KFWA. BEST ELEVATED INSTABILITY IS EXPECTED AT KSBN IN THE 03Z TO 06Z TIMEFRAME...WHEN HAVE MAINTAINED VCTS MENTION. WINDS TO SHIFT NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT...WITH A PERIOD OF LOWER END MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT TONIGHT BEFORE CIGS MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO IMPROVE ABOVE 2K FT FRIDAY MORNING AS DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR ADVECTS IN. RAIN SHOWERS TO PERSIST AT KFWA THROUGH LATE MORNING AS MID LEVEL FRONTAL ZONE IS SLOW TO PUSH OFF TO THE EAST. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 1132 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012/ UPDATE... ONLY TWEAK TO PREVIOUS GRIDS WAS TO ADJUST HOURLY TEMPERATURE TRENDS MAINLY FOR THIS EVENING BASED ON UPSTREAM OBSERVATIONS IN ASSOCIATION THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE. TRIED TO INCORPORATE A NAM12/PREVIOUS FORECAST BLEND TO SHOW A BIT SHARPER OF A TEMP/DEW POINT DROP OFF WITH FRONT. OTHERWISE...OTHER FORECAST ELEMENTS FOR PERIOD ONE STILL APPEAR TO BE ON TRACK WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. HRRR HINTING AT SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA THIS EVENING...BUT STILL SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS OF THIS SOLUTION WITH INSTABILITY EXPECTED TO BE FAIRLY LIMITED UNTIL BECOMING MORE ELEVATED IN NATURE BEHIND THE FRONT. MARINE... SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH LATEST MICHIGAN CITY OBSERVATIONS ALREADY INDICATING SOUTH GUSTS INTO THE 25 TO 30 KNOT RANGE. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A FEW GUSTS TO NEAR GALES THIS AFTERNOON. OF GREATER CONCERN IS EARLY THIS EVENING IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. A NARROW BUT STRONG CORRIDOR OF SURFACE PRESSURE RISES BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD INDUCE A PERIOD OF WEST GUSTS TO NEAR GALES THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY IN THE 00Z TO 04Z TIMEFRAME. HAVE HELD OFF ON ANY UPGRADED HEADLINES AT THIS TIME...BUT WILL NEED TO CONSIDER AT LEAST MENTION OF A FEW GUSTS TO GALE FORCE IN POSSIBLE NEARSHORE FORECAST AMENDMENTS THIS AFTERNOON. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 703 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012/ AVIATION.../12Z TAFS/ DVLPG SFC LOW ALONG STNRY FRONT OVER NE IA THIS MORNING WILL DEEPEN/INTENSIFY AS IT LIFTS NE TODAY CAUSING STNRY FRONT TO SURGE EASTWARD AS A CDFNT. STRONG SWLY WIND FIELD IN PLACE OVER THE AREA ATTM WITH KIWX VWP INDICATING 40KT IN LOWEST GATE AT 2KFT. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL MIX DOWN DURING THE DAY WITH SFC GUSTS 27-32KT EXPECTED... HIGHEST AT SBN. OTRWS... VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE DAY WITH JUST SCT CU. CDFNT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH SBN BY 04Z AND FWA BY 08Z FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF SHOWERS WITH AVIATION CONDITIONS LOWERING AT LEAST TO MVFR AND PSBLY IFR. INSTABILITY WILL BE LIMITED BUT PRBLY SUFFICIENT FOR A FEW TSTMS AS FAR EAST AS NWRN INDIANA SO INCLUDED VCTS IN SBN TAF. WNDSHFT ON CDFNT WILL BE ABRUPT FROM SW-NW WITH STRONG LOW LEVEL CAA PROMOTING POST FRONTAL GUSTS THROUGH THE NIGHT. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 410 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012/ SHORT TERM... TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... THE FORECAST CHALLENGES THIS PERIOD INCLUDE THE CHANCES FOR A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE AT SOUTH BEND TODAY AND THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED PRECIPITATION. HIGHS WEDNESDAY WERE RATHER UNIFORM AROUND 78F DEGREES. ALTHOUGH A WARM AND MOIST FLOW SHOULD CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TODAY... SOMEWHAT COOLER AIR UNDER 925 MB SHOULD SPREAD INTO THE REGION IN THE LOW LEVELS. HAVE KEPT HIGHS A LITTLE LOWER THAN YESTERDAY... GENERALLY 75 TO 77 DEGREES...WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE TEMPERATURE BELOW THE RECORD HIGH OF 80 DEGREES AT SOUTH BEND. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY NIGHT. SOME QUESTION WHETHER EARLY STORMS WILL BE SURFACE BASED...INCREASING THE RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS WITH HIGH WINDS GIVEN MOMENTUM TRANSFER OF 50 TO 55 KNOTS IN THE 925/850 MB LEVEL. HOWEVER..THE SUBSIDENCE INVERSION AND MID LEVEL WARMING HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY UPSTREAM AS INDICATED ON THE LINCOLN RAOB. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT ANY STORMS WILL BE ELEVATED AND WILL BE POST FRONTAL...LIMITING GREATLY SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE FRONT WHICH INCLUDES ABOUT A 25 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DROP IN THE FIRST 100 MILES...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO BETWEEN 41F AND 43F OVER FAR SW AND WEST AREA. LASTLY...KEPT LAKE EFFECT/LAKE ENHANCED SHOWERS OUT. WINDS VEER TOO FAR TO THE NORTHEAST FRI NGT. LONG TERM.../SAT-WED/ UPR LEVEL TROF OVER THE ROCKIES THIS MORNING WILL MOVE EAST TO THE MS VALLEY AND DEEPEN A BIT BY SAT AS A SERIES OF MID LEVEL SHRTWVS MOVE THROUGH THE BASE OF THE TROF. MODELS HAVE TRENDED A LITTLE FASTER WITH SHRTWV EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA SAT... THUS HAVE LOWERED POPS IN THIS PERIOD...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTN. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS HANDLING OF THE TROF MOVG INTO THE GRTLKS AND ITS INTERACTION WITH WRN ATLANTIC HURRICANE SANDY HAS BEEN ERRATIC... BUT THERE IS FAIR AGREEMENT ON 00Z RUNS THAT A RATHER DEEP CLOSED/STACKED LOW WILL FORM OR MOVE INTO THE LWR GRTLKS EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH IMPLICATION THAT WRN FRINGE OF ITS PRECIP SHIELD AND/OR LAKE EFFECT OFF LAKE MICHIGAN WITH N-NW LOW LEVEL FLOW WOULD IMPACT OUR AREA. STILL PLENTY OF UNCERTAINTY GIVEN POOR RUN-RUN MODEL CONTINUITY AND CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES AMONG VARIOUS MODELS ON DETAILS/EVOLUTION OF THE LOW... THUS BLEND OF MODELS AND PREVIOUS FCST YIELDING JUST SLIGHT CHC POPS WAS FOLLOWED WITH ONLY COSMETIC ADJUSTMENTS FOR DAYS6-7. WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT AND GRADUAL DEEPENING OF UPR TROF OVER THE GRTLKS THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD... TEMPS SHOULD BE BLO NORMAL WITH LITTLE DAILY CHANGE IN HIGHS/LOWS. FCST HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE M-U40S AND LOWS IN THE L-M30S EACH DAY. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR LMZ043-046. && $$ SHORT TERM...SKIPPER LONG TERM...JT AVIATION...MARSILI UPDATE...MARSILI MARINE...MARSILI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTHERN INDIANA
1132 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .UPDATE... ONLY TWEAK TO PREVIOUS GRIDS WAS TO ADJUST HOURLY TEMPERATURE TRENDS MAINLY FOR THIS EVENING BASED ON UPSTREAM OBSERVATIONS IN ASSOCIATION THE COLD FRONT PASSAGE. TRIED TO INCORPORATE A NAM12/PREVIOUS FORECAST BLEND TO SHOW A BIT SHARPER OF A TEMP/DEW POINT DROP OFF WITH FRONT. OTHERWISE...OTHER FORECAST ELEMENTS FOR PERIOD ONE STILL APPEAR TO BE ON TRACK WITH HIGHS IN THE MID TO UPPER 70S. HRRR HINTING AT SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT ALONG THE COLD FRONT ACROSS NORTHWEST INDIANA THIS EVENING...BUT STILL SOMEWHAT SUSPICIOUS OF THIS SOLUTION WITH INSTABILITY EXPECTED TO BE FAIRLY LIMITED UNTIL BECOMING MORE ELEVATED IN NATURE BEHIND THE FRONT. && .MARINE... SOUTH WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON WITH LATEST MICHIGAN CITY OBSERVATIONS ALREADY INDICATING SOUTH GUSTS INTO THE 25 TO 30 KNOT RANGE. CANNOT COMPLETELY RULE OUT A FEW GUSTS TO NEAR GALES THIS AFTERNOON. OF GREATER CONCERN IS EARLY THIS EVENING IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. A NARROW BUT STRONG CORRIDOR OF SURFACE PRESSURE RISES BEHIND THE FRONT SHOULD INDUCE A PERIOD OF WEST GUSTS TO NEAR GALES THIS EVENING...ESPECIALLY IN THE 00Z TO 04Z TIMEFRAME. HAVE HELD OFF ON ANY UPGRADED HEADLINES AT THIS TIME...BUT WILL NEED TO CONSIDER AT LEAST MENTION OF A FEW GUSTS TO GALE FORCE IN POSSIBLE NEARSHORE FORECAST AMENDMENTS THIS AFTERNOON. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 703 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012/ AVIATION.../12Z TAFS/ DVLPG SFC LOW ALONG STNRY FRONT OVER NE IA THIS MORNING WILL DEEPEN/INTENSIFY AS IT LIFTS NE TODAY CAUSING STNRY FRONT TO SURGE EASTWARD AS A CDFNT. STRONG SWLY WIND FIELD IN PLACE OVER THE AREA ATTM WITH KIWX VWP INDICATING 40KT IN LOWEST GATE AT 2KFT. THESE STRONG WINDS WILL MIX DOWN DURING THE DAY WITH SFC GUSTS 27-32KT EXPECTED... HIGHEST AT SBN. OTRWS... VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE DAY WITH JUST SCT CU. CDFNT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH SBN BY 04Z AND FWA BY 08Z FOLLOWED BY A PERIOD OF SHOWERS WITH AVIATION CONDITIONS LOWERING AT LEAST TO MVFR AND PSBLY IFR. INSTABILITY WILL BE LIMITED BUT PRBLY SUFFICIENT FOR A FEW TSTMS AS FAR EAST AS NWRN INDIANA SO INCLUDED VCTS IN SBN TAF. WNDSHFT ON CDFNT WILL BE ABRUPT FROM SW-NW WITH STRONG LOW LEVEL CAA PROMOTING POST FRONTAL GUSTS THROUGH THE NIGHT. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 410 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012/ SHORT TERM... TODAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT... THE FORECAST CHALLENGES THIS PERIOD INCLUDE THE CHANCES FOR A RECORD HIGH TEMPERATURE AT SOUTH BEND TODAY AND THE TIMING OF A STRONG COLD FRONT THURSDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH ASSOCIATED PRECIPITATION. HIGHS WEDNESDAY WERE RATHER UNIFORM AROUND 78F DEGREES. ALTHOUGH A WARM AND MOIST FLOW SHOULD CONTINUE FROM THE SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST TODAY... SOMEWHAT COOLER AIR UNDER 925 MB SHOULD SPREAD INTO THE REGION IN THE LOW LEVELS. HAVE KEPT HIGHS A LITTLE LOWER THAN YESTERDAY... GENERALLY 75 TO 77 DEGREES...WHICH SHOULD KEEP THE TEMPERATURE BELOW THE RECORD HIGH OF 80 DEGREES AT SOUTH BEND. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA THURSDAY NIGHT. SOME QUESTION WHETHER EARLY STORMS WILL BE SURFACE BASED...INCREASING THE RISK FOR SEVERE STORMS WITH HIGH WINDS GIVEN MOMENTUM TRANSFER OF 50 TO 55 KNOTS IN THE 925/850 MB LEVEL. HOWEVER..THE SUBSIDENCE INVERSION AND MID LEVEL WARMING HAS INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY UPSTREAM AS INDICATED ON THE LINCOLN RAOB. CURRENT THINKING IS THAT ANY STORMS WILL BE ELEVATED AND WILL BE POST FRONTAL...LIMITING GREATLY SEVERE WEATHER POTENTIAL. GIVEN THE STRENGTH OF THE FRONT WHICH INCLUDES ABOUT A 25 DEGREE TEMPERATURE DROP IN THE FIRST 100 MILES...TEMPERATURES WILL DROP TO BETWEEN 41F AND 43F OVER FAR SW AND WEST AREA. LASTLY...KEPT LAKE EFFECT/LAKE ENHANCED SHOWERS OUT. WINDS VEER TOO FAR TO THE NORTHEAST FRI NGT. LONG TERM.../SAT-WED/ UPR LEVEL TROF OVER THE ROCKIES THIS MORNING WILL MOVE EAST TO THE MS VALLEY AND DEEPEN A BIT BY SAT AS A SERIES OF MID LEVEL SHRTWVS MOVE THROUGH THE BASE OF THE TROF. MODELS HAVE TRENDED A LITTLE FASTER WITH SHRTWV EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH OUR AREA SAT... THUS HAVE LOWERED POPS IN THIS PERIOD...ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTN. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS HANDLING OF THE TROF MOVG INTO THE GRTLKS AND ITS INTERACTION WITH WRN ATLANTIC HURRICANE SANDY HAS BEEN ERRATIC... BUT THERE IS FAIR AGREEMENT ON 00Z RUNS THAT A RATHER DEEP CLOSED/STACKED LOW WILL FORM OR MOVE INTO THE LWR GRTLKS EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH IMPLICATION THAT WRN FRINGE OF ITS PRECIP SHIELD AND/OR LAKE EFFECT OFF LAKE MICHIGAN WITH N-NW LOW LEVEL FLOW WOULD IMPACT OUR AREA. STILL PLENTY OF UNCERTAINTY GIVEN POOR RUN-RUN MODEL CONTINUITY AND CONSIDERABLE DIFFERENCES AMONG VARIOUS MODELS ON DETAILS/EVOLUTION OF THE LOW... THUS BLEND OF MODELS AND PREVIOUS FCST YIELDING JUST SLIGHT CHC POPS WAS FOLLOWED WITH ONLY COSMETIC ADJUSTMENTS FOR DAYS6-7. WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT AND GRADUAL DEEPENING OF UPR TROF OVER THE GRTLKS THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD... TEMPS SHOULD BE BLO NORMAL WITH LITTLE DAILY CHANGE IN HIGHS/LOWS. FCST HIGHS GENERALLY IN THE M-U40S AND LOWS IN THE L-M30S EACH DAY. && .IWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. MI...NONE. OH...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT SATURDAY FOR LMZ043-046. && $$ SHORT TERM...SKIPPER LONG TERM...JT AVIATION...JT UPDATE...MARSILI MARINE...MARSILI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
647 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...UPDATED FOR 27/00Z AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER SW NE AND NW KS WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD TONIGHT. THIS WILL ALLOW WINDS TO DIMINISH WITH SUNSET. STRATUS DECK THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE MUCH OF THE DAY HAS BECOME MORE CELLULAR ON THE SOUTH/EASTERN EDGES AND EXPECT THAT AREA AND POINTS FURTHER SOUTH/EAST IN THE CWA TO CLEAR OFF OVERNIGHT. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH THIS LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE THAT IS TRAPPED BELOW THE INVERSION. THEREFORE TEMPERATURES A BIT TRICKY TONIGHT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CLOUD COVER. RAP MODEL SEEMED TO BE LINING UP THE BEST WITH ITS 925-850MB RH FIELD...THEREFORE TRENDED SKY COVER TOWARD THAT MODEL. THIS SOLUTION ALSO SUGGESTS THE CLEARING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS AND THE LOWER CLOUDS LINGERING ACROSS THE WEST CENTRAL/NORTHWESTERN CWA THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEREFORE HAVE KEPT TEMPS A LITTLE WARMER DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER...BUT STILL A LITTLE COOLER FROM READINGS LAST NIGHT DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CLOUD COVER. .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... WITH ALL EYES ON THE EAST COAST AND EVOLUTION OF SANDY...IA WEATHER WILL BE TRANQUIL WITH SEASONALLY COOL TEMPERATURES. ONLY NEAR TERM WINDOW FOR PRECIP WILL BE WITH SHORT WAVE CURRENTLY OFF BC COAST WHICH DROPS INTO MO VALLEY SAT NIGHT. MODELS HAVE TRENDED SLIGHTLY NORTH AND WEST WITH ITS FORCING AND MOISTURE SO HAVE REMOVED MEASURABLE POPS WITH NOTHING BEYOND FLURRY WORDING FAR NW 09-15Z SAT. A SIMILAR SHORT WAVE EJECTING OUT OF THE PACIFIC NW THIS WEEKEND WILL DROP INTO THE BASE OF THE MS/OH VALLEY LONG WAVE TROUGH AND EVENTUALLY PHASE WITH SANDY. THIS IMPRESSIVE STORM...WHERE EVER ITS LOCATION AND LANDFALL...WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND LOCK IN OUR PATTERN KEEPING IA IN PERSISTENT RELATIVELY DRY NW FLOW AND NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES. ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE AND MODEL CONSENSUS IS NOT GREAT ENOUGH TO INTRODUCE MEASURABLE POPS AT THIS POINT...TOKEN PRECIP MENTION MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED AROUND MON OR TUE...AND AGAIN AROUND THU. TEMPERATURES WILL BE FAIRLY STEADY THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD WITH GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS AND LITTLE CHANGE IN AIRMASS. && .AVIATION...27/00Z LOW VFR STRATUS DECK CONTINUES TO SLOWLY EXPAND SOUTHEAST THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL MAINLY AFFECT KFOD/KMCW/KDSM/KALO OVERNIGHT. AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES IN AND THE BOUNDARY LAYER DECOUPLES...SEE NO REASON WHY THIS DECK WILL NOT LOWER INTO HIGH END MVFR CATEGORY AROUND FL030. HAVE INTRODUCED MVFR CIGS KMCW/KFOD THIS TAF ISSUANCE AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR TRENDS THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. OTHERWISE...CIGS WILL RISE TO VFR BY MORNING AND WINDS WILL BE RATHER LIGHT AND VARIABLE TOMORROW AS SURFACE HIGH SLIDES ACROSS THE STATE. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BEERENDS LONG TERM...SMALL AVIATION...DEITSCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS TOPEKA KS
643 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...UPDATE TO AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM FORECAST - TONIGHT AND SATURDAY... AT 19Z RAP SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATED A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE LOCATED ROUGHLY ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN KANSAS...WITH THE RIDGE AXIS RUNNING FROM KBBW SOUTHWESTWARD TO KGLD. ALONG THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE NORTHERLY WINDS CONTINUE TO ALLOW COOLER AIR TO TRICKLE INTO EASTERN KANSAS. AS THE RIDGE MOVES EASTWARD THE AXIS WILL BECOME CENTERED OVER THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT...WHICH WILL CAUSE WINDS TO BECOME CALM AND SKIES TO BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY. THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO EFFECTS WILL BRING VERY CHILLY TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. EXPECT TEMPS TO DROP INTO THE LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA...WITH LOW LYING SUCH AS RIVER VALLEYS TO DROP INTO THE UPPER TEENS TO LOWER 20S. AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES TO THE EAST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL GRADUALLY PICK UP ON THE BACK/WEST SIDE OF THE DEPARTING RIDGE...WHICH WILL COMMENCE A SLOW WARM UP TREND...WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EXPECT HIGHS ON SATURDAY TO BE SLIGHTLY WARMER THAN FRIDAY`S HIGHS...BUT WITH HIGH CLOUDS MOVING THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF WARMING FOR SATURDAY WILL BE MARGINAL...SO WILL EXPECT HIGHS TO GENERALLY BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. JL LONG TERM - SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... THE ENTIRE PERIOD IS FORECAST TO BE TRANQUIL AND ESSENTIALLY PRECIPITATION FREE. NORTHWEST UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE REGION WITH INCREASED UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WITH TIME. MAY SEE A FEW PERIODS OF INCREASED CLOUD COVER AS A SERIES OF VERY WEAK DISTURBANCES MOVES THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY...BUT NO PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH THESE SYSTEMS GIVEN LACK OF MOISTURE AND ONLY WEAK ASCENT. EXPECT A GRADUAL WARM UP WITH THE INCREASED RIDGING...PARTICULARLY DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK AS MODEL GUIDANCE IS CONSISTENT IN BRINGING A FAIRLY STRONG SHORT WAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE ROCKIES BY NEXT WEEKEND. ANY PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TROUGH WOULD LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT OR LATER...BUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND AN INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN ADVANCE OF THE SYSTEM MAY BE NOTICED AS EARLY AS THURSDAY. BARJENBRUCH && .AVIATION... THE CENTER OF A SFC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE WILL PASS ACROSS THE TAF SITES THROUGH SUNRISE WHICH WILL KEEP WINDS VERY LIGHT AND GENERALLY FROM THE NORTH TO NORTHEAST...BECOMING EAST/SOUTHEASTERLY AFT 15Z. APPEARS THERE WILL ENOUGH MIXING AND DRY AIR OFF THE SFC TO LIMIT FOG POTENTIAL...SO WILL CONTINUE WITH VFR CONDITIONS AND SCT-BKN AROUND 15KFT. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
620 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...UPDATED AVIATION SECTION... .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TOMORROW) ISSUED AT 302 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 A FAST MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS OVER EASTERN COLORADO AND WESTERN KANSAS THIS MORNING. THIS SYSTEM BROUGHT SOME MEASURABLE SNOW TO FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. BY EARLY AFTERNOON THE SHORTWAVE HAD MOVED INTO EASTERN KANSAS WITH CLEARING SKIES IN ITS WAKE. THERE WAS SOME LINGERING STRATUS ALONG WITH LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES OUT ALONG THE COLORADO BORDER BEING FORCED BY SOME WEAK PVA AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE. RUC13 MODEL CROSS SECTIONS SHOW THIS AREA OF CLOUDS/PRECIPITATION DECREASING THROUGH THE NEXT FEW HOURS. VISIBLE SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW THE AREA OF STRATUS ALREADY STARTING TO DIMINISH. SKIES SHOULD BE MOSTLY CLEAR ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS BY THIS EVENING. WITH THE COLD HIGH PRESSURE AIRMASS IN PLACE ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS, CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS THIS EVENING WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES FALLING TO BELOW FREEZING FAIRLY SOON AFTER SUNSET. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE FALLING INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA OVERNIGHT. WITH THIS IN MIND, WILL CONVERT THE HARD FREEZE WATCH TO A HARD FREEZE WARNING FOR THE AREA ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM JOHNSON TO JETMORE AND LARNED. THE AREA FROM SYRACUSE THROUGH DIGHTON SAW A GOOD FREEZE LAST NIGHT SO THEY ARE DONE FOR THE YEAR AS ARE AREAS UP TOWARD I-70. ANOTHER WEAK AND FAST MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BE APPROACHING THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS LATER TONIGHT. THIS COULD SPREAD SOME HIGH CLOUDINESS INTO PARTS OF WESTERN KANSAS. IN ADDITION, THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE MOVING INTO EASTERN KANSAS LATER TONIGHT WHILE PRESSURE FALLS WILL ENSUE ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE ROCKIES. THIS COULD RESULT IN TEMPERATURES RISING SOMEWHAT LATE TONIGHT. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY FROM THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY AS THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT INCREASES. ONLY SOME SCATTERED HIGH CLOUDINESS IS EXPECTED DURING THE DAY. BASED ON MODEL 850 TEMPERATURE FORECASTS, HIGHS ON SATURDAY SHOULD ONLY CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 50S IN MOST AREAS. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 321 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED BY OVERNIGHT SATURDAY, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY STILL FALL TO AROUND FREEZING WITH LIGHT WINDS AND SUCH A DRY AIRMASS. THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE VERY SIMILAR IN THE GENERAL MASS FIELDS FOR SUNDAY. SIMILARITIES ARE MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE MID LEVEL RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELDS, ASSOCIATED WITH REMNANTS OF A NORTHERN PLAINS SHORTWAVE AND THE UPPER JET DIVING THROUGH THE GREAT PLAINS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THIS COULD LEAD TO CONSIDERABLE ALTOSTRATUS OR AT LEAST HIGH CIRRUS CLOUDS FOR CENTRAL KANSAS FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE DAY. THERMAL FIELDS DIFFER CONSIDERABLE HOWEVER, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO HOW FAST THE GFS WARMS THE BOUNDARY LAYER APPROXIMATED BY 850 MB TEMPERATURES. GFS IS GENERALLY MUCH WARMER WHICH REFLECTS IN MODEL`S AFTERNOON HIGHS. GIVEN HOW MUCH OF A WARM BIAS SEVERAL FORECAST DAYS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY, WE`LL FOLLOW THE COOLER ECMWF IDEA, BUT USE GFS MOS TEMPERATURES THAT ARE COOLER IN THE WEST. A DRY PATTERN WILL BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN INCLUDES A WEDGE OF RELATIVE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE ANCHORED FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST...SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO NORTHEAST TEXAS. WITH THE EXPECTED HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM SPREADING WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN TROUGH. THAT PATTERN WILL MAINTAIN THE UPPER RIDGE FROM TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY RIGHT OVER THE HIGH PLAINS REGIONS. LIGHT SOUTHERLY SURFACE WINDS WILL BE THE PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. HIGHS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE 60S, AND REACH THE LOW 70S WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY. HIGHER SURFACE DEW POINT INCREASING BACK INTO THE 30S WILL BRING OVERNIGHT LOWS BACK ABOVE FREEZING THROUGH THE PERIOD AS WELL. BY FRIDAY, THE UPPER FLOW BECOMES STRONGLY DIVERGENT ACROSS THE REGION AS A SHARP TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE WESTERN STATES, WHICH IS MODELED BY BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF. IN EITHER INSTANCE, THE WEATHER TYPE FOR THE REGION APPEARS TO BE PRIMARILY WET - SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS, BUT THE MESOSCALE DETAILS ARE HIGHLY UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME, AND COULD MISS WESTERN KANSAS ALTOGETHER. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 00Z TAFS THROUGH 00Z SATURDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 620 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL ACROSS THE TAF SITES AS AN AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS ACROSS NORTHERN KANSAS. THIS WILL ALLOW WINDS TO BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE OVERNIGHT SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS LATE TOMORROW MORNING. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 22 52 30 59 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 24 52 29 59 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 25 54 31 59 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 23 54 30 61 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 22 50 28 57 / 0 0 0 0 P28 23 52 29 59 / 0 0 0 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HARD FREEZE WARNING FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 9 AM CDT SATURDAY FOR KSZ064>066-074>081-084>090. && $$ SHORT TERM...GERARD LONG TERM...RUSSELL AVIATION...HOVORKA_42
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LOUISVILLE KY
732 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...Updated Aviation Discussion... .Forecast Update... Updated at 640 PM EDT Fri Oct 26 2012 Updated the forecast to adjust POPs and temps. Latest radar imagery depicts the most widespread rains over northern KY and southeast Indiana. This area of rain will continue to slowly move NE out of our region this evening. However, another area of steady showers is blossoming over northwest TN which is predicted (by RR and HRRR high res models) to move northeast over central and east central KY through around midnight. Thus, have tried to better time these areas of steady rains throughout the evening hours in the forecast grids. Also did a slight tweak to hourly temps for this evening. They should hold steady in areas already in mid 40s or fall into the 40s in areas over east central KY that were around 50 or the lower 50s as of 2230Z. New forecast products out shortly. && .Short Term (Tonight through Saturday Night)... Issued at 325 PM EDT Fri Oct 26 2012 The strong cold front has pushed through central Kentucky, with the leading edge of post-frontal precip extending from near Frankfort to Glasgow to just east of Nashville, TN as of 19Z. Temps will quickly drop into the upper 40s as the rain spreads into the Bluegrass and Lake Cumberland, and the ZFP may need a pre-1st period to account for this. Otherwise expect high POPs to continue into the evening hours as this rain shield takes its sweet time moving east. Precip really thins out over western Kentucky and western Tennessee, which points to rain shutting off from SW to NE across the area during the night. Will cut back POPs but with broad SW flow over the top of a shallow cold air mass, not confident enough to dry things out completely overnight. Temps will continue to drop in cold air advection, but plenty of wind and cloud cover will keep lows from really bottoming out. Look for upper 30s over parts of southern Indiana, but mainly lower to mid 40s elsewhere. Still hanging on to some morning precip in the Bluegrass on Saturday, but this could be too generous. While there will be some clearing it is still a chilly Canadian air mass. Low-confidence temp forecast as it will depend heavily on how much clearing occurs. Split the difference between MOS guidance with highs in the mid-50s, except some lower 50s in the Bluegrass. Saturday night will be a few degrees cooler, with most locations dipping into the 30s. Will not be quite ideal for radiational cooling given a modest amount of cloud cover and north winds staying up around 6 or 7 kts. Therefore will not include any frost and the spread in temps will be rather small. .Long Term (Sunday through Friday) Issued at 250 PM EDT Fri Oct 26 2012 What a change from just 24 hours ago! The long term forecast will feature temperatures at least 10-15 degrees below normal each day. Winds early on will be from the north and gusty, with how gusty depending on how close Sandy gets to our forecast area. Winds will shift slowly through the period to more westerly by midweek, where it looks to remain the rest of the week. Tuesday looks to be the most breezy, again based on hurricane center`s forecast proximity of Sandy to our region. The remnants of Sandy look to continue to influence our flow through the end of the work week. The eastern forecast area will have the best chance for light precip Sunday through Wednesday. Temperatures may be cool enough for a mix Monday night and Tuesday night as well. Have thrown in a slight chance for rain or snow for those periods. Do not expect accumulations, as the ground still will be too warm for that. Only other concern for the forecast would be any freezing Sunday night through Wednesday night. Right now do not have any solid freeze on any of the nights, just right around the freezing mark. The wind should stay up enough each night to keep temperatures fairly uniform and also to reduce the threat for frost. && .Aviation (00Z TAF Issuance)... Issued at 730 PM EDT Fri Oct 26 2012 Light on and off rain showers continue over the region behind a cold front which passed through earlier today. Expect light showery activity to continue at the TAF sites through at least the first portion of the night at SDF/BWG and for most of the night at LEX. Latest hi-res models suggests east central KY will be prone to on and off periods of showery activity for most of the night. In addition to showery activity, flight conditions will worsen overnight into the IFR cat possibly even LIFR at LEX. 18Z NAM soundings and MOS guidance indicate low cigs will settle in across the region. Cigs/vsbys may bounce between IFR/MVFR through about 5Z, but cigs should become more established at IFR levels after 5Z. With the best low level moisture expected at LEX, have included a tempo for LIFR cigs/IFR vsbys between 5Z to 9Z. After 10Z though, most of the rains will move out of the area with improving flight conditions expected through the rest of the morning hours. Shortly after sunrise, we should see cigs improve to MVFR levels with VFR levels anticipated by early afternoon. With greater mixing and cigs rising to around 3.5-4 kft by the afternoon hours, northerly winds may gust to around 18-20 kts. && .LMK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IN...NONE. KY...NONE. $$ Update...........AMS Short Term.......RAS Long Term........RJS Aviation.........AMS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
754 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL PERSIST ALONG THE NORTHEASTERN SEABOARD INTO THE WEEKEND. A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE MID ATLANTIC FROM THE WEST FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS COLD FRONT WILL STALL THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WHAT IS CURRENTLY HURRICANE SANDY TRACKS NORTH OFF THE EASTERN SEABOARD. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... UPPER RIDGE POLEWARD OF HURRICANE SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO AMPLIFY OVER THE ERN CONUS TDA. AT THE SFC...HIPRES OVER COASTAL NEW ENGLAND WILL BUILD SWWD ALONG THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST. LLVL ELY SURGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE SWD-BUILDING HIGH HAS ADVECTED MARINE AIR/LOW CLOUDS INLAND OVNGT. OVC STRATUS DECK...WHICH HAS REACHED WEST OF BALTIMORE AND ANNAPOLIS /AS CAPTURED BY THE 07Z 11-3.9U SAT IMAGERY/ WILL EXPAND WWD TOWARD THE BLUE RIDGE THRU DAYBREAK. GIVEN LOWER SUN ANGLE PRESENT IN LATE OCT...IT MAY TAKE THE ENTIRE MRNG FOR STRATUS DECK TO ERODE...POSSIBLY LONGER INTO THE AFTN TOWARD THE CHSPK BAY. WEST OF THE STRATUS...MSTLY SUNNY SKIES WILL YIELD MAX TEMPS IN UPPER 70S TO NEAR 80F ACROSS CENTRAL VA AND POTOMAC HIGHLANDS...WHILE TEMPS MAY STRUGGLE TO REACH 70F IN NORTH-CENTRAL MD. SFC HIPRES WILL CONTINUE TO RIDGE SWD TOWARD THE MID-ATLANTIC COAST TNGT. WITH PERSISTENT ELY FLOW...MARINE LAYER WILL BE WEDGED IN EAST OF THE MTS. SATURATED BOUNDARY LAYER AND SHALLOW ISENTROPIC LIFT BENEATH SUBSIDENCE INVERSION SHOULD SUPPORT DEVELOPMENT OF STRATUS...DRIZZLE AND FOG OVNGT EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE AND IN THE SHENANDOAH VLY. && .SHORT TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... COMBINATION OF SFC HIGH CENTERED OVER NEW ENGLAND COAST AND HURRICANE SANDY MOVING NORTH FROM THE BAHAMAS WILL PRODUCE AN ONSHORE FLOW FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. FRIDAY...LOW CLOUDS AND DRIZZLE/LIGHT RAIN WILL PERSIST INTO THE MORNING...THEN MIX OUT MIDDAY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. LATE OCT ONSHORE FLOW OF 5 TO 10 MPH WOULD PROBABLY NORMALLY RESULT IN LOW CLOUDS/DRIZZLE ALL DAY. HOWEVER...IT LOOKS LIKE THE FETCH AROUND THE HIGH IS PLENTY DRY DESPITE COMING OFF THE ATLANTIC...SO EROSION OF THE CLOUDS SHOULD OCCUR. MAX TEMPS LOW 70S. FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY...GOOD CONSENSUS ON COLD FRONT APPROACHING THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS AND SANDY EXPANDING IN SIZE. ONSHORE FLOW INCREASES TO 10 TO 15 MPH. LITTLE IN THE WAY OF PRECIP...PERHAPS SOME RAIN BLUE RIDGE AND WEST. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... MUCH UNCERTAINTY EXISTS IN THE INTERPLAY OF THE COLD FRONT/TROUGH DIGGING THROUGH THE MIDWEST AND SANDY FOR THIS WEEKEND AND WELL INTO NEXT WEEK. NHC FORECAST IS STILL FOR A POST-TROPICAL TRANSITION AS IT MOVES INTO COOLER WATER NORTH OF HATTERAS. WHETHER THE HYBRID SYSTEM THEN PHASES WITH THE UPR TROUGH AND IMPACTS THE MID ATLANTIC /PER 00Z ECMWF/ OR IMPACTS NEW ENGLAND /PER 00Z GFS/ OR SOMETHING IN BETWEEN REMAINS THE BIG QUESTION. EITHER WAY COLD CANADIAN AIR WILL BE SPILLING IN WITH THE TROUGH TO THE WEST AND THERE IS A CHANCE FOR SNOW /WITH POSSIBLE ACCUMULATIONS/ OVER THE ALLEGHENY HIGHLANDS STARTING SUNDAY NIGHT. THERE IS STILL A WIDE RANGE OF POSSIBLE IMPACTS TO THE LWX CWA SUNDAY INTO THE MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. PLEASE SEE FUTURE FORECASTS FOR FURTHER DETAILS. && .AVIATION /08Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 1145Z...EASTERLY LOW-LEVEL FLOW HAS PRODUCED A SHALLOW STRATUS DECK WITH IFR CIGS. THIS DECK HAS MADE ITS WAY WESTWARD...COVERING ALL OF THE TERMINALS EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. AND MRB IS EXPECTED TO GO DOWN SHORTLY...BY 1230Z...BUT CHO SHOULD REMAIN VFR. THE BEST MODEL THAT IS HANDLING THE LOW CIGS THIS MORNING IS THE 3KM HRRR. QUICK PEEK AT THE LATEST 09Z HRRR SHOWS LOW CIGS LOCKED IN THROUGH AT LEAST 18Z...ALTHO THERE SHOULD BE SOME LIFTING IN CIG BASE AS THE MORNING PROGRESSES. BUT SHALLOW NATURE VS WEAK OCT SUN SUGGESTS THE HRRR MIGHT BE RIGHT. FOR NOW...WILL KEEP SOME IMPROVEMENT FOR VFR IN TAFS AFTER 17Z AT IAD/DCA...AND 18Z AT BWI/MTN. MVFR VSBYS WILL PERSIST THIS MORNING AS WELL ASSOCIATED WITH THE STRATUS. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION CONTINUES... WITH ELY FLOW PERSISTING INTO TNGT...STRATUS SHOULD REDEVELOP DURING THE LATE EVE/OVNGT. CONFIDENCE FOR IFR CIGS AND DZ AT ALL TERMINALS RELATIVELY HIGH FOR 24 HOURS OUT. ONSHORE FLOW 5 TO 10 KT AND IFR CIGS ERODE FRIDAY MIDDAY AND AFTERNOON. FLOW INCREASES FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY WITH GUSTS PERHAPS TO 15 KT. MUCH UNCERTAINTY THIS WEEKEND INTO NEXT WEEK WITH THE TRACK OF WHAT IS CURRENTLY HURRICANE SANDY. && .MARINE... ELY FLOW 5-10 KT TDA AND TNGT. EXPECT AREAS OF DZ TO DEVELOP LATE THIS EVE AND OVNGT. EASTERLY FLOW WILL PERSIST THROUGH FRIDAY BEFORE TURNING NORTHEASTERLY. SCA MAY BE WARRANTED SATURDAY NIGHT AS FLOW INCREASES. SANDY WILL BE MOVING NORTHWARD EAST OF THE COASTLINE SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THERE ARE MANY UNCERTAINTIES WITH THE TRACK BUT GALE WRNGS MAY BE WARRANTED SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... WATER LEVELS WILL CONTINUE TO SLOWLY TO RISE AS EASTERLY FLOW SLOWLY INCREASES THROUGH SATURDAY. WAXING MOON WILL BE FULL SUNDAY... MAXIMIZING THE IMPACTS. MINOR THRESHOLDS MAY BE REACHED BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. POTENTIAL FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS SUNDAY AND MONDAY AS WHAT IS NOW HURRICANE SANDY IS FCST TO BECOME POST TROPICAL WHILE TRACKING NORTH. PLEASE MONITOR NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER PRODUCTS AND OUR HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK FOR UPDATES ON THIS SITUATION. && .CLIMATE... THE HIGH TEMPERATURE OF 84F YDA...24 OCT...AT DCA TIED THE DAILY RECORD HIGH SET IN 2001. IT WAS ALSO THE LATEST DAY IN THE CALENDAR YEAR TO REACH 84F SINCE 24 OCT 2001. && .EQUIPMENT... STARTING 18Z TDA...UPPER AIR OBSERVATIONS WILL BE CONDUCTED EVERY 6-H AT ALL NWS CONUS RAOB SITES...INCLUDING HERE AT WFO LWX...TO SUPPORT FCST OPERATIONS FOR SANDY. && .LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... DC...NONE. MD...NONE. VA...NONE. WV...NONE. MARINE...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...SMZ FOR AVIATION PREV DISC...KLEIN/BAJ
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
139 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 416 PM EDT WED OCT 24 2012 12Z RAOBS/LATEST WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS SHOW SW FLOW ALF OVER THE PLAINS BTWN DEEP TROF OFF THE PACIFIC COAST AND AN UPR RDG AXIS ALIGNED FM HUDSON BAY THRU THE CENTRAL GRT LKS INTO THE SE CONUS. DESPITE THE PRESENCE OF AN UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST LLVL AIRMASS /PWATS UP TO 250 PCT OF NORMAL/ OVER THE UPR GRT LKS...THERE ARE ONLY A FEW -SHRA NOTED ON THE MQT RADAR DUE TO STRONG CAPPING INVRN BTWN H75-8 AS NOTED ON THE LOCAL 12Z RAOBS EVEN THOUGH A SHALLOW... WEAK COLD FNT ATTENDANT TO CLOSED LO OVER SASKATCHEWAN HAS LIMPED INTO THE FAR WRN CWA. A DISTURBANCE WITH 70KT H5 WINDS LIFTING NEWD THRU THE DAKOTAS IS CAUSING AN AREA OF -SHRA UNDER SHARP H7 TEMP GRADIENT OVER THE NRN PLAINS INTO NW MN WELL WELL W OF THE SFC COLD FNT AND THE AREA INFLUENCED BY THE SHARP MID LVL CAP. THE SHRTWV IN THE NRN PLAINS AND ANOTHER MORE VIGOROUS DISTURBANCE MOVING THRU THE CNTRL ROCKIES HAVE CONSPIRED TO CAUSE A LO PRES TO DVLP FARTHER S ON THE COLD FNT IN KANSAS. OVER UPR MI... AREAS OF FOG LINGER ESPECIALLY OVER THE CENTRAL ZNS WHERE LLVL SSE FLOW IS UPSLOPING. THE LOWERING SUN ANGLE AND PERSISTENT FOG AND LO CLDS HAVE LIMITED SFC WARMING. FARTHER TO THE S...MORE BREAKS IN THE LO CLDS HAVE ALLOWED FOR MORE SFC WARMING OVER ERN IOWA AND SRN WI. TNGT...MAIN FCST CONCERNS ARE SHRA/TS CHCS AND POTENTIAL FOR SVR WX AS DISTURBANCES LIFT TO THE NE OUT OF MEAN WRN TROF. SPC HAS PLACED WRN UPR MI IN A SLGT RISK FOR SVR STORMS TNGT. GIVEN ABSENCE OF ANY SGNFT SFC WARMING OVER UPR MI THIS AFTN AND SHARP INVRN...ANY CONVECTION SHUD BE ELEVATED AND DEPENDENT ON WHETHER/HOW QUICKLY THE SHARP H8-75 INVRN WEAKENS. 12Z GFS/NAM HAVE TRENDED TO SHIFT FOCUS FOR MOST SGNFT DEEP LYR QVECTOR CNVGC ASSOCIATED WITH DISTURBANCE NOW IN THE NRN PLAINS INTO MN AT 00Z...A LOGICAL SHIFT GIVEN HI AMPLITUDE PATTERN IN PLACE AND SHIFT OF SECOND SHRTWV FARTHER W INTO THE UPR TROF AXIS. HIER RES NAM RUN SHOWS THE SHARPEST/SLOPED H85-7 FGEN/UVV IMPACTING WRN LK SUP AT 00Z BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE NE AS THE DEEP LYR QVECTOR CNVGC ASSOCIATED WITH THE FIRST SHRTWV FADES AS THE UPR TROF DEEPENS FARTHER W WITH CLOSER APRCH OF 2ND SHRTWV. GIVEN THE STRENTH OF THE CAPPING ILLUSTRATED BY THE 12Z RAOBS... SUSPECT MOST WDSPRD AND INTENSE SHRA/TS THIS EVNG WL MISS THE LAND CWA TO THE W...WITH ALL BUT THE FAR W SEEING NOTHING MORE THAN ISOLD-SCT -SHRA/TS OR -DZ IN THIS SCENARIO AS WEAKER FORCING HERE LIMITS THE WEAKENING OF THE CAP. EVEN THE NAM DOES SHOW A SECOND AREA OF HIER QPF OVER THE SE ZNS...AND THIS MIGHT DEPEND ON IF SOME SHRA DVLP WITH THE CLRG OVER SE WI AND MOVE TO THE N. ALTHOUGH THE GFS SHOWS SIMILAR UPR FORCING...THIS MODEL...WITH THE SUPPORT OF THE 12Z CNDN GEM MODEL...SHOWS AXIS OF HIER QPF OVER WRN UPR MI NEAR THE SFC COLD FNT. GIVEN THE PLACEMENT OF THE SHARPER DYNAMICS AND PATTERN RECOGNITION... THINK THE NAM FCST IS THE BEST BET. GIVEN IMPRESSIVE DEEP LYR SHEAR ABV THE MORE STABLE LYR NEAR THE SFC...ANY TS THAT MIGHT IMPACT THE WRN ZNS COULD TURN SVR WITH HAIL THE MAIN THREAT GIVEN SFC BASED STABILITY. WITH THE UNSEASONABLY WARM...MOIST AIRMASS IN PLACE AND HI FRZG LVL...ANY SHRA COULD DUMP HEAVY RA EVEN IF THEY ARE FAST MOVING UNDER THE STEADY FLOW ALF. AS THE SECOND SHRTWV RIDES NEWD LATER TNGT...ANOTHER AREA OF VIGOROUS H85-5 QVECTOR CNVGC/UPR DVGC IS PROGGED TO IMPACT MAINLY MN TOWARD 12Z. SO AFT INITIAL ROUND OF HIER POPS LIFTS TO THE NE...SUSPECT ANOTHER ROUND OF HEAVIER SHRA/SOME TS WL INVADE THE WRN CWA LATER. WITH ONLY MODEST DIURNAL COOLING...EXPECT FOG TO REDVLP... ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OVER THE ECNTRL EXPERIENCING UPSLOPE SSE WINDS. THU...AS DISTURBANCE/ACCOMPANYING H3 JET MAX AND DEEP LYR QVECTOR CNVGC/UPR DVGC RIDE TO THE NNE WITH ASSOCIATED SFC LO MOVING UP THE STALLED COLD FNT OVER THE W...EXPECT AN AREA OF SHRA/EMBEDDED TS TO IMPACT MAINLY THE W HALF IN THE MRNG BEFORE THE SHRTWV MOVES FAR ENUF TO THE N AND DEEP LYR QVECTOR DVGC DVLPS WITH DNVA/STRONG CAD IN THE WAKE OF COLD FROPA AS SFC LO MOVES INTO ONTARIO IN THE AFTN. THINK CATEGORICAL POPS ARE APPROPRIATE OVER THE W IN THE MRNG...WITH THE HIER POPS FOLLOWING THE COLD FROPA TO THE E. ALTHOUGH SFC BASED STABILITY WL LIMIT THE INCRS IN WIND SPEED BLO ADVY LVL...S WINDS NEAR LK MI MAY BECOME QUITE GUSTY IN ADVANCE OF THE COLD FROPA UNDER H925 WINDS UP TO 50 KTS AND WITH SHARP PRES FALL CENTER MOVING INTO ONTARIO AHEAD OF THE SFC LO PROVIDING ENHANCEMENT TO THE S GRADIENT FLOW. COMBINATION OF STRONG CAD AND W H925 WINDS INCRSG UP TO 35-40 KT IN THE WAKE OF THE FROPA MIGHT CAUSE WIND GUSTS OVER THE EXPOSED KEWEENAW TO AT LEAST APRCH ADVY LVL IN THE AFTN. ENUF COLD AIR MAY ARRIVE TO AT LEAST MIX LINGERING USPLOPE LK ENHANCED -SHRA WITH SN OVER THE FAR W IF THE COLDER NAM SHOWING H85 TEMPS FALLING TOWARD -5C AT 00Z FRI VERIFIES. THE SHARP COLD FROPA WARRANTS A NON DIURNAL TEMP TREND...WITH TEMPS FALLING BEHIND THE FROPA ESPECIALLY OVER THE W. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 416 PM EDT WED OCT 24 2012 BY EARLY THURSDAY EVENING...THE MAIN SFC LOW SHOULD BE OVER NE ONTARIO...WITH THE COLD FRONT JUST E OF UPPER MI...AND A SECONDARY TROUGH SET UP E-W FROM THE LOW ACROSS LAKE WINNIPEG. THE 500MB LOW OVER LAKE WINNIPEG WILL SLIDE NNE OUT OF THE AREA. W FLOW AND 850MB TEMPS AROUND -8C SHOULD HELP KEEP SOME LAKE ENHANCED SHOWER ACTIVITY GOING ACROSS W UPPER MI. HOWEVER...THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE WILL BE QUITE A BIT LESS DURING THAT TIME...WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDS BUT JUST LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS OR FLURRIES POSSIBLE. EXPECT THE SECONDARY TROUGH TO PUSH ACROSS THE KEWEENAW PENINSULA FRIDAY EVENING...BUT HAVE LITTLE WITH IT AS MUCH OF THE ENERGY REMAINS CLOSER TO THE SFC LOW ITSELT OVER N HUDSON BAY BY THAT TIME. ANOTHER ROUND OF CLOUDS AND LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS. NO SIGNIFICANT ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED...AS THE BEST SNOW GROWTH REGION /AOA 800MB/ REMAINS WELL ABOVE THE MOISTURE. THE LARGE SCALE TROUGH WILL DOMINATE MUCH OF THE NATION FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH AT LEAST SATURDAY. AN ELONGATED AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM THE MAIN HIGH OVER CENTRAL CANADA TO THE CENTRAL PLAINS FRIDAY NIGHT WILL SLOWLY BUILD ACROSS THE UPPER GREAT LAKES...THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN STRONG OVER ONTARIO THROUGH THE MID MS VALLEY...EVEN AS THE STRONG SYSTEM PUSHES TOWARDS THE EAST COAST. AS A RESULT OF THE NEARING STORM SYSTEM...THE SFC HIGH SHOULD MAINTAIN ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE W HALF OF UPPER MI. HOWEVER...N FLOW WILL LIKELY DOMINATE FAR E UPPER MI FROM SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THE END OF THE FCST PERIOD /WEDNESDAY/ AS THE LOW RETROGRADES . UNLIKE THE ECMWF WHICH CONTINUES TO SHOW GOOD RUN TO RUN CONSISTANCY ON THE POTENTIAL STORM SYSTEM SLIDING TOWARDS THE E COAST...THE GFS IS A BIT MORE JUMPY. THE MODEL IS SPLIT ON WHETHER TO BRING THE LOW OFF TO SEE...OR EVEM MORE ONSHORE BY WEDNESDAY MORNING /NEAR LAKE HURON/ IF THE 24/06Z RUN IS CORRECT. THE 24/12Z GFS SHIFTED THE 500MB LOW APPROX 300-350MI W OF ITS PREVIOUS MORE OUT TO SEA LOCATION MONDAY MORNING. WILL CONTINUE TO HEDGE THE FCST A BIT CLOSER TO THE MORE STABLE ECMWF SOLUTION. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 138 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 QUITE A PESSIMISTIC FORECAST IN THE MAKING AS ABUNDANT MOISTURE AND AN OVERALL STAGNANT AIRMASS ALONG A SURFACE BOUNDARY WILL KEEP CIGS AND VIS QUITE LOW AT ALL SITES THROUGH MUCH OF THE TAF PERIOD. GIVEN GENERAL FLOW FROM THE N...HAVE KEPT CIGS IN THE VLIFR/LIFR RANGE OVERNIGHT. DO NOT EXPECT MUCH IMPROVEMENT AT IWD WITH FLOW OUT OF THE NORTH TO NE THROUGH EARLY THURSDAY MORNING. DRIER AIR WILL MOVE IN BY LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING WHICH SHOULD BRING IMPROVING CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR RANGE. A PERIOD OF MVFR CIGS VSBY FOLLOWING AN ARES OF SHRA/TSRA MAY LOWER AGAIN INTO THE IFR RANGE WITH ABUNDANT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE REMAINING OVER THE AREA. A STRONG COLD FRONT SHOULD REACH CMX BY 18Z THURSDAY...WITH A QUICK WIND SHIFT TO THE WNW AND WIND SPEED INCREASE TO AROUND 20KT. SSE UPSLOPE FLOW AT SAW HAD REMAINED BELOW LANDING MINS MOST OF THIS EVENING BUT HAVE LIFTED SLIGHTLY AFTER SOME LIGHT RAIN MOVED THROUGH. EXPECT THAT THE FOG AND LOW CIGS WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MORE PERSISTENT RAIN MOVES IN LATE TONIGHT AND THU WHEN WINDS SHIFT MORE TO THE SSW AND REDUCE UPSLOPE FLOW AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. LASTLY...MARGINAL LLWS OF ABOUT 30-40KTS OVER THE LOWEST 1.5KFT IS POSSIBLE AS WINDS ALOFT INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 416 PM EDT WED OCT 24 2012 EXPECT DENSE FOG OVER THE W HALF OF LAKE SUPERIOR TO LINGER THRU THIS EVENING BEFORE THE ARRIVAL OF SOMEWHAT DRIER LOW LEVEL AIR IS ABLE TO DISSIPATE THE FOG. THE DENSER FOG WILL LINGER LONGEST NEAR THE W SHORE OF UPPER MI. OTHERWISE...EXPECT S WINDS TO INCREASE TO 30 KTS OVER THE E HALF OF THE LAKE ON THU AS A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHES. RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS OVER THE W AND CENTRAL WILL SHIFT TO THE W FOLLOWING THE COLD FROPA ON THU AND INCREASE UP TO 30 KTS IN THE AFTERNOON...WITH HIGH PRESSURE DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS. THERE MAY BE SOME GALE FORCE WINDS NEAR THE KEWEENAW LATE IN THE DAY. THESE MARGINAL GALES WILL LIKELY IMPACT PORTIONS OF THE CENTRAL LAKE ON THU EVENING...SO HOISTED A GALE WATCH FOR NOW IN THIS AREA. LIGHTER WINDS WITH HIGH PRESSURE WILL SLOWLY PUSH OVER THE UPPER GREAT LAKES THROUGH MONDAY...WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS OVER E LAKE SUPERIOR. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... NONE. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WATCH FROM THIS EVENING THROUGH LATE TONIGHT FOR LSZ265-266. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...KC LONG TERM...KF AVIATION...JLB MARINE...KC/KF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
1215 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .UPDATED FOR 18Z AVIATION DISCUSSION... .DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS THIS MORNING ARE PRECIP TYPE AND AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORTWAVE TROUGH EJECTING OUT OF THE ROCKIES. AT THE LOWER LEVELS...MOISTURE TRANSPORT OVERRUNNING THE SURFACE BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO SPAWN CONVECTION FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WI. EMBEDDED THUNDER WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE ELEVATED INSTABILITY EXISTS. MEANWHILE...THE ATTENDANT DEFORMATION SNOW BAND HAS ENTERED WEST CENTRAL MN...AND WILL GRADUALLY EXPAND EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS AS THE TROUGH SHIFTS EAST. HAVE SPED UP THE TRANSITION OF RAIN TO SNOW...PER CURRENT TRENDS AND NAM/GFS/RAP/SREF/ARW BUFKIT PROFILES...WHICH INDICATE SNOW MIXING IN WITH THE RAIN OVER THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL MN BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z...AND IN WEST CENTRAL WI BETWEEN 18Z AND 21Z. THE HRRR AND HI-RESW-NMMEAST SIMULATED PRECIP TYPE PROGS COMPLEMENT THIS THINKING AS WELL. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS STILL APPEAR TO TOP OUT FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES OVER WEST CENTRAL MN...WITH NOT MORE THAN A TRACE EXPECTED TO THE EAST DUE TO THE EXPECTATION THAT PRECIP WILL BE SHUTTING OFF AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER SNOW DEVELOPS. SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN STEADY OR GRADUALLY FALL THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG COLD ADVECTION ENSUES IN THE WAKE OF THE TROUGH. ACCOMPANYING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL CREATE QUITE BRISK CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...AS WIND CHILLS DECREASE INTO THE 20S. PRECIPITATION SHOULD COME TO AN END BY THIS EVENING...WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED FOR TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 25 TO 30 DEGREE RANGE FOR THE MOST PART. CONTINUED COLD TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST FOR FRIDAY...WITH HIGHS ONLY REACHING THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S. BROAD SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND MID LEVEL TROUGHING WILL TRANSLATE TO CONTINUED BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL MAINLY RANGE FROM AROUND 40 TO 45 DEGREES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...WITH SUB-FREEZING LOWS. FRIDAY NIGHT APPEARS TO BE THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE WEEKEND...WHEN READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DIP TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 DEGREES. MORE CLOUD COVER AND EVEN LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MN...AS A WEAK MID LEVEL WAVE CLIPS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY MODERATE AT THE START OF THE UPCOMING WEEK...WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S BY WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION.../18Z TAF ISSUANCE/ COUPLE OF SNOW BANDS MOVING ACROSS MN PORTION OF THE AREA...WITH LIGHT RAIN AFFECTING WESTERN WISCONSIN. INITIAL SNOW BAND OVER EAST CENTRAL MN WILL MOVE EAST INTO WISCONSIN FOR THE AFTERNOON. WILL SEE RAIN/SNOW MIX POSSIBLE CHANGING OVER TO ALL SNOW LATE AFTERNOON BEFORE ENDING AT KEAU. SECOND PERSISTENT SNOW BAND MATCHES WELL WITH HE MINUS 15C OMEGA FIELD AND THIS WILL LIFT NORTHEAST AND WEAKEN THROUGH 20Z. SNOW WILL HAVE ENDED OVER THE FAR WESTERN AREA AND SOON AT KSTC...WHERE SOME SLUSHY ACCUMULATION ON GRASSY AREAS LIKELY OCCURRED. LESS THAN AN INCH THOUGH. CEILING IMPROVING A BIT DIRECTLY BEHIND TROUGH...BUT SOME CONCERN OF MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING BEHIND TROUGH LATER TONIGHT. SUBSIDENCE WILL BE STRONG INITIALLY OR DIRECTLY BEHIND TROUGH...SO WILL CONTINUE TREND OF REMAINING SCT OVERNIGHT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING AND COULD BECOME GUSTY AGAIN OVER EASTERN AREAS AT LEAST INTO EARLY AFTERNOON...BEFORE RIDGE BUILD IN ENOUGH. MAY SEE SOME BKN VFR CEILINGS AGAIN...ESPECIALLY EAST IN THE LATE MORNING/AFTERNOON WITH RESIDUAL MOISTURE AND SOME NEGATIVE CU RULES INDICATED. KMSP... IFR CONDITIONS FOR A FEW HOURS YET AS A COUPLE OF SNOW BANDS MOVE THROUGH. MAY MIX WITH RAIN BETWEEN STRONGER VERTICAL MOTION. SHOULD END BY 22Z WITH VFR CONDITIONS THEREAFTER. SOME CONCERN OF LOWER CEILINGS MOVING IN AGAIN LATER TONIGHT FROM THE WEST...BUT WILL REMAIN SCT FOR NOW. STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS WILL DIMINISH THIS EVENING AND MAY BECOME GUSTY AGAIN INTO FRI AFTERNOON. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI AFTN...VFR. WINDS WNW 10 G 20KTS. SAT...VFR. WINDS LGT AND VRB. SUN...MVFR/VFR. CHC -RASN. WINDS SE AT 5 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && $$ LS/DE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
622 AM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS THIS MORNING ARE PRECIP TYPE AND AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORTWAVE TROUGH EJECTING OUT OF THE ROCKIES. AT THE LOWER LEVELS...MOISTURE TRANSPORT OVERRUNNING THE SURFACE BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO SPAWN CONVECTION FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WI. EMBEDDED THUNDER WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE ELEVATED INSTABILITY EXISTS. MEANWHILE...THE ATTENDANT DEFORMATION SNOW BAND HAS ENTERED WEST CENTRAL MN...AND WILL GRADUALLY EXPAND EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS AS THE TROUGH SHIFTS EAST. HAVE SPED UP THE TRANSITION OF RAIN TO SNOW...PER CURRENT TRENDS AND NAM/GFS/RAP/SREF/ARW BUFKIT PROFILES...WHICH INDICATE SNOW MIXING IN WITH THE RAIN OVER THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL MN BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z...AND IN WEST CENTRAL WI BETWEEN 18Z AND 21Z. THE HRRR AND HI-RESW-NMMEAST SIMULATED PRECIP TYPE PROGS COMPLEMENT THIS THINKING AS WELL. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS STILL APPEAR TO TOP OUT FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES OVER WEST CENTRAL MN...WITH NOT MORE THAN A TRACE EXPECTED TO THE EAST DUE TO THE EXPECTATION THAT PRECIP WILL BE SHUTTING OFF AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER SNOW DEVELOPS. SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN STEADY OR GRADUALLY FALL THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG COLD ADVECTION ENSUES IN THE WAKE OF THE TROUGH. ACCOMPANYING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL CREATE QUITE BRISK CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...AS WIND CHILLS DECREASE INTO THE 20S. PRECIPITATION SHOULD COME TO AN END BY THIS EVENING...WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED FOR TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 25 TO 30 DEGREE RANGE FOR THE MOST PART. CONTINUED COLD TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST FOR FRIDAY...WITH HIGHS ONLY REACHING THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S. BROAD SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND MID LEVEL TROUGHING WILL TRANSLATE TO CONTINUED BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL MAINLY RANGE FROM AROUND 40 TO 45 DEGREES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...WITH SUB-FREEZING LOWS. FRIDAY NIGHT APPEARS TO BE THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE WEEKEND...WHEN READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DIP TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 DEGREES. MORE CLOUD COVER AND EVEN LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MN...AS A WEAK MID LEVEL WAVE CLIPS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY MODERATE AT THE START OF THE UPCOMING WEEK...WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S BY WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION.../12Z TAF ISSUANCE/ THE MAIN AVIATION CONCERNS ARE WHEN THE TRANSITION OF -RA TO -SN OCCURS ACROSS EASTERN MN OVER THE NEXT FEW HRS...AND HOW LONG IT WILL STAY -SN...OR HAVE A MIXTURE OF RAIN/SNOW BY 18Z. A LARGE CONVECTIVE BAND OF SHRA/TSRA HAS MOVED OFF TO THE EAST OF THE FA...WITH ONLY EAU HAVING A SMALL CHC OF CONTINUING VCTS BETWEEN 12-13Z. THE ZONE WHERE -RA CHG OVER TO SNOW IS NEAR RWF TO STC...AND THE LOCAL DUAL-POL CC INDICATED THAT THE FREEZING LEVEL HAS FALLEN OVER THE PAST HR OR TWO. STARTED OUT WITH ONLY SNOW AT STC/RWF...WITH RNH/MSP CHG OVER BETWEEN 15-16Z...AND EAU ARND 18-20Z. MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATED THAT WHEN THE ATMOSPHERIC COLUMN SATURATED BELOW ZERO...IT REMAINS BELOW ZERO THRU THE AFTN AT AXN/RWF/RHN/MSP. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT ONCE THE LT SNOW BEGAN IT WOULD CONTINUE AND NOT CHG OVER. HOWEVER...SFC TEMPS WILL RANGE FROM 34 TO 38 DEGREES BY 18Z...MAKING FOR A MIXTURE MORE LIKELY. THEREFORE...CONTINUED WITH A MIXTURE OF BOTH -SN/-RA AT RHN/MSP WHERE THE PRECIPITATION WILL LINGER INTO THE EARLY AFTN. RWF/STC WILL LIKELY SEE THE PRECIPITATION END BEFORE THE SWITCH OVER BACK TO -SN/-RA DEVELOPS. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE NNW/NW DURING THE DAY...WITH GUSTS OVER 22-26 KTS. EXPECT SOME DECREASE IN THE OVERALL SPEED DURING THE EVENING...ALONG WITH THE GUSTY WINDS ENDING. KMSP... HIGH END IFR/LOW END MVFR CIGS WILL CONTINUE THRU 18Z...WITH A PERIOD OF MAINLY -RA THRU 15Z...THEN CHG OVER TO -SN...OR A MIXTURE OF -SN/-RA BETWEEN 15-16Z. MOST OF THE PRECIPITATION SHOULD TAPER OFF AFT 18Z...WITH CIGS RISING TO VFR AFT 21Z. GUSTY WINDS WILL CONTINUE DURING THE DAYTIME HRS...WITH A FEW GUSTS OVER 24 KTS. WINDS WILL REMAIN FROM THE WNW OVERNIGHT. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI AFTN...VFR. WINDS WNW 10 G 20KTS. SAT...VFR. WINDS LGT AND VRB. SUN...MVFR/VFR. CHC -RASN. WINDS SE AT 5 KTS. ..JLT.. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && $$ LS/JLT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
348 AM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERNS THIS MORNING ARE PRECIP TYPE AND AMOUNTS ASSOCIATED WITH A SHORTWAVE TROUGH EJECTING OUT OF THE ROCKIES. AT THE LOWER LEVELS...MOISTURE TRANSPORT OVERRUNNING THE SURFACE BOUNDARY CONTINUES TO SPAWN CONVECTION FROM SOUTHERN MINNESOTA INTO WEST CENTRAL WI. EMBEDDED THUNDER WILL CONTINUE TO BE POSSIBLE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA THIS MORNING WHERE ELEVATED INSTABILITY EXISTS. MEANWHILE...THE ATTENDANT DEFORMATION SNOW BAND HAS ENTERED WEST CENTRAL MN...AND WILL GRADUALLY EXPAND EASTWARD ACROSS THE AREA OVER THE NEXT 12 HOURS AS THE TROUGH SHIFTS EAST. HAVE SPED UP THE TRANSITION OF RAIN TO SNOW...PER CURRENT TRENDS AND NAM/GFS/RAP/SREF/ARW BUFKIT PROFILES...WHICH INDICATE SNOW MIXING IN WITH THE RAIN OVER THE REMAINDER OF CENTRAL MN BETWEEN 15Z AND 18Z...AND IN WEST CENTRAL WI BETWEEN 18Z AND 21Z. THE HRRR AND HI-RESW-NMMEAST SIMULATED PRECIP TYPE PROGS COMPLEMENT THIS THINKING AS WELL. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS STILL APPEAR TO TOP OUT FROM 1 TO 2 INCHES OVER WEST CENTRAL MN...WITH NOT MORE THAN A TRACE EXPECTED TO THE EAST DUE TO THE EXPECTATION THAT PRECIP WILL BE SHUTTING OFF AROUND OR SHORTLY AFTER SNOW DEVELOPS. SURFACE TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN STEADY OR GRADUALLY FALL THIS AFTERNOON AS STRONG COLD ADVECTION ENSUES IN THE WAKE OF THE TROUGH. ACCOMPANYING NORTHWEST WINDS OF 15 TO 25 MPH WILL CREATE QUITE BRISK CONDITIONS THIS AFTERNOON...AS WIND CHILLS DECREASE INTO THE 20S. PRECIPITATION SHOULD COME TO AN END BY THIS EVENING...WITH MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED FOR TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE 25 TO 30 DEGREE RANGE FOR THE MOST PART. CONTINUED COLD TEMPERATURES WILL PERSIST FOR FRIDAY...WITH HIGHS ONLY REACHING THE UPPER 30S AND LOWER 40S. BROAD SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE AND MID LEVEL TROUGHING WILL TRANSLATE TO CONTINUED BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES THROUGH THE WEEKEND. HIGHS WILL MAINLY RANGE FROM AROUND 40 TO 45 DEGREES ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY...WITH SUB-FREEZING LOWS. FRIDAY NIGHT APPEARS TO BE THE COLDEST NIGHT OF THE WEEKEND...WHEN READINGS ARE EXPECTED TO DIP TO BETWEEN 20 AND 25 DEGREES. MORE CLOUD COVER AND EVEN LIGHT SNOW WILL BE POSSIBLE FOR SATURDAY NIGHT ACROSS WEST CENTRAL AND SOUTH CENTRAL MN...AS A WEAK MID LEVEL WAVE CLIPS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE STATE. TEMPERATURES WILL SLOWLY MODERATE AT THE START OF THE UPCOMING WEEK...WITH HIGHS IN THE MID 40S TO LOWER 50S BY WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION.../06Z TAF ISSUANCE/ THUNDERSTORMS HAVE DEVELOPED...BUT REMAIN PRIMARILY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT FROM NRN IA TO SWRN WI. A FEW MORE HAVE ALSO FORMED NEAR THE TWIN CITIES AND NEW RICHMOND...BUT SHOULD NOT PERSIST IN THOSE LOCATIONS FOR TOO LONG. THESE STORMS WILL CONTINUE ON A SCATTERED BASIS FOR MUCH OF THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AND AFFECT MAINLY EAU. FARTHER WEST...EXPECT WIDESPREAD RAIN TO DEVELOP FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS AS AN IMPULSE OVER THE PLAINS PUSHES NORTHEAST. STILL EXPECTING THE RAIN TO TURN TO SNOW AT AXN...RWF...AND STC BETWEEN 09Z-12Z AS COLDER AIR PUSHES SOUTHEAST. SOME SNOW MAY MIX WITH RAIN TOWARD LATE MORNING AT MSP...EARLY AFTERNOON AT RNH...AND MID AFTERNOON NEAR EAU. OTHERWISE...CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE TO IFR OR LIFR CONDITIONS WITH THE RAIN AND SNOW BEFORE IMPROVING MARKEDLY BY THURSDAY EVENING. KMSP...A FEW STORMS HAVE FORMED SOUTHEAST OF THE TERMINAL...BUT CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH ENOUGH WITH REGARDS TO PROXIMITY TO INCLUDE THEM AS A VCTS IN THE TAF ATTM. STEADY RAIN WILL DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT WITH IFR CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH LATE MORNING...THEN GRADUALLY IMPROVE THROUGH THE DAY AS DRIER AIR MOVES IN. COULD SEE A FEW SNOWFLAKES MIX WITH THE RAIN BY EARLY AFTERNOON. /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...VFR. WINDS WNW 10G20KTS. SAT...VFR. WINDS LGT AND VRB. SUN...VFR. SLIGHT CHANCE -RASH. WINDS SE AT 5 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...NONE. && $$ LS/BORGHOFF
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
341 PM CDT Thu Oct 25 2012 .DISCUSSION... Tonight through Saturday... As precipitation exits the forecast area this afternoon, the main focus for the short term will be temperatures, particularly tonight and Friday night lows. Models don`t seem to have a good handle on the widespread stratus building southward across portions of eastern Nebraska and Iowa, which has the potential to strongly impact the low temperature forecast tonight. Current water vapor imagery shows some signs of developing subsidence behind the departing upper-level jet streak in the eastern Dakotas; however, it is yet to be seen whether this will translate to erosion of the low-level cloud field this evening. Both the NAM and RAP do dry out first the midlevels and eventually the low levels by 06z across southeast Nebraska and into the forecast area, so have still continued a decreasing trend in cloudiness tonight, leading to a cooler low temperature forecast across the area. However, with some near-surface moisture remaining and a more rapid temperature fall after 06z, do not think that a freeze will be likely across the region even if clouds clear out completely. The setup on Friday night looks much more prototypical for a hard freeze, with a 1032 mb surface high filtering into the central Plains, pushing the surface ridge axis over northwest Missouri shortly after midnight. Temperatures could easily drop into the mid to upper 20`s across the majority of the region Saturday morning, and would likely remain below freezing for several hours. If the forecast remains on track, a freeze warning will be needed for areas that have not already experienced a hard freeze this fall. The ridge axis will remain over the region through early afternoon on Saturday, keeping daytime temperatures 10 to 15 degrees below normal in the upper 40s to lower 50s. Laflin Medium Range (Sunday through Thursday): High forecast confidence this period as upper level flow remains stagnant in the wake of a large downstream block formed by the merging of an eastern trough and Hurricane Sandy into a potential superstorm. This will maintain a steady northwest upper flow regime over the regime which further amplify late in the period as additional troughing builds into the Pacific Northwest. All in all, precipitation chances are near zero through the period and the effects of negative thermal advection vs. insolation will generally offset each other. This will keep temperatures steady through much of the week with highs in the low-mid 50s and lows in the low-mid 30s. Bookbinder && .AVIATION... For the 18Z TAFs, low level lift should shift eastward over the next hour, ending the drizzle at the Kansas City terminals. Otherwise, blustery conditions will continue with northwest winds gusting to around 25 knots with widespread IFR ceilings through mid afternoon. For ground crews, temps will hold steady in the mid 40s. Large scale subsidence should overspread the terminals between 22 and 00Z, allowing ceilings to lift to VFR and then scatter out. Wind gusts should end by 01Z, with a northwest direction persisting overnight as speeds decrease to 8-10 knots. Mainly clear skies expected overnight into Friday morning. Bookbinder && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ WFO EAX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS KANSAS CITY/PLEASANT HILL MO
1207 AM CDT Thu Oct 25 2012 ...UPDATED AVIATION DISCUSSION... .DISCUSSION... Today through Saturday... In the short term, the primary focus will be precipitation chances with a dynamic cold front approaching from the northwest. Although most model solutions continue to indicate light, warm sector precipitation across northwest Missouri this afternoon and evening, and low level moisture is evident in the scattered to broken MVFR deck, the weak forcing resulting from slight isentropic lift has not been enough to produce rain showers ahead of the surface cold front. Short range hi-res models have caught onto the lack of precipitation this afternoon, and keep rainfall out of Missouri prior to 06z. Have hedged a bit earlier than the latest HRRR forecasts in bringing a chance of precipitation into far northwestern portions of the CWA for the potential that storms could develop on the boundary and move into the far northwest before 06z; however, the better chances for showers and thunderstorms will be Thursday as the main trough axis dips into southeast Nebraska and begins driving the surface front more quickly to the southeast. Both the NAM and GFS produce convective precipitation along the low level boundary tonight as frontogenesis increases and midlevel cooling supports temporarily higher lapse rates, mainly above 925mb. The best chance for any robust storms to develop will likely be confined to the period between 06z-09z when storms can be rooted more closely to the surface; afterward, the low-level inversion will be compounded by surface frontal passage, and the focus for precipitation will shift a bit closer to the 850mb front. Most precipitation during the daylight hours on Thursday should occur mainly along the 850 front, with a small chance for some isolated development along the surface front in far eastern portions of the forecast area early Thursday afternoon. Rain chances will linger a bit across the southeast as midlevel forcing broadens early Friday evening, with any remaining showers expected to move out shortly between 00z-06z Friday. Temperatures will drop significantly behind the cold front, and in general, highs will be reached just prior to frontal passage on Thursday. Highs for Friday and Saturday will be well below average as cold surface high pressure settles into the region, and lows Friday night could drop a few degrees below freezing across areas that have not previously received a hard freeze. Laflin Medium Range (Saturday Night through Wednesday)... As the Canadian surface ridge remains settled over the area this weekend...temperatures will dip to around 30 degrees Sunday morning. The northern zones have experienced a hard freeze so will have to make some decisions tomorrow about headlines for the southern three quarters of the area for Sunday and possibly Monday mornings. The 500-1000mb thicknesses are around 537-540DM by Sunday morning with very light winds and clear skies. Lows on Monday morning may be a few degrees warmer as the surface ridge slides further east. Not much in the way of advection at this time though and the dry conditions with light winds...may require a downward tweak of the lows for Monday morning. By Tuesday...we will see the winds finally swing around to the south as the ridge moves further east so there will be an increase in the thicknesses and 850 mb temps...therefore we should see above freezing temperatures on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings. Daytime highs through the extended will show a gradual warming trend as well from the 40s on Sunday to the around 60 degrees F by Tuesday and Wednesday. Storm track remains well to the north so no precipitation is expected through the period. Adolphson && .AVIATION... For the 06Z TAFs...strong cold front over southeast Nebraska and far northwest MO will make very little southward push until later tonight, and may not clear STJ until 10Z despite being just a few miles away. Front will then accelerate through the remainder of western and central MO through Thursday morning. Widespread IFR cigs behind the front are likely to overspread all terminals through the morning, and may be slow to lift and scatter through the afternoon. Post-frontal convection is currently organizing and growing widespread over KS/NE, but is forecast to weaken and decrease in coverage by the time it reaches the KC terminals. Will therefore continue to include only a VCTS for now, and will watch for amendments to add thunder as needed. Hawblitzel && .EAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MO...NONE. KS...NONE. && $$ WFO EAX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
638 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .AVIATION...FOR THE KLBF AND KVTN TERMINALS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY. A LOW CONFIDENCE AVIATION FCST CONTINUES ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA THIS EVENING THANKS TO PESKY STRATUS...WHICH REMIANS IN PLACE ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. BOTH THE NAM AND GFS SOLNS CONTINUE TO HAVE A POOR HANDLE ON THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FIELD AND UTILIZED THE RAP SOLN FOR CLOUD COVER THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT. THIS YIELDS BROKEN TO OVERCAST SKIES AON 2500 FT AGL AT THE KLBF TERMINAL AT LEAST THROUGH 09Z. AT THE KVTN TERMINAL...SCATTERED CLOUDINESS IS EXPECTED AND SATELITE PICS ARE INDICATING SOME LIMITED CLEARING ACROSS NWRN NEBRASKA. CIGS SHOULD SCATTER OUT IN THE LOW LEVELS AT KLBF...HOWEVER...MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM INTO WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA FROM THE WEST...LEADING TO BROKEN CIGS AOA 10000 FT AGL SATURDAY. LIGHT SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTH LATER TONIGHT AND REMAIN IN THE 5 TO 10 KT RANGE. ON SATURDAY...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST AT AROUND 10 KTS AND REMAIN THERE INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 344 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ SYNOPSIS... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER MCCOOK NEBR. WEAK WINDS CIRCULATING AROUND THE HIGH WITH CONSIDERABLE LOW AND MID CLOUDS ACROSS THE REGION. DUE TO LACK OF MIXING AND SUN...TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO REMAIN CHILLY IN THE LOWER AND MID 30S. SOME CLEARING IN THE PANHANDLE. && .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY LOW CLOUDS WILL THIN OUT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING WHILE LIKELY PERSISTING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. MEANWHILE...UPSTREAM DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN IDAHO AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA IS FORECAST TO MOVE SOUTHEAST BRINGING AN INCREASE IN MID AND HIGH CLOUDINESS OVERNIGHT. THEREFORE THE BALANCE OF THE NIGHT TO REMAIN MOSTLY CLOUDY. DESPITE SUCH COOL TEMPS THIS AFTERNOON IN THE MID 30S...CLOUD COVER WILL HELP KEEP LOWS IN THE LOWER/MID 20S. AS DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH WESTERN NEBRASKA SATURDAY...KEPT A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA FOR THE AFTERNOON/EVENING. THIS HAS BEEN INDICATED FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY BY THE GFS...WHILE THE NAM...SREF AND ECMWF REMAIN MOSTLY DRY. MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH HIGHS AGAIN TO RANGE BELOW NORMAL FROM NEAR 50 IN SOUTHERN AREAS TO THE MID 40S NORTH CENTRAL. UPPER RIDGING OCCURS ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS SUNDAY...WHILE NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT STILL WILL EXIST ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. WILL SEE A SLIGHT WARMUP DUE TO A RETURN FLOW OF LIGHT SOUTHERLY WINDS AND HIGHS REACHING THE UPPER 50S FAR SOUTHWEST TO UPPER 40S NORTHEAST. MILDER YET FOR MONDAY. UPPER RIDGE TO ADVANCE FURTHER EAST INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES WHILE NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH IN THE EASTERN CONUS. A MORE PRONOUNCED LEESIDE TROUGH ALONG THE HIGH PLAINS. HIGHS FROM UPPER 60S FAR SOUTHWEST TO UPPER 50S NORTHEAST. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HURRICANE SANDY FORECAST TO REACH THE MID ATLANTIC COAST EARLY TUESDAY...SOMEWHERE NEAR OR NORTH OF THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. THIS TO RESULT IN A BLOCKING PATTERN WITH AN UPPER RIDGE TO AMPLIFY ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS THROUGH FRIDAY. DRY AND MILD CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY WITH HIGHS FROM THE UPPER 50S TO UPPER 60S ARE LIKELY...INCLUDING HALLOWEEN DAY. THERE WILL BE A WESTERN TROUGH WHICH MAY EITHER BECOME CLOSED OFF NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS REGION PER GFS SOLUTION...OR AS AN OPEN WAVE APPROACHING THE CENTRAL PLAINS PER THE ECMWF. HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS FRIDAY AND HIGHS NEAR 60. MEDIUM RANGE MODEL AGREEMENT COULD EVENTUALLY BRING ENHANCED CHANCES HOWEVER. && .AVIATION... CLOUD COVER CONTINUES TO BE PROBLEMATIC THIS AFTERNOON. OVERALL...CEILINGS HAVE BEEN RISING ACROSS NEBRASKA AS THE AFTERNOON PROGRESSES...HOWEVER SOME LOCATIONS HAVE SEEN A DROP IN CEILINGS INTO THE MID AFTERNOON HOURS. HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE WAS LOCATED OVER SOUTHWEST NEBRASKA AT 20Z WITH LOW LEVEL MOISTURE CONTINUING TO STAY TRAPPED UNDER AN INVERSION AND ADVECTING NORTHEAST ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH. BELIEVE THESE CLOUDS WILL STAY IN PLACE UNTIL STRONGER WINDS ARE SEEN ACROSS THE AREA TO ADVECT DRIER AIR INTO THE REGION. MODELS ARE INDICATING THIS HAPPENING THIS EVENING. CONFIDENCE ISN/T HIGH WITH TIMING AND WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR. AN APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE SATURDAY MORNING WILL CAUSE WINDS TO SWITCH TO THE SOUTH AND INCREASE BY LATE MORNING. ALSO...MID AND UPPER LEVEL CLOUDS /ABOVE 8K FEET/ WILL INCREASE AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM LATE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY MORNING. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/EXTENDED...ROBERG AVIATION...BUTTLER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS OMAHA/VALLEY NE
559 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .AVIATION... 00Z TAF FOR KOMA...KOFK...KLNK MODELS ARE HAVING A VERY DIFFICULT TIME WITH THE CLOUD FORECAST OVERNIGHT. MOST MODELS WOULD INDC GENERALLY CLEAR SKIES WITH DECREASING WINDS...BUT THIS APPEARS UNLIKELY GIVEN THE LARGE SC DECK ACROSS...AND UPSTREAM FM THE AREA CURRENTLY. THUS WE WILL GO WITH A PERSISTENCE FORECAST AT THIS TIME UNTIL MODEL FORECASTS IMPROVE...OR CLEAR TRENDS IN OBSERVATION DATA DEVELOP. THUS WE WILL HAVE MVFR CIGS AT ALL SITES THROUGH THE NIGHT. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE DIMINISHING THROUGH THE NIGHT THOUGH AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT DECREASES. BOUSTEAD && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 313 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012/ SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM IN THE VERY NEAR TERM IS AN EXPANDING DECK OF STRATUS THAT NO MODEL EXCEPT THE RAP SEEMS TO BE HANDLING ALL THAT WELL. THUS...HAVE TRENDED CLOUD GRIDS UPWARD TONIGHT...BUT AM STILL THINKING THAT SOME OF THIS MAY DISSIPATE THIS EVENING AS MORE ANTICYCLONIC FLOW CONTINUES TO TAKE HOLD ACROSS THE REGION. IT WILL PROBABLY BE A COLD NIGHT WITH LOWS IN THE 20S AS SKIES SCATTER OUT. GIVEN THE RECENT RAINS...THERE COULD BE PATCHY FOG OVERNIGHT...BUT PROBABLY NOT A BIG ENOUGH OF CONCERN TO ADD TO THE GRIDS. HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO MOVE OFF THE HIGH PLAINS ON FRIDAY WITH NORTHWESTERLY FLOW AND SOME MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS OVER THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY EVENING WITH A RETURN FLOW SETTING UP ON SATURDAY. A NEW AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS ACROSS SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY WHILE AN UPPER WAVE MOVES THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS. WARM AIR ADVECTION COULD RESULT IN A FEW SHOWERS NEAR THE SD/NE BORDER SATURDAY AFTERNOON...THEN SLIDING EAST SOUTHEAST DOWN THE MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY NIGHT. THE NAM IS CONSIDERABLY WARMER...WHICH IS PROBABLY TOO WARM. BUT...THERE COULD BE A FEW RAIN SHOWER OR EVEN A SNOW FLAKE MIXED IN MAINLY NORTH OF OMAHA SATURDAY NIGHT. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY. LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS NOT SHOWING MUCH POTENTIAL FOR ANY PCPN THRU MOST OF NEXT WEEK. OTHERWISE...LATEST GFS BLOCKING INDICES ADVERTISING UPSTREAM BLOCKAGE DEVELOPING THRU DAY 7...ALLOWING FOR AMPLIFIED RIDGING OVER THE ROCKIES/WRN HIGH PLAINS WITH 2 TROFS FLANKING THE CONUS. THIS THEN LEADING TO THRUST OF COLD AIR DOWN THRU THE UPPER MIDWEST/GREAT LAKES REGION REACHING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SERN STATES. AT THIS POINT THEN THE MAIN INTEREST IS HOW FAR WILL THE WRN PERIPHERY OF CAA PUSH IT INTO THE CWA BEFORE AFOREMENTIONED ROCKIES/WRN HIGH PLAINS RIDGE BUILDS IN. COMPARISON OF 1000-500MB THKNS DAYS 5-7...ECM DETERMINIST PROGS CLEARLY SHOW IT TO BE THE WARMER OF THE TWO. THIS ALSO REFLECTED THRU WARMER ECM MOS MAX/MIN TEMPS RELATIVE TO THE MEX. GOING FCST APPEAR TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WARMER ECM SOLUTION...THUS SEE NO REASON TO MAKE ANY CHANGE DEPICTING WARMING TREND IN THE EXTEND PDS. DEE && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS OMAHA/VALLEY NE
313 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY. MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM IN THE VERY NEAR TERM IS AN EXPANDING DECK OF STRATUS THAT NO MODEL EXCEPT THE RAP SEEMS TO BE HANDLING ALL THAT WELL. THUS...HAVE TRENDED CLOUD GRIDS UPWARD TONIGHT...BUT AM STILL THINKING THAT SOME OF THIS MAY DISSIPATE THIS EVENING AS MORE ANTICYCLONIC FLOW CONTINUES TO TAKE HOLD ACROSS THE REGION. IT WILL PROBABLY BE A COLD NIGHT WITH LOWS IN THE 20S AS SKIES SCATTER OUT. GIVEN THE RECENT RAINS...THERE COULD BE PATCHY FOG OVERNIGHT...BUT PROBABLY NOT A BIG ENOUGH OF CONCERN TO ADD TO THE GRIDS. HIGH PRESSURE CONTINUES TO MOVE OFF THE HIGH PLAINS ON FRIDAY WITH NORTHWESTERLY FLOW AND SOME MID AND HIGH CLOUDS. HIGH PRESSURE DRIFTS OVER THE FORECAST AREA FRIDAY EVENING WITH A RETURN FLOW SETTING UP ON SATURDAY. A NEW AREA OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS ACROSS SOUTHWEST SOUTH DAKOTA THROUGH THE DAY SATURDAY WHILE AN UPPER WAVE MOVES THROUGH THE NORTHERN PLAINS. WARM AIR ADVECTION COULD RESULT IN A FEW SHOWERS NEAR THE SD/NE BORDER SATURDAY AFTERNOON...THEN SLIDING EAST SOUTHEAST DOWN THE MISSOURI RIVER VALLEY SATURDAY NIGHT. THE NAM IS CONSIDERABLY WARMER...WHICH IS PROBABLY TOO WARM. BUT...THERE COULD BE A FEW RAIN SHOWER OR EVEN A SNOW FLAKE MIXED IN MAINLY NORTH OF OMAHA SATURDAY NIGHT. DRY WEATHER IS EXPECTED ON SUNDAY. .LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. MEDIUM RANGE MODELS NOT SHOWING MUCH POTENTIAL FOR ANY PCPN THRU MOST OF NEXT WEEK. OTHERWISE...LATEST GFS BLOCKING INDICES ADVERTISING UPSTREAM BLOCKAGE DEVELOPING THRU DAY 7...ALLOWING FOR AMPLIFIED RIDGING OVER THE ROCKIES/WRN HIGH PLAINS WITH 2 TROFS FLANKING THE CONUS. THIS THEN LEADING TO THRUST OF COLD AIR DOWN THRU THE UPPER MIDWEST/GREAT LAKES REGION REACHING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE SERN STATES. AT THIS POINT THEN THE MAIN INTEREST IS HOW FAR WILL THE WRN PERIPHERY OF CAA PUSH IT INTO THE CWA BEFORE AFOREMENTIONED ROCKIES/WRN HIGH PLAINS RIDGE BUILDS IN. COMPARISON OF 1000-500MB THKNS DAYS 5-7...ECM DETERMINIST PROGS CLEARLY SHOW IT TO BE THE WARMER OF THE TWO. THIS ALSO REFLECTED THRU WARMER ECM MOS MAX/MIN TEMPS RELATIVE TO THE MEX. GOING FCST APPEAR TO BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE WARMER ECM SOLUTION...THUS SEE NO REASON TO MAKE ANY CHANGE DEPICTING WARMING TREND IN THE EXTEND PDS. DEE && .AVIATION...18Z TAFS FOR KOMA...KLNK...AND KOFK. EXTENSIVE STRATUS DECK CONTINUES TO SPILL SOUTHEAST FROM THE DAKOTAS. WILL GO WITH MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE ENTIRE TAF PERIOD. NO MODEL DATA HAS A GOOD HANDLE ON CURRENT CLOUDS AND SO HAVE BASED THE TAF FORECAST ON CURRENT TRENDS. KERN && .OAX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NE...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BURLINGTON VT
1000 AM EDT THU OCT 25 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A BUILDING RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BOTH ALOFT AND AT THE SURFACE WILL RESULT IN DRY CONDITIONS AND MUCH ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR THE REMINDER OF THIS WEEK. BY THE WEEKEND...AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION...ALONG WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES. THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY COULD IMPACT THE NORTH COUNTRY WITH RAIN AND WIND EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... AS OF 1000 AM EDT THURSDAY...MINOR UPDATE TO SKY COVER THROUGH TODAY TO ACCT FOR CURRENT OBSERVATIONAL DATA AND LATEST MID-LVL RH PROGS....WHICH WOULD OFFER PTLY SUNNY ERN VT/SLV...AND MOSTLY CLOUDY DACKS/CHVLY TODAY. ALSO OPTED TO CARRY AN OUTSIDE CHC OF A SPRINKLE OR VERY LIGHT SHOWER ACROSS THE FAR NORTH...MAINLY NRN SLV TODAY PER HRRR DATA AND RADAR SHOWING SOME LIGHT RETURNS NORTH OF LAKE ONTARIO AS OF 14Z. PCPN AMNTS NEGLIGIBLE. REST OF FCST IN GOOD SHAPE WITH HIGHS 50S TO AROUND 60 EAST...AND TO NEAR 70 SLV. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 400 AM EDT THURSDAY...TONIGHT...SOUNDINGS SHOW RH DECREASING ACRS OUR FA...AS LARGE SCALE SUBSIDENCE DEVELOPS FROM BUILDING RIDGE. IN ADDITION...SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST FLOW WL DEVELOP...WHICH WL HELP PUSH DEEPER RH/MOISTURE NORTH OF OUR CWA. IN ADDITION...SOUNDINGS SHOW GOOD BL MIXING TONIGHT AS GRADIENT INCREASES FROM APPROACHING COLD FRONT...ESPECIALLY CV/SLV. THIS WL HELP KEEP TEMPS IN THE U40S TO L50S AT BTV...WITH MUCH COOLER TEMPS IN DEEPER MTN VALLEYS...WHERE WINDS WL DECOUPLE AND SKIES WL CLR. THINKING M/U30S PARTS OF THE NECK AND L/M 40S DACKS/CENTRAL VT. MID/UPPER LVL RIDGE CONTS TO BUILD ACRS OUR CWA ON FRIDAY AND SHIFTS TO OUR EAST BY SATURDAY...AS TROF/COLD FRONT APPROACH OUR FA. THE COMBINATION OF WARM SOUTHERLY WINDS AND PROGGED 85H TEMPS NEAR 12C AN 925MB TEMPS OF 15C....SUPPORT HIGHS IN THE M60S NECK/MTNS TO M70S CV/SLV ON FRIDAY. NEAR RECORD HIGH TEMPS WL BE POSSIBLE ON FRIDAY ACRS THE NORTH COUNTRY. PLEASE SEE CLIMO SECTION BLW FOR RECORDS. SOUNDINGS SHOW DEEP DRY LAYER...WHICH WL RESULT IN PLENTY OF SUNSHINE ACRS OUR FA ON FRIDAY. NAM CONTS TO SHOW LLVL RH INCREASE ACRS OUR CWA ON SOUTH TO SOUTHEAST FLW EARLY SATURDAY MORNING...WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A LOW STRATUS DECK DEVELOPING. MEANWHILE...GFS IS MUCH DRIER WITH RH PROFILES...AND KEEPS BEST RH ASSOCIATED WITH APPROACHING COLD FRONT. NAM/GFS IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH POSITION OF SFC BOUNDARY ACRS NORTHERN NY BY 18Z SAT AND ENTERING THE CV BY 00Z SUNDAY. GIVEN...RIBBON OF BETTER 850 TO 500MB RH AND SOME AREAS OF ENHANCED UVVS...WL MENTION LIKELY POPS WESTERN CWA AND CHC ELSEWHERE. LLVL THERMAL GRADIENT TIGHTENS ACRS OUR FA ON SATURDAY...WITH TEMPS RANGING FROM THE 60S EAST TO 50S WEST. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 400 AM EDT THURSDAY...BLOCKING PATTERN OVER THE CENTRAL ATLANTIC TO HAVE AN IMPACT ON OUR WEATHER IN THE EXTENDED PERIOD FROM SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. AT THIS TIME IT APPEARS THE UPPER FLOW WILL BE BLOCKED THROUGH MUCH OF THE EXTENDED PERIOD AND THIS MEANS IT WILL BE HARD TO HAVE WEATHER SYSTEMS PUSH EASTWARD. THIS WILL HAVE PARTICULAR INTEREST FOR OUR AREA AS THIS MAY DRIVE WHERE HURRICANE SANDY GOES. WHILE THERE ARE STILL DIFFERING SCENARIOS AS TO HURRICANE SANDY`S PATH...ONE THING FOR SURE IS THAT IT WILL MOVE NORTHWARD AND PHASE IN SOME WAY SHAPE OR FORM WITH UPSTREAM UPPER LEVEL TROUGH. IT LOOKS LIKE THE MAIN TIME PERIOD THE IMPACTS OF THIS SYSTEM WILL STILL BE MONDAY AND TUESDAY. THUS THE IDEA OF RAIN LIKELY IN THE GOING FORECAST FOR MONDAY AND TUESDAY LOOKS GOOD AND WILL NOT STRAY FROM THAT AT THIS POINT. GIVEN THE LONGER DURATION OF RAIN AND THE MOISTURE BEING TROPICAL IN NATURE...SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE WATCHED FOR ITS HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL. IN ADDITION...SYSTEM IS STRONG ENOUGH THAT GUSTY WINDS WILL ALSO EXIST AND ATTENTION WILL BE PAID TO THE WEST SLOPES OF THE GREEN MOUNTAINS AS THE EXPECTED TRACK OF THIS SYSTEM WOULD ENHANCE THE POTENTIAL FOR DOWNSLOPE WINDS IN THIS AREA. WILL UPDATE THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK TO INDICATE THE POTENTIAL REMAINS FOR HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS EARLY NEXT WEEK. SYSTEM WILL BE SLOW TO CLEAR THE AREA...SO GOING FORECAST OF A CHANCE OF SHOWERS FOR WEDNESDAY LOOKS GOOD. COULD EASILY SEE THAT THREAT OF PRECIPITATION CONTINUING RIGHT THROUGH THE END OF NEXT WEEK. && .AVIATION /14Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY...VFR CONDITIONS GENERALLY EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. THE ONLY EXCEPTION TO THIS WILL BE AT KRUT WHERE MVFR CEILINGS WILL EXIST DURING THE MORNING HOURS...OTHERWISE ANY CEILINGS WILL GENERALLY BE AROUND 5000 FEET TODAY. SKIES SHOULD GENERALLY BE CLEAR TONIGHT WITH SOME CLOUDS AROUND 1000 FEET...BUT SHOULD NOT BE ENOUGH TO CALL A CEILING. WINDS WILL INCREASE OUT OF THE SOUTH THIS MORNING...BUT SPEEDS WILL GENERALLY BE UNDER 15 KNOTS. OUTLOOK 12Z FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY...VFR CONDITIONS WL PREVAIL THRU 00Z SUNDAY...BEFORE APPROACHING SFC BOUNDARY INCREASES THE CLOUDS AND CHCS FOR SHOWERS SAT NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. IN ADDITION...SOUTHEAST FLOW AROUND HIGH PRESSURE...MAY PRODUCE SOME LOW CLOUDS AND MVFR CONDITIONS AT MPV SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY MORNING. THE HEAVIER SHOWERS ON SUNDAY WL BE CAPABLE OF PRODUCING BRIEF PERIODS OF MVFR IN LOW CIGS/VIS. COASTAL LOW MAY BRING MVFR/IFR COND WITH STRONG WIND COND...WITH POSSIBLE LLWS. && .CLIMATE... BELOW ARE RECORD HIGH TEMPS FOR FRIDAY 10/26/12: BTV 75 1963 MSS 72 1963 MPV 74 1991 && .BTV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VT...NONE. NY...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TABER NEAR TERM...JMG/TABER SHORT TERM...TABER LONG TERM...EVENSON AVIATION...EVENSON/LOCONTO CLIMATE...WFO BTV
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
1000 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEAKEN AND RETREAT NORTH AS SANDY MOVES TO THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST...OFFSHORE OF THE CAROLINAS. THE INFLUENCE OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION AT LEAST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 1000 PM FRIDAY... THE FIRST OUTER RAINBAND ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY...WHICH IS EAST OF VERO BEACH FL THIS EVENING... HAS PUSHED NORTHWEST TO JUST OFF THE SC COAST AS DRY AIRS INFILTRATES THE SYSTEM FROM THE SOUTH. HOWEVER...THE BAND IS ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY WITH INDIVIDUAL SHOWERS MOVING SOUTHWEST...PARALLEL TO THE CAROLINA COASTLINES AND LITTLE PRECIP ONSHORE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW ISOLATED POCKETS OF LIGHT RAIN MOVING INLAND ACROSS THE NC COASTAL PLAIN THIS EVENING...MAKING AS FAR WEST AS THE TRIANGLE AS OF 01Z. THE RAP INDICATES THIS VERY LIGHT PRECIP WILL PUSH WEST TOWARD THE TRIAD OVERNIGHT AS THE FLOW VEERS SLIGHTLY TO EASTERLY BETWEEN 925MB AND 850MB ...WITH ADDITIONAL UPSLOPE PRECIP ALONG THE MOUNTAINS BY DAYBREAK. OTHERWISE...THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF HURRICANE SANDY...ALONG WITH A WEAK DRY AIR RIDGE EXTENDING SOUTH FROM ENGLAND INTO THE PIEDMONT WILL KEEP AREAS WEST OF I-95 DRY OVERNIGHT. OVERALL...THERE HAS BEEN A SMALL EASTWARD SHIFT AMONG THE OPERATIONAL MODELS REGARDING SANDY...AND ACCORDINGLY A SIMILAR SHIFT IN THE PRECIP/NO PRECIP LINE. THUS...THERE IS NO NEED TO ALTER THE OVERNIGHT POPS VERY MUCH...AND SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS MAY NEED TO TRIM POPS ON THE WESTERN EDGE IF THE GUIDANCE TREND CONTINUES TONIGHT. TO THE WEST...THE SURFACE COLD FRONT HAS BEEN MAKING SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS AND NOW EXTENDS FROM NEAR BIRMINGHAM TO KNOXVILLE TO EAST OF PITTSBURGH. THERE IS VERY LITTLE PRECIP WITH THE FRONT...OUTSIDE OF AN AREA OF ANAFRONTAL PRECIP OVER THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOW OVERNIGHT AND EVENTUALLY CROSS THE MOUNTAINS LATER SATURDAY AS IT BECOMES ABSORBED INTO THE FLOW AROUND SANDY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...LOWS TONIGHT WILL BE SOMEWHAT MILD...MOSTLY UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. HAVE TWEAKED LOWS IN THE SOUTHEAST A COUPLE DEGREES BASED ON CURRENT READINGS. EXPECT MAINLY STRATUS IN THE EAST WITH A SLOWLY INCREASING NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY WIND TO 10-15 MPH IN THE SOUTHEAST BY 12Z SATURDAY. -BLS SATURDAY: THE FORECAST TRACKS FOR HURRICANE SANDY THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY BASED ON THE 00Z ECMWF AND THE 12Z GFS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR...WITH THE GFS STILL A LITTLE FARTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE LITTLEST CHANGE IN TRACK TO THE EAST OR WEST WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR SATURDAY. THE LATEST FORECAST FROM THE ECMWF (HPC`S PREFERENCE) HAS MOVED THE TRACK OF SANDY WEST AGAIN AND IS ONE OF THE WETTEST SOLUTIONS FOR CENTRAL NC. GIVEN THAT THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE TRACK...HAVE MADE LITTLE CHANGE TO THE PRECIP CHANCES SATURDAY. WITH SANDY TRACKING APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL...AND A FEW HUNDRED MILES OFFSHORE OF THE ATLANTIC COAST...THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP WILL BE ALONG THE NC COAST AND DECREASING FROM EAST TO WEST. HAVE INCREASED PRECIP AMOUNTS EAST OF I-95. WITH THE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE AREA...WINDS WILL ALSO BE SIGNIFICANT...MAINLY NNE...SUSTAINED OF 15 KTS WITH GUSTS OF 30-35 KTS ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST AND SUSTAINED NEAR 12 WITH GUSTS OF 20-30 KTS FROM RALEIGH WEST. AS WITH THE RAIN...WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST. THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL BE MASKED BY THE COASTAL SYSTEM...BUT COMBINED WITH THE CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP...WILL RESULT IN HIGHS SATURDAY IN THE 60S. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 255 PM FRIDAY... SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... MODEL GUIDANCE IN GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE WELL OFFSHORE TRACK OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY... PARALLELING THE SE U.S. COAST THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...THEN THE NC COAST SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. ECMWF IS MUCH STRONGER (AS MUCH AS 15-18MB) COMPARED TO THE GFS. PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE ECMWF WITH TROPICAL SYSTEMS SUGGEST THAT THE ECMWF MAY BE WAY TOO STRONG/DEEP WITH SANDY. AT 18Z...THE 00Z ECMWF VERIFIED 7MB TOO DEEP. THIS MODEL FLAW MAY COME INTO PLAY CONCERNING PRECIP AMOUNTS AND WIND INTENSITY OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN OF NC. EXPECT THE STRONGEST WINDS CAUSED BY THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN AN CANADIAN HIGH OVER ONTARIO AND TC SANDY TO AFFECT OVER EASTERN COUNTIES LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. USED THE NHC TCM WINDS WITH A REDUCTION OF 30 PERCENT DUE TO LAND FRICTION. GUSTS ACHIEVED UTILIZING THE LATEST RESEARCH PERFORMED BY C*STAR INITIATIVE CONCERNING TROPICAL WIND FORECASTING. WIND GUSTS 35-40 MPH HIGHLY PROBABLE OVER SECTIONS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN. A LITTLE EARLY TO ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY AT THIS TIME BUT IF THE SCENARIO REMAINS THE SAME...AN ADVISORY MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. STILL APPEARS THAT PRECIP WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD OVER THE EAST HALF OF CENTRAL NC BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON-EARLY EVENING AS A STRONG UPPER JET OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND A DECENT MID LEVEL S/W CROSSING THE OH VALLEY INCREASES MID LEVEL LIFT IN THE MOIST AIR MASS ON THE NW QUADRANT OF SANDY. EXPECT THIS PRECIP BAND TO DRIFT SLOWLY ENE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY. MODELS DIVERGE AFTER 12Z SUNDAY WITH THE GFS TAKING SANDY FARTHER OFFSHORE THAN ECMWF WITH A DISTINCT DRYING TREND OVERSPREADING CENTRAL NC FROM THE SW. THE ECMWF MAINTAINS A WELL DEFINED MID LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN ALONG WITH STRONG UPPER DIVERGENCE SUPPLIED BY A 140+ JET OVER THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. CONFLUENCE ALONG THIS MID LEVEL TROUGH WOULD SUGGEST A CONTINUED THREAT FOR MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. HOWEVER...SINCE THE ECMWF LIKELY TOO DEEP/STRONG WITH THE SYSTEM...CONFLUENCE ALONG TROUGH MAY BE OVERDONE. DUE TO THE CONSISTENCY OF THE ECMWF...HAVE LEANED HEAVILY TOWARD PER TRACK AND WEATHER DEPICTION BUT THINK THAT ITS RAINFALL PRODUCTION OVERBLOWN BY A FACTOR OF 2. THUS EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS LATE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES EAST OF HIGHWAY 1 WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN VICINITY OF THE NORTHERN COASTAL DUE TO PRESENCE OF LINGERING MID LEVEL TROUGH. LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPS THIS PERIOD FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. EXPECT NOTICEABLY COOLER CONDITIONS AREAWIDE SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 255 PM FRIDAY... MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... SANDY WILL BE THE DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE THIS PERIOD. MODEL GUIDANCE STILL OFFERING VARYING SOLUTIONS. ECMWF HAS BEEN THE MOST CONSISTENT WHILE THE GFS HAS SHOWN SOME RUN-TO RUN VARIANCE. WILL BASE BULK OF FORECAST ON THE ECMWF WITH ADJUSTMENT DUE TO EXPECTED POSITION AND STRENGTH. S/W IN THE NORTHERN STREAM WILL ATTAIN A NEGATIVE TILT AND DRAW SANDY NWWD. ECMWF DOES THIS ABOUT 24 HOURS SOONER COMPARED TO THE 12Z GFS...DRAWING SANDY INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION MONDAY WHILE THE 12Z GFS HAS ITS WWD MOVEMENT MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...ALLOWING SANDY TO MOVE FARTHER NORTH BEFORE SWINGING INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. WITH SANDY PROJECTED TO LIE TO OUR NORTH...EXPECT CONTINUED WNW FLOW ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. DEEP CYCLONIC CURVATURE WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN CLOUDINESS AND PATCHES OF RAIN OVER OUR FAR N-NE COUNTIES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ALONG WITH BREEZY/WINDY CONDITIONS. FARTHER SOUTH...DOWNSLOPE COMPONENT OF THE LOW-MID LEVEL WINDS SHOULD AID TO SCOUR OUT THE MOISTURE AND LEAD TO CLEARING SKIES OVER THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT-SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL ALSO ADVECT MUCH COOLER AIR INTO CENTRAL NC. LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES CLUSTER AROUND 1295-1300M BOTH TUESDAY MORNING AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. HISTORICALLY...THESE VALUES SUGGEST MIN TEMPS IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S. THICKNESSES HAVE TRENDED SLIGHTLY WARMER COMPARED TO 24-48 HOURS AGO. IN ADDITION...STRONG MIXING AND POSSIBILITY OF CLOUDINESS SHOULD KEEP TEMPS UP. MAY SEE BETTER POTENTIAL FOR A LIGHT FREEZE IN SECTIONS OF THE PIEDMONT EARLY WEDNESDAY AND/OR THURSDAY MORNING AS SURFACE WINDS MAY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO DECOUPLE AND SKIES MAY BE CLEAR. OTHERWISE WITH THICKNESSES AS MUCH AS 50M BELOW NORMAL...EXPECT MAX TEMPS 12-18 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL MONDAY-WEDNESDAY WITH SOME MODIFICATION THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. AFTERNOON TEMPS IN THE 50S EXPECTED FOR MOST OF NEXT WEEK WITH SOME UPPER 40S PROBABLE TUESDAY ACROSS THE NW PIEDMONT. && .AVIATION /00Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 840 PM FRIDAY... 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD: VFR CONDITIONS FROM LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING ARE ALREADY TAKING A TURN BACK INTO THE MVFR/IFR RANGE THIS EVENING... IN GENERALLY AN EAST TO WEST FASHION. EXPECT THIS TREND TO CONTINUE... AS HURRICANE SANDY (CURRENTLY LOCATED OFF THE FL COAST) SLOWLY LIFTS NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD... KEEPING A MOIST NORTHEASTERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW ACROSS CENTRAL NC. A FEW SHOWERS WELL IN ADVANCE OF SANDY MAY MOVE ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA FROM TIME TO TIME THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT AS WELL. EXPECT GENERALLY MVFR/VFR CIGS AND VISBYS THIS EVENING TO LOWER INTO AT LEAST THE IFR RANGE OVERNIGHT... WITH POSSIBLY SOME LIFR CIGS AFTER MIDNIGHT TO AROUND SUNRISE (HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE EASTERN TAF SITES... KRDU/KFAY/KRWI). EXPECT LOW CIGS TO SLOWLY IMPROVE AGAIN ON SATURDAY AFTER SUNRISE... ALONG WITH INCREASING WINDS AS SANDY SLOWLY LIFTS NNE`WARD HELPING TO INCREASE THE MSLP GRADIENT ACROSS OUR AREA. THIS WILL LEAD TO SUSTAINED WINDS IN THE 15 TO 20 MPH RANGE BY AFTERNOON... WITH GUSTS AS HIGH AS 25 TO 33 MPH (PERHAPS 35-40 MPH IN THE HEAVIEST RAIN BANDS) ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA (MAINLY KRWI AND KFAY). WITH REGARD TO CHANCES FOR RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE APPROACHING TROPICAL SYSTEM... EXPECT RAIN CHANCES TO INCREASE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA... MAINLY AFTER SUNRISE SATURDAY. MODEL GUIDANCE HAS SHIFTED THE AXIS OF RAIN A BIT TO THE EAST FOR SATURDAY THAN PREVIOUSLY INDICATED. THUS... KFAY AND KRWI WILL STAND THE BEST CHANCE OF SEEING THE WORST AVIATION CONDITIONS... PERHAPS REMAINING MVFR ALL DAY... WITH PERIODS OF RAIN. FARTHER WEST AT KGSO AND KINT EXPECT A GENERALLY DRY DAY... WITH CIGS SLOWLY LIFTING TO VFR BY AFTERNOON. KRDU... APPEARS TO BE CAUGHT IN BETWEEN. HOWEVER... FOR NOW WILL CONTINUE TO LEAN TO A MORE PESSIMISTIC FORECAST FOR KRDU... SHOWING PREDOMINATE RAIN... WITH CIGS ONLY LIFTING TO THE MVFR CATEGORY BY AFTERNOON. LOOKING AHEAD: ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH AT LEAST SUNDAY NIGHT (ESPECIALLY ACROSS EASTERN/NORTHEASTERN PORTIONS OF THE AREA). THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE TRACK OF HURRICANE SANDY...WHICH WOULD IMPACT THE LOCATION AND DURATION OF THE ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA. BEST CHANCES FOR HEAVY RAIN WILL BE AT KRWI...AND POSSIBLY AT KFAY AND KRDU. STRONG GUSTY WINDS FROM THE NNE ARE LIKELY AREAWIDE BUT ESPECIALLY AT KRDU/KRWI/KFAY... AND LOW LEVEL WIND SHEAR AND/OR SIGNIFICANT MECHANICAL TURBULENCE IS ALSO POSSIBLE. VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN MONDAY... HOWEVER WINDY CONDITIONS MAY PERSIST. && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DJF NEAR TERM...KC/BLS SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...WSS AVIATION...BSD/CBL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
1148 PM CDT WED OCT 24 2012 .DISCUSSION...LATEST FOG/STRATUS IMAGERY LOOP ALONG WITH SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SHOW A SWATH OF STRATUS ACROSS NORTHERN NORTH DAKOTA. THE RUC 925MB RH FIELD SEEMED TO HAVE THIS HANDLED WELL...MOVING THIS AREA SOUTHEAST OVERNIGHT. CONCUR WITH THIS...ESPECIALLY AS THE UPPER TROUGH/MAXIMUM CYCLONIC CURVATURE NOW CENTERED IN THE WEST MOVES INTO CENTRAL NORTH DAKOTA BY 12Z THURSDAY. FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT...DUE TO WIDESPREAD STRATUS HAVE WARMED MINIMUM TEMPERATURES INTO THE UPPER 20S IN THE FAR WEST AND MID 20S SOUTHWEST. ALSO WITH UPSTREAM CANADIAN SURFACE OBS SHOWING FLURRIES...HAVE ADDED THAT INTO THE NORTH CENTRAL OVERNIGHT. A COLD H85 POCKET OF AIR AS DENOTED BY THE -8C IN SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN AND EASTERN MONTANA WILL GRADUALLY SHIFT SOUTHEAST LATER TONIGHT INTO EARLY THURSDAY. THIS WILL PROMOTE MORE INSTABILITY THURSDAY WITH POSSIBLE FLURRIES IN THE NORTH. WILL MAINTAIN THIS IN THE FORECAST. OTHERWISE DRY AND COLD ELSEWHERE. && .AVIATION...LOW PRESSURE ACROSS MANITOBA WILL MOVE EAST AND MAINTAIN A COOL/BRISK TO WINDY NORTHWEST FLOW THROUGH THURSDAY. WIDESPREAD MVFR CIGS ACROSS THE NORTHERN AERODROMES WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTH THROUGH 12Z THURSDAY. EXPECT A GRADUAL LIFTING AND DETERIORATION OF THE MVFR CIGS THURSDAY MORNING INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE WITH SUSTAINED WINDS BETWEEN 20 AND 25 MPH...AND GUSTS TO 35 MPH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ DISCUSSION...KS AVIATION...WAA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1029 PM EDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION BEFORE DISSIPATING ON SATURDAY. TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTH ACROSS THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS INTO MONDAY DEVELOPING INTO A POWERFUL NOR-EASTER. THIS WILL RESULT IN UNSEASONABLY CHILLY AND WINDY CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 1030 PM EDT...REMOVED PRECIP CHANCES IN THE MTNS FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. 23Z HRRR RUN SHOWS THE LIGHT PRECIP BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS MIDDLE TN BUT KEEPS THE SHOWERS THERE...WITH NO DEVELOPMENT SEEN AHEAD OF IT. 00Z NAM SUGGESTS THE FRONT WILL NOT MAKE IT TO THE MTNS UNTIL LATE MORNING SO POP TREND WAS SLOWED GREATLY. AS OF 915 PM EDT...WILL MAINTAIN PREVIOUS FCST FOR LOW TEMPS TONIGHT AS THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE BETWEEN 12Z AND 18Z RUNS. MONITORING LOW STRATUS AND SHOWERS BOTH NEAR THE COLD FRONT /MIDDLE TN/ AND IN THE MOIST REGION UPSTREAM IN EASTERLY FLOW /ERN NC/. THE ONGOING LIGHT SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY OF RDU WOULD REACH THE NC PIEDMONT AROUND 04Z IF THEY HOLD TOGETHER. MOISTURE DOES KEEP INCREASING AND THE STEADY EASTERLY FLOW SHOULD CONTINUE SO THAT IS PLAUSIBLE. WILL BRING UP THE ONSET TIME TO 04Z OVER DAVIE/ROWAN/CABARRUS...THOUGH IF THE SHOWERS MAKE IT THERE IN THIS STATE THEY WILL PROBABLY ONLY GET SPRINKLES. AS OF 730 PM EDT...EASTERLY FLOW IN THE MIDLEVELS ALONG WITH INCREASING MOISTURE IN THE LAYER WILL PROMOTE CLOUD AND PRECIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE LATE OVERNIGHT HOURS OVER THE NC PIEDMONT. THE BOUNDARY LAYER ALSO MOISTENS IN THAT AREA...ENABLING LOW STRATUS TO ALSO FORM. AT THE PRESENT TIME POPS OVER THE PIEDMONT LOOK A LITTLE TOO LOW AND SO THEY WILL BE INCREASED AND EXPANDED WESTWARD. ON ANOTHER NOTE...COLD FRONT IS ADVANCING RATHER SLOWLY ACROSS THE TN VALLEY AND MODEL DEPICTED FORCING IS NOT PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE WITH IT OVER THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. WILL LOWER CHANCES TO SLIGHT UNTIL MORNING. AS OF 430 PM EDT...DELAYED ONSET OF PRECIP CHANCES IN THE MTNS BY A COUPLE OF HOURS AND CONFIDENCE IS FAIRLY LOW THAT THE AREA WILL SEE ANY SHOWERS AT ALL. CONVERGENCE LINE NEAR THE COLD FRONT OVER CUMBERLAND PLATEAU IS PRODUCING A BAND OF CUMULUS BUT NO RADAR RETURNS INDICATIVE OF PRECIP. MESO MODELS EITHER KEEP THE MTNS DRY INTO THE EVENING OR SHOW DIURNALLY DRIVEN SHOWERS WHICH NOW SEEM UNLIKELY GIVEN SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING THE CU OVER THE MTNS FLATTENING OUT. UPDATED SKY TRENDS TO BETTER REPRESENT CIRRUS OVER THE PIEDMONT...GENERALLY LEANING SUNNIER THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON...THOUGH MAINTAINED INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING. AS OF 230 PM EDT...HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFFSHORE OF THE SE COASTLINE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...GRADUALLY STRENGTHENING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND NRLY FLOW ACROSS THE REGION. MEANWHILE...A BROAD TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING SWD FROM A DEEPENING MANITOBA/ONTARIO VORTEX WILL MAINTAIN A TROUGH AXIS W OF THE APPALACHIANS THROUGH THE PERIOD. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT CURRENTLY STRETCHING FROM KJKL TO KCSV WILL MOVE SLOWLY EWD ACROSS EXTREME ERN TN TONIGHT AND THEN STALL ACROSS THE SRN APPLACHIANS ON SAT. AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING BOUNDARY...THE MODELS WRING OUT ISOLD TO SCT SHOWERS IN THE SW MTNS IN CONVERGENT BL FLOW WITH SFC BASED CAPE VALUES OF 300 TO 500 J/KG INTO THE EARLY EVENING THERE. THIS SEEMS REASONABLE. THE FORCING REMAINS SOMEWHAT LIMITED ALONG THE STALLING BOUNDARY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SAT...BUT CONTINUED WEAK LLVL CONVERGENCE COMBINED WITH IMPROVING UPPER DIVERGENCE SUPPORTS SCHC TO CHC POPS IN AND NEAR THE MTNS. FARTHER E...LOW LEVEL NE FLOW SHOULD ADVECT IN ANOTHER STRATUS LAYER FROM THE NE OVERNIGHT. AN OUTER BAND OF TROPICAL RAIN SHOWERS AROUND THE SANDY CIRCULATION COULD DEVELOP OVER THE CAROLINA PIEDMONT TONIGHT AND WRAP WWD TOWARD THE INTERSTATE 77 CORRIDOR THROUGH SAT. WILL FEATURE MAINLY SCHC POPS OVER ERN PIEDMONT SECTIONS ON SAT. THE PRES GRADIENT WILL ALSO BE TIGHTEST ACROSS THE PIEDMONT...WITH GUSTY CONDITIONS LIKELY DEVELOPING ALONG THE I-77 CORRIDOR SAT AFTN. THE DIURNAL TEMP RANGE SHOULD BE SMALLER THAN IN RECENT DAYS...WITH WARM MINS TONIGHT...AND COOLER MAXES SAT. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 245 PM FRIDAY...THE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO AGREE ON THE LARGE SCALE FEATURES...BUT CONTINUE TO DISAGREE ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF SANDY AND ITS ASSOCIATED EXTRATROPICAL LOW. THE ENSEMBLE MEANS HOWEVER...ARE IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST TRACK FROM NHC/HPC. THE CURRENT FCST TRACK CURVES THE CIRCULATION OFF THE CAROLINA COAST THEN INLAND NEAR THE DELAWARE BAY TUE MORNING. WE WILL STILL SEE SOME EFFECTS FROM THIS STORM EVEN THO IT REMAINS RELATIVELY FAR AWAY FROM OUR CWFA. THAT SAID...THE COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE WRN CWFA WILL PLAY A BIGGER PART IN PRECIP CHANCES SAT NITE AND SUN. EXPECT SCT SHRA TO CONTINUE OVER THE MTNS AND NC FOOTHILLS SAT EVENING...WITH ISOLATED SHRA ELSEWHERE. THESE SHRA DIMINISH OVERNIGHT WITH THE BEST CHC RETREATING TO THE TN BORDER BY SUN MORNING. SHRA WILL LINGER THERE THRU THE DAY EVEN AS THE FRONT DISSIPATES IN THE LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...STRENGTHENING NWLY FLOW AND INCREASING FORCING AS SHORT WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. SUNDAY WILL BE BREEZY ALL AREAS AS WELL. SAT NITE WILL STILL BE WARM BEFORE THE COLD AIR MOVES IN WITH LOWS UP TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE COLD AIR BEGINS MOVING IN SUN WITH HIGHS 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE MTNS AND A FEW DEGREES BELOW ELSEWHERE. COLD AIR RUSHES IN BEHIND THIS SYSTEM SUN NITE AND MON AS SANDY BEGINS ITS TURN TO THE NW AND TRANSITIONS TO AN EXTRATROPICAL LOW. LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INCREASING CAA AND NWLY FLOW WILL KEEP SCT SHRA ALONG THE TN BORDER SUN NITE THEN DIMINISHING COVERAGE MONDAY. SOME OF THIS PRECIP WILL FALL AS SNOW...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 3500 FT...BUT SOME OF THE HIGHER VALLEYS COULD SEE SNOW AS WELL. TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW MUCH ACCUMULATION COULD DEVELOP...BUT AN INCH OR TWO IS POSSIBLE. THE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS THE CWFA...ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY MONDAY WITH MIXING. GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE MTNS...WITH 40 MPH ELSEWHERE. LOWS WILL BE AROUND 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH FREEZING TEMPS LIKELY ABOVE 3500 FT. HIGHS MONDAY 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE BRIEFLY WANES MON NITE THEN RETURNS ACROSS THE TN BORDER COUNTIES TUE. EXPECT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS TO DIMINISH MON EVE THEN RETURN FOR THE DAY TUE. WINDS DROP OFF A LITTLE MON NITE BUT REMAIN BREEZY...THEN RETURN EVEN STRONGER ON TUE. TUE LOOKS TO BE THE WINDIEST DAY WITH GUSTS LIKELY REACHING WIND ADV LEVELS OVER THE MTNS WITH HIGH WIND WARNING GUSTS POSSIBLE. GUSTS COULD REACH 40 TO 45 MPH ELSEWHERE. WIDESPREAD FREEZE OVER THE MTNS STILL EXPECTED MON NITE WITH LOW TO MID 30S ELSEWHERE...WITH FREEZE POSSIBLE INTO THE NC FOOTHILLS. HIGHS TUE 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 2 PM FRIDAY...THE EXTENDED RANGE WILL FEATURE A SLOW DIMINISHMENT OF THE LINGERING EFFECTS OF TC SANDY/S REMNANTS. EXTENDED RANGE MODEL PROGS AND GUIDANCE DEPICT A LINGERING TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT/DEEP CYCLONIC FLOW ATOP THE SE CONUS ON WEDNESDAY. BASED ON THIS PATTERN ONE CAN INFER THAT THE MAIN SENSIBLE WX FOR THE CWFA WILL FEATURE GUSTY WESTERLY WINDS AND COOL TEMPERATURES. ALTHOUGH MAX TEMPS WILL MODERATE SOME FROM TUESDAY/S CHILLY READINGS...VALUES ARE STILL PROGGED TO BE 12-15 DEG F BELOW CLIMO. AT LEAST BREEZY CONDITIONS ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP AGAIN ON THURSDAY WITHIN THE LINGERING CYCLONIC FLOW...BUT MAX TEMPS WILL MAKE AN UPWARD JOG...RISING ABOUT 3-5 DEG F ABOVE PERSISTENCE. BROAD CENTRAL CONUS RIDING WILL SLOWLY NOSE EASTWARD ON FRIDAY AND MAX TEMPS WILL MAKE AN ADDITIONAL 1-2 DEG F UPWARD JOG...BUT STILL REMAIN AT LEAST TWO CATEGORIES BELOW CLIMO. && .AVIATION /03Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AT KCLT...LATEST MODEL GUIDANCE SHOWS MOISTENING BOUNDARY LAYER LATE TONIGHT WHICH WOULD CONTINUE TO SUPPORT MVFR CIGS DEVELOPING LATE TONIGHT. A LITTLE MORE CONFIDENT THAT THEY WILL FORM AND WITH THE LAYER NEAR SATURATION LOWERED THE CIG SOMEWHAT. THE MOISTURE LINGERS THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING WITH MOIST UPSLOPE FLOW CONTINUING IN THE MIDLEVELS WHICH WILL BRING IN CLOUDS OF ITS OWN...AND CIRRUS BANDS WILL STILL BE OVERHEAD GIVEN THE PROXIMITY OF SANDY. PUTTING THIS TOGETHER I DON/T SEE THE STRATUS LIFTING RAPIDLY AND THINK THAT THE MVFR CIG WILL CONTINUE UNTIL MIDDAY. ISOLATED SHOWERS ARE STILL EXPECTED OVER THE PIEDMONT FROM THE LATE OVERNIGHT HOURS INTO TOMORROW BUT WITH THE EXPECTED LOW COVERAGE WILL NOT MENTION IN TAF ATTM. WINDS SHOULD EASILY GUST IN THE 15 TO 18 KT RANGE. ELSEWHERE...SCATTERED VFR STRATOCUMULUS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE EVENING IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH OTHER LOCATIONS MAINLY JUST SEEING CIRRUS FROM HURRICANE SANDY. CLOUDS SHOULD INCREASE OVER THE WEST AS SFC COLD FRONT MOVES IN LATER TONIGHT...AND OVER THE EAST AS ATLANTIC MOISTURE CONTINUES MOVING IN. CIGS UPSTREAM ARE CURRENTLY VFR BUT BOUNDARY LAYER MOISTURE INCREASES OVERNIGHT SO CIGS WILL EVENTUALLY LOWER TO MVFR WITH SOME MOUNTAIN SITES SEEING IFR IN ADDITION TO IFR FOG. PRECIP CHANCES WERE LOWERED FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS IN LIGHT OF LACK OF ACTIVITY UPSTREAM THOUGH A FEW SHOWERS ARE NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION. ANY SHOWERS THAT DO FORM SHOULD BE LIGHT AND HAVE LITTLE OPERATIONAL IMPACT. CIGS WILL LIFT THROUGH THE MORNING...BUT SLOWLY AS HIGHER CLOUD LAYERS OVERLAYING THE STRATUS WIL INHIBIT DISSIPATION. GUSTY WINDS TOMORROW AFTERNOON IN THE 15 TO 20 KT RANGE. OUTLOOK...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD GENERATE RESTRICTIVE CIGS AGAIN INTO SUNDAY. A VIGOROUS PUSH OF COLD AIR BEHIND HURRICANE SANDY WILL ARRIVE EARLY NEXT WEEK...CREATING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION...AND POSSIBLE MOUNTAIN CEILING RESTRICTIONS IN THE NW FLOW. AN EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED ISSUANCE CATEGORY IS AVAILABLE AT FOLLOWING LINK (USE LOWER CASE)... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION/TABLES.HTM && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...CSH NEAR TERM...WIMBERLEY SHORT TERM...RWH LONG TERM...CSH AVIATION...WIMBERLEY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
1103 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 925 PM CDT/ AFTER A DAY AND A HALF OR TWO OF DEALING WITH THIS THIN SATURATED LAYER AND CLOUDS...IT IS APPARENT THAT THE CLEARING TREND IS FINALLY HERE FOR REAL FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT. CURRENT CLEARING OF LOW CLOUDS TO WESTERN EDGE OF FORECAST AREA AND HOLES IN THE MIDDLE SEEM TO CONFIRM THE DECENT SUBSIDENCE NEW NAM/NAM12 IS SHOWING WITH SURFACE RIDGE. WILL NOT TAKE IT COMPLETELY CLEAR BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE LINGERING THIN MOIST PATCHES AS WELL AS SOME MID AND HIGH CLOUDS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST BUT IT COULD BECOME A PRETTY STARRY NIGHT EVENTUALLY. WEAK SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT SYSTEM STILL THERE ON NEW NAM SO NO CHANGES IN LIGHT PRECIPITATION OUTLOOK WITH STILL MORE GUIDANCE TO COME ON THAT. HOURLY TEMPERATURES HAVE NEEDED ADJUSTING BUT THE PENDING CLEARING IS MAKING THE EARLIER FORECAST LOWS...MOSTLY LOWER 20S...LOOK GOOD. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 06Z TAF ISSUANCE/ CLEARING OF LOW CLOUDS NOW SEEMS ON TRACK TO PROGRESS EAST ACROSS THE CWA DURING THE EARLY HOURS OF THE TAF PERIOD. VFR CONDITIONS ARE THEN EXPECTED THROUGH LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON...THOUGH MID LEVEL CLOUDS WILL ADVANCE INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF APPROACHING UPPER LEVEL WAVE. THIS WAVE EXPECTED TO PRODUCE AREAS LIGHT RAIN/LIGHT SNOW INTO AREAS WEST OF INTERSTATE 29 AFTER 21Z...WITH CHANCE THEN EXPANDING EASTWARD INTO SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA BY 28/06Z. PERIOD OF MVFR CEILINGS AND/OR VISIBILITY POSSIBLE WITH THE PRECIPITATION. && .PREV DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 333 PM CDT/ BIGGEST CHALLENGE TONIGHT WILL AGAIN BE WHEN/IF STRATUS DISSIPATES ACROSS THE AREA. PER LATEST SATELLITE IMAGE...PRESENTLY SEEING THE ENTIRE CWA SOCKED IN WITH CLOUDS...WITH SOME BREAKS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. MODELS STILL NOT HANDLING THE LOW LEVEL RH FIELDS VERY WELL...ALTHOUGH THE RAP SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DOING THE BEST SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IN LIGHT OF THAT...WENT WITH THAT MODEL FOR LOW LEVEL CLOUDS THIS EVENING...WITH THEM BEGINNING TO BREAK UP BY 06Z TONIGHT. THE CLOUD COVER WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON LOW TEMPERATURES...AND WITH WINDS GOING LIGHT AS A SURFACE RIDGE SLIDES OVERHEAD...ANY CLEARING WILL ALLOW READINGS TO DROP DOWN INTO THE LOWER 20S NORTH AND EAST. IT WILL REMAIN A LITTLE WARMER IN THE SOUTHWEST HOWEVER...WITH MID AND HIGH CLOUDS EXPECTED TO STREAM INTO THAT AREA LATER IN THE NIGHT OUT AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. HOWEVER...IF CLOUDS REMAIN THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE AREA TONIGHT...LOWS WILL BE WARMER THAN CURRENTLY FORECASTED AND THE EVENING SHIFT MAY HAVE TO UPDATE. ON SATURDAY...CLOUDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY IN THE DAY...ASSUMING WE EVEN GET ANY CLEARING TONIGHT...AS A SHORTWAVE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON. DOES APPEAR NOW THAT MUCH OF ANY PRECIPITATION THAT DEVELOPS WITH THE SYSTEM WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER AFTERNOON. WHILE PROGGED 850 MB TEMPS ARE PROGGED TO BE BELOW 0 C...BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW A WARMER LAYER FROM AROUND 900 MB TO THE SURFACE...AND THINK THAT EVEN COOLING TO WET BULB WILL KEEP A RAIN/SNOW MIX IN THE AFTERNOON IF PRECIPITATION DEVELOPS. WITH WARMING 925 MB TEMPERATURE PROFILES...HIGHS WILL BE A LITTLE WARMER ON SATURDAY...THOUGH STILL WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...IN THE LOWER 40S NORTH TO MID/UPPER 40S FAR SOUTH. SHORT WAVE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO TRACK INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WHILE THE WEAK INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH LIFTS NORTH NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL BE LIKELY AS IT SPREADS EAST INTO OUR WESTERN CWA IN THE EVENING. WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING NEAR FREEZING AROUND SUNSET...LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW AND BECOME SCATTERED AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE INVERTED TROUGH LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD AND ENCOUNTERS DRIER LOWER LEVELS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE AROUND A HALF IN OR LESS FOR MOST AREAS...WITH POTENTIALLY UP TO AN INCH IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IN NORTHWEST IOWA. MODELS INDICATE THAT THE STRATUS COULD LINGER ACROSS THE AREA INTO SUNDAY...PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN HALF WHERE MODELS HINT AT SOME LINGERING FLURRIES NEAR OUR FAR EASTERN BORDER COULD STICK AROUND INTO MID MORNING. CLOUDS MAY BE HARD TO CLEAR EVEN IN THE AFTERNOON...SO HAVE LEFT MOSTLY OR PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40S. LOWS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON WHETHER WE HOLD ONTO THE CLOUDS...BUT WITH SOME CLOUD COVERAGE EXPECTED...WILL GO WITH SOME MIDDLE GROUND LOWS NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING. FOR THE EXTENDED...IT LOOKS LIKE LARGE SCALE NORTHWEST FLOW WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE THROUGH MID TO LATE WEEK ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS AS HURRICANE SANDY HEADS INTO THE MID ATLANTIC AND NEW ENGLAND STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON A VERY SLOW WARMING TREND THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH THE RIDGE AXIS TO OUR WEST GRADUALLY SHIFTING INTO THE PLAINS. MODELS STILL NOT IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACK OF SANDY...BUT FOR OUR NECK OF THE WOODS...THESE DISCREPANCIES ONLY RESULT IN SOME SLIGHT WIND AND TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES. DID BUMP UP TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES FROM ALLBLEND FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE OVERALL PATTERN STILL LOOKS DRY INTO FRIDAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
925 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 925 PM CDT/ AFTER A DAY AND A HALF OR TWO OF DEALING WITH THIS THIN SATURATED LAYER AND CLOUDS...IT IS APPARENT THAT THE CLEARING TREND IS FINALLY HERE FOR REAL FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT. CURRENT CLEARING OF LOW CLOUDS TO WESTERN EDGE OF FORECAST AREA AND HOLES IN THE MIDDLE SEEM TO CONFIRM THE DECENT SUBSIDENCE NEW NAM/NAM12 IS SHOWING WITH SURFACE RIDGE. WILL NOT TAKE IT COMPLETELY CLEAR BECAUSE OF POSSIBLE LINGERING THIN MOIST PATCHES AS WELL AS SOME MID AND HIGH CLOUDS APPROACHING FROM THE WEST BUT IT COULD BECOME A PRETTY STARRY NIGHT EVENTUALLY. WEAK SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT SYSTEM STILL THERE ON NEW NAM SO NO CHANGES IN LIGHT PRECIPITATION OUTLOOK WITH STILL MORE GUIDANCE TO COME ON THAT. HOURLY TEMPERATURES HAVE NEEDED ADJUSTING BUT THE PENDING CLEARING IS MAKING THE EARLIER FORECAST LOWS...MOSTLY LOWER 20S...LOOK GOOD. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 00Z TAF ISSUANCE/ VFR STRATUS DECK PERSISTS ACROSS THE AREA AT THE START OF THE TAF PERIOD...ALTHOUGH STARTING TO SEE POCKETS OF DRYING/CLEARING WORK EASTWARD ACROSS WESTERN/CENTRAL SD AS SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES EAST. CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH REGARD TO WHETHER CEILINGS WILL BREAK UP TONIGHT...AS LARGE SCALE MODELS HAVE HAD POOR HANDLE ON THIS LOW LEVEL RELATIVE HUMIDITY. HOWEVER HIGHER RESOLUTION MODELS ALSO NOW PROGRESSING THE PARTIAL CLEARING EASTWARD AND WILL TREND TOWARD 3-4KFT CLOUDS BECOMING SCATTERED FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST AFTER 06Z. EXPECT THIS LAYER TO EXPAND AGAIN BY LATE IN THE PERIOD ACROSS THE WESTERN FORECAST AREA...WITH INCREASING MID LEVEL CLOUDS OVER REMAINDER OF THE AREA...AS UPPER WAVE BEGINS TO SWING THROUGH THE REGION. POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW TO DEVELOP INTO NORTHWEST 1/3 OF THE FORECAST AREA LATE IN THIS TAF PERIOD AND HAVE INCLUDED A MENTION OF MVFR POTENTIAL IN KHON AFTER 27/21Z. && .PREV DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 333 PM CDT/ BIGGEST CHALLENGE TONIGHT WILL AGAIN BE WHEN/IF STRATUS DISSIPATES ACROSS THE AREA. PER LATEST SATELLITE IMAGE...PRESENTLY SEEING THE ENTIRE CWA SOCKED IN WITH CLOUDS...WITH SOME BREAKS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. MODELS STILL NOT HANDLING THE LOW LEVEL RH FIELDS VERY WELL...ALTHOUGH THE RAP SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DOING THE BEST SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IN LIGHT OF THAT...WENT WITH THAT MODEL FOR LOW LEVEL CLOUDS THIS EVENING...WITH THEM BEGINNING TO BREAK UP BY 06Z TONIGHT. THE CLOUD COVER WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON LOW TEMPERATURES...AND WITH WINDS GOING LIGHT AS A SURFACE RIDGE SLIDES OVERHEAD...ANY CLEARING WILL ALLOW READINGS TO DROP DOWN INTO THE LOWER 20S NORTH AND EAST. IT WILL REMAIN A LITTLE WARMER IN THE SOUTHWEST HOWEVER...WITH MID AND HIGH CLOUDS EXPECTED TO STREAM INTO THAT AREA LATER IN THE NIGHT OUT AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. HOWEVER...IF CLOUDS REMAIN THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE AREA TONIGHT...LOWS WILL BE WARMER THAN CURRENTLY FORECASTED AND THE EVENING SHIFT MAY HAVE TO UPDATE. ON SATURDAY...CLOUDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY IN THE DAY...ASSUMING WE EVEN GET ANY CLEARING TONIGHT...AS A SHORTWAVE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON. DOES APPEAR NOW THAT MUCH OF ANY PRECIPITATION THAT DEVELOPS WITH THE SYSTEM WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER AFTERNOON. WHILE PROGGED 850 MB TEMPS ARE PROGGED TO BE BELOW 0 C...BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW A WARMER LAYER FROM AROUND 900 MB TO THE SURFACE...AND THINK THAT EVEN COOLING TO WET BULB WILL KEEP A RAIN/SNOW MIX IN THE AFTERNOON IF PRECIPITATION DEVELOPS. WITH WARMING 925 MB TEMPERATURE PROFILES...HIGHS WILL BE A LITTLE WARMER ON SATURDAY...THOUGH STILL WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...IN THE LOWER 40S NORTH TO MID/UPPER 40S FAR SOUTH. SHORT WAVE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO TRACK INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WHILE THE WEAK INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH LIFTS NORTH NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL BE LIKELY AS IT SPREADS EAST INTO OUR WESTERN CWA IN THE EVENING. WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING NEAR FREEZING AROUND SUNSET...LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW AND BECOME SCATTERED AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE INVERTED TROUGH LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD AND ENCOUNTERS DRIER LOWER LEVELS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE AROUND A HALF IN OR LESS FOR MOST AREAS...WITH POTENTIALLY UP TO AN INCH IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IN NORTHWEST IOWA. MODELS INDICATE THAT THE STRATUS COULD LINGER ACROSS THE AREA INTO SUNDAY...PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN HALF WHERE MODELS HINT AT SOME LINGERING FLURRIES NEAR OUR FAR EASTERN BORDER COULD STICK AROUND INTO MID MORNING. CLOUDS MAY BE HARD TO CLEAR EVEN IN THE AFTERNOON...SO HAVE LEFT MOSTLY OR PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40S. LOWS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON WHETHER WE HOLD ONTO THE CLOUDS...BUT WITH SOME CLOUD COVERAGE EXPECTED...WILL GO WITH SOME MIDDLE GROUND LOWS NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING. FOR THE EXTENDED...IT LOOKS LIKE LARGE SCALE NORTHWEST FLOW WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE THROUGH MID TO LATE WEEK ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS AS HURRICANE SANDY HEADS INTO THE MID ATLANTIC AND NEW ENGLAND STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON A VERY SLOW WARMING TREND THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH THE RIDGE AXIS TO OUR WEST GRADUALLY SHIFTING INTO THE PLAINS. MODELS STILL NOT IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACK OF SANDY...BUT FOR OUR NECK OF THE WOODS...THESE DISCREPANCIES ONLY RESULT IN SOME SLIGHT WIND AND TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES. DID BUMP UP TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES FROM ALLBLEND FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE OVERALL PATTERN STILL LOOKS DRY INTO FRIDAY. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
625 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 333 PM CDT/ BIGGEST CHALLENGE TONIGHT WILL AGAIN BE WHEN/IF STRATUS DISSIPATES ACROSS THE AREA. PER LATEST SATELLITE IMAGE...PRESENTLY SEEING THE ENTIRE CWA SOCKED IN WITH CLOUDS...WITH SOME BREAKS OVER NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEASTERN SOUTH DAKOTA. MODELS STILL NOT HANDLING THE LOW LEVEL RH FIELDS VERY WELL...ALTHOUGH THE RAP SEEMS TO HAVE BEEN DOING THE BEST SINCE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON. IN LIGHT OF THAT...WENT WITH THAT MODEL FOR LOW LEVEL CLOUDS THIS EVENING...WITH THEM BEGINNING TO BREAK UP BY 06Z TONIGHT. THE CLOUD COVER WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON LOW TEMPERATURES...AND WITH WINDS GOING LIGHT AS A SURFACE RIDGE SLIDES OVERHEAD...ANY CLEARING WILL ALLOW READINGS TO DROP DOWN INTO THE LOWER 20S NORTH AND EAST. IT WILL REMAIN A LITTLE WARMER IN THE SOUTHWEST HOWEVER...WITH MID AND HIGH CLOUDS EXPECTED TO STREAM INTO THAT AREA LATER IN THE NIGHT OUT AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. HOWEVER...IF CLOUDS REMAIN THROUGHOUT MOST OF THE AREA TONIGHT...LOWS WILL BE WARMER THAN CURRENTLY FORECASTED AND THE EVENING SHIFT MAY HAVE TO UPDATE. ON SATURDAY...CLOUDS WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA EARLY IN THE DAY...ASSUMING WE EVEN GET ANY CLEARING TONIGHT...AS A SHORTWAVE APPROACHES FROM THE WEST BY AFTERNOON. DOES APPEAR NOW THAT MUCH OF ANY PRECIPITATION THAT DEVELOPS WITH THE SYSTEM WILL HOLD OFF UNTIL LATER AFTERNOON. WHILE PROGGED 850 MB TEMPS ARE PROGGED TO BE BELOW 0 C...BUFKIT SOUNDINGS SHOW A WARMER LAYER FROM AROUND 900 MB TO THE SURFACE...AND THINK THAT EVEN COOLING TO WET BULB WILL KEEP A RAIN/SNOW MIX IN THE AFTERNOON IF PRECIPITATION DEVELOPS. WITH WARMING 925 MB TEMPERATURE PROFILES...HIGHS WILL BE A LITTLE WARMER ON SATURDAY...THOUGH STILL WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...IN THE LOWER 40S NORTH TO MID/UPPER 40S FAR SOUTH. SHORT WAVE TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO TRACK INTO THE EASTERN HALF OF THE FORECAST AREA SATURDAY NIGHT WHILE THE WEAK INVERTED SURFACE TROUGH LIFTS NORTH NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHERN MINNESOTA BY DAYBREAK SUNDAY. LIGHT PRECIPITATION WILL BE LIKELY AS IT SPREADS EAST INTO OUR WESTERN CWA IN THE EVENING. WITH TEMPERATURES DROPPING NEAR FREEZING AROUND SUNSET...LIGHT RAIN AND SNOW WILL TRANSITION TO SNOW AND BECOME SCATTERED AFTER MIDNIGHT AS THE INVERTED TROUGH LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD AND ENCOUNTERS DRIER LOWER LEVELS. SNOWFALL AMOUNTS WILL BE AROUND A HALF IN OR LESS FOR MOST AREAS...WITH POTENTIALLY UP TO AN INCH IN EAST CENTRAL SOUTH DAKOTA AND LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IN NORTHWEST IOWA. MODELS INDICATE THAT THE STRATUS COULD LINGER ACROSS THE AREA INTO SUNDAY...PARTICULARLY IN THE EASTERN HALF WHERE MODELS HINT AT SOME LINGERING FLURRIES NEAR OUR FAR EASTERN BORDER COULD STICK AROUND INTO MID MORNING. CLOUDS MAY BE HARD TO CLEAR EVEN IN THE AFTERNOON...SO HAVE LEFT MOSTLY OR PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES. HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 40S. LOWS ON SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE LARGELY DEPENDENT ON WHETHER WE HOLD ONTO THE CLOUDS...BUT WITH SOME CLOUD COVERAGE EXPECTED...WILL GO WITH SOME MIDDLE GROUND LOWS NEAR OR JUST BELOW FREEZING. FOR THE EXTENDED...IT LOOKS LIKE LARGE SCALE NORTHWEST FLOW WILL BE LOCKED IN PLACE THROUGH MID TO LATE WEEK ACROSS THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS AS HURRICANE SANDY HEADS INTO THE MID ATLANTIC AND NEW ENGLAND STATES. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ON A VERY SLOW WARMING TREND THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH THE RIDGE AXIS TO OUR WEST GRADUALLY SHIFTING INTO THE PLAINS. MODELS STILL NOT IN TOTAL AGREEMENT WITH THE TRACK OF SANDY...BUT FOR OUR NECK OF THE WOODS...THESE DISCREPANCIES ONLY RESULT IN SOME SLIGHT WIND AND TEMPERATURE DIFFERENCES. DID BUMP UP TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES FROM ALLBLEND FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. THE OVERALL PATTERN STILL LOOKS DRY INTO FRIDAY. && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 00Z TAF ISSUANCE/ VFR STRATUS DECK PERSISTS ACROSS THE AREA AT THE START OF THE TAF PERIOD...ALTHOUGH STARTING TO SEE POCKETS OF DRYING/CLEARING WORK EASTWARD ACROSS WESTERN/CENTRAL SD AS SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES EAST. CONFIDENCE IS LOW WITH REGARD TO WHETHER CEILINGS WILL BREAK UP TONIGHT...AS LARGE SCALE MODELS HAVE HAD POOR HANDLE ON THIS LOW LEVEL RELATIVE HUMIDITY. HOWEVER HIGHER RESOLUTION MODELS ALSO NOW PROGRESSING THE PARTIAL CLEARING EASTWARD AND WILL TREND TOWARD 3-4KFT CLOUDS BECOMING SCATTERED FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST AFTER 06Z. EXPECT THIS LAYER TO EXPAND AGAIN BY LATE IN THE PERIOD ACROSS THE WESTERN FORECAST AREA...WITH INCREASING MID LEVEL CLOUDS OVER REMAINDER OF THE AREA...AS UPPER WAVE BEGINS TO SWING THROUGH THE REGION. POTENTIAL FOR LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW TO DEVELOP INTO NORTHWEST 1/3 OF THE FORECAST AREA LATE IN THIS TAF PERIOD AND HAVE INCLUDED A MENTION OF MVFR POTENTIAL IN KHON AFTER 27/21Z. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION FOR SOUTHEAST SD/SOUTHWEST MN/NORTHWEST IA
NWS SIOUX FALLS SD
257 PM CDT THU OCT 25 2012 .DISCUSSION.../ISSUED AT 257 PM CDT/ PRECIPITATION HAS ENDED ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA LATE THIS AFTERNOON...LEAVING BEHIND A BROAD AREA OF STRATUS OVER THE REGION. THESE CLOUDS WILL BE THE MAIN CHALLENGE FOR THE SHORTER TERM PERIOD...WITH MODELS NOT HANDLING THE LOW CLOUDS WELL. RUC LOOKS TO BE THE BEST WITH THE LOW LEVEL RH FIELD...AND KEEPS THE STRATUS OVER OUR AREA THROUGH AT LEAST THE EARLY EVENING. AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION FROM THE WEST OVERNIGHT...A LESSENING SURFACE GRADIENT WILL ALLOW WINDS TO COME DOWN BY EARLY EVENING. WENT ON THE LOW SIDE OF GUIDANCE WITH REGARD TO LOWS TONIGHT...GENERALLY UPPER TEENS TO LOWER 20S...WITH RELATIVELY LIGHT WINDS...SOME POSSIBLE SNOW COVER IN SOME AREAS...AND BANKING ON CLOUDS BEGINNING TO BREAK UP OVERNIGHT. IF CLOUDS PERSIST...IT MAY NOT GET AS COLD AS CURRENTLY IN THE FORECAST. ANOTHER CHALLENGE WILL BE WHETHER ANY FOG IS ABLE TO DEVELOP TOWARD FRIDAY MORNING. WHILE NOT AN IDEAL SET UP WITH LIGHT NORTHWESTERLY WINDS...THINKING IS IF CLOUDS CLEAR OUT AND WINDS DROP OFF...IN CONJUNCTION WITH ABUNDANT NEAR SURFACE MOISTURE FROM RECENT RAINFALL/SNOW MELT...FOG WILL DEVELOP IN SOME AREAS. DID NOT INCLUDE IN THE FORECAST AT THIS POINT...HOWEVER EVENING SHIFT MAY UPDATE IF IT LOOKS MORE LIKELY. FRIDAY LOOKS TO BE ANOTHER COOL DAY WITH THE CENTER OF THE HIGH PRESSURE SLIDING OVERHEAD BY AFTERNOON. THERMAL PROFILES ACTUALLY COOL A BIT OVER TODAY...THOUGH MODELS HINT AT SOME MID CLOUDS STREAMING INTO OUR WEST...THERE WILL GENERALLY BE MORE SUN THAN TODAY WITH HIGHS REACHING INTO UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S. /JM FRIDAY NIGHT WILL SEE A WEAK RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE MOVE ACROSS THE AREA...LOCATED NEAR NORTHWEST IOWA BY 12Z SATURDAY. TO THE WEST SOUTHERLY FLOW AS WELL AS CLOUD COVER WILL INCREASE AS A SHORTWAVE MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ROCKIES. THIS WILL MAKE FOR TRICKY LOW TEMPERATURES FORECASTING. WILL LEAN A LITTLE MORE TOWARD THE CONSMOS IN NORTHWEST IA WHERE WINDS WILL BE LIGHTEST AND CLOSER TO THE CONSRAW IN CENTRAL SD WHERE WINDS AND CLOUDS WILL LIKELY KEEP TEMPERATURES A LITTLE MILDER. LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND SATURDAY NIGHT WILL PROVE TO BE THE NEXT CHANCE FOR PRECIPITATION. THERE ARE SOME DIFFERENCES AMONGST THE MODELS LEADING TOWARDS LOWER CONFIDENCE IN A SOLUTION. THE GFS IS THE MOST BOISTEROUS LEAVING COLDER AIR IN PLACE AND BRINGING HEAVIER QPF AMOUNTS TO THE NORTHERN CWA. THE NAM IS MUCH WARMER IN THE LOWER LEVELS THAN THE GFS WHILE THE ECMWF IS A LITTLE BIT WARMER. BOTH MODELS WOULD LIKELY SUPPORT SNOW HOWEVER AS THE LOW LEVELS ARE FAIRLY DRY AND WOULD EASILY SWITCH TO SNOW. SREF SOUNDINGS ALL OVER THE PLACE DURING THIS TIME FRAME AS WELL. DYNAMICALLY THERE IS SUPPORT FOR SOME PRECIPITATION WITH ICE PROCESSES LIKELY AS THE -12 TO -18 DEGREE C LAYER IS FROM ABOUT 9000 TO 15000 FEET AND THERE WOULD LIKELY BE A LITTLE BIT OF FRONTAL FORCING AROUND THIS LAYER. HOWEVER...FRONTAL FORCING WEAK AND WAVE NOT VERY WELL DEFINED SO BELIEVE THAT THE NAM AND GFS OVERDOING QPF AMOUNTS IN THE THIRD TO HALF AN INCH RANGE. THE MUCH STRONGER AND BETTER DEFINED SYSTEM THAT JUST MOVED THROUGH TODAY BARELY PRODUCED AMOUNTS THIS HIGH SO WILL LOWER BY ABOUT TWO THIRDS. WILL INCREASE POPS INTO THE LIKELY CATEGORY SATURDAY NIGHT ALONG THE HIGHWAY 14 CORRIDOR HOWEVER AS SOME MEASURABLE SNOWFALL LOOKS POSSIBLE. WILL KEEP HIGHS THE COOLEST OVER THE NORTHERN CWA WHERE A MIX OF POTENTIALLY THICKER CLOUD COVER AND COOLER LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD WHILE THE SOUTH COULD MIX JUST A BIT WITH A SOUTHERLY COMPONENT. LOOKING AT LOWER 40S NORTH TO NEAR 50 SOUTH. MOST OF THE SNOWFALL WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA ON SUNDAY MORNING WITH GRADUALLY CLEARING SKIES THROUGH THE DAY. WINDS WILL NOT BE VERY STRONG SO COOL HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 40S TO AROUND 50 WILL NOT FEEL TOO BAD. IN THE LATTER PERIODS(MON/THU)...NOT MUCH CHANGE IN THIS PERIOD AS MODELS CONTINUE TO CONVERGE ON THE ECMWF SOLUTION. WHICH HAS BEEN VERY CONSISTENT THIS WEEK. BASICALLY LOOKING AT A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE AT THE SURFACE VARYING FROM ABOUT THE BIG SIOUX RIVER VALLEY EAST INTO WESTERN MINNESOTA. THIS WILL KEEP COOL CONDITIONS IN PLACE BUT WINDS WILL LIKELY REMAIN FAIRLY CALM. THE WESTERN CWA WILL SEE THE BEST CHANCE FOR ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WHILE SOUTHWEST MINNESOTA WILL HAVE THE BEST CHANCE AT NORMAL TO A BIT BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES. /08 && .AVIATION.../FOR THE 18Z TAF ISSUANCE/ WITH MODEL DIFFERENCES...CONFIDENCE RATHER LOW WITH REGARD TO HOW QUICKLY STRATUS DEPARTS THE REGION...BUT THINK CLOUDS WILL BEGIN TO LIFT A BIT BY LATE THIS AFTERNOON. BY TONIGHT...NORTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL BECOME RELATIVELY LIGHT. DEPENDENT ON ANY REMAINING CLOUD COVER AND HOW LIGHT WINDS BECOME OVERNIGHT...WILL BE THE POSSIBILITY OF FOG FORMATION OVER PORTIONS OF THE AREA VERY LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING WITH ABUNDANT NEAR SURFACE MOISTURE WITH MELTING SNOW. && .FSD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SD...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SPOKANE WA
1052 PM PDT Wed Oct 24 2012 .SYNOPSIS...A band of rain and mountain snow will move through the area today and tonight. The weather will generally be quiet on Thursday before the next weather system arrives Friday with additional storms for the weekend. More precipitation is expected into early next week. && .DISCUSSION... Update to account for expiration of snow advisory in the East Slopes. Western edge of the deformation band is weakening with cloud tops quickly warming and HRRR all in good agreement that additional QPF amounts will be 0.02" or less. As such, we will allow the advisory to run its course and expire at 11PM. Still be aware of slick driving conditions during the morning hours due to re-freezing and/or any isolated light snow accumulations from convective snow showers moving through overnight. Previous discussion: We have made some slight adjustments to the winter weather advisory for the remainder of the night. A band of light to moderate precipitation continues to impact the northern mountains from the Pasayten Wilderness...eastward to the Sandpoint, ID. Satellite reveals warming cloud tops suggesting this band is weakening and is most concentrated over the Okanogan Highlands...NE WA Mtns...and Nrn ID Panhandle. A tour of observation networks across the region suggest snow levels have dropped some with levels across the Okanogan Highlands, NE WA Mtns, and Nrn ID Panhandle sitting around 3K ft. As such, we have made adjustments to the winter wx advisory to bring light acccumulations down to these levels. In IDZ004, the Central Panhandle Mtns, pcpn is struggling to materialize and this will equate to the lower snow totals. The NAM...EC...and HRRR have captured this better then the GFS and were referenced for the remainder of the night. Despite the lack of pcpn over this region from the stable deformation band, cellular cloud structure in conjuction with the model 500mb temperatures suggest the atmosphere is going to become increasingly unstable once again. Winds behind this evening`s wave should become SW/W before swinging to the W/NW Thursday morning. In addition, another midlevel circulation is currently crossing the Blue Mtns and should incr the shower activity across lower Shoshone County overnight. All it will take is a few heavy convective showers to get going and localized accumulations of 1-3 inches will be possible with the convective showers. On another note, the lack of pcpn has allowed pockets of cooler temperatures across the Idaho Panhandle with Wallace currently sitting at 35F with a 32F dewpoint. Bonners Ferry is also 36F over 32F and as pcpn reaches into these locations, I would not be surprised to see snow reach these valley floors. If the pcpn remains light, the above freezing temperatures should neglect any impacts but if any heavier showers were to come through, light accumulations will be possible on roadways including I-90 between Wallace and 4th of July Pass. All things considered, we have lowered the snow advisory for the Central Panhandle Mtns down to 2500 feet. If the 00z GFS was to verify...1-3 inches of snow will be easily achievable in locations like Deary, Wallace, and Lookout Pass which has come in with 0.25" liquid along a elongated convergence zone or pressure trough at the surface. /sb && .AVIATION... 06Z TAFS: The steady band of rain and snow has pushed north of all terminals however steepening lapse rates and smaller midlevel disturbances will keep a threat for showers of rain and snow in the fcst through early Thursday. Meanwhile, the BL remains very moist with widespread stratus and fog expected throughout the Columbia Basin...West Plains...and L-C Valley. All VIS/CIG restrictions associated with low clouds and fog should lift btwn 18-21z and weak high pressure aloft should promote a relative quiet wx day across the Inland NW. /sb && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 31 42 34 41 32 45 / 50 20 10 50 40 40 Coeur d`Alene 31 43 33 41 32 44 / 60 50 10 50 40 40 Pullman 29 41 32 40 33 48 / 40 40 10 60 40 40 Lewiston 34 47 35 45 37 52 / 50 30 10 60 30 30 Colville 33 45 29 44 31 47 / 70 50 10 50 40 40 Sandpoint 30 41 30 41 32 44 / 80 60 10 40 40 50 Kellogg 32 38 26 38 31 43 / 80 60 20 50 60 50 Moses Lake 28 47 34 45 33 49 / 10 10 10 40 20 30 Wenatchee 31 47 35 44 35 47 / 20 10 10 40 20 30 Omak 31 46 33 46 34 48 / 50 10 10 50 30 40 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Northern Panhandle. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Central Panhandle Mountains. WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for East Slopes Northern Cascades. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SPOKANE WA
1015 PM PDT Wed Oct 24 2012 .SYNOPSIS...A band of rain and mountain snow will move through the area today and tonight. The weather will generally be quiet on Thursday before the next weather system arrives Friday with additional storms for the weekend. More precipitation is expected into early next week. && .DISCUSSION... We have made some slight adjustments to the winter weather advisory for the remainder of the night. A band of light to moderate precipitation continues to impact the northern mountains from the Pasayten Wilderness...eastward to the Sandpoint, ID. A tour of observation networks across the region suggest snow levels have dropped some with levels across the Okanogan Highlands, NE WA Mtns, and Nrn ID Panhandle sitting around 3K ft. As such, we have made adjustments to the winter wx advisory to bring light acccumulations down to these levels. In IDZ004, the Central Panhandle Mtns, pcpn is struggling to materialize and this will equate to the lower snow totals. The NAM...EC...and HRRR have captured this better then the GFS and were referenced for the remainder of the night. Despite the lack of pcpn over this region from the stable deformation band, cellular cloud structure in conjuction with the model 500mb temperatures suggest the atmosphere is going to become increasingly unstable once again. Winds behind this evening`s wave should become SW/W before swinging to the W/NW Thursday morning. In addition, another midlevel circulation is currently crossing the Blue Mtns and should incr the shower activity across lower Shoshone County overnight. All it will take is a few heavy convective showers to get going and localized accumulations of 1-3 inches will be possible with the convective showers. On another note, the lack of pcpn has allowed pockets of cooler temperatures across the Idaho Panhandle with Wallace currently sitting at 35F with a 32F dewpoint. Bonners Ferry is also 36F over 32F and as pcpn reaches into these locations, I would not be surprised to see snow reach these valley floors. If the pcpn remains light, the above freezing temperatures should neglect any impacts but if any heavier showers were to come through, light accumulations will be possible on roadways and we will likely handle any updates with short term forecasts based on the isolated nature. All things considered, we have lowered the snow advisory for the Central Panhandle Mtns down to 2500 based on latest observations and if the 00z GFS was to verify...1-3 inches of snow will be easily achievable in locations like Deary, Wallace, and Lookout Pass. The threat for steady snow has ended for the East Slopes of the Cascades. Isolated to scattered showers will continue. Some locations may receive the first burst of snow accumulation so far this fall as showers become increasingly convective and temperatures cool in between cloud shields. At the current hour, a few heavier showers reside over southwestern Chelan county near the Crest. Expect this unorganized activity to continue through the night and extend into the Basin. AS such, we have included a slight chance for showers for all locations through the remainder of the night. /sb && .AVIATION... 00Z TAFS: Another round of rain and mtn snow is currently moving through the region and will continue to moisten an already juicy boundary layer. Consequently, expect widespread mtn obscurations along the northern mtns this evening and overnight. All terminals are expected to lower to MVFR/IFR levels either with the onset of pcpn or after the rain ends and skies briefly clear. Confidence on a whole is low for all sites given a wide array of MOS solutions per each TAF site. /sb && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Spokane 31 42 34 41 32 45 / 50 20 10 50 40 40 Coeur d`Alene 31 43 33 41 32 44 / 80 50 10 50 40 40 Pullman 29 41 32 40 33 48 / 50 40 10 60 40 40 Lewiston 34 47 35 45 37 52 / 80 30 10 60 30 30 Colville 33 45 29 44 31 47 / 100 50 10 50 40 40 Sandpoint 30 41 30 41 32 44 / 100 60 10 40 40 50 Kellogg 32 38 26 38 31 43 / 90 60 20 50 60 50 Moses Lake 28 47 34 45 33 49 / 0 10 10 40 20 30 Wenatchee 31 47 35 44 35 47 / 10 10 10 40 20 30 Omak 31 46 33 46 34 48 / 80 10 10 50 30 40 && .OTX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... ID...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Central Panhandle Mountains. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Northern Panhandle. WA...Winter Weather Advisory until 11 AM PDT Thursday for Northeast Mountains-Okanogan Highlands. Winter Weather Advisory until 11 PM PDT this evening for East Slopes Northern Cascades. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
413 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH SUNDAY. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST AREA. MOST OF THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY WILL REMAIN EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... THE MODELS ARE CONSISTENT KEEPING DEEP MOISTURE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. MAINTAINED JUST CHANCE POPS IN THE EAST PART ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE THAT MAY WRAP INTO THE AREA. MODEL TIME- HEIGHT DISPLAYS AND MIXING SUPPORTS FREQUENT GUSTS NEAR 25 KNOTS. WE HAVE ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. IT WILL BE COOLER TODAY COMPARED TO YESTERDAY MAINLY BECAUSE OF CLOUDINESS. THE TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE WAS CLOSE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AS SANDY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD. THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY STILL APPEARS DRY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREEZY CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... STRONG LOW PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES AND RIDGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION WILL MAINTAIN NORTHWEST FLOW INTO THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL PERIOD. THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE 30S. && .AVIATION /08Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTHEAST JUST NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS WILL PRODUCE A STEADY N WIND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA TONIGHT. SATELLITE/OBS ALSO SHOWS THE SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY WILL BE STAYING EAST OF THE TAF SITES. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT TOWARD MORNING. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...WITH MAINLY MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR CWA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A N/NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDINESS...MAINLY VFR AFTER 13Z/14Z. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT A BIT MORE NW/NNW BY SATURDAY EVENING BUT REMAINING UP AROUND 10 TO 15 KTS WITH PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDS AS SANDY WILL BE SE OF CHARLESTON. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
241 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH SUNDAY. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST AREA. MOST OF THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY WILL REMAIN EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... THE MODELS ARE CONSISTENT KEEPING DEEP MOISTURE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. MAINTAINED JUST CHANCE POPS IN THE EAST PART ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE THAT MAY WRAP INTO THE AREA. MODEL TIME- HEIGHT DISPLAYS AND MIXING SUPPORTS FREQUENT GUSTS NEAR 25 KNOTS. WE HAVE ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. IT WILL BE COOLER TODAY COMPARED TO YESTERDAY MAINLY BECAUSE OF CLOUDINESS. THE TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE WAS CLOSE. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AS SANDY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD. THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY STILL APPEARS DRY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREEZY CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... STRONG LOW PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES AND RIDGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION WILL MAINTAIN NORTHWEST FLOW INTO THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL PERIOD. THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE 30S. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH HURRICANE SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTHEAST JUST NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS WILL PRODUCE A STEADY N WIND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA TONIGHT. SATELLITE/OBS ALSO SHOWS THE SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY WILL BE STAYING EAST OF THE TAF SITES. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT TOWARD MORNING. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...WITH MAINLY MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR CWA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A N/NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDINESS...MAINLY VFR AFTER 13Z/14Z. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT A BIT MORE NW/NNW BY SATURDAY EVENING BUT REMAINING UP AROUND 10 TO 15 KTS WITH PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDS AS SANDY WILL BE SE OF CHARLESTON. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM THIS MORNING TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
142 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP SATURDAY AND CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY AS THE STORM MOVES NORTHWARD OFFSHORE. THIS WILL CAUSE WINDY CONDITIONS SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. MOST OF THE RAIN WILL BE CONFINED TO THE COASTAL REGION BUT THERE IS A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS MAKING IT INLAND AS FAR AS THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS SATURDAY. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST SUNDAY AND MOVE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING MUCH COLDER TEMPERATURES TO THE AREA AS AN AREA OF COLD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN TO THE WEST AS HURRICANE SANDY MOVES NORTHWARD WELL OFFSHORE. AN INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL HELP TO INCREASE WINDS TO 10-15 MPH OVERNIGHT. ANY RAINFALL OVERNIGHT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN OFF TO THE EAST OF THE MIDLANDS AND CSRA...WITH THE BULK OF IT REMAINING OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST. WILL STILL INTRODUCE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAINFALL ACROSS EXTREME EASTERN AREAS TOWARDS MORNING. IT WILL BE ANOTHER WARM NIGHT WITH LOWS MOSTLY IN THE LOWER 60S. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE AFFECTS OF SANDY TO THE EAST...WELL OFFSHORE...AND HIGHER PRESSURE TO THE EAST WILL COMBINE TO CAUSE WINDS TO INCREASE TO 20 TO 30 MPH WITH GUSTS OVER 30 MPH AT TIMES SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. MOST OF THE SHOWERS SHOULD REMAIN WELL TO THE EAST MAINLY NEAR THE COAST BUT A WESTERN BAND OF SHOWERS COULD BRING A 20-30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE CENTRAL MIDLANDS AND LOCATIONS TO THE EAST. THE WESTERN PART INCLUDING THE CSRA LOOK TO BE RAIN FREE. TEMPERATURES WILL NOT BE AS WARM SATURDAY AND SUNDAY MAINLY DUE TO CLOUDS AND A CHANCE OF RAIN. HIGH TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 70S. THE COLD FRONT COMES THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT AND LOWS DROP INTO THE LOWER 40S. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... HURRICANE SANDY WILL BE GONE TO THE NORTH BY MONDAY AND SHOULD HAVE TRANSITIONED INTO A MONSTER EXTRA-TROPICAL STORM JUST IN TIME FOR HALLOWEEN. FORTUNATELY FOR SOUTH CAROLINA...JUST COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION. TEMPERATURES WILL BE WELL BELOW NORMAL. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MIDDLE TO UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH HURRICANE SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTHEAST JUST NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS WILL PRODUCE A STEADY N WIND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA TONIGHT. SATELLITE/OBS ALSO SHOWS THE SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY WILL BE STAYING EAST OF THE TAF SITES. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT TOWARD MORNING. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...WITH MAINLY MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR CWA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A N/NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDINESS...MAINLY VFR AFTER 13Z/14Z. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT A BIT MORE NW/NNW BY SATURDAY EVENING BUT REMAINING UP AROUND 10 TO 15 KTS WITH PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDS AS SANDY WILL BE SE OF CHARLESTON. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018-020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY FROM 10 AM SATURDAY TO 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065-077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DES MOINES IA
1150 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...UPDATED FOR 27/06Z AVIATION DISCUSSION... .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... HIGH PRESSURE CURRENTLY CENTERED OVER SW NE AND NW KS WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD TONIGHT. THIS WILL ALLOW WINDS TO DIMINISH WITH SUNSET. STRATUS DECK THAT HAS BEEN IN PLACE MUCH OF THE DAY HAS BECOME MORE CELLULAR ON THE SOUTH/EASTERN EDGES AND EXPECT THAT AREA AND POINTS FURTHER SOUTH/EAST IN THE CWA TO CLEAR OFF OVERNIGHT. MODELS HAVE BEEN HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH THIS LOWER LEVEL MOISTURE THAT IS TRAPPED BELOW THE INVERSION. THEREFORE TEMPERATURES A BIT TRICKY TONIGHT DUE TO UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CLOUD COVER. RAP MODEL SEEMED TO BE LINING UP THE BEST WITH ITS 925-850MB RH FIELD...THEREFORE TRENDED SKY COVER TOWARD THAT MODEL. THIS SOLUTION ALSO SUGGESTS THE CLEARING IN THE AFOREMENTIONED AREAS AND THE LOWER CLOUDS LINGERING ACROSS THE WEST CENTRAL/NORTHWESTERN CWA THROUGH THE NIGHT. THEREFORE HAVE KEPT TEMPS A LITTLE WARMER DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER...BUT STILL A LITTLE COOLER FROM READINGS LAST NIGHT DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY WITH THE CLOUD COVER. .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... WITH ALL EYES ON THE EAST COAST AND EVOLUTION OF SANDY...IA WEATHER WILL BE TRANQUIL WITH SEASONALLY COOL TEMPERATURES. ONLY NEAR TERM WINDOW FOR PRECIP WILL BE WITH SHORT WAVE CURRENTLY OFF BC COAST WHICH DROPS INTO MO VALLEY SAT NIGHT. MODELS HAVE TRENDED SLIGHTLY NORTH AND WEST WITH ITS FORCING AND MOISTURE SO HAVE REMOVED MEASURABLE POPS WITH NOTHING BEYOND FLURRY WORDING FAR NW 09-15Z SAT. A SIMILAR SHORT WAVE EJECTING OUT OF THE PACIFIC NW THIS WEEKEND WILL DROP INTO THE BASE OF THE MS/OH VALLEY LONG WAVE TROUGH AND EVENTUALLY PHASE WITH SANDY. THIS IMPRESSIVE STORM...WHERE EVER ITS LOCATION AND LANDFALL...WILL BE SLOW MOVING AND LOCK IN OUR PATTERN KEEPING IA IN PERSISTENT RELATIVELY DRY NW FLOW AND NEAR NORMAL TEMPERATURES. ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE AND MODEL CONSENSUS IS NOT GREAT ENOUGH TO INTRODUCE MEASURABLE POPS AT THIS POINT...TOKEN PRECIP MENTION MAY EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED AROUND MON OR TUE...AND AGAIN AROUND THU. TEMPERATURES WILL BE FAIRLY STEADY THROUGH THE ENTIRE PERIOD WITH GENERALLY LIGHT WINDS AND LITTLE CHANGE IN AIRMASS. && .AVIATION...27/06Z VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD. LOW END VFR STRATUS DECK OVER KDSM/KMCW/KFOD CONTINUES TO SLOWLY LIFT AND SHRINK IN COVERAGE. THIS TREND SHOULD CONTINUE THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS KEEPING ALL CIGS VFR. SURFACE RIDGE WILL SLIDE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS TAF SITES SATURDAY...CAUSING WINDS TO BECOME LIGHT AND VARIABLE. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE WILL DROP SOUTHEAST AND BRING SOME HIGH CLOUDS TO ALL SITES BY THE END OF THE PERIOD...BUT ALL CIGS WILL ONCE AGAIN REMAIN VFR. && .DMX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BEERENDS LONG TERM...SMALL AVIATION...DEITSCH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DODGE CITY KS
1217 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 ...UPDATED AVIATION SECTION... .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TOMORROW) ISSUED AT 302 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 A FAST MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WAS OVER EASTERN COLORADO AND WESTERN KANSAS THIS MORNING. THIS SYSTEM BROUGHT SOME MEASURABLE SNOW TO FAR WESTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS. BY EARLY AFTERNOON THE SHORTWAVE HAD MOVED INTO EASTERN KANSAS WITH CLEARING SKIES IN ITS WAKE. THERE WAS SOME LINGERING STRATUS ALONG WITH LIGHT SNOW FLURRIES OUT ALONG THE COLORADO BORDER BEING FORCED BY SOME WEAK PVA AND LOW LEVEL UPSLOPE. RUC13 MODEL CROSS SECTIONS SHOW THIS AREA OF CLOUDS/PRECIPITATION DECREASING THROUGH THE NEXT FEW HOURS. VISIBLE SATELLITE LOOPS SHOW THE AREA OF STRATUS ALREADY STARTING TO DIMINISH. SKIES SHOULD BE MOSTLY CLEAR ACROSS ALL OF SOUTHWEST KANSAS BY THIS EVENING. WITH THE COLD HIGH PRESSURE AIRMASS IN PLACE ACROSS WESTERN KANSAS, CLEAR SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS THIS EVENING WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES FALLING TO BELOW FREEZING FAIRLY SOON AFTER SUNSET. OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE FALLING INTO THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 20S ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA OVERNIGHT. WITH THIS IN MIND, WILL CONVERT THE HARD FREEZE WATCH TO A HARD FREEZE WARNING FOR THE AREA ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM JOHNSON TO JETMORE AND LARNED. THE AREA FROM SYRACUSE THROUGH DIGHTON SAW A GOOD FREEZE LAST NIGHT SO THEY ARE DONE FOR THE YEAR AS ARE AREAS UP TOWARD I-70. ANOTHER WEAK AND FAST MOVING SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL BE APPROACHING THE CENTRAL HIGH PLAINS LATER TONIGHT. THIS COULD SPREAD SOME HIGH CLOUDINESS INTO PARTS OF WESTERN KANSAS. IN ADDITION, THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE MOVING INTO EASTERN KANSAS LATER TONIGHT WHILE PRESSURE FALLS WILL ENSUE ALONG THE EASTERN SLOPES OF THE ROCKIES. THIS COULD RESULT IN TEMPERATURES RISING SOMEWHAT LATE TONIGHT. SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY FROM THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY AS THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT INCREASES. ONLY SOME SCATTERED HIGH CLOUDINESS IS EXPECTED DURING THE DAY. BASED ON MODEL 850 TEMPERATURE FORECASTS, HIGHS ON SATURDAY SHOULD ONLY CLIMB INTO THE LOWER 50S IN MOST AREAS. .LONG TERM...(SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 321 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 SOUTHERLY WINDS WILL BECOME ESTABLISHED BY OVERNIGHT SATURDAY, BUT TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY STILL FALL TO AROUND FREEZING WITH LIGHT WINDS AND SUCH A DRY AIRMASS. THE ECMWF AND GFS ARE VERY SIMILAR IN THE GENERAL MASS FIELDS FOR SUNDAY. SIMILARITIES ARE MOST PRONOUNCED IN THE MID LEVEL RELATIVE HUMIDITY FIELDS, ASSOCIATED WITH REMNANTS OF A NORTHERN PLAINS SHORTWAVE AND THE UPPER JET DIVING THROUGH THE GREAT PLAINS FROM NORTH TO SOUTH. THIS COULD LEAD TO CONSIDERABLE ALTOSTRATUS OR AT LEAST HIGH CIRRUS CLOUDS FOR CENTRAL KANSAS FOR A GOOD PORTION OF THE DAY. THERMAL FIELDS DIFFER CONSIDERABLE HOWEVER, ESPECIALLY WITH RESPECT TO HOW FAST THE GFS WARMS THE BOUNDARY LAYER APPROXIMATED BY 850 MB TEMPERATURES. GFS IS GENERALLY MUCH WARMER WHICH REFLECTS IN MODEL`S AFTERNOON HIGHS. GIVEN HOW MUCH OF A WARM BIAS SEVERAL FORECAST DAYS HAVE BEEN RECENTLY, WE`LL FOLLOW THE COOLER ECMWF IDEA, BUT USE GFS MOS TEMPERATURES THAT ARE COOLER IN THE WEST. A DRY PATTERN WILL BE ESTABLISHED THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEK. THE SYNOPTIC PATTERN INCLUDES A WEDGE OF RELATIVE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE ANCHORED FROM THE UPPER MIDWEST...SOUTHWEST ACROSS THE MID MISSISSIPPI VALLEY INTO NORTHEAST TEXAS. WITH THE EXPECTED HURRICANE OR TROPICAL STORM SPREADING WESTWARD INTO THE EASTERN TROUGH. THAT PATTERN WILL MAINTAIN THE UPPER RIDGE FROM TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY RIGHT OVER THE HIGH PLAINS REGIONS. LIGHT SOUTHERLY SURFACE WINDS WILL BE THE PREVAILING WIND DIRECTION. HIGHS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THE 60S, AND REACH THE LOW 70S WEDNESDAY OR THURSDAY. HIGHER SURFACE DEW POINT INCREASING BACK INTO THE 30S WILL BRING OVERNIGHT LOWS BACK ABOVE FREEZING THROUGH THE PERIOD AS WELL. BY FRIDAY, THE UPPER FLOW BECOMES STRONGLY DIVERGENT ACROSS THE REGION AS A SHARP TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE WESTERN STATES, WHICH IS MODELED BY BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF. IN EITHER INSTANCE, THE WEATHER TYPE FOR THE REGION APPEARS TO BE PRIMARILY WET - SHOWERS OR THUNDERSTORMS, BUT THE MESOSCALE DETAILS ARE HIGHLY UNCERTAIN AT THIS TIME, AND COULD MISS WESTERN KANSAS ALTOGETHER. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1210 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO SLIDE SOUTHEAST OVERNIGHT AND INTO THE MORNING. ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE CENTER OF THE HIGH SURFACE WINDS WILL BECOME SOUTHERLY DURING THE DAY. SOME GUSTS TO AROUND 20KT WILL DEVELOP. LEE SIDE CIRRUS WILL MOVE ACROSS THE REGION DURING THE DAY. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DDC 28 59 32 63 / 0 0 0 0 GCK 28 59 31 65 / 0 0 0 0 EHA 29 59 34 66 / 0 0 0 0 LBL 29 61 33 64 / 0 0 0 0 HYS 26 57 32 64 / 0 0 0 0 P28 28 59 34 63 / 0 0 0 0 && .DDC WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... HARD FREEZE WARNING UNTIL 9 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR KSZ064>066- 074>081-084>090. && $$ SHORT TERM...GERARD LONG TERM...RUSSELL AVIATION...HUTTON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TOPEKA KS
1147 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 ...UPDATE TO AVIATION... .DISCUSSION... SHORT TERM FORECAST - TONIGHT AND SATURDAY... AT 19Z RAP SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATED A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE LOCATED ROUGHLY ACROSS WESTERN NEBRASKA AND WESTERN KANSAS...WITH THE RIDGE AXIS RUNNING FROM KBBW SOUTHWESTWARD TO KGLD. ALONG THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE AREA OF HIGH PRESSURE NORTHERLY WINDS CONTINUE TO ALLOW COOLER AIR TO TRICKLE INTO EASTERN KANSAS. AS THE RIDGE MOVES EASTWARD THE AXIS WILL BECOME CENTERED OVER THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT...WHICH WILL CAUSE WINDS TO BECOME CALM AND SKIES TO BECOME MOSTLY CLEAR TO PARTLY CLOUDY. THE COMBINATION OF THE TWO EFFECTS WILL BRING VERY CHILLY TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. EXPECT TEMPS TO DROP INTO THE LOWER TO MID 20S ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA...WITH LOW LYING SUCH AS RIVER VALLEYS TO DROP INTO THE UPPER TEENS TO LOWER 20S. AS THE SURFACE HIGH MOVES TO THE EAST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL GRADUALLY PICK UP ON THE BACK/WEST SIDE OF THE DEPARTING RIDGE...WHICH WILL COMMENCE A SLOW WARM UP TREND...WHICH WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE WEEKEND. EXPECT HIGHS ON SATURDAY TO BE SLIGHTLY WARMER THAN FRIDAY`S HIGHS...BUT WITH HIGH CLOUDS MOVING THROUGH THE AMOUNT OF WARMING FOR SATURDAY WILL BE MARGINAL...SO WILL EXPECT HIGHS TO GENERALLY BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 50S. JL LONG TERM - SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY... THE ENTIRE PERIOD IS FORECAST TO BE TRANQUIL AND ESSENTIALLY PRECIPITATION FREE. NORTHWEST UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL PERSIST ACROSS THE REGION WITH INCREASED UPPER LEVEL RIDGING WITH TIME. MAY SEE A FEW PERIODS OF INCREASED CLOUD COVER AS A SERIES OF VERY WEAK DISTURBANCES MOVES THROUGH THE NORTHWEST FLOW BETWEEN NOW AND WEDNESDAY...BUT NO PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED WITH THESE SYSTEMS GIVEN LACK OF MOISTURE AND ONLY WEAK ASCENT. EXPECT A GRADUAL WARM UP WITH THE INCREASED RIDGING...PARTICULARLY DURING THE SECOND HALF OF THE WEEK AS MODEL GUIDANCE IS CONSISTENT IN BRINGING A FAIRLY STRONG SHORT WAVE TROUGH ACROSS THE ROCKIES BY NEXT WEEKEND. ANY PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THIS TROUGH WOULD LIKELY HOLD OFF UNTIL FRIDAY NIGHT OR LATER...BUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND AN INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE IN ADVANCE OF THE SYSTEM MAY BE NOTICED AS EARLY AS THURSDAY. BARJENBRUCH && .AVIATION... SFC HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE STILL EXPECTED TO MOVE ACROSS THE TAF SITES THROUGH SUNRISE WHICH WILL KEEP WINDS VERY LIGHT/CALM AND FROM THE NORTH TO NORTHEAST...BECOMING EAST/SOUTHEASTERLY AFT 15Z. WILL CONTINUE WITH VFR CONDITIONS WITH SCT-BKN AROUND 15KFT. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NORTH PLATTE NE
1226 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .AVIATION...FOR THE KLBF AND KVTN TERMINALS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY. SCATTERED TO BROKEN MID AND HIGH CLOUDINESS AOA 12000 FT AGL...WILL IMPACT THE KLBF AND KVTN TERMINALS OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A MID LEVEL TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE...WHICH WILL TRACK ACROSS THE CENTRAL AND NORTHERN PLAINS TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY. WINDS WILL BE FROM THE SOUTH OR SOUTHWEST AT 10 TO 15 KTS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY...DECREASING TO UNDER 10 KTS AFTER SUNSET SATURDAY EVENING. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 638 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ AVIATION...FOR THE KLBF AND KVTN TERMINALS THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY. A LOW CONFIDENCE AVIATION FCST CONTINUES ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA THIS EVENING THANKS TO PESKY STRATUS...WHICH REMIANS IN PLACE ACROSS WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA. BOTH THE NAM AND GFS SOLNS CONTINUE TO HAVE A POOR HANDLE ON THE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FIELD AND UTILIZED THE RAP SOLN FOR CLOUD COVER THIS EVENING INTO THE OVERNIGHT. THIS YIELDS BROKEN TO OVERCAST SKIES AON 2500 FT AGL AT THE KLBF TERMINAL AT LEAST THROUGH 09Z. AT THE KVTN TERMINAL...SCATTERED CLOUDINESS IS EXPECTED AND SATELITE PICS ARE INDICATING SOME LIMITED CLEARING ACROSS NWRN NEBRASKA. CIGS SHOULD SCATTER OUT IN THE LOW LEVELS AT KLBF...HOWEVER...MID AND HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM INTO WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA FROM THE WEST...LEADING TO BROKEN CIGS AOA 10000 FT AGL SATURDAY. LIGHT SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTH LATER TONIGHT AND REMAIN IN THE 5 TO 10 KT RANGE. ON SATURDAY...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTHWEST AND WEST AT AROUND 10 KTS AND REMAIN THERE INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS. PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 344 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012/ SYNOPSIS... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE CENTERED OVER MCCOOK NEBR. WEAK WINDS CIRCULATING AROUND THE HIGH WITH CONSIDERABLE LOW AND MID CLOUDS ACROSS THE REGION. DUE TO LACK OF MIXING AND SUN...TEMPERATURES CONTINUE TO REMAIN CHILLY IN THE LOWER AND MID 30S. SOME CLEARING IN THE PANHANDLE. SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY LOW CLOUDS WILL THIN OUT ACROSS THE NORTHWEST THIS EVENING WHILE LIKELY PERSISTING ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. MEANWHILE...UPSTREAM DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY LOCATED OVER NORTHERN IDAHO AND SOUTHWEST MONTANA IS FORECAST TO MOVE SOUTHEAST BRINGING AN INCREASE IN MID AND HIGH CLOUDINESS OVERNIGHT. THEREFORE THE BALANCE OF THE NIGHT TO REMAIN MOSTLY CLOUDY. DESPITE SUCH COOL TEMPS THIS AFTERNOON IN THE MID 30S...CLOUD COVER WILL HELP KEEP LOWS IN THE LOWER/MID 20S. AS DISTURBANCE MOVES THROUGH WESTERN NEBRASKA SATURDAY...KEPT A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN OR SNOW ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL NEBRASKA FOR THE AFTERNOON/EVENING. THIS HAS BEEN INDICATED FAIRLY CONSISTENTLY BY THE GFS...WHILE THE NAM...SREF AND ECMWF REMAIN MOSTLY DRY. MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH HIGHS AGAIN TO RANGE BELOW NORMAL FROM NEAR 50 IN SOUTHERN AREAS TO THE MID 40S NORTH CENTRAL. UPPER RIDGING OCCURS ACROSS THE WESTERN CONUS SUNDAY...WHILE NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT STILL WILL EXIST ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS. WILL SEE A SLIGHT WARMUP DUE TO A RETURN FLOW OF LIGHT SOUTHERLY WINDS AND HIGHS REACHING THE UPPER 50S FAR SOUTHWEST TO UPPER 40S NORTHEAST. MILDER YET FOR MONDAY. UPPER RIDGE TO ADVANCE FURTHER EAST INTO THE CENTRAL ROCKIES WHILE NEGATIVELY TILTED UPPER TROUGH IN THE EASTERN CONUS. A MORE PRONOUNCED LEESIDE TROUGH ALONG THE HIGH PLAINS. HIGHS FROM UPPER 60S FAR SOUTHWEST TO UPPER 50S NORTHEAST. LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY HURRICANE SANDY FORECAST TO REACH THE MID ATLANTIC COAST EARLY TUESDAY...SOMEWHERE NEAR OR NORTH OF THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. THIS TO RESULT IN A BLOCKING PATTERN WITH AN UPPER RIDGE TO AMPLIFY ACROSS THE CENTRAL CONUS THROUGH FRIDAY. DRY AND MILD CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY WITH HIGHS FROM THE UPPER 50S TO UPPER 60S ARE LIKELY...INCLUDING HALLOWEEN DAY. THERE WILL BE A WESTERN TROUGH WHICH MAY EITHER BECOME CLOSED OFF NEAR THE FOUR CORNERS REGION PER GFS SOLUTION...OR AS AN OPEN WAVE APPROACHING THE CENTRAL PLAINS PER THE ECMWF. HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN SHOWERS FRIDAY AND HIGHS NEAR 60. MEDIUM RANGE MODEL AGREEMENT COULD EVENTUALLY BRING ENHANCED CHANCES HOWEVER. && .LBF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...NONE. && $$ AVIATION...JWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
225 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL WEAKEN AND RETREAT NORTH AS SANDY MOVES TO THE NORTH AND NORTHEAST...OFFSHORE OF THE CAROLINAS. THE INFLUENCE OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE OVER THE REGION AT LEAST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 1000 PM FRIDAY... THE FIRST OUTER RAINBAND ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY...WHICH IS EAST OF VERO BEACH FL THIS EVENING... HAS PUSHED NORTHWEST TO JUST OFF THE SC COAST AS DRY AIRS INFILTRATES THE SYSTEM FROM THE SOUTH. HOWEVER...THE BAND IS ESSENTIALLY STATIONARY WITH INDIVIDUAL SHOWERS MOVING SOUTHWEST...PARALLEL TO THE CAROLINA COASTLINES AND LITTLE PRECIP ONSHORE. THERE HAVE BEEN A FEW ISOLATED POCKETS OF LIGHT RAIN MOVING INLAND ACROSS THE NC COASTAL PLAIN THIS EVENING...MAKING AS FAR WEST AS THE TRIANGLE AS OF 01Z. THE RAP INDICATES THIS VERY LIGHT PRECIP WILL PUSH WEST TOWARD THE TRIAD OVERNIGHT AS THE FLOW VEERS SLIGHTLY TO EASTERLY BETWEEN 925MB AND 850MB ...WITH ADDITIONAL UPSLOPE PRECIP ALONG THE MOUNTAINS BY DAYBREAK. OTHERWISE...THE SLOW MOVEMENT OF HURRICANE SANDY...ALONG WITH A WEAK DRY AIR RIDGE EXTENDING SOUTH FROM ENGLAND INTO THE PIEDMONT WILL KEEP AREAS WEST OF I-95 DRY OVERNIGHT. OVERALL...THERE HAS BEEN A SMALL EASTWARD SHIFT AMONG THE OPERATIONAL MODELS REGARDING SANDY...AND ACCORDINGLY A SIMILAR SHIFT IN THE PRECIP/NO PRECIP LINE. THUS...THERE IS NO NEED TO ALTER THE OVERNIGHT POPS VERY MUCH...AND SUBSEQUENT SHIFTS MAY NEED TO TRIM POPS ON THE WESTERN EDGE IF THE GUIDANCE TREND CONTINUES TONIGHT. TO THE WEST...THE SURFACE COLD FRONT HAS BEEN MAKING SLOW PROGRESS TOWARD THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE MOUNTAINS AND NOW EXTENDS FROM NEAR BIRMINGHAM TO KNOXVILLE TO EAST OF PITTSBURGH. THERE IS VERY LITTLE PRECIP WITH THE FRONT...OUTSIDE OF AN AREA OF ANAFRONTAL PRECIP OVER THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. THE FRONT WILL CONTINUE TO SLOW OVERNIGHT AND EVENTUALLY CROSS THE MOUNTAINS LATER SATURDAY AS IT BECOMES ABSORBED INTO THE FLOW AROUND SANDY. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...LOWS TONIGHT WILL BE SOMEWHAT MILD...MOSTLY UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. HAVE TWEAKED LOWS IN THE SOUTHEAST A COUPLE DEGREES BASED ON CURRENT READINGS. EXPECT MAINLY STRATUS IN THE EAST WITH A SLOWLY INCREASING NORTH-NORTHEASTERLY WIND TO 10-15 MPH IN THE SOUTHEAST BY 12Z SATURDAY. -BLS SATURDAY: THE FORECAST TRACKS FOR HURRICANE SANDY THROUGH 00Z SUNDAY BASED ON THE 00Z ECMWF AND THE 12Z GFS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR...WITH THE GFS STILL A LITTLE FARTHER EAST. HOWEVER...THE LITTLEST CHANGE IN TRACK TO THE EAST OR WEST WILL HAVE A BIG IMPACT ON THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR SATURDAY. THE LATEST FORECAST FROM THE ECMWF (HPC`S PREFERENCE) HAS MOVED THE TRACK OF SANDY WEST AGAIN AND IS ONE OF THE WETTEST SOLUTIONS FOR CENTRAL NC. GIVEN THAT THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE TRACK...HAVE MADE LITTLE CHANGE TO THE PRECIP CHANCES SATURDAY. WITH SANDY TRACKING APPROXIMATELY PARALLEL...AND A FEW HUNDRED MILES OFFSHORE OF THE ATLANTIC COAST...THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP WILL BE ALONG THE NC COAST AND DECREASING FROM EAST TO WEST. HAVE INCREASED PRECIP AMOUNTS EAST OF I-95. WITH THE STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT OVER THE AREA...WINDS WILL ALSO BE SIGNIFICANT...MAINLY NNE...SUSTAINED OF 15 KTS WITH GUSTS OF 30-35 KTS ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST AND SUSTAINED NEAR 12 WITH GUSTS OF 20-30 KTS FROM RALEIGH WEST. AS WITH THE RAIN...WINDS WILL ALSO INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST. THE COLD FRONTAL PASSAGE WILL BE MASKED BY THE COASTAL SYSTEM...BUT COMBINED WITH THE CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP...WILL RESULT IN HIGHS SATURDAY IN THE 60S. && .SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 255 PM FRIDAY... SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT... MODEL GUIDANCE IN GENERALLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH THE WELL OFFSHORE TRACK OF TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY... PARALLELING THE SE U.S. COAST THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING...THEN THE NC COAST SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. ECMWF IS MUCH STRONGER (AS MUCH AS 15-18MB) COMPARED TO THE GFS. PAST PERFORMANCE OF THE ECMWF WITH TROPICAL SYSTEMS SUGGEST THAT THE ECMWF MAY BE WAY TOO STRONG/DEEP WITH SANDY. AT 18Z...THE 00Z ECMWF VERIFIED 7MB TOO DEEP. THIS MODEL FLAW MAY COME INTO PLAY CONCERNING PRECIP AMOUNTS AND WIND INTENSITY OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN OF NC. EXPECT THE STRONGEST WINDS CAUSED BY THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN AN CANADIAN HIGH OVER ONTARIO AND TC SANDY TO AFFECT OVER EASTERN COUNTIES LATE SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT. USED THE NHC TCM WINDS WITH A REDUCTION OF 30 PERCENT DUE TO LAND FRICTION. GUSTS ACHIEVED UTILIZING THE LATEST RESEARCH PERFORMED BY C*STAR INITIATIVE CONCERNING TROPICAL WIND FORECASTING. WIND GUSTS 35-40 MPH HIGHLY PROBABLE OVER SECTIONS OF THE COASTAL PLAIN. A LITTLE EARLY TO ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY AT THIS TIME BUT IF THE SCENARIO REMAINS THE SAME...AN ADVISORY MAY BE NECESSARY FOR SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY EVENING. STILL APPEARS THAT PRECIP WILL BECOME WIDESPREAD OVER THE EAST HALF OF CENTRAL NC BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON-EARLY EVENING AS A STRONG UPPER JET OVER THE GREAT LAKES AND A DECENT MID LEVEL S/W CROSSING THE OH VALLEY INCREASES MID LEVEL LIFT IN THE MOIST AIR MASS ON THE NW QUADRANT OF SANDY. EXPECT THIS PRECIP BAND TO DRIFT SLOWLY ENE SATURDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SUNDAY. MODELS DIVERGE AFTER 12Z SUNDAY WITH THE GFS TAKING SANDY FARTHER OFFSHORE THAN ECMWF WITH A DISTINCT DRYING TREND OVERSPREADING CENTRAL NC FROM THE SW. THE ECMWF MAINTAINS A WELL DEFINED MID LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN ALONG WITH STRONG UPPER DIVERGENCE SUPPLIED BY A 140+ JET OVER THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES. CONFLUENCE ALONG THIS MID LEVEL TROUGH WOULD SUGGEST A CONTINUED THREAT FOR MODERATE TO LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN OVER THE NORTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. HOWEVER...SINCE THE ECMWF LIKELY TOO DEEP/STRONG WITH THE SYSTEM...CONFLUENCE ALONG TROUGH MAY BE OVERDONE. DUE TO THE CONSISTENCY OF THE ECMWF...HAVE LEANED HEAVILY TOWARD PER TRACK AND WEATHER DEPICTION BUT THINK THAT ITS RAINFALL PRODUCTION OVERBLOWN BY A FACTOR OF 2. THUS EXPECT RAINFALL AMOUNTS LATE SATURDAY THROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON BETWEEN 1 AND 3 INCHES EAST OF HIGHWAY 1 WITH THE HIGHEST AMOUNTS IN VICINITY OF THE NORTHERN COASTAL DUE TO PRESENCE OF LINGERING MID LEVEL TROUGH. LITTLE CHANGE IN TEMPS THIS PERIOD FROM THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. EXPECT NOTICEABLY COOLER CONDITIONS AREAWIDE SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 255 PM FRIDAY... MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY... SANDY WILL BE THE DOMINATE WEATHER FEATURE THIS PERIOD. MODEL GUIDANCE STILL OFFERING VARYING SOLUTIONS. ECMWF HAS BEEN THE MOST CONSISTENT WHILE THE GFS HAS SHOWN SOME RUN-TO RUN VARIANCE. WILL BASE BULK OF FORECAST ON THE ECMWF WITH ADJUSTMENT DUE TO EXPECTED POSITION AND STRENGTH. S/W IN THE NORTHERN STREAM WILL ATTAIN A NEGATIVE TILT AND DRAW SANDY NWWD. ECMWF DOES THIS ABOUT 24 HOURS SOONER COMPARED TO THE 12Z GFS...DRAWING SANDY INTO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY REGION MONDAY WHILE THE 12Z GFS HAS ITS WWD MOVEMENT MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY...ALLOWING SANDY TO MOVE FARTHER NORTH BEFORE SWINGING INTO SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. WITH SANDY PROJECTED TO LIE TO OUR NORTH...EXPECT CONTINUED WNW FLOW ACROSS OUR REGION THROUGH AT LEAST WEDNESDAY. DEEP CYCLONIC CURVATURE WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN CLOUDINESS AND PATCHES OF RAIN OVER OUR FAR N-NE COUNTIES MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY ALONG WITH BREEZY/WINDY CONDITIONS. FARTHER SOUTH...DOWNSLOPE COMPONENT OF THE LOW-MID LEVEL WINDS SHOULD AID TO SCOUR OUT THE MOISTURE AND LEAD TO CLEARING SKIES OVER THE SOUTHERN PIEDMONT-SANDHILLS AND SOUTHERN COASTAL PLAIN. LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL ALSO ADVECT MUCH COOLER AIR INTO CENTRAL NC. LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES CLUSTER AROUND 1295-1300M BOTH TUESDAY MORNING AND WEDNESDAY MORNING. HISTORICALLY...THESE VALUES SUGGEST MIN TEMPS IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOWER 30S. THICKNESSES HAVE TRENDED SLIGHTLY WARMER COMPARED TO 24-48 HOURS AGO. IN ADDITION...STRONG MIXING AND POSSIBILITY OF CLOUDINESS SHOULD KEEP TEMPS UP. MAY SEE BETTER POTENTIAL FOR A LIGHT FREEZE IN SECTIONS OF THE PIEDMONT EARLY WEDNESDAY AND/OR THURSDAY MORNING AS SURFACE WINDS MAY HAVE A BETTER CHANCE TO DECOUPLE AND SKIES MAY BE CLEAR. OTHERWISE WITH THICKNESSES AS MUCH AS 50M BELOW NORMAL...EXPECT MAX TEMPS 12-18 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL MONDAY-WEDNESDAY WITH SOME MODIFICATION THURSDAY INTO FRIDAY. AFTERNOON TEMPS IN THE 50S EXPECTED FOR MOST OF NEXT WEEK WITH SOME UPPER 40S PROBABLE TUESDAY ACROSS THE NW PIEDMONT. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 225 AM FRIDAY... 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD... IFR CONDITIONS DOMINATE ACROSS THE CENTRAL NC TAF LOCATIONS AT 06Z WITH OCCASIONAL MVFR CONDITIONS REPORTED AT KFAY. A MOIST NORTHEAST FLOW ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY WILL RESULT IN IFR CONDITIONS PERSISTING THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT INTO THE EARLY MORNING HOURS ON SATURDAY AS LOW STRATUS CEILINGS AND VSBYS DOWN INTO THE 3-5 MILE RANGE PREDOMINATE. A NORTHERLY FLOW AT 6-12KTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS TO 12-20KTS IS EXPECTED OVERNIGHT. EXPECT A SHIELD OF RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE OUTER FRINGES OF SANDY TO SHIFT NORTH ACROSS THE SANDHILLS AND COASTAL PLAIN DURING THE LATE MORNING AND AFTERNOON HOURS...MAINTAINING IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS THROUGH SUNSET AT KFAY AND KRWI. FURTHER WEST ACROSS THE PIEDMONT TAF LOCATIONS (KRDU/KGSO/KINT)...LOW STRATUS IS EXPECTED TO LIFT AND FOG WILL DISSIPATE DURING THE MID MORNING HOURS RESULTING IN MVFR/OCCASIONAL VFR CONDITIONS. NORTH/NORTH-NORTHEAST WINDS AT 12-16KTS WITH GUSTS OF 20-28KTS ARE EXPECTED. LOOKING FURTHER AHEAD... ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS ARE POSSIBLE THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN LOCATIONS AS THE WESTERN FRINGE AND WRAP AROUND MOISTURE ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY THREATENS THE AREA. ANOTHER ROUND OF ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS IS POSSIBLE MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY...ESPECIALLY ACROSS NORTHERN PORTIONS OF CENTRAL NC. TREND TOWARD FAIR WEATHER EXPECTED WEDNESDAY. -BLAES && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DJF NEAR TERM...KC/BLS SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...WSS AVIATION...BLAES
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON WV
451 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT OOZES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS SATURDAY. SANDY COMBINES WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE AREA SUNDAY THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...WITH WIND AND PROLONGED PRECIPITATION. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... EARLY THIS MORNING FINDS A S/W TROUGH OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DRIVING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA...AND ADDITIONAL SHORT WAVE ENERGY DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS BEHIND A L/R MIDWEST TROUGH...ALL WHILE SANDY IS MOVING SLOWLY N...OUT E OF NORTHERN FL AND N OF THE BAHAMAS. THE KEY TO THE NEXT 27 HOURS IS THE S/W ROTATION THROUGH THE L/R TROUGH. THE OHIO VALLEY SHORT LIFTS THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES TODAY AND THEN INTO EASTERN CANADA TONIGHT. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT NEARING THE WV MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS MORNING SLOWLY OOZES THROUGH THERE TODAY...AND THEN ACTUALLY GETS ABSORBED INTO THE CIRCULATION OF SANDY LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRECIPITATION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT MAKES VERY SLOW EWD PROGRESS...BARELY MAKING IT ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER TODAY. COVERAGE SHOULD ACTUALLY DIMINISH IN PLACE AS THE FORCING LIFTS OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...THE ADDITIONAL S/W ENERGY ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE L/R...ESSENTIALLY A SPEED MAX...CARVES OUT A SHARP...NEGATIVE TILT S/W AS IT ROUNDS THE BASE OF THE L/R. ITS FORCING INCREASES RAINFALL COVERAGE OVERNIGHT IN A BAND EITHER SIDE OF THE OHIO RIVER BENEATH A DEFORMATION AXIS FORMING THERE. ALSO ADDED DRIZZLE TO THE FORECAST WITH THE PREPONDERANCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE CONVERGENT LOW LEVEL FLOW. BLENDED IN HRRR EARLY ON...THEN NAM12 TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS TO BETTER DEPICT THE EVOLUTION OF THE RESPECTIVE GRADIENTS OVER THE AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MOVING TO THE E. GENERALLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 00Z MODELS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A STALLED AREA OF PRECIP ALONG THE OHIO RIVER TO START THE SHORT TERM...AND THEN SLOWLY MERGE THIS INTO THE OVERALL PRECIP SHIELD OF SANDY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...WITH THE HIGHEST POPS SLIDING INTO THE EASTERN CWA AS SANDY MAKES LANDFALL. STILL SOME DIFFERENCES IN EXACT LAND FALL...WITH GFS/NAM SHOWING A CENTRAL/NORTHERN NJ ENTRY POINT...AND THE ECMWF A BIT SOUTH IN DELMARVA. NO MATTER THE EXACT LANDFALL...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN A HIGH PRECIP/HIGH WIND FORECAST...WITH THE GREATEST IMPACTS IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN WHERE ACCUMULATING UPSLOPE-ENHANCED SNOW AND 40+ KT WIND GUSTS COULD CREATE QUITE THE WINTER STORM WITH DRIFTING AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW. INHERITED THE WINTER STORM WATCH...AND AFTER REWORKING THE SNOW GRIDS DID NOT FEEL CHANGES TO THE HEADLINE WHERE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. TEMPERATURE ADVECTION...AND ULTIMATELY WHERE THE BEST TEMP PROFILE FOR SNOW SETS UP...IS KIND OF TRICKY WITH THIS WRAPPED UP SYSTEM. WILL LIKELY SEE WAA COMING IN ON NORTH WINDS FOR A TIME...AND THEN POSSIBLY SOME CAA COMING WITH MORE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS TOWARDS THE END OF THE SHORT TERM. AM NOT REAL CONFIDENT THAT THE MODELS HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON JUST WHERE THE COLDEST MIDLEVEL AIR WILL BE...OR EVEN HOW COLD IT WILL BE. 00Z GFS/NAM AGREE ON -4C TO -5C 850 TEMPS BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE 00Z ECMWF IS WARMER WITH -1C TO -2C. THE GFS/NAM WOULD HINT TOWARDS SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE THE EURO KEEPS IT MORE IN THE MOUNTAINS. WENT WITH A COMPROMISE...WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS...AND A RAIN/SNOW MIX CLOSER TO THE OHIO RIVER. EVEN WITH SOME FLAKES FALLING ACROSS THE LOWLANDS...THINK WITH THE WARM GROUND ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE TOUGH TO COME BY. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN FOR THIS PERIOD OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO REVOLVE AROUND SANDY/S TRACK AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR THE NORTHEAST CONUS IN GENERAL...AND SPECIFICALLY POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR OUR FORECAST AREA. WITH REGARD TO WHERE SANDY/S LANDFALL...NHC/S TRACK HAS SHIFTED SOUTHWARD AND NOW BRINGS THE CENTER ASHORE OVER THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. WITH THE STORM STILL BEING FOUR DAYS AWAY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OBVIOUSLY STILL EXIST WITH HOW EXT GUIDANCE HANDLES SANDY/S TRACK. TO SOME EXTENT EVEN GREATER UNCERTAINTY EXISTS WITH HOW SANDY/S POST-TROPICAL EVOLUTION TAKES PLACE WITH STRONG COLD AIR INTRUSION OUT OF THE NORTHWEST...AND THIS WILL HAVE MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS AS TO THE SNOW/ICE IMPACTS OUR FORECAST AREA EXPERIENCES AND TO A LESSER EXTENT WIND SPEEDS. BREAKING DOWN THE SIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXT MODELS AND STARTING WITH THE 00Z EC...SANDY/S CENTER COMES ASHORE OVER DELMARVA AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY MOVES TOWARDS THE EASTERN PANHANDLE WV AREA BY 12Z TUE. THE SFC CENTER FILLS RAPIDLY BY TUESDAY MORNING AS WELL WITH A SFC PRESS OF 982MB BY SAME TIME WITH WARM ADVECTION WRAPPING AROUND THE BACKSIDE. THIS SCENARIO WOULD LIKELY MEAN MUCH HIGHER PRECIP AMOUNTS FOR THE OVERALL AREA BUT WOULD ALSO MEAN A LESSER LIKELIHOOD OF ACCUM SNOWFALL FOR LOWER ELEVATIONS AS THE 540DAM THICKNESS HEIGHT LINE REMAINS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF OUR FORECAST AREA. HIGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS BECOME THE BIGGER ISSUE WITH THIS SCENARIO FOR LOWLANDS WITH A GENERAL 2-4 INCHES OF QPF DEPICTED WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE THE 12Z GFS CONTINUES TO BRING SANDY/S CENTER ASHORE NEAR NYC TUES AFTERNOON WITH A SW RETROGRADE NEAR PHILLY BY TUE EVE...BEFORE KICKING IT OUT TO THE N/NW WEDNESDAY. THIS SCENARIO BRINGS A LONGER WIND EVENT CONTINUING WELL INTO TUE WITH THE SFC LOW FARTHER AWAY. THIS SCENARIO ALSO ALLOWS COLDER AIR INTO THE AREA...WITH THE 540DAM LINE COMPLETELY ENCOMPASSING AND WELL SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. THIS SCENARIO WOULD SPELL SNOWFALL FOR LOWLAND LOCATIONS AS WELL. EVEN SO...WITH WARM SFC TEMPS FROM A WEEK OF VERY WARM WEATHER IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE SNOW BEGINS TO ACCUM ON ROADWAYS. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND...WILL SIDE THE FORECAST TOWARDS THE EC WHICH IS MUCH CLOSER TO NHC/S CURRENT TRACK AND THUS WILL LEAN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM IN THIS DIRECTION AS WELL. EITHER WAY...THOUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT IS STILL 2-3 DAYS OUT CONFIDENCE IS GROWING WITH A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EVENT FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY...PARTICULARLY FOR THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS SUCH AS SNOWSHOE. IN COORDINATION WITH THE SHORT TERM FORECASTER...WILL KEEP WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THESE AREAS GOING THROUGH 00Z WED WITH THE LONG DURATION POTENTIAL. ACROSS THE LOWLANDS AMOUNTS GENERALLY UNDER TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED FOR WV ZONES...WITH MUCH OF IT COMING DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH PRIMARILY RAIN DURING THE DAY. LITTLE SNOW SHOULD ACCUMULATE ON ROAD SURFACES WITH SUCH VERY WARM TEMPS IN PLACE THIS WEEK. HAVE ALSO LOWERED MAX TEMPS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. AGAIN...STILL A GOOD DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FINAL TRACK AND ANY SHIFT NORTH OR SOUTH COULD MAKE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN RAIN/SNOW AMOUNTS RECEIVED AND WHERE...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ALONG WITH WINDS. && .AVIATION /08Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... MVFR CIGS OOZING E ACROSS AREA OVERNIGHT WILL THEN HANG AROUND THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THE PERIOD...WITH IFR POSSIBLE. RAIN SHOWERS SAT AND SAT EVENING WILL BRING MVFR VSBYS. SURFACE FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS FIRST THING SAT MORNING...WITH LIGHT SE FLOW AHEAD OF IT. OTHERWISE LIGHT N TO NW SURFACE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL FRESHEN A BIT SAT AND THEN REMAIN NEAR 10 KTS MOST LOCALES SAT NT. FRONT ALOFT WILL ENTER WESTERN WV SAT AFTERNOON AND THEN STALL THERE. LIGHT N TO NE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE MODERATE N TO NE SAT AFTERNOON AND NT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT ALOFT...LIGHT SE FLOW OVERNIGHT WILL BECOME LIGHT S SAT AND THEN LIGHT E TO NE LATE SAT AND SAT NT. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: HIGH. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: IFR MATERIALIZATION IN QUESTION SAT. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. DATE SAT 10/27/12 UTC 1HRLY 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 EDT 1HRLY 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 CRW CONSISTENCY H H M M M M M H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY L H H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY L L L L L L L L H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H H M M M M H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY L H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY H H M M M M M M H H H H AFTER 06Z SUNDAY... IFR POSSIBLE IN RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WITH REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY NEXT WEEK. RAIN WILL BE THE DOMINANT PRECIPITATION TYPE OVER THE LOW TERRAIN...WITH SNOW PREDOMINANT ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN. THE PRECIPITATION WILL TEND TO BE MORE IN THE FORM OF RAIN DURING THE DAY...WHEN MOST OF WHAT IS SNOW IS WET SNOW. FOR THE OTHERWISE RAIN DOMINATED LOWLANDS...WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE AT NT. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ038-046-047. OH...NONE. KY...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TRM NEAR TERM...TRM SHORT TERM...MZ LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...TRM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
218 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION BEFORE DISSIPATING ON SATURDAY. TROPICAL CYCLONE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTH ACROSS THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS INTO MONDAY DEVELOPING INTO A POWERFUL NOR-EASTER. THIS WILL RESULT IN UNSEASONABLY CHILLY AND WINDY CONDITIONS OVER THE AREA MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... AS OF 215 AM...I WILL ISSUE A QUICK UPDATE TO INCREASE SKY COVER THIS MORNING. CLOUDS SHOULD BEGIN TO ERODE BY MID DAY...RESULTING IN MARGINAL WIND GUSTS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE CWA. I WILL ADJUST WIND TIMING AND STRENGTH. AS OF 1030 PM EDT...REMOVED PRECIP CHANCES IN THE MTNS FOR THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. 23Z HRRR RUN SHOWS THE LIGHT PRECIP BEHIND THE FRONT ACROSS MIDDLE TN BUT KEEPS THE SHOWERS THERE...WITH NO DEVELOPMENT SEEN AHEAD OF IT. 00Z NAM SUGGESTS THE FRONT WILL NOT MAKE IT TO THE MTNS UNTIL LATE MORNING SO POP TREND WAS SLOWED GREATLY. AS OF 915 PM EDT...WILL MAINTAIN PREVIOUS FCST FOR LOW TEMPS TONIGHT AS THERE WAS LITTLE CHANGE BETWEEN 12Z AND 18Z RUNS. MONITORING LOW STRATUS AND SHOWERS BOTH NEAR THE COLD FRONT /MIDDLE TN/ AND IN THE MOIST REGION UPSTREAM IN EASTERLY FLOW /ERN NC/. THE ONGOING LIGHT SHOWERS IN THE VICINITY OF RDU WOULD REACH THE NC PIEDMONT AROUND 04Z IF THEY HOLD TOGETHER. MOISTURE DOES KEEP INCREASING AND THE STEADY EASTERLY FLOW SHOULD CONTINUE SO THAT IS PLAUSIBLE. WILL BRING UP THE ONSET TIME TO 04Z OVER DAVIE/ROWAN/CABARRUS...THOUGH IF THE SHOWERS MAKE IT THERE IN THIS STATE THEY WILL PROBABLY ONLY GET SPRINKLES. AS OF 730 PM EDT...EASTERLY FLOW IN THE MIDLEVELS ALONG WITH INCREASING MOISTURE IN THE LAYER WILL PROMOTE CLOUD AND PRECIP DEVELOPMENT IN THE LATE OVERNIGHT HOURS OVER THE NC PIEDMONT. THE BOUNDARY LAYER ALSO MOISTENS IN THAT AREA...ENABLING LOW STRATUS TO ALSO FORM. AT THE PRESENT TIME POPS OVER THE PIEDMONT LOOK A LITTLE TOO LOW AND SO THEY WILL BE INCREASED AND EXPANDED WESTWARD. ON ANOTHER NOTE...COLD FRONT IS ADVANCING RATHER SLOWLY ACROSS THE TN VALLEY AND MODEL DEPICTED FORCING IS NOT PARTICULARLY IMPRESSIVE WITH IT OVER THE MOUNTAINS TONIGHT. WILL LOWER CHANCES TO SLIGHT UNTIL MORNING. AS OF 430 PM EDT...DELAYED ONSET OF PRECIP CHANCES IN THE MTNS BY A COUPLE OF HOURS AND CONFIDENCE IS FAIRLY LOW THAT THE AREA WILL SEE ANY SHOWERS AT ALL. CONVERGENCE LINE NEAR THE COLD FRONT OVER CUMBERLAND PLATEAU IS PRODUCING A BAND OF CUMULUS BUT NO RADAR RETURNS INDICATIVE OF PRECIP. MESO MODELS EITHER KEEP THE MTNS DRY INTO THE EVENING OR SHOW DIURNALLY DRIVEN SHOWERS WHICH NOW SEEM UNLIKELY GIVEN SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWING THE CU OVER THE MTNS FLATTENING OUT. UPDATED SKY TRENDS TO BETTER REPRESENT CIRRUS OVER THE PIEDMONT...GENERALLY LEANING SUNNIER THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON...THOUGH MAINTAINED INCREASING CLOUDS THIS EVENING. AS OF 230 PM EDT...HURRICANE SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFFSHORE OF THE SE COASTLINE TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY...GRADUALLY STRENGTHENING THE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND NRLY FLOW ACROSS THE REGION. MEANWHILE...A BROAD TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE EXTENDING SWD FROM A DEEPENING MANITOBA/ONTARIO VORTEX WILL MAINTAIN A TROUGH AXIS W OF THE APPALACHIANS THROUGH THE PERIOD. AN ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT CURRENTLY STRETCHING FROM KJKL TO KCSV WILL MOVE SLOWLY EWD ACROSS EXTREME ERN TN TONIGHT AND THEN STALL ACROSS THE SRN APPALACHIANS ON SAT. AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING BOUNDARY...THE MODELS WRING OUT ISOLD TO SCT SHOWERS IN THE SW MTNS IN CONVERGENT BL FLOW WITH SFC BASED CAPE VALUES OF 300 TO 500 J/KG INTO THE EARLY EVENING THERE. THIS SEEMS REASONABLE. THE FORCING REMAINS SOMEWHAT LIMITED ALONG THE STALLING BOUNDARY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SAT...BUT CONTINUED WEAK LLVL CONVERGENCE COMBINED WITH IMPROVING UPPER DIVERGENCE SUPPORTS SCHC TO CHC POPS IN AND NEAR THE MTNS. FARTHER E...LOW LEVEL NE FLOW SHOULD ADVECT IN ANOTHER STRATUS LAYER FROM THE NE OVERNIGHT. AN OUTER BAND OF TROPICAL RAIN SHOWERS AROUND THE SANDY CIRCULATION COULD DEVELOP OVER THE CAROLINA PIEDMONT TONIGHT AND WRAP WWD TOWARD THE INTERSTATE 77 CORRIDOR THROUGH SAT. WILL FEATURE MAINLY SCHC POPS OVER ERN PIEDMONT SECTIONS ON SAT. THE PRES GRADIENT WILL ALSO BE TIGHTEST ACROSS THE PIEDMONT...WITH GUSTY CONDITIONS LIKELY DEVELOPING ALONG THE I-77 CORRIDOR SAT AFTN. THE DIURNAL TEMP RANGE SHOULD BE SMALLER THAN IN RECENT DAYS...WITH WARM MINS TONIGHT...AND COOLER MAXES SAT. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 245 PM FRIDAY...THE OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO AGREE ON THE LARGE SCALE FEATURES...BUT CONTINUE TO DISAGREE ON THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF SANDY AND ITS ASSOCIATED EXTRATROPICAL LOW. THE ENSEMBLE MEANS HOWEVER...ARE IN MUCH BETTER AGREEMENT WITH EACH OTHER AND THE OFFICIAL FORECAST TRACK FROM NHC/HPC. THE CURRENT FCST TRACK CURVES THE CIRCULATION OFF THE CAROLINA COAST THEN INLAND NEAR THE DELAWARE BAY TUE MORNING. WE WILL STILL SEE SOME EFFECTS FROM THIS STORM EVEN THO IT REMAINS RELATIVELY FAR AWAY FROM OUR CWFA. THAT SAID...THE COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE WRN CWFA WILL PLAY A BIGGER PART IN PRECIP CHANCES SAT NITE AND SUN. EXPECT SCT SHRA TO CONTINUE OVER THE MTNS AND NC FOOTHILLS SAT EVENING...WITH ISOLATED SHRA ELSEWHERE. THESE SHRA DIMINISH OVERNIGHT WITH THE BEST CHC RETREATING TO THE TN BORDER BY SUN MORNING. SHRA WILL LINGER THERE THRU THE DAY EVEN AS THE FRONT DISSIPATES IN THE LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE...STRENGTHENING NWLY FLOW AND INCREASING FORCING AS SHORT WAVE MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. SUNDAY WILL BE BREEZY ALL AREAS AS WELL. SAT NITE WILL STILL BE WARM BEFORE THE COLD AIR MOVES IN WITH LOWS UP TO 5 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL. THE COLD AIR BEGINS MOVING IN SUN WITH HIGHS 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL ACROSS THE MTNS AND A FEW DEGREES BELOW ELSEWHERE. COLD AIR RUSHES IN BEHIND THIS SYSTEM SUN NITE AND MON AS SANDY BEGINS ITS TURN TO THE NW AND TRANSITIONS TO AN EXTRATROPICAL LOW. LINGERING LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INCREASING CAA AND NWLY FLOW WILL KEEP SCT SHRA ALONG THE TN BORDER SUN NITE THEN DIMINISHING COVERAGE MONDAY. SOME OF THIS PRECIP WILL FALL AS SNOW...ESPECIALLY ABOVE 3500 FT...BUT SOME OF THE HIGHER VALLEYS COULD SEE SNOW AS WELL. TOO EARLY TO SAY HOW MUCH ACCUMULATION COULD DEVELOP...BUT AN INCH OR TWO IS POSSIBLE. THE WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE ACROSS THE CWFA...ESPECIALLY DURING THE DAY MONDAY WITH MIXING. GUSTS UP TO 45 MPH ARE POSSIBLE OVER THE MTNS...WITH 40 MPH ELSEWHERE. LOWS WILL BE AROUND 5 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL WITH FREEZING TEMPS LIKELY ABOVE 3500 FT. HIGHS MONDAY 10 TO 15 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. LOW LEVEL MOISTURE BRIEFLY WANES MON NITE THEN RETURNS ACROSS THE TN BORDER COUNTIES TUE. EXPECT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS TO DIMINISH MON EVE THEN RETURN FOR THE DAY TUE. WINDS DROP OFF A LITTLE MON NITE BUT REMAIN BREEZY...THEN RETURN EVEN STRONGER ON TUE. TUE LOOKS TO BE THE WINDIEST DAY WITH GUSTS LIKELY REACHING WIND ADV LEVELS OVER THE MTNS WITH HIGH WIND WARNING GUSTS POSSIBLE. GUSTS COULD REACH 40 TO 45 MPH ELSEWHERE. WIDESPREAD FREEZE OVER THE MTNS STILL EXPECTED MON NITE WITH LOW TO MID 30S ELSEWHERE...WITH FREEZE POSSIBLE INTO THE NC FOOTHILLS. HIGHS TUE 15 TO 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... AS OF 200 AM SATURDAY...THERE IS WAY TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY ABOUT THE EVENTUAL TRACK OF T.C. SANDY AND THE INTENSE RESULTANT EXTRATROPICAL SYSTEM TO NAIL DOWN THE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY PERIOD. IT/S INTERESTING THAT SOME OF THE BEST FORCING AND HIGHEST DEEP LAYER MOISTURE VALUES FOR THE EVENT ON THE 12 UTC ECWMF HAPPEN TUE NIGHT. THE 00 UTC GFS ON THE OTHER HAND BRINGS MUCH DRIER AIR ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TUE AND TUE NIGHT...EFFECTIVELY ENDING ANY NW FLOW SNOW CHANCES. THE 00 UTC CANADIAN IS LEANING THIS DIRECTION AS WELL. FOR NOW I HAVEN/T UPPED POPS BEYOND THE DAYLIGHT PERIOD ON TUE. WE/LL REALLY JUST HAVE TO WAIT TO SEE JUST HOW FAR SOUTHWEST THE UPPER LOW DIGS AND IF THE MAJOR AXIS TAKES ON A NW TO SE ORIENTATION LIKE THE GFS HAS. THERE WILL BE MORE THAN ENOUGH WEATHER TO DEAL WITH BEFORE TUESDAY NIGHT. WINDY CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE OVER THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS TUE NIGHT AND ACROSS THE FA ON WEDNESDAY. THE SFC LOW WILL HAVE FILLED QUITE A BIT BY WED AFTERNOON...AND WE SHOULD/T BE LOOKING AT ANYTHING MORE THAN LOW END WINDY CONDITIONS THE WAY IT LOOKS NOW. THICKNESSES REMAIN LOW WED NIGHT AND THURSDAY NIGHT. WITH THE LOW PULLING AWAY...WINDS WILL DECOUPLE OVERNIGHT IN MAY AREAS...INCREASING THE RISK FOR FROST OR EVEN A FREEZE ACROSS A GOOD BIT OF THE FOOTHILLS AND PIEDMONT BOTH NIGHTS. MY LOW TEMPS DON/T QUITE REFLECT A FREEZE AT THIS POINT...BUT IT/S A DISTINCT POSSIBILITY. BY THIS TIME THE GROWING SEASON SHOULD BE OVER ACROSS THE MTNS AND MORE WESTERLY FOOTHILLS LOCATIONS. && .AVIATION /06Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AT KCLT...CIRRUS SHIELD ASSOCIATED WITH HURRICANE SANDY HAS OBSCURED THE VIEW OF STRATOCU ACROSS THE NC PIEDMONT. HOWEVER...RECENT SFC OBSERVATIONS NEAR THE TRIAD INDICATE THAT CEILINGS RANGED FROM IFR TO LMVFR AT 5Z. THESE LOW CLOUDS LINE UP WELL WITH THE NAM12 CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS OF 8 TO 15 MBS. I WILL USE THE NAM12 SFC CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS FOR TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF RESTRICTIVE CEILINGS THIS MORNING. IT APPEARS THAT MVFR CEILINGS ARE LIKELY BY 8Z AND WILL CONTINUE TO LOWER TO IFR DURING THE PRE DAWN HOURS AND MAY REMAIN IFR UNTIL MID MORNING. ONCE IFR CLOUDS DISSIPATE AFTER SUNRISE...MARGINAL GUSTY NNE WINDS SHOULD DEVELOP AND REMAIN INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS WITH MVFR CEILINGS. BY 19Z...RESTRICTIVE CEILINGS SHOULD DISSIPATE AND LOW VFR CU SHOULD DEVELOP AND REMAIN UNTIL SUNSET. ELSEWHERE...THE PRIMARY CHALLENGE EARLY THIS MORNING WILL BE THE TIMING AND PLACEMENT OF MVFR TO IFR CEILINGS. AT 5Z...KHKY WAS ALREADY OBSERVING BKN018. PLAN VIEW OF THE NAM12 CONDENSATION PRESSURE DEFICITS INDICATE THAT LOW VALUES WILL EXPAND NE TO SW ACROSS THE WESTERN CAROLINAS THROUGH 12Z. AREAS ALONG THE TN BORDER WILL SEE DEVELOPING UPSLOPE FLOW AROUND SUNRISE...LIKELY SUPPORTING A EXPANDING AREA OF LOW CLOUDS. ALL TERMINALS SHOULD SEE MVFR CEILINGS DEVELOPING BY SUNRISE...WITH KAVL IFR BY 12Z. CONDITIONS WILL GRADUALLY IMPROVE DURING THE AM...RETURNING TO VFR BY MID DAY. GUSTY NORTH WINDS SHOULD DEVELOP DURING THE EARLY AFTERNOON AND REMAIN THROUGH SUNSET. CONDITIONS SHOULD REMAIN VFR THROUGH THE REST OF THE TAF PERIOD EAST OF THE MTNS. UPSLOPE CLOUDS MAY RETURN KAVL TO MVFR BY 1Z AND LINGER THROUGH THE END OF THE TAF. OUTLOOK...LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD GENERATE RESTRICTIVE CIGS AGAIN INTO SUNDAY. A VIGOROUS PUSH OF COLD AIR BEHIND HURRICANE SANDY WILL ARRIVE EARLY NEXT WEEK...CREATING VERY WINDY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE REGION...AND POSSIBLE MOUNTAIN CEILING RESTRICTIONS IN THE NW FLOW. AN EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLE SHOWING THE PERCENTAGE OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED ISSUANCE CATEGORY IS AVAILABLE AT FOLLOWING LINK (USE LOWER CASE)... WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION/TABLES.HTM && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...NONE. NC...NONE. SC...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...CSH NEAR TERM...NED/WIMBERLEY SHORT TERM...RWH LONG TERM...MCAVOY AVIATION...NED
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE ON CLOUDS AND TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT DUE TO LACK OF PRECIPITATION FORCING MECHANISMS. CURRENTLY AS OF 07Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO 24 HOURS AGO WITH RIDGING OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC...TROUGHING OVER THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF CANADA INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...RIDGING OVER NEWFOUNDLAND AND TROPICAL STORM SANDY SITTING JUST NORTH OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. MAIN SHORTWAVE OF NOTE WAS OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH A 130 KT JET STREAK NEAR 225MB IN EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE. A STREAM OF CIRRUS EXTENDED DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS SHORTWAVE INTO MONTANA AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. FARTHER EAST INTO THE FORECAST AREA...A BROKEN FIELD OF STRATOCUMULUS COVERED MUCH OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION. THESE CLOUDS WERE REPRESENTED WELL ON THE 00Z MPX SOUNDING BY YET ANOTHER MOIST LAYER BETWEEN 750-800MB. AIRMASS REMAINS COOL OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH 00Z SOUNDINGS SHOWING 850MB TEMPS AROUND -7C. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS AND A LIGHT WESTERLY BREEZE NORTH OF HIGH PRESSURE IN WESTERN IOWA HAVE HELPED TO LIMIT THE TEMPERATURE FALL TOO MUCH THUS FAR. TEMPERATURES SO FAR HAVE FALLEN INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY...FOCUS FOR OUR AREA IS ON THAT SHORTWAVE IN SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT DROPPING IT DOWN INTO THE BASE OF THE UPPER TROUGH...REACHING FAR WESTERN NEBRASKA BY 00Z SUNDAY...THE MEMPHIS TN AREA BY 12Z SUNDAY AND THEN PUSHING EAST TO THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS AREA BY 00Z MONDAY. AS THIS SHORTWAVE DIVES SOUTHEAST...EXPECT THE MASS OF CIRRUS ENTERING THE DAKOTAS TO SPREAD INTO THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUS...EVEN IF THE CURRENT STRATOCUMULUS CONTINUES TO BREAK UP OR DISSIPATE...THE CLEARING LOOKS TO BE TEMPORARY. THE CIRRUS APPEARS TO HOLD ON THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT...THEN THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS OF A DECAYING MID CLOUD DECK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST ON SUNDAY. PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL DRY AIR AND LACK OF FORCING WILL KEEP THE FORECAST AREA DRY. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS ARE LIKELY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURE FORECASTS. BEING IN UPPER TROUGHING AND THE LOW SUN ANGLE THIS TIME OF YEAR...THE 850MB TEMPS AND GENERAL AIRMASS ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME WARMING. IN FACT...THE READINGS CHANGE VERY LITTLE...CLIMBING FROM -6 TO -8C TODAY TO -4 TO -6C ON SUNDAY. WITH CLOUDS AROUND...ANTICIPATING HIGHS TO STAY STUCK IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S. THE CIRRUS DECK AND INCOMING MID CLOUDS SHOULD HELP TO KEEP TEMPERATURES UP TONIGHT...IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S. SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MUCH OF THE ACTION IS EXPECTED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST U.S. DURING THIS PERIOD...IN RESPONSE TO INTERACTION AND PHASING OF SANDY WITH THE CURRENT BRITISH COLUMBIA SHORTWAVE...RELEASE OF LATENT HEAT AND A COUPLING OF SUBTROPICAL AND POLAR JETS. THE NET RESULT BY 12Z TUESDAY FROM ALL MODELS IS A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ENCOMPASSING MUCH OF THE EASTERN U.S. WITH A DEEP POST-TROPICAL SANDY SITUATED IN OR NEAR PENNSYLVANIA. MEANWHILE...UPPER RIDGING THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE EAST PACIFIC MODELS HAVE BUILDING ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND INTO THE WESTERN PLAINS. THIS SETUP EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS ANY PRECIPITATION FROM ENTERING THE PICTURE FOR OUR AREA. IN FACT...HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD DOMINATE AT THE SURFACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE TIME PERIOD. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO STAY COOL DUE TO 850MB TEMPS STILL ONLY WARMING SLOWLY TO -1 TO -4C ON MONDAY. CLOUD COVER WISE...THERE ARE HINTS OF SOME WARM ADVECTION MID CLOUDS COMING INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE AREA ON MONDAY...BUT THEN THESE GET SHUNTED SOUTHWEST BY SUBSIDENCE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DEEP EASTERN TROUGH. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 FOCUS FOR THE EARLY PORTION OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD IS THE DEEP EASTERN U.S. UPPER TROUGH AND POST-TROPICAL SANDY INSIDE OF THE TROUGH. 27.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN/UKMET AND GFS ENSEMBLES ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH WILL BE BLOCKED BETWEEN RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S....STRONG UPPER RIDGING NEAR NEWFOUNDLAND AND PERHAPS EVEN RIDGING CONNECTING THESE TWO. AS SUCH...THE MODELS TAKE AWHILE BEFORE LIFTING THE EASTERN TROUGH OUT. IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL SOMETIME THURSDAY NIGHT OR FRIDAY BEFORE THE EJECTION OCCURS. WITH THE EASTERN TROUGH BLOCKED FROM MOVING MUCH...THE FORECAST AREA STAYS ON THE SUBSIDENT SIDE THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...MOSTLY PREVENTING PRECIPITATION. ONE CONCERN WOULD BE DEFORMATION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH POST-TROPICAL SANDY RETROGRADING SLOLWY WESTWARD TOWARDS THE AREA TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...MOST MODELS SUGGESTS THIS DEFORMATION BAND WILL STAY EAST OF THE AREA...PERHAPS MAKING IT AS FAR WEST AS EASTERN WISCONSIN. LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE A NORTHERLY BREEZE INCREASE FOR TUESDAY AND PERHAPS WEDNESDAY TOO...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WISCONSIN. FOR FRIDAY...GOOD MODEL CONSENSUS EXISTS FOR SUBTROPICAL UPPER RIDGING TO CROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AHEAD OF A TROUGH CROSSING COLORADO. ANY WARM ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE LOOKS TO STAY TO THE SOUTH AT THE PRESENT TIME...THOUGH AN INCREASE IN MID/HIGH CLOUDS SHOULD OCCUR. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD... ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK AS THE EASTERN UPPER TROUGH LIFTS OUT. BY THURSDAY...READINGS SHOULD BE BACK TO NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION...THROUGH 06Z SUNDAY 1129 PM CDT FRI OCT 26 2012 VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED INTO SATURDAY NIGHT AS A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE TRACKS INTO THE REGION. WINDS WILL BE LIGHT THROUGHOUT WITH CLOUD COVER THE MAIN CHALLENGE. BROKEN TO OVERCAST 4 TO 6KFT STRATOCUMULUS IS IN PLACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY WITH SOME OF THE BREAKS IN THE CLOUD COVER BECOMING LARGER TO THE WEST OF THE TAF SITES. AS THE RIDGE MOVES IN SATURDAY MORNING...EXPECT FOR THE LOW TO MID LEVEL CLOUD COVER TO CONTINUE TO DISSIPATE WITH IT BECOMING EVEN PATCHIER BY AFTERNOON. THE NEXT SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING ACROSS THE DAKOTAS TOMORROW EVENING WITH HIGH LEVEL CLOUD COVER INCREASING FROM THE WEST. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...HALBACH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TALLAHASSEE FL
1010 AM EDT Sat Oct 27 2012 .NEAR TERM [Today and Tonight]... Updated at: 1005am Overall, the forecast for the next 12-18 hours appears to be in good shape and very few changes were made this morning. The main change was to increase the sky cover a bit. In the far western part of our area, some low stratus had developed behind an advancing cold front, and that front is becoming increasingly ill- defined. Meanwhile, the western periphery of the cirrus shield from Hurricane Sandy continued to be situated over most of the rest of the area. The HRRR has the best handle on the current extent of the high-level clouds and it hardly erodes the western edge through the day. Despite that, most of the cirrus should be at least semi-transparent and most of the area should see some filtered sunshine. High temperatures should be very near normal values. The breezy northwest flow is not expected to reach levels that would prompt any advisories today. Most gusts should peak in the 20-25mph range. && .SHORT TERM [Sunday Through Monday]... Both day and nighttime temps will continue to fall as the CAA becomes even stronger, with Highs on Sunday ranging from the upper 60s NW to the lower to middle 70s elsewhere, and down to the lower to middle 60s CWA wide on Monday. Low temps on Monday morning are expected to drop into upper 30s across the NW 1/3 of the area, with lower to middle 40s elsewhere. The unusually low Max temps on Monday will set the stage for the coldest night of the season thus far on Monday night, with some inland areas bottoming out into the middle to upper 30s. Also, daytime winds will continue to remain elevated out of the NW for both Sunday and Monday, with sustained speeds generally 10-15 mph on Sun., and back to 15-20 mph on Mon. && .LONG TERM [Monday Night through Friday]... A chilly airmass is expected to dominate the first half of the week as high pressure builds into the local area with northwesterly flow behind the massive east coast low. The 27/00z GFS trended slightly cooler and is now forecasting lows in the mid to upper 30s on Monday night across the area. Much will depend on the evolution of the large storm along the east coast. The 27/12z ECMWF is not quite as bullish as the newer GFS with the cold push into the local area. The official forecast went for a compromise for now with upper 30s to lower 40s across the area for Monday night. A gradual warming trend is expected for the middle and latter part of the week as the airmass modifies. The GFS also brings a weak shortwave through the area on Thursday with scattered showers across the coastal waters and the southeast big bend, but the old Euro run had nothing and the official forecast will wait for a little more consistency before introducing any mention of showers into the forecast. && .AVIATION [through 12z Sunday]... Mainly VFR conditions are expected through the period, although some low clouds behind an approaching cold front may provide a few hours of MVFR conditions around KDHN and KECP during the mid- morning hours. Gusty northwest winds are expected in the wake of the front with gusts around 20 knots, diminishing after sunset. && .MARINE... With the tight pressure gradient between Sandy (which should be well to our NE near the Mid-Atlantic Coast by Monday afternoon), and the cold Surface High pressure ridge to our Northwest expected to tighten further and then remain steady into the beginning of next week, decided to extend the Small Craft Advisory until Monday evening. This will result in a fairly long period of rough maritime conditions, with sustained northwest winds of 20 to 25 knots, with occasional gusts above 30 knots, continuing through at least Monday. Seas are expected to peak into the 5 to 7 foot range nearshore and 6 to 8 feet offshore. Both winds and seas should subside significantly by the middle of next week. && .FIRE WEATHER... Drier conditions will begin to move into the region today as a cold front pass through the area. Relative humidity values are forecast to stay above critical levels this afternoon, but even drier air is expected for Sunday with conditions approaching red flag criteria across a portion of northwest Florida with gusty winds and marginally low RH. The RH looks too marginal for a watch at this time in our area on Sunday afternoon, but if the RH forecast decreases, then a watch or warning may be needed later. Red flag conditions will become more likely and widespread on Monday and Tuesday with much lower RH values expected. && .HYDROLOGY... With little or no rainfall in the fcst through much of next week, there are no hydrological concerns or significant river rises expected across the area. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... Tallahassee 81 52 73 44 65 / 10 0 0 0 0 Panama City 78 52 72 45 66 / 10 0 0 0 0 Dothan 75 47 69 40 63 / 10 0 0 0 0 Albany 79 51 71 41 65 / 10 0 0 0 0 Valdosta 78 54 73 43 65 / 10 0 0 0 0 Cross City 80 55 76 44 67 / 10 0 0 0 0 Apalachicola 79 54 72 49 67 / 10 0 0 0 0 && .TAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...None. GA...None. AL...None. GM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY until 8 PM EDT Monday for all of the coastal waters. && $$ NEAR TERM...Lamers SHORT TERM...Gould LONG TERM...DVD AVIATION...DVD MARINE...Gould FIRE WEATHER...DVD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
615 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY WILL MOVE NORTHWARD OFF THE ATLANTIC COAST THROUGH SUNDAY. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST AREA. MOST OF THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY WILL REMAIN EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... THE MODELS ARE CONSISTENT KEEPING DEEP MOISTURE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA TODAY. MAINTAINED JUST CHANCE POPS IN THE EAST PART ASSOCIATED WITH MOISTURE THAT MAY WRAP INTO THE AREA. MODEL TIME- HEIGHT DISPLAYS AND MIXING SUPPORTS FREQUENT GUSTS NEAR 25 KNOTS. WE HAVE ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. IT WILL BE COOLER TODAY COMPARED TO YESTERDAY MAINLY BECAUSE OF CLOUDINESS. THE TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE WAS CLOSE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AS SANDY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD. THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY STILL APPEARS DRY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREEZY CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY. USED THE GUIDANCE CONSENSUS FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... STRONG LOW PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES AND RIDGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION WILL MAINTAIN NORTHWEST FLOW INTO THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL PERIOD. THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE 30S. && .AVIATION /10Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NE...WITH TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY WELL TO OUR SOUTHEAST JUST NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS WILL PRODUCE A STEADY N WIND ACROSS MUCH OF THE CWA BECAUSE OF THE PRESSURE GRADIENT BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. SATELLITE LOOP SHOWS PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDINESS ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA TONIGHT. SATELLITE/OBS ALSO SHOWS THE SLOW MOVING COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST ON THE WEST SIDE OF THE APPALACHIANS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO MOVE TO THE N AND NE FOR THE REMAINDER OF TONIGHT INTO SATURDAY. THE BULK OF THE ASSOCIATED MOISTURE AND PRECIPITATION ACTIVITY WILL BE STAYING EAST OF THE TAF SITES. GUIDANCE IN AGREEMENT INDICATING LOWER CLOUDINESS FOR MUCH OF OUR CWA AFTER MIDNIGHT TOWARD MORNING. LATEST SATELLITE AND SURFACE OBS INDICATE LOWER CLOUDS CURRENTLY ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL AND E NC...WITH MAINLY MVFR CIGS. LATEST RAP BRINGS LOWER CLOUDS SW INTO OUR CWA LATE TONIGHT UNDER A N/NE LOW LEVEL FLOW. UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARDS TO WHETHER CIGS WILL BE MVFR OR IFR. FOR NOW...WILL MAINTAIN LOW END MVFR CIGS. BREEZY CONDITIONS EXPECTED SATURDAY WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDINESS...MAINLY VFR AFTER 13Z/14Z. EXPECT WINDS TO SHIFT A BIT MORE NW/NNW BY SATURDAY EVENING BUT REMAINING UP AROUND 10 TO 15 KTS WITH PLENTY OF HIGH CLOUDS AS SANDY WILL BE SE OF CHARLESTON. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH MONDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018- 020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065- 077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BUFFALO NY
1024 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL ACROSS NEW YORK...WITH PERIODS OF RAIN AND COOL TEMPERATURES ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE REMNANTS OF SANDY WILL APPROACH THE REGION NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE RAIN MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING...AND STRONG WINDS MAY PRODUCE WIND DAMAGE. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... RADAR IMAGERY SHOWING STEADY LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN END OF THE STATE THIS MORNING...WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AS FAR EAST AS A LINE FROM WESTERN CATTARAUGUS COUNTY TO WARSAW AND ROCHESTER. EXPECT THE RAIN TO REMAIN IN THE SAME BASIC POSITION THROUGH EARLY TO MID AFTERNOON WITH THE SURFACE FRONT AND MID LEVEL FORCING ESSENTIALLY STALLED. LATE TODAY THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE RAIN WILL BEGIN TO MOVE EASTWARD SLOWLY. A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK TODAY. THIS KEEP ALL OR MOST OF OUR CWA ON THE COOL SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY. THE FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TONIGHT...POSSIBLY MEANDERING JUST A BIT TO THE EAST...BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WILL BE STATIONARY. DESPITE THE POSITION OF THE FRONT...IT IS A TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT WHICH SERVES AS THE MAIN FOCUS FOR RAIN. A CONSENSUS OF THE 00Z NAM/RGEM/SREF/GFS GUIDANCE GRADUALLY SHIFT THIS AXIS TO THE EAST LATER TODAY...WHICH IS A BIT MORE MOVEMENT THAN THE SURFACE FRONT. RECENT RUNS OF THE HRRR AND RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST A SLIGHTLY SLOWER PROGRESSION THAN THIS MODEL CONSENSUS...BUT THE TREND SHOULD BE FINE. PROVIDING SECONDARY SUPPORT TO THIS BOUNDARY IS DIVERGENCE ALOFT IN THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT OF THE UPPER JET. WITH LITTLE FLOW PERPENDICULAR TO TEMPERATURE GRADIENT...THE COMBINATION OF THESE FEATURES WILL ONLY PRODUCE A BAND OF LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE RAIN. RAIN WILL LARGELY REMAIN WEST OF ROCHESTER THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS TODAY...GRADUALLY SHIFTING EAST TOWARD WATERTOWN AND SYRACUSE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE BAND WILL STALL...OR EVEN DRIFT BACK WESTWARD TOWARD DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING. DESPITE THE MODEST RAINFALL RATES...THE PERSISTENCE OF THE BAND WILL PRODUCE SOME DECENT 24 HOUR RAIN TOTALS. MODEL CONSENSUS SUGGESTS BETWEEN .50 INCHES AND 1.00 INCHES WEST OF ROCHESTER...QUICKLY TAPERING DOWN TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OR LESS IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. ITS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT...AND NOT TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY. THERE ALSO VIRTUALLY TO NO THREAT FOR FLOODING THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...AS IT WILL BE A JUST A SOAKING RAINFALL DUE TO THIS FRONT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NOTABLY COOLER TODAY...WITH MOST OF THE REGION ON THE COLD SIDE OF THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE ARE COMING OFF OF TWO UNSEASONABLY WARM DAYS. GIVEN THE SHALLOW COOL AIR AT THE SURFACE...EXPECT MOST TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE IS A BIT TOO WARM IN WESTERN SECTIONS...WHERE IT WILL BE RAINING MOST OF THE DAY. A BLEND OF THE BIAS CORRECTED SREF AND RGEM WAS USED FOR MOST OF THE TEMPERATURES...BOTH OF WHICH WERE ON THE COOL SIDE EAST OF THE FRONT FOR HIGHS TODAY. TEMPERATURES MAY NOT EVEN TOP 50 DEGREES WEST OF ROCHESTER...WITH HIGHS WARMING TO THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S EAST. EXPECT PATCHY FOG TO PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD...MAINLY ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... THE FOCUS THIS TIME PERIOD WILL FOCUS ON SANDY AND ITS IMPACTS UPON NOT ONLY WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK...BUT ALONG THE ENTIRE EASTERN COASTLINE. FIRST...BEFORE WE GET TO SANDY ON MONDAY LETS LOOK AT SUNDAY. AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL BE FOUND NUDGING NORTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN NEW YORK...WITH A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS TROUGH. ALOFT AN EASTERLY WIND...OR WARM CONVEYOR BELT WILL TRANSPORT MOISTURE WESTWARD...WITH PWATS RISING TO +1 TO +2SD ABOVE NORMAL. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL AGAIN FOCUS A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE CWA...WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN 120 KNOT 250 HPA JET OVER WNY SUPPLYING ADDITIONAL SYNOPTIC LIFT. IT IS UNDER THIS JET ENTRANCE REGION WHERE THE RAIN MIGHT BECOME MODERATE AT TIMES. WILL PAINT THE HIGHEST QPF ACROSS WNY FOR SUNDAY-SUNDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY NIGHT MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM WESTWARD ACROSS THE CWA AHEAD OF SANDY. A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN WILL AT FIRST FOCUS ACROSS WNY NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THEN LATER MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD OF SANDY...INTERACTING WITH THE NEARING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MAY BRING SOME RAIN LATE SNEAKING INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK. AS FOR QPF SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT A RANGE OF JUST A FEW TENTH OF AN INCH TOWARDS FAR EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA...AND UPWARDS TO AN INCH ACROSS FAR WNY IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND UPPER LEVEL JET ENTRANCE REGION. THOUGH WE WILL HAVE AN EASTERLY WIND SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OFF THE SFC...A BOUNDARY LAYER NORTHERLY WIND WILL CONTINUE TO RAW FEEL TO THE DAY SUNDAY. HIGHS SUNDAY WILL REMAIN IN THE 40S WEST OF THE SFC TROUGH...WHILE ALONG I-81 EASTWARD HIGHS WILL LIKELY AVERAGE 50F. SUNDAY NIGHT WE WILL DROP BACK INTO THE 30S ACROSS WNY...AND MID 40S TO THE EAST WHERE WARMER AIR CONTINUES TO PUSH WESTWARD FROM THE ATLANTIC. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT SOME WET HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFLAKES ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. DISCUSSION ON SANDY... FIRST A LOOK AT THE MAJOR FEATURES FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. HURRICANE SANDY IS CURRENTLY SPINNING ON A NORTH TO NORTHEAST TRACK NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND OFF THE FLORIDA COASTLINE THIS MORNING. ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY A SHORT WAVE IS FOUND OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA...AND THIS FEATURE WILL CARVE A DEEPER CENTRAL US TROUGH THAT WILL SLIDE EASTWARD...BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED AND CAPTURE SANDY. TO OUR EAST A +2SD RIDGE AT 500 HPA IS LOCATED ACROSS EASTERN ATLANTIC CANADA AND TOWARDS GREENLAND. THIS RIDGE OVER GREENLAND SUPPORTS THE NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO...AND A NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO CAN ELUDE TO A BLOCKING PATTERN. THIS BLOCKING PATTERN IS WHAT WILL ALLOW THE TROUGH TO OUR WEST TO CAPTURE AND TURN SANDY WESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN COASTLINE. THE DETERMINISTIC 27/00Z MODEL OF THE ECMWF CONTINUES TO DRIVE SANDY INTO THE DELMARVA PENINSULA MONDAY...WHILE THE DETERMINISTIC 26/00Z GFS PUSHES SANDY WESTWARD ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORELINE OF LONG ISLAND THROUGH THE COURSE OF TUESDAY. THE GEFS MEMBERS SPREAD FROM NEAR THE EUROPEAN SOLUTION...WHILE SOME MEMBERS BRING SANDY MUCH FARTHER NORTHWARD MAKING LANDFALL IN NEW ENGLAND. THAT SAID WE ARE FAIRLY CERTAIN SANDY WILL MAKE LANDFALL SOMETIME EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH IMPLICATIONS NOW LEANING TOWARDS A PROLONGED RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RIVER AND URBAN FLOODING AND POSSIBLE HIGH WIND THREAT. IT IS STILL TO EARLY AND TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY FOR ANY HEADLINES...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION THE THREATS IN OUR HWO PRODUCT AS WELL AS HERE BELOW IN THE AFD. RAIN AND FLOODING...BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS LINGER A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS WNY...AND MOISTURE SURGING WESTWARD TOWARDS THIS FRONT COULD LEAD TO A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN BEGINNING AS EARLY AS MONDAY...WITH THE FOCUS OF HEAVY RAIN ACROSS WNY. AS SANDY MOVES INLAND WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL PERIODS OF RAIN IN THE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN LIKELY MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH TUESDAY. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL IN THE GRIDS. IT IS STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO FOCUS WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL...AND HOW MUCH BUT SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED. A LOOK AT THE GEFS MODEL ENSEMBLE RIVER FORECASTS SHOWS THAT SOME OF OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK AND THE GENESEE VALLEY WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED FOR RIVER HEIGHT RISES. A FEW MEMBERS OF THIS ENSEMBLE DO BRING SEVERAL OF OUR CREEKS...BOTH QUICK AND SLOW RISERS INTO MINOR FLOODING IN THE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY TIMEFRAME. WITH RAINFALL SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST AROUND AN INCH OR SO ABOVE NORMAL...AND COMBINED WITH THE WEEKEND RAIN...OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS THAT WERE PRETTY LOW OVER THE SUMMER HAVE LARGELY RECOVERED FROM THEIR LOW FLOW. THIS INCREASE IN RIVER FLOW THIS AUTUMN WILL ONLY INCREASE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ANY RIVER FLOODING NEXT WEEK...AS WELL AS SMALL CREEKS. THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. THOUGH WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINFALL...THIS WILL OCCUR OVER A SEVERAL DAY TIME PERIOD POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE GROUND TO HANDLE SUCH HIGH RAINFALLS. WIND...THE SECOND BIG CONCERN WITH SANDY FOR OUR AREA WILL BE WIND. AS SANDY PUSHES INLAND AND NEARS OUR REGION AN INCREASE IN WIND SPEED...LIKELY A NORTH TO NORTHEAST WIND... IS EXPECTED. AGAIN MODELS WILL LIKELY FLUCTUATE ON WIND SPEED AND PLACEMENT OF PEAK GUSTS WITH THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM AND PINPOINTING SPEEDS AT THIS TIME IS UNCERTAIN. THE HIGHEST WINDS SPEEDS WILL LIKELY COME MONDAY NIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY BASED OFF BOTH THE CURRENT MODEL RUNS OF THE 27/00Z ECMWF AND GFS. WITH THIS WIND DIRECTION THE AREA MOST LIKELY IMPACTED BY THE WINDS WILL BE LAKE ONTARIO AND ITS SOUTHERN SHORELINES. PAST TROPICAL OR DEEP SURFACE LOW EVENTS HAVE SHOWN EVEN SUBWARNING WIND SPEEDS CAN FALL TREES AS THE NORTHEAST WIND DIRECTION IS NOT A COMMON HIGH SPEED DIRECTION FOR OUR REGION. SNOW...THIS IMPACT IS BECOMING LESS LIKELY AS WARM AIR WRAPPING ACROSS OUR REGION WILL LEAVE THE BOUNDARY LAYER TOO WARM TO SUPPORT SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL COOL SOME AT NIGHT AND THERE IS STILL A CHC FOR HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW MONDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST FOR UPDATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WE CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE THE DETAILS. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... THIS TIME PERIOD WILL START WITH THE DECAYING REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY IN THE PERIOD...TRANSITIONING TO POSSIBLE SNOW BY THE END OF THE WEEK. WEDNESDAY THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUICKLY FILLING...THOUGH STILL DEEP. POSITION OF WHERE THE LOW WILL BE IS STILL UNCERTAIN WITH THE 27/00Z ECMWF LINGERING THE LOW NEAR THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...WHILE THE 27/00Z GFS BRINGS THE LOW FARTHEST INLAND TO NEAR LAKE ERIE. A CONSENSUS OF THESE TWO MODELS MATCHES CLOSELY WITH THE NHC TRACK WHICH PLACES THE LOW OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. WILL CONTINUE WITH LIKELY POPS ON WEDNESDAY FOR SHOWERS AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FILL AND LOW LEVEL OMEGA DISPLAYS LITTLE UPWARD MOTION. QPF WEDNESDAY WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM HALF AN INCH OR LESS. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL REMAIN CUT OFF FROM THE MAIN JET STREAM...ALLOWING THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY TO SLOWLY SPIRAL NORTHEASTWARD. THIS WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL PROLONGED PERIOD OF SHOWERS. BY FRIDAY A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE BARRELING TOWARDS THE ROCKIES FORCING A DOWNSTREAM UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS. THIS RIDGE WILL NUDGE THE UPPER LEVEL CUTOFF LOW EASTWARD WITH A COOL NORTHWESTERLY FLOW THEN REACHING THE CWA. TEMPERATURES AT 850 HPA DROP TO -1 TO -2C WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME LAKE ENHANCED RAIN AND OR SNOW SHOWERS ON FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES THIS THREE DAY TIME PERIOD WILL RUN IN THE 40S BY DAY...AND 40S TO SOUTHERN TIER INLAND VALLEYS 30S BY NIGHT. && .AVIATION /15Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A STALLED SURFACE FRONT WILL REMAIN ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK...AND EAST OF THE TAF SITES. MEANWHILE...A TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WILL SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR RAIN. BOTH OF THESE WILL MOVE VERY LITTLE...EVER SO GRADUALLY SLIDING EAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PERSISTENT AND MOIST NNE FLOW ACROSS THE REGION...WHICH TENDS TO BE FAIRLY FAVORABLE FOR LOW CIGS THIS TIME OF YEAR. 12Z CONDITIONS WERE MAINLY IFR...WITH FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL PERSIST FOR MUCH OF TODAY AND TONIGHT. OUTLOOK... SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...PERIODS OF RAIN WITH ASSOCIATED IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS. && .MARINE... A COLD FRONT STALL OVER EASTERN NEW YORK TODAY. A NORTHERLY FLOW OF NOTICEABLY COLDER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN SCA CONDITIONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF BOTH LAKES THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS AN INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR STRONGER WINDS EARLY NEXT WEEK AS SANDY INTERACTS WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROF ACROSS THE EASTERN LAKES EARLY NEXT WEEK. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE STORM IS UNCERTAIN...IT DOES APPEARS THE STRONGEST WINDS ON BOTH LAKES WILL LIKELY OCCUR LATE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS GALE OR STORM FORCE WINDS ARE A POSSIBILITY DURING THIS PERIOD. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LEZ041. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LEZ040. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LOZ042>044. && $$ SYNOPSIS...APFFEL/HITCHCOCK NEAR TERM...APFFEL/HITCHCOCK SHORT TERM...THOMAS LONG TERM...THOMAS AVIATION...APFFEL MARINE...APFFEL/THOMAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BUFFALO NY
726 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL ACROSS NEW YORK...WITH PERIODS OF RAIN AND COOL TEMPERATURES ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE REMNANTS OF SANDY WILL APPROACH THE REGION NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF RAIN WINDY CONDITIONS EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK TODAY. THIS KEEP ALL OR MOST OF OUR CWA ON THE COOL SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY. THE FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TONIGHT...POSSIBLY MEANDERING JUST A BIT TO THE EAST...BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WILL BE STATIONARY. DESPITE THE POSITION OF THE FRONT...IT IS A TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT WHICH SERVES AS THE MAIN FOCUS FOR RAIN. THIS FOCUS IS TO THE WEST OF THE SURFACE FRONT...ACROSS EASTERN PORTIONS OF LAKE ERIE AND THE NIAGARA FRONTIER AT DAYBREAK. A CONSENSUS OF THE 00Z NAM/RGEM/SREF/GFS GUIDANCE GRADUALLY SHIFT THIS AXIS TO THE EAST TODAY...WHICH IS A BIT MORE MOVEMENT THAN THE SURFACE FRONT. RECENT RUNS OF THE HRRR AND RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST A SLIGHTLY SLOWER PROGRESSION THAN THIS MODEL CONSENSUS...BUT THE TREND SHOULD BE FINE. PROVIDING SECONDARY SUPPORT TO THIS BOUNDARY IS DIVERGENCE ALOFT IN THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT OF THE UPPER JET. WITH LITTLE FLOW PERPENDICULAR TO TEMPERATURE GRADIENT...THE COMBINATION OF THESE FEATURES WILL ONLY PRODUCE A BAND OF LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE RAIN. RAIN WILL LARGELY REMAIN WEST OF ROCHESTER THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS TODAY...GRADUALLY SHIFTING EAST TOWARD WATERTOWN AND SYRACUSE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE BAND WILL STALL...OR EVEN DRIFT BACK WESTWARD TOWARD DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING. DESPITE THE MODEST RAINFALL RATES...THE PERSISTENCE OF THE BAND WILL PRODUCE SOME DECENT 24 HOUR RAIN TOTALS. MODEL CONSENSUS SUGGESTS BETWEEN .50 INCHES AND 1.00 INCHES WEST OF ROCHESTER...QUICKLY TAPERING DOWN TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OR LESS IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. ITS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT...AND NOT TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY. THERE ALSO VIRTUALLY TO NO THREAT FOR FLOODING THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...AS IT WILL BE A JUST A SOAKING RAINFALL DUE TO THIS FRONT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NOTABLY COOLER TODAY...WITH MOST OF THE REGION ON THE COLD SIDE OF THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE ARE COMING OFF OF TWO UNSEASONABLY WARM DAYS. GIVEN THE SHALLOW COOL AIR AT THE SURFACE...EXPECT MOST TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE IS A BIT TOO WARM IN WESTERN SECTIONS...WHERE IT WILL BE RAINING MOST OF THE DAY. A BLEND OF THE BIAS CORRECTED SREF AND RGEM WAS USED FOR MOST OF THE TEMPERATURES...BOTH OF WHICH WERE ON THE COOL SIDE EAST OF THE FRONT FOR HIGHS TODAY. TEMPERATURES MAY NOT EVEN TOP 50 DEGREES WEST OF ROCHESTER...WITH HIGHS WARMING TO THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S EAST. EXPECT PATCHY FOG TO PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD...MAINLY ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... THE FOCUS THIS TIME PERIOD WILL FOCUS ON SANDY AND ITS IMPACTS UPON NOT ONLY WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK...BUT ALONG THE ENTIRE EASTERN COASTLINE. FIRST...BEFORE WE GET TO SANDY ON MONDAY LETS LOOK AT SUNDAY. AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL BE FOUND NUDGING NORTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN NEW YORK...WITH A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS TROUGH. ALOFT AN EASTERLY WIND...OR WARM CONVEYOR BELT WILL TRANSPORT MOISTURE WESTWARD...WITH PWATS RISING TO +1 TO +2SD ABOVE NORMAL. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL AGAIN FOCUS A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE CWA...WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN 120 KNOT 250 HPA JET OVER WNY SUPPLYING ADDITIONAL SYNOPTIC LIFT. IT IS UNDER THIS JET ENTRANCE REGION WHERE THE RAIN MIGHT BECOME MODERATE AT TIMES. WILL PAINT THE HIGHEST QPF ACROSS WNY FOR SUNDAY-SUNDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY NIGHT MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM WESTWARD ACROSS THE CWA AHEAD OF SANDY. A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN WILL AT FIRST FOCUS ACROSS WNY NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THEN LATER MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD OF SANDY...INTERACTING WITH THE NEARING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MAY BRING SOME RAIN LATE SNEAKING INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK. AS FOR QPF SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT A RANGE OF JUST A FEW TENTH OF AN INCH TOWARDS FAR EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA...AND UPWARDS TO AN INCH ACROSS FAR WNY IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND UPPER LEVEL JET ENTRANCE REGION. THOUGH WE WILL HAVE AN EASTERLY WIND SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OFF THE SFC...A BOUNDARY LAYER NORTHERLY WIND WILL CONTINUE TO RAW FEEL TO THE DAY SUNDAY. HIGHS SUNDAY WILL REMAIN IN THE 40S WEST OF THE SFC TROUGH...WHILE ALONG I-81 EASTWARD HIGHS WILL LIKELY AVERAGE 50F. SUNDAY NIGHT WE WILL DROP BACK INTO THE 30S ACROSS WNY...AND MID 40S TO THE EAST WHERE WARMER AIR CONTINUES TO PUSH WESTWARD FROM THE ATLANTIC. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT SOME WET HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFLAKES ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. DISCUSSION ON SANDY... FIRST A LOOK AT THE MAJOR FEATURES FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. HURRICANE SANDY IS CURRENTLY SPINNING ON A NORTH TO NORTHEAST TRACK NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND OFF THE FLORIDA COASTLINE THIS MORNING. ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY A SHORT WAVE IS FOUND OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA...AND THIS FEATURE WILL CARVE A DEEPER CENTRAL US TROUGH THAT WILL SLIDE EASTWARD...BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED AND CAPTURE SANDY. TO OUR EAST A +2SD RIDGE AT 500 HPA IS LOCATED ACROSS EASTERN ATLANTIC CANADA AND TOWARDS GREENLAND. THIS RIDGE OVER GREENLAND SUPPORTS THE NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO...AND A NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO CAN ELUDE TO A BLOCKING PATTERN. THIS BLOCKING PATTERN IS WHAT WILL ALLOW THE TROUGH TO OUR WEST TO CAPTURE AND TURN SANDY WESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN COASTLINE. THE DETERMINISTIC 27/00Z MODEL OF THE ECMWF CONTINUES TO DRIVE SANDY INTO THE DELMARVA PENINSULA MONDAY...WHILE THE DETERMINISTIC 26/00Z GFS PUSHES SANDY WESTWARD ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORELINE OF LONG ISLAND THROUGH THE COURSE OF TUESDAY. THE GEFS MEMBERS SPREAD FROM NEAR THE EUROPEAN SOLUTION...WHILE SOME MEMBERS BRING SANDY MUCH FARTHER NORTHWARD MAKING LANDFALL IN NEW ENGLAND. THAT SAID WE ARE FAIRLY CERTAIN SANDY WILL MAKE LANDFALL SOMETIME EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH IMPLICATIONS NOW LEANING TOWARDS A PROLONGED RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RIVER AND URBAN FLOODING AND POSSIBLE HIGH WIND THREAT. IT IS STILL TO EARLY AND TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY FOR ANY HEADLINES...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION THE THREATS IN OUR HWO PRODUCT AS WELL AS HERE BELOW IN THE AFD. RAIN AND FLOODING...BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS LINGER A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS WNY...AND MOISTURE SURGING WESTWARD TOWARDS THIS FRONT COULD LEAD TO A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN BEGINNING AS EARLY AS MONDAY...WITH THE FOCUS OF HEAVY RAIN ACROSS WNY. AS SANDY MOVES INLAND WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL PERIODS OF RAIN IN THE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN LIKELY MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH TUESDAY. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL IN THE GRIDS. IT IS STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO FOCUS WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL...AND HOW MUCH BUT SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED. A LOOK AT THE GEFS MODEL ENSEMBLE RIVER FORECASTS SHOWS THAT SOME OF OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK AND THE GENESEE VALLEY WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED FOR RIVER HEIGHT RISES. A FEW MEMBERS OF THIS ENSEMBLE DO BRING SEVERAL OF OUR CREEKS...BOTH QUICK AND SLOW RISERS INTO MINOR FLOODING IN THE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY TIMEFRAME. WITH RAINFALL SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST AROUND AN INCH OR SO ABOVE NORMAL...AND COMBINED WITH THE WEEKEND RAIN...OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS THAT WERE PRETTY LOW OVER THE SUMMER HAVE LARGELY RECOVERED FROM THEIR LOW FLOW. THIS INCREASE IN RIVER FLOW THIS AUTUMN WILL ONLY INCREASE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ANY RIVER FLOODING NEXT WEEK...AS WELL AS SMALL CREEKS. THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. THOUGH WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINFALL...THIS WILL OCCUR OVER A SEVERAL DAY TIME PERIOD POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE GROUND TO HANDLE SUCH HIGH RAINFALLS. WIND...THE SECOND BIG CONCERN WITH SANDY FOR OUR AREA WILL BE WIND. AS SANDY PUSHES INLAND AND NEARS OUR REGION AN INCREASE IN WIND SPEED...LIKELY A NORTH TO NORTHEAST WIND... IS EXPECTED. AGAIN MODELS WILL LIKELY FLUCTUATE ON WIND SPEED AND PLACEMENT OF PEAK GUSTS WITH THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM AND PINPOINTING SPEEDS AT THIS TIME IS UNCERTAIN. THE HIGHEST WINDS SPEEDS WILL LIKELY COME MONDAY NIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY BASED OFF BOTH THE CURRENT MODEL RUNS OF THE 27/00Z ECMWF AND GFS. WITH THIS WIND DIRECTION THE AREA MOST LIKELY IMPACTED BY THE WINDS WILL BE LAKE ONTARIO AND ITS SOUTHERN SHORELINES. PAST TROPICAL OR DEEP SURFACE LOW EVENTS HAVE SHOWN EVEN SUBWARNING WIND SPEEDS CAN FALL TREES AS THE NORTHEAST WIND DIRECTION IS NOT A COMMON HIGH SPEED DIRECTION FOR OUR REGION. SNOW...THIS IMPACT IS BECOMING LESS LIKELY AS WARM AIR WRAPPING ACROSS OUR REGION WILL LEAVE THE BOUNDARY LAYER TOO WARM TO SUPPORT SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL COOL SOME AT NIGHT AND THERE IS STILL A CHC FOR HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW MONDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST FOR UPDATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WE CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE THE DETAILS. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... THIS TIME PERIOD WILL START WITH THE DECAYING REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY IN THE PERIOD...TRANSITIONING TO POSSIBLE SNOW BY THE END OF THE WEEK. WEDNESDAY THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUICKLY FILLING...THOUGH STILL DEEP. POSITION OF WHERE THE LOW WILL BE IS STILL UNCERTAIN WITH THE 27/00Z ECMWF LINGERING THE LOW NEAR THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...WHILE THE 27/00Z GFS BRINGS THE LOW FARTHEST INLAND TO NEAR LAKE ERIE. A CONSENSUS OF THESE TWO MODELS MATCHES CLOSELY WITH THE NHC TRACK WHICH PLACES THE LOW OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. WILL CONTINUE WITH LIKELY POPS ON WEDNESDAY FOR SHOWERS AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FILL AND LOW LEVEL OMEGA DISPLAYS LITTLE UPWARD MOTION. QPF WEDNESDAY WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM HALF AN INCH OR LESS. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL REMAIN CUT OFF FROM THE MAIN JET STREAM...ALLOWING THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY TO SLOWLY SPIRAL NORTHEASTWARD. THIS WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL PROLONGED PERIOD OF SHOWERS. BY FRIDAY A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE BARRELING TOWARDS THE ROCKIES FORCING A DOWNSTREAM UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS. THIS RIDGE WILL NUDGE THE UPPER LEVEL CUTOFF LOW EASTWARD WITH A COOL NORTHWESTERLY FLOW THEN REACHING THE CWA. TEMPERATURES AT 850 HPA DROP TO -1 TO -2C WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME LAKE ENHANCED RAIN AND OR SNOW SHOWERS ON FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES THIS THREE DAY TIME PERIOD WILL RUN IN THE 40S BY DAY...AND 40S TO SOUTHERN TIER INLAND VALLEYS 30S BY NIGHT. && .AVIATION /12Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A STALLED SURFACE FRONT WILL REMAIN ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK...AND EAST OF THE TAF SITES. MEANWHILE...A TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT WHICH IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT WILL SERVE AS THE FOCUS FOR RAIN. BOTH OF THESE WILL MOVE VERY LITTLE...EVER SO GRADUALLY SLIDING EAST TODAY AND TONIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PERSISTENT AND MOIST NNE FLOW ACROSS THE REGION...WHICH TENDS TO BE FAIRLY FAVORABLE FOR LOW CIGS THIS TIME OF YEAR. 12Z CONDITIONS WERE MAINLY IFR...WITH FAIRLY HIGH CONFIDENCE THAT THIS WILL PERSIST FOR MUCH OF TODAY AND TONIGHT. OUTLOOK... SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...PERIODS OF RAIN WITH ASSOCIATED IFR/MVFR CONDITIONS. && .MARINE... A COLD FRONT STALL OVER EASTERN NEW YORK TODAY. A NORTHERLY FLOW OF NOTICEABLY COLDER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN SCA CONDITIONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF BOTH LAKES THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS AN INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR STRONGER WINDS EARLY NEXT WEEK AS SANDY INTERACTS WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROF ACROSS THE EASTERN LAKES EARLY NEXT WEEK. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE STORM IS UNCERTAIN...IT DOES APPEARS THE STRONGEST WINDS ON BOTH LAKES WILL LIKELY OCCUR ON MONDAY AND TUESDAY. MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS GALES OR STORM FORCE WINDS ARE A POSSIBILITY DURING THIS PERIOD. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LEZ041. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LEZ040. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LOZ042>044. && $$ SYNOPSIS...APFFEL NEAR TERM...APFFEL SHORT TERM...THOMAS LONG TERM...THOMAS AVIATION...APFFEL MARINE...APFFEL/THOMAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON WV
1029 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT OOZES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS TODAY. SANDY COMBINES WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE AREA SUNDAY THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...WITH WIND AND PROLONGED PRECIPITATION. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 1000AM UPDATE... JUST A FEW CHGS WITH MORNING UPDATE. SFC FRONT APPEARS TO BE HUNG UP IN MTNS WITH H85 BOUNDARY LAGGING WELL BEHIND...INTO E OH. SFC FRONT WILL BECOME HARDER TO FIND AS DAY WEARS ON AS OUTFLOW FROM SANDY BEGIN TO OVERWHELM THE FLOW. EVEN H85 FRONT WILL EVENTUALLY SUFFER THE SAME FATE. AREA OF POST SFC FRONTAL SHRA CONT IN SE OH AND WESTERN LOWLANDS THIS MORNING...AIDED BY DEFORMATION AXIS WITH UPR FRONT. THIS WILL SLOWLY SLIDE INTO CENTRAL LOWLANDS TDY BEFORE PERHAPS RETREATING SOME BACK TOWARD OH RVR/SE OH THIS EVE. TWEAKED POPS TO REFLECT CURRENT RADAR TRENDS THIS MORNING. MAYBE SOME PATCHY DZ AS THIS WORKS IN...BUT STUCK WITH -SHRA AS PREDOMINATE WX. LOW CIGS AND TMPS SLOWLY FALLING INTO UPR 40S ACROSS THE LOWLANDS...WITH THE MTNS FALL THRU THEIR WARM MID/UPR 50S CURRENTLY INTO UPR 40S/LWR 50S THIS EVE. DREARY DAY FOR ALL. PREV DISCN... EARLY THIS MORNING FINDS A S/W TROUGH OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DRIVING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA...AND ADDITIONAL SHORT WAVE ENERGY DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS BEHIND A L/R MIDWEST TROUGH...ALL WHILE SANDY IS MOVING SLOWLY N...OUT E OF NORTHERN FL AND N OF THE BAHAMAS. THE KEY TO THE NEXT 27 HOURS IS THE S/W ROTATION THROUGH THE L/R TROUGH. THE OHIO VALLEY SHORT LIFTS THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES TODAY AND THEN INTO EASTERN CANADA TONIGHT. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT NEARING THE WV MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS MORNING SLOWLY OOZES THROUGH THERE TODAY...AND THEN ACTUALLY GETS ABSORBED INTO THE CIRCULATION OF SANDY LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRECIPITATION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT MAKES VERY SLOW EWD PROGRESS...BARELY MAKING IT ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER TODAY. COVERAGE SHOULD ACTUALLY DIMINISH IN PLACE AS THE FORCING LIFTS OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...THE ADDITIONAL S/W ENERGY ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE L/R...ESSENTIALLY A SPEED MAX...CARVES OUT A SHARP...NEGATIVE TILT S/W AS IT ROUNDS THE BASE OF THE L/R. ITS FORCING INCREASES RAINFALL COVERAGE OVERNIGHT IN A BAND EITHER SIDE OF THE OHIO RIVER BENEATH A DEFORMATION AXIS FORMING THERE. ALSO ADDED DRIZZLE TO THE FORECAST WITH THE PREPONDERANCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE CONVERGENT LOW LEVEL FLOW. BLENDED IN HRRR EARLY ON...THEN NAM12 TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS TO BETTER DEPICT THE EVOLUTION OF THE RESPECTIVE GRADIENTS OVER THE AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MOVING TO THE E. GENERALLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 00Z MODELS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A STALLED AREA OF PRECIP ALONG THE OHIO RIVER TO START THE SHORT TERM...AND THEN SLOWLY MERGE THIS INTO THE OVERALL PRECIP SHIELD OF SANDY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...WITH THE HIGHEST POPS SLIDING INTO THE EASTERN CWA AS SANDY MAKES LANDFALL. STILL SOME DIFFERENCES IN EXACT LAND FALL...WITH GFS/NAM SHOWING A CENTRAL/NORTHERN NJ ENTRY POINT...AND THE ECMWF A BIT SOUTH IN DELMARVA. NO MATTER THE EXACT LANDFALL...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN A HIGH PRECIP/HIGH WIND FORECAST...WITH THE GREATEST IMPACTS IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN WHERE ACCUMULATING UPSLOPE-ENHANCED SNOW AND 40+ KT WIND GUSTS COULD CREATE QUITE THE WINTER STORM WITH DRIFTING AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW. INHERITED THE WINTER STORM WATCH...AND AFTER REWORKING THE SNOW GRIDS DID NOT FEEL CHANGES TO THE HEADLINE WHERE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. TEMPERATURE ADVECTION...AND ULTIMATELY WHERE THE BEST TEMP PROFILE FOR SNOW SETS UP...IS KIND OF TRICKY WITH THIS WRAPPED UP SYSTEM. WILL LIKELY SEE WAA COMING IN ON NORTH WINDS FOR A TIME...AND THEN POSSIBLY SOME CAA COMING WITH MORE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS TOWARDS THE END OF THE SHORT TERM. AM NOT REAL CONFIDENT THAT THE MODELS HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON JUST WHERE THE COLDEST MIDLEVEL AIR WILL BE...OR EVEN HOW COLD IT WILL BE. 00Z GFS/NAM AGREE ON -4C TO -5C 850 TEMPS BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE 00Z ECMWF IS WARMER WITH -1C TO -2C. THE GFS/NAM WOULD HINT TOWARDS SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE THE EURO KEEPS IT MORE IN THE MOUNTAINS. WENT WITH A COMPROMISE...WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS...AND A RAIN/SNOW MIX CLOSER TO THE OHIO RIVER. EVEN WITH SOME FLAKES FALLING ACROSS THE LOWLANDS...THINK WITH THE WARM GROUND ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE TOUGH TO COME BY. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN FOR THIS PERIOD OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO REVOLVE AROUND SANDY/S TRACK AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR THE NORTHEAST CONUS IN GENERAL...AND SPECIFICALLY POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR OUR FORECAST AREA. WITH REGARD TO WHERE SANDY/S LANDFALL...NHC/S TRACK HAS SHIFTED SOUTHWARD AND NOW BRINGS THE CENTER ASHORE OVER THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. WITH THE STORM STILL BEING FOUR DAYS AWAY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OBVIOUSLY STILL EXIST WITH HOW EXT GUIDANCE HANDLES SANDY/S TRACK. TO SOME EXTENT EVEN GREATER UNCERTAINTY EXISTS WITH HOW SANDY/S POST-TROPICAL EVOLUTION TAKES PLACE WITH STRONG COLD AIR INTRUSION OUT OF THE NORTHWEST...AND THIS WILL HAVE MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS AS TO THE SNOW/ICE IMPACTS OUR FORECAST AREA EXPERIENCES AND TO A LESSER EXTENT WIND SPEEDS. BREAKING DOWN THE SIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXT MODELS AND STARTING WITH THE 00Z EC...SANDY/S CENTER COMES ASHORE OVER DELMARVA AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY MOVES TOWARDS THE EASTERN PANHANDLE WV AREA BY 12Z TUE. THE SFC CENTER FILLS RAPIDLY BY TUESDAY MORNING AS WELL WITH A SFC PRESS OF 982MB BY SAME TIME WITH WARM ADVECTION WRAPPING AROUND THE BACKSIDE. THIS SCENARIO WOULD LIKELY MEAN MUCH HIGHER PRECIP AMOUNTS FOR THE OVERALL AREA BUT WOULD ALSO MEAN A LESSER LIKELIHOOD OF ACCUM SNOWFALL FOR LOWER ELEVATIONS AS THE 540DAM THICKNESS HEIGHT LINE REMAINS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF OUR FORECAST AREA. HIGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS BECOME THE BIGGER ISSUE WITH THIS SCENARIO FOR LOWLANDS WITH A GENERAL 2-4 INCHES OF QPF DEPICTED WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE THE 12Z GFS CONTINUES TO BRING SANDY/S CENTER ASHORE NEAR NYC TUES AFTERNOON WITH A SW RETROGRADE NEAR PHILLY BY TUE EVE...BEFORE KICKING IT OUT TO THE N/NW WEDNESDAY. THIS SCENARIO BRINGS A LONGER WIND EVENT CONTINUING WELL INTO TUE WITH THE SFC LOW FARTHER AWAY. THIS SCENARIO ALSO ALLOWS COLDER AIR INTO THE AREA...WITH THE 540DAM LINE COMPLETELY ENCOMPASSING AND WELL SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. THIS SCENARIO WOULD SPELL SNOWFALL FOR LOWLAND LOCATIONS AS WELL. EVEN SO...WITH WARM SFC TEMPS FROM A WEEK OF VERY WARM WEATHER IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE SNOW BEGINS TO ACCUM ON ROADWAYS. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND...WILL SIDE THE FORECAST TOWARDS THE EC WHICH IS MUCH CLOSER TO NHC/S CURRENT TRACK AND THUS WILL LEAN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM IN THIS DIRECTION AS WELL. EITHER WAY...THOUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT IS STILL 2-3 DAYS OUT CONFIDENCE IS GROWING WITH A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EVENT FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY...PARTICULARLY FOR THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS SUCH AS SNOWSHOE. IN COORDINATION WITH THE SHORT TERM FORECASTER...WILL KEEP WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THESE AREAS GOING THROUGH 00Z WED WITH THE LONG DURATION POTENTIAL. ACROSS THE LOWLANDS AMOUNTS GENERALLY UNDER TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED FOR WV ZONES...WITH MUCH OF IT COMING DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH PRIMARILY RAIN DURING THE DAY. LITTLE SNOW SHOULD ACCUMULATE ON ROAD SURFACES WITH SUCH VERY WARM TEMPS IN PLACE THIS WEEK. HAVE ALSO LOWERED MAX TEMPS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. AGAIN...STILL A GOOD DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FINAL TRACK AND ANY SHIFT NORTH OR SOUTH COULD MAKE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN RAIN/SNOW AMOUNTS RECEIVED AND WHERE...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ALONG WITH WINDS. && .AVIATION /15Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... MVFR CIGS OOZING E ACROSS AREA TODAY WILL THEN HANG AROUND THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THE PERIOD...WITH OCCASIONAL IFR CIGS. RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE MOST PREVALENT NEAR THE OHIO RIVER...WITH MVFR VSBY AT TIMES THERE. SURFACE FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS FIRST THING THIS MORNING...WITH LIGHT SE FLOW AHEAD OF IT. OTHERWISE LIGHT N TO NW SURFACE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL FRESHEN A BIT TODAY AND THEN REMAIN NEAR 10 KTS MOST LOCALES TONIGHT...A BIT GUSTY ON THE RIDGES. FRONT ALOFT WILL ENTER WESTERN WV THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN STALL THERE. LIGHT N TO NE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE MODERATE N TO NE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT ALOFT...LIGHT S FLOW TODAY WILL BECOME LIGHT E TO NE LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM HIGH. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: TIMING...PERSISTENCE AND EXTENT OF IFR CIGS AND MVFR VSBYS MAY VARY. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. UTC 1HRLY 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 00 01 EDT 1HRLY 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 CRW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY M M H H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY M M M M M M H H H H L L PKB CONSISTENCY M H H H H H H H H H H H CKB CONSISTENCY M M M M M M H H H H H H AFTER 12Z SUNDAY... IFR POSSIBLE IN RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WITH REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY NEXT WEEK. RAIN WILL BE THE DOMINANT PRECIPITATION TYPE OVER THE LOW TERRAIN...WITH SNOW PREDOMINANT ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN. THE PRECIPITATION WILL TEND TO BE MORE IN THE FORM OF RAIN DURING THE DAY...WHEN MOST OF WHAT IS SNOW IS WET SNOW. FOR THE OTHERWISE RAIN DOMINATED LOWLANDS...WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE AT NT. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ038-046-047. OH...NONE. KY...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TRM NEAR TERM...TRM/30 SHORT TERM...MZ LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...TRM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CLEVELAND OH
1003 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... WEAK HIGH PRESSURE WILL PUSH INTO WESTERN OHIO TODAY. THE HIGH WILL LOOSE ITS INFLUENCE AFTER TONIGHT HOWEVER AS HURRICANE SANDY MOVES UP THE EAST COAST AND BEGINS TO DOMINATE THE WEATHER ACROSS THE ENTIRE REGION FOR MUCH OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... CURRENT FORECAST IS ON TRACK WITH ONLY MINOR CHANGES PLANNED. CLEARING IS NEAR TOL WITH LITTLE MOVEMENT. RAIN CONTINUES TO STREAM NORTHEAST WITH A SLIGHT EASTWARD MOVEMENT OF THE WESTERN EDGE FROM THE ISLANDS TO JUST WEST OF MNN. HRRR MOVES THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE PCPN TO NEAR I-71 BY EARLY AFTERNOON WHICH SEEMS REASONABLE. RAIN AND CLOUD COVER WILL INHIBIT MUCH WARMING SO WILL LOWER TEMPERATURES A FEW DEGREES IN THE EASTERN AND CENTRAL COUNTIES. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... FOLLOWED THE NAM12 TRENDS THROUGH MUCH OF THE SHORT TERM. OVERNIGHT NAM SHOWS DRY AIR CONTINUING ACROSS WESTERN COUNTIES WHILE DEEP MOISTURE RETURNS FROM THE EAST ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF. WILL MAINTAIN CAT POPS EAST OF ROUGHLY AN ASHTABULA TO CANTON LINE. SUNDAY THE HIGH TO OUR WEST WILL CONTINUE TO WEAKEN ALLOWING DEEP MOISTURE TO CONTINUE TO SHIFT WEST ACROSS THE REGION AS SANDY MAKES ITS WAY NORTH OFF THE EAST COAST. THIS TREND WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE SHORT TERM WITH MOISTURE EVENTUALLY SPREADING WEST OVER TOL TO FDY ON MONDAY. GREATEST POTENTIAL FOR RAIN WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE EAST HALF OF THE AREA THROUGH THE PERIOD WITH 4-5 INCHES INDICATED BY HPC THROUGH THE NEXT 5 DAYS. PRECIP AMOUNTS DROP OFF QUICKLY WEST. ALSO...WHILE NIGHTTIME TEMPS DROP OFF INTO THE 30S THROUGH THE SHORT TERM...TEMPS ALOFT STILL TOO WARM FOR SNOW AT LEAST ON CURRENT MODEL RUNS. CURRENTLY THE AREA IS NOT OUTLOOKED FOR FLOOD POTENTIAL NEXT 3 DAYS SO NO FLOOD WATCH WOULD BE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. OTHER ISSUE WOULD BE POTENTIAL FOR HIGH WINDS. AGAIN...TOO EARLY FOR HEADLINES BUT MODELS TAKE THE REMNANTS OF SANDY INTO PA MONDAY NIGHT REACHING NWRN PA TUESDAY AFTERNOON. 09Z-12Z TUESDAY 850MB WINDS ARE FORECAST 60 TO 80 KNOTS DEPENDING ON MODEL AND LOCATION WITH NUMERICAL GUIDANCE SUPPORTING WIND HEADLINES ON LAND AND WATER WITH HIGHEST WINDS MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY. OF COURSE...NEAR THE CENTER OF THE CIRCULATION...WINDS WOULD BE MUCH LESS. ALL WILL DEPEND ON THE PATH OF SANDY WHICH OF COURSE IS NOT SET IN STONE JUST YET. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... BY WEDNESDAY THE WEATHER ACROSS THE AREA WILL BE MAINLY DRIVEN BY WHAT IS LEFT OF HURRICANE SANDY AFTER IT MERGES WITH THE UPPER TROUGH...WITH IS LOCATIONS EXPECTED TO BE SOMEWHERE OVER THE INTERIOR MID ATLANTIC REGION TO NEW YORK STATE. WHILE THERE IS STILL QUESTION AS TO THE EXACT TRACK OF THIS STORM...THE CYCLONIC FLOW ACROSS THE AREA COMBINED WITH COLD TEMPS ALOFT WOULD AT LEAST ALLOW FOR LAKE EFFECT/ENHANCED SHOWERS. ANY ADDITIONAL PRECIP WRAPPING AROUND THE MAIN LOW WILL ONLY ADD TO PRECIP VALUES. WITH THAT CONTINUED WITH LIKELY POPS ACROSS MUCH OF THE EASTERN HALF OF THE AREA THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD WITH CHANCES ACROSS THE WEST. AS THE LOW BEGINS TO MOVE OFF TO THE NORTHEAST LATE IN THE WEEK WINDS SHIFTING W OR SW WITH CONTINUED COLDER AIR ALOFT AND PLENTY OF MOISTURE WOULD ALLOW FOR LAKE EFFECT SHOWERS TO CONTINUE FOR NE OH/NW PA...WHILE THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA WILL SEE A DRYING TREND. AS FOR TEMPS MADE ONLY SMALL CHANGES. GIVEN THE SITUATION WITH PLENTY OF CLOUDS AND SHOWERS...LEANED MORE TOWARD LOW DIURNAL WITH TEMPS. WHILE HIGHS WILL REMAIN COOL THROUGH THE PERIOD DID NOT DROP LOW TEMPS AS MUCH OF SOME GUIDANCE SHOWING WITH LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 30S. && .AVIATION /14Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... RAIN CONTINUING ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING WITH WIDESPREAD MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS. SATELLITE AND OBS SHOWING A SHARP CUTOFF TO THE CLOUDS ACROSS NORTHWEST OHIO...WITH VFR CONDITIONS AT TOL BY MID MORNING. WILL TAKE A LITTLE LONGER AT FDY...PERHAPS BY MIDDAY. MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THROUGH AROUND MID AFTERNOON FOR CLE AND MFD WITH IFR AT YNG THROUGH TODAY. ERI WILL SEE VARIABLE MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS THROUGH MUCH OF TODAY. MODELS SHOWING SHARP CLEARING PUSHING INTO THE N CNTRL OH EARLY TONIGHT...BUT THEN BACKING TO THE WEST OVERNIGHT ALLOWING FOR REDEVELOPMENT OF MVFR AND IFR FOR CLE AND MFD...AND CONTINUING FOR SITES TO THE EAST. NORTHERLY WINDS 10-15KT GUSTING AROUND 20KT THROUGH THE PERIOD. .OUTLOOK...NON-VFR NE OH/NW PA SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY. NON- VFR MOST AREAS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. && .MARINE... HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST AND NORTHERN GREAT LAKES WILL REMAIN IN PLACE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. MEANWHILE...HURRICANE SANDY MOVING NORTH ALONG THE EAST COAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND WILL ALLOW FOR NORTHERLY WINDS TO CONTINUE RANGING 15 TO 25 KNOTS THROUGH THE WEEKEND WITH WAVES AT LEAST 4 FEET IN SOME LOCATIONS. LATEST TRACK OF THE HURRICANE ONCE IT MOVES ONSHORE APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHERE INTO EITHER PA OR NEW YORK STATE THROUGH EARLY NEXT WEEK. WHILE THERE IS STILL SEVERAL DAYS TO REFINE THE FORECAST...FEEL INCREASED CONFIDENCE IN THE LIKELIHOOD OF AT LEAST GALES DEVELOPING LATE MONDAY THROUGH AT LEAST TUESDAY. WITH SOME UNCERTAINTY STILL OF THE INTENSITY AND TRACK OF THE LOW THROUGH MIDWEEK NEXT WEEK IT IS UNCLEAR AS TO HOW LONG GALES MAY LINGER...BUT HAVE STRONG CONFIDENCE THAT AT LEAST SMALL CRAFT CONDITIONS WILL OCCUR ON THE LAKE THROUGH THE END OF NEXT WEEK. && .CLE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. PA...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM EDT MONDAY FOR LEZ142>149. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TK NEAR TERM...REL SHORT TERM...TK LONG TERM...ABE AVIATION...ABE MARINE...ABE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHARLESTON WV
617 AM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT OOZES THROUGH THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS TODAY. SANDY COMBINES WITH A STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM TO IMPACT THE AREA SUNDAY THROUGH MUCH OF NEXT WEEK...WITH WIND AND PROLONGED PRECIPITATION. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... 630 AM UPDATE... NO CHANGES ALTHOUGH WHAT WAS A SHARP LEADING EDGE OF RAIN W OF OHIO VALLEY HAS BECOME RAGGED. OVERALL STILL SLOW EWD PROGRESS THOUGH. PREV DISCN... EARLY THIS MORNING FINDS A S/W TROUGH OVER THE OHIO VALLEY DRIVING A COLD FRONT THROUGH THE AREA...AND ADDITIONAL SHORT WAVE ENERGY DIGGING INTO THE PLAINS BEHIND A L/R MIDWEST TROUGH...ALL WHILE SANDY IS MOVING SLOWLY N...OUT E OF NORTHERN FL AND N OF THE BAHAMAS. THE KEY TO THE NEXT 27 HOURS IS THE S/W ROTATION THROUGH THE L/R TROUGH. THE OHIO VALLEY SHORT LIFTS THROUGH THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES TODAY AND THEN INTO EASTERN CANADA TONIGHT. THE SURFACE COLD FRONT NEARING THE WV MOUNTAINS EARLY THIS MORNING SLOWLY OOZES THROUGH THERE TODAY...AND THEN ACTUALLY GETS ABSORBED INTO THE CIRCULATION OF SANDY LATER TODAY AND TONIGHT. THE PRECIPITATION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT MAKES VERY SLOW EWD PROGRESS...BARELY MAKING IT ACROSS THE OHIO RIVER TODAY. COVERAGE SHOULD ACTUALLY DIMINISH IN PLACE AS THE FORCING LIFTS OUT THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OVERNIGHT TONIGHT...THE ADDITIONAL S/W ENERGY ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE L/R...ESSENTIALLY A SPEED MAX...CARVES OUT A SHARP...NEGATIVE TILT S/W AS IT ROUNDS THE BASE OF THE L/R. ITS FORCING INCREASES RAINFALL COVERAGE OVERNIGHT IN A BAND EITHER SIDE OF THE OHIO RIVER BENEATH A DEFORMATION AXIS FORMING THERE. ALSO ADDED DRIZZLE TO THE FORECAST WITH THE PREPONDERANCE OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND UPSLOPE CONVERGENT LOW LEVEL FLOW. BLENDED IN HRRR EARLY ON...THEN NAM12 TEMPERATURES AND DEW POINTS TO BETTER DEPICT THE EVOLUTION OF THE RESPECTIVE GRADIENTS OVER THE AREA ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT MOVING TO THE E. GENERALLY A LITTLE HIGHER THAN PREVIOUS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... 00Z MODELS IN FAIRLY GOOD AGREEMENT WITH A STALLED AREA OF PRECIP ALONG THE OHIO RIVER TO START THE SHORT TERM...AND THEN SLOWLY MERGE THIS INTO THE OVERALL PRECIP SHIELD OF SANDY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY...WITH THE HIGHEST POPS SLIDING INTO THE EASTERN CWA AS SANDY MAKES LANDFALL. STILL SOME DIFFERENCES IN EXACT LAND FALL...WITH GFS/NAM SHOWING A CENTRAL/NORTHERN NJ ENTRY POINT...AND THE ECMWF A BIT SOUTH IN DELMARVA. NO MATTER THE EXACT LANDFALL...CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE IN A HIGH PRECIP/HIGH WIND FORECAST...WITH THE GREATEST IMPACTS IN THE HIGHER TERRAIN WHERE ACCUMULATING UPSLOPE-ENHANCED SNOW AND 40+ KT WIND GUSTS COULD CREATE QUITE THE WINTER STORM WITH DRIFTING AND LOW VISIBILITY IN BLOWING SNOW. INHERITED THE WINTER STORM WATCH...AND AFTER REWORKING THE SNOW GRIDS DID NOT FEEL CHANGES TO THE HEADLINE WHERE NEEDED AT THIS TIME. TEMPERATURE ADVECTION...AND ULTIMATELY WHERE THE BEST TEMP PROFILE FOR SNOW SETS UP...IS KIND OF TRICKY WITH THIS WRAPPED UP SYSTEM. WILL LIKELY SEE WAA COMING IN ON NORTH WINDS FOR A TIME...AND THEN POSSIBLY SOME CAA COMING WITH MORE SOUTHWESTERLY WINDS TOWARDS THE END OF THE SHORT TERM. AM NOT REAL CONFIDENT THAT THE MODELS HAVE A GOOD HANDLE ON JUST WHERE THE COLDEST MIDLEVEL AIR WILL BE...OR EVEN HOW COLD IT WILL BE. 00Z GFS/NAM AGREE ON -4C TO -5C 850 TEMPS BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE 00Z ECMWF IS WARMER WITH -1C TO -2C. THE GFS/NAM WOULD HINT TOWARDS SNOW ACROSS MOST OF THE CWA BY MONDAY NIGHT...WHILE THE EURO KEEPS IT MORE IN THE MOUNTAINS. WENT WITH A COMPROMISE...WITH ACCUMULATING SNOW IN THE MOUNTAINS...AND A RAIN/SNOW MIX CLOSER TO THE OHIO RIVER. EVEN WITH SOME FLAKES FALLING ACROSS THE LOWLANDS...THINK WITH THE WARM GROUND ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE TOUGH TO COME BY. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/... PRIMARY FORECAST CONCERN FOR THIS PERIOD OBVIOUSLY CONTINUES TO REVOLVE AROUND SANDY/S TRACK AND POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR THE NORTHEAST CONUS IN GENERAL...AND SPECIFICALLY POTENTIAL IMPACTS FOR OUR FORECAST AREA. WITH REGARD TO WHERE SANDY/S LANDFALL...NHC/S TRACK HAS SHIFTED SOUTHWARD AND NOW BRINGS THE CENTER ASHORE OVER THE DELMARVA PENINSULA. WITH THE STORM STILL BEING FOUR DAYS AWAY SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES OBVIOUSLY STILL EXIST WITH HOW EXT GUIDANCE HANDLES SANDY/S TRACK. TO SOME EXTENT EVEN GREATER UNCERTAINTY EXISTS WITH HOW SANDY/S POST-TROPICAL EVOLUTION TAKES PLACE WITH STRONG COLD AIR INTRUSION OUT OF THE NORTHWEST...AND THIS WILL HAVE MAJOR RAMIFICATIONS AS TO THE SNOW/ICE IMPACTS OUR FORECAST AREA EXPERIENCES AND TO A LESSER EXTENT WIND SPEEDS. BREAKING DOWN THE SIG DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXT MODELS AND STARTING WITH THE 00Z EC...SANDY/S CENTER COMES ASHORE OVER DELMARVA AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON AND SLOWLY MOVES TOWARDS THE EASTERN PANHANDLE WV AREA BY 12Z TUE. THE SFC CENTER FILLS RAPIDLY BY TUESDAY MORNING AS WELL WITH A SFC PRESS OF 982MB BY SAME TIME WITH WARM ADVECTION WRAPPING AROUND THE BACKSIDE. THIS SCENARIO WOULD LIKELY MEAN MUCH HIGHER PRECIP AMOUNTS FOR THE OVERALL AREA BUT WOULD ALSO MEAN A LESSER LIKELIHOOD OF ACCUM SNOWFALL FOR LOWER ELEVATIONS AS THE 540DAM THICKNESS HEIGHT LINE REMAINS GENERALLY ALONG AND WEST OF OUR FORECAST AREA. HIGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS BECOME THE BIGGER ISSUE WITH THIS SCENARIO FOR LOWLANDS WITH A GENERAL 2-4 INCHES OF QPF DEPICTED WITH HIGHER AMOUNTS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE. MEANWHILE THE 12Z GFS CONTINUES TO BRING SANDY/S CENTER ASHORE NEAR NYC TUES AFTERNOON WITH A SW RETROGRADE NEAR PHILLY BY TUE EVE...BEFORE KICKING IT OUT TO THE N/NW WEDNESDAY. THIS SCENARIO BRINGS A LONGER WIND EVENT CONTINUING WELL INTO TUE WITH THE SFC LOW FARTHER AWAY. THIS SCENARIO ALSO ALLOWS COLDER AIR INTO THE AREA...WITH THE 540DAM LINE COMPLETELY ENCOMPASSING AND WELL SOUTH OF THE FORECAST AREA. THIS SCENARIO WOULD SPELL SNOWFALL FOR LOWLAND LOCATIONS AS WELL. EVEN SO...WITH WARM SFC TEMPS FROM A WEEK OF VERY WARM WEATHER IT WOULD PROBABLY TAKE SOME TIME BEFORE SNOW BEGINS TO ACCUM ON ROADWAYS. WITH ALL THIS IN MIND...WILL SIDE THE FORECAST TOWARDS THE EC WHICH IS MUCH CLOSER TO NHC/S CURRENT TRACK AND THUS WILL LEAN THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM IN THIS DIRECTION AS WELL. EITHER WAY...THOUGH THE BEGINNING OF THE EVENT IS STILL 2-3 DAYS OUT CONFIDENCE IS GROWING WITH A SIGNIFICANT SNOWFALL EVENT FOR THE HIGH COUNTRY...PARTICULARLY FOR THE HIGHEST LOCATIONS SUCH AS SNOWSHOE. IN COORDINATION WITH THE SHORT TERM FORECASTER...WILL KEEP WINTER STORM WATCH FOR THESE AREAS GOING THROUGH 00Z WED WITH THE LONG DURATION POTENTIAL. ACROSS THE LOWLANDS AMOUNTS GENERALLY UNDER TWO INCHES ARE EXPECTED FOR WV ZONES...WITH MUCH OF IT COMING DURING THE OVERNIGHT HOURS WITH PRIMARILY RAIN DURING THE DAY. LITTLE SNOW SHOULD ACCUMULATE ON ROAD SURFACES WITH SUCH VERY WARM TEMPS IN PLACE THIS WEEK. HAVE ALSO LOWERED MAX TEMPS TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. AGAIN...STILL A GOOD DEAL OF UNCERTAINTY WITH THE FINAL TRACK AND ANY SHIFT NORTH OR SOUTH COULD MAKE SUBSTANTIAL DIFFERENCES IN RAIN/SNOW AMOUNTS RECEIVED AND WHERE...SNOW ACCUMULATIONS...ALONG WITH WINDS. && .AVIATION /10Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... MVFR CIGS OOZING E ACROSS AREA TODAY WILL THEN HANG AROUND THROUGH THE BALANCE OF THE PERIOD...WITH OCCASIONAL IFR CIGS. RAIN SHOWERS WILL BE MOST PREVALENT NEAR THE OHIO RIVER...WITH MVFR VSBY AT TIMES THERE. SURFACE FRONT WILL CROSS THE MOUNTAINS FIRST THING THIS MORNING...WITH LIGHT SE FLOW AHEAD OF IT. OTHERWISE LIGHT N TO NW SURFACE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL FRESHEN A BIT TODAY AND THEN REMAIN NEAR 10 KTS MOST LOCALES TONIGHT...A BIT GUSTY ON THE RIDGES. FRONT ALOFT WILL ENTER WESTERN WV THIS AFTERNOON AND THEN STALL THERE. LIGHT N TO NE FLOW BEHIND THE FRONT WILL BE MODERATE N TO NE THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT ALOFT...LIGHT S FLOW TODAY WILL BECOME LIGHT E TO NE LATE TODAY AND TONIGHT. FORECAST CONFIDENCE AND ALTERNATE SCENARIOS THROUGH 12Z SUNDAY... FORECAST CONFIDENCE: MEDIUM HIGH. ALTERNATE SCENARIOS: TIMING...PERSISTENCE AND EXTENT OF IFR CIGS AND MVFR VSBYS MAY VARY. EXPERIMENTAL TABLE OF FLIGHT CATEGORY OBJECTIVELY SHOWS CONSISTENCY OF WFO FORECAST TO AVAILABLE MODEL INFORMATION: H = HIGH: TAF CONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. M = MEDIUM: TAF HAS VARYING LEVEL OF CONSISTENCY WITH MODELS. L = LOW: TAF INCONSISTENT WITH ALL MODELS OR ALL BUT ONE MODEL. DATE SAT 10/27/12 UTC 1HRLY 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 EDT 1HRLY 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 CRW CONSISTENCY M M M M M M M M H H H H HTS CONSISTENCY H M M H H H H H H H H H BKW CONSISTENCY L L L L L L H H H H H H EKN CONSISTENCY H M M H H H H H H H H H PKB CONSISTENCY H H H H H H H H H H M H CKB CONSISTENCY M M M M M M H H H H H H AFTER 12Z SUNDAY... IFR POSSIBLE IN RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS WITH REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY NEXT WEEK. RAIN WILL BE THE DOMINANT PRECIPITATION TYPE OVER THE LOW TERRAIN...WITH SNOW PREDOMINANT ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN. THE PRECIPITATION WILL TEND TO BE MORE IN THE FORM OF RAIN DURING THE DAY...WHEN MOST OF WHAT IS SNOW IS WET SNOW. FOR THE OTHERWISE RAIN DOMINATED LOWLANDS...WET SNOW IS POSSIBLE AT NT. && .RLX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WV...WINTER STORM WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ038-046-047. OH...NONE. KY...NONE. VA...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...TRM NEAR TERM...TRM SHORT TERM...MZ LONG TERM...50 AVIATION...TRM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
540 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE ON CLOUDS AND TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT DUE TO LACK OF PRECIPITATION FORCING MECHANISMS. CURRENTLY AS OF 07Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO 24 HOURS AGO WITH RIDGING OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC...TROUGHING OVER THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF CANADA INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...RIDGING OVER NEWFOUNDLAND AND TROPICAL STORM SANDY SITTING JUST NORTH OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. MAIN SHORTWAVE OF NOTE WAS OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH A 130 KT JET STREAK NEAR 225MB IN EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE. A STREAM OF CIRRUS EXTENDED DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS SHORTWAVE INTO MONTANA AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. FARTHER EAST INTO THE FORECAST AREA...A BROKEN FIELD OF STRATOCUMULUS COVERED MUCH OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION. THESE CLOUDS WERE REPRESENTED WELL ON THE 00Z MPX SOUNDING BY YET ANOTHER MOIST LAYER BETWEEN 750-800MB. AIRMASS REMAINS COOL OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH 00Z SOUNDINGS SHOWING 850MB TEMPS AROUND -7C. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS AND A LIGHT WESTERLY BREEZE NORTH OF HIGH PRESSURE IN WESTERN IOWA HAVE HELPED TO LIMIT THE TEMPERATURE FALL TOO MUCH THUS FAR. TEMPERATURES SO FAR HAVE FALLEN INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY...FOCUS FOR OUR AREA IS ON THAT SHORTWAVE IN SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT DROPPING IT DOWN INTO THE BASE OF THE UPPER TROUGH...REACHING FAR WESTERN NEBRASKA BY 00Z SUNDAY...THE MEMPHIS TN AREA BY 12Z SUNDAY AND THEN PUSHING EAST TO THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS AREA BY 00Z MONDAY. AS THIS SHORTWAVE DIVES SOUTHEAST...EXPECT THE MASS OF CIRRUS ENTERING THE DAKOTAS TO SPREAD INTO THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUS...EVEN IF THE CURRENT STRATOCUMULUS CONTINUES TO BREAK UP OR DISSIPATE...THE CLEARING LOOKS TO BE TEMPORARY. THE CIRRUS APPEARS TO HOLD ON THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT...THEN THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS OF A DECAYING MID CLOUD DECK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST ON SUNDAY. PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL DRY AIR AND LACK OF FORCING WILL KEEP THE FORECAST AREA DRY. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS ARE LIKELY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURE FORECASTS. BEING IN UPPER TROUGHING AND THE LOW SUN ANGLE THIS TIME OF YEAR...THE 850MB TEMPS AND GENERAL AIRMASS ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME WARMING. IN FACT...THE READINGS CHANGE VERY LITTLE...CLIMBING FROM -6 TO -8C TODAY TO -4 TO -6C ON SUNDAY. WITH CLOUDS AROUND...ANTICIPATING HIGHS TO STAY STUCK IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S. THE CIRRUS DECK AND INCOMING MID CLOUDS SHOULD HELP TO KEEP TEMPERATURES UP TONIGHT...IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S. SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MUCH OF THE ACTION IS EXPECTED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST U.S. DURING THIS PERIOD...IN RESPONSE TO INTERACTION AND PHASING OF SANDY WITH THE CURRENT BRITISH COLUMBIA SHORTWAVE...RELEASE OF LATENT HEAT AND A COUPLING OF SUBTROPICAL AND POLAR JETS. THE NET RESULT BY 12Z TUESDAY FROM ALL MODELS IS A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ENCOMPASSING MUCH OF THE EASTERN U.S. WITH A DEEP POST-TROPICAL SANDY SITUATED IN OR NEAR PENNSYLVANIA. MEANWHILE...UPPER RIDGING THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE EAST PACIFIC MODELS HAVE BUILDING ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND INTO THE WESTERN PLAINS. THIS SETUP EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS ANY PRECIPITATION FROM ENTERING THE PICTURE FOR OUR AREA. IN FACT...HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD DOMINATE AT THE SURFACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE TIME PERIOD. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO STAY COOL DUE TO 850MB TEMPS STILL ONLY WARMING SLOWLY TO -1 TO -4C ON MONDAY. CLOUD COVER WISE...THERE ARE HINTS OF SOME WARM ADVECTION MID CLOUDS COMING INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE AREA ON MONDAY...BUT THEN THESE GET SHUNTED SOUTHWEST BY SUBSIDENCE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DEEP EASTERN TROUGH. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 FOCUS FOR THE EARLY PORTION OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD IS THE DEEP EASTERN U.S. UPPER TROUGH AND POST-TROPICAL SANDY INSIDE OF THE TROUGH. 27.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN/UKMET AND GFS ENSEMBLES ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH WILL BE BLOCKED BETWEEN RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S....STRONG UPPER RIDGING NEAR NEWFOUNDLAND AND PERHAPS EVEN RIDGING CONNECTING THESE TWO. AS SUCH...THE MODELS TAKE AWHILE BEFORE LIFTING THE EASTERN TROUGH OUT. IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL SOMETIME THURSDAY NIGHT OR FRIDAY BEFORE THE EJECTION OCCURS. WITH THE EASTERN TROUGH BLOCKED FROM MOVING MUCH...THE FORECAST AREA STAYS ON THE SUBSIDENT SIDE THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...MOSTLY PREVENTING PRECIPITATION. ONE CONCERN WOULD BE DEFORMATION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH POST-TROPICAL SANDY RETROGRADING SLOLWY WESTWARD TOWARDS THE AREA TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...MOST MODELS SUGGESTS THIS DEFORMATION BAND WILL STAY EAST OF THE AREA...PERHAPS MAKING IT AS FAR WEST AS EASTERN WISCONSIN. LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE A NORTHERLY BREEZE INCREASE FOR TUESDAY AND PERHAPS WEDNESDAY TOO...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WISCONSIN. FOR FRIDAY...GOOD MODEL CONSENSUS EXISTS FOR SUBTROPICAL UPPER RIDGING TO CROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AHEAD OF A TROUGH CROSSING COLORADO. ANY WARM ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE LOOKS TO STAY TO THE SOUTH AT THE PRESENT TIME...THOUGH AN INCREASE IN MID/HIGH CLOUDS SHOULD OCCUR. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD... ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK AS THE EASTERN UPPER TROUGH LIFTS OUT. BY THURSDAY...READINGS SHOULD BE BACK TO NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION...TODAY AND TONIGHT 540 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 PLAN ON VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH TONIGHT. IR/SURFACE OBSERVATIONS SHOWING PESKY STRATOCUMULUS IN THE 5-6KFT RANGE BECOMING MORE PATCHY IN NATURE DUE TO HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN FROM THE PLAINS. GOING WITH SCT050 TODAY AT BOTH KLSE/KRST THROUGH 23Z. AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE/MID-LEVEL TROUGH MOVING ACROSS THE DAKOTAS TONIGHT WILL THEN BRING LOWERING ALTOCUMULUS/ALTOSTRATUS CLOUDS INTO THE AREA THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT HOURS. EXPECTING LOWEST CEILING SOMEWHERE IN THE 7-10KFT RANGE THROUGH 12Z. THE MID-LEVEL TROUGH WILL THEN LIFT NORTH OF THE AREA SUNDAY...BRINGING BULK OF ALTOCUMULUS/ALTOSTRATUS CLOUD WITH IT. WINDS THROUGH TONIGHT ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN AROUND 5KT OR LESS. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM...AJ AVIATION...DAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
500 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH OFFSHORE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST AREA. MOST OF THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY WILL REMAIN NEAR THE COAST. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT. && .NEAR TERM /TONIGHT/... REGIONAL RADARS CONTINUE TO SHOW THE PRECIP ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY REMAINING GENERALLY RIGHT ALONG THE COAST...THEN EXTENDING OFFSHORE. THE SHOWERS ARE FORECAST TO REMAIN WELL TO THE EAST...SO HAVE GONE WITH A DRY FORECAST OVERNIGHT FOR ALL AREAS. BIGGEST ISSUE TONIGHT WILL REVOLVE AROUND THE WINDS. SURFACE OBSERVATIONS FROM AREA SITES STILL SHOWING WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH ACROSS THE WEST...AND 15-20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30 MPH ACROSS THE EAST. WOULD EXPECT THIS WIND FIELD TO DOMINATE ALL NIGHT. HAVE ADJUSTED WINDS TO BETTER ACCOUNT FOR CURRENT CONDITIONS...AND TWEAKED WINDS FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD. DUE TO THE STRONG WINDS...THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH THE NIGHT. MOS LOW TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S STILL OK. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AS SANDY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD. THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY STILL APPEARS DRY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREEZY CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. MODEL GUIDANCE CONSENSUS STILL LOOKED GOOD FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... STRONG LOW PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES AND RIDGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION WILL MAINTAIN NORTHWEST FLOW INTO THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL PERIOD. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXCEPT FOR TUESDAY AS MODELS BRING A DECENT SHORT WAVE AND CLOUDS TO THE REGION. DECIDED TO USE A MODEL BLEND WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE LOWER 50S FOR TUESDAY. OTHERWISE...THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE 30S. && .AVIATION /21Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR EXPECTED THROUGH THE 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD WITH BREEZY CONDITIONS. THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SANDY IS OVER THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS ABOUT 400 MILES SE OF CAE...PROVIDING OUR FA WITH BREEZY NNE WINDS AND A BLANKET OF HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS. ASSOCIATED RAIN AREAS ARE ALONG THE COAST. NEARLY STATIONARY COLD FRONT TO OUR NW BANKED UP AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE MOVING TO THE NE...WITH ASSOCIATED RAIN REMAINING EAST OF THE TERMINALS. LOWER MVFR CIGS ARE CURRENTLY ALONG THE COASTAL PLAIN...PEE DEE...AND E NC. AS SANDY TRACKS TO THE NE...MODEL PROJECT LOW LEVEL FLOW OVER OUR FA TO BACK SLIGHTLY FROM NNE TO MORE OF A N TO NNW. THIS WILL WORK TO KEEP LOWER MVFR CIGS JUST EAST OF THE TERMINALS...PER LATEST RAP GUIDANCE. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018- 020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065- 077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS COLUMBIA SC
419 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY CONTINUES TO MOVE NORTH OFFSHORE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT ASSOCIATED WITH THE SYSTEM WILL RESULT IN BREEZY CONDITIONS IN THE FORECAST AREA. MOST OF THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH SANDY WILL REMAIN NEAR THE COAST. AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY. THE COLDEST AIR OF THE SEASON SO FAR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM SUNDAY MORNING/... LOCAL AREA RADARS SHOW THAT PRECIPITATION ON THE WESTERN FRINGES OF SANDY ARE LOCATED ALONG THE COAST AS THE MODELS HAVE BEEN INDICATING. IT LOOKS LIKE THE SHOWERS WILL REMAIN MAINLY WELL TO THE EAST. WILL JUST HAVE A SLIGHT CHANCE IN THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES. OBS FROM AREA SITES STILL HAVE WINDS 15-20 MPH WITH GUSTS TO 30-35 MPH. MOS LOW TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE WITH LOWS IN THE LOWER 50S STILL OK. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/... THE NAM AND GFS CONTINUE TO SHOW DEEP MOISTURE REMAINING NORTHEAST OF THE FORECAST AREA AS SANDY MOVES NORTH-NORTHEASTWARD. THE COLD FRONT SUNDAY STILL APPEARS DRY BECAUSE OF A LACK OF SIGNIFICANT CONVERGENCE. THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BREEZY CONDITIONS AND WE HAVE MAINTAINED THE LAKE WIND ADVISORY. MODEL GUIDANCE CONSENSUS STILL LOOKED GOOD FOR THE TEMPERATURE FORECAST. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... STRONG LOW PRESSURE IN THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES AND RIDGING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NATION WILL MAINTAIN NORTHWEST FLOW INTO THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE EXTENDED PERIOD. IT WILL BE A DRY AND COOL PERIOD. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXCEPT FOR TUESDAY AS MODELS BRING A DECENT SHORT WAVE AND CLOUDS TO THE REGION. DECIDED TO USE A MODEL BLEND WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE LOWER 50S FOR TUESDAY. OTHERWISE...THE GFS ENSEMBLE MEANS SUPPORT LOWS IN THE 30S. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... VFR EXPECTED THROUGH THE 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD WITH BREEZY CONDITIONS. THE CENTER OF HURRICANE SANDY IS OVER THE OFFSHORE ATLANTIC WATERS ABOUT 400 MILES SE OF CAE...PROVIDING OUR FA WITH BREEZY NNE WINDS AND A BLANKET OF HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS. ASSOCIATED RAIN AREAS ARE ALONG THE COAST. NEARLY STATIONARY COLD FRONT TO OUR NW BANKED UP AGAINST THE MOUNTAINS. SANDY IS FORECAST TO CONTINUE MOVING TO THE NE...WITH ASSOCIATED RAIN REMAINING EAST OF THE TERMINALS. LOWER MVFR CIGS ARE CURRENTLY ALONG THE COASTAL PLAIN...PEE DEE...AND E NC. AS SANDY TRACKS TO THE NE...MODEL PROJECT LOW LEVEL FLOW OVER OUR FA TO BACK SLIGHTLY FROM NNE TO MORE OF A N TO NNW. THIS WILL WORK TO KEEP LOWER MVFR CIGS JUST EAST OF THE TERMINALS...PER LATEST RAP GUIDANCE. EXTENDED AVIATION OUTLOOK...BREEZY CONDITIONS MAY CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY...OTHERWISE NO MAJOR RESTRICTIONS FOR AVIATION INTERESTS EXPECTED. && .CAE WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SC...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR SCZ015-016-018- 020>022-025>031-035>038-041. GA...LAKE WIND ADVISORY UNTIL 10 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR GAZ040-063>065- 077. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
501 PM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .DISCUSSION... 330 PM CDT MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS/CHALLENGES ARE WITH PERSISTENT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND LIGHT SHOWERS WITH COOL DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CWA...WITH EVENTUALLY OUR WEATHER TO BE DICTATED BY LARGE SCALE PATTERN OWING TO SANDY. WITH THE LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS AFFECTING AREAS NEAR THE LAKE IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND EVENTUALLY NORTHEAST ILLINOIS TONIGHT...HAVE MADE ONLY MINOR TWEAKS TO THE POP/WX THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY STILL DEPICTING AXIS OF CONVERGENCE ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE LAKE AS WELL AS WITH BOTH SURFACE OBS AND RAP ANALYSIS PAINTING A SIMILAR PICTURE. ALTHOUGH...THIS AXIS OF CONVERGENCE HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE LOSS OF SYNOPTIC AND LAND BREEZE INTERACTION...WITH DIURNAL TRENDS AIDING FOR MORE SYNOPTIC NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW ALONG THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE. NONETHELESS...WITH SUFFICIENT DELTA TS AND WEAK CONVERGENCE...CLOUD COVER CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND SPILL INLAND THIS AFTERNOON. HAD MAINTAINED ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS FOR AREAS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE LAKE AND PORTER COUNTY WHERE BETTER CONVERGENCE RESIDED...BUT HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH DEVELOPMENT IF ANY AT ALL THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH...COULD NOT RULE OUT SOME SPRINKLES OR LIGHT SHOWERS TO DEVELOP UNDER THIS BEST AXIS OF CONVERGENCE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. CURRENT SHORT WAVE TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES/PLAINS WILL QUICKLY WORK ITS WAY EAST/SOUTHEAST...AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGS SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. AS THIS OCCURS...LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL RESPOND AND SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY/NORTHEASTERLY. THIS SHIFT IN FLOW WILL BRING THIS CONVERGENT AXIS WEST ORIENTING ITSELF SUCH THAT I EXPECT CURRENT CLOUD COVER TO BEGIN SPILLING ONTO NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. THE PRESENCE OF SIMILAR DELTA TS WITH ONCE AGAIN...INCREASING LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE TONIGHT...EXPECT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER TO PERSIST WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCES FOR SOME ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS. A LONGER FETCH EXTENDING FROM THE FAR NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE SHOULD AID IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS LIGHT PRECIP TO DEVELOP. HIRES DATA DOES SUPPORT THIS SCENARIO WITH GUIDANCE SHOWING A NARROW AXIS DEVELOPING FROM MID LAKE AND THEN EXTENDING SOUTHWEST INTO FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND FAR NORTHWEST INDIANA. WITH PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONDITIONS IN PLACE...CANNOT REALLY ARGUE THIS POSSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH...I WONDER HOW MUCH MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS WEAK FORCING TO WORK WITH. THIS WILL OF COURSE PLAY A BIG PART WITH OVERALL DEVELOPMENT...BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COVERAGE. HAVE TRIED TO ADD SOME ADDED DETAIL TO THE POP/WX GRID TRYING TO SHOW A MORE NARROW AXIS OF DEVELOPMENT....KEEPING ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS TONIGHT AS WELL AS FOR MOST OF SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH THIS LIGHT PRECIP WILL BE SOMEWHAT IN QUESTION...CLOUD COVER WILL NOT AND SHOULD SPAN MOST OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. EXPECT BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW THEN TO SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH THIS CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED SHOWERS TO SHIFT BACK PRIMARILY INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA. MOISTURE WILL THEN BE LACKING GOING INTO MONDAY...WITH PRECIP REALLY NOT BECOMING LIKELY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE CWA MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH MOST OF TUESDAY...AS SIGNIFICANT LARGE SCALE INTERACTION WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE EAST COAST. THIS CURRENT LARGE SCALE TROUGH OVERHEAD WILL EVENTUALLY INTERACT WITH SANDY OVER THE EAST COAST DURING THE START OF NEXT WEEK. WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR AREAS IN OUR LOCATION...IS A LARGE STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM THAT WILL SPAN MUCH OF THE EASTERN HALF OF THE US. MOISTURE WRAPPING AROUND THIS SYSTEM WILL THEN WORK ITS WAY NEAR THE CWA BUT PRIMARILY OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH MID WEEK. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE OVERALL EVOLUTION WITH THIS LARGE SYSTEM AS WELL AS MOISTURE/PRECIP REACHING THE CWA...IT DOES APPEAR AS THE BEST AXIS OF PRECIP SHOULD STAY EAST. WHAT IS NOT IN QUESTION MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY IS THE STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW THAT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE CWA AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OVER THE LAKE. THIS STRONG FLOW WILL BRING LARGE WAVES CRASHING SOUTH OVER THE SOUTHERN END OF THE LAKE AND ONTO AREAS NEAR THE LAKE...WITH HIGH WAVES ON BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS EXPECTED BUT WITH THE HIGHEST WAVES EXPECTED OVER INDIANA. WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SITUATION CLOSELY AS HIGH WINDS AND EVEN SOME LAKE SHORE FLOODING COULD EVENTUALLY BE ISSUES FOR AREAS IMMEDIATELY NEAR THE LAKE. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 22Z... * NE WINDS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS 15 TO 18 KT THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON. * LAKE INDUCED MVFR CIGS DEVELOPING LATER TONIGHT AND PERSISTING INTO SUNDAY MORNING. RATZER/MTF //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS AND WILL REMAIN PARKED FROM KANSAS CITY TO SOUTHWEST WI. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONTINUED NORTHERLY FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. SIMILAR WIND CONDITIONS AS OBSERVED YESTERDAY ARE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON...SO DO EXPECT AND ALREADY HAVE SEEN TO SOME DEGREE LAKE INFLUENCE MOVING INTO THE CHICAGOLAND TAF SITES. THIS SHOULD HELP SHIFT THE WINDS AT ORD AND MDW TO THE NE. THE COOLER FLOW OVER THE LAKE HAS RESULTED IN BKN 030-040 CIGS JUST EAST OF MDW INTO NW IN. THE CONVERGENT AXIS FAVORING THE CLOUDS IN THESE LOCATIONS IS LIKELY TO GENERALLY HOLD IN PLACE THROUGH THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE WEST ACROSS CHICAGO LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. A LONGER FETCH OVER THE LAKE SHOULD RESULT IN BKN TO OVC CLOUDS FOR THE CHICAGO AIRPORTS SUNDAY MORNING...AND LIKELY TO BE IN THE MVFR CATEGORY FOR THOSE AIRFIELDS CLOSER TO THE LAKE SHORE. WITH THE SYNOPTIC FLOW BECOMING MORE NE...GUSTS SHOULD CONTINUE ON SUNDAY THE FLOW OFF THE FRICTIONLESS LAKE. //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 22Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WINDS REMAINING NNE TO NE THROUGH REMAINDER OF AFTERNOON...LIKELY BACKING NNW WITH SLIGHT LAND BREEZE DEVELOPMENT LATER THIS EVENING. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 2500-4000 FT CIGS LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. THESE MAY END UP BEING LOWER...BUT HIGH CONFIDENCE THEY WILL REMAIN ABOVE 1500 FT. RATZER/MTF //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z MONDAY-12Z SATURDAY...UPDATED 12Z... SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...GENERALLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...GENERALLY VFR. LOW PROBABILITY OF LOCALIZED SHOWERS TUES-WED. BREEZY FROM THE NNW. FRIDAY...VFR. MTF && .MARINE... 423 PM CDT HIGH PRESSURE HAS MOVED OVER THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND THE AXIS OF THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL REMAIN CENTERED JUST WEST OF LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH MID NEXT WEEK. NORTH WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THROUGH MID NEXT WEEK. AS SUCH...CONTINUED THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HIGH WAVES. WINDS WILL ALSO PICK UP TO 20 TO 25 KT TONIGHT. THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE SANDY MOVE ASHORE LATE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND GUIDANCE DIFFERS ON HOW FAR WEST THE TIGHTENED PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL EXTEND. GALES WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE LAKE LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON...AND HAVE ISSUED A GALE WATCH FOR THE OPEN WATERS. GALES ARE ALSO LIKELY ALONG THE NEARSHORE ZONES...DEVELOPING FIRST SOUTH AND EAST OF NORTHERLY ISLAND...THEN SPREADING INTO THE NORTHERN INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS. WINDS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE TO STORM FORCE GUSTS TO 50 KT FOR A TIME ON TUESDAY ACROSS THE LAKE AND NEARSHORE WATERS SOUTH AND EAST OF NORTHERLY ISLAND. WHILE CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT THERE WILL BE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF GALES...ONLY HAVE MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN STORM FORCE GUSTS. MULTIPLE GUIDANCE MEMBERS INDICATE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL TIGHTEN TUESDAY AND SUSTAINED GUSTS UP TO 50 KT ARE POSSIBLE...BUT WANT TO SEE IF NEXT SET OF MODEL RUNS REMAIN CONSISTENT. THEREFORE WILL HOLD OFF ON ISSUING A STORM FORCE WATCH NOW. IT CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE WINDS WILL DIMINISH TO BELOW GALES LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING/EARLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL SLOWLY BECOME MORE NORTHWEST AND DIMINISH AS THE LOW OVER THE EAST COAST WEAKENS AND LIFTS TO THE NORTHEAST. RELIEF FROM THE PERSISTENT NORTH WINDS LOOKS LIKE IT MAY ARRIVE NEXT SATURDAY. JEE && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE NORTHERLY IS TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 1 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ744-LMZ745...1 PM MONDAY TO 4 PM WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WINTHROP HARBOR TO NORTHERLY IS UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ740-LMZ741...10 PM MONDAY TO 10 PM TUESDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565- LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...1 PM MONDAY TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
426 PM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .DISCUSSION... 330 PM CDT MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS/CHALLENGES ARE WITH PERSISTENT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND LIGHT SHOWERS WITH COOL DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CWA...WITH EVENTUALLY OUR WEATHER TO BE DICTATED BY LARGE SCALE PATTERN OWING TO SANDY. WITH THE LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS AFFECTING AREAS NEAR THE LAKE IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND EVENTUALLY NORTHEAST ILLINOIS TONIGHT...HAVE MADE ONLY MINOR TWEAKS TO THE POP/WX THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY STILL DEPICTING AXIS OF CONVERGENCE ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE LAKE AS WELL AS WITH BOTH SURFACE OBS AND RAP ANALYSIS PAINTING A SIMILAR PICTURE. ALTHOUGH...THIS AXIS OF CONVERGENCE HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE LOSS OF SYNOPTIC AND LAND BREEZE INTERACTION...WITH DIURNAL TRENDS AIDING FOR MORE SYNOPTIC NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW ALONG THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE. NONETHELESS...WITH SUFFICIENT DELTA TS AND WEAK CONVERGENCE...CLOUD COVER CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND SPILL INLAND THIS AFTERNOON. HAD MAINTAINED ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS FOR AREAS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE LAKE AND PORTER COUNTY WHERE BETTER CONVERGENCE RESIDED...BUT HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH DEVELOPMENT IF ANY AT ALL THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH...COULD NOT RULE OUT SOME SPRINKLES OR LIGHT SHOWERS TO DEVELOP UNDER THIS BEST AXIS OF CONVERGENCE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. CURRENT SHORT WAVE TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES/PLAINS WILL QUICKLY WORK ITS WAY EAST/SOUTHEAST...AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGS SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. AS THIS OCCURS...LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL RESPOND AND SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY/NORTHEASTERLY. THIS SHIFT IN FLOW WILL BRING THIS CONVERGENT AXIS WEST ORIENTING ITSELF SUCH THAT I EXPECT CURRENT CLOUD COVER TO BEGIN SPILLING ONTO NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. THE PRESENCE OF SIMILAR DELTA TS WITH ONCE AGAIN...INCREASING LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE TONIGHT...EXPECT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER TO PERSIST WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCES FOR SOME ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS. A LONGER FETCH EXTENDING FROM THE FAR NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE SHOULD AID IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS LIGHT PRECIP TO DEVELOP. HIRES DATA DOES SUPPORT THIS SCENARIO WITH GUIDANCE SHOWING A NARROW AXIS DEVELOPING FROM MID LAKE AND THEN EXTENDING SOUTHWEST INTO FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND FAR NORTHWEST INDIANA. WITH PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONDITIONS IN PLACE...CANNOT REALLY ARGUE THIS POSSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH...I WONDER HOW MUCH MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS WEAK FORCING TO WORK WITH. THIS WILL OF COURSE PLAY A BIG PART WITH OVERALL DEVELOPMENT...BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COVERAGE. HAVE TRIED TO ADD SOME ADDED DETAIL TO THE POP/WX GRID TRYING TO SHOW A MORE NARROW AXIS OF DEVELOPMENT....KEEPING ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS TONIGHT AS WELL AS FOR MOST OF SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH THIS LIGHT PRECIP WILL BE SOMEWHAT IN QUESTION...CLOUD COVER WILL NOT AND SHOULD SPAN MOST OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. EXPECT BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW THEN TO SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH THIS CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED SHOWERS TO SHIFT BACK PRIMARILY INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA. MOISTURE WILL THEN BE LACKING GOING INTO MONDAY...WITH PRECIP REALLY NOT BECOMING LIKELY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE CWA MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH MOST OF TUESDAY...AS SIGNIFICANT LARGE SCALE INTERACTION WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE EAST COAST. THIS CURRENT LARGE SCALE TROUGH OVERHEAD WILL EVENTUALLY INTERACT WITH SANDY OVER THE EAST COAST DURING THE START OF NEXT WEEK. WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR AREAS IN OUR LOCATION...IS A LARGE STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM THAT WILL SPAN MUCH OF THE EASTERN HALF OF THE US. MOISTURE WRAPPING AROUND THIS SYSTEM WILL THEN WORK ITS WAY NEAR THE CWA BUT PRIMARILY OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH MID WEEK. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE OVERALL EVOLUTION WITH THIS LARGE SYSTEM AS WELL AS MOISTURE/PRECIP REACHING THE CWA...IT DOES APPEAR AS THE BEST AXIS OF PRECIP SHOULD STAY EAST. WHAT IS NOT IN QUESTION MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY IS THE STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW THAT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE CWA AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OVER THE LAKE. THIS STRONG FLOW WILL BRING LARGE WAVES CRASHING SOUTH OVER THE SOUTHERN END OF THE LAKE AND ONTO AREAS NEAR THE LAKE...WITH HIGH WAVES ON BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS EXPECTED BUT WITH THE HIGHEST WAVES EXPECTED OVER INDIANA. WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SITUATION CLOSELY AS HIGH WINDS AND EVEN SOME LAKE SHORE FLOODING COULD EVENTUALLY BE ISSUES FOR AREAS IMMEDIATELY NEAR THE LAKE. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 20Z... * NE WINDS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS 15 TO 18 KT THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON. * POSSIBLE NEARBY OR EVEN TEMPORARY BKN030-040 CIGS AT MDW THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVE. * LAKE INDUCED MVFR CIGS DEVELOPING LATER TONIGHT AND PERSISTING INTO SUNDAY MORNING. //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS AND WILL REMAIN PARKED FROM KANSAS CITY TO SOUTHWEST WI. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONTINUED NORTHERLY FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. SIMILAR WIND CONDITIONS AS OBSERVED YESTERDAY ARE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON...SO DO EXPECT AND ALREADY HAVE SEEN TO SOME DEGREE LAKE INFLUENCE MOVING INTO THE CHICAGOLAND TAF SITES. THIS SHOULD HELP SHIFT THE WINDS AT ORD AND MDW TO THE NE. THE COOLER FLOW OVER THE LAKE HAS RESULTED IN BKN 030-040 CIGS JUST EAST OF MDW INTO NW IN. THE CONVERGENT AXIS FAVORING THE CLOUDS IN THESE LOCATIONS IS LIKELY TO GENERALLY HOLD IN PLACE THROUGH THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE WEST ACROSS CHICAGO LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. A LONGER FETCH OVER THE LAKE SHOULD RESULT IN BKN TO OVC CLOUDS FOR THE CHICAGO AIRPORTS SUNDAY MORNING...AND LIKELY TO BE IN THE MVFR CATEGORY FOR THOSE AIRFIELDS CLOSER TO THE LAKE SHORE. WITH THE SYNOPTIC FLOW BECOMING MORE NE...GUSTS SHOULD CONTINUE ON SUNDAY THE FLOW OFF THE FRICTIONLESS LAKE. //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 20Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WINDS REMAINING NNE TO NE THROUGH AT LEAST 23Z ONCE THEY SHIFT...MEDIUM CONFIDENCE ON WIND TRENDS AND SPEEDS AFTER 23Z. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 2500-4000 FT CIGS LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. THESE MAY END UP BEING LOWER...BUT HIGH CONFIDENCE THEY WILL REMAIN ABOVE 1500 FT. //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z MONDAY-12Z SATURDAY...UPDATED 12Z... SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...GENERALLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...GENERALLY VFR. LOW PROBABILITY OF LOCALIZED SHOWERS TUES-WED. BREEZY FROM THE NNW. FRIDAY...VFR. MTF && .MARINE... 423 PM CDT HIGH PRESSURE HAS MOVED OVER THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY THIS AFTERNOON AND THE AXIS OF THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL REMAIN CENTERED JUST WEST OF LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH MID NEXT WEEK. NORTH WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED THROUGH MID NEXT WEEK. AS SUCH...CONTINUED THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HIGH WAVES. WINDS WILL ALSO PICK UP TO 20 TO 25 KT TONIGHT. THE REMNANTS OF HURRICANE SANDY MOVE ASHORE LATE MONDAY INTO MONDAY NIGHT AND GUIDANCE DIFFERS ON HOW FAR WEST THE TIGHTENED PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL EXTEND. GALES WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE LAKE LATE MONDAY AFTERNOON...AND HAVE ISSUED A GALE WATCH FOR THE OPEN WATERS. GALES ARE ALSO LIKELY ALONG THE NEARSHORE ZONES...DEVELOPING FIRST SOUTH AND EAST OF NORTHERLY ISLAND...THEN SPREADING INTO THE NORTHERN INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS. WINDS WILL PROBABLY INCREASE TO STORM FORCE GUSTS TO 50 KT FOR A TIME ON TUESDAY ACROSS THE LAKE AND NEARSHORE WATERS SOUTH AND EAST OF NORTHERLY ISLAND. WHILE CONFIDENCE IS HIGH THAT THERE WILL BE AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF GALES...ONLY HAVE MODERATE CONFIDENCE IN STORM FORCE GUSTS. MULTIPLE GUIDANCE MEMBERS INDICATE THE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL TIGHTEN TUESDAY AND SUSTAINED GUSTS UP TO 50 KT ARE POSSIBLE...BUT WANT TO SEE IF NEXT SET OF MODEL RUNS REMAIN CONSISTENT. THEREFORE WILL HOLD OFF ON ISSUING A STORM FORCE WATCH NOW. IT CURRENTLY LOOKS LIKE WINDS WILL DIMINISH TO BELOW GALES LATE WEDNESDAY EVENING/EARLY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. WINDS WILL SLOWLY BECOME MORE NORTHWEST AND DIMINISH AS THE LOW OVER THE EAST COAST WEAKENS AND LIFTS TO THE NORTHEAST. RELIEF FROM THE PERSISTENT NORTH WINDS LOOKS LIKE IT MAY ARRIVE NEXT SATURDAY. JEE && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE NORTHERLY IS TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 1 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ744-LMZ745...1 PM MONDAY TO 4 PM WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WINTHROP HARBOR TO NORTHERLY IS UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ740-LMZ741...10 PM MONDAY TO 10 PM TUESDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565- LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...1 PM MONDAY TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS CHICAGO/ROMEOVILLE IL
336 PM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .DISCUSSION... 330 PM CDT MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS/CHALLENGES ARE WITH PERSISTENT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND LIGHT SHOWERS WITH COOL DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE CWA...WITH EVENTUALLY OUR WEATHER TO BE DICTATED BY LARGE SCALE PATTERN OWING TO SANDY. WITH THE LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS AFFECTING AREAS NEAR THE LAKE IN NORTHWEST INDIANA AND EVENTUALLY NORTHEAST ILLINOIS TONIGHT...HAVE MADE ONLY MINOR TWEAKS TO THE POP/WX THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND. LATEST SATELLITE IMAGERY STILL DEPICTING AXIS OF CONVERGENCE ALONG THE EASTERN SIDE OF THE LAKE AS WELL AS WITH BOTH SURFACE OBS AND RAP ANALYSIS PAINTING A SIMILAR PICTURE. ALTHOUGH...THIS AXIS OF CONVERGENCE HAS WEAKENED SOMEWHAT EARLY THIS AFTERNOON WITH THE LOSS OF SYNOPTIC AND LAND BREEZE INTERACTION...WITH DIURNAL TRENDS AIDING FOR MORE SYNOPTIC NORTH TO NORTHWEST FLOW ALONG THE EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE. NONETHELESS...WITH SUFFICIENT DELTA TS AND WEAK CONVERGENCE...CLOUD COVER CONTINUES TO DEVELOP AND SPILL INLAND THIS AFTERNOON. HAD MAINTAINED ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS FOR AREAS ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PORTION OF THE LAKE AND PORTER COUNTY WHERE BETTER CONVERGENCE RESIDED...BUT HAVE NOT SEEN MUCH DEVELOPMENT IF ANY AT ALL THIS AFTERNOON. ALTHOUGH...COULD NOT RULE OUT SOME SPRINKLES OR LIGHT SHOWERS TO DEVELOP UNDER THIS BEST AXIS OF CONVERGENCE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTERNOON. CURRENT SHORT WAVE TROUGH OVER THE ROCKIES/PLAINS WILL QUICKLY WORK ITS WAY EAST/SOUTHEAST...AS THE LARGE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH DIGS SOUTH ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. AS THIS OCCURS...LOW LEVEL FLOW WILL RESPOND AND SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY/NORTHEASTERLY. THIS SHIFT IN FLOW WILL BRING THIS CONVERGENT AXIS WEST ORIENTING ITSELF SUCH THAT I EXPECT CURRENT CLOUD COVER TO BEGIN SPILLING ONTO NORTHEAST ILLINOIS. THE PRESENCE OF SIMILAR DELTA TS WITH ONCE AGAIN...INCREASING LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE TONIGHT...EXPECT LAKE EFFECT CLOUD COVER TO PERSIST WITH SLIGHTLY BETTER CHANCES FOR SOME ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS. A LONGER FETCH EXTENDING FROM THE FAR NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE LAKE SHOULD AID IN A BETTER ENVIRONMENT FOR THIS LIGHT PRECIP TO DEVELOP. HIRES DATA DOES SUPPORT THIS SCENARIO WITH GUIDANCE SHOWING A NARROW AXIS DEVELOPING FROM MID LAKE AND THEN EXTENDING SOUTHWEST INTO FAR NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND FAR NORTHWEST INDIANA. WITH PREVIOUSLY MENTIONED CONDITIONS IN PLACE...CANNOT REALLY ARGUE THIS POSSIBILITY. ALTHOUGH...I WONDER HOW MUCH MOISTURE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS WEAK FORCING TO WORK WITH. THIS WILL OF COURSE PLAY A BIG PART WITH OVERALL DEVELOPMENT...BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY COVERAGE. HAVE TRIED TO ADD SOME ADDED DETAIL TO THE POP/WX GRID TRYING TO SHOW A MORE NARROW AXIS OF DEVELOPMENT....KEEPING ISOLATED LIGHT SHOWERS TONIGHT AS WELL AS FOR MOST OF SUNDAY. ALTHOUGH THIS LIGHT PRECIP WILL BE SOMEWHAT IN QUESTION...CLOUD COVER WILL NOT AND SHOULD SPAN MOST OF NORTHEAST ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. EXPECT BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW THEN TO SHIFT MORE NORTHERLY SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WITH THIS CLOUD COVER AND ISOLATED SHOWERS TO SHIFT BACK PRIMARILY INTO NORTHWEST INDIANA. MOISTURE WILL THEN BE LACKING GOING INTO MONDAY...WITH PRECIP REALLY NOT BECOMING LIKELY. DRY CONDITIONS WILL TAKE PLACE FOR THE ENTIRE CWA MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH MOST OF TUESDAY...AS SIGNIFICANT LARGE SCALE INTERACTION WILL TAKE PLACE ACROSS THE EAST COAST. THIS CURRENT LARGE SCALE TROUGH OVERHEAD WILL EVENTUALLY INTERACT WITH SANDY OVER THE EAST COAST DURING THE START OF NEXT WEEK. WHAT THIS WILL MEAN FOR AREAS IN OUR LOCATION...IS A LARGE STRONG UPPER LEVEL SYSTEM THAT WILL SPAN MUCH OF THE EASTERN HALF OF THE US. MOISTURE WRAPPING AROUND THIS SYSTEM WILL THEN WORK ITS WAY NEAR THE CWA BUT PRIMARILY OVER THE EASTERN PORTION OF LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH MID WEEK. ALTHOUGH THERE IS STILL SOME UNCERTAINTY AS TO THE OVERALL EVOLUTION WITH THIS LARGE SYSTEM AS WELL AS MOISTURE/PRECIP REACHING THE CWA...IT DOES APPEAR AS THE BEST AXIS OF PRECIP SHOULD STAY EAST. WHAT IS NOT IN QUESTION MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY IS THE STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW THAT WILL TAKE PLACE OVER THE CWA AND MORE IMPORTANTLY OVER THE LAKE. THIS STRONG FLOW WILL BRING LARGE WAVES CRASHING SOUTH OVER THE SOUTHERN END OF THE LAKE AND ONTO AREAS NEAR THE LAKE...WITH HIGH WAVES ON BOTH THE ILLINOIS AND INDIANA NEARSHORE WATERS EXPECTED BUT WITH THE HIGHEST WAVES EXPECTED OVER INDIANA. WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH THIS SITUATION CLOSELY AS HIGH WINDS AND EVEN SOME LAKE SHORE FLOODING COULD EVENTUALLY BE ISSUES FOR AREAS IMMEDIATELY NEAR THE LAKE. RODRIGUEZ && .AVIATION... //ORD AND MDW CONCERNS...UPDATED 20Z... * NE WINDS WITH OCCASIONAL GUSTS 15 TO 18 KT THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON. * POSSIBLE NEARBY OR EVEN TEMPORARY BKN030-040 CIGS AT MDW THIS AFTERNOON AND EARLY EVE. * LAKE INDUCED MVFR CIGS DEVELOPING LATER TONIGHT AND PERSISTING INTO SUNDAY MORNING. //DISCUSSION...UPDATED 18Z... HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS AND WILL REMAIN PARKED FROM KANSAS CITY TO SOUTHWEST WI. THIS WILL RESULT IN CONTINUED NORTHERLY FLOW ACROSS THE AREA. SIMILAR WIND CONDITIONS AS OBSERVED YESTERDAY ARE PRESENT THIS AFTERNOON...SO DO EXPECT AND ALREADY HAVE SEEN TO SOME DEGREE LAKE INFLUENCE MOVING INTO THE CHICAGOLAND TAF SITES. THIS SHOULD HELP SHIFT THE WINDS AT ORD AND MDW TO THE NE. THE COOLER FLOW OVER THE LAKE HAS RESULTED IN BKN 030-040 CIGS JUST EAST OF MDW INTO NW IN. THE CONVERGENT AXIS FAVORING THE CLOUDS IN THESE LOCATIONS IS LIKELY TO GENERALLY HOLD IN PLACE THROUGH THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON BEFORE SHIFTING TO THE WEST ACROSS CHICAGO LATE TONIGHT INTO SUNDAY. A LONGER FETCH OVER THE LAKE SHOULD RESULT IN BKN TO OVC CLOUDS FOR THE CHICAGO AIRPORTS SUNDAY MORNING...AND LIKELY TO BE IN THE MVFR CATEGORY FOR THOSE AIRFIELDS CLOSER TO THE LAKE SHORE. WITH THE SYNOPTIC FLOW BECOMING MORE NE...GUSTS SHOULD CONTINUE ON SUNDAY THE FLOW OFF THE FRICTIONLESS LAKE. //ORD AND MDW CONFIDENCE...UPDATED 20Z... * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WINDS REMAINING NNE TO NE THROUGH AT LEAST 23Z ONCE THEY SHIFT...MEDIUM CONFIDENCE ON WIND TRENDS AND SPEEDS AFTER 23Z. * HIGH CONFIDENCE IN 2500-4000 FT CIGS LATE TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. THESE MAY END UP BEING LOWER...BUT HIGH CONFIDENCE THEY WILL REMAIN ABOVE 1500 FT. //OUTLOOK FOR ORD/MDW FOR 00Z MONDAY-12Z SATURDAY...UPDATED 12Z... SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY...GENERALLY VFR. SMALL THREAT OF LOCALIZED LAKE EFFECT MVFR CIGS AND SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHRA. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...GENERALLY VFR. LOW PROBABILITY OF LOCALIZED SHOWERS TUES-WED. BREEZY FROM THE NNW. FRIDAY...VFR. MTF && .MARINE... 310 AM CDT HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS IN PLACE ACROSS THE CENTRAL PLAINS AND WILL DRIFT NORTHWARD THROUGH TONIGHT. HURRICANE SANDY IS OFF THE EAST COAST OF FLORIDA AND WILL WORK WITH THE HIGH TO THE WEST TO DRIVE THE WEATHER ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN THROUGH THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. THE WEAKEST PRESSURE GRADIENT IS ACROSS THE NORTHERN PART OF THE LAKE THIS MORNING BUT THE GRADIENT WILL STRENGTHEN SOMEWHAT AS THE HIGH LIFTS NORTHWARD ALLOWING WINDS TO INCREASE SLIGHTLY TONIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING. WINDS ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LAKE WILL GENERALLY BE IN THE 15 TO 25 KT RANGE THOUGH THERE MAY BE PERIODS OF 10 TO 20 KT WINDS THROUGH MIDDAY TODAY. THE GRADIENT WILL FURTHER TIGHTEN SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY AS WHAT REMAINS OF SANDY MOVES NORTHWARD THEN TURNS WESTWARD INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. BY THAT TIME THE HIGH WILL HAVE BECOME RE-ESTABLISHED OVER ONTARIO. NORTHERLY WINDS WILL STEADILY INCREASE TO 30 KT MONDAY WITH A FURTHER INCREASE TO GALES EXPECTED MONDAY NIGHT. THE TRACK OF THE REMNANTS OF SANDY WILL BE CRITICAL IN DETERMINING HOW STRONG THE WINDS BECOME THROUGH WEDNESDAY. A FURTHER WESTWARD PUSH INLAND TO PENNSYLVANIA OR WESTERN NEW YORK AS SOME GUIDANCE SHOWS WOULD LIKELY RESULT IN STORM FORCE WINDS ACROSS LAKE MICHIGAN TUESDAY WHERE A FURTHER EAST TRACK WOULD KEEP WINDS IN THE GALE RANGE. DESPITE THE UNCERTAINTY HAVE DECENT CONFIDENCE IN RAISING WIND SPEEDS FROM EARLIER FORECASTS WITH MID RANGE GALES TO 40 KT...WITH PERIODS OF 45 KT POSSIBLE...MAINLY MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY. THAT SAID...STILL HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A PERIOD OF STORM FORCE WINDS BUT SEVERAL THINGS NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN THE ATMOSPHERE THAT WILL DETERMINE THE TRACK OF SANDY FIRST. REGARDLESS...THE REMNANTS WILL LIKELY HANG AROUND THE LOWER GREAT LAKES THROUGH THE END OF THE WEEK AND WEAKEN BUT NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE SLOW TO DIMINISH BUT LOOK TO FALL BELOW GALE FORCE LATER WEDNESDAY. MDB && .LOT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... IL...NONE. IN...NONE. LM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE NORTHERLY IS TO MICHIGAN CITY IN UNTIL 1 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ742-LMZ743-LMZ744-LMZ745...1 PM MONDAY TO 4 PM WEDNESDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY...NEARSHORE WINTHROP HARBOR TO NORTHERLY IS UNTIL 10 PM MONDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ740-LMZ741...10 PM MONDAY TO 10 PM TUESDAY. GALE WATCH...LMZ080-LMZ261-LMZ362-LMZ364-LMZ366-LMZ563-LMZ565- LMZ567-LMZ669-LMZ671-LMZ673-LMZ675-LMZ777-LMZ779-LMZ868- LMZ870-LMZ872-LMZ874-LMZ876-LMZ878...1 PM MONDAY TO 9 PM WEDNESDAY. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
646 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A STALLED COLD FRONT NEAR THE MOUNTAINS...COMBINED WITH NORTHBOUND HURRICANE SANDY...WILL PROVIDE PERIODS OF CHILLY RAIN DURING THE UPCOMING DAYS. FOR MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...RAIN MAY BECOME HEAVY MAKING FLOODING A POSSIBILITY...PLUS IT CAN BE WINDY. THERE MAY EVEN BE SOME SNOWFALL...WITH POSSIBLE ACCUMULATION ON THE RIDGES. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... HAVE MADE MINOR CHANGES TO POPS AND TEMPS FOR LATEST UPDATE. THIN LINE OF SHOWERS HAS NOT MADE AS MUCH EASTWARD PROGRESSION AS PREVIOUS FORECAST INDICATED...ADDITIONALLY THE SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE LINE IS DECAYING. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION... PER RECENT HRRR AND WRF-NAM MODEL OUTPUT...EXPECT BAND OF LIGHT RAIN TO MEANDER ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THIS PERIOD. THE RAIN BAND IS ASSOCIATED WITH STALLED COLD FRONT NEAR THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. FORECASTED TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN MAINLY IN THE 40S PER BLEND OF RECENT GFS AND NAM MOS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... PER BLEND OF RECENT MODEL OUTPUT...SREF ECMWF CMC AND GFS...EXPECT HURRICANE SANDY TO TURN NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD PENNSYLVANIA MONDAY...WITH THE COLD FRONT STILL STALLED ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS WILL FURTHER INCREASE THE JET STREAM ALOFT...AND CAN CAUSE STRONG FRONTOGENETICAL LIFT. HENCE FORESEE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND GUSTS MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. HENCE HAVE ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH AND HIGH WIND WATCH MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. SURFACE LAYER COOLING MAY CAUSE COLD ENOUGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE HIGHER WV-MD MOUNTAINS FOR THERE TO BE A PERIOD OF ACCUMULATING SNOW. ELSEWHERE TEMPERATURES WILL BE MAINLY IN THE 40S. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... THE STRONG LOW RESULTING FROM THE PHASING OF HURRICANE SANDY AND THE COLD UPPER TROUGH WILL BE SLOW TO EXIT NORTH THIS PERIOD. DUE TO ALL THE UNCERTAINTY HAVE CONTINUED MENTION OF A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS INTO FRIDAY WITH SNOW SHOWERS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER WV-MD MOUNTAINS. FORECASTED CONTINUED COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES BASED ON RECENT GFS AND ECMWF MODEL OUTPUT. ONCE THE COLD LOW CENTER EXITS...DRYING WILL BEGIN AND TEMPERATURES COULD REBOUND TOWARD NORMAL VALUES NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /00Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... WITH THE SLOW EASTBOUND COLD FRONT HAVING BARELY REACHED THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS...STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS TO BE IN THE IFR RANGE. VISIBILITIES WITH THE FRONTAL BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS MAY BECOME MVFR AT TIMES. SURFACE WINDS WILL BE MAINLY FROM THE NORTH OR NORTHWEST AT GENERALLY 6 TO 12 KTS INTO TONIGHT. EXPECT STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS TO REMAIN THE IFR RANGE THROUGH TONIGHT. .OUTLOOK.../SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... REMNANT MOISTURE FROM SANDY COMBINED WITH A COLD CANADIAN UPPER TROUGH WILL BRING FREQUENT IFR RESTRICTIONS DUE TO RAIN THROUGH THIS PERIOD. WITH THE COLDEST AIR ALOFT TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE TERMINALS...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WITH WET SNOW AT KMGW/KZZV MAY START AS EARLY AS MONDAY NIGHT. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL OF SNOW MIXING IN WITH RAIN FOR THE PITTSBURGH TERMINALS BY TUESDAY NIGHT. 20KTS WINDS WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30KTS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY. && .HYDROLOGY... AS MENTIONED ABOVE...RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY ARE FORECAST IN THE 2 TO 4.5 INCH RANGE FOR THE MONONGAHELA AND ALLEGHENY RIVER BASINS. FORECAST MODELS IN THE HANDLING OF THIS SYSTEMS ACTUAL TRACK. GUIDANCE FROM THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER HAS GENERALLY THE SAME AREA IN EXCESS OF THREE INCHES ACROSS THOSE SAME AREAS. SHOULD EITHER OF THESE TOTAL BE REALIZED ON A WIDESPREAD BASIS...THEN SMALL STREAM FLOODING WOULD OCCUR BY LATER ON MONDAY AND INTO TUESDAY...WITH RIVER RISES LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...WITH FLOODING FOLLOWING IF MAXIMUM AMOUNTS ARE REALIZED. FOR NOW...A MENTION OF SUCH POTENTIAL WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS WILL FOLLOW DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS SHOULD THE SITUATION MATERIALIZE FURTHER. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MDZ001. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MDZ001. OH...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069. PA...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076. WV...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PITTSBURGH PA
403 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A STALLED COLD FRONT NEAR THE MOUNTAINS...COMBINED WITH NORTHBOUND HURRICANE SANDY...WILL PROVIDE PERIODS OF CHILLY RAIN DURING THE UPCOMING DAYS. FOR MONDAY INTO TUESDAY...RAIN MAY BECOME HEAVY MAKING FLOODING A POSSIBILITY...PLUS IT CAN BE WINDY. THERE MAY EVEN BE SOME SNOWFALL...WITH POSSIBLE ACCUMULATION ON THE RIDGES. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH SUNDAY/... PER RECENT HRRR AND WRF-NAM MODEL OUTPUT...EXPECT BAND OF LIGHT RAIN TO MEANDER ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO VALLEY THIS PERIOD. THE RAIN BAND IS ASSOCIATED WITH STALLED COLD FRONT NEAR THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. FORECASTED TEMPERATURES TO REMAIN MAINLY IN THE 40S PER BLEND OF RECENT GFS AND NAM MOS. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... PER BLEND OF RECENT MODEL OUTPUT...SREF ECMWF CMC AND GFS...EXPECT HURRICANE SANDY TO TURN NORTHWESTWARD TOWARD PENNSYLVANIA MONDAY...WITH THE COLD FRONT STILL STALLED ACROSS THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS. INTERACTION BETWEEN THE SYSTEMS WILL FURTHER INCREASE THE JET STREAM ALOFT...AND CAN CAUSE STRONG FRONTOGENETICAL LIFT. HENCE FORESEE THE POTENTIAL FOR HEAVY RAIN AND STRONG WIND GUSTS MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. HENCE HAVE ISSUED A FLOOD WATCH AND HIGH WIND WATCH MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. SURFACE LAYER COOLING MAY CAUSE COLD ENOUGH TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE HIGHER WV-MD MOUNTAINS FOR THERE TO BE A PERIOD OF ACCUMULATING SNOW. ELSEWHERE TEMPERATURES WILL BE MAINLY IN THE 40S. && .LONG TERM /TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/... THE STRONG LOW RESULTING FROM THE PHASING OF HURRICANE SANDY AND THE COLD UPPER TROUGH WILL BE SLOW TO EXIT NORTH THIS PERIOD. DUE TO ALL THE UNCERTAINTY HAVE CONTINUED MENTION OF A CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS INTO FRIDAY WITH SNOW SHOWERS POSSIBLE ACROSS THE HIGHER WV-MD MOUNTAINS. FORECASTED CONTINUED COLDER THAN NORMAL TEMPERATURES BASED ON RECENT GFS AND ECMWF MODEL OUTPUT. ONCE THE COLD LOW CENTER EXITS...DRYING WILL BEGIN AND TEMPERATURES COULD REBOUND TOWARD NORMAL VALUES NEXT WEEKEND. && .AVIATION /20Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... WITH THE SLOW EASTBOUND COLD FRONT HAVING BARELY REACHED THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE APPALACHIAN MOUNTAINS...STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS TO BE IN THE IFR RANGE. VISIBILITIES WITH THE FRONTAL BAND OF LIGHT SHOWERS MAY BECOME MVFR AT TIMES. SURFACE WINDS WILL BE MAINLY FROM THE NORTH OR NORTHWEST AT GENERALLY 6 TO 12 KTS INTO TONIGHT. EXPECT STRATOCUMULUS CEILINGS TO REMAIN THE IFR RANGE THROUGH TONIGHT. .OUTLOOK.../SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... REMNANT MOISTURE FROM SANDY COMBINED WITH A COLD CANADIAN UPPER TROUGH WILL BRING FREQUENT IFR RESTRICTIONS DUE TO RAIN THROUGH THIS PERIOD. WITH THE COLDEST AIR ALOFT TO THE SOUTHWEST OF THE TERMINALS...VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WITH WET SNOW AT KMGW/KZZV MAY START AS EARLY AS MONDAY NIGHT. THERE IS THE POTENTIAL OF SNOW MIXING IN WITH RAIN FOR THE PITTSBURGH TERMINALS BY TUESDAY NIGHT. 20KTS WINDS WITH GUSTS IN EXCESS OF 30KTS WILL ALSO BE POSSIBLE MONDAY AND TUESDAY. && .HYDROLOGY... AS MENTIONED ABOVE...RAINFALL TOTALS THROUGH EARLY WEDNESDAY ARE FORECAST IN THE 2 TO 4.5 INCH RANGE FOR THE MONONGAHELA AND ALLEGHENY RIVER BASINS. FORECAST MODELS IN THE HANDLING OF THIS SYSTEMS ACTUAL TRACK. GUIDANCE FROM THE HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER HAS GENERALLY THE SAME AREA IN EXCESS OF THREE INCHES ACROSS THOSE SAME AREAS. SHOULD EITHER OF THESE TOTAL BE REALIZED ON A WIDESPREAD BASIS...THEN SMALL STREAM FLOODING WOULD OCCUR BY LATER ON MONDAY AND INTO TUESDAY...WITH RIVER RISES LATE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...WITH FLOODING FOLLOWING IF MAXIMUM AMOUNTS ARE REALIZED. FOR NOW...A MENTION OF SUCH POTENTIAL WILL BE INCLUDED IN THE HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK. ADDITIONAL PRODUCTS WILL FOLLOW DURING THE NEXT FEW DAYS SHOULD THE SITUATION MATERIALIZE FURTHER. && .PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MDZ001. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR MDZ001. OH...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069. PA...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076. WV...FLOOD WATCH FROM MONDAY MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041. HIGH WIND WATCH FROM MONDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-021>023-041. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BUFFALO NY
108 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL ACROSS NEW YORK...WITH PERIODS OF RAIN AND COOL TEMPERATURES ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK THROUGH THE WEEKEND. THE REMNANTS OF SANDY WILL APPROACH THE REGION NEXT WEEK...RESULTING IN AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN AND VERY WINDY CONDITIONS EARLY NEXT WEEK. THE RAIN MAY RESULT IN MINOR FLOODING...AND STRONG WINDS MAY PRODUCE WIND DAMAGE. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... RADAR IMAGERY SHOWING STEADY LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE FAR WESTERN END OF THE STATE EARLY THIS AFTERNOON...WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AS FAR EAST AS A LINE FROM CENTRAL CATTARAUGUS COUNTY TO ROCHESTER. EXPECT THE RAIN TO REMAIN IN THE SAME BASIC POSITION THROUGH MID AFTERNOON WITH THE SURFACE FRONT AND MID LEVEL FORCING ESSENTIALLY STALLED. LATE TODAY THE EASTERN EDGE OF THE RAIN WILL BEGIN TO MOVE EASTWARD SLOWLY. A COLD FRONT WILL REMAIN NEARLY STATIONARY ACROSS CENTRAL NEW YORK TODAY. THIS KEEP ALL OR MOST OF OUR CWA ON THE COOL SIDE OF THE BOUNDARY. THE FRONT WILL NOT MOVE MUCH TONIGHT...POSSIBLY MEANDERING JUST A BIT TO THE EAST...BUT FOR THE MOST PART IT WILL BE STATIONARY. DESPITE THE POSITION OF THE FRONT...IT IS A TIGHT TEMPERATURE GRADIENT ALOFT WHICH SERVES AS THE MAIN FOCUS FOR RAIN. A CONSENSUS OF THE 00Z NAM/RGEM/SREF/GFS GUIDANCE GRADUALLY SHIFT THIS AXIS TO THE EAST LATER TODAY...WHICH IS A BIT MORE MOVEMENT THAN THE SURFACE FRONT. RECENT RUNS OF THE HRRR AND RADAR TRENDS SUGGEST A SLIGHTLY SLOWER PROGRESSION THAN THIS MODEL CONSENSUS...BUT THE TREND SHOULD BE FINE. PROVIDING SECONDARY SUPPORT TO THIS BOUNDARY IS DIVERGENCE ALOFT IN THE RIGHT REAR QUADRANT OF THE UPPER JET. WITH LITTLE FLOW PERPENDICULAR TO TEMPERATURE GRADIENT...THE COMBINATION OF THESE FEATURES WILL ONLY PRODUCE A BAND OF LIGHT TO OCCASIONALLY MODERATE RAIN. RAIN WILL LARGELY REMAIN WEST OF ROCHESTER THROUGH THE MORNING HOURS TODAY...GRADUALLY SHIFTING EAST TOWARD WATERTOWN AND SYRACUSE THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THE BAND WILL STALL...OR EVEN DRIFT BACK WESTWARD TOWARD DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING. DESPITE THE MODEST RAINFALL RATES...THE PERSISTENCE OF THE BAND WILL PRODUCE SOME DECENT 24 HOUR RAIN TOTALS. MODEL CONSENSUS SUGGESTS BETWEEN .50 INCHES AND 1.00 INCHES WEST OF ROCHESTER...QUICKLY TAPERING DOWN TO A TENTH OF AN INCH OR LESS IN EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA. ITS IMPORTANT TO NOTE THAT THE RAIN IS ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT...AND NOT TROPICAL SYSTEM SANDY. THERE ALSO VIRTUALLY TO NO THREAT FOR FLOODING THROUGH EARLY SUNDAY MORNING...AS IT WILL BE A JUST A SOAKING RAINFALL DUE TO THIS FRONT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE NOTABLY COOLER TODAY...WITH MOST OF THE REGION ON THE COLD SIDE OF THE FRONT...ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING WE ARE COMING OFF OF TWO UNSEASONABLY WARM DAYS. GIVEN THE SHALLOW COOL AIR AT THE SURFACE...EXPECT MOST TEMPERATURE GUIDANCE IS A BIT TOO WARM IN WESTERN SECTIONS...WHERE IT WILL BE RAINING MOST OF THE DAY. A BLEND OF THE BIAS CORRECTED SREF AND RGEM WAS USED FOR MOST OF THE TEMPERATURES...BOTH OF WHICH WERE ON THE COOL SIDE EAST OF THE FRONT FOR HIGHS TODAY. TEMPERATURES MAY NOT EVEN TOP 50 DEGREES WEST OF ROCHESTER...WITH HIGHS WARMING TO THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S EAST. EXPECT PATCHY FOG TO PERSIST THROUGH THE PERIOD...MAINLY ACROSS HIGHER TERRAIN. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... THE FOCUS THIS TIME PERIOD WILL FOCUS ON SANDY AND ITS IMPACTS UPON NOT ONLY WESTERN AND NORTH CENTRAL NEW YORK...BUT ALONG THE ENTIRE EASTERN COASTLINE. FIRST...BEFORE WE GET TO SANDY ON MONDAY LETS LOOK AT SUNDAY. AN INVERTED TROUGH WILL BE FOUND NUDGING NORTHWARD THROUGH EASTERN NEW YORK...WITH A STALLED FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST TO THE WEST OF THIS TROUGH. ALOFT AN EASTERLY WIND...OR WARM CONVEYOR BELT WILL TRANSPORT MOISTURE WESTWARD...WITH PWATS RISING TO +1 TO +2SD ABOVE NORMAL. THIS FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL AGAIN FOCUS A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN ACROSS THE CWA...WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF AN 120 KNOT 250 HPA JET OVER WNY SUPPLYING ADDITIONAL SYNOPTIC LIFT. IT IS UNDER THIS JET ENTRANCE REGION WHERE THE RAIN MIGHT BECOME MODERATE AT TIMES. WILL PAINT THE HIGHEST QPF ACROSS WNY FOR SUNDAY-SUNDAY NIGHT. SUNDAY NIGHT MOISTURE WILL CONTINUE TO STREAM WESTWARD ACROSS THE CWA AHEAD OF SANDY. A PERIOD OF LIGHT RAIN WILL AT FIRST FOCUS ACROSS WNY NEAR THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY...THEN LATER MOISTURE STREAMING NORTHWARD OF SANDY...INTERACTING WITH THE NEARING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH MAY BRING SOME RAIN LATE SNEAKING INTO CENTRAL NEW YORK. AS FOR QPF SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT A RANGE OF JUST A FEW TENTH OF AN INCH TOWARDS FAR EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE CWA...AND UPWARDS TO AN INCH ACROSS FAR WNY IN THE VICINITY OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AND UPPER LEVEL JET ENTRANCE REGION. THOUGH WE WILL HAVE AN EASTERLY WIND SEVERAL THOUSAND FEET OFF THE SFC...A BOUNDARY LAYER NORTHERLY WIND WILL CONTINUE TO RAW FEEL TO THE DAY SUNDAY. HIGHS SUNDAY WILL REMAIN IN THE 40S WEST OF THE SFC TROUGH...WHILE ALONG I-81 EASTWARD HIGHS WILL LIKELY AVERAGE 50F. SUNDAY NIGHT WE WILL DROP BACK INTO THE 30S ACROSS WNY...AND MID 40S TO THE EAST WHERE WARMER AIR CONTINUES TO PUSH WESTWARD FROM THE ATLANTIC. STILL CANNOT RULE OUT SOME WET HIGHER ELEVATION SNOWFLAKES ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. DISCUSSION ON SANDY... FIRST A LOOK AT THE MAJOR FEATURES FOR THIS TIME PERIOD. HURRICANE SANDY IS CURRENTLY SPINNING ON A NORTH TO NORTHEAST TRACK NORTH OF THE BAHAMAS AND OFF THE FLORIDA COASTLINE THIS MORNING. ON WATER VAPOR IMAGERY A SHORT WAVE IS FOUND OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA...AND THIS FEATURE WILL CARVE A DEEPER CENTRAL US TROUGH THAT WILL SLIDE EASTWARD...BECOME NEGATIVELY TILTED AND CAPTURE SANDY. TO OUR EAST A +2SD RIDGE AT 500 HPA IS LOCATED ACROSS EASTERN ATLANTIC CANADA AND TOWARDS GREENLAND. THIS RIDGE OVER GREENLAND SUPPORTS THE NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO...AND A NEGATIVE PHASE OF THE NAO CAN ELUDE TO A BLOCKING PATTERN. THIS BLOCKING PATTERN IS WHAT WILL ALLOW THE TROUGH TO OUR WEST TO CAPTURE AND TURN SANDY WESTWARD ACROSS THE EASTERN COASTLINE. THE DETERMINISTIC 27/00Z MODEL OF THE ECMWF CONTINUES TO DRIVE SANDY INTO THE DELMARVA PENINSULA MONDAY...WHILE THE DETERMINISTIC 26/00Z GFS PUSHES SANDY WESTWARD ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORELINE OF LONG ISLAND THROUGH THE COURSE OF TUESDAY. THE GEFS MEMBERS SPREAD FROM NEAR THE EUROPEAN SOLUTION...WHILE SOME MEMBERS BRING SANDY MUCH FARTHER NORTHWARD MAKING LANDFALL IN NEW ENGLAND. THAT SAID WE ARE FAIRLY CERTAIN SANDY WILL MAKE LANDFALL SOMETIME EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH IMPLICATIONS NOW LEANING TOWARDS A PROLONGED RAIN WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR RIVER AND URBAN FLOODING AND POSSIBLE HIGH WIND THREAT. IT IS STILL TO EARLY AND TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY FOR ANY HEADLINES...BUT WE WILL CONTINUE TO MENTION THE THREATS IN OUR HWO PRODUCT AS WELL AS HERE BELOW IN THE AFD. RAIN AND FLOODING...BOTH THE ECMWF AND GFS LINGER A FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS WNY...AND MOISTURE SURGING WESTWARD TOWARDS THIS FRONT COULD LEAD TO A PERIOD OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN BEGINNING AS EARLY AS MONDAY...WITH THE FOCUS OF HEAVY RAIN ACROSS WNY. AS SANDY MOVES INLAND WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL PERIODS OF RAIN IN THE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT TIME FRAME...WITH THE HEAVIEST RAIN LIKELY MONDAY NIGHT AND THROUGH TUESDAY. WE WILL HIGHLIGHT THIS HEAVY RAIN POTENTIAL IN THE GRIDS. IT IS STILL A LITTLE EARLY TO FOCUS WHERE THE HEAVIEST RAIN WILL FALL...AND HOW MUCH BUT SEVERAL INCHES OF RAIN IS EXPECTED. A LOOK AT THE GEFS MODEL ENSEMBLE RIVER FORECASTS SHOWS THAT SOME OF OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN NEW YORK AND THE GENESEE VALLEY WILL NEED TO BE WATCHED FOR RIVER HEIGHT RISES. A FEW MEMBERS OF THIS ENSEMBLE DO BRING SEVERAL OF OUR CREEKS...BOTH QUICK AND SLOW RISERS INTO MINOR FLOODING IN THE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY TIMEFRAME. WITH RAINFALL SINCE SEPTEMBER 1ST AROUND AN INCH OR SO ABOVE NORMAL...AND COMBINED WITH THE WEEKEND RAIN...OUR CREEKS AND RIVERS THAT WERE PRETTY LOW OVER THE SUMMER HAVE LARGELY RECOVERED FROM THEIR LOW FLOW. THIS INCREASE IN RIVER FLOW THIS AUTUMN WILL ONLY INCREASE THE POSSIBILITIES OF ANY RIVER FLOODING NEXT WEEK...AS WELL AS SMALL CREEKS. THERE IS ALSO THE POTENTIAL FOR URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE FLOODING. THOUGH WE ARE EXPECTING SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINFALL...THIS WILL OCCUR OVER A SEVERAL DAY TIME PERIOD POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE GROUND TO HANDLE SUCH HIGH RAINFALLS. WIND...THE SECOND BIG CONCERN WITH SANDY FOR OUR AREA WILL BE WIND. AS SANDY PUSHES INLAND AND NEARS OUR REGION AN INCREASE IN WIND SPEED...LIKELY A NORTH TO NORTHEAST WIND... IS EXPECTED. AGAIN MODELS WILL LIKELY FLUCTUATE ON WIND SPEED AND PLACEMENT OF PEAK GUSTS WITH THE TRACK OF THE SYSTEM AND PINPOINTING SPEEDS AT THIS TIME IS UNCERTAIN. THE HIGHEST WINDS SPEEDS WILL LIKELY COME MONDAY NIGHT AND INTO TUESDAY BASED OFF BOTH THE CURRENT MODEL RUNS OF THE 27/00Z ECMWF AND GFS. WITH THIS WIND DIRECTION THE AREA MOST LIKELY IMPACTED BY THE WINDS WILL BE LAKE ONTARIO AND ITS SOUTHERN SHORELINES. PAST TROPICAL OR DEEP SURFACE LOW EVENTS HAVE SHOWN EVEN SUBWARNING WIND SPEEDS CAN FALL TREES AS THE NORTHEAST WIND DIRECTION IS NOT A COMMON HIGH SPEED DIRECTION FOR OUR REGION. SNOW...THIS IMPACT IS BECOMING LESS LIKELY AS WARM AIR WRAPPING ACROSS OUR REGION WILL LEAVE THE BOUNDARY LAYER TOO WARM TO SUPPORT SNOW. TEMPERATURES WILL COOL SOME AT NIGHT AND THERE IS STILL A CHC FOR HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW MONDAY NIGHT ACROSS SOUTHWESTERN NEW YORK STATE. PLEASE CONTINUE TO MONITOR YOUR NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST FOR UPDATES THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS WE CONTINUE TO FINE TUNE THE DETAILS. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... THIS TIME PERIOD WILL START WITH THE DECAYING REMNANTS OF SANDY EARLY IN THE PERIOD...TRANSITIONING TO POSSIBLE SNOW BY THE END OF THE WEEK. WEDNESDAY THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO BE QUICKLY FILLING...THOUGH STILL DEEP. POSITION OF WHERE THE LOW WILL BE IS STILL UNCERTAIN WITH THE 27/00Z ECMWF LINGERING THE LOW NEAR THE ATLANTIC COASTLINE OF THE MID ATLANTIC STATES...WHILE THE 27/00Z GFS BRINGS THE LOW FARTHEST INLAND TO NEAR LAKE ERIE. A CONSENSUS OF THESE TWO MODELS MATCHES CLOSELY WITH THE NHC TRACK WHICH PLACES THE LOW OVER CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. WILL CONTINUE WITH LIKELY POPS ON WEDNESDAY FOR SHOWERS AS THE SYSTEM CONTINUES TO FILL AND LOW LEVEL OMEGA DISPLAYS LITTLE UPWARD MOTION. QPF WEDNESDAY WILL LIKELY RANGE FROM HALF AN INCH OR LESS. WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT THE UPPER LEVEL FLOW WILL REMAIN CUT OFF FROM THE MAIN JET STREAM...ALLOWING THE REMNANT LOW OF SANDY TO SLOWLY SPIRAL NORTHEASTWARD. THIS WILL LEAD TO ADDITIONAL PROLONGED PERIOD OF SHOWERS. BY FRIDAY A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE BARRELING TOWARDS THE ROCKIES FORCING A DOWNSTREAM UPPER LEVEL RIDGE OVER THE PLAINS. THIS RIDGE WILL NUDGE THE UPPER LEVEL CUTOFF LOW EASTWARD WITH A COOL NORTHWESTERLY FLOW THEN REACHING THE CWA. TEMPERATURES AT 850 HPA DROP TO -1 TO -2C WHICH MAY ALLOW FOR SOME LAKE ENHANCED RAIN AND OR SNOW SHOWERS ON FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES THIS THREE DAY TIME PERIOD WILL RUN IN THE 40S BY DAY...AND 40S TO SOUTHERN TIER INLAND VALLEYS 30S BY NIGHT. && .AVIATION /17Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... WIDESPREAD IFR CONDITIONS WILL CONTINUE THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY FOR ALL OF WESTERN NEW YORK. THE AREA WILL REMAIN ON THE COOL SIDE OF A STALLED OUT FRONTAL BOUNDARY...WITH THE MID LEVEL SECTION OF THAT BOUNDARY PROVIDING A FOCUS FOR PERIODS OF RAIN. THE RAIN WILL REMAIN IN WESTERN NY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON BEFORE MOVING EAST ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THE FIRST HALF OF TONIGHT. LATE TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY THE RAIN WILL MOVE BACK TO THE WEST AS THE FRONTAL ZONE GETS FORCED WEST BY THE INCREASING OUTER INFLUENCE FROM SANDY. CIGS WILL BE SOLID IFR THROUGH THE PERIOD ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA... WITH PERIODS OF IFR VSBY AS WELL IN HEAVIER RAIN AND ALSO IN BR/FG. THE MOST DENSE FOG WILL BE FOUND ACROSS THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE WESTERN SOUTHERN TIER AND FINGER LAKES WHERE STRATUS WILL INTERSECT THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH DENSE FOG ON THE HILLS. THE ONE EXCEPTION TO ALL OF THIS WILL BE THE NORTH COUNTRY...WHERE KART WILL REMAIN MVFR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. RAIN AND WEAK LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE MAY BRING CIGS DOWN TO IFR LATER TONIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING BEFORE SOME IMPROVEMENT BACK TO MVFR ON SUNDAY. OUTLOOK... MONDAY...PERIODS OF RAIN AND IFR. MONDAY NIGHT...HEAVY RAIN AND IFR. STRONG WINDS AT THE SURFACE AND EXTREMELY STRONG WINDS JUST OFF THE DECK. TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY...OCCASIONAL SHOWERS WITH MVFR/IFR. && .MARINE... A COLD FRONT STALL OVER EASTERN NEW YORK TODAY. A NORTHERLY FLOW OF NOTICEABLY COLDER AIR BEHIND THE FRONT WILL RESULT IN SCA CONDITIONS ALONG THE SOUTHERN SHORES OF BOTH LAKES THROUGH SUNDAY. THERE IS AN INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR STRONGER WINDS EARLY NEXT WEEK AS SANDY INTERACTS WITH AN UPPER LEVEL TROF ACROSS THE EASTERN LAKES EARLY NEXT WEEK. WHILE THE EXACT TRACK AND STRENGTH OF THE STORM IS UNCERTAIN...IT DOES APPEARS THE STRONGEST WINDS ON BOTH LAKES WILL LIKELY OCCUR LATE MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY MORNING. MODEL GUIDANCE SUGGESTS GALE OR STORM FORCE WINDS ARE A POSSIBILITY DURING THIS PERIOD. && .BUF WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NY...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR LEZ041. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LEZ040. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT SUNDAY FOR LOZ042>044. && $$ SYNOPSIS...APFFEL/HITCHCOCK NEAR TERM...APFFEL/HITCHCOCK SHORT TERM...THOMAS LONG TERM...THOMAS AVIATION...HITCHCOCK MARINE...APFFEL/THOMAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS STATE COLLEGE PA
150 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH TONIGHT. HURRICANE SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH-NORTHEAST PARALLEL TO THE SOUTHEAST COAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND...BEFORE TURNING TO THE NORTHWEST TOWARD THE DELMARVA PENINSULA AND NEW JERSEY COAST ON MONDAY. THE VERY LARGE STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH MID-WEEK. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC AND DEVASTATING STORM INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... BIGGEST CONCERN IN THE NEAR TERM IS HOW FAR EAST THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN PA. RADAR SHOWS SHOWERS MAINLY OVER WARREN COUNTY...EDGING ONLY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. I LIKE THE HRRR DEPICTION OF THE RAIN BAND TIGHTENING UP AND REMAINING OVER NWRN AREAS...KEEPING THE BULK OF THE FCST AREA DRY INTO SUNDAY. OTHER CONCERN IS FOR SOME HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLY DEVELOPING IN THIS FRONTAL ZONE AS THE UPPER JET ENTRANCE REGION INTENSIFIES IN RESPONSE TO OUTFLOW FROM THE LARGE HURRICANE SANDY...WHICH WILL HELP BUILD THE HEIGHTS OVER THE NERN US AND CANADIAN MARITIMES...RESULTING IN A TIGHTENING AND ANTICYCLONIC ELONGATING OF THE IMPRESSIVE JET ENTRANCE. SO FAR HOWEVER...RAINFALL HAS NOT BEEN TERRIBLY HEAVY. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... NO MAJOR CHANGES SEEN FOR SUNDAY. THE SQUEEZE PLAY /BETWEEN THE APPROACHING AND AMPLIFYING MIDWEST UPPER TROUGH/CFRONT...AND THE PLUME OF DEEP TROPICAL AND ATLANTIC MOISTURE AHEAD OF TS SANDY/ WILL LEAD TO A BLOSSOMING AREA OF STEADY LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN ACROSS THE REGION...MAINLY LATER SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. THE NW AND SE SECTIONS OF PENN /INCLUDING THE LWR SUSQ VALLEY/ WILL SEE THE STEADIEST RAIN SUNDAY WITH AN ADDITIONAL 0.25-0.50 BY 00Z MONDAY...WHILE MOST OF THE CENTRAL RIDGE AND VALLEY REGION WILL SEE RELATIVELY LIGHTER AMOUNTS. AFTERWARD...THE WAITING GAME NEARS ITS GRAND FINALE /WITH RESPECT TO SANDY`S HEAVY RAIN AND LANDFALL LOCATION/ AS SHE BEGINS HER NORTHWEST CURL TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC SEABOARD FROM THE WARM GULF STREAM WATERS VERY EARLY MONDAY MORNING. A LARGE SWATH OF INCREASINGLY HEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD NNWD WELL AHEAD OF SANDY...AND INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE CWA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...BEFORE EXPANDING INTO THE CENTRAL PA ZONES ON MONDAY. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... LATEST 00Z-06Z MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN UP THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE LANDFALL LOCATIONS...WITH THE MEAN NOW BEING BETWEEN ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY...AND OCEAN CITY MARYLAND MONDAY EVENING. THIS PATH IS VERY OMINOUS FOR THE LARGE POPULATION AREA OF SOUTHEASTERN PA AND THE LOWER SUSQ VALLEY...WITH BANDS SQUALLS CONTAINING EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IMPACTING THE REGION. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS...THERE WILL ALSO LIKELY BE A SEVERE WEATHER/TORNADO THREAT NEAR...AND TO THE NORTH OF THE KLNS AND KMDT AREAS LATER MONDAY NIGHT. WIND FIELDS SURROUNDING THE LOW CENTER WILL BE VERY IMPRESSIVE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AS SANDY TAKES A LIKELY TRACK WWD INTO CENTRAL OR SOUTHERN PENN. NORTHEAST TO NW WINDS OF 60 PLUS KTS ARE FCST TO BE ONLY ABOUT 2 KFT AGL...WITH THE 50 KT CONTOUR AT 1 KFT AGL. THESE WINDS WILL EASILY BE MIXED DOWN TO THE SFC BY THE HEAVY RAIN-BANDS...BUT LIKELY MOST SEVERELY IMPACT THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SOUTH AND EAST...BEFORE BECOMING SLIGHTLY DAMPENED TWD THE CENTRAL MTNS. HEAVIER QUASI-SPIRAL RAIN BANDS WILL EASILY MIX OUT OCNL GUSTS AROUND 50KTS SHOULD THIS EXPECTED MODEL MEAN TRACK /AND TPCS/ VERIFY. WE POSTED A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SE ZONES A SHORT TIME AGO...AND IT WILL RUN FROM 06Z MONDAY THROUGH 00Z WED...WITH 4 INCHES OF MORE LOOKING LIKE A GOOD POTENTIAL. LOCALIZED MUCH HEAVIER AMOUNTS OF 6-10 INCHES ARE ALSO WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES AS THE HYBRID STORM IN CAPTURED...THEN ABSORBED BY THE AMPLIFYING AND STRONGLY NEG TILT UPPER TROUGH. IN ADDITION TO THE PLETHORA OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO WIND...RAIN AND POTENTIAL SEVERE CONVECTION...THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERAL INCHES OF HEAVY WET SNOW STILL REMAINS FOR THE RIDGES OF THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS BEGINNING LATE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT...AND CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY AS THE 850 MB WET BULB TEMPS COOL TO JUST UNDER 0C FROM THE SOUTHWEST. MUCH HEAVIER SNOW IS EXPECTED FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE MTNS OF WVA. SANDY AND THE UPPER TROUGH CAPTURING IT FROM THE WEST...EVOLVE INTO A LARGE/STACKED LOW ACROSS THE NRN VIRGINIAS OR CENTRAL PENN TUESDAY BEFORE GRADUALLY FILLING AND DRIFTING NNE DURING THE MIDWEEK. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS RAIN SHOWERS...MIXED WITH SOME WET SNOW ACROSS THE RIDGES WILL FOLLOW FOR THE MID-WEEK/HALLOWEEN PERIOD. && .AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... LOTS OF LOW CLOUDS ACROSS CENTRAL PA THIS AFTN. KBFD /WHICH WAS SOCKED IN WITH 200FT CIGS AND FOG ALL MORNING/ HAS SEEN THE FOG SCOUR OUT AND CIGS RISE THIS AFTN...AS WINDS SHIFTED FROM NORTHEASTERLY TO SOUTHEASTERLY. A COLD FRONT AND ITS ACCOMPANYING N-S BAND OF LGT TO MOD RA WILL PERSIST INTO TONIGHT ACROSS WRN PA...AS THE FRONT STRUGGLES TO MAKE MUCH EASTWARD PROGRESS. EXPECT WINDS TO BACK FROM SOUTHEASTERLY TO NORTHEASTERLY AT KBFD...WHICH SHOULD RESULT IN A RETURN OF IFR/LIFR CONDS. THE SAME SHOULD HAPPEN AT KJST AS WELL. LOW MVFR/IFR CONDS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP THIS EVENING INTO TONIGHT AT OTHER CENTRAL PA TAF SITES AS WELL...WITH LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE POSSIBLE. CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN TO DETERIORATE FURTHER LATE SUNDAY INTO MONDAY...AS SANDY SLOWLY APPROACHES THE REGION. OUTLOOK... SUN...MVFR/IFR CONDS PERSISTING...WITH -RA POSSIBLE. SUN NIGHT-TUE...WIDESPREAD MVFR/IFR. PERIODS OF MOD-HVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS/LLWS ASSOC WITH SANDY. WED-THU...BREEZY. MVFR/IFR WITH -RA/SN SHRA WEST...MVFR CENTRAL AND EAST. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ056>059-063>066. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LA CORTE NEAR TERM...LA CORTE SHORT TERM...LA CORTE LONG TERM...FITZGERALD/LAMBERT AVIATION...EVANEGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS STATE COLLEGE PA
1233 PM EDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL STALL OVER WESTERN PENNSYLVANIA THROUGH TONIGHT. HURRICANE SANDY WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE NORTH-NORTHEAST PARALLEL TO THE SOUTHEAST COAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND...BEFORE TURNING TO THE NORTHWEST TOWARD THE DELMARVA PENINSULA AND NEW JERSEY COAST ON MONDAY. THE VERY LARGE STORM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE REGION THROUGH MID-WEEK. THE PRIMARY HAZARDS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POTENTIALLY HISTORIC AND DEVASTATING STORM INCLUDE SIGNIFICANT FLOODING AND WIDESPREAD DAMAGING WINDS. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... BIGGEST CONCERN IN THE NEAR TERM IS HOW FAR EAST THE RAIN ASSOCIATED WITH THE NEARLY STATIONARY FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN PA. RADAR SHOWS SHOWERS MAINLY OVER WARREN COUNTY...EDGING ONLY SLOWLY TO THE EAST. I LIKE THE HRRR DEPICTION OF THE RAIN BAND TIGHTENING UP AND REMAINING OVER NWRN AREAS...KEEPING THE BULK OF THE FCST AREA DRY INTO SUNDAY. OTHER CONCERN IS FOR SOME HEAVY RAIN POSSIBLY DEVELOPING IN THIS FRONTAL ZONE AS THE UPPER JET ENTRANCE REGION INTENSIFIES IN RESPONSE TO OUTFLOW FROM THE LARGE HURRICANE SANDY...WHICH WILL HELP BUILD THE HEIGHTS OVER THE NERN US AND CANADIAN MARITIMES...RESULTING IN A TIGHTENING AND ANTICYCLONIC ELONGATING OF THE IMPRESSIVE JET ENTRANCE. SO FAR HOWEVER...RAINFALL HAS NOT BEEN TERRIBLY HEAVY. && .SHORT TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/... NO MAJOR CHANGES SEEN FOR SUNDAY. THE SQUEEZE PLAY /BETWEEN THE APPROACHING AND AMPLIFYING MIDWEST UPPER TROUGH/CFRONT...AND THE PLUME OF DEEP TROPICAL AND ATLANTIC MOISTURE AHEAD OF TS SANDY/ WILL LEAD TO A BLOSSOMING AREA OF STEADY LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN ACROSS THE REGION...MAINLY LATER SUNDAY INTO SUNDAY NIGHT. THE NW AND SE SECTIONS OF PENN /INCLUDING THE LWR SUSQ VALLEY/ WILL SEE THE STEADIEST RAIN SUNDAY WITH AN ADDITIONAL 0.25-0.50 BY 00Z MONDAY...WHILE MOST OF THE CENTRAL RIDGE AND VALLEY REGION WILL SEE RELATIVELY LIGHTER AMOUNTS. AFTERWARD...THE WAITING GAME NEARS ITS GRAND FINALE /WITH RESPECT TO SANDY`S HEAVY RAIN AND LANDFALL LOCATION/ AS SHE BEGINS HER NORTHWEST CURL TOWARD THE MID ATLANTIC SEABOARD FROM THE WARM GULF STREAM WATERS VERY EARLY MONDAY MORNING. A LARGE SWATH OF INCREASINGLY HEAVY RAIN WILL SPREAD NNWD WELL AHEAD OF SANDY...AND INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN PART OF THE CWA LATE SUNDAY NIGHT...BEFORE EXPANDING INTO THE CENTRAL PA ZONES ON MONDAY. && .LONG TERM /MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... LATEST 00Z-06Z MODEL GUIDANCE CONTINUES TO TIGHTEN UP THE RANGE OF POSSIBLE LANDFALL LOCATIONS...WITH THE MEAN NOW BEING BETWEEN ATLANTIC CITY NEW JERSEY...AND OCEAN CITY MARYLAND MONDAY EVENING. THIS PATH IS VERY OMINOUS FOR THE LARGE POPULATION AREA OF SOUTHEASTERN PA AND THE LOWER SUSQ VALLEY...WITH BANDS SQUALLS CONTAINING EXCESSIVE RAINFALL AND STRONG DAMAGING WIND GUSTS IMPACTING THE REGION. TO COMPLICATE MATTERS...THERE WILL ALSO LIKELY BE A SEVERE WEATHER/TORNADO THREAT NEAR...AND TO THE NORTH OF THE KLNS AND KMDT AREAS LATER MONDAY NIGHT. WIND FIELDS SURROUNDING THE LOW CENTER WILL BE VERY IMPRESSIVE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AS SANDY TAKES A LIKELY TRACK WWD INTO CENTRAL OR SOUTHERN PENN. NORTHEAST TO NW WINDS OF 60 PLUS KTS ARE FCST TO BE ONLY ABOUT 2 KFT AGL...WITH THE 50 KT CONTOUR AT 1 KFT AGL. THESE WINDS WILL EASILY BE MIXED DOWN TO THE SFC BY THE HEAVY RAIN-BANDS...BUT LIKELY MOST SEVERELY IMPACT THE HIGHER TERRAIN OF THE SOUTH AND EAST...BEFORE BECOMING SLIGHTLY DAMPENED TWD THE CENTRAL MTNS. HEAVIER QUASI-SPIRAL RAIN BANDS WILL EASILY MIX OUT OCNL GUSTS AROUND 50KTS SHOULD THIS EXPECTED MODEL MEAN TRACK /AND TPCS/ VERIFY. WE POSTED A FLOOD WATCH FOR THE SE ZONES A SHORT TIME AGO...AND IT WILL RUN FROM 06Z MONDAY THROUGH 00Z WED...WITH 4 INCHES OF MORE LOOKING LIKE A GOOD POTENTIAL. LOCALIZED MUCH HEAVIER AMOUNTS OF 6-10 INCHES ARE ALSO WITHIN THE REALM OF POSSIBILITIES AS THE HYBRID STORM IN CAPTURED...THEN ABSORBED BY THE AMPLIFYING AND STRONGLY NEG TILT UPPER TROUGH. IN ADDITION TO THE PLETHORA OF PROBLEMS RELATED TO WIND...RAIN AND POTENTIAL SEVERE CONVECTION...THE POTENTIAL FOR SEVERAL INCHES OF HEAVY WET SNOW STILL REMAINS FOR THE RIDGES OF THE LAUREL HIGHLANDS BEGINNING LATE MONDAY OR MONDAY NIGHT...AND CONTINUING THROUGH TUESDAY AS THE 850 MB WET BULB TEMPS COOL TO JUST UNDER 0C FROM THE SOUTHWEST. MUCH HEAVIER SNOW IS EXPECTED FURTHER SOUTH ACROSS THE MTNS OF WVA. SANDY AND THE UPPER TROUGH CAPTURING IT FROM THE WEST...EVOLVE INTO A LARGE/STACKED LOW ACROSS THE NRN VIRGINIAS OR CENTRAL PENN TUESDAY BEFORE GRADUALLY FILLING AND DRIFTING NNE DURING THE MIDWEEK. SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS RAIN SHOWERS...MIXED WITH SOME WET SNOW ACROSS THE RIDGES WILL FOLLOW FOR THE MID-WEEK/HALLOWEEN PERIOD. && .AVIATION /16Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... A COLD FRONT AND ACCOMPANYING N-S BAND OF LGT TO MOD RA WILL CONTINUE ACROSS NORTHWESTERN PA THROUGH THIS AFTN/EVE. SUBSIDENCE BETWEEN THE FRONT AND T.S. SANDY SHOULD KEEP THINGS MAINLY DRY ACRS CENTRAL AND ERN SXNS. CIGS MAY RISE A BIT DURING THE AFTN...BUT NOT MUCH. AS WITH THE PAST FEW NIGHTS...EXPECT CIGS TO LOWER TO LOW MVFR-IFR CONDS TONIGHT. FRONTAL RAINS WILL CONTINUE ACRS WRN SXNS WITH POCKETS OF -RADZ ACRS CENTRAL AND ERN SITES. OUTLOOK... SUN-TUE...WIDESPREAD MVFR/IFR. PERIODS OF MOD-HVY RAIN AND STRONG WINDS/LLWS ASSOC WITH SANDY. RAIN MAY CHANGE TO SNOW IN THE SW PA MTNS ON TUE. WED...BREEZY. MVFR/IFR WITH RA-SN SHOWERS WEST...MVFR CENTRAL AND EAST. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FLOOD WATCH FROM LATE SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING FOR PAZ056>059-063>066. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LA CORTE/STEINBUGL NEAR TERM...LA CORTE/STEINBUGL SHORT TERM...FITZGERALD/LAMBERT LONG TERM...FITZGERALD/LAMBERT AVIATION...STEINBUGL/EVANEGO
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREEN BAY WI
601 PM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 UPDATED AVIATION PORTION FOR 00Z TAF ISSUANCE .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM WESTERN TEXAS TO THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. DIURNAL CU TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO POP...BUT GOT GOING AROUND NOON TODAY OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN. LOOKING UPSTREAM...PLENTY OF MID AND HIGH CLOUDS OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS AS WEAK SHORTWAVE ACTIVITY MOVES AROUND THE MEAN TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CONTINENT. A COUPLE REPORTS OF SNOW FALLING OUT OF THESE CLOUDS OVER NORTH DAKOTA...BUT NOTHING FALLING FURTHER SOUTH. WITH A DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE...CLOUDS AND TEMPS WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION. TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES INTO THE STATE FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS. BUT SHORTWAVE ENERGY FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...AND MID/HIGH CLOUDS WILL BE SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST. THESE CLOUDS DO NOT LOOK REAL THICK OR SOLID IN APPEARANCE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY...AND TEMPS WERE STILL ABLE TO FALL INTO THE LOW TO MID 20S UPSTREAM. LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL SWING AROUND FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST OVER NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN THIS EVENING. TRAJECTORY OF WINDS SUGGESTS MANITOWOC COUNTY MAY GET GRAZED BY LAKE CLOUDS. WINDS LOOK A LITTLE TOO NORTHERLY OVER GREEN BAY FOR BAY CLOUDS TO IMPACT THE FOX VALLEY...BUT SHOULD KEEP TEMPS SLIGHTLY WARMER. WILL GO WITH LOWS RANGING FROM THE UPPER TEENS OVER N-C WISCONSIN...TO THE LOWER 30S NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE AXIS BECOMES OVERHEAD ON SUNDAY. WINDS TURN MORE NORTHEASTERLY OVER NORTHEAST WISCONSIN...WHICH WILL ADVECT LAKE MOISTURE INLAND FROM THE FOX VALLEY ON EASTWARD. IF LAKE/BAY CLOUDS DO NOT PUSH INLAND IN THE MORNING...DIURNAL HEATING SHOULD ALLOW FOR A CU FIELD TO DEVELOP BY MIDDAY. MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL STILL BE OVERHEAD DURING THE MORNING...BUT RH PROGS SUGGEST SOME THINNING/DISSIPATION OF CLOUDS DURING THE AFTERNOON. IN THE END...WENT WITH PARTLY/MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING...AND INCREASING SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS A DEGREE OR TWO WARMER THAN TODAY. .LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THRU NEXT SATURDAY. CONCERNS THIS PERIOD IN BEGINNING PART OF FORECAST MON NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS AFFECTS OF HURRICANE SANDY PUSH WEST. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WILL CONTINUE THE DRY...COOL PATTERN OVER THE REGION. HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS COLDER GUIDANCE AT NIGHT...BUT TEMPERED A BIT WITH POSSIBILITY OF MID/HIGH CLOUDS POSSIBLE WEST WITH WARM ADVECTION SETTING UP. WITH REGARDS TO SANDY...WENT WITH A BASIC 50/50 BLEND OF GFS/EC. 12Z GFS STAYING PRETTY CLOSE TO PREVIOUS RUN BRINGING SYSTEM SLIGHTLY FURTHER WEST AND REMAINING ON THE DEEPER SIDE OF GUIDANCE. THIS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED IN HOW IT IS HANDLING JET ENERGY WEST OF THE SYSTEM. 00Z EC JOGGED A BIT EAST WITH THE SYSTEM COMPARED TO ITS PREVIOUS RUN. EITHER WAY ANY PCPN WOULD STAY OVER FAR EAST PART OF CWA OR OVER LAKE MI TUE INTO WED. WILL CONTINUE WITH A RAIN SNOW MIX AS SOUNDINGS INDICATE FURTHER COOLING OF LOWER LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE POSSIBLE DUE TO EVAPORATIVE EFFECTS. SANDY TO SLOWLY EXIT TO THE NORTH...NORTHEAST WITH RIDGE BUILDING IN WED NIGHT/THU. WARMER...AND MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THU INTO NEXT SAT && .AVIATION...NICE NIGHT FOR FLYING WITH LIGHT SURFACE WINDS AND JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS MOVING IN FROM THE SOUTH. GOOD DAY SUNDAY AS WELL WITH LIGHT WINDS AND HIGH CLOUDS. RDM && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREEN BAY WI
225 PM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SHORT TERM...TONIGHT AND SUNDAY. LATEST RUC ANALYSIS AND SATELLITE/RADAR IMAGERY SHOW SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM WESTERN TEXAS TO THE NORTHERN MISSISSIPPI VALLEY EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. DIURNAL CU TOOK A LITTLE WHILE TO POP...BUT GOT GOING AROUND NOON TODAY OVER WESTERN AND NORTHERN WISCONSIN. LOOKING UPSTREAM...PLENTY OF MID AND HIGH CLOUDS OVER THE NORTHERN PLAINS AS WEAK SHORTWAVE ACTIVITY MOVES AROUND THE MEAN TROUGH OVER THE CENTRAL PART OF THE CONTINENT. A COUPLE REPORTS OF SNOW FALLING OUT OF THESE CLOUDS OVER NORTH DAKOTA...BUT NOTHING FALLING FURTHER SOUTH. WITH A DRY AIRMASS IN PLACE...CLOUDS AND TEMPS WILL BE THE MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION. TONIGHT...SURFACE RIDGE AXIS MOVES INTO THE STATE FROM THE NORTHERN PLAINS. BUT SHORTWAVE ENERGY FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS WILL BE MOVING INTO THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...AND MID/HIGH CLOUDS WILL BE SPREADING ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING FROM SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST. THESE CLOUDS DO NOT LOOK REAL THICK OR SOLID IN APPEARANCE ON SATELLITE IMAGERY...AND TEMPS WERE STILL ABLE TO FALL INTO THE LOW TO MID 20S UPSTREAM. LOW LEVEL WINDS WILL SWING AROUND FROM THE NORTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST OVER NORTHERN LAKE MICHIGAN THIS EVENING. TRAJECTORY OF WINDS SUGGESTS MANITOWOC COUNTY MAY GET GRAZED BY LAKE CLOUDS. WINDS LOOK A LITTLE TOO NORTHERLY OVER GREEN BAY FOR BAY CLOUDS TO IMPACT THE FOX VALLEY...BUT SHOULD KEEP TEMPS SLIGHTLY WARMER. WILL GO WITH LOWS RANGING FROM THE UPPER TEENS OVER N-C WISCONSIN...TO THE LOWER 30S NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN. SUNDAY...HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE AXIS BECOMES OVERHEAD ON SUNDAY. WINDS TURN MORE NORTHEASTERLY OVER NORTHEAST WISCONSIN...WHICH WILL ADVECT LAKE MOISTURE INLAND FROM THE FOX VALLEY ON EASTWARD. IF LAKE/BAY CLOUDS DO NOT PUSH INLAND IN THE MORNING...DIURNAL HEATING SHOULD ALLOW FOR A CU FIELD TO DEVELOP BY MIDDAY. MID AND HIGH CLOUDS WILL STILL BE OVERHEAD DURING THE MORNING...BUT RH PROGS SUGGEST SOME THINNING/DISSIPATION OF CLOUDS DURING THE AFTERNOON. IN THE END...WENT WITH PARTLY/MOSTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING...AND INCREASING SUNSHINE IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS A DEGREE OR TWO WARMER THAN TODAY. .LONG TERM...SUNDAY NIGHT THRU NEXT SATURDAY. CONCERNS THIS PERIOD IN BEGINNING PART OF FORECAST MON NIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY AS AFFECTS OF HURRICANE SANDY PUSH WEST. HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE REGION SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY WILL CONTINUE THE DRY...COOL PATTERN OVER THE REGION. HAVE TRENDED TOWARDS COLDER GUIDANCE AT NIGHT...BUT TEMPERED A BIT WITH POSSIBILITY OF MID/HIGH CLOUDS POSSIBLE WEST WITH WARM ADVECTION SETTING UP. WITH REGARDS TO SANDY...WENT WITH A BASIC 50/50 BLEND OF GFS/EC. 12Z GFS STAYING PRETTY CLOSE TO PREVIOUS RUN BRINGING SYSTEM SLIGHTLY FURTHER WEST AND REMAINING ON THE DEEPER SIDE OF GUIDANCE. THIS MAY BE ATTRIBUTED IN HOW IT IS HANDLING JET ENERGY WEST OF THE SYSTEM. 00Z EC JOGGED A BIT EAST WITH THE SYSTEM COMPARED TO ITS PREVIOUS RUN. EITHER WAY ANY PCPN WOULD STAY OVER FAR EAST PART OF CWA OR OVER LAKE MI TUE INTO WED. WILL CONTINUE WITH A RAIN SNOW MIX AS SOUNDINGS INDICATE FURTHER COOLING OF LOWER LAYERS OF ATMOSPHERE POSSIBLE DUE TO EVAPORATIVE EFFECTS. SANDY TO SLOWLY EXIT TO THE NORTH...NORTHEAST WITH RIDGE BUILDING IN WED NIGHT/THU. WARMER...AND MAINLY DRY CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THU INTO NEXT SAT && .AVIATION...FOR THE 12Z TAF ISSUANCE. CLDS BASES TDA SHOULD BE HIGH ENOUGH TO STAY IN VFR CATEGORY. SOME MVFR CIGS WL LIKELY DEVELOP TNGT NEAR LAKE MICHIGAN AND THE BAY OF GREEN BAY. && .GRB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ MPC/TE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS LA CROSSE WI
1130 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 .SHORT TERM...TODAY THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 MAIN FORECAST CONCERNS ARE ON CLOUDS AND TEMPERATURES THROUGHOUT DUE TO LACK OF PRECIPITATION FORCING MECHANISMS. CURRENTLY AS OF 07Z...WATER VAPOR LOOP AND RAP 500MB HEIGHT ANALYSIS LOOKS VERY SIMILAR TO 24 HOURS AGO WITH RIDGING OVER THE EASTERN PACIFIC...TROUGHING OVER THE WESTERN TWO THIRDS OF CANADA INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS...RIDGING OVER NEWFOUNDLAND AND TROPICAL STORM SANDY SITTING JUST NORTH OF THE NORTHWEST BAHAMAS. MAIN SHORTWAVE OF NOTE WAS OVER SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA WITH A 130 KT JET STREAK NEAR 225MB IN EASTERN WASHINGTON STATE. A STREAM OF CIRRUS EXTENDED DOWNSTREAM FROM THIS SHORTWAVE INTO MONTANA AND THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. FARTHER EAST INTO THE FORECAST AREA...A BROKEN FIELD OF STRATOCUMULUS COVERED MUCH OF THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY REGION. THESE CLOUDS WERE REPRESENTED WELL ON THE 00Z MPX SOUNDING BY YET ANOTHER MOIST LAYER BETWEEN 750-800MB. AIRMASS REMAINS COOL OVER THE FORECAST AREA WITH 00Z SOUNDINGS SHOWING 850MB TEMPS AROUND -7C. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS AND A LIGHT WESTERLY BREEZE NORTH OF HIGH PRESSURE IN WESTERN IOWA HAVE HELPED TO LIMIT THE TEMPERATURE FALL TOO MUCH THUS FAR. TEMPERATURES SO FAR HAVE FALLEN INTO THE UPPER 20S TO MID 30S. TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY...FOCUS FOR OUR AREA IS ON THAT SHORTWAVE IN SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA. MODELS ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT DROPPING IT DOWN INTO THE BASE OF THE UPPER TROUGH...REACHING FAR WESTERN NEBRASKA BY 00Z SUNDAY...THE MEMPHIS TN AREA BY 12Z SUNDAY AND THEN PUSHING EAST TO THE GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS AREA BY 00Z MONDAY. AS THIS SHORTWAVE DIVES SOUTHEAST...EXPECT THE MASS OF CIRRUS ENTERING THE DAKOTAS TO SPREAD INTO THE FORECAST AREA THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. THUS...EVEN IF THE CURRENT STRATOCUMULUS CONTINUES TO BREAK UP OR DISSIPATE...THE CLEARING LOOKS TO BE TEMPORARY. THE CIRRUS APPEARS TO HOLD ON THROUGH MUCH OF TONIGHT...THEN THERE ARE SUGGESTIONS OF A DECAYING MID CLOUD DECK ASSOCIATED WITH THE SHORTWAVE MOVING INTO THE AREA FROM THE WEST ON SUNDAY. PLENTY OF LOW LEVEL DRY AIR AND LACK OF FORCING WILL KEEP THE FORECAST AREA DRY. HOWEVER...THE CLOUDS ARE LIKELY TO MAKE AN IMPACT ON TEMPERATURE FORECASTS. BEING IN UPPER TROUGHING AND THE LOW SUN ANGLE THIS TIME OF YEAR...THE 850MB TEMPS AND GENERAL AIRMASS ARE GOING TO HAVE A TOUGH TIME WARMING. IN FACT...THE READINGS CHANGE VERY LITTLE...CLIMBING FROM -6 TO -8C TODAY TO -4 TO -6C ON SUNDAY. WITH CLOUDS AROUND...ANTICIPATING HIGHS TO STAY STUCK IN THE LOWER TO MID 40S. THE CIRRUS DECK AND INCOMING MID CLOUDS SHOULD HELP TO KEEP TEMPERATURES UP TONIGHT...IN THE UPPER 20S TO LOW 30S. SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT...MUCH OF THE ACTION IS EXPECTED IN THE MID-ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST U.S. DURING THIS PERIOD...IN RESPONSE TO INTERACTION AND PHASING OF SANDY WITH THE CURRENT BRITISH COLUMBIA SHORTWAVE...RELEASE OF LATENT HEAT AND A COUPLING OF SUBTROPICAL AND POLAR JETS. THE NET RESULT BY 12Z TUESDAY FROM ALL MODELS IS A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ENCOMPASSING MUCH OF THE EASTERN U.S. WITH A DEEP POST-TROPICAL SANDY SITUATED IN OR NEAR PENNSYLVANIA. MEANWHILE...UPPER RIDGING THAT HAS BEEN OVER THE EAST PACIFIC MODELS HAVE BUILDING ACROSS THE WESTERN U.S. AND INTO THE WESTERN PLAINS. THIS SETUP EFFECTIVELY BLOCKS ANY PRECIPITATION FROM ENTERING THE PICTURE FOR OUR AREA. IN FACT...HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD DOMINATE AT THE SURFACE THROUGH MUCH OF THE TIME PERIOD. TEMPERATURES LOOK TO STAY COOL DUE TO 850MB TEMPS STILL ONLY WARMING SLOWLY TO -1 TO -4C ON MONDAY. CLOUD COVER WISE...THERE ARE HINTS OF SOME WARM ADVECTION MID CLOUDS COMING INTO WESTERN SECTIONS OF THE AREA ON MONDAY...BUT THEN THESE GET SHUNTED SOUTHWEST BY SUBSIDENCE ON THE BACK SIDE OF THE DEEP EASTERN TROUGH. .LONG TERM...TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 FOCUS FOR THE EARLY PORTION OF THE LONG TERM PERIOD IS THE DEEP EASTERN U.S. UPPER TROUGH AND POST-TROPICAL SANDY INSIDE OF THE TROUGH. 27.00Z ECMWF/GFS/CANADIAN/UKMET AND GFS ENSEMBLES ARE IN VERY GOOD AGREEMENT THAT THE DEEP UPPER TROUGH WILL BE BLOCKED BETWEEN RIDGING OVER THE WESTERN U.S....STRONG UPPER RIDGING NEAR NEWFOUNDLAND AND PERHAPS EVEN RIDGING CONNECTING THESE TWO. AS SUCH...THE MODELS TAKE AWHILE BEFORE LIFTING THE EASTERN TROUGH OUT. IT MAY NOT BE UNTIL SOMETIME THURSDAY NIGHT OR FRIDAY BEFORE THE EJECTION OCCURS. WITH THE EASTERN TROUGH BLOCKED FROM MOVING MUCH...THE FORECAST AREA STAYS ON THE SUBSIDENT SIDE THROUGH AT LEAST THURSDAY...MOSTLY PREVENTING PRECIPITATION. ONE CONCERN WOULD BE DEFORMATION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH POST-TROPICAL SANDY RETROGRADING SLOWLY WESTWARD TOWARDS THE AREA TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. HOWEVER...MOST MODELS SUGGESTS THIS DEFORMATION BAND WILL STAY EAST OF THE AREA...PERHAPS MAKING IT AS FAR WEST AS EASTERN WISCONSIN. LOOKS LIKE WE WILL SEE A NORTHERLY BREEZE INCREASE FOR TUESDAY AND PERHAPS WEDNESDAY TOO...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WISCONSIN. FOR FRIDAY...GOOD MODEL CONSENSUS EXISTS FOR SUBTROPICAL UPPER RIDGING TO CROSS THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN PLAINS AHEAD OF A TROUGH CROSSING COLORADO. ANY WARM ADVECTION PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE RIDGE LOOKS TO STAY TO THE SOUTH AT THE PRESENT TIME...THOUGH AN INCREASE IN MID/HIGH CLOUDS SHOULD OCCUR. TEMPERATURES WILL GRADUALLY WARM THROUGH THE LONG TERM PERIOD... ESPECIALLY TOWARDS THE END OF THE WEEK AS THE EASTERN UPPER TROUGH LIFTS OUT. BY THURSDAY...READINGS SHOULD BE BACK TO NEAR NORMAL. && .AVIATION... 1130 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL SLIDE ACROSS THE REGION TONIGHT/SUNDAY...BRINGING SOME MID/HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS. LOWEST CIGS PROBABLY 8-10 KFT...SO VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PERSIST FOR THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. DEEPER MOISTURE AND ANY SMALL PCPN CHANCES WILL STAY NORTH OF THE TAF SITES. WITH HIGH PRESSURE PERSISTING AT THE SFC...WIND FIELDS SHOULD BE RELATIVELY LIGHT...BECOMING MORE SOUTHEAST/SOUTH LATE TONIGHT/SUNDAY. && .ARX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... 231 AM CDT SAT OCT 27 2012 WI...NONE. MN...NONE. IA...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...AJ LONG TERM....AJ AVIATION.....RIECK