Forecast Discussions mentioning any of "HRRR" "RAP" "RR" "RUC13" "RUC" received at GSD on 04/17/14


AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS DENVER/BOULDER CO
921 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 858 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 BEST SNOW IS OVER THE MOUNTAINS...FOOTHILLS SOUTH OF I-70 AND PARK COUNTY. THERE ARE SOME RETURNS ON THE RADAR OVER THE PLAINS...BUT VERY LITTLE SEEMS TO BE HITTING THE GROUND. MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 350 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 SHORTWAVE TROUGH CURRENTLY MOVING ACROSS COLORADO. MOISTURE AND WEAK ASCENT BEGINNING TO INCREASE AGAIN...THOUGH BEST ASCENT OVER SOUTHWEST COLORADO. SOME SHOWERS ONGOING SOUTH OF THE PALMER DIVIDE...BEGINNING TO CREEP NORTHWARD. AIRMASS SLIGHTLY UNSTABLE WITH CAPES AROUND 100 J/KG ACROSS SOUTHERN MOUNTAINS...SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS AND PARK COUNTY. WINDS HAVE BEGUN TO DECREASE ACROSS THE PLAINS...BECOMING A BIT MORE EASTERLY. TROUGH STILL EXPECTED TO MOVE EAST ACROSS COLORADO TONIGHT. MOISTURE TO CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTHWARD OVER THE AREA. THOUGH THE MAIN BATCH OF MID LEVEL ASCENT EXPECTED TO SLIDE ACROSS SOUTHERN COLORADO...THERE WILL BE ENOUGH ASCENT OVER THE AREA FOR AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS. BEST CHANCE FOR SHOWERS STILL LOOKS TO BE ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS AND FOOTHILLS SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 70 AND ALONG THE PALMER DIVIDE. LATEST MODELS CONTINUE TO GENERATE THE BULK OF THE QPF SOUTH OF THE CWA. BUT LOW LEVEL EAST SOUTHEAST FLOW WILL HELP WITH LOCAL UPSLOPE ACROSS SOUTH PARK AND SOUTHERN FOOTHILLS. LATEST RAP SHOWS LIGHT QPF IN THIS AREA AND EXTENDING INTO THE CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. WILL KEEP THE HIGHER POPS IN THIS AREA WITH LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS. LOWER POPS FURTHER NORTH WITH WEAK MID LEVEL ASCENT. SYSTEM PULLS AWAY OVERNIGHT WITH FLOW ALOFT BECOMING NORTHWEST. DRIER AND MORE SUBSIDENT AIRMASS SPREADS INTO AREA. THREAT FOR PRECIPITATION TO DECREASE AFTER MIDNIGHT AND SHOULD COME TO AN END TOWARDS MORNING. MAY BE A FEW LINGERING FLURRIES OR LIGHT SNOW ACROSS LINCOLN COUNTY. ON THURSDAY...NORTHWEST FLOW TO PREVAIL OVER THE AREA AS UPPER TROUGH MOVES INTO THE NORTHERN AND CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. UPPER RIDGE TO BUILD ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN...AND WILL SPREAD WARMER AIR INTO THE AREA. MODELS SHOW SOME WRAP AROUND MOISTURE MOVING INTO THE PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON. LATEST NAM AND GFS GENERATE SOME LIGHT SHOWERS FAR NORTHEAST CORNER. AIRMASS LOOKS FAIRLY SUBSIDENT...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY SHOWERS AT THIS POINT. TEMPERATURE AND THICKNESS PROGS SHOW HIGHS WARMING INTO THE LOWER 60S ACROSS THE PLAINS. .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 303 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 THE MAIN FEATURE FOR THIS FORECAST WILL BE A WEAK...SLOW MOVING UPPER TROUGH MOVING OUT OF THE DESERT SOUTHWEST FROM FRIDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SUNDAY. AHEAD OF THE TROUGH...A WARM UPPER RIDGE WILL BE OVER THE STATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON WITH WARM TEMPERATURES NAMMAINLY DRY CONDITIONS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THERE MAY BE A FEW AFTERNOON SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS...BUT THE MAIN MOISTURE FROM THE SOUTHWEST U.S. UPPER TROUGH IS NOT EXPECTED TO ARRIVE UNTIL LATER ON SATURDAY. BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON...AS THE BROAD UPPER TROUGH APPROACHES THE STATE...SHOWERS WILL BE MORE WIDESPREAD ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY AFTERNOONS. THE AIRMASS SHOULD REMAIN WARM ENOUGH THAT CONVECTIVE ACTIVITY WILL CONTAIN SOME THUNDERSTORMS. BOTH DAYS WILL BE FAIRLY SIMILAR AS THE TROUGH SLOWLY PROGRESSES ACROSS THE STATE. AFTERNOON CONVECTION ON SATURDAY AND SUNDAY HAS A FAIR CHANCE OF EXTENDING WELL OUT ONTO THE PLAINS EACH AFTERNOON DUE TO THE BROAD NATURE OF THE UPPER TROUGH. THE FIRST HALF OF NEXT WEEK WILL THEN BE WARMER AND DRIER AS STRONG UPPER RIDGING DEVELOPS OVER THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. ALL MODELS ARE IN PRETTY GOOD AGREEMENT THROUGH NEXT WEEK WITH THE GENERAL TIMING OF THE MOVEMENT OF THE SOUTHWEST U.S. TROUGH AND THEN DEVELOPMENT OF THE STRONG UPPER RIDGING. TEMPERATURES SHOULD BE WELL ABOVE NORMAL FOR THE MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY TIMEFRAME. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY EVENING) ISSUED AT 858 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 THE EASTERLIES AT DIA HAVE DECREASED AND ARE TRYING TO GO TO SOUTHEASTERLIES. STILL BELIEVE THEY`LL BE DRAINAGE BEFORE SUNRISE. DOUBT IF CEILINGS WILL GET BELOW 5000 AGL BEFORE THEY GO AWAY. WILL LEAVE VCSH IN UNTIL AROUND 09Z. && .BOU WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE...RJK SHORT TERM...D-L LONG TERM...DANKERS AVIATION...RJK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PUEBLO CO
856 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 849 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 UPDATED LATEST TEMPS AND MADE MINOR CHANGES TO TEMPS OVERNIGHT. ADJUSTED SOME SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 254 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 ...HEAVY WET SNOW FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN MOUNTAINS TONIGHT... RAPIDLY EVOLVING STORM SYSTEM NOW IS MOVING INTO WRN CO THIS AFTERNOON. ALREADY AM SEEING SOME BANDED PRECIP...IN THE FORM OF SHRA...DEVELOP OVER EL PASO COUNTY. DEWPOINTS STILL PRETTY LOW OVER THE PLAINS...WHICH WILL HELP COOL THINGS OFF THIS EVE AS WET BULB IS REACHED IN HEAVIER PRECIP. EXPECT PRECIP TO EXPAND AND INTENSIFY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...REACHING ITS PEAK FROM 00Z THROUGH 06Z TONIGHT. A COUPLE OF RECENT TRENDS ARE MAKING FOR A RATHER TRICKY FORECAST FOR THE SHORT TERM. RECENT GUIDANCE IS CONSIDERABLY WARMER THAN IT HAD BEEN A COUPLE DAYS AGO...WITH H7 TEMPS ONLY FALLING TO MINUS 5 OR 6 AS OPPOSED TO THE MINUS 10 OR LOWER FROM EARLIER MODEL RUNS. THIS IS POINTING AT THE SNOW LEVELS GENERALLY STAYING AT OR ABOVE 6000 FEET TONIGHT. BUT DEPENDING ON EVENTUAL STRENGTH AND TIMING...WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE SNOW FALLING AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. JUST NOT EXPECTING MUCH IF ANY ACCUMULATION BELOW 6K FEET...EXCEPT MAYBE ON GRASSY SURFACES. THE WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR THE SRN I-25 CORRIDOR WILL BE A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE SINCE ELEVATIONS FROM WALSENBURG TO TRINIDAD ARE GENERALLY IN THE 6000- 6500 FOOT RANGE. SO...EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFT IN THE LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES THIS EVE COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WET PAVEMENT AND A FEW INCHES OF SLUSH. HAVE GENERALLY PLAYED THE MIDDLE ROAD OF MODEL CONSENSUS...WHICH HAS SNOW LEVELS AT OR ABOVE THAT ELEVATION FOR THE EARLY EVE. BUT...HIGHER TRRN TO THE WEST AND CLOSER TO SPANISH PEAKS COULD SEE SIGNIFICANT WET SNOW...MORE THAN SIX INCHES FOR SOME AREAS. OTHER ISSUE IS THE RECENT TREND TOWARDS THE HEAVIEST ACCUMS FALLING OVER THE SRN ZONES...THE WETS AND SRN SANGRES GENERALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50. THE HRRR AND LOCAL HI-RES WRF...FOR EXAMPLE...KEEP MOST OF THE HEAVY PRECIP SOUTH OF THE PIKES PK REGION. THE NAM AND RUC..LOWER RES...KEEP HEAVY PRECIP OVER THE PIKES PEAK REGION. GIVEN THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE HIGHER RES SOLUTIONS SO FAR...AM INCLINED TO KEEP WITH AT LEAST MODERATE ACCUMS FOR PIKES PEAK...ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT SRN AND ERN SIDES WILL GET A BIT MORE THIS EVE. MODELS ARE HITTING THE SRN SANGRES AND HIGHER WETS PRETTY HARD THROUGH 06-08Z TONIGHT. HAVE CONSIDERED UPGRADING FOR THOSE ZONES...BUT SINCE THE LIQUID-SNOW RATIOS WILL BE HIGHER GIVEN THE WARMER LOW-LEVEL THERMAL PROFILE...EXPECT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ACCUMS TO BE PRETTY HIGH UP AND SPOTTY. SO...ADVISORIES LOOK GOOD FOR NOW BUT WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SHORT TERM TRENDS PRETTY CAREFULLY. WILL SEE THE SYSTEM CLEAR OUT GRADUALLY FROM N TO S AFTER MIDNIGHT. COULD EVEN SEE SOME CLEARING BY SUNRISE ON THURSDAY. BALANCE OF THURSDAY LOOKS PRETTY NICE...WITH TEMPS REBOUNDING TO THE UPPER 50S OVER THE PLAINS BY AFTERNOON...AND INCREASING AMOUNTS OF SUN. ROSE .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 254 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 NEXT SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE REGION OVER THE WEEKEND BRINGING A RETURN OF ACTIVE WEATHER IN THE EXTENDED. CLOSED LOW MOVES IN FROM THE PACIFIC...ACROSS SOUTHERN CA AND INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOISTURE INCREASES...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WESTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY...SO SHOULD SEE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH SOME ISOLATED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON. ANY SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS LOOKS LIGHT THROUGH THIS PERIOD...AND CONFINED TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THIS SYSTEM WILL GRADUALLY FILL AS IT MOVES INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION ON SATURDAY THEN ACROSS CO THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING AS AN OPEN TROF. PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT...THEN SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS ON SATURDAY. WITH COOLING ALOFT...LAPSE RATES STEEPEN...AND A COLD FRONT...THOUGH IT IS NOT ALL THAT COOL BEHIND IT...WILL MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON. NAM12 IS THE FARTHEST SOUTH WITH THE FRONT SAT AFTERNOON SHOWING EASTERLY WINDS ACROSS THE PLAINS AND DEW POINTS INCREASING INTO THE 40S TO AROUND 50 NEAR THE EASTERN BORDER BY 00Z. GFS IS A TAD SLOWER...WITH NORTHERLY WINDS DROPPING THROUGH THE I-25 CORRIDOR DURING THE AFTERNOON...AND DEW POINTS IN THE 30S THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ECMWF IS FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE GFS...THOUGH A JUST A TAD MOISTER. EITHER WAY...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE ON THE HIGH SIDE AGAIN...PROBABLY AROUND 9.5-10KFT...SO BELOW THIS ELEVATION WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE BURN SCARS CLOSELY FOR RAINFALL...ESPECIALLY THE WALDO. FOR NOW THOUGH...THINK THAT GFS PROBABLY HAS THE BEST HANDLE...AND ANY LOCALLY HEAVIER PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE SPOTTY AS MODEL CAPE VALUES ARE NOT ALL THAT HIGH. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO SPREAD ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THOUGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS LOOK FAIRLY LIGHT AT THIS POINT AS HIGHER CAPE REMAINS WELL TO THE EAST. THIS SYSTEM SLOWLY EXITS EASTERN CO ON SUNDAY...SO AFTER PRECIPITATION WINDS DOWN OVERNIGHT...ENOUGH INSTABILITY AND RESIDUAL MOISTURE WILL BE PRESENT FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THESE LOOK A LITTLE SPOTTIER IN COVERAGE. DRY WEATHER RETURNS FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...THEN THE FORECAST WILL REVOLVE AROUND TRACK OF THE NEXT UPPER LOW WHICH DROPS INTO THE GREAT BASIN...THEN EVENTUALLY LIFTS OUT TO THE NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WED. THIS WILL PUT MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO UNDER STRONG SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DEVELOPING ESPECIALLY BY WEDNESDAY. DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS OF FUELS...MAY NEED SOME FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS DAY. OTHERWISE...DRY LINE WILL BE LURKING NEAR THE CO/KS BORDER DURING THE EARLY TO MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. TRENDS IN THE LATEST OPERATIONAL GFS AND ECWMF...SEEM TO SUGGEST A MORE NORTHERN TRACK AND LESS OF A PERSISTENT MERIDIONAL FLOW EARLY NEXT WEEK...SO THESE LATEST RUNS KEEP THE DRYLINE JUST TO OUR EAST. HOWEVER...THERE ARE STILL SOME RATHER LARGE DIFFERENCES IN THE EXTENDED MODELS FOR WED AS GFS SHOWS MORE ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHWARD INTO THE BASE OF THE TROF ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN WHICH EC DOES NOT HAVE...SO JURY IS STILL OUT. EITHER WAY...SHOULD BE AN ACTIVE PERIOD THROUGH NEXT WEEK. -KT && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z THURSDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 254 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 EXPECT PRECIP TO EXPAND IN COVERAGE AND INTENSITY THROUGH THIS EVE. KCOS WILL BE ON THE NRN SIDE OF THE HEAVIER BANDS OF PRECIP...BUT THERE IS A GOOD CHANCE IT WILL GO DOWN TO IFR CIGS AND/OR VIS FOR THE 00-06Z TIME FRAME. KPUB WILL FOLLOW SUIT...ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO LATER AS PRECIP SLOWLY SHIFTS TO THE SOUTH. SNOW LEVELS CONTINUE TO LOOK TO BE AROUND 5500-6000 FEET FOR MOST OF THE AREA. KALS COULD SEE SOME SPOTTY PRECIP TONIGHT...BUT THE GREATER IMPACT WILL BE ALONG AND E OF THE SANGRES...WETS...AND PIKES PEAK. CLEARING CONDITIONS THU MORNING COULD LEAD TO SOME BRIEF FG OR BR FOR ANY AREAS THAT SEE PRECIP EARLY ON. ROSE && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM MDT THURSDAY FOR COZ072>075- 079>082-087-088. && $$ UPDATE...28 SHORT TERM...ROSE LONG TERM...KT AVIATION...ROSE
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
133 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .AVIATION... MESOSCALE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN LESS THAN IMPRESSIVE IN TERMS OF SHOWER COVERAGE FOR THIS AFTERNOON...BUT STILL APPEARS ISOLATED/SCATTERED ACTIVITY WILL FORM DURING MID/LATE- AFTERNOON HOURS. VCSH CONTINUED IN TAFS TO ACCOUNT FOR THIS. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD PREVAIL BUT LOCALIZED RESTRICTIONS PLAUSIBLE IN/NEAR CONVECTION. THUNDER CANT BE RULED OUT BUT PROB IS QUITE LOW. SSE WINDS OF 15-25 KTS WILL BECOME SSW LATER THIS AFTERNOON. THE WEST LATE THIS EVENING AS COLD FRONT MOVES IN. WINDS TURN NORTHERLY WEDNESDAY MORNING...AND MODELS INDICATED LOW STRATUS COULD INVADE FROM NORTH AND HOLD OVER SOUTH FLORIDA INTO AFTERNOON. ELECTED TO NOT GO AGGRESSIVE THIS FAR OUT...BUT BKN035 INTRODUCED BEGINNING ROUGHLY AT SUNRISE. && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 950 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014/ UPDATE... SOMEWHAT OF A FORECAST DILEMMA THIS MORNING CONCERNING THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. A COLD FRONT CURRENTLY IS MOVING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THROUGH THE BIG BEND AREA AND INTO THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO. PLENTY OF SUN IS OCCURRING ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA WHICH WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DIURNAL HEATING TODAY AS THE FRONT APPROACHES CENTRAL FLORIDA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER, HEREIN LIES THE QUESTION. THE 12Z MFL SOUNDING CONTINUES TO SHOW A QUITE STABLE LAYER OF AIR WITH THE BASE AT ABOUT 10K AND EXTENDING UPWARDS TO ABOUT 15K. THIS IS GOING TO BE A INHIBITING FACTOR WITH ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY HAVING A TOUGH TIME BREAKING THROUGH THIS STABLE CAP. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SUFFICIENT HEATING THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AND MAXIMUM AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES APPROACHING THE 90 DEGREE MARK BY 2-3 PM EDT THIS COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BUOYANCY TO PENETRATE THE STABLE LAYER. SOME OF THE HIGH RESOLUTION SHORT TERM COMPUTER MODELS DO SHOW SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AT THAT TIME AND THEN MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST COAST IN THE GENERAL SOUTHWEST STEERING FLOW. STILL, THE HRRR WHICH IS VERY RELIABLE FOR SOUTH FLORIDA ONLY SHOWS ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT AND MAINLY ALONG THE PALM BEACH COASTAL AREA. THE FORTUNATE ASPECT OF THE HRRR IS THAT IT UPDATES EVERY HOUR SO WILL BE TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT ITS SOLUTIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND MAY NEED TO SCALE BACK POPS AT LEAST OVER THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PENINSULA. KOB PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 722 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014/ SHORT TERM... ONE OR TWO OF THE STORMS COULD EVEN BECOME STRONG LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING MAINLY AROUND THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION AND THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS WHERE PERHAPS BETTER CONVERGENCE WILL BE. THE PRIMARY IMPACTS FROM THE STRONG STORMS WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...AS A LOW LEVEL JET OF 40 TO 50 KNOTS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA. SO WILL MENTION THIS IN THE HWO MORNING PACKAGE. DRIER AIR WILL THEN BE WORKING INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR LATE TONIGHT. HOWEVER...THE DRY AIR WILL NOT LAST LONG AS THE FRONT WILL STALL OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS LATE TONIGHT BEFORE MOVING BACK NORTHWARD THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING BACK SOME MOISTURE ALONG WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE AREA. SO WILL CONTINUE THE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE NOW SHOWING LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO LATE THIS WEEK AND MOVING EAST ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA BEFORE MOVING INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WATERS THIS WEEKEND. THIS WILL PUSH THE FRONT BACK SOUTHWARD THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA FRIDAY NIGHT. SO THE TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR LATE THIS WEEK BEFORE DRIER AIR WORKS INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR THIS WEEKEND. SO WILL CONTINUE THE SCATTERED POPS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA LATE THIS WEEK ALONG WITH A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE EASTER WEEKEND OVER SOUTH FLORIDA LOOKS DRY NOW. THEREFORE...THE POPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED OVER SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND ALONG WITH SKIES MOSTLY CLEAR. LONG TERM... LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FURTHER EAST INTO THE ATLANTIC WATERS EARLY NEXT WEEK ALLOWING FOR HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR AN EASTERLY WIND FLOW OVER THE AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK. SO SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA EARLY NEXT WEEK LEADING TO A FEW SHOWERS. SO WILL CONTINUE THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. MARINE... THE WINDS TODAY WILL BE FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTHWEST DIRECTION AT 15 KNOTS OR LESS BEFORE SWINGING TO A NORTHERLY DIRECTION LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. THE WIND DIRECTION WILL CONTINUE TO SWING TO A EASTERLY DIRECTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY WITH SPEEDS AT 15 KNOTS OR LESS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SMALL NORTHEAST SWELL WORKING INTO THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATERS FROM THE NORTH WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. THE SEAS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 7 FEET IN BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND GULF WATERS TODAY INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT COULD GET TO 7 FEET IN PALM BEACH WATERS ON THURSDAY DUE TO THE SMALL NORTHEAST SWELLS. CLIMATE... THE HIGHS AROUND 90 DEGREES TODAY OVER THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS WILL BE GETTING CLOSE TO THE RECORD HIGHS FOR THIS DATE WHICH ARE: CITIES FORECAST HIGHS RECORD HIGHS MIA 90 93 - 1975 FLL 90 93 - 2001 PBI 90 93 - 1999 && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 67 80 71 84 / 30 30 30 40 FORT LAUDERDALE 70 81 74 85 / 30 30 30 30 MIAMI 71 82 73 85 / 30 30 30 40 NAPLES 67 84 68 88 / 20 20 20 50 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...30/KOB LONG TERM....54/BNB AVIATION...23/SK
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
950 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .UPDATE... SOMEWHAT OF A FORECAST DILEMMA THIS MORNING CONCERNING THE CHANCE OF AFTERNOON THUNDERSTORMS. A COLD FRONT CURRENTLY IS MOVING ACROSS THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WITH A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS AHEAD OF THE FRONT THROUGH THE BIG BEND AREA AND INTO THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO. PLENTY OF SUN IS OCCURRING ACROSS SOUTH FLORIDA WHICH WILL PROVIDE SUFFICIENT DIURNAL HEATING TODAY AS THE FRONT APPROACHES CENTRAL FLORIDA LATE THIS AFTERNOON. HOWEVER, HEREIN LIES THE QUESTION. THE 12Z MFL SOUNDING CONTINUES TO SHOW A QUITE STABLE LAYER OF AIR WITH THE BASE AT ABOUT 10K AND EXTENDING UPWARDS TO ABOUT 15K. THIS IS GOING TO BE A INHIBITING FACTOR WITH ANY SHOWER ACTIVITY HAVING A TOUGH TIME BREAKING THROUGH THIS STABLE CAP. HOWEVER, DUE TO THE SUFFICIENT HEATING THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE AND MAXIMUM AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES APPROACHING THE 90 DEGREE MARK BY 2-3 PM EDT THIS COULD PROVIDE THE NECESSARY BUOYANCY TO PENETRATE THE STABLE LAYER. SOME OF THE HIGH RESOLUTION SHORT TERM COMPUTER MODELS DO SHOW SOME CONVECTIVE DEVELOPMENT AT THAT TIME AND THEN MOVING TOWARDS THE EAST COAST IN THE GENERAL SOUTHWEST STEERING FLOW. STILL, THE HRRR WHICH IS VERY RELIABLE FOR SOUTH FLORIDA ONLY SHOWS ISOLATED DEVELOPMENT AND MAINLY ALONG THE PALM BEACH COASTAL AREA. THE FORTUNATE ASPECT OF THE HRRR IS THAT IT UPDATES EVERY HOUR SO WILL BE TAKING A CLOSE LOOK AT ITS SOLUTIONS OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS AND MAY NEED TO SCALE BACK POPS AT LEAST OVER THE WESTERN PORTIONS OF THE PENINSULA. KOB && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 722 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014/ SHORT TERM... A COLD FRONT OVER THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE SOUTHWARD DOWN THE SUNSHINE STATE TODAY AND THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA THIS EVENING. THE WINDS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA TODAY WILL BE FROM SOUTH/SOUTHWEST DIRECTION AHEAD OF THE FRONT ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO WARM UP INTO THE MID TO UPPER 80S OVER MOST AREAS...EXCEPT AROUND 90 ALONG THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS. AT THE SAME TIME...MOISTURE WILL ALSO BE WORKING INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FROM THE SOUTH LEADING TO SCATTERED SHOWERS AND EVEN SOME THUNDERSTORMS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. ONE OR TWO OF THE STORMS COULD EVEN BECOME STRONG LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING MAINLY AROUND THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE REGION AND THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS WHERE PERHAPS BETTER CONVERGENCE WILL BE. THE PRIMARY IMPACTS FROM THE STRONG STORMS WILL BE GUSTY WINDS...AS A LOW LEVEL JET OF 40 TO 50 KNOTS WILL BE MOVING THROUGH THE AREA. SO WILL MENTION THIS IN THE HWO MORNING PACKAGE. DRIER AIR WILL THEN BE WORKING INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR LATE TONIGHT. HOWEVER...THE DRY AIR WILL NOT LAST LONG AS THE FRONT WILL STALL OVER THE FLORIDA KEYS LATE TONIGHT BEFORE MOVING BACK NORTHWARD THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THIS WILL BRING BACK SOME MOISTURE ALONG WITH A CHANCE OF SHOWERS TO THE AREA. SO WILL CONTINUE THE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED SHOWERS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON INTO WEDNESDAY NIGHT. THE LATEST MEDIUM RANGE MODELS ARE NOW SHOWING LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OVER THE NORTHERN GULF OF MEXICO LATE THIS WEEK AND MOVING EAST ACROSS NORTH FLORIDA BEFORE MOVING INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WATERS THIS WEEKEND. THIS WILL PUSH THE FRONT BACK SOUTHWARD THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA FRIDAY NIGHT. SO THE TROPICAL MOISTURE WILL REMAIN IN PLACE FOR LATE THIS WEEK BEFORE DRIER AIR WORKS INTO SOUTH FLORIDA FOR THIS WEEKEND. SO WILL CONTINUE THE SCATTERED POPS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA LATE THIS WEEK ALONG WITH A THREAT OF THUNDERSTORMS. THE EASTER WEEKEND OVER SOUTH FLORIDA LOOKS DRY NOW. THEREFORE...THE POPS HAVE BEEN REMOVED OVER SOUTH FLORIDA THIS WEEKEND ALONG WITH SKIES MOSTLY CLEAR. LONG TERM... LOW PRESSURE WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE FURTHER EAST INTO THE ATLANTIC WATERS EARLY NEXT WEEK ALLOWING FOR HIGH PRESSURE TO BUILD INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR AN EASTERLY WIND FLOW OVER THE AREA EARLY NEXT WEEK. SO SOME LOW LEVEL MOISTURE SHOULD RETURN TO SOUTH FLORIDA EARLY NEXT WEEK LEADING TO A FEW SHOWERS. SO WILL CONTINUE THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. AVIATION... SCATTERED SHOWERS...AND PERHAPS A THUNDERSTORM OR TWO...ARE LIKELY TO DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON...ESPECIALLY AT KAPF AND KPBI. DUE TO LOW TS RISK...FEEL VCSH IS SUFFICIENT...WITH VFR CONDITIONS MOST PREVALENT. SOUTH WINDS WILL INCREASE TODAY AND BECOME GUSTY THIS AFTERNOON. AS COLD FRONT MOVES IN OVERNIGHT...WINDS WILL SHIFT TO WEST. MARINE... THE WINDS TODAY WILL BE FROM THE SOUTH/SOUTHWEST DIRECTION AT 15 KNOTS OR LESS BEFORE SWINGING TO A NORTHERLY DIRECTION LATE TONIGHT INTO WEDNESDAY. THE WIND DIRECTION WILL CONTINUE TO SWING TO A EASTERLY DIRECTION WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY WITH SPEEDS AT 15 KNOTS OR LESS. THERE WILL ALSO BE A SMALL NORTHEAST SWELL WORKING INTO THE SOUTH FLORIDA WATERS FROM THE NORTH WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. THE SEAS SHOULD REMAIN BELOW 7 FEET IN BOTH THE ATLANTIC AND GULF WATERS TODAY INTO WEDNESDAY...BUT COULD GET TO 7 FEET IN PALM BEACH WATERS ON THURSDAY DUE TO THE SMALL NORTHEAST SWELLS. CLIMATE... THE HIGHS AROUND 90 DEGREES TODAY OVER THE EAST COAST METRO AREAS WILL BE GETTING CLOSE TO THE RECORD HIGHS FOR THIS DATE WHICH ARE: CITIES FORECAST HIGHS RECORD HIGHS MIA 90 93 - 1975 FLL 90 93 - 2001 PBI 90 93 - 1999 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...NONE. GM...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TOPEKA KS
406 AM CDT Tue Apr 15 2014 .SHORT TERM...(Today and Tonight) Issued at 302 AM CDT TUE APR 15 2014 Extreme fire danger conditions return for portions of north central Kansas followed by strong winds and warmer temperatures. Departing upper trough continues to track eastward over the Mid Atlantic region as quiet and cold conditions have settled across northeast Kansas this morning. A quick rebound in temperatures is on tap for today as variable winds shift to the south, advecting warmer air into the area. A surface trough, currently positioned over northern Colorado, deepens eastward this afternoon, increasing southwesterly winds 15 to 20 MPH west to east after 1 PM across north central areas. Sounding profilers depict strong mixing through 800 MB across the area, lowering dewpoint temperatures into the lower 20s and upper teens. Please refer to the fire weather discussion below for additional details. Have issued a Red Flag Warning for low humidity and gusty winds for this afternoon into the early evening across portions of north central Kansas. Highs today are expected to recover into the upper 50s and low 60s by late afternoon underneath sunny skies. Southerly winds increase between 20 and 25 mph sustained this evening as a strong 70 kt low level jet develops coincident with the upper trough over the northern plains. The increased mid level clouds from the passing system and the mixed boundary layer should keep overnight lows much warmer in the lower 40s. .LONG TERM...(Wednesday through Monday) Issued at 302 AM CDT TUE APR 15 2014 Early Wednesday morning, a 60 kt low level jet will be oriented across the forecast area. While this jet will weaken and gradually slide to the east, morning mixing will likely bring some rather strong wind gusts to the surface by 10 AM or so...potentially in the 45 to 50 mph range. Have not quite gone that high in the forecast given high cloud cover and a fairly rapid decrease in wind speeds by late morning, but it is possible. Expect a rather warm day on Wednesday although a cold front will make its way into the northwest half of the area by late afternoon. Will likely have a thermal ridge very near the frontal boundary which would focus the warmest temps near and just ahead of the front. With the wind, warm temps, and relatively dry low levels, will have fire weather concerns for Wed as well...more details in the fire weather section below. The front will continue to slowly progress through the area overnight, although it`s expected to be a dry front through midnight or so. Beyond midnight, and incoming short wave trough will interact with the frontal zone as it becomes nearly stationary near/just south of the forecast area. This will result in an enhanced area of vertical motion spreading east across KS, focused mainly across the southern 2/3 of the forecast area. Expect this to persist through the day on Thursday before the wave passes overhead on Thursday evening and subsidence takes over. Expect rather persistent light precipitation with this system. THE ECMWF is on the dry side of model guidance in terms of total QPF while it seems that the NAM/GFS are probably picking up on some of the expected mesoscale lift enhancements and producing slightly higher amounts. Dry advection from the north will provide a sharp cutoff to the precipitation, and have reduced POPs in northern KS with some potential for areas near the Nebraska border to end up dry if the dry advection is strong enough. Precip type will be predominantly rain although there seems to be a period early Thursday morning when it could change to snow especially on the northern fringes of the precip area. Accumulation appears unlikely at this time. Will see a nice warm-up for the weekend as upper ridging returns to the area on the heels of the Thursday system. Expect moisture advection to bring dewpoints well into the 50s by Saturday in advance of the next upper trough. This system has trended slightly slower over recent model runs but otherwise fairly consistent in bringing another chance for widespread precipitation to the area. Do not expect much instability with this storm system but could still see periods of thunder. This looks to be a pretty widespread rain with the best chances Saturday night into Sunday, but do not expect particularly heavy amounts. Should also see continued warm temperatures throughout the weekend with highs in the upper 60s, and even warmer behind the system on Monday as little to no cold advection is expected behind the trough. && .FIRE WEATHER...(This Afternoon and Wednesday) Issued at 4 AM CDT TUE APR 15 2014 Expect southerly winds over north central Kansas to quickly increase after 12 PM as a surface trough rapidly deepens over the central and northern plains. 850 MB winds increase from near 10 KTS to over 30 KTS by 3 PM this afternoon, mixing dewpoint temperatures down into the upper teens. Decided to use a combination of the latest RAP and NAM, with a lean towards the RAP as previous events trended drier than forecast. These extreme fire danger conditions with the continuation of critical fuels has prompted a Red Flag Warning after 1 PM for Cloud, Republic, and Ottawa counties. Very high fire danger conditions exist across the remainder of the CWA this afternoon into the early evening. It is important to note the southerly winds will increase through the evening and overnight hours with gusts near 30 MPH and sustained speeds between 20 and 25 mph. For Wednesday, should start the day windy with lower than normal sunrise RH. While there will be some modest moisture increase with the southerly winds, expect it to be shallow. Deep mixing by late morning to early afternoon will pull drier air to the surface along with potentially very strong wind gusts. At the same time, the incoming cold front will bring a zone of much lighter winds as far east as Manhattan by mid afternoon although RH may be lowest near the front. Behind the front, temperatures will not be much cooler and winds will increase out of the northwest. All-in-all, expect the most volatile combination of strong wind and low RH to be southeast of an Abilene to Seneca line through the day...many of the areas to see the highest rainfall totals this past weekend. Current MinRH forecast is in the 22 to 27 percent range but could see it ending up a bit lower while winds in this area gust to 40+ mph. && .AVIATION...(For the 06Z TAFs through 06Z Tuesday Night) Issued at 1146 PM CDT MON APR 14 2014 VFR conditions expected through the taf period. && .TOP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING until 9 AM CDT this morning FOR KSZ008>012- 020>024-026-034>040-054>056-058-059. && $$ SHORT TERM...Bowen LONG TERM...Barjenbruch AVIATION...Sanders
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
1030 PM MDT MON APR 14 2014 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 1252 PM MDT MON APR 14 2014 EARLY AFTERNOON WV IMAGERY AND RAP UPPER LEVEL ANALYSIS SHOW TROUGH EXTENDING FROM GREAT LAKES ACROSS THE CENTRAL/SOUTHERN PLAINS AND RIDGE BUILDING OVER WESTERN US. AT THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE IS IN PLACE ACROSS EASTERN COLORADO/WESTERN KS WITH N-NW GRADIENT OVER KS/NE SUPPORTING GUSTY WINDS OVER OUR CWA. SNOW PACK HAS RETREATED OVER MUCH OF OUR CWA...WHILE VIS SATELLITE INDICATES IT HOLDING ON OVER PARTS OF NE COLORADO AND ALONG KS/NE STATE LINE WHERE AROUND INCHES OF SNOW FELL MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. ON THE BACK SIDE OF DEPARTING UPPER LEVEL TROUGH H3 JET STEAM IS MOVING ACROSS NORTHERN PLAINS. STEEP LOW/MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES HAVE DEVELOPED WITH SHALLOW COOL LAYER AND DAYTIME HEATING AND HAS LED TO CU FIELD DEVELOPING OVER THE SOUTHERN PART OF OUR CWA. AS NOSE OF JET MOVES ACROSS CENTRAL NEBRASKA THERE MAY BE ENOUGH FORCING ALONG WITH THIS WEAKLY UNSTABLE MID LAYER FOR A FEW SPRINKLES TO MOVE INTO THE NORTHEAST CORNER OF OUR CWA...OTHERWISE WE ARE ONLY LOOKING AT A PERIOD OF MID LEVEL CU OVER OUR CWA THIS AFTERNOON. IF THERE IS A BETTER SHOWER WE COULD SEE A FLURRY INSTEAD OF SPRINKLE THROUGH...BUT I DIDN`T SEE A REASON TO GET THAT CUTE CONSIDERING CONFIDENCE IS ALREADY LOW ON PRECIP REACHING THE GROUND IN OUR NE CWA. ANOTHER HARD FREEZE IS EXPECTED TONIGHT...THOUGH THERE WILL BE SOME MODERATION OF THE AIR MASS ALOFT AS HIGH PRESSURE SHIFTS EAST AND W-SW WINDS DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT. MONDAY...CONTINUE MODERATION OF THE AIR MASS IS EXPECTED WITH DAYTIME HIGHS REACHING SEASONAL VALUES IN THE 60S ACROSS THE CWA. SNOW PACK COULD STILL IMPACT LOCATIONS IN THE NORTH...HOWEVER WITH SW WINDS COMING FROM SNOW FREE LOCATIONS WE SHOULD SEE A QUICK MELTING OF SNOW. MAIN CONCERN FOR MONDAY WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR RED FLAG CONDITIONS WITH WINDY CONDITIONS DEVELOPING EARLY IN THE WEST AND GOOD MIXING SUPPORTING LOWER TD VALUES ACROSS THE SOUTH. MODEL OUTPUT GENERALLY SUPPORTS A DECREASING TREND IN THE WEST IN THE AFTERNOON AS GRADIENT SHIFTS EAST...SO THERE MAY ONLY BE A SMALL WINDOW FOR WIND/RH CROSSOVER. OF COURSE THERE IS ALSO THE QUESTION OF WHETHER FUELS WILL BE CURED AFTER RECENT PRECIP (ESPECIALLY OVER LOCATIONS WITH LINGERING SNOW PACK). WITH TOO MUCH UNCERTAINTY I DECIDED AGAINST ISSUANCE OF FIRE WEATHER WATCH AT THIS TIME. .LONG TERM...(TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 237 PM MDT MON APR 14 2014 MODEL SOLUTIONS REMAIN IN CLOSE AGREEMENT THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK AND THEN BEGIN TO DIVERGE THROUGH THE WEEKEND AS AN UPPER TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS IN THE NORTHERN BRANCH OF THE UPPER FLOW AND A SHORT WAVE TROUGH EMBEDDED IN THE SOUTHERLY BRANCH TRIES TO COME INTO PHASE WITH THE NORTHERLY BRANCH. THE GFS REMAINS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE SOLUTION WHILE THE ECMWF LAGS BEHIND NEARLY 24 HOURS. THIS IS PROVING TO BE TROUBLESOME WITH THE TIMING OF THE PRECIPITATION THAT IS POSSIBLE BETWEEN A LATE FRIDAY TO LATE SATURDAY TIME FRAME. HAVE GONE WITH SOME KIND OF BLENDED COMPROMISE SOLUTION FOR THE FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY TIME PERIOD WITH RAIN SHOWERS TRANSITIONING TO A FEW THUNDERSTORMS AND BACK TO RAIN SHOWERS ON SATURDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHT. EXPECT DRY AND WARMER CONDITIONS THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WEEKEND INTO THE BEGINNING OF NEXT WEEK AS A LARGE RIDGE AMPLIFIES OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES AND MOVES EAST OVER THE ROCKIES AND HIGH PLAINS REGION. BACKTRACKING TO THE MID-WEEK SYSTEM... EXPECT RAIN TO DEVELOP EAST OF THE ROCKIES LATE WEDNESDAY AND TRANSITION TO SNOW AS IT SPREADS ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA WEDNESDAY NIGHT. EXPECT A TRANSITION BACK TO RAIN DURING THE DAY ON THURSDAY...BUT MAY END UP STAYING MORE SNOW THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING IF TEMPERATURES REMAIN COLDER AND WET BULB ZERO TEMPERATURES ARE COLDER AS THEY WERE WITH THE LAST SYSTEM THAT DEPOSITED SNOW ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. EXPECT PRECIPITATION TO END FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA LATE IN THE DAY ON THURSDAY. TEMPS WILL WARM BRIEFLY ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AHEAD OF THE NEXT SYSTEM. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1030 PM MDT MON APR 14 2014 KGLD...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. WEST/SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 10KTS AT TAF ISSUANCE WILL INCREASE A BIT TOWARD 15KTS AROUND 09Z AND CONTINUE THROUGH 14Z. AFTER 14Z WINDS EXPECTED TO INCREASE WITH SUSTAINED SPEEDS OF 15-20KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 30KTS THROUGH 02Z BEFORE DIMINISHING TO AROUND 12KTS THROUGH THE REST OF THE TAF PERIOD. ONLY HIGH CLOUDINESS EXPECTED...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. KMCK...VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THE PERIOD. WEST/SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 06KTS EXPECTED THROUGH 16Z. AFTER 16Z SOUTHWEST WINDS AROUND 15KTS WITH GUSTS NEAR 25KTS EXPECTED THROUGH 02Z BEFORE BACKING TO THE SOUTH AROUND 11KTS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TAF PERIOD. ONLY HIGH CLOUDINESS EXPECTED...MAINLY DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...DR LONG TERM...LOCKHART AVIATION...99
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WAKEFIELD VA
634 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT MOVES OFF THE COAST THIS EVENING. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT AND SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... COLD FRONT CRNTLY MOVING ACROSS SERN VA/NRN NC ERLY THIS EVE WITH A NRLY SOLID BAND OF MDT-HVY SHWRS/TSTRMS ALONG IT. HAVING TO HAND EDIT THE TEMP/DP TEMP GRID AS MODELS NOT HANDLING THE 20+ DEGREE TMP DROP IN 1 HOUR BEHIND THE FROPA THAT WELL. ADJUSTED GRIDS PER LATEST RADAR TRENDS. INCREASED POPS TO CATEGORICAL ALL AREAS NEXT 1-3 HRS AS DEEP MOISTURE CONTINUES TO FEED INTO THIS SYSTM EVEN BEHIND THE FRNT. STILL EXPECT THIS SYSTM TO SWEEP OFFSHORE AFTER MIDNIGHT WITH FAIRLY RAPID CLRG. STRONG NORTH WINDS ARE FORECAST ALONG THE COAST. FOR A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING...WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CURRITUCK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE ALSO INDICATED IN THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST AND IN AREAS OF HAMPTON ROADS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT DROP TO BETWEEN 28 AND 32 OVER INLAND RURAL AREAS. A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN VIRGINIA EXCLUDING SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS AND THE LOWER VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE. THE FREEZE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE MD EASTERN SHORE EXCEPT FOR OCEAN CITY AND FOR NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST DURING THE SHORT TERM. DUE TO N TO NW WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT... CLOUDS FROM STREAMERS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH SIDE HAMPTON ROADS ON WEDNESDAY... ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN COOL WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S. ON WEDNESDAY... TEMPERATURES MAY GET NO HIGHER THAN THE MID TO UPR 40S ALONG THE COAST INCLUDING THE NORFOLK AND VIRGINIA BEACH AREA AND THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. LOWS THURSDAY MORNING AGAIN ARE FORECAST TO FALL TO AROUND 30 OVER INTERIOR PORTIONS. SOME FROST IS POSSIBLE AS WELL INCLUDING LOCATIONS THAT ONLY FALL TO THE LOW TO MID 30S. ANY NEEDED HEADLINES WILL BE DEFERRED TO LATER SHIFTS. TEMPERATURES WARM A BIT FRIDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S OVER INTERIOR AREAS. THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN TOWARD THE COAST...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AN AREA OF SFC LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON A STALLED BOUNDARY OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST FRI NIGHT. THE LOW SHOULD TRACK NE WELL OFF THE CAROLINA COAST ON SAT. THIS FEATURE MAY BRING A FEW RAIN SHOWERS TO FAR SE VA/NE NC DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. MEANWHILE...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL SWING INTO THE ERN GREAT LAKES FRI NIGHT AND SKIRT ACROSS NRN VA ON SAT. A WEAK SFC LOW WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE AND MAY BRING A BRIEF ROUND OF SHOWERS TO FAR NRN PORTIONS OF THE FA (INCLUDING THE MD/VA EASTERN SHORE) SAT AFTN/EARLY EVENING BEFORE MOVING OFFSHORE AND DISSIPATING. THE SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREAT LAKES TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO PHASE WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED COASTAL LOW SAT NIGHT...BUT THIS SHOULD OCCUR OVER NEW ENGLAND AND HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION SUN...THEN SLIDES OFFSHORE BY SUN EVENING AS A RELATIVELY FLAT (WEST TO EAST ORIENTED) FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS DOWN INTO THE AREA MON NIGHT INTO TUE. WEAK SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND A SUBSEQUENT SFC LOW TRAVELLING ALONG THIS BOUNDARY MAY BRING ANOTHER SHOT OF PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA ON MON/TUE. GFS PRECIP-GENERATION AND GENERAL MOVEMENT IS A BIT AGGRESSIVE VERSUS THE ECMWF...THEREFORE TRIED TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE POP FORECAST AND LIMITED COVERAGE TO NO HIGHER THAN 40 PERCENT. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRAIGHT-FORWARD SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE CROSSES THE REGION. EXPECT LOWS NEAR NORMAL BOTH NIGHTS IN THE 40S (LOWER 50S POSSIBLE IMMEDIATE SE VA/NE NC COASTS). HIGHS SAT/SUN RANGE FROM ROUGHLY 65 DEGREES FAR NE TO 70 DEGREES SW. AS THE FLAT FRONTAL BOUNDARY STARTS TO SAG INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES MON THROUGH TUE...THE TEMP FORECAST BECOMES TRICKY IN REGARD TO WHERE EXACTLY THE WARM SECTOR DEVELOPS. WITH PRECIP EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE AREA ON MON...INCREASING CIRRUS SHOULD KEEP HIGH TEMPS IN THE UPPER 60S WEST OF I-95 WITH WARMER TEMPS IN THE LOWER 70S EAST OF I-95 (MID-UPPER 60S MD/VA EASTERN SHORE). HIGHS TUE SHOULD BE IN THE LOWER 70S INLAND AND IN THE UPPER 60S NEAR THE IMMEDIATE CHES BAY AND ATLANTIC COASTS. LOW TEMPERATURES AREAWIDE ON MON/TUE NIGHT SHOULD ALSO BE WARM WITH READINGS IN THE 50S (OR ABOUT 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL). && .AVIATION /00Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... INITIAL BATCH OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAS MOVED OFF THE COAST THIS MORNING. THE MAIN FRONT IS STILL WELL TO THE WEST. TIMING LOOKS QUITE GOOD ON THE NAM AND RUC SO WILL FOLLOW THEM CLOSELY. NOTICED MAINLY VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL MAINTAIN THAT. WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM NOW ROTATING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE AREA CAN SEE MORE SHOWERS AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT DEVELOPING. WILL CONTINUE JUST SCATTERED SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE RUC MODEL SOUNDINGS AND THE LACK OF INSTABILITY INDICATE IT WILL BE HARD FOR ANY TSTMS TO DEVELOP. SO FOR NOW WILL NOT PUT THEM IN THE TAFS BUT IT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOME TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT AS IT CROSSES THE AREA. BEHIND THE FRONT MODELS SHOW AT LEAST SEVER HOURS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. WILL GIVE A TEMPO GROUP THERE FOR LOWER CIGS AND VSBY WITH THESE SHOWERS. CURRENTLY WEST OF THE FRONT ONLY MVFR CONDITIONS AND CURRENT GUIDANCE ALSO GOING MVFR. WILL KEEP PREDOMINATE CIGS AND VSBY MVFR. IT WILL BECOME WINDY ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FRONT PASSES WITH NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 30 KTS AND COULD BE OVER 35 KTS IN ORF. THESE WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT BUT REMAIN NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 THROUGH THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY. SKIES CLEAR LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. && .MARINE... GALE WARNGS WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED FOR ALL WTRS TDY INTO TNGT. A STRONG COLD FRNT IS CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE MID ATLANTIC CST...WITH GUSTY SLY FLOW AHEAD OF THE FRNT TO BE FOLLOWED BY STRONGER NW FLOW BEHIND THE FRNT. EXPECT GUSTS UP TO 35-40 KT OVRNGT AS THE FRNT PUSHES OFFSHORE AND HI PRES BLDS IN FROM THE W WITH LARGE PRES RISES. WAVES WILL RISE TO 4 TO 6 FT OVR THE BAY...AND SEAS WILL RISE TO 6 TO 9 FT ON THE CSTL WTRS. HI PRES CONTINUES TO BLD IN THRU WED AFTN...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE GRADIENT TO WEAKEN SIGNIFICANTLY. STILL HAVE THE GALES ENDING AT 7 AM FOR THE BAY/RIVERS...AND HOLDING INTO THE ERLY AFTN FOR THE CST AND SOUND. HI PRES SLIDES NE ACRS NEW ENGLAND AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WED NGT THRU FRI...AS A WEAK CSTL TROF DEVELOPS OFF THE SE CST. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NE WINDS AND ELEVATED SEAS THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ021>024. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ012. VA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ048-049- 060>085-087>094. MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ650-652-654. GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ633-656-658. GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ630>632-634>638. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LSA NEAR TERM...MPR/LSA SHORT TERM...LSA LONG TERM...BMD AVIATION...LKB/JAB MARINE...MAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WAKEFIELD VA
406 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE COAST THIS EVENING. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTHWEST TUESDAY NIGHT AND SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... UPPER AIR ANALYSIS HAS A LONG WAVE TROUGH EXTENDING FROM CANADA ACROSS THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES TO THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS. A COLD FRONT EXTENDED FROM NORTH OF NEW ENGLAND ACROSS NEW JERSEY TO CENTRAL VIRGINIA TO GEORGIA. THESE TWO FEATURES WILL MOVE QUICKLY TO THE EAST OF THE AREA TONIGHT. THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO EXIT THE AREA ON THE NORTH CAROLINA COAST AROUND 02Z. WHILE THUNDERSTORMS ARE STILL POSSIBLE...SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS LOOK UNLIKELY AT THIS POINT. PART OF THIS IS DUE TO STABILIZATION FROM EARLIER PRECIPITATION. SCATTERED SHOWERS AND A FEW THUNDERSTORMS WILL CONTINUE AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND ESPECIALLY ALONG THE FRONT. THUNDERSTORMS WILL END NEAR THE TIME OF THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. RAIN CONTINUES IN MOST LOCATIONS THIS EVENING...ENDING FROM WEST TO EAST LATE THIS EVENING AND EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING. INCLUDING RAIN THAT FELL EARLIER TODAY...MOST LOCATIONS CAN EXPECT A TOTAL OF AROUND AN INCH OF RAIN FROM THE EVENT WITH SOME LOCALLY HIGHER AMOUNTS. STRONG NORTH WINDS ARE FORECAST ALONG THE COAST. FOR A FEW HOURS THIS EVENING...WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED OVER PORTIONS OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CURRITUCK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE ALSO INDICATED IN THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST AND IN AREAS OF HAMPTON ROADS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. TEMPERATURES DROP QUICKLY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH READINGS FALLING INTO THE 40S WEST OF INTERSTATE 95 THIS EVENING. LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT DROP TO BETWEEN 28 AND 32 OVER INLAND RURAL AREAS. A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN VIRGINIA EXCLUDING SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS AND THE LOWER VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE. THE FREEZE WARNING IS ALSO IN EFFECT FOR THE MD EASTERN SHORE EXCEPT FOR OCEAN CITY AND FOR NORTHAMPTON COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST DURING THE SHORT TERM. DUE TO N TO NW WINDS AND COLD TEMPERATURES ALOFT... CLOUDS FROM STREAMERS ARE EXPECTED OVER THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF SOUTH SIDE HAMPTON ROADS ON WEDNESDAY... ESPECIALLY IN THE MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN COOL WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY WITH HIGHS MAINLY IN THE 50S. ON WEDNESDAY... TEMPERATURES MAY GET NO HIGHER THAN THE MID TO UPR 40S ALONG THE COAST INCLUDING THE NORFOLK AND VIRGINIA BEACH AREA AND THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. LOWS THURSDAY MORNING AGAIN ARE FORECAST TO FALL TO AROUND 30 OVER INTERIOR PORTIONS. SOME FROST IS POSSIBLE AS WELL INCLUDING LOCATIONS THAT ONLY FALL TO THE LOW TO MID 30S. ANY NEEDED HEADLINES WILL BE DEFERRED TO LATER SHIFTS. TEMPERATURES WARM A BIT FRIDAY WITH HIGHS IN THE LOWER 60S OVER INTERIOR AREAS. THERE WILL BE A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR RAIN TOWARD THE COAST...ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AN AREA OF SFC LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON A STALLED BOUNDARY OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST FRI NIGHT. THE LOW SHOULD TRACK NE WELL OFF THE CAROLINA COAST ON SAT. THIS FEATURE MAY BRING A FEW RAIN SHOWERS TO FAR SE VA/NE NC DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. MEANWHILE...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL SWING INTO THE ERN GREAT LAKES FRI NIGHT AND SKIRT ACROSS NRN VA ON SAT. A WEAK SFC LOW WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE AND MAY BRING A BRIEF ROUND OF SHOWERS TO FAR NRN PORTIONS OF THE FA (INCLUDING THE MD/VA EASTERN SHORE) SAT AFTN/EARLY EVENING BEFORE MOVING OFFSHORE AND DISSIPATING. THE SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREAT LAKES TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO PHASE WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED COASTAL LOW SAT NIGHT...BUT THIS SHOULD OCCUR OVER NEW ENGLAND AND HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION SUN...THEN SLIDES OFFSHORE BY SUN EVENING AS A RELATIVELY FLAT (WEST TO EAST ORIENTED) FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS DOWN INTO THE AREA MON NIGHT INTO TUE. WEAK SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND A SUBSEQUENT SFC LOW TRAVELLING ALONG THIS BOUNDARY MAY BRING ANOTHER SHOT OF PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA ON MON/TUE. GFS PRECIP-GENERATION AND GENERAL MOVEMENT IS A BIT AGGRESSIVE VERSUS THE ECMWF...THEREFORE TRIED TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE POP FORECAST AND LIMITED COVERAGE TO NO HIGHER THAN 40 PERCENT. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRAIGHT-FORWARD SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE CROSSES THE REGION. EXPECT LOWS NEAR NORMAL BOTH NIGHTS IN THE 40S (LOWER 50S POSSIBLE IMMEDIATE SE VA/NE NC COASTS). HIGHS SAT/SUN RANGE FROM ROUGHLY 65 DEGREES FAR NE TO 70 DEGREES SW. AS THE FLAT FRONTAL BOUNDARY STARTS TO SAG INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES MON THROUGH TUE...THE TEMP FORECAST BECOMES TRICKY IN REGARD TO WHERE EXACTLY THE WARM SECTOR DEVELOPS. WITH PRECIP EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE AREA ON MON...INCREASING CIRRUS SHOULD KEEP HIGH TEMPS IN THE UPPER 60S WEST OF I-95 WITH WARMER TEMPS IN THE LOWER 70S EAST OF I-95 (MID-UPPER 60S MD/VA EASTERN SHORE). HIGHS TUE SHOULD BE IN THE LOWER 70S INLAND AND IN THE UPPER 60S NEAR THE IMMEDIATE CHES BAY AND ATLANTIC COASTS. LOW TEMPERATURES AREAWIDE ON MON/TUE NIGHT SHOULD ALSO BE WARM WITH READINGS IN THE 50S (OR ABOUT 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL). && .AVIATION /20Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... INITIAL BATCH OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAS MOVED OFF THE COAST THIS MORNING. THE MAIN FRONT IS STILL WELL TO THE WEST. TIMING LOOKS QUITE GOOD ON THE NAM AND RUC SO WILL FOLLOW THEM CLOSELY. NOTICED MAINLY VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL MAINTAIN THAT. WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM NOW ROTATING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE AREA CAN SEE MORE SHOWERS AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT DEVELOPING. WILL CONTINUE JUST SCATTERED SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE RUC MODEL SOUNDINGS AND THE LACK OF INSTABILITY INDICATE IT WILL BE HARD FOR ANY TSTMS TO DEVELOP. SO FOR NOW WILL NOT PUT THEM IN THE TAFS BUT IT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOME TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT AS IT CROSSES THE AREA. BEHIND THE FRONT MODELS SHOW AT LEAST SEVER HOURS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. WILL GIVE A TEMPO GROUP THERE FOR LOWER CIGS AND VSBY WITH THESE SHOWERS. CURRENTLY WEST OF THE FRONT ONLY MVFR CONDITIONS AND CURRENT GUIDANCE ALSO GOING MVFR. WILL KEEP PREDOMINATE CIGS AND VSBY MVFR. IT WILL BECOME WINDY ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FRONT PASSES WITH NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 30 KTS AND COULD BE OVER 35 KTS IN ORF. THESE WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT BUT REMAIN NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 THROUGH THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY. SKIES CLEAR LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. && .MARINE... GALE WARNGS WILL CONTINUE AS PLANNED FOR ALL WTRS TDY INTO TNGT. A STRONG COLD FRNT IS CURRENTLY APPROACHING THE MID ATLANTIC CST...WITH GUSTY SLY FLOW AHEAD OF THE FRNT TO BE FOLLOWED BY STRONGER NW FLOW BEHIND THE FRNT. EXPECT GUSTS UP TO 35-40 KT OVRNGT AS THE FRNT PUSHES OFFSHORE AND HI PRES BLDS IN FROM THE W WITH LARGE PRES RISES. WAVES WILL RISE TO 4 TO 6 FT OVR THE BAY...AND SEAS WILL RISE TO 6 TO 9 FT ON THE CSTL WTRS. HI PRES CONTINUES TO BLD IN THRU WED AFTN...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE GRADIENT TO WEAKEN SIGNIFICANTLY. STILL HAVE THE GALES ENDING AT 7 AM FOR THE BAY/RIVERS...AND HOLDING INTO THE ERLY AFTN FOR THE CST AND SOUND. HI PRES SLIDES NE ACRS NEW ENGLAND AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WED NGT THRU FRI...AS A WEAK CSTL TROF DEVELOPS OFF THE SE CST. THIS WILL RESULT IN A PROLONGED PERIOD OF NE WINDS AND ELEVATED SEAS THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ021>024. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ012. VA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ048-049- 060>085-087>094. MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ650-652-654. GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ633-656-658. GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ630>632-634>638. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LSA NEAR TERM...LSA SHORT TERM...LSA LONG TERM...BMD AVIATION...LKB/JAB MARINE...MAS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WAKEFIELD VA
308 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA TODAY...THEN MOVE OFF THE COAST THIS EVENING. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTHWEST TUESDAY NIGHT AND SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING/... THE SEVERE THREAT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING HAS DIMINISHED FROM EARLIER FORECASTS. THE SPC SLIGHT RISK HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE COLD FRONT COULD STILL MIX DOWN SOME WIND GUSTS THAT WOULD APPROACH OR EXCEED SEVERE CRITERIA. THE SEVERE POTENTIAL HAS DIMINISHED FOR A FEW REASONS: THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVED OFFSHORE AROUND NOON RESULTED IN SOME STABILIZING. THUNDERSTORMS OVER GEORGIA IS ROBBING SOME OF THE INFLUX OF MOISTURE TO THE AREA. FINALLY...THE BACKING OF SURFACE WINDS TO SE IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS EARLIER EXPECTED. AT 1 PM EDT...THE COLD FRONT WAS NEAR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND JUST EAST OF LYNCHBURG. A BAND OF HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. MOST WIND GUSTS SHOULD BE 40 MPH OR LESS BUT ISOLATED SEVERE GUSTS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL GENERALLY RUN BETWEEN 70 AND 75. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL NOTICEABLY FOLLOWING THE COLD FRONT WITH READINGS IN THE 50S IN THE PIEDMONT COUNTIES AND INTERIOR NORTHERN NECK BY LATE AFTERNOON. STRONG NORTH WINDS ARE FORECAST ALONG THE COAST. WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CURRITUCK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED IN THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST AND IN AREAS OF HAMPTON ROADS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. RAIN MOVES OFF THE COAST LATE THIS EVENING. SKIES WILL CLEAR OVERNIGHT FROM WEST TO EAST. . LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT DROP TO BETWEEN 28 AND 32 OVER INLAND RURAL AREAS. A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN VIRGINIA EXCLUDING SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS AND THE LOWER VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE. THE FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MD EASTERN SHORE EXCEPT FOR OCEAN CITY. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY/... COLD WEDNESDAY UNDER SUNNY SKIES. LIKELY WILL BE SOME STREAMERS OVER THE BAY INTO SE VA/NE NC WEDS MORNING. H85 TEMPS WILL FALL TO ~-5C (-2 STD DEV)...TRANSLATING TO DAYTIME TEMPS GENERALLY IN THE LOW 50S...EVEN UNDER THE STRONG APRIL SUN. TEMPS AGAIN MAY FALL TO AROUND FREEZING OVER INLAND COUNTIES WED NIGHT-THURS MORNING. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR LIGHT RAIN NEAR THE NC COAST BY THURS. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... AN AREA OF SFC LOW PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO DEVELOP ON A STALLED BOUNDARY OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST FRI NIGHT. THE LOW SHOULD TRACK NE WELL OFF THE CAROLINA COAST ON SAT. THIS FEATURE MAY BRING A FEW RAIN SHOWERS TO FAR SE VA/NE NC DURING THIS TIMEFRAME. MEANWHILE...AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH OVER THE UPPER MIDWEST WILL SWING INTO THE ERN GREAT LAKES FRI NIGHT AND SKIRT ACROSS NRN VA ON SAT. A WEAK SFC LOW WILL BE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE AND MAY BRING A BRIEF ROUND OF SHOWERS TO FAR NRN PORTIONS OF THE FA (INCLUDING THE MD/VA EASTERN SHORE) SAT AFTN/EARLY EVENING BEFORE MOVING OFFSHORE AND DISSIPATING. THE SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH THE GREAT LAKES TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO PHASE WITH THE AFOREMENTIONED COASTAL LOW SAT NIGHT...BUT THIS SHOULD OCCUR OVER NEW ENGLAND AND HAVE VERY LITTLE IMPACT TO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES. SFC HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE REGION SUN...THEN SLIDES OFFSHORE BY SUN EVENING AS A RELATIVELY FLAT (WEST TO EAST ORIENTED) FRONTAL BOUNDARY SAGS DOWN INTO THE AREA MON NIGHT INTO TUE. WEAK SHORTWAVE ENERGY AND A SUBSEQUENT SFC LOW TRAVELLING ALONG THIS BOUNDARY MAY BRING ANOTHER SHOT OF PRECIPITATION TO THE AREA ON MON/TUE. GFS PRECIP-GENERATION AND GENERAL MOVEMENT IS A BIT AGGRESSIVE VERSUS THE ECMWF...THEREFORE TRIED TO SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE WITH THE POP FORECAST AND LIMITED COVERAGE TO NO HIGHER THAN 40 PERCENT. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE STRAIGHT-FORWARD SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE CROSSES THE REGION. EXPECT LOWS NEAR NORMAL BOTH NIGHTS IN THE 40S (LOWER 50S POSSIBLE IMMEDIATE SE VA/NE NC COASTS). HIGHS SAT/SUN RANGE FROM ROUGHLY 65 DEGREES FAR NE TO 70 DEGREES SW. AS THE FLAT FRONTAL BOUNDARY STARTS TO SAG INTO THE MID ATLANTIC STATES MON THROUGH TUE...THE TEMP FORECAST BECOMES TRICKY IN REGARD TO WHERE EXACTLY THE WARM SECTOR DEVELOPS. WITH PRECIP EXPECTED TO APPROACH THE AREA ON MON...INCREASING CIRRUS SHOULD KEEP HIGH TEMPS IN THE UPPER 60S WEST OF I-95 WITH WARMER TEMPS IN THE LOWER 70S EAST OF I-95 (MID-UPPER 60S MD/VA EASTERN SHORE). HIGHS TUE SHOULD BE IN THE LOWER 70S INLAND AND IN THE UPPER 60S NEAR THE IMMEDIATE CHES BAY AND ATLANTIC COASTS. LOW TEMPERATURES AREAWIDE ON MON/TUE NIGHT SHOULD ALSO BE WARM WITH READINGS IN THE 50S (OR ABOUT 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL). && .AVIATION /19Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... INITIAL BATCH OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAS MOVED OFF THE COAST THIS MORNING. THE MAIN FRONT IS STILL WELL TO THE WEST. TIMING LOOKS QUITE GOOD ON THE NAM AND RUC SO WILL FOLLOW THEM CLOSELY. NOTICED MAINLY VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL MAINTAIN THAT. WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM NOW ROTATING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE AREA CAN SEE MORE SHOWERS AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT DEVELOPING. WILL CONTINUE JUST SCATTERED SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE RUC MODEL SOUNDINGS AND THE LACK OF INSTABILITY INDICATE IT WILL BE HARD FOR ANY TSTMS TO DEVELOP. SO FOR NOW WILL NOT PUT THEM IN THE TAFS BUT IT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOME TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT AS IT CROSSES THE AREA. BEHIND THE FRONT MODELS SHOW AT LEAST SEVER HOURS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. WILL GIVE A TEMPO GROUP THERE FOR LOWER CIGS AND VSBY WITH THESE SHOWERS. CURRENTLY WEST OF THE FRONT ONLY MVFR CONDITIONS AND CURRENT GUIDANCE ALSO GOING MVFR. WILL KEEP PREDOMINATE CIGS AND VSBY MVFR. IT WILL BECOME WINDY ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FRONT PASSES WITH NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 30 KTS AND COULD BE OVER 35 KTS IN ORF. THESE WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT BUT REMAIN NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 THROUGH THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY. SKIES CLEAR LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. && .MARINE... RAISED GALE WARNINGS FOR ALL MARINE ZONES...REMOVED RAMP-UP SCA`S AS WE ARE WITHIN ~ 12 HRS OF THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS. SOUTHERLY FLOW TODAY WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20-25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT...AS PRESSURE FALLS MOVE INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. HOWEVER...STRONGER WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED BETWEEN ABOUT 20Z AND 00Z AS WINDS SHIFT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FRONT (AND MAY BE ENHANCED BY SCATTERED CONVECTION). THIS EVENING...IMPRESSIVE PRESSURE RISES ON THE ORDER OF 12 TO 15 MB IN A 6 HR PERIOD SHOULD BRING GUSTS OF 35-40 KT FOR ALL ZONES. THIS WILL ALSO USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR THAT WILL ENHANCE MIXING OVER THE WATERS. WAVES WILL BLD TO 4 TO 6 FT OVR THE CHES BAY...AND SEAS WILL BLD TO 5 TO 9 FT ON THE COASTAL WATERS. HI PRES WILL THEN BLD JUST TO THE N BY WED AFTN...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE GRADIENT TO WEAKEN SIGNIFICANTLY. HAVE THE GALES ENDING AT 12Z FOR THE BAY/RIVERS...BUT HOLDING INTO EARLY AFTN FOR THE COAST AND CURRITUCK SOUND. HIGH PRESSURE SLIDES NE ACRS NEW ENGLAND AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WED NGT THRU FRI...AS A WEAK COASTAL TROUGH DEVELOPS OFF THE SE COAST. THIS WILL RESULT IN NE WINDS AND ELEVATED SEAS THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ021>024. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ012. VA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ048-049- 060>085-087>094. MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ650-652-654. GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ633-656-658. GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ630>632-634>638. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LSA NEAR TERM...LSA SHORT TERM...SAM LONG TERM...BMD AVIATION...LKB/JAB MARINE...LKB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WAKEFIELD VA
145 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA TODAY...THEN MOVE OFF THE COAST THIS EVENING. CANADIAN HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTHWEST TUESDAY NIGHT AND SETTLES OVER THE MID ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... THE SEVERE THREAT FOR THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING HAS DIMINISHED FROM EARLIER FORECASTS. THE SPC SLIGHT RISK HAS BEEN REMOVED. THIS DOES NOT ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ALONG THE COLD FRONT COULD STILL MIX DOWN SOME WIND GUSTS THAT WOULD APPROACH OR EXCEED SEVERE CRITERIA. THE SEVERE POTENTIAL HAS DIMINISHED FOR A FEW REASONS: THE LINE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS THAT MOVED OFFSHORE AROUND NOON RESULTED IN SOME STABILIZING. THUNDERSTORMS OVER GEORGIA IS ROBBING SOME OF THE INFLUX OF MOISTURE TO THE AREA. FINALLY...THE BACKING OF SURFACE WINDS TO SE IS NOT AS IMPRESSIVE AS EARLIER EXPECTED. AT 1 PM EDT...THE COLD FRONT WAS NEAR THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA AND JUST EAST OF LYNCHBURG. A BAND OF HEAVY RAIN AND GUSTY WINDS CAN BE EXPECTED WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. MOST WIND GUSTS SHOULD BE 40 MPH OR LESS BUT ISOLATED SEVERE GUSTS ARE STILL POSSIBLE. HIGH TEMPERATURES TODAY WILL GENERALLY RUN BETWEEN 70 AND 75. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL NOTICEABLY FOLLOWING THE COLD FRONT WITH READINGS IN THE 50S IN THE PIEDMONT COUNTIES AND INTERIOR NORTHERN NECK BY LATE AFTERNOON. STRONG NORTH WINDS ARE FORECAST ALONG THE COAST. WINDS OF 25 TO 35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUSTS ARE EXPECTED THIS EVENING OVER PORTIONS OF HAMPTON ROADS AND CURRITUCK COUNTY NORTH CAROLINA THIS EVENING. THESE WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED IN THE VIRGINIA PORTION OF THE LOWER EASTERN SHORE. STRONGEST WINDS WILL BE NEAR THE COAST AND IN AREAS OF HAMPTON ROADS DIRECTLY EXPOSED TO THE CHESAPEAKE BAY. RAIN MOVES OFF THE COAST LATE THIS EVENING. SKIES WILL CLEAR OVERNIGHT FROM WEST TO EAST. . LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT DROP TO BETWEEN 28 AND 32 OVER INLAND RURAL AREAS. A FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR MOST OF EASTERN VIRGINIA EXCLUDING SOUTHSIDE HAMPTON ROADS AND THE LOWER VIRGINIA EASTERN SHORE. THE FREEZE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE MD EASTERN SHORE EXCEPT FOR OCEAN CITY. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... COLD WEDNESDAY UNDER SUNNY SKIES. LIKELY WILL BE SOME STREAMERS OVER THE BAY INTO SE VA/NE NC WEDS MORNING. H85 TEMPS WILL FALL TO ~-5C (-2 STD DEV)...TRANSLATING TO DAYTIME TEMPS GENERALLY IN THE LOW 50S...EVEN UNDER THE STRONG APRIL SUN. TEMPS AGAIN MAY FALL TO AROUND FREEZING OVER INLAND COUNTIES WED NIGHT-THURS MORNING. THERE IS A POSSIBILITY FOR LIGHT RAIN NEAR THE NC COAST BY THURS. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/... STRONG SFC HIGH PRESSURE REMAINS ANCHORED OVER NEW ENGLAND TO BEGIN THE MEDIUM RANGE FORECAST PERIOD, RESULTING IN CONTINUED NE FLOW OVER THE MID ATLANTIC FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE COOL TO BEGIN THE PERIOD FRIDAY...ABOUT ONE STANDARD DEVIATION BELOW NORMAL...WITH TEMPS MODERATING A BIT SATURDAY. ALOFT, NORTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE TROUGH, AND ATTENDANT SFC LOW IS EXPECTED TO PUSH ACROSS THE MID MS VLY TOWARDS THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES FRI-SAT, EVENTUALLY PUSHING A MAINLY DRY COLD FRONT THROUGH SAT NGT AND EARLY SUNDAY. BOTH MODELS DO TAKE A PIECE OF SHORTWAVE ENERGY ACROSS THE MID-SOUTH TOWARDS THE CAROLINA COAST FRIDAY-SATURDAY, WITH RESULTANT WEAK INVERTED TROUGHING THAT DEVELOPS PROMPTING SOME LOW POPS LATER FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. THE 12Z/14 EURO SOLUTION REMAINS A BIT WETTER THAN THE PROGRESSIVE GFS SOLUTION. HAVE SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE GFS/UKMET FOR THIS PACKAGE. RIGHT NOW, IT APPEARS THAT THE BEST RAIN CHC WOULD BE OVER EASTERN SECTIONS ALONG THE COASTAL TROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY SATURDAY. UPPER TROUGH EJECTS NORTHEAST LATER SATURDAY, WITH SHORTWAVE RIDGING ARRIVING FROM THE WEST SHUNTING SYSTEM OFFSHORE. QUICK CLEARING EXPECTED THEREAFTER TOWARDS THE TAIL END OF THE PERIOD (EASTER SUNDAY AND MONDAY). && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... INITIAL BATCH OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAS MOVED OFF THE COAST THIS MORNING. THE MAIN FRONT IS STILL WELL TO THE WEST. TIMING LOOKS QUITE GOOD ON THE NAM AND RUC SO WILL FOLLOW THEM CLOSELY. NOTICED MAINLY VFR TO MVFR CONDITIONS AHEAD OF THE FRONT AND WILL MAINTAIN THAT. WITH THE UPPER SYSTEM NOW ROTATING NORTHEAST TOWARD THE AREA CAN SEE MORE SHOWERS AHEAD AND BEHIND THE FRONT DEVELOPING. WILL CONTINUE JUST SCATTERED SHOWERS AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE RUC MODEL SOUNDINGS AND THE LACK OF INSTABILITY INDICATE IT WILL BE HARD FOR ANY TSTMS TO DEVELOP. SO FOR NOW WILL NOT PUT THEM IN THE TAFS BUT IT IS STILL POSSIBLE FOR SOME TO FORM ALONG THE FRONT AS IT CROSSES THE AREA. BEHIND THE FRONT MODELS SHOW AT LEAST SEVER HOURS OF MODERATE TO HEAVY SHOWERS ESPECIALLY OVER SOUTHEAST VIRGINIA AND NORTHEAST NORTH CAROLINA. WILL GIVE A TEMPO GROUP THERE FOR LOWER CIGS AND VSBY WITH THESE SHOWERS. CURRENTLY WEST OF THE FRONT ONLY MVFR CONDITIONS AND CURRENT GUIDANCE ALSO GOING MVFR. WILL KEEP PREDOMINATE CIGS AND VSBY MVFR. IT WILL BECOME WINDY ESPECIALLY AFTER THE FRONT PASSES WITH NORTHWEST WINDS GUSTING OVER 30 KTS AND COULD BE OVER 35 KTS IN ORF. THESE WINDS WILL SLOWLY DIMINISH LATER TONIGHT BUT REMAIN NORTHWEST 15 TO 20 THROUGH THE MORNING ON WEDNESDAY. SKIES CLEAR LATE TONIGHT AND CONTINUE VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. && .MARINE... RAISED GALE WARNINGS FOR ALL MARINE ZONES...REMOVED RAMP-UP SCA`S AS WE ARE WITHIN ~ 12 HRS OF THE ONSET OF GALE CONDITIONS. SOUTHERLY FLOW TODAY WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 20-25 KT WITH GUSTS TO 30 KT...AS PRESSURE FALLS MOVE INTO THE AREA AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING COLD FRONT. HOWEVER...STRONGER WINDS ARE ANTICIPATED BETWEEN ABOUT 20Z AND 00Z AS WINDS SHIFT IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE FRONT (AND MAY BE ENHANCED BY SCATTERED CONVECTION). THIS EVENING...IMPRESSIVE PRESSURE RISES ON THE ORDER OF 12 TO 15 MB IN A 6 HR PERIOD SHOULD BRING GUSTS OF 35-40 KT FOR ALL ZONES. THIS WILL ALSO USHER IN MUCH COLDER AIR THAT WILL ENHANCE MIXING OVER THE WATERS. WAVES WILL BLD TO 4 TO 6 FT OVR THE CHES BAY...AND SEAS WILL BLD TO 5 TO 9 FT ON THE COASTAL WATERS. HI PRES WILL THEN BLD JUST TO THE N BY WED AFTN...WHICH WILL ALLOW THE GRADIENT TO WEAKEN SIGNIFICANTLY. HAVE THE GALES ENDING AT 12Z FOR THE BAY/RIVERS...BUT HOLDING INTO EARLY AFTN FOR THE COAST AND CURRITUCK SOUND. HIGH PRESSURE SLIDES NE ACRS NEW ENGLAND AND INTO THE CANADIAN MARITIMES WED NGT THRU FRI...AS A WEAK COASTAL TROUGH DEVELOPS OFF THE SE COAST. THIS WILL RESULT IN NE WINDS AND ELEVATED SEAS THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. && .AKQ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MD...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR MDZ021>024. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ012. VA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR VAZ048-049- 060>085-087>094. MARINE...GALE WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ650-652-654. GALE WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ633-656-658. GALE WARNING UNTIL 7 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR ANZ630>632-634>638. && $$ SYNOPSIS...LSA NEAR TERM...LSA SHORT TERM...SAM LONG TERM...MAM/JEF AVIATION...LKB/JAB MARINE...LKB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
531 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 531 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 BIGGEST FORECAST CONCERNS FOR SHORT TERM FOCUS ON WINTER STORM HEADLINES STARTING WEDNESDAY AND CONTINUING INTO THURSDAY. WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM HUDSON BAY THROUGH THE CENTRAL GREAT LAKES INTO THE GULF COAST STATES. INSTABILITY ASSOC WITH THIS TROUGH HAS SUPPORTED SOME DIURNAL -SHSN ACROSS INLAND AREAS THIS AFTERNOON. THE SHORTWAVE MOVING IN OFF THE PAC NW WILL BE THE FEATURE OF INTEREST IN THE SHORT TERM AS IT DEVELOPS A DEEPENING STORM SYSTEM OVER THE NRN PLAINS LATE TONIGHT AND BRINGS IT TOWARD THE WRN GREAT LAKES LATE WED INTO WED NIGHT. TONIGHT...ANY LEFTOVER DIURNAL SHSN OVER S CNTRL UPPER MI WILL DIMINISH EARLY THIS EVENING AS PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL INTO THE LOW SINGLE DIGITS OVER TYPICAL COLD SPOTS FAR EAST TO 15 TO 20F RANGE FOR DOWNSLOPING AREAS ALONG LAKE SUPERIOR FAR WEST AND AREAS CLOSE TO BAY OF GREEN BAY. TEMPS MAY CLIMB LATE AS CLOUDS INCREASE AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. WAA LIGHT SNOW WITH INCREASING 280K-290K ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MAINLY WEST OF UPPER MI BUT MAY SLIDE INTO THE FAR WEST LATE. WEDNESDAY...MODELS GENERALLY IN AGREEMENT SHOWING SHORTWAVE OF INTEREST AND ASSOC DEEPENING SFC LOW OVER SE SOUTH DAKOTA AROUND 12Z THEN DIFFER ON HOW QUICKLY THEY LIFT THIS LOW ENE TOWARD THE UPPER GREAT LAKES. MOST OF 12Z MODELS GENERALLY TRENDING SLIGHTLY SLOWER AND FARTHER SE THAN 06Z RUNS WITH TRACK OF SFC LOW. MODELS INDICATE WARM AIR ADVECTION AND ISENTROPIC ASCENT ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE LOW AND INVERTED SFC TROUGH SHOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING SNOW SHIELD FM CNTRL MINNESOTA INTO NORTHWEST WI LATE TONIGHT THROUGH DAYBREAK ON WEDNESDAY. THIS SNOW SHIELD WILL THEN SPREAD INTO WEST AND CENTRAL UPPER MI DURING THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY. AS SFC TROUGH EDGES CLOSER TO UPR MICHIGAN WED AFTN ISENTROPIC ASCENT BECOMES MAXIMIZED ON 285-290K SFCS ACROSS UPR MICHIGAN FROM 15Z INTO WED EVENING. GFS REMAINS QUICKEST OF 12Z MODELS WHILE THE ECMWF IS THE SLOWEST. THE NAM AND REGIONAL GEM FALL SOMEWHERE BTWN THESE SOLNS. H7 MIXING RATIOS IN 2.5-3 G/KG RANGE SUGGESTS 12 HOUR SNOW AMOUNTS 4-6 INCHES OVER MAINLY THE WEST HALF COUNTIES. IT/S POSSIBLE ACTUAL SNOW AMOUNTS ON WED COULD BE HELD DOWN SOME AS SNOW ARRIVES DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN INSOLATION COULD LIMIT ACCUMS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TRAFFIC/TRAVELLED ROADS. CROSS SECTIONS SUGGEST POSSIBILITY OF HEAVIER BANDED SNOWFALL OVER WESTERN COUNTIES WITH NEG EPV ABOVE FAIRLY STRONG 7H FGEN FORCING SO THIS COULD ADD A FEW INCHES TO THE 4-6 INCH TOTALS RENDERED SOLELY FM ISENTROPIC ASCENT. WITH ALL ABOVE FACTORS TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION...HAVE DECIDED TO UPGRADE WATCHES OVER THE WEST HALF COUNTIES TO WARNINGS FROM MQT-DICKINSON WESTWARD. GENERALLY STARTED WARNINGS ON WED FM 14Z SOUTH TO 16Z NORTH. ALSO MOVED THE AXIS OF HEAVIER PCPN/SNOWFALL SLIGHTLY FARTHER EASTWARD BASED ON 12Z MODEL TRENDS WITH SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ON WED RANGING FM 3 TO 5 INCHES OVER THE NW CWA TO 4-7 INCHES OVER THE FAR SW CWA ALONG THE WI BDR. WENT WITH ADVISORIES FOR MNM...DELTA AND ALGER COUNTIES WHERE 2-4 INCH AMOUNTS WILL BE MORE COMMON ON WED WITH MUCH OF THE SNOW FALLING IN THE AFTERNOON HRS. FARTHER EAST OVER SCHOOLCRAFT AND LUCE COUNTIES...LOW-LVL DRY AIRMASS INITIALLY IN PLACE FROM LINGERING SFC RDG AXIS WILL TAKE A BIT LONGER TO MOISTEN FM ISENTROPIC ASCENT SO ONLY EXPECT GENERALLY 1-2 INCHES OF SNOW THERE AND WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY HEADLINE THERE FOR NOW. IF TONIGHT/S MODEL RUNS CONTINUE TO TREND EASTWARD MAY NEED TO CONSIDER POSSIBILITY OF ADDING MNM AND POSSIBLY DELTA INTO WARNING. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY) ISSUED AT 531 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 LONG TERM PORTION OF THE FCST WILL BEGIN COLD/WINTRY AS SHORTWAVE TAKES ADVANTAGE OF LINGERING TIGHT THERMAL GRADIENT OVER THE AREA BTWN DEPARTING UNUSUALLY COLD AIR MASS FOR MID APR AND WARMTH SPREADING OUT ACROSS THE CNTRL/SRN PLAINS. TEMPS WILL THEN SLOWLY MODERATE AS DEEP TROF AND ASSOCIATED LATE SEASON ARCTIC AIR LIFT TO GREENLAND...AND PACIFIC AIR MAKES INCREASING INROADS ACROSS THE CONUS AND SRN CANADA. HEADING DOWN THE ROAD...IT LOOKS LIKE TEMPS NEXT WEEK WILL GENERALLY FLUCTUATE AROUND NORMAL...BUT NOT SIGNIFICANTLY ABOVE OR BLO NORMAL DURING THE TEMP SWINGS. THERE ARE SOME INDICATIONS FROM GEM ENSEMBLES AND GFS RUNS THAT THE PATTERN MAY BE FAIRLY ACTIVE OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS WHICH WILL MEAN RAINFALL FOR MOST IF NOT ALL PCPN EVENTS. HOPEFULLY...SIGNIFICANT RAINFALL WILL BE AVOIDED AS THE SNOWMELT SEASON RESUMES. BEGINNING WED NIGHT...A HVY/WET SNOW EVENT WILL BE UNDERWAY AS SHORTWAVE APPROACHES FROM THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY. WITH 12Z MODEL RUNS...MODELS THAT HAD MAX QPF AXIS ON THE NW SIDE OF THE MODEL SPREAD HAVE SHIFTED SLIGHTLY S AND E. RESULT IS IMPROVING MODEL AGREEMENT NOW ON WHERE AXIS OF HEAVIEST PCPN WILL SET UP. IT APPEARS MAX QPF AXIS SHOULD RUN ROUGHLY FROM JUST N OF THE TWIN CITIES TO THE HURON MTNS. THE NAM IS DISPLACED A LITTLE TO THE NW OF THIS AXIS WHILE THE GEM REGIONAL/HEMISPHERIC ARE DISPLACED A LITTLE TO THE SE. ALTHOUGH SFC LOW ASSOCIATED WITH SHORTWAVE WILL BE WEAKENING AS IT TRACKS FROM THE NRN/CNTRL PLAINS TO THE UPPER LAKES...BEST COMBINATION OF FORCING/MOISTURE WILL COME TOGETHER FROM ERN MN E AND NE NTO UPPER MI BEFORE SYSTEM BEGINS TO FALL APART. AT THE UPPER LEVELS...RIGHT ENTRANCE OF UPPER JET STREAK RUNNING FROM NRN LAKE SUPERIOR/NRN ONTARIO EASTWARD WILL PROVIDE HEALTHY UPPER DIVERGENCE. THERE ARE EVEN SOME HINTS OF BRIEF UPPER JET COUPLING WITH LEFT EXIT OF JET SHIFTING ACROSS THE UPPER MIDWEST THAT IS SUPPORTING THE SHORTWAVE. AT THE LOWER LEVELS...STRONG ISENTROPIC ASCENT IS NOTED WITH MIXING RATIOS OF 3 TO 4G/KG AVBL AROUND 700-750MB. IN ADDITION...THERE IS STRONG FRONTOGENESIS WITH NEGATIVE EPV/CONVECTIVE INSTABILITY NOTED OVERTOP THE FGEN. FINALLY...STEEP MIDLEVEL LAPSE RATES ARE NOTED ADVECTING INTO THE SRN SIDE OF THE PCPN AREA. ALL THIS POINTS TO THE LIKELIHOOD FOR HEAVIER BANDING OF SNOW WITHIN THE OVERALL MDT/HVY PCPN AREA OR EVEN CONVECTIVE SNOW AT TIMES...CERTAINLY NOT ATYPICAL FOR SPRINGTIME HVY SNOW EVENTS. ULTIMATE PLACEMENT OF HEAVIEST SNOW WILL HINGE ON WHERE THESE HEAVIER SNOWBANDS OR CONVECTIVE ELEMENTS SET UP. AS IT STANDS NOW...LOCATIONS W OF KIMT/KMQT LINE SHOULD HAVE NO PROBLEM REACHING WARNING CRITERIA WITH STORM TOTAL AMOUNTS AROUND 1 FOOT...PROBABLY IN MANY LOCATIONS. ADVY ISSUED FOR NEXT TIER OF COUNTIES E MAY IN FACT NEED TO BE UPGRADED TO WARNINGS GIVEN MODEL TRENDS. FINALLY... EVEN THE FAR E COUNTIES OF SCHOOLCRAFT AND LUCE MAY NEED TO BE ADDED TO AN ADVY IF THE E TREND HOLDS UP IN NEXT SET OF MODEL RUNS. PCPN WINDS DOWN QUICKLY THU AND WILL LIKELY END. SFC HIGH PRES THEN BUILDS INTO THE UPPER LAKES THU NIGHT THRU FRI NIGHT TO PROVIDE A PERIOD OF QUIET WEATHER. NAM IN PARTICULAR SUGGESTS LOW CLOUDS MAY LINGER THU NIGHT...AND THAT MAY BE THE CASE WITH SHALLOW COLD AIR MASS OVER EXPANDING OPEN WATER ON LAKE SUPERIOR. IF CLOUDS DO CLEAR OUT IN SOME AREAS THU NIGHT...EXPECT BKN DIURNAL CU DEVELOPMENT FRI UNDER MID LEVEL TROF AND ASSOCIATED THERMAL TROF. NOT OUT OF THE QUESTION THAT A FEW FLURRIES COULD EVEN DEVELOP. FRI HIGHS WILL BE IN THE 30S N WITH A CHILLY WIND OFF THE ICE TO THE 40S S. WITH CLOUDS CLEARING OUT FRI NIGHT...IT WILL BE A COLD NIGHT WITH HIGH PRES STILL OVER THE AREA. FAVORED THE LOWER SIDE OF GUIDANCE WITH SOME TEENS OVER THE W WHERE WINDS WILL BE LIGHTEST. COULD BE CONSIDERABLY COLDER ACROSS ALL OF THE INTERIOR IF SKIES CLEAR EARLY AND STAY THAT WAY FOR A GOOD PART OF THE NIGHT. MODELS THEN DIVERGE WITH PROGRESSION OF NEXT SHORTWAVE FEATURE MOVING OFF THE PACIFIC IN LOWER AMPLITUDE FLOW...THOUGH AGREEMENT IS IMPROVING WITH TODAYS 12Z MODEL RUNS. GEM IS STRONGER WITH WAVE AND IS HEAVIER WITH THE QPF THAN THE GFS/ECWMF. HOWEVER...BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF ARE TRENDING TOWARD A WETTER SYSTEM NOW. SOME -RA POSSIBLY MIXED WITH A LITTLE SNOW OVER HIGHER TERRAIN WILL PROBABLY REACH THE W SAT AFTN...THEN SPREAD E SAT NIGHT/SUN. WITH WETTER TRENDS NOTED...WILL TRENDING POPS UP TO CHC. MON/TUE...ECMWF HAS BEEN CONSISTENT SHOWING TROF DEVELOPMENT INTO THE W COAST WITH DOWNSTREAM RIDGE BUILDING INTO THE ROCKIES/WRN PLAINS WHILE TROF SETTLES INTO THE ERN CONUS. THE GFS IS CONSIDERABLY MORE PRONOUNCED WITH EASTWARD EXTENT OF RIDGE/HIGHER HEIGHTS INTO THE GREAT LAKES...BUT THE 12Z GFS IS NOW SHOWING SIGNS OF HEADING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ECMWF. WILL LEAN TOWARD THE MORE CONSISTENT ECMWF WHICH TYPICALLY VERIFIES BETTER. RESULT IS A COOLER THAN GFS SCENARIO...BUT STILL CLOSE TO NORMAL FOR TEMPS. IF ANY MINOR WAVES TRACK SE ACROSS THE AREA INTO THE ERN TROF...THERE MAY BE SOME SCT LIGHT -SHRA AT TIMES. AT THIS POINT...NOTHING SUGGESTS THE NEED FOR AN EXPLICIT MENTION OF PCPN MON OR TUE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 138 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 DIURNAL HEATING AND THE PRESENCE OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL SUPPORT -SHSN WITH POTENTIAL FOR CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY THROUGH 21Z. AFTER THE DAYTIME HEATING SUBSIDES THIS EVENING...EXPECT CLEARING WITH VFR CONDITIONS. LOOK FOR CONDITIONS TO LOWER TO IFR AT KIWD BY LATE WED MORNING AND TO MVFR AT KCMX AND KSAW BTWN 16-18Z WITH THE ONSET OF SNOW AHEAD OF APPROACHING SYSTEM OVER THE NRN PLAINS. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 PM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 531 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WINDS LESS THAN 20 KTS THROUGH TONIGHT WITH SFC HIGH PRES RIDGE OVER THE AREA. APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM FM THE PLAINS WILL RESULT IN INCREASING EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS ON WEDNESDAY. WENT WITH A GALE WARNING FOR FAR WRN LAKE SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY AFTN INTO THU MORNING AS WINDS ARE ENHANCED DUE TO CHANNELING AND TERRAIN EFFECTS. WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST TO 25 KTS BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON AS THE LOW WEAKENS WHILE MOVING OVER ERN LK SUPERIOR. EXPECT WINDS STAY BLO 20 KTS FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 531 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 RECENT COLDER WEATHER AND CONTINUATION OF COLDER WEATHER FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS WILL RESULT IN SLOW RUNOFF OF MELTING SNOW. THUS... RIVER LEVELS SHOULD NOT SHOW ANY SIGNIFICANT FLUCTUATIONS. HOWEVER...ICE JAMS COULD BE AN ISSUE AS THEY HAVE BEEN IN SOME AREAS. HOWEVER...DIMINISHED RUNOFF SHOULD REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL ICE JAMS. WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION IS IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR 0.50 TO 1.25 INCHES OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION...GREATEST OVER THE W HALF OF UPPER MICHIGAN. THIS PRECIP ADDED TO EXISTING SNOWPACK WITH WATER EQUIVALENT OF 4-9 INCHES WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOWMELT RUNOFF/RIVER RISES AND POSSIBLE ICE JAMS ONCE WARMER TEMPERATURES ARRIVE NEXT WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO NOON EDT THURSDAY FOR MIZ006-013. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR MIZ004-084. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM NOON WEDNESDAY TO NOON EDT THURSDAY FOR MIZ005. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ THURSDAY FOR MIZ002-009>011. WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 2 PM WEDNESDAY TO NOON EDT THURSDAY FOR MIZ001-003. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 9 AM WEDNESDAY TO 10 AM CDT THURSDAY FOR MIZ012. LAKE SUPERIOR... GALE WARNING FROM 2 PM EDT /1 PM CDT/ WEDNESDAY TO 11 AM EDT /10 AM CDT/ THURSDAY FOR LSZ162. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...VOSS LONG TERM...ROLFSON AVIATION...VOSS MARINE...VOSS HYDROLOGY...ROLFSON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
157 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 507 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM HUDSON BAY THROUGH THE WRN GREAT LAKES AND THE MID MS VALLEY INTO ERN TX. A WEAK SHRTWV INTO WRN LAKE SUPERIOR SUPPORTED SOME ISOLD -SHSN TO NEAR IWD WHILE ANOTHER WEAK SHRTWV OVER CNTRL MANTIOBA INTO NW ONTARIO WAS SLIDING TO THE SE TOWARD WRN LAKE SUPERIOR. AT THE SFC...NRLY FLOW PREVAILED BTWN A RIDGE EXTENDINGD FROM MANTIOBA THROUGH THE ERN DAKOTAS AND A TROUGH FROM THE ERN LAKES INTO SRN QUEBEC. THE NORTH WINDS AND 850 MB TEMPS TO AROUND -17C SUPPORTED SOME LIGHT LES TO NEAR P53 DESPITE THE EXTENSIVE ICE COVER OVER THE ERN LAKE. TODAY...THE UPSTREAM SFC RIDGE WILL BUILD INTO THE WRN LAKES TODAY BRINGING DIMINISHING WINDS. THIS SHOULD LIMIT OR END THE LES THIS MORNING OVER THE EAST. SOME ISOLD -SHSN ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRN LAKE SHRTWV ARE EXPECTED SPREAD INTO THE WRN CWA THIS MORNING. WITH DAYTIME HEATING...LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES TO 8-9C/KM WITH 850/700 MB TEMPS OF -17C/-27C WILL SUPPORT SCT DIURNAL SNOW SHOWERS OVER MAINLY WEST AND CNTRL UPPER MI. SOME INLAND LOCATIONS COULD SEE A DUSTING TO AROUND A HALF INCH. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH MAX TEMPS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S WHICH WILL BE NEAR OR BELOW THE RECORD LOW HIGH TEMP OF 27 FOR THE NWS OFFICE. TONIGHT...ANY LEFTOVER DIURNAL SHSN OVER S CNTRL UPPER MI DIMINISH...PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL INTO THE 8F TO 15F RANGE OVERNIGHT. TEMPS MAY CLIMB LATE AS CLOUDS INCREASE AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. WAA LIGHT SNOW WITH INCREASING 280K-290K ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MAINLY WEST OF UPPER MI BUT MAY SLIDE INTO THE FAR WEST LATE. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 ...POTENTIAL WINTER STORM STILL ON TRACK FOR WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY... SHORTWAVE CURRENTLY CROSSING SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA IS FEATURE OF INTEREST THAT HELPS TO FOCUS SFC LOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS BY TONIGHT. WARM AIR ADVECTION AND ISENTROPIC ASCENT ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE LOW AND INVERTED SFC TROUGH SHOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING SHIELD OF SNOW VCNTY OF CNTRL MINNESOTA INTO NORTHWEST WI LATE TONIGHT THROUGH DAYBREAK ON WEDNESDAY. IF THERE IS ANY TREND IN MODELS IT IS FOR A SLOWER ARRIVAL OF QPF/SNOW INTO WESTERN UPR MICHIGAN BTWN 12Z-18Z ON WEDNESDAY. TREND IS NOTHING TOO DRASTIC THOUGH...SO CHANGES TO THIS PART OF THE FORECAST WERE RELATIVELY MINOR. SFC TROUGH EDGES CLOSER TO UPR MICHIGAN ON WEDNESDAY AFTN. ISENTROPIC ASCENT MAXIMIZED ON 290K SFC /H775-H650/ AND 285K SFC /H8-H7/ SURGES SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS UPR MICHIGAN ROUGHLY 15Z-03Z...THOUGH GFS/NAM REMAIN QUICKER WITH THIS INITIAL PUSH OF WHAT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE MAINLY SNOW FOR CWA. H7 MIXING RATIOS IN 2.5-2.75G/KG RANGE SUGGESTS 12 HOUR SNOW AMOUNTS NEARING 6 INCHES. SUPPOSE ACTUAL SNOW AMOUNTS COULD BE HELD DOWN SOME AS SNOW ARRIVES DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN SOME INSOLATION COULD LIMIT ACCUMS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TRAFFIC/TRAVELLED ROADS. THUS OVERALL POSSIBLE IMPACT FROM THE SNOW COULD BE MITIGATED SOME COMPARED TO IF THE SNOW ARRIVED DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. ULTIMATELY IT ALL DEPENDS ON SNOWFALL RATES...WITH HIGHER RATES ALLOWING FOR SLUSHY ACCUMS EVEN ON THE PRIMARY ROADS. NAM QPF STILL APPEARS OVERDONE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO ITS OWN MIXING RATIOS. DO NOT DOUBT THAT AREAS OVER MAINLY WESTERN TIER OF CWA WILL SEE HIGHER QPF/SNOW DUE TO INCREASING AND FAIRLY ROBUST H8-H7 FGEN AND STRONG FN VECTOR CONVERGENCE. FAR WEST TOWARD KEWEENAW SEEMS IN LINE FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF THIS ADDITIONAL FORCING WHICH COULD BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH INSTABILITY AS SOME NEGATIVE EPV IS PRESENT ATOP THE FGEN. NET RESULT IS POTENTIAL FOR BANDED SNOWFALL SOMEWHERE IN THE WESTERN CWA. EVEN TRENDING AWAY FM THE NAM 1 INCH PLUS QPF AMOUNTS...BLEND OF GFS AND ECMWF WOULD SUGGEST SOME AREAS WILL SEE 0.8 INCH OF TOTAL QPF. THIS LINES UP WELL WITH SREF PROBS SHOWING OVER 70 PCT CHANCE OF EXCEEDING 0.50 INCH BUT NOT EVEN REACHING 10 PCT PROBS OF SEEING 1 INCH OF LIQUID. SOUNDINGS OVERALL SHOW BULK OF LIFT OCCURRING IN THE DGZ UP OVER 10KFT AGL. LIFT BLO THIS LAYER IN TEMPS WARMER THAN -10C WILL LOWER SLR/S SLIGHTLY. EXPECTING MOST AREAS CENTERED IN THE 12:1 RANGE...A BIT HIGHER IN THE FGEN AREA AND POSSIBLY A BIT LOWER FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA WITH WARMER TEMPS BLO 5KFT. WHAT ALL THIS MEANS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS IS DECENT LIKLIHOOD OF SEEING TOTALS OVER 10 INCHES OVER WEST VCNTY OF PERSISTENT FGEN FORCING...BUT PROBABLY MORE IN THE 7 TO 10 RANGE FARTHER EAST INTO CNTRL CWA. SINCE THE SNOW DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL ON WEDNESDAY AND GIVEN UNCERTAINTY IN THE SNOW AMOUNTS OVR THE CNTRL CWA...COORD WITH GRB AND DLH AND WILL BE LEAVING WINTER STORM WATCH AS IS ATTM. FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA...SOUNDINGS AND 1000-850MB AND 850-700MB THICKNESSES INDICATE INITIAL SURGE OF PRECIPITATION WEDNESDAY AFTN WILL BE GENERALLY SNOW. ENOUGH WARMING OCCURS SOUTH OF LINE FM KIMT TO KERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY TO RESULT IN RAIN/SNOW MIX OR POSSIBLE CHANGEOVER TO RAIN. BEST CHANCE FOR ONLY RAIN REMAINS AT KMNM AS WBZERO HEIGHT INCREASE OVER 2000FT AGL. MAY SEE MORE AREAS CHANGE TO RAIN BY THURSDAY AFTN AS TEMPS RISE INTO THE UPPER 30S...BUT HEAVIER PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO BE EAST AND NORTH OF CWA BY THAT TIME. SOUNDINGS INDICATE EXITING DEEP MOISTURE MAY RESULT IN SITUATION WHERE DRIZZLE OR FLURRIES ARE MAIN PCPN THAT IS OCCURRING BY THURSDAY AFTN. SNOW AMOUNTS IN THE EAST SHOULD BE HELD DOWN OVERALL WITH THIS SYSTEM DUE TO THE WARMER AIR BLO H85 WORKING IN LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. ATTM THINKING AREAS EAST OF THE WATCH WILL NEED AN ADVY. MODELS DO SHOW SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THIS ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM THOUGH. GFS/NAM/ECMWF GENERALLY IN LINE WITH DIMINISHING PRECIP TREND ON THURSDAY...WHILE THE GEM-NH AND UKMET ARE SLOWER AND FARTHER SOUTH WITH PRIMARY AREA OF HEAVIER SNOW. SHIFTS TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL NEED TO PIN THIS DOWN FURTHER. RIGHT NOW THE FORECAST LEANED TOWARD GFS/ECMWF BLEND WHICH WAS ALSO PREFERRED BY HPC. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD AS MAIN FOCUS WAS ON THE HIGHER IMPACT WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY WEATHER. PROBABLY JUST AS WELL TO AS MODELS ARE STRUGGLING MIGHTILY ON SPECIFICS FOR THE WEEKEND. ONE TREND THAT WAS ACTED UPON WAS TO GO WITH DRIER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS GFS WHICH WAS SHOWING WRAPPED UP SYSTEM ACROSS THE UPR LAKES A COUPLE DAYS AGO IS NOW SHUNTING PRECIP WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES ALONG PRIMARY H85 MOISTURE AXIS. THIS AGREES WELL WITH GEM-NH AND ECMWF. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY WEATHER DOMINATES SOUTH CNTRL CANADA INTO UPPER GREAT LAKES. THUS DROPPED POPS ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SHOULD STAY SEASONABLY CHILLY THOUGH WITH MID 30S NORTH AND LOWER 40S SOUTH AS NE WINDS FLOW OFF THE ICY WATERS OF LK SUPERIOR AND THERE COULD BE MID CLOUDS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVR THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES. MODEL CONSENSUS WAS USED FOR SATURDAY/EASTER SUNDAY/MONDAY. ECMWF AND GEM-NH TRENDING WETTER FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. PTYPE WOULD MOSTLY BE RAIN...WITH MIX OF RAIN/SNOW POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AS COOLER LOW-LEVEL AIR GRADUALLY RETREATS. GFS NOT AS EXCITED ON THE OVERALL PCPN CHANCES. FORECAST CAME OUT WITH SLIGHT CHANCES WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. THIS WORKS FOR NOW AS THE CONSISTENCY IN THE MODELS IS LESS THAN DESIRED FOR SURE. TEMPS INDICATE GRADUAL WARMING TREND...BUT COULD SEE WARMER TEMPS THAN FORECAST IF ANY OF THESE DAYS ENDS UP DRY WITH SOME SUNSHINE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 138 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 DIURNAL HEATING AND THE PRESENCE OF AN UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL SUPPORT -SHSN WITH POTENTIAL FOR CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY THROUGH 21Z. AFTER THE DAYTIME HEATING SUBSIDES THIS EVENING...EXPECT CLEARING WITH VFR CONDITIONS. LOOK FOR CONDITIONS TO LOWER TO IFR AT KIWD BY LATE WED MORNING AND TO MVFR AT KCMX AND KSAW BTWN 16-18Z WITH THE ONSET OF SNOW AHEAD OF APPROACHING SYSTEM OVER THE NRN PLAINS. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WINDS LESS THAN 20 KTS THROUGH TONIGHT. APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RESULTS IN INCREASING EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS ON WEDNESDAY. 30 KTS WITH GALE GUSTS SEEMS LIKELY OVER FAR WESTERN LK SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY AFTN INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING AS WINDS ARE ENHANCED DUE TO CHANNELING AND TERRAIN EFFECTS. WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST TO 25 KTS ON THURSDAY AS THE LOW WEAKENS WHILE MOVING TO THE EAST OF LK SUPERIOR. WINDS STAY BLO 20 KTS FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 GIVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...EXPECT SLOWER RUNOFF OF MELTING SNOW TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL ICE JAMS. WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION IS IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION OVER WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN. THIS PRECIP ADDED TO EXISTING SNOWPACK WITH WATER EQUIVALENT OF 4-9 INCHES WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOWMELT/RUNOFF AND POSSIBLE ICE JAMS ONCE WARMER TEMPERATURES MOVE BACK INTO THE REGION NEXT WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... WINTER STORM WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR MIZ001>005-009>011-084. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...VOSS MARINE...JLA HYDROLOGY...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
728 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 507 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM HUDSON BAY THROUGH THE WRN GREAT LAKES AND THE MID MS VALLEY INTO ERN TX. A WEAK SHRTWV INTO WRN LAKE SUPERIOR SUPPORTED SOME ISOLD -SHSN TO NEAR IWD WHILE ANOTHER WEAK SHRTWV OVER CNTRL MANTIOBA INTO NW ONTARIO WAS SLIDING TO THE SE TOWARD WRN LAKE SUPERIOR. AT THE SFC...NRLY FLOW PREVAILED BTWN A RIDGE EXTENDINGD FROM MANTIOBA THROUGH THE ERN DAKOTAS AND A TROUGH FROM THE ERN LAKES INTO SRN QUEBEC. THE NORTH WINDS AND 850 MB TEMPS TO AROUND -17C SUPPORTED SOME LIGHT LES TO NEAR P53 DESPITE THE EXTENSIVE ICE COVER OVER THE ERN LAKE. TODAY...THE UPSTREAM SFC RIDGE WILL BUILD INTO THE WRN LAKES TODAY BRINGING DIMINISHING WINDS. THIS SHOULD LIMIT OR END THE LES THIS MORNING OVER THE EAST. SOME ISOLD -SHSN ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRN LAKE SHRTWV ARE EXPECTED SPREAD INTO THE WRN CWA THIS MORNING. WITH DAYTIME HEATING...LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES TO 8-9C/KM WITH 850/700 MB TEMPS OF -17C/-27C WILL SUPPORT SCT DIURNAL SNOW SHOWERS OVER MAINLY WEST AND CNTRL UPPER MI. SOME INLAND LOCATIONS COULD SEE A DUSTING TO AROUND A HALF INCH. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH MAX TEMPS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S WHICH WILL BE NEAR OR BELOW THE RECORD LOW HIGH TEMP OF 27 FOR THE NWS OFFICE. TONIGHT...ANY LEFTOVER DIURNAL SHSN OVER S CNTRL UPPER MI DIMINISH...PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL INTO THE 8F TO 15F RANGE OVERNIGHT. TEMPS MAY CLIMB LATE AS CLOUDS INCREASE AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. WAA LIGHT SNOW WITH INCREASING 280K-290K ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MAINLY WEST OF UPPER MI BUT MAY SLIDE INTO THE FAR WEST LATE. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 ...POTENTIAL WINTER STORM STILL ON TRACK FOR WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY... SHORTWAVE CURRENTLY CROSSING SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA IS FEATURE OF INTEREST THAT HELPS TO FOCUS SFC LOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS BY TONIGHT. WARM AIR ADVECTION AND ISENTROPIC ASCENT ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE LOW AND INVERTED SFC TROUGH SHOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING SHIELD OF SNOW VCNTY OF CNTRL MINNESOTA INTO NORTHWEST WI LATE TONIGHT THROUGH DAYBREAK ON WEDNESDAY. IF THERE IS ANY TREND IN MODELS IT IS FOR A SLOWER ARRIVAL OF QPF/SNOW INTO WESTERN UPR MICHIGAN BTWN 12Z-18Z ON WEDNESDAY. TREND IS NOTHING TOO DRASTIC THOUGH...SO CHANGES TO THIS PART OF THE FORECAST WERE RELATIVELY MINOR. SFC TROUGH EDGES CLOSER TO UPR MICHIGAN ON WEDNESDAY AFTN. ISENTROPIC ASCENT MAXIMIZED ON 290K SFC /H775-H650/ AND 285K SFC /H8-H7/ SURGES SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS UPR MICHIGAN ROUGHLY 15Z-03Z...THOUGH GFS/NAM REMAIN QUICKER WITH THIS INITIAL PUSH OF WHAT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE MAINLY SNOW FOR CWA. H7 MIXING RATIOS IN 2.5-2.75G/KG RANGE SUGGESTS 12 HOUR SNOW AMOUNTS NEARING 6 INCHES. SUPPOSE ACTUAL SNOW AMOUNTS COULD BE HELD DOWN SOME AS SNOW ARRIVES DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN SOME INSOLATION COULD LIMIT ACCUMS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TRAFFIC/TRAVELLED ROADS. THUS OVERALL POSSIBLE IMPACT FROM THE SNOW COULD BE MITIGATED SOME COMPARED TO IF THE SNOW ARRIVED DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. ULTIMATELY IT ALL DEPENDS ON SNOWFALL RATES...WITH HIGHER RATES ALLOWING FOR SLUSHY ACCUMS EVEN ON THE PRIMARY ROADS. NAM QPF STILL APPEARS OVERDONE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO ITS OWN MIXING RATIOS. DO NOT DOUBT THAT AREAS OVER MAINLY WESTERN TIER OF CWA WILL SEE HIGHER QPF/SNOW DUE TO INCREASING AND FAIRLY ROBUST H8-H7 FGEN AND STRONG FN VECTOR CONVERGENCE. FAR WEST TOWARD KEWEENAW SEEMS IN LINE FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF THIS ADDITIONAL FORCING WHICH COULD BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH INSTABILITY AS SOME NEGATIVE EPV IS PRESENT ATOP THE FGEN. NET RESULT IS POTENTIAL FOR BANDED SNOWFALL SOMEWHERE IN THE WESTERN CWA. EVEN TRENDING AWAY FM THE NAM 1 INCH PLUS QPF AMOUNTS...BLEND OF GFS AND ECMWF WOULD SUGGEST SOME AREAS WILL SEE 0.8 INCH OF TOTAL QPF. THIS LINES UP WELL WITH SREF PROBS SHOWING OVER 70 PCT CHANCE OF EXCEEDING 0.50 INCH BUT NOT EVEN REACHING 10 PCT PROBS OF SEEING 1 INCH OF LIQUID. SOUNDINGS OVERALL SHOW BULK OF LIFT OCCURRING IN THE DGZ UP OVER 10KFT AGL. LIFT BLO THIS LAYER IN TEMPS WARMER THAN -10C WILL LOWER SLR/S SLIGHTLY. EXPECTING MOST AREAS CENTERED IN THE 12:1 RANGE...A BIT HIGHER IN THE FGEN AREA AND POSSIBLY A BIT LOWER FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA WITH WARMER TEMPS BLO 5KFT. WHAT ALL THIS MEANS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS IS DECENT LIKLIHOOD OF SEEING TOTALS OVER 10 INCHES OVER WEST VCNTY OF PERSISTENT FGEN FORCING...BUT PROBABLY MORE IN THE 7 TO 10 RANGE FARTHER EAST INTO CNTRL CWA. SINCE THE SNOW DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL ON WEDNESDAY AND GIVEN UNCERTAINTY IN THE SNOW AMOUNTS OVR THE CNTRL CWA...COORD WITH GRB AND DLH AND WILL BE LEAVING WINTER STORM WATCH AS IS ATTM. FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA...SOUNDINGS AND 1000-850MB AND 850-700MB THICKNESSES INDICATE INITIAL SURGE OF PRECIPITATION WEDNESDAY AFTN WILL BE GENERALLY SNOW. ENOUGH WARMING OCCURS SOUTH OF LINE FM KIMT TO KERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY TO RESULT IN RAIN/SNOW MIX OR POSSIBLE CHANGEOVER TO RAIN. BEST CHANCE FOR ONLY RAIN REMAINS AT KMNM AS WBZERO HEIGHT INCREASE OVER 2000FT AGL. MAY SEE MORE AREAS CHANGE TO RAIN BY THURSDAY AFTN AS TEMPS RISE INTO THE UPPER 30S...BUT HEAVIER PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO BE EAST AND NORTH OF CWA BY THAT TIME. SOUNDINGS INDICATE EXITING DEEP MOISTURE MAY RESULT IN SITUATION WHERE DRIZZLE OR FLURRIES ARE MAIN PCPN THAT IS OCCURRING BY THURSDAY AFTN. SNOW AMOUNTS IN THE EAST SHOULD BE HELD DOWN OVERALL WITH THIS SYSTEM DUE TO THE WARMER AIR BLO H85 WORKING IN LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. ATTM THINKING AREAS EAST OF THE WATCH WILL NEED AN ADVY. MODELS DO SHOW SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THIS ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM THOUGH. GFS/NAM/ECMWF GENERALLY IN LINE WITH DIMINISHING PRECIP TREND ON THURSDAY...WHILE THE GEM-NH AND UKMET ARE SLOWER AND FARTHER SOUTH WITH PRIMARY AREA OF HEAVIER SNOW. SHIFTS TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL NEED TO PIN THIS DOWN FURTHER. RIGHT NOW THE FORECAST LEANED TOWARD GFS/ECMWF BLEND WHICH WAS ALSO PREFERRED BY HPC. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD AS MAIN FOCUS WAS ON THE HIGHER IMPACT WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY WEATHER. PROBABLY JUST AS WELL TO AS MODELS ARE STRUGGLING MIGHTILY ON SPECIFICS FOR THE WEEKEND. ONE TREND THAT WAS ACTED UPON WAS TO GO WITH DRIER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS GFS WHICH WAS SHOWING WRAPPED UP SYSTEM ACROSS THE UPR LAKES A COUPLE DAYS AGO IS NOW SHUNTING PRECIP WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES ALONG PRIMARY H85 MOISTURE AXIS. THIS AGREES WELL WITH GEM-NH AND ECMWF. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY WEATHER DOMINATES SOUTH CNTRL CANADA INTO UPPER GREAT LAKES. THUS DROPPED POPS ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SHOULD STAY SEASONABLY CHILLY THOUGH WITH MID 30S NORTH AND LOWER 40S SOUTH AS NE WINDS FLOW OFF THE ICY WATERS OF LK SUPERIOR AND THERE COULD BE MID CLOUDS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVR THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES. MODEL CONSENSUS WAS USED FOR SATURDAY/EASTER SUNDAY/MONDAY. ECMWF AND GEM-NH TRENDING WETTER FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. PTYPE WOULD MOSTLY BE RAIN...WITH MIX OF RAIN/SNOW POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AS COOLER LOW-LEVEL AIR GRADUALLY RETREATS. GFS NOT AS EXCITED ON THE OVERALL PCPN CHANCES. FORECAST CAME OUT WITH SLIGHT CHANCES WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. THIS WORKS FOR NOW AS THE CONSISTENCY IN THE MODELS IS LESS THAN DESIRED FOR SURE. TEMPS INDICATE GRADUAL WARMING TREND...BUT COULD SEE WARMER TEMPS THAN FORECAST IF ANY OF THESE DAYS ENDS UP DRY WITH SOME SUNSHINE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 728 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 THE COMBINATION OF AN UPPER LEVEL DISTURBANCE AND COLD LIGHT NNW FLOW OVER PARTIAL OPEN WATERS OF WRN LAKE SUPERIOR WILL BE ENOUGH TO SUPPORT SCT -SHSN THIS MORNING WITH OCNL CONDITIONS INTO THE MVFR RANGE AT IWD/CMX. OTHERWISE...DIURNAL HEATING WILL ALSO SUPPORT ADDITIONAL -SHSN WITH POTENTIAL FOR CONDITIONS NEAR INTO THE MVFR CATEGORY. AFTER THE DAYTIME HEATING SUBSIDES THIS EVENING...EXPECT CLEARING WITH VFR CONDITIONS. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WINDS LESS THAN 20 KTS THROUGH TONIGHT. APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RESULTS IN INCREASING EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS ON WEDNESDAY. 30 KTS WITH GALE GUSTS SEEMS LIKELY OVER FAR WESTERN LK SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY AFTN INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING AS WINDS ARE ENHANCED DUE TO CHANNELING AND TERRAIN EFFECTS. WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST TO 25 KTS ON THURSDAY AS THE LOW WEAKENS WHILE MOVING TO THE EAST OF LK SUPERIOR. WINDS STAY BLO 20 KTS FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 GIVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...EXPECT SLOWER RUNOFF OF MELTING SNOW TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL ICE JAMS. WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION IS IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION OVER WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN. THIS PRECIP ADDED TO EXISTING SNOWPACK WITH WATER EQUIVALENT OF 4-9 INCHES WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOWMELT/RUNOFF AND POSSIBLE ICE JAMS ONCE WARMER TEMPERATURES MOVE BACK INTO THE REGION NEXT WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... WINTER STORM WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR MIZ001>005-009>011-084. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...JLB MARINE...JLA HYDROLOGY...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MARQUETTE MI
508 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 507 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WV IMAGERY AND RUC ANALYSIS INDICATED A MID/UPPER LEVEL TROUGH FROM HUDSON BAY THROUGH THE WRN GREAT LAKES AND THE MID MS VALLEY INTO ERN TX. A WEAK SHRTWV INTO WRN LAKE SUPERIOR SUPPORTED SOME ISOLD -SHSN TO NEAR IWD WHILE ANOTHER WEAK SHRTWV OVER CNTRL MANTIOBA INTO NW ONTARIO WAS SLIDING TO THE SE TOWARD WRN LAKE SUPERIOR. AT THE SFC...NRLY FLOW PREVAILED BTWN A RIDGE EXTENDINGD FROM MANTIOBA THROUGH THE ERN DAKOTAS AND A TROUGH FROM THE ERN LAKES INTO SRN QUEBEC. THE NORTH WINDS AND 850 MB TEMPS TO AROUND -17C SUPPORTED SOME LIGHT LES TO NEAR P53 DESPITE THE EXTENSIVE ICE COVER OVER THE ERN LAKE. TODAY...THE UPSTREAM SFC RIDGE WILL BUILD INTO THE WRN LAKES TODAY BRINGING DIMINISHING WINDS. THIS SHOULD LIMIT OR END THE LES THIS MORNING OVER THE EAST. SOME ISOLD -SHSN ASSOCIATED WITH THE WRN LAKE SHRTWV ARE EXPECTED SPREAD INTO THE WRN CWA THIS MORNING. WITH DAYTIME HEATING...LOW LEVEL LAPSE RATES TO 8-9C/KM WITH 850/700 MB TEMPS OF -17C/-27C WILL SUPPORT SCT DIURNAL SNOW SHOWERS OVER MAINLY WEST AND CNTRL UPPER MI. SOME INLAND LOCATIONS COULD SEE A DUSTING TO AROUND A HALF INCH. OTHERWISE...UNSEASONABLY COLD CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL WITH MAX TEMPS IN THE MID 20S TO LOWER 30S WHICH WILL BE NEAR OR BELOW THE RECORD LOW HIGH TEMP OF 27 FOR THE NWS OFFICE. TONIGHT...ANY LEFTOVER DIURNAL SHSN OVER S CNTRL UPPER MI DIMINISH...PARTLY CLOUDY SKIES AND LIGHT WINDS WILL ALLOW TEMPS TO FALL INTO THE 8F TO 15F RANGE OVERNIGHT. TEMPS MAY CLIMB LATE AS CLOUDS INCREASE AHEAD OF THE APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM. WAA LIGHT SNOW WITH INCREASING 280K-290K ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN MAINLY WEST OF UPPER MI BUT MAY SLIDE INTO THE FAR WEST LATE. .LONG TERM...(WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 ...POTENTIAL WINTER STORM STILL ON TRACK FOR WEDNESDAY INTO THURSDAY... SHORTWAVE CURRENTLY CROSSING SOUTHERN BRITISH COLUMBIA IS FEATURE OF INTEREST THAT HELPS TO FOCUS SFC LOW ACROSS THE NORTHERN PLAINS BY TONIGHT. WARM AIR ADVECTION AND ISENTROPIC ASCENT ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE LOW AND INVERTED SFC TROUGH SHOULD SUPPORT EXPANDING SHIELD OF SNOW VCNTY OF CNTRL MINNESOTA INTO NORTHWEST WI LATE TONIGHT THROUGH DAYBREAK ON WEDNESDAY. IF THERE IS ANY TREND IN MODELS IT IS FOR A SLOWER ARRIVAL OF QPF/SNOW INTO WESTERN UPR MICHIGAN BTWN 12Z-18Z ON WEDNESDAY. TREND IS NOTHING TOO DRASTIC THOUGH...SO CHANGES TO THIS PART OF THE FORECAST WERE RELATIVELY MINOR. SFC TROUGH EDGES CLOSER TO UPR MICHIGAN ON WEDNESDAY AFTN. ISENTROPIC ASCENT MAXIMIZED ON 290K SFC /H775-H650/ AND 285K SFC /H8-H7/ SURGES SOUTH TO NORTH ACROSS UPR MICHIGAN ROUGHLY 15Z-03Z...THOUGH GFS/NAM REMAIN QUICKER WITH THIS INITIAL PUSH OF WHAT WILL ESSENTIALLY BE MAINLY SNOW FOR CWA. H7 MIXING RATIOS IN 2.5-2.75G/KG RANGE SUGGESTS 12 HOUR SNOW AMOUNTS NEARING 6 INCHES. SUPPOSE ACTUAL SNOW AMOUNTS COULD BE HELD DOWN SOME AS SNOW ARRIVES DURING THE DAYTIME WHEN SOME INSOLATION COULD LIMIT ACCUMS ESPECIALLY ON HIGHER TRAFFIC/TRAVELLED ROADS. THUS OVERALL POSSIBLE IMPACT FROM THE SNOW COULD BE MITIGATED SOME COMPARED TO IF THE SNOW ARRIVED DURING THE NIGHTTIME HOURS. ULTIMATELY IT ALL DEPENDS ON SNOWFALL RATES...WITH HIGHER RATES ALLOWING FOR SLUSHY ACCUMS EVEN ON THE PRIMARY ROADS. NAM QPF STILL APPEARS OVERDONE ESPECIALLY WHEN COMPARED TO ITS OWN MIXING RATIOS. DO NOT DOUBT THAT AREAS OVER MAINLY WESTERN TIER OF CWA WILL SEE HIGHER QPF/SNOW DUE TO INCREASING AND FAIRLY ROBUST H8-H7 FGEN AND STRONG FN VECTOR CONVERGENCE. FAR WEST TOWARD KEWEENAW SEEMS IN LINE FOR THE HIGHEST PROBABILITY OF THIS ADDITIONAL FORCING WHICH COULD BE SUPPLEMENTED WITH INSTABILITY AS SOME NEGATIVE EPV IS PRESENT ATOP THE FGEN. NET RESULT IS POTENTIAL FOR BANDED SNOWFALL SOMEWHERE IN THE WESTERN CWA. EVEN TRENDING AWAY FM THE NAM 1 INCH PLUS QPF AMOUNTS...BLEND OF GFS AND ECMWF WOULD SUGGEST SOME AREAS WILL SEE 0.8 INCH OF TOTAL QPF. THIS LINES UP WELL WITH SREF PROBS SHOWING OVER 70 PCT CHANCE OF EXCEEDING 0.50 INCH BUT NOT EVEN REACHING 10 PCT PROBS OF SEEING 1 INCH OF LIQUID. SOUNDINGS OVERALL SHOW BULK OF LIFT OCCURRING IN THE DGZ UP OVER 10KFT AGL. LIFT BLO THIS LAYER IN TEMPS WARMER THAN -10C WILL LOWER SLR/S SLIGHTLY. EXPECTING MOST AREAS CENTERED IN THE 12:1 RANGE...A BIT HIGHER IN THE FGEN AREA AND POSSIBLY A BIT LOWER FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA WITH WARMER TEMPS BLO 5KFT. WHAT ALL THIS MEANS FOR SNOW AMOUNTS IS DECENT LIKLIHOOD OF SEEING TOTALS OVER 10 INCHES OVER WEST VCNTY OF PERSISTENT FGEN FORCING...BUT PROBABLY MORE IN THE 7 TO 10 RANGE FARTHER EAST INTO CNTRL CWA. SINCE THE SNOW DOES NOT ARRIVE UNTIL ON WEDNESDAY AND GIVEN UNCERTAINTY IN THE SNOW AMOUNTS OVR THE CNTRL CWA...COORD WITH GRB AND DLH AND WILL BE LEAVING WINTER STORM WATCH AS IS ATTM. FARTHER SOUTH AND EAST IN THE CWA...SOUNDINGS AND 1000-850MB AND 850-700MB THICKNESSES INDICATE INITIAL SURGE OF PRECIPITATION WEDNESDAY AFTN WILL BE GENERALLY SNOW. ENOUGH WARMING OCCURS SOUTH OF LINE FM KIMT TO KERY WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY TO RESULT IN RAIN/SNOW MIX OR POSSIBLE CHANGEOVER TO RAIN. BEST CHANCE FOR ONLY RAIN REMAINS AT KMNM AS WBZERO HEIGHT INCREASE OVER 2000FT AGL. MAY SEE MORE AREAS CHANGE TO RAIN BY THURSDAY AFTN AS TEMPS RISE INTO THE UPPER 30S...BUT HEAVIER PRECIP IS EXPECTED TO BE EAST AND NORTH OF CWA BY THAT TIME. SOUNDINGS INDICATE EXITING DEEP MOISTURE MAY RESULT IN SITUATION WHERE DRIZZLE OR FLURRIES ARE MAIN PCPN THAT IS OCCURRING BY THURSDAY AFTN. SNOW AMOUNTS IN THE EAST SHOULD BE HELD DOWN OVERALL WITH THIS SYSTEM DUE TO THE WARMER AIR BLO H85 WORKING IN LATER WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY. ATTM THINKING AREAS EAST OF THE WATCH WILL NEED AN ADVY. MODELS DO SHOW SOME DISAGREEMENT ON THIS ASPECT OF THE SYSTEM THOUGH. GFS/NAM/ECMWF GENERALLY IN LINE WITH DIMINISHING PRECIP TREND ON THURSDAY...WHILE THE GEM-NH AND UKMET ARE SLOWER AND FARTHER SOUTH WITH PRIMARY AREA OF HEAVIER SNOW. SHIFTS TODAY AND TONIGHT WILL NEED TO PIN THIS DOWN FURTHER. RIGHT NOW THE FORECAST LEANED TOWARD GFS/ECMWF BLEND WHICH WAS ALSO PREFERRED BY HPC. NOT A WHOLE LOT OF DETAIL FOR THE EXTENDED PERIOD AS MAIN FOCUS WAS ON THE HIGHER IMPACT WEDNESDAY/THURSDAY WEATHER. PROBABLY JUST AS WELL TO AS MODELS ARE STRUGGLING MIGHTILY ON SPECIFICS FOR THE WEEKEND. ONE TREND THAT WAS ACTED UPON WAS TO GO WITH DRIER FORECAST FOR FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT AS GFS WHICH WAS SHOWING WRAPPED UP SYSTEM ACROSS THE UPR LAKES A COUPLE DAYS AGO IS NOW SHUNTING PRECIP WELL TO THE SOUTH AND EAST OVER THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES ALONG PRIMARY H85 MOISTURE AXIS. THIS AGREES WELL WITH GEM-NH AND ECMWF. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY WEATHER DOMINATES SOUTH CNTRL CANADA INTO UPPER GREAT LAKES. THUS DROPPED POPS ON FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. SHOULD STAY SEASONABLY CHILLY THOUGH WITH MID 30S NORTH AND LOWER 40S SOUTH AS NE WINDS FLOW OFF THE ICY WATERS OF LK SUPERIOR AND THERE COULD BE MID CLOUDS ON THE NORTHWEST SIDE OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY OVR THE CNTRL GREAT LAKES. MODEL CONSENSUS WAS USED FOR SATURDAY/EASTER SUNDAY/MONDAY. ECMWF AND GEM-NH TRENDING WETTER FOR SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. PTYPE WOULD MOSTLY BE RAIN...WITH MIX OF RAIN/SNOW POSSIBLE ON SATURDAY NIGHT AS COOLER LOW-LEVEL AIR GRADUALLY RETREATS. GFS NOT AS EXCITED ON THE OVERALL PCPN CHANCES. FORECAST CAME OUT WITH SLIGHT CHANCES WITH MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES. THIS WORKS FOR NOW AS THE CONSISTENCY IN THE MODELS IS LESS THAN DESIRED FOR SURE. TEMPS INDICATE GRADUAL WARMING TREND...BUT COULD SEE WARMER TEMPS THAN FORECAST IF ANY OF THESE DAYS ENDS UP DRY WITH SOME SUNSHINE. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z TUESDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 134 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 ALTHOUGH AN UPPER DISTURBANCE WL BE PASSING OVER THE UPR LKS THIS MRNG AND AIRMASS IS SUFFICIENTLY COLD FOR LK EFFECT SHSN...DRY AIRMASS SHOWN ON THE 00Z INL AND YPL RAOBS INDICATE VFR CONDITIONS WL PREDOMINATE. BEST CHC FOR SOME MVFR CONDITIONS WL BE AT CMX AND IWD WITH A MORE UPSLOPE NNW FLOW...BUT INCLUDED ONLY TEMPO GROUPS IN THE FIRST 6 HRS NOW. ARRIVAL OF SFC HI PRES RDG WL BRING VFR CONDITIONS THIS EVNG. && .MARINE...(FOR THE 4 AM LAKE SUPERIOR FORECAST ISSUANCE) ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 WINDS LESS THAN 20 KTS THROUGH TONIGHT. APPROACHING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM RESULTS IN INCREASING EAST TO NORTHEAST WINDS ON WEDNESDAY. 30 KTS WITH GALE GUSTS SEEMS LIKELY OVER FAR WESTERN LK SUPERIOR WEDNESDAY AFTN INTO WEDNESDAY EVENING AS WINDS ARE ENHANCED DUE TO CHANNELING AND TERRAIN EFFECTS. WINDS SHIFT TO THE NORTH-NORTHWEST TO 25 KTS ON THURSDAY AS THE LOW WEAKENS WHILE MOVING TO THE EAST OF LK SUPERIOR. WINDS STAY BLO 20 KTS FOR THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD. && .HYDROLOGY... ISSUED AT 459 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 GIVEN COLDER TEMPERATURES OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS...EXPECT SLOWER RUNOFF OF MELTING SNOW TO REDUCE THE POTENTIAL FOR ADDITIONAL ICE JAMS. WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION IS IN THE FORECAST FOR WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF LIQUID EQUIVALENT PRECIPITATION OVER WESTERN UPPER MICHIGAN. THIS PRECIP ADDED TO EXISTING SNOWPACK WITH WATER EQUIVALENT OF 4-9 INCHES WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER PERIOD OF SNOWMELT/RUNOFF AND POSSIBLE ICE JAMS ONCE WARMER TEMPERATURES MOVE BACK INTO THE REGION NEXT WEEK. && .MQT WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... UPPER MICHIGAN... WINTER STORM WATCH FROM WEDNESDAY MORNING THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING FOR MIZ001>005-009>011-084. LAKE SUPERIOR... NONE. LAKE MICHIGAN... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...JLB LONG TERM...JLA AVIATION...KC MARINE...JLA HYDROLOGY...JLA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS JACKSON MS
826 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014 .UPDATE... QUIET NIGHT IN STORE AS HIGH PRESSURE SLOWLY BUILDS TO THE E TONIGHT. RUC INDICATES INCREASING LOW STRATUS MOVING IN THE SE BETWEEN 09-10Z AND UP TO THE I-20 CORRIDOR BY 12Z. EURO ALSO INDICATES SOME LOW LEVEL CLOUDS MOVING IN. GFS INDICATES GOOD INCREASING LOW LEVEL ISENTROPIC LIFT IN THE 295K LAYER...FURTHER INDICATING LOW LEVEL CLOUDS MOVING IN. THUS...ONLY CHANGES TO GOING FORECAST WERE TO INCREASE CLOUDS IN THE CENTRAL/SE BY 12Z AND INCREASING CLOUDS FURTHER NORTH CLOSER TO 18-00Z. DUE TO SLOW NW PROGRESSION OF LOW LEVEL MOISTURE/STRATUS...SOME DECOUPLING AND RADIATIONAL COOLING...LEFT CURRENT LOWS FOR TONIGHT. ONLY MODIFIED HOURLY TEMPS/DEWPOINTS ACCORDING TO CURRENT TRENDS. REST OF THE FORECAST IS ON TRACK. /DC/ && .AVIATION...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREVAIL FOR THIS EVENING AND MOST OF THE OVERNIGHT WITH JUST SOME HIGH CLOUDS STREAMING ACROSS THE REGION. WHAT HAS CHANGED IN THE FORECAST IS THE POTENTIAL FOR THE SE (HBG) TO SEE SOME IFR/MVFR CEILINGS/VIS BETWEEN 11-15Z THU MORNING. WILL ADD A MENTION OF THIS IN THE NEXT FORECAST. ANY RESTRICTIONS SHOULD IMPROVE BY 15Z WITH VFR CONDITIONS DURING THE DAY WITH SCT CLOUDS AROUND. /CME/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 615 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014/ UPDATE...UPDATED FOR AVIATION DISCUSSION TO MENTION THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME LOW CLOUDS IN THE FAR SE AROUND SUNRISE THU MORNING. /CME/ && PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 351 PM CDT WED APR 16 2014/ SHORT TERM...TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT...DRY WEATHER LOOKS TO CONTINUE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTHEAST CONTINUES ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE REGION. TEMPS TONIGHT WILL ONCE AGAIN BE CHILLY...RANGING FROM THE UPPER 30S EAST TO THE LOWER 40S WEST. WINDS WILL BE BECOMING SOUTHWESTERLY BY THURSDAY AFTERNOON ALLOWING FOR WARMER TEMPS...MAINLY AROUND 70. A DISTURBANCE LOOKS TO DEVELOP IN THE GULF ON THURSDAY...WHICH COULD BRING A CHANCE OF SHOWERS ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE CWA THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE CHANCES FOR THIS WILL DEPEND ON THE TRACK OF THIS DISTURBANCE. LATEST MODELS INDICATE THAT THE BEST CHANCES FOR PRECIP WILL REMAIN TO OUR SOUTH WITH THIS SYSTEM. IN ADDITION...A COLD FRONT WILL BE APPROACHING THE CWA FRIDAY FROM THE NW. THIS FRONT LOOKS TO WEAKEN AS IT MOVES IN...SO NOT MUCH IMPACT EXPECTED FROM THIS SYSTEM AT THIS TIME AND WILL ONLY GO WITH SLIGHT CHANCE POPS FOR MOST LOCATIONS. TEMPS ON FRIDAY WILL BE WARMING TO NEAR NORMAL FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR...MAINLY IN THE MID 70S. /27/ LONG TERM...SATURDAY THROUGH TUESDAY...WE WILL CONTINUE OUR PROGRESSIVE COMPLICATED SPLIT FLOW PATTERN THROUGH THE PERIOD. THERE IS SOME AMPLITUDE AND TIMING DIFFERENCES ON THE MOVEMENT OF THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVES. EVEN THE GFS ENSEMBLES HAD SOME DIFFERENCES IN THE MOVING AND PHASING OF SHORTWAVES IN THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN STREAMS. HOWEVER ALL MODELS HAD SOME FORM OF A COMPLICATED SPLIT FLOW PATTERN. THE GFS AND EURO GENERALLY AGREED WITH THE GENERAL PATTERN AND MOVEMENT OF SOUTHERN STREAM ENERGY BUT NOT MUCH AGREEMENT IN THE AMPLITUDE AND QPF WITH THE SHORTWAVES. THIS ALSO THE CASE WITH THE NAVGEM MODEL WITH ITS OWN SOLUTION WITH THIS UNSETTLED PATTERN. IT TRIED TO KEEP THE AREA DRY FOR THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. SO FORECAST CONFIDENCE IS NOT REAL HIGH WITH THE TIMING OF THE MODELS ON THIS PROGRESSIVE PATTERN. STARTING ON THE WEEKEND UPPER RIDGING WITH INCREASING HEIGHTS BUILDS ACROSS THE REGION FROM THE WEST. A NEARLY PHASED SHORT WAVE WILL APPROACH THE REGION FROM THE PLAINS FOR SUNDAY. SOUTHWEST FLOW AHEAD OF THIS SYSTEM WILL BUILD IN MOISTURE IN FROM THE WEST FROM SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. PWATS ON SUNDAY WILL INCREASE TO AROUND 1.5 INCHES. MODELS SOUNDINGS DON`T SHOW MUCH CAPPING WITH THIS SYSTEM. AS MOISTURE TRANSPORT WILL HAVE ERODED THE DRY LAYER IN THE MIDLEVELS FOR SUNDAY THROUGH MONDAY FOR DEEPER LAYER CONVECTION. MIDLEVEL DRYING DOES COME BACK SOME ON TUESDAY AS WE GET SOME DRY INFLOW FROM THE APPROACHING UPPER RIDGING FROM THE WEST. THERE WILL BE SOME INSTABILITY WITH THIS SYSTEM AS A WARM FRONT PUSHES ACROSS THE REGION. THE SHORTWAVE WILL TAKE ITS TIME PUSHING THROUGH THE REGION WHICH MEANS THAT THE WARM FRONT WILL BE STATIONARY NORTH OF THE REGION FOR SUNDAY INTO TUESDAY. THERE WILL BE ENOUGH INSTABILITY FOR CONVECTION FOR SUNDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. THE SHORTWAVE WILL FINALLY EXIT THE REGION BY TUESDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH THE SHOWERS AS UPPER RIDGING BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST. AS FAR AS POPS AND TEMPS ARE CONCERN GENERALLY STUCK CLOSE TO A BLEND OF MEX...GMOS AND HPC GUIDANCE. /17/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... JACKSON 40 70 55 76 / 0 4 16 14 MERIDIAN 37 69 52 74 / 0 4 20 16 VICKSBURG 41 69 54 76 / 0 4 16 14 HATTIESBURG 41 70 55 76 / 0 8 24 16 NATCHEZ 42 68 55 75 / 0 6 16 16 GREENVILLE 42 70 54 76 / 0 4 16 14 GREENWOOD 40 70 54 76 / 0 4 16 14 && .JAN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MS...NONE. LA...NONE. AR...NONE. && $$ DC/CME/27/17
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED AVIATION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
1138 PM CDT Mon Apr 14 2014 .UPDATE: Issued at 830 PM CDT Mon Apr 14 2014 Band of snow has effectively left our CWA leaving behind a region of drizzle in its wake, now primarily confined to parts of southwest IL. The clearing line has made it almost to Jacksonville, IL, just passed thru Bowling Green, MO and near Rolla, MO. At its current rate, the skies are expected to clear for nearly the entire CWA by 06z, just in time for the start of a total lunar eclipse. Diurnal cloudiness driving southeast from IA is expected to further break up and dissipate over the next few hours. Temps continue to be on track with current forecast, supporting continuation of Freeze Warnings with widespread mins in the mid to upper 20s. Note that our forecast will either set or approach current record low temps. See CLIMATE section below. TES && .SHORT TERM: (Through Late Tonight) Issued at 324 PM CDT Mon Apr 14 2014 Main concerns deal with the band of snow currently extending from near Pittsfield to Rolla as well as the going freeze warning. The band has been reducing visibilities to as low as 1/2 mile with some reports of accumulation on grassy surfaces. It is being caused by mid level frontogenesis ahead of the 500mb trough that will move through the area tonight. The RAP and HRRR does show the frotogenesis weakening as it moves acrosss the CWA, but do think that it will likely maintain itself the next few hours before it weakens by early evening. Have extrapolated the band through CWA through early evening, with little or no accumulation of snow expected given the warm low level and surface temperatures. The precipitation and clouds will clear out quick as subsidence moves in behind the passage of the upper trough. With cold air advection and dry dewpoints, expect temperatures to drop quickly to near MOS temperatures. Going freeze warning looks good and plan no changes to it. Britt .LONG TERM: (Tuesday through Next Monday) Issued at 324 PM CDT Mon Apr 14 2014 (Tuesday through Thursday) Have kept Tuesday into Thursday dry as the area will remain cut off from any notable moisture from the Gulf and the active storm track stays north of the area. While Tuesday night will not be as cold as tonight, most areas will still be in the lower to mid 30s for lows. (Thursday Night-Next Monday) The ECMWF and GFS are now similar with the amplitude and timing of the mid level trough and attendant cold front that will move across the area on Friday. Will continue with the chance of showers on Thursday night and Friday before subsidence works in behind the trough keeping Friday night and Saturday dry. Then confidence begins to wane late in the weekend as they both develop QPF over the area. The GFS is placing more emphasis on an northern stream upper over the Upper Midwest while ECMWF is placing it`s emphasis on a shortwave coming out of the southwest CONUS. Either way, will continue the chance of showers we have going Saturday night into Sunday night. Temperatures during the period look to be near or slightly below normal. Britt && .AVIATION: (For the 06z TAFs through 06z Tuesday Night) Issued at 1136 PM CDT Mon Apr 14 2014 Skies have cleared out of taf sites, so clear skies and northwest winds to persist overnight. Will see some diurnal cu develop by midday on Tuesday with winds gradually backing to the southwest then south as surface ridge moves to the east. Specifics for KSTL: Skies have cleared out of taf sites, so clear skies and northwest winds to persist overnight. Will see some diurnal cu develop by 18z Tuesday with winds gradually backing to the southwest then south by 01z Wednesday as surface ridge moves to the east. Byrd && .CLIMATE: RECORD LOWS FOR 4/15: STL - 27 IN 1928 COU - 25 IN 1928 UIN - 24 IN 1928 FAM - 24 IN 1928 && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES: MO...FREEZE WARNING until 9 AM CDT Tuesday FOR Audrain MO-Boone MO- Callaway MO-Cole MO-Crawford MO-Franklin MO-Gasconade MO- Iron MO-Jefferson MO-Knox MO-Lewis MO-Lincoln MO-Madison MO- Marion MO-Moniteau MO-Monroe MO-Montgomery MO-Osage MO-Pike MO-Ralls MO-Reynolds MO-Shelby MO-St. Charles MO-St. Francois MO-St. Louis City MO-St. Louis MO-Ste. Genevieve MO-Warren MO-Washington MO. IL...FREEZE WARNING until 9 AM CDT Tuesday FOR Adams IL-Bond IL-Brown IL-Calhoun IL-Clinton IL-Fayette IL-Greene IL-Jersey IL- Macoupin IL-Madison IL-Marion IL-Monroe IL-Montgomery IL- Pike IL-Randolph IL-St. Clair IL-Washington IL. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BINGHAMTON NY
404 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN TO THE AREA TODAY. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL FOLLOW THIS FRONT WITH A BRIEF CHANGE TO SNOW AND SLEET BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ENDS EARLY THIS EVENING. WEDNESDAY WILL BE UNSEASONABLY COLD...WITH MILDER WEATHER RETURNING BY LATE THIS WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... WARM TEMPERATURES OVER THE LAKE PLAIN WERE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO GET A LINE OF SHOWERS GOING WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH. NO CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE PICKED UP BUT SOME IN-CLOUD LIGHTNING WAS REPORTED NORTH OF PENN YAN. TEMPS DROP ABOUT 10 DEGREES AS THE SHOWERS MOVE THROUGH BUT THEN THIS SHOULD LEVEL OUT. THE LINE OF SHOWERS IS CONTINUING TO PROGRESS EAST THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF OUR FORECAST AREA. BEHIND THIS LINE TO THE WEST A CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS IS POSSIBLE INTO THE OVERNIGHT. TO THE EAST THE LINE IS EXPECTED TO STALL AND WEAKEN AS THE SUNSETS. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE PAST MIDNIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL TRACK ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD BRINGING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN TO MUCH OF THE AREA ALONG WITH RAPIDLY FALLING TEMPERATURES AND A LIKELY CHANGE-OVER TO SNOW AND SLEET. DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW. A BAND OF SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING IS STILL WELL AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WHICH IS BACK TO THE WEST AROUND DTW. THESE SHOWERS WILL TEND TO LIFT NORTHEAST AND WEAKEN THROUGH THIS EVENING BUT THERE STILL APPEARS TO BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR A ROUND OF SHOWERS THIS EVENING AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. LATEST RAP MODEL SOUNDINGS HARDLY INDICATING ANY CAPE OVER THE AREA THIS EVENING AND HAVE LEFT OUT ANY THUNDER MENTION. EXPECT A LULL IN THE ACTIVITY OVER NIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THIS SYSTEM... BEFORE RAIN BEGINS TO INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF THE COLD FRONT TOWARD DAYBREAK. IT WILL BE A VERY MILD NIGHT WITH SOUTHERLY BREEZES AND LOW TEMPERATURES MOSTLY 55 TO 60... MORE SEASONABLE FOR JUNE THAN MID-APRIL. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL TRACK SLOWLY EAST ACROSS THE CWA ON TUESDAY. THIS FRONT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG RIGHT-REAR QUAD UPPER DYNAMICS AND A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL SOUTHERLY JET. INSTABILITY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL BE MINIMAL BUT CAN`T RULE OUT A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER RIGHT WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE DURING MIDDAY TUESDAY. AT THIS TIME WE ARE EXPECTING SHOWERS TO INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT EARLY TUESDAY... THEN A BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY AND FOLLOW THE FRONTAL PASSAGE... LATE TUESDAY MORNING OVER THE FINGER LAKES... AROUND NOON ALONG THE I-81 CORRIDOR... AND EARLY AFTERNOON OVER THE WESTERN CATSKILLS. SOME CONCERN THAT ANY BAND OF HEAVY RAIN THAT DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT COULD BE HEAVY ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING ISSUES IF HEAVY RAIN FALLS DURING A SHORT PERIOD. TOTAL RAINFALL WITH THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 1 TO 1.5 INCH RANGE. HAVE HELD OFF ON ANY WATCHES AT THIS POINT... BUT A WATCH MAY NEED CONSIDERATION ONCE TIMING AN LOCATION OF ANY HEAVY RAIN BANDS BECOMES MORE CERTAIN. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. SOME GUSTS TO 30 OR 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN LATER TONIGHT WITH LIGHTER WINDS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE STRONG AND GUSTY BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BE AN ANAFRONT WITH SEVERAL HOURS OF PRECIPITATION LINGERING BEHIND THE FRONT. COLD AIR MOVES IN QUICKLY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SLEET OR A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW OVER THE FINGER LAKES BY LATE MORNING... AND ALONG THE I-81 CORRIDOR BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. MODELS ARE IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS SCENARIO AND INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A WIDESPREAD 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET BY EARLY EVENING TUESDAY FOR MOST OF THE AREA. STEADIER SNOW WILL END ACROSS THE AREA EARLY TUESDAY EVENING BUT 850 MB TEMPERATURES FALL TO AROUND -15 DEGREES C. DESPITE VERY DRY AIR EXPECT THAT THIS SCEANRIO WILL SUPPORT A LITTLE BIT OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW OVER CENTRAL NY TUESDAY EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE LIGHT. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... QUIET WX IN THE MED RNG WITH HIGH PRES BUILDING INTO THE RGN ON WED. AFTER SOME MRNG LAKE CLDS...MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES WILL PREVAIL. FAIR AND DRY WEATHER PERSISTS INTO FRIDAY AS THE SFC HIGH SLIDES OFF THE CST. WE COULD SEE CLDS RETURN IN THE SELY FLOW LATER FRI NGT INTO SAT. THIS WEEKEND`S FCST IS RATHER UNCERTAIN...HINGING ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN NRN AND SRN STREAM S/WV`S. JUST WENT WITH SLGT CHC/LOW CHC POPS FOR THIS PD. TEMPS WILL BE WELL BLO NORMAL ON WED...A MODERATING TREND AFTERWARDS AND WITH TEMPS RISING TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABV SEASONAL NORMS. && .AVIATION /08Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SCATTERED SHRA WERE DEVELOPING IN ADVANCE OF THE SHARP COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE ACRS CENTRAL NY AND NORTHEAST PA BETWEEN 11Z AND 19Z FROM NW TO SE. MOST OF THESE SHRA WILL BE VFR WITH PATCHY AREAS OF MVFR IN THE HEAVIEST SHRA. THE COLD FRONT W/ A SHARP WIND SHIFT FROM S TO NW REACHES SYR-PEO BY 12Z TO 13Z...UCA-ELM BY 14Z...KITH BY 15Z...KBGM BY 16Z...AND KAVP BY 19Z. FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE CIGS AND VSBYS WILL DROP TO IFR WITH RA AND BR...THEN THE PRECIP WILL BECOME A MIX OF SNOW/PL AND RAIN WITH A VERY SHARP LOW-LEVEL INVERSION. THERE CUD BE LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR AT THE POINT IN THE INVERSION LAYER WHICH WILL BE FAIRLY LOW. THUS LLWS REMAINS IN ALL TAFS TO ACCOUNT FOR A FEW HOUR WINDOW THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE COLD AIR LAYER DEEPENS VERTICALLY THE SHEAR WILL LESSEN TWD EVE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS DEEPENING COLD LAYER...THE PRECIP WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW. I EXPECT MAINLY IFR CIG AND VSBY IN SNOW AND BR FOR A FEW HOURS. THEN CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO MAINLY MVFR TO VFR CIG AND VSBY IN -SHSN MOSTLY AFTER 00Z. WINDS WILL BE MAINLY S-SE ARND 10 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUST TO 20 KNOTS...THEN THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NW AFTER FROPA AN AVERAGE 10 TO 20 KNOTS GUSTS TO 25 KTS OR MORE. WINDS CUD GET EVEN STRONGER TWD 00Z. OUTLOOK... TUE NGT...SCT MVFR IN -SHSN CNTRL NY. WED-THU-FRI...VFR. FRI NGT/SAT...MVFR CIGS PSBL IN SELY FLOW OVER NE PA AND SRN NY. && .FIRE WEATHER... NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .HYDROLOGY... AT THIS TIME LATEST TOTAL PRECIPITATION FORECASTS ARE FOR 1.5 INCHES TO 1.75 INCHES MAINLY EAST OF THE I-81 CORRIDOR AND LESS THAN 1.5 INCHES TO THE WEST. THE COMPLICATING FACTOR IS THAT THE TAIL OF END OF THIS PRECIPITATION LIKELY WILL BE IN THE FORM OF SNOW. OF CONCERN IS THAT A LOT OF THIS RAIN COULD FALL IN A FAIRLY SHORT PERIOD OF TIME INCREASING THE THREAT FOR SOME FLOOD ISSUES ON SMALLER STREAMS...AND ESPECIALLY URBAN AND POOR DRAINAGE AREAS. AS OF EARLY THIS MORNING...FLOOD WATCHES AND WARNINGS REMAIN IN EFFECT FOR ONEIDA COUNTY WHERE WE ARE WATCHING THE WEST CANADA CREEK CLOSELY. THE WEST CANADA CREEK WAS AT 1226.26 FEET AS OF 245 AM EDT AND STILL RISING AT A STEADY CLIP. A FLOOD WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THIS CREEK AS PER NWS ALY. LATEST NERFC FORECAST GUIDANCE BRINGS IT 1228 FEET WHICH IS AT THE MODERATE FLOOD LEVEL. IN ADDTN THERE WILL CONTINUE TO BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SMALLER STREAMS IN ONEIDA COUNTY TO SPILL THEIR BANKS LATER TODAY AS AN ADDITIONAL 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN OR SO WILL BE POSSIBLE. CONCERNED ABT THE SRLY UPSLOPE FLOW THAT COULD ENHANCE RAINFALL AS WELL. FOR NOW THE ONEIDA CREEK AT ONEIDA IS NOT EXPECTED TO FLOOD BUT IF LOCALLY HEAVIER RAIN (MORE THAN 2 INCHES) FALLS IN THAT WATERSHED...FLOODING WILL BE POSSIBLE. THE SAQUOIT CREEK AND ORISKANY CREEKS ALSO WILL HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO FLOOD IF ENOUGH RAIN FALLS IN THESE SMALLER WATERSHEDS. FLASH FLOOD GUIDANCE FOR ONEIDA COUNTY IS BETWEEN 2.0 AND 2.5 INCHES IN A 3 TO 6 HOUR PERIOD. THIS COULD BE A LITTLE HARD TO COME BY...EXCEPT LOCALLY. SO A FLOOD WATCH WILL CONT FOR ONEIDA COUNTY TO COVER THE ELEVATED POTENTIAL FOR FLOOD ISSUES UP THERE. FARTHER SOUTH THERE IS MORE UNCERTAINTY. CURRENT RIVER FORECASTS SHOW NO RIVER FLOODING...EVEN IN THE HEADWATERS. HEADWATER FORECAST GUIDANCE FOR MOST AREAS IS RUNNING AOA 2 INCHES IN 3 TO 6 HOURS EXCEPT AT SHERBURNE WHERE IT IS CLOSER TO 1 INCHES FOR MINOR FLOODING AND 1.5 INCHES FOR MODERATE FLOODING. THIS POINT WILL BEARS WATCHING AND IS AN OUTLIER AMONG ALL OTHER HEADWATER FORECAST POINTS. A FEW HEADWATER POINTS CUD SEE MINOR FLOODING WITH 1.5 INCHES OF RAIN IN 6 HOURS BUT MODERATE FLOODING THRESHOLDS ARE OVER 2 INCHES. SO AFTER COLLABORATION WITH NEIGHBORING NWS OFFICES DECIDED NOT TO ISSUE AN FFA JUST YET. IF A BAND OF HEAVY DEVELOPS LATER THIS MORNING AND HAS 1 INCH PER HOUR OR 2 INCH PER 3 HOUR RAINFALL RATES THE DAY SHIFT CAN ISSUE A SHORT FUSED FLASH FLOOD WATCH AS NECESSARY. WE WILL BE ISSUING AN SPS TO COVER THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME FLOODING OUTSIDE OUR FLOOD WATCH AREA AND HIT THE URBAN...POOR DRAINAGE AND LOW-LYING AREAS THE HARDEST. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...NONE. NY...FLOOD WATCH FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NYZ009-037. && $$ SYNOPSIS...DJN NEAR TERM...BMW SHORT TERM...MSE LONG TERM... AVIATION...DJN FIRE WEATHER...DJN HYDROLOGY...DJN
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BINGHAMTON NY
200 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... VERY MILD WEATHER WILL CONTINUE TONIGHT WITH SCATTERED SHOWERS AND TEMPERATURES ONLY FALLING INTO THE MID TO UPPER 50S. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL BRING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN TO THE AREA ON TUESDAY... FOLLOWED BY MUCH COLDER AIR AND A BRIEF CHANGE TO SNOW AND SLEET BEFORE THE PRECIPITATION ENDS EARLY TUESDAY EVENING. WEDNESDAY WILL BE UNSEASONABLY COLD... THE MILDER WEATHER WILL RETURN BY LATE THIS WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... WARM TEMPERATURES OVER THE LAKE PLAIN WERE ENOUGH INSTABILITY TO GET A LINE OF SHOWERS GOING WITH BRIEF HEAVY RAINS AND GUSTY WINDS TO 40 MPH. NO CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING STRIKES WERE PICKED UP BUT SOME IN-CLOUD LIGHTNING WAS REPORTED NORTH OF PENN YAN. TEMPS DROP ABOUT 10 DEGREES AS THE SHOWERS MOVE THROUGH BUT THEN THIS SHOULD LEVEL OUT. THE LINE OF SHOWERS IS CONTINUING TO PROGRESS EAST THROUGH THE CENTRAL PORTION OF OUR FORECAST AREA. BEHIND THIS LINE TO THE WEST A CHANCE OF LIGHT SHOWERS IS POSSIBLE INTO THE OVERNIGHT. TO THE EAST THE LINE IS EXPECTED TO STALL AND WEAKEN AS THE SUNSETS. SCATTERED SHOWERS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE PAST MIDNIGHT. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH 6 PM WEDNESDAY/... A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL TRACK ACROSS THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD BRINGING A PERIOD OF HEAVY RAIN TO MUCH OF THE AREA ALONG WITH RAPIDLY FALLING TEMPERATURES AND A LIKELY CHANGE-OVER TO SNOW AND SLEET. DETAILS ARE GIVEN BELOW. A BAND OF SCATTERED SHOWERS MOVING ACROSS THE AREA THIS EVENING IS STILL WELL AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WHICH IS BACK TO THE WEST AROUND DTW. THESE SHOWERS WILL TEND TO LIFT NORTHEAST AND WEAKEN THROUGH THIS EVENING BUT THERE STILL APPEARS TO BE A GOOD CHANCE FOR A ROUND OF SHOWERS THIS EVENING AS THIS SYSTEM MOVES ACROSS THE AREA. LATEST RAP MODEL SOUNDINGS HARDLY INDICATING ANY CAPE OVER THE AREA THIS EVENING AND HAVE LEFT OUT ANY THUNDER MENTION. EXPECT A LULL IN THE ACTIVITY OVER NIGHT IN THE WAKE OF THIS SYSTEM... BEFORE RAIN BEGINS TO INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF THE COLD FRONT TOWARD DAYBREAK. IT WILL BE A VERY MILD NIGHT WITH SOUTHERLY BREEZES AND LOW TEMPERATURES MOSTLY 55 TO 60... MORE SEASONABLE FOR JUNE THAN MID-APRIL. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL TRACK SLOWLY EAST ACROSS THE CWA ON TUESDAY. THIS FRONT WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY STRONG RIGHT-REAR QUAD UPPER DYNAMICS AND A 50 KT LOW-LEVEL SOUTHERLY JET. INSTABILITY ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL BE MINIMAL BUT CAN`T RULE OUT A FEW RUMBLES OF THUNDER RIGHT WITH THE FRONTAL PASSAGE DURING MIDDAY TUESDAY. AT THIS TIME WE ARE EXPECTING SHOWERS TO INCREASE AHEAD OF THE FRONT EARLY TUESDAY... THEN A BAND OF MODERATE TO HEAVY RAIN WILL LIKELY ACCOMPANY AND FOLLOW THE FRONTAL PASSAGE... LATE TUESDAY MORNING OVER THE FINGER LAKES... AROUND NOON ALONG THE I-81 CORRIDOR... AND EARLY AFTERNOON OVER THE WESTERN CATSKILLS. SOME CONCERN THAT ANY BAND OF HEAVY RAIN THAT DEVELOPS ALONG THE FRONT COULD BE HEAVY ENOUGH TO CAUSE SOME MINOR FLOODING ISSUES IF HEAVY RAIN FALLS DURING A SHORT PERIOD. TOTAL RAINFALL WITH THE SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 1 TO 1.5 INCH RANGE. HAVE HELD OFF ON ANY WATCHES AT THIS POINT... BUT A WATCH MAY NEED CONSIDERATION ONCE TIMING AN LOCATION OF ANY HEAVY RAIN BANDS BECOMES MORE CERTAIN. SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL INCREASE TONIGHT AS THE FRONT APPROACHES. SOME GUSTS TO 30 OR 40 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE OVER HIGHER TERRAIN LATER TONIGHT WITH LIGHTER WINDS AT LOWER ELEVATIONS. NORTHWEST WINDS WILL BE STRONG AND GUSTY BEHIND THE FRONT LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. SOME GUSTS OF 30 TO 40 MPH ARE POSSIBLE. THIS WILL BE AN ANAFRONT WITH SEVERAL HOURS OF PRECIPITATION LINGERING BEHIND THE FRONT. COLD AIR MOVES IN QUICKLY BEHIND THE FRONT WITH RAIN CHANGING TO SLEET OR A MIX OF SLEET AND SNOW OVER THE FINGER LAKES BY LATE MORNING... AND ALONG THE I-81 CORRIDOR BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON. MODELS ARE IN EXCELLENT AGREEMENT WITH THIS SCENARIO AND INDICATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A WIDESPREAD 1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET BY EARLY EVENING TUESDAY FOR MOST OF THE AREA. STEADIER SNOW WILL END ACROSS THE AREA EARLY TUESDAY EVENING BUT 850 MB TEMPERATURES FALL TO AROUND -15 DEGREES C. DESPITE VERY DRY AIR EXPECT THAT THIS SCEANRIO WILL SUPPORT A LITTLE BIT OF LAKE EFFECT SNOW OVER CENTRAL NY TUESDAY EVENING. ANY ADDITIONAL ACCUMULATIONS SHOULD BE LIGHT. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... QUIET WX IN THE MED RNG WITH HIGH PRES BUILDING INTO THE RGN ON WED. AFTER SOME MRNG LAKE CLDS...MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES WILL PREVAIL. FAIR AND DRY WEATHER PERSISTS INTO FRIDAY AS THE SFC HIGH SLIDES OFF THE CST. WE COULD SEE CLDS RETURN IN THE SELY FLOW LATER FRI NGT INTO SAT. THIS WEEKEND`S FCST IS RATHER UNCERTAIN...HINGING ON THE INTERACTION BETWEEN NRN AND SRN STREAM S/WV`S. JUST WENT WITH SLGT CHC/LOW CHC POPS FOR THIS PD. TEMPS WILL BE WELL BLO NORMAL ON WED...A MODERATING TREND AFTERWARDS AND WITH TEMPS RISING TO NEAR OR SLIGHTLY ABV SEASONAL NORMS. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SCATTERED SHRA WERE DEVELOPING IN ADVANCE OF THE SHARP COLD FRONT THAT WILL MOVE ACRS CENTRAL NY AND NORTHEAST PA BETWEEN 11Z AND 19Z FROM NW TO SE. MOST OF THESE SHRA WILL BE VFR WITH PATCHY AREAS OF MVFR IN THE HEAVIEST SHRA. THE COLD FRONT W/ A SHARP WIND SHIFT FROM S TO NW REACHES SYR-PEO BY 12Z TO 13Z...UCA-ELM BY 14Z...KITH BY 15Z...KBGM BY 16Z...AND KAVP BY 19Z. FOR A FEW HOURS AFTER FRONTAL PASSAGE CIGS AND VSBYS WILL DROP TO IFR WITH RA AND BR...THEN THE PRECIP WILL BECOME A MIX OF SNOW/PL AND RAIN WITH A VERY SHARP LOW-LEVEL INVERSION. THERE CUD BE LOW-LEVEL WIND SHEAR AT THE POINT IN THE INVERSION LAYER WHICH WILL BE FAIRLY LOW. THUS LLWS REMAINS IN ALL TAFS TO ACCOUNT FOR A FEW HOUR WINDOW THIS AFTERNOON. AS THE COLD AIR LAYER DEEPENS VERTICALLY THE SHEAR WILL LESSEN TWD EVE. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THIS DEEPENING COLD LAYER...THE PRECIP WILL TURN TO ALL SNOW. I EXPECT MAINLY IFR CIG AND VSBY IN SNOW AND BR FOR A FEW HOURS. THEN CONDITIONS WILL IMPROVE TO MAINLY MVFR TO VFR CIG AND VSBY IN -SHSN MOSTLY AFTER 00Z. WINDS WILL BE MAINLY S-SE ARND 10 KNOTS WITH OCCASIONAL GUST TO 20 KNOTS...THEN THE WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NW AFTER FROPA AN AVERAGE 10 TO 20 KNOTS GUSTS TO 25 KTS OR MORE. WINDS CUD GET EVEN STRONGER TWD 00Z. OUTLOOK... TUE NGT...SCT MVFR IN -SHSN CNTRL NY. WED-THU-FRI...VFR. FRI NGT/SAT...MVFR CIGS PSBL IN SELY FLOW OVER NE PA AND SRN NY. && .FIRE WEATHER... NO FIRE WEATHER CONCERNS THROUGH WEDNESDAY. && .BGM WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...NONE. NY...FLOOD WATCH FROM 8 AM EDT THIS MORNING THROUGH THIS EVENING FOR NYZ009-037. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MSE NEAR TERM...BMW SHORT TERM...MSE LONG TERM... AVIATION...DJN FIRE WEATHER...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
1000 PM EDT WED APR 16 2014 .SYNOPSIS... UNSEASONABLY STRONG...POLAR HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD EAST ACROSS THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC AND NORTHEAST STATES THROUGH THURSDAY. A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IS THEN EXPECTED TO TRACK NEAR THE SOUTHEAST COAST OVER THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 1000 PM WEDNESDAY... PRESSURE READINGS CONTINUE TO RISE ACROSS CENTRAL NC THIS EVENING AS A STRONG 1036MB SURFACE HIGH OVER NEW ENGLAND REACHES DOWN THE EAST COAST. THE MAIN STORY FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FREEZE AND FROST. WINDS HAVE DECOUPLED IN SOME SPOTS...BUT THE BUILDING SURFACE RIDGE IS KEEPING A LIGHT WIND STIRRING OVER MOST OF THE AREA. SHOULD SEE MORE AREAS DECOUPLE BY AFTER MIDNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN AREAS. HOWEVER...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS FORECAST TO TIGHTEN A BIT OVER EASTERN NC BY 09Z IN RESPONSE TO A WESTWARD MIGRATING INVERTED TROUGH OFFSHORE...AND THE RATE AT WHICH TEMPS FALL OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN WILL SLOW AS THE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES TOWARD THE PIEDMONT. COULD ISSUE A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE COASTAL PLAIN...BUT RAP SOUNDINGS SHOW THE BOUNDARY LAYER STAYING AT LEAST PARTIALLY MIXED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT...AND THE FROST SHOULD REMAIN PATCHY IN NATURE. THE FREEZE WARNING WILL CONTINUE AS FORECAST. IR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS QUITE A BIT OF STRATO CU OFFSHORE...WHICH WILL BEGIN TO SPREAD INLAND LATE TONIGHT AND TOWARD THE I-95 CORRIDOR DURING THE MID-MORNING HOURS ON THURSDAY. -SMITH THURSDAY...CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW LEVEL RIDGE WILL RESULT IN A LONG NE FETCH OFF THE ATLANTIC INTO EASTERN NC. THIS FLOW WILL TRANSPORT A SHALLOW THIN LAYER OF MOISTURE INTO THE COASTAL PLAIN...RESULTING IN A SCATTERED TO BRIEFLY BROKEN LAYER OF STRATOCU OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN LATER THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON. LAYER TOO SHALLOW TO SUPPORT ANYTHING MORE THAN SPRINKLES IF EVEN THAT. TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR MID APRIL THOUGH SOME RECOVERY COMPARED TO TODAY ANTICIPATED. AFTERNOON THICKNESSES PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT 20M WARMT THAN THIS AFTERNOON WHICH SUGGEST AFTERNOON TEMPS THURSDAY ABOUT 5 DEGREES WARMER THAN THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS MORE SIMILAR TO THE COOLER GFS MOS GUIDANCE. MAX TEMPS UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY /... AS OF 330 PM WEDNESDAY... THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY....SFC RIDGE AXIS WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL NC THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS PARENT HIGH BECOMES ANCHORED OVER NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND/CANADIAN MARITIME DUE TO CONFLUENT FLOW ALOFT. WHILE THE AIR MASS UNDERNEATH THIS RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY MODIFY...PRESENCE OF DRY AIR UNDER THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MAINTAIN A BASICALLY CLOUD FREE ATMOSPHERE IN THE LOWEST 10K FEET. MEANWHILE...A S/W IS PROJECTED TO MOVE EAST-SE ACROSS THE CENTRAL NC PLAINS AND INTO THE TN VALLEY WHERE IT IS PROJECTED TO BEGIN TO INTERACT WITH A SYSTEM LIFTING E-NE ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF. UPPER LEVEL FLOW OVER THE CAROLINAS WILL BACK IN RESPONSE TO THE APPROACH OF THESE SYSTEMS...TRANSPORTING HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE INTO OUR REGION. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASING VEIL OF HIGH CLOUDS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE THICKNESS OF THESE HIGH CLOUDS WILL PLAY A ROLE IN WHETHER SCATTERED FROST WILL DEVELOP OVER THE PIEDMONT THURSDAY NIGHT/EARLY FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...LOW LEVEL ELY FLOW WILL ADVECT MOISTURE OFF THE ATLANTIC INTO THE COASTAL PLAIN BY FRIDAY MORNING. MIN TEMPS MID 30S WEST TO UPPER 30S/AROUND 40 EAST. SHOULD SEE AT A MINIMUM A MIXTURE OF SUN AND CLOUDS FRIDAY WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE SKY BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY OR OVERCAST BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE DOES NOT APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT PRECIP FRIDAY AFTERNOON...ASIDE FROM A STRAY SHOWER ACROSS THE FAR SE. AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY MODIFY BUT AFTERNOON TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL. MAX TEMPS 60-65. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 3 PM WEDNESDAY... FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT: THE WEEKEND FORECAST CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE EVOLUTION OF A POSSIBLE CLOSED LOW LINGERING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S/OFFSHORE. WHILE THE NORTHERN STREAM ENERGY IS PROGRESSIVE AND PUSHES EASTWARD FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. IN ADVANCE OF THE NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH BOTH THE 12Z GFS AND ECMWF PULLS MOISTURE NORTHWARD... AND PRODUCED SOME LIGHT RAIN ACROSS OUR FAR SOUTHEAST/EAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING... WITH THE BULK OF THE PRECIP EXPECTED TO BE TO OUR EAST AND SOUTH. HOWEVER... MODEL GUIDANCES IS STRUGGLING WITH WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE LINGERING SOUTHERN STEAM ENERGY THAT POSSIBLY CLOSES OFF INTO A CLOSED LOW AND LINGERS NEAR FL AND OFF THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST. THE 12Z ECMWF HAS COME A MORE IN THE LINE WITH THE 12Z GFS IN SHOWING LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY SLOWLY SHIFTING EASTWARD AND FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE COAST TO KEEP US DRY SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. HOWEVER... GUIDANCES HAS SHOWN POOR RUN TO RUN CONTINUITY. THUS... CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH THAT LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY THAT WE WILL BE COMPLETELY DRY AT THIS TIME ACROSS OUR ENTIRE AREA (IF PRECIP LINGER... LOCATIONS ACROSS THE EAST/SOUTHEAST WOULD SEE THE BEST CHANCE/MOST). FOR NOW WILL GO WITH A DRY FORECAST AS MENTIONED ABOVE FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONWARD. WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH AND A COOL EAST TO NORTHEASTERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW EXPECT HIGH TEMPS WILL REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL WITH AT LEAST SOME CLOUD COVER (MORE EAST VS WEST). THUS... WILL GO WITH HIGH TEMPS THIS WEEKEND IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S... WITH LOW TEMPS IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: NEXT MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE REGION ON TUESDAY... ALONG WITH A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH. HOWEVER... WITH LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE RETURN WILL KEEP POPS LOW AT THIS TIME. TEMPS EARLY TO MID NEXT WEEK ARE EXPECT TO WARM AGAIN... WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND LOWS IN THE 50S. && .AVIATION /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 720 PM WEDNESDAY... HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO CENTRAL NC FROM THE NORTH WILL MAINTAIN VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY MORNING. VFR CONDITIONS SHOULD LARGELY CONTINUE INTO THE DAY ON THURSDAY...WITH THE EXCEPTION OF A PERIOD OF MARGINAL MVFR CEILINGS WITH BASES BETWEEN 2500-3000KFT ACROSS EASTERN AND POSSIBLY CENTRAL TERMINALS THURSDAY AFTERNOON OWING TO NELY MARITIME FLOW WHICH COULD SUPPORT A BROKEN DIURNALLY ENHANCED FLAT STRATOCU DECK. OTHERWISE NELY WINDS WILL PREVAIL WITH WIND GUSTS OF 17 TO 20KTS...STRONGEST ACROSS EASTERN TERMINALS. OUTLOOK...A DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN VICINITY OF THE NE GULF AND THE FL PENINSULA MAY SPREAD ENOUGH MOISTURE INTO EASTERN NC BY LATE FRIDAY THROUGH SATURDAY TO CAUSE A PERIOD OF MVFR/IFR CEILINGS. AT THIS TIME...APPEARS THE BEST CHANCE FOR RAIN WILL BE CONFINED TO THE COASTAL AREAS. IMPROVING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND ASSOCIATED VFR PARAMETERS ANTICIPATED SUNDAY AND MONDAY. && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR THU MORNING...AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR TODAY: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR NCZ007>011-021>027-038>041-073>077-083>086. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...WSS/SMITH SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...BSD AVIATION...CBL/WSS CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
255 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING. UNUSUALLY CHILLY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1010 AM TUESDAY... HAVE JUST UPDATED THE FORECAST TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CONVECTIVE LINE NOW EXITING THE ERN CWA. LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS THE FRONT NOW ALONG THE NC MOUNTAINS AND EXPECT A STEADY EASTWARD PROGRESS THIS AFTERNOON... PROPELLED BY THE DENSITY OF THE ANOMALOUSLY COLD INCOMING AIR MASS AS WELL AS THE MID LEVEL TROUGH MOVING EAST OF THE MS RIVER VALLEY. A FEW ROTATING ELEMENTS AND SHORT SEGMENTS WITH ENHANCED WIND GUSTS WERE OBSERVED WITH THIS PRIMARY LINE OF CONVECTION... AND AS THIS DEPARTS ALONG WITH THE BETTER INSTABILITY... WE SHOULD SEE A BRIEF LULL WITHIN THE REARWARD SUBSIDENCE ZONE. BUT ADDITIONAL CONVECTION NOW OVER S/E GA AND SC SHOULD SPREAD UP INTO THE S/E CWA IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS... AND THIS EXTRAPOLATION IS SUPPORTED BY RAP/HRRR GUIDANCE. INSTABILITY IS NOT PROJECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY STRONG WITH THIS (AROUND 250 J/KG POTENTIALL APPROACHING 500 J/KG) BUT WILL LIKELY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN UPTICK IN LOW LEVEL SHEAR NEAR/EAST OF WHAT THE SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE WILL BE A PREFRONTAL WEAK SURFACE LOW... AND IN FACT THE RAP FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A PERIOD OF CURVED HODOGRAPHS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS MAY POSE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT... IN THE FORM OF DAMAGING WINDS WITHIN BOWING SEGMENTS AND AN ISOLATED WEAK TORNADO... LARGELY EAST OF I-95 AS THIS IS WHERE THE SREF SHOWS THE BEST COMBINATION OF (MODEST) INSTABILITY AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE THREAT OF ANY STRONG STORMS SHOULD BE OVER (TO OUR EAST) BY 00Z. IN ANY CASE... MOST PLACES SHOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF SHOWERS (IF NOT STORMS) FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH MID/LATE AFTERNOON EITHER WITH THE ACTIVITY TO OUR SOUTH OR ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. PW VALUES WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL... WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE WITH DEW POINTS HOLD IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. LIFT WILL BE AUGMENTED BY UPPER DIVERGENCE IN THE RIGHT REAR QUAD OF THE SRLY JET STREAK TO OUR NNW. SO... AFTER A SHORT LULL WILL TREND POPS BACK UP FOR THIS AFTERNOON. ADJUSTED HOURLY TEMPS TOWARD THE GLAMP AND HRRR RAPID- UPDATE GUIDANCE... TO INDICATE FALLING TEMPS IN THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. THIS YIELDS HIGHS FROM THE MID 60S WEST TO UPPER 70S EAST. -GIH MINIMAL ADJUSTMENT NEEDED FOR LOWS IN STRONG CAA TONIGHT...INTO THE 30 TO 37 DEGREE RANGE...COOLEST WEST. THE FREEZE WATCH HAS BEEN CONSEQUENTLY BE UPGRADED TO A WARNING. -MWS && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 255 PM TUESDAY... WED AND WED NIGHT: RISING HEIGHTS ALOFT/DNVA AND ASSOCIATED STRONG SUBSIDENCE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DEEP LAYER DRYING (SUNSHINE) WED...FOLLOWED BY GENERALLY NEUTRAL VERTICAL MOTION...BUT WITH A STILL STRONGLY CAPPED AND RESIDUALLY DRY REGIME OVER OUR REGION THROUGH WED NIGHT. BENEATH THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UNSEASONABLY STRONG INTO THE 1040-1045 MB RANGE AS IT BUILDS FROM THE OH VALLEY TO NEW ENGLAND. COOL NORTHEASTERLY FLOW AND DRY ADIABATIC MIXING THROUGH 900 MB...WITH A COUPLE OF DEGREES ADDED TO ACCOUNT FOR A USUAL SLIGHT COOL BIAS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE LIKELY IN PART OWING TO A SUPER- ADIABATIC NEAR SURFACE LAYER...SUPPORTS HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 50S. PROJECTED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES IN THE 1300-1310 METER RANGE AT 12Z THU...WITH OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING...WOULD SUPPORT MIDDLE 20S. HOWEVER...A PROJECTED 4-6 MB RISE IN MSL PRESSURE WITH THE STRENGTHENING HIGH WED NIGHT WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY STIRRING FOR MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT...THOUGH WITH TYPICALLY COOLER/SHELTERED AREA LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PERIODS OF CALM. IN ADDITION...MOISTURE ADVECTION IN NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BENEATH THE CAPPING INVERSION MAY RESULT IN SCT TO BKN LOW CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LATE. AS SUCH...TEMPERATURES ARE APT TO DISPLAY A RELATIVELY LARGE RANGE...FROM 28-30 DEGREES IN RURAL WESTERN PIEDMONT LOCATIONS (IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE RIDGE AXIS) TO AROUND FREEZING IN URBAN AREAS FROM RDU WESTWARD TO THE TRIAD...TO 33-37 DEGREES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN SANDHILLS. -MWS THURSDAY AND THURSDAY NIGHT... HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIRMASS WILL MEAN FAIR WEATHER FOR THURSDAY. HIGH CLOUDS WILL BE ON THE INCREASE LATE AS SW FLOW ALOFT INCREASES AHEAD OF THE SHORT WAVE CROSSING THE SOUTHERN PLAINS. WITH LOW LEVEL THICKNESSES REBOUNDING 30-40M FROM WEDNESDAY...LOOK FOR HIGHS IN THE MID 60S. STILL COOL THURSDAY NIGHT WITH LOWS 5-10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...RANGING FROM THE UPPER 30S TO LOWER 40S. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 255 PM TUESDAY... AT THE START OF FRIDAY...THE UPPER TROUGH WILL BE CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY. MEANWHILE...A SOUTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE MOVING ACROSS THE NE GOMEX WILL MOVE TOWARD THE WESTERN ATLANTIC BY DAYS END. IN RESPONSE...SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP IN VICINITY OF THE GULF STREAM AND LIFT TO THE NE AS THE AFOREMENTIONED SHORT WAVE MOVES EAST. MEANWHILE...THE NORTHERN STREAM UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL CROSS THE CAROLINAS BETWEEN 00-06Z SATURDAY. RIGHT NOW IT APPEARS THAT THESE SYSTEMS WILL HAVE LITTLE IMPACT ON OUR SENSIBLE WEATHER FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT...MAINLY BECAUSE...1) THE MOISTURE ASSOC WITH THE SYSTEM OFF THE COAST IS PROGGED TO REMAIN WELL TO OUR EAST...AND 2) THE NORTHERN TROUGH AXIS WILL MOVE ACROSS OUR AREA MOISTURE-STARVED...WITH THE BULK OF ITS MOISTURE REMAINING WELL TO OUR NORTH. THEN IN THE WAKE OF THE UPPER TROUGH AXIS AND SFC COLD FRONT PASSAGE SATURDAY MORNING...HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIRMASS WILL BUILD SOUTH ACROSS THE CAROLINAS AND PROVIDE FAIR AND SEASONABLE WEATHER FOR THE REST OF WEEKEND. UNSETTLED WEATHER MAY RETURN EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A SHORT WAVE EMBEDDED IN THE NW FLOW MOVING ACROSS OUR AREA LATE MONDAY THROUGH MIDDAY TUESDAY. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 240 PM TUESDAY... ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS WILL DOMINATE FOR THE NEXT 6-9 HOURS OR SO... FOLLOWED BY QUICK IMPROVEMENT TO VFR... BUT BRISK GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST. A COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL NC. PATCHY SHOWERS HAVE PRECEDED THIS FRONT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA IN RECENT HOURS... BUT ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THIS FRONT... A SOLID BAND OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND A FEW STORMS WILL SWEEP EASTWARD FROM NOW THROUGH ABOUT 03Z. CURRENT TAFS REFLECT THIS WITH A PERIOD OF IFR VSBYS AND MVFR TO IFR CIGS... AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT SUDDENLY WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE... AS WINDS FROM THE SW SHIFT AROUND TO NW AND GUST UP TO 25-35 KTS... SO AVIATION INTERESTS SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE TAB ON THE FRONTAL POSITION IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. BETWEEN 02Z (WEST) AND 06Z (EAST)... CIGS ARE LIKELY TO RISE TO VFR WITH P6SM VSBYS AS SKIES CLEAR OUT. BRISK WINDS FROM NW WILL PERSIST THE REST OF TONIGHT... SUSTAINED NEAR 12- 18 KTS WITH A FEW GUSTS... THEN WILL SWING AROUND TO BE FROM THE NORTH AND EVENTUALLY NORTHEAST VERY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WED MORNING... WITH VFR CONDITIONS LIKELY. LOOKING BEYOND 18Z WED... VFR CONDITIONS LIKELY THROUGH THU... ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CHANCE OF IFR CIGS WITH STRATUS AT FAY/RWI AS SURFACE WINDS SHIFT AROUND TO BE FROM THE SE AND BRING IN ATLANTIC LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. THIS CHANCE IS GREATER LATE THU NIGHT INTO FRI MORNING. A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE EASTERN US FRI THROUGH SAT... AND MAY BRING A PERIOD OF SUB-VFR CONDITIONS... BUT UNCERTAINTY IN THE DETAILS WITH THIS IS HIGH. -GIH && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR WED AND THU MORNING... AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WED: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 28/1943 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 25/1943 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 28/1950 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ007>010- 021>026-038>041-073>077-083-084. && $$ SYNOPSIS...HARTFIELD NEAR TERM...HARTFIELD/MWS SHORT TERM...MWS/KCP LONG TERM...NP AVIATION...HARTFIELD CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
245 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE AREA THROUGH EARLY EVENING. UNUSUALLY CHILLY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION FROM THE NORTH LATE TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1010 AM TUESDAY... HAVE JUST UPDATED THE FORECAST TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CONVECTIVE LINE NOW EXITING THE ERN CWA. LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS THE FRONT NOW ALONG THE NC MOUNTAINS AND EXPECT A STEADY EASTWARD PROGRESS THIS AFTERNOON... PROPELLED BY THE DENSITY OF THE ANOMALOUSLY COLD INCOMING AIR MASS AS WELL AS THE MID LEVEL TROUGH MOVING EAST OF THE MS RIVER VALLEY. A FEW ROTATING ELEMENTS AND SHORT SEGMENTS WITH ENHANCED WIND GUSTS WERE OBSERVED WITH THIS PRIMARY LINE OF CONVECTION... AND AS THIS DEPARTS ALONG WITH THE BETTER INSTABILITY... WE SHOULD SEE A BRIEF LULL WITHIN THE REARWARD SUBSIDENCE ZONE. BUT ADDITIONAL CONVECTION NOW OVER S/E GA AND SC SHOULD SPREAD UP INTO THE S/E CWA IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS... AND THIS EXTRAPOLATION IS SUPPORTED BY RAP/HRRR GUIDANCE. INSTABILITY IS NOT PROJECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY STRONG WITH THIS (AROUND 250 J/KG POTENTIALL APPROACHING 500 J/KG) BUT WILL LIKELY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN UPTICK IN LOW LEVEL SHEAR NEAR/EAST OF WHAT THE SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE WILL BE A PREFRONTAL WEAK SURFACE LOW... AND IN FACT THE RAP FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A PERIOD OF CURVED HODOGRAPHS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS MAY POSE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT... IN THE FORM OF DAMAGING WINDS WITHIN BOWING SEGMENTS AND AN ISOLATED WEAK TORNADO... LARGELY EAST OF I-95 AS THIS IS WHERE THE SREF SHOWS THE BEST COMBINATION OF (MODEST) INSTABILITY AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE THREAT OF ANY STRONG STORMS SHOULD BE OVER (TO OUR EAST) BY 00Z. IN ANY CASE... MOST PLACES SHOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF SHOWERS (IF NOT STORMS) FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH MID/LATE AFTERNOON EITHER WITH THE ACTIVITY TO OUR SOUTH OR ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. PW VALUES WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL... WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE WITH DEW POINTS HOLD IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. LIFT WILL BE AUGMENTED BY UPPER DIVERGENCE IN THE RIGHT REAR QUAD OF THE SRLY JET STREAK TO OUR NNW. SO... AFTER A SHORT LULL WILL TREND POPS BACK UP FOR THIS AFTERNOON. ADJUSTED HOURLY TEMPS TOWARD THE GLAMP AND HRRR RAPID- UPDATE GUIDANCE... TO INDICATE FALLING TEMPS IN THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. THIS YIELDS HIGHS FROM THE MID 60S WEST TO UPPER 70S EAST. -GIH MINIMAL ADJUSTMENT NEEDED FOR LOWS IN STRONG CAA TONIGHT...INTO THE 30 TO 37 DEGREE RANGE...COOLEST WEST. THE FREEZE WATCH HAS BEEN CONSEQUENTLY BE UPGRADED TO A WARNING. -MWS && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 235 AM TUESDAY... WED AND WED NIGHT: RISING HEIGHTS ALOFT/DNVA AND ASSOCIATED STRONG SUBSIDENCE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DEEP LAYER DRYING (SUNSHINE) WED...FOLLOWED BY GENERALLY NEUTRAL VERTICAL MOTION...BUT WITH A STILL STRONGLY CAPPED AND RESIDUALLY DRY REGIME OVER OUR REGION THROUGH WED NIGHT. BENEATH THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UNSEASONABLY STRONG INTO THE 1040-1045 MB RANGE AS IT BUILDS FROM THE OH VALLEY TO NEW ENGLAND. COOL NORTHEASTERLY FLOW AND DRY ADIABATIC MIXING THROUGH 900 MB...WITH A COUPLE OF DEGREES ADDED TO ACCOUNT FOR A USUAL SLIGHT COOL BIAS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE LIKELY IN PART OWING TO A SUPER- ADIABATIC NEAR SURFACE LAYER...SUPPORTS HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 50S. PROJECTED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES IN THE 1300-1310 METER RANGE AT 12Z THU...WITH OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING...WOULD SUPPORT MIDDLE 20S. HOWEVER...A PROJECTED 4-6 MB RISE IN MSL PRESSURE WITH THE STRENGTHENING HIGH WED NIGHT WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY STIRRING FOR MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT...THOUGH WITH TYPICALLY COOLER/SHELTERED AREA LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PERIODS OF CALM. IN ADDITION...MOISTURE ADVECTION IN NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BENEATH THE CAPPING INVERSION MAY RESULT IN SCT TO BKN LOW CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LATE. AS SUCH...TEMPERATURES ARE APT TO DISPLAY A RELATIVELY LARGE RANGE...FROM 28-30 DEGREES IN RURAL WESTERN PIEDMONT LOCATIONS (IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE RIDGE AXIS) TO AROUND FREEZING IN URBAN AREAS FROM RDU WESTWARD TO THE TRIAD...TO 33-37 DEGREES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN SANDHILLS. -MWS THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: THIS PERIOD SHOULD REMAIN DRY WITH HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST...ALTHOUGH EXPECT CLOUDS TO INCREASE DURING THE EVE/OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST...AS A LOW DEVELOPS OFF THE COAST. WITH THE CONTINUED NE FLOW AND CAA...STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO BE BELOW NORMAL. HOWEVER... GIVEN LOW-LEVEL THICKNESSES INCREASING FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT BY A GOOD 30-40 METERS...EXPECT TEMPS TO INCREASE BY 5-10 DEGREES...HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S TO LOW 40S. -KCP && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 300 AM TUESDAY... THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING AS THE ELONGATED LOW OFF THE COAST MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA...OTHERWISE THE LATEST GFS AND ECMWF RUNS KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH MONDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SKIRTS NORTH OF CENTRAL NC SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY. THE GFS IS A BIT MORE AMPLIFIED WITH THE LOW...BRINGING IT CLOSER TO THE AREA. DESPITE THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL FORCING AND MOISTURE IN THE UPPER LEVELS...THE DRY AIR EXPECTED IN THE MID LEVELS MAY BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS DRY. HIGHS FRIDAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MID 40S TO AROUND 50 DEGREES. HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH WILL RIDGE INTO THE AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ASIDE FROM SOME HIGH CLOUDS...EXPECT EASTER SUNDAY TO BE DRY AND MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S WITH LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AS OF 240 PM TUESDAY... ADVERSE AVIATION CONDITIONS WILL DOMINATE FOR THE NEXT 6-9 HOURS OR SO... FOLLOWED BY QUICK IMPROVEMENT TO VFR... BUT BRISK GUSTY WINDS WILL PERSIST. A COLD FRONT IS CURRENTLY MOVING THROUGH CENTRAL NC. PATCHY SHOWERS HAVE PRECEDED THIS FRONT ACROSS THE ENTIRE AREA IN RECENT HOURS... BUT ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THIS FRONT... A SOLID BAND OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND A FEW STORMS WILL SWEEP EASTWARD FROM NOW THROUGH ABOUT 03Z. CURRENT TAFS REFLECT THIS WITH A PERIOD OF IFR VSBYS AND MVFR TO IFR CIGS... AND STRONG GUSTY WINDS THROUGH LATE THIS AFTERNOON. WINDS WILL SHIFT SUDDENLY WITH FRONTAL PASSAGE... AS WINDS FROM THE SW SHIFT AROUND TO NW AND GUST UP TO 25-35 KTS... SO AVIATION INTERESTS SHOULD KEEP A CLOSE TAB ON THE FRONTAL POSITION IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS. BETWEEN 02Z (WEST) AND 06Z (EAST)... CIGS ARE LIKELY TO RISE TO VFR WITH P6SM VSBYS AS SKIES CLEAR OUT. BRISK WINDS FROM NW WILL PERSIST THE REST OF TONIGHT... SUSTAINED NEAR 12- 18 KTS WITH A FEW GUSTS... THEN WILL SWING AROUND TO BE FROM THE NORTH AND EVENTUALLY NORTHEAST VERY LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WED MORNING... WITH VFR CONDITIONS LIKELY. LOOKING BEYOND 18Z WED... VFR CONDITIONS LIKELY THROUGH THU... ALTHOUGH THERE IS A CHANCE OF IFR CIGS WITH STRATUS AT FAY/RWI AS SURFACE WINDS SHIFT AROUND TO BE FROM THE SE AND BRING IN ATLANTIC LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. THIS CHANCE IS GREATER LATE THU NIGHT INTO FRI MORNING. A MID LEVEL TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE EASTERN US FRI THROUGH SAT... AND MAY BRING A PERIOD OF SUB-VFR CONDITIONS... BUT UNCERTAINTY IN THE DETAILS WITH THIS IS HIGH. -GIH && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR WED AND THU MORNING... AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WED: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 28/1943 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 25/1943 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 28/1950 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ007>010- 021>026-038>041-073>077-083-084. && $$ SYNOPSIS...HARTFIELD NEAR TERM...HARTFIELD/MWS SHORT TERM...MWS/KCP LONG TERM...KCP AVIATION...HARTFIELD CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
1010 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS...WARM AND MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PERSIST TODAY... AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL CROSS THE REGION THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH EARLY EVENING. UNUSUALLY CHILLY HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1010 AM TUESDAY... HAVE JUST UPDATED THE FORECAST TO ACCOUNT FOR THE CONVECTIVE LINE NOW EXITING THE ERN CWA. LATEST SURFACE ANALYSIS SHOWS THE FRONT NOW ALONG THE NC MOUNTAINS AND EXPECT A STEADY EASTWARD PROGRESS THIS AFTERNOON... PROPELLED BY THE DENSITY OF THE ANOMALOUSLY COLD INCOMING AIR MASS AS WELL AS THE MID LEVEL TROUGH MOVING EAST OF THE MS RIVER VALLEY. A FEW ROTATING ELEMENTS AND SHORT SEGMENTS WITH ENHANCED WIND GUSTS WERE OBSERVED WITH THIS PRIMARY LINE OF CONVECTION... AND AS THIS DEPARTS ALONG WITH THE BETTER INSTABILITY... WE SHOULD SEE A BRIEF LULL WITHIN THE REARWARD SUBSIDENCE ZONE. BUT ADDITIONAL CONVECTION NOW OVER S/E GA AND SC SHOULD SPREAD UP INTO THE S/E CWA IN THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS... AND THIS EXTRAPOLATION IS SUPPORTED BY RAP/HRRR GUIDANCE. INSTABILITY IS NOT PROJECTED TO BE PARTICULARLY STRONG WITH THIS (AROUND 250 J/KG POTENTIALL APPROACHING 500 J/KG) BUT WILL LIKELY BE ACCOMPANIED BY AN UPTICK IN LOW LEVEL SHEAR NEAR/EAST OF WHAT THE SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE WILL BE A PREFRONTAL WEAK SURFACE LOW... AND IN FACT THE RAP FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW A PERIOD OF CURVED HODOGRAPHS EARLY THIS AFTERNOON. THIS MAY POSE OUR BEST CHANCE FOR AN ADDITIONAL SEVERE WEATHER THREAT... IN THE FORM OF DAMAGING WINDS WITHIN BOWING SEGMENTS AND AN ISOLATED WEAK TORNADO... LARGELY EAST OF I-95 AS THIS IS WHERE THE SREF SHOWS THE BEST COMBINATION OF (MODEST) INSTABILITY AND DEEP LAYER SHEAR AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE THREAT OF ANY STRONG STORMS SHOULD BE OVER (TO OUR EAST) BY 00Z. IN ANY CASE... MOST PLACES SHOULD SEE AN ADDITIONAL PERIOD OF SHOWERS (IF NOT STORMS) FROM LATE MORNING THROUGH MID/LATE AFTERNOON EITHER WITH THE ACTIVITY TO OUR SOUTH OR ALONG AND JUST BEHIND THE COLD FRONT. PW VALUES WILL REMAIN WELL ABOVE NORMAL... WITH ABUNDANT MOISTURE WITH DEW POINTS HOLD IN THE 60S TO LOWER 70S. LIFT WILL BE AUGMENTED BY UPPER DIVERGENCE IN THE RIGHT REAR QUAD OF THE SRLY JET STREAK TO OUR NNW. SO... AFTER A SHORT LULL WILL TREND POPS BACK UP FOR THIS AFTERNOON. ADJUSTED HOURLY TEMPS TOWARD THE GLAMP AND HRRR RAPID- UPDATE GUIDANCE... TO INDICATE FALLING TEMPS IN THE WEST THIS AFTERNOON. THIS YIELDS HIGHS FROM THE MID 60S WEST TO UPPER 70S EAST. -GIH MINIMAL ADJUSTMENT NEEDED FOR LOWS IN STRONG CAA TONIGHT...INTO THE 30 TO 37 DEGREE RANGE...COOLEST WEST. THE FREEZE WATCH HAS BEEN CONSEQUENTLY BE UPGRADED TO A WARNING. -MWS && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 235 AM TUESDAY... WED AND WED NIGHT: RISING HEIGHTS ALOFT/DNVA AND ASSOCIATED STRONG SUBSIDENCE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DEEP LAYER DRYING (SUNSHINE) WED...FOLLOWED BY GENERALLY NEUTRAL VERTICAL MOTION...BUT WITH A STILL STRONGLY CAPPED AND RESIDUALLY DRY REGIME OVER OUR REGION THROUGH WED NIGHT. BENEATH THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UNSEASONABLY STRONG INTO THE 1040-1045 MB RANGE AS IT BUILDS FROM THE OH VALLEY TO NEW ENGLAND. COOL NORTHEASTERLY FLOW AND DRY ADIABATIC MIXING THROUGH 900 MB...WITH A COUPLE OF DEGREES ADDED TO ACCOUNT FOR A USUAL SLIGHT COOL BIAS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE LIKELY IN PART OWING TO A SUPER- ADIABATIC NEAR SURFACE LAYER...SUPPORTS HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 50S. PROJECTED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES IN THE 1300-1310 METER RANGE AT 12Z THU...WITH OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING...WOULD SUPPORT MIDDLE 20S. HOWEVER...A PROJECTED 4-6 MB RISE IN MSL PRESSURE WITH THE STRENGTHENING HIGH WED NIGHT WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY STIRRING FOR MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT...THOUGH WITH TYPICALLY COOLER/SHELTERED AREA LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PERIODS OF CALM. IN ADDITION...MOISTURE ADVECTION IN NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BENEATH THE CAPPING INVERSION MAY RESULT IN SCT TO BKN LOW CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LATE. AS SUCH...TEMPERATURES ARE APT TO DISPLAY A RELATIVELY LARGE RANGE...FROM 28-30 DEGREES IN RURAL WESTERN PIEDMONT LOCATIONS (IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE RIDGE AXIS) TO AROUND FREEZING IN URBAN AREAS FROM RDU WESTWARD TO THE TRIAD...TO 33-37 DEGREES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN SANDHILLS. -MWS THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: THIS PERIOD SHOULD REMAIN DRY WITH HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST...ALTHOUGH EXPECT CLOUDS TO INCREASE DURING THE EVE/OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST...AS A LOW DEVELOPS OFF THE COAST. WITH THE CONTINUED NE FLOW AND CAA...STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO BE BELOW NORMAL. HOWEVER... GIVEN LOW-LEVEL THICKNESSES INCREASING FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT BY A GOOD 30-40 METERS...EXPECT TEMPS TO INCREASE BY 5-10 DEGREES...HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S TO LOW 40S. -KCP && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 300 AM TUESDAY... THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING AS THE ELONGATED LOW OFF THE COAST MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA...OTHERWISE THE LATEST GFS AND ECMWF RUNS KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH MONDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SKIRTS NORTH OF CENTRAL NC SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY. THE GFS IS A BIT MORE AMPLIFIED WITH THE LOW...BRINGING IT CLOSER TO THE AREA. DESPITE THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL FORCING AND MOISTURE IN THE UPPER LEVELS...THE DRY AIR EXPECTED IN THE MID LEVELS MAY BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS DRY. HIGHS FRIDAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MID 40S TO AROUND 50 DEGREES. HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH WILL RIDGE INTO THE AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ASIDE FROM SOME HIGH CLOUDS...EXPECT EASTER SUNDAY TO BE DRY AND MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S WITH LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /12Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 740 AM TUESDAY... 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD: A LINE OF HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS CONTINUES TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA...APPROACHING KRWI...AND MOVING OVER THE TERMINAL DURING THE NEXT HOUR OR TWO. WITH THE BREAK IN THE PRECIP THIS MORNING AT THE OTHER TERMINALS...CONDITIONS HAVE/SHOULD TEMPORARILY IMPROVE(D) BACK TO VFR/MVFR. ADDITIONAL SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED THIS AFTERNOON AND WILL LIKELY RESULT IN PERIODS OF REDUCED CIGS AND VISBYS. IN THE WAKE OF THESE AFT/EVE SHOWERS AND STORMS...THE COLD FRONT WILL TRAVERSE FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH CENTRAL NC. ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG THROUGH 12Z... EXPECT THEM TO VEER TO THE WEST THEN NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT. THE GUSTS MAY BRIEFLY DIE OUT BETWEEN 06Z AND 12Z WEDNESDAY MORNING. CIGS WILL LIFT AND VISBYS WILL IMPROVE BEHIND THE FRONT...WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED FOR THE LAST 6-12 HOURS OF THE TAF PERIOD. -KC LOOKING AHEAD: MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. THERE COULD BE SOME MORNING STRATUS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING AS MOISTURE ONCE AGAIN INCREASES AHEAD OF OUR NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTH THIS WEEKEND. -KRD && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR WED AND THU MORNING... AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WED: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 28/1943 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 25/1943 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 28/1950 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM 3 AM TO 9 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ007>010- 021>026-038>041-073>077-083-084. && $$ SYNOPSIS...HARTFIELD NEAR TERM...HARTFIELD/MWS SHORT TERM...MWS/KCP LONG TERM...KCP AVIATION...KCP CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS NEWPORT/MOREHEAD CITY NC
438 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH FROM THE WEST TODAY AND SLOWLY CROSS THE REGION THIS EVENING. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN FROM THE NORTH WEDNESDAY INTO FRIDAY...THEN SLIDE OFFSHORE SATURDAY AS A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS NEAR THE COAST SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... AS OF 4 AM TUE...STRONG...MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW CONTINUES AHEAD OF A ROBUST LONG WAVE TROUGH PRESENTLY OVER THE MISS RIVER VALLEY WITH A SFC COLD FRONT ACROSS THE OHIO AND TENN RIVER VALLEYS. SCT- NUMEROUS SHOWERS ARE LIFTING N OFF THE ATLANTIC AND ACROSS COASTAL AREAS EARLY THIS MORNING...MAINLY EAST OF HIGHWAY 17...WITH MORE ISOL SHOWERS ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN. FARTHER TO THE WEST...AN AREA OF CONVECTION IS CURRENTLY LIFTING ACROSS UPSTATE SC INTO THE WESTERN NC PIEDMONT. HRRR KEEPS THESE STORMS WEST OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING...BUT MESO MODELS LIFT AN AREA OF DIFF VORT ADVECTION ACROSS THE AREA AFTER DAYBREAK AND ENHANCE COVERAGE OF SHOWERS ACROSS EASTERN NC. INSTABILITY INCREASES AFTER DAYBREAK AS WELL BRINGING INCREASING CONVECTIVE CHANCES. MODELS HAVE LI`S INCREASING TO AROUND -2 TO -4 C AND CAPE AROUND 1000-1500 J/KG THIS AFTERNOON WITH 0-6KM BULK SHEAR INCREASING TO 40-60 KT AHEAD OF THE FRONT. THE SHEAR IS MAINLY UNIDIRECTIONAL SUGGESTING DAMAGING WINDS AS THE MAIN THREAT OF SEVERE...WITH THE BEST CHANCE FOR SEVERE STORMS FROM MID AFTERNOON TO MID EVENING ASSOC WITH STRONG FRONTAL FORCING. STRONG SLY FLOW PERSISTS TODAY WITH WIND GUSTS AROUND 25-35 MPH. MOVED THE START TIME OF THE WIND ADVISORY FOR THE OBX AND CARTERET CO TO 4 PM AS MODELS SHOWING SLY WINDS INCREASING TO ADVISORY CRITERIA JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT. A VERY MILD START THIS MORNING WITH TEMPS AROUND 70 AND DEWPOINT TEMPS IN THE MID TO UPPER 60. MAINLY CLOUDY SKIES WILL KEEP SHORT THERMOMETER WITH HIGH EXPECTED IN THE UPPER 70S INLAND AND LOW TO MID 70S ALONG THE COAST. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT/... AS OF 4 AM TUE...THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT PROGGED TO BE MOVING ACROSS THE COASTAL PLAIN AT THE START OF THE SHORT TERM PERIOD WITH AN ON-GOING SEVERE THREAT ASSOC WITH STRONG FRONTAL FORCING IN A MOIST AND UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT. HOWEVER THE FRONT IS EXPECTED TO BE PUSHING OFF THE COAST BETWEEN 00Z-02Z WITH THE SEVERE THREAT QUICKLY ENDING AFTER FROPA. STRONG CAA DEVELOPS BEHIND THE FRONT BRINGING NLY WINDS AROUND 15-25 MPH INLAND TO 25-35 MPH WITH HIGHER GUST ALONG THE OBX AND WILL CONTINUE THE WIND ADVISORY INTO WEDNESDAY. THIS COULD BRING MINOR COASTAL FLOODING ISSUES ACROSS THE OBX AND SOUTHERN PAMLICO SOUND AREAS AS WELL...SEE BELOW FOR DISCUSSION. TEMPS EXPECTED TO FALL INTO THE UPPER 30S INLAND TO MID 40S ALONG THE COAST BY DAYBREAK WEDNESDAY. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 225 AM TUE...MODELS IN DECENT AGREEMENT AT THE START OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST PERIODS WITH NEARLY ZONAL FLOW BEHIND EXITING TROUGH OVER THE SOUTHEAST. WILL SEE SOME DIFFERENCES STARTING THURSDAY AS ECMWF SPINS UP A LOW OFFSHORE AND GFSENSEMBLE MAINTAINS A TROUGH. THIS COULD EFFECT SURFACE WIND SPEED ALONG THE COASTAL SECTIONS THROUGH THE END OF THE WORKWEEK. THIS DEEPER LOW PRESSURE IS SUPPORTED BY WEAK UPPER LEVEL ENERGY NOTED IN ECMWF. DIFFERENCES BECOME MORE SIGNIFICANT BY THE WEEKEND AS ECMWF DROPS A DEEP TROUGH INTO FLORIDA WHILE THE GFS NOTES A WEAKER UPPER TROUGH. THIS AGAIN AFFECTS THE SURFACE PATTERN WITH ECMWF DEVELOPING A DEEP SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OFF THE FLORIDA COAST AND GFS KEEPING AN INVERTED TROUGH OFFSHORE. CURRENT GFS IS TRENDING SOMEWHAT DEEPER WITH WEEKEND TROUGH THAN PREVIOUS RUN. NEARLY ZONAL FLOW AT THE BEGINNING OF THE FORECAST PERIOD WILL BECOME SOUTHWESTERLY AS TROUGH DIGS INTO THE CENTRAL PLAINS STATES. WEAK UPPER LEVEL IMPULSES WILL MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHWEST FLOW THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK. AT THE SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO CENTRAL PART OF NORTH CAROLINA WITH LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OFFSHORE. COASTAL SECTIONS WILL HAVE BREEZY CONDITIONS WITH A SMALL CHANCE OF SHOWERS...DEPENDING ON STRENGTH AND PLACEMENT OF LOW PRESSURE OFFSHORE. THE STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW WILL KEEP TEMPERATURES BELOW NORMAL WITH LOW TEMPERATURES IN THE MID 30S TO LOWER 40S AND HIGH TEMPERATURES IN THE 50S WEDNESDAY. THIS PATTERN WILL REMAIN THROUGH THE WORKWEEK WITH RISING HEIGHTS ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO RISE INTO THE UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. BY SATURDAY UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EAST COAST WITH LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPING OFF THE FLORIDA COAST...ACCORDING TO ECMWF. DUE TO UNCERTAINTY IN THIS TIME PERIOD...WONT MAKE ANY CHANGES TO THE GRIDS. && .AVIATION /07Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... SHORT TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 4 AM TUE...GENERALLY MVFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED INTO MID AFTERNOON WITH SCT SHOWERS ACROSS RTES AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT. COULD SEE A FEW THUNDERSTORMS THIS MORNING WITH INCREASING INSTABILITY. STRONG SLY WINDS AROUND 15-20 KT WITH GUSTS AROUND 25 KT TODAY. BY MID TO LATE AFTERNOON THE FRONT WILL BE PUSHING INTO RTES BRINGING STRONG FRONTAL FORCING AND THE CHANCE FOR STRONG TO SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS AND CONDITIONS AOB IFR. WINDS BECOME NLY AFTER FROPA WITH STRONG CAA DEVELOPING AND COULD SEE GUSTS AROUND 30 KT DURING EVENING...BUT WILL SEE CLEARING SKIES WITH VFR CONDITIONS RETURNING LATE EVENING AND AFTER MIDNIGHT. LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 231 AM TUE...VFR CONDITIONS WILL PREDOMINATE THROUGH FRIDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING IN THE CENTRAL PART OF NORTH CAROLINA. MAIN PROBLEM WILL BE WIND WITH NORTHERLY FLOW GUSTING TO 25 KT ON WEDNESDAY...STRONGEST NEARER THE COAST. MODELS TRENDING DRIER THAN PREVIOUS RUNS...BUT MAY SEE SOME SUB VFR CONDITIONS SATURDAY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. && .MARINE... SHORT TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 4 AM TUE...MARINE OBS SHOWING SLY WINDS AROUND 15-25 KT WITH SEAS AROUND 4-7 FT MOST AREAS...BUT UP TO 9 FT OFFSHORE ONSLOW BAY. WINDS INCREASE TO 20-30 KT TODAY AHEAD OF A STRONG COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST WITH SEAS BUILDING TO 7-11 FT. FREQUENT GUSTS TO GALE FORCE LIKELY ACROSS THE CENTRAL WATERS WITH BETTER MIXING HERE AND MOVED START TIME OF THE GALE WARNING TO 18Z HERE. THE COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE WATERS THIS EVENING WITH STRONG NLY FLOW TO GALE FORCE DEVELOPING MOST AREAS...LIKELY JUST BELOW GALE FOR THE PAMLICO AND NEUSE RIVER ZONES. SEAS BUILD TO 10-15 FT NRN WATERS AFTER MIDNIGHT AND REMAIN AROUND 6-10 FT SOUTHERN WATERS. LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 236 AM TUE...STRONG NORTHERLY FLOW WILL START THE PERIOD ON WEDNESDAY BEHIND DEPARTING COLD FRONT. GALE FORCE SPEEDS EXPECTED THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY ON WEDNESDAY WITH TIGHT GRADIENT BETWEEN THE FRONT AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE CENTER PART OF THE STATE. GRADIENT WILL LOOSEN WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON/EVENING...BUT SPEEDS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN THE 20 KN RANGE THURSDAY. SOME DIFFERENCES IN MODELS BY THE END OF THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND WITH STRENGTH OF LOW PRESSURE/TROUGH OFFSHORE DETERMINING SPEEDS OVER THE WATERS. FOR NOW WILL STAY WITH 15 TO 20 KTS. && .TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING... ELEVATED WATER LEVELS CAN BE EXPECT AS A STRONG N/NE FLOW DEVELOPS BEHIND A SHARP COLD FRONT LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND EARLY WEDNESDAY. THE STRONG WINDS COINCIDE WITH A HIGH ASTRONOMICAL CYCLE COMING OUT OF THIS EARLY WEEKS FULL MOON. NW GALES GRADUALLY SHIFTING TO N TONIGHT AND WEDNESDAY SUGGEST HIGHEST WATER LEVELS...AROUND 2-3 FT TIDAL ANOMALIES FOR THE CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN OBX ADJACENT TO THE PAMLICO SOUND BASED ON COASTAL FLOOD CLIMATOLOGY. CERA WEBSITE KEEPS MAX WATER LEVELS ANOMALIES BETWEEN 1.5-2 FT BUT FEEL IT COULD BE A LITTLE HIGHER WITH MINOR IMPACTS AND WILL ISSUE A COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY FOR OBX DARE AND HYDE WITH THE MORNING PACKAGE. WINDS DO NOT SHIFT TO NE UNTIL WED AFTERNOON AND ARE DECREASING BELOW GALES AS THEY DO...SO AT THIS TIME THINK THE SOUTHERN PAMLICO SOUND AND NEUSE/PAMLICO RIVER AREAS WILL HAVE LESS OF AN IMPACT. THE HIGH WATER LEVELS WILL ONLY SLOWLY SUBSIDE AS A MODERATE NNE FLOW IS MAINTAINED BETWEEN STRONG HIGH PRES TO THE NORTH AND OFFSHORE LOW PRESSURE TROF THRU THE END OF THE WEEK. && NC...WIND ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ095-103-104. COASTAL FLOOD ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 8 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ103-104. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 11 AM THIS MORNING TO 5 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR AMZ136-137. GALE WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 5 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR AMZ130-131-135-150. GALE WARNING FROM 2 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 5 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR AMZ152-154. GALE WARNING FROM 8 PM THIS EVENING TO 4 PM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR AMZ156-158. && $$ SYNOPSIS...SK NEAR TERM...SK SHORT TERM...SK LONG TERM...CGG AVIATION...CGG/SK MARINE...CGG/SK TIDES/COASTAL FLOODING...SK/BTC
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
303 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS...WARM AND MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PERSIST AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL CROSS THE CAROLINAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. UNSEASONABLY STRONG AND COOL HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD EAST ACROSS THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1015 PM MONDAY... WARM MOIST AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO CENTRAL NC THIS EVENING WITH DEWPOINTS INCREASING INTO THE LOWER TO MID 60S AS SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW IS INCREASING IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT... CURRENTLY EXTENDING FROM THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGION SOUTH-SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE AROUND NEW ORLEANS. THIS FRONT WILL CONTINUE PUSHING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT... APPROACHING THE CENTRAL TO SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BY 12Z TUESDAY. THE WEAK PRE-FRONTAL BAND OF CONVECTION THAT MOVED ACROSS TN/GA/SC AND WESTERN NC EARLIER TODAY WEAKENED FURTHER THIS EVENING AND HAS LEFT AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. NEW SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE NOW FORMING ON THE BOUNDARY. INSTABILITY IS INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA IN GENERAL... WITH A NOSE OF MLCAPE (SMALL AMOUNT 100-250 J/KG) EXTENDING UP TOWARDS THE DAVIDSON/ROWAN COUNTY LINE. THIS COUPLE WITH STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR (0-6 KM SHEAR OF AROUND 40-50 KTS) AND A FAVORABLE LOW LEVEL WIND PROFILE (0-1KM SRH OF 150-200 M2/S2) HAS YIELDED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITH THESE VERY SHALLOW SHOWERS/STORMS FROM TIME TO TIME. AT THIS TIME DO NOT THINK ANY WEAK ROTATION WILL RESULT IN ANY ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADOES AS THE UPDRAFTS DO NO APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH. THAT SAID... WE WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE RADAR FOR ANY QUICK SPIKE IN INTENSITY WITH THESE SHOWERS/STORMS SINCE THEY ARE INVOF THE REMNANT OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER. GIVEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEEP SHEAR AND FAVORABLE ATLANTIC LOW LEVEL SOUTHEASTERLY INFLOW WE WILL NEED TO WATCH ANY CONVECTION THAT FORMS OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT... ESPECIALLY WITH THE LATEST RAP SHOWING AS MUCH AS 500 J/KG OF MLCAPE MOVING INTO OUR SOUTH/SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF CENTRAL NC OVERNIGHT. LATEST HRRR AND RAP SHOW AN INCREASE IN ACTIVITY AFTER 06Z TONIGHT. THUS... WILL MAINTAIN HIGH POPS AFTER 06Z TONIGHT AND MAINTAIN MENTION OF SOME STRONG WIND GUSTS. EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE WARM GIVEN THE INCREASING MOISTURE/CLOUD COVER. THUS... EXPECT LOW TEMPS WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 60S. TUE-TUE NIGHT: WEAKENING LIFT BUT WITH INCREASING 0-3KM SHEAR MOVES EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA EARLY TUESDAY...THEN THERE IS FORECAST A BRIEF RESPITE IN THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AROUND MID- MORNING WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN 850MB THETA-E VALUES AND INSTABILITY. AS THE AFTERNOON APPROACHES...850MB WINDS SHOULD INCREASE TO 50 TO 55KT AS A 120KT 300MB JET MOVES THROUGH THE AREA...COINCIDENT WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A 90KT 500MB JET. WHILE 1000-500MB LAPSE RATES ARE ONLY FORECAST AROUND 6C/KM...AND THOSE MAINLY EAST OF U.S. 1... MUCAPE THAT INCREASES OVERNIGHT TO NEARLY 1000J/KG ON THE NAM OVER THE FAR SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT CONTINUES TO PUSH ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA WITH VALUES FROM 1000-1500J/KG DURING TUESDAY. 0-3KM SHEAR IS ON THE ORDER OF 40- 50KT TUESDAY AFTERNOON...INCREASING FURTHER TOWARD THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR LATE. MODEST LAPSE RATES IN A BROADLY MOIST AIR MASS SHOULD HELP TO LIMIT AVAILABLE INSTABILITY... BUT SYSTEM DYNAMICS ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT COULD COMPENSATE FOR THIS AND MAKE FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS TUESDAY. IF A LOCATION SEEMED TO HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS...IT WOULD SEEM TO BE ALONG AND EAST OF U.S. 1 WHERE THE OVERALL INSTABILITY AND SHEAR WILL BE BETTER TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AS LIFTED INDICES THERE SHOULD BE -2C TO -4C...WITH BETTER HEATING EXPECTED. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE WIND...BUT WITH 0-3KM HELICITY VALUES FROM 100- 300 M2/S2...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. HIGHS WERE LEANED TOWARD THE WARMER MAV GUIDANCE ANTICIPATING A BREAK IN PRECIPITATION DURING THE MORNING...UPPER 60S NORTHWEST TO AROUND 80 SOUTHEAST. STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION TAKES PLACE TUESDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN. ONCE THE STRONG MID-LEVEL TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE THREAT OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD END...THEN IMPACTS TURN TOWARD THE POTENTIAL FOR FREEZING CONDITIONS. THE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FORECASTING LOWS AT OR BELOW FREEZING FOR A COUPLE OF RUNS MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 95...AND WHILE WINDS IN MANY LOCATIONS SHOULD STAY UP THROUGH A LARGE PART OF THE NIGHT IN A TIGHT GRADIENT BEHIND THE COLD FRONT AS THE HIGH BUILDS IN...LATE AT NIGHT THERE SHOULD BE JUST ENOUGH WIND REDUCTION IN COMBINATION WITH SIMPLE ADVECTION TO RESULT IN SEVERAL AREAS WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. WILL ISSUE A FREEZE WATCH FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FOR TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING... KEEPING OUT THE IMMEDIATE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR FOR NOW DUE TO GREATER WIND AND MIXING EXPECTED THERE. LOWS TUESDAY NIGHT 29 TO 32 MOSTLY FROM U.S. 1 WEST...33 TO 37 IN THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 235 AM TUESDAY... WED AND WED NIGHT: RISING HEIGHTS ALOFT/DNVA AND ASSOCIATED STRONG SUBSIDENCE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DEEP LAYER DRYING (SUNSHINE) WED...FOLLOWED BY GENERALLY NEUTRAL VERTICAL MOTION...BUT WITH A STILL STRONGLY CAPPED AND RESIDUALLY DRY REGIME OVER OUR REGION THROUGH WED NIGHT. BENEATH THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UNSEASONABLY STRONG INTO THE 1040-1045 MB RANGE AS IT BUILDS FROM THE OH VALLEY TO NEW ENGLAND. COOL NORTHEASTERLY FLOW AND DRY ADIABATIC MIXING THROUGH 900 MB...WITH A COUPLE OF DEGREES ADDED TO ACCOUNT FOR A USUAL SLIGHT COOL BIAS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE LIKELY IN PART OWING TO A SUPER- ADIABATIC NEAR SURFACE LAYER...SUPPORTS HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 50S. PROJECTED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES IN THE 1300-1310 METER RANGE AT 12Z THU...WITH OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING...WOULD SUPPORT MIDDLE 20S. HOWEVER...A PROJECTED 4-6 MB RISE IN MSL PRESSURE WITH THE STRENGTHENING HIGH WED NIGHT WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY STIRRING FOR MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT...THOUGH WITH TYPICALLY COOLER/SHELTERED AREA LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PERIODS OF CALM. IN ADDITION...MOISTURE ADVECTION IN NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BENEATH THE CAPPING INVERSION MAY RESULT IN SCT TO BKN LOW CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LATE. AS SUCH...TEMPERATURES ARE APT TO DISPLAY A RELATIVELY LARGE RANGE...FROM 28-30 DEGREES IN RURAL WESTERN PIEDMONT LOCATIONS (IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE RIDGE AXIS) TO AROUND FREEZING IN URBAN AREAS FROM RDU WESTWARD TO THE TRIAD...TO 33-37 DEGREES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN SANDHILLS. -MWS THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: THIS PERIOD SHOULD REMAIN DRY WITH HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST...ALTHOUGH EXPECT CLOUDS TO INCREASE DURING THE EVE/OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST...AS A LOW DEVELOPS OFF THE COAST. WITH THE CONTINUED NE FLOW AND CAA...STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO BE BELOW NORMAL. HOWEVER... GIVEN LOW-LEVEL THICKNESSES INCREASING FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT BY A GOOD 30-40 METERS...EXPECT TEMPS TO INCREASE BY 5-10 DEGREES...HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S TO LOW 40S. -KCP && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... AS OF 300 AM TUESDAY... THERE IS STILL A SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST FRIDAY NIGHT/SATURDAY MORNING AS THE ELONGATED LOW OFF THE COAST MOVES AWAY FROM THE AREA...OTHERWISE THE LATEST GFS AND ECMWF RUNS KEEP THE FORECAST DRY THROUGH MONDAY. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW SKIRTS NORTH OF CENTRAL NC SATURDAY NIGHT/SUNDAY. THE GFS IS A BIT MORE AMPLIFIED WITH THE LOW...BRINGING IT CLOSER TO THE AREA. DESPITE THE STRONG UPPER LEVEL FORCING AND MOISTURE IN THE UPPER LEVELS...THE DRY AIR EXPECTED IN THE MID LEVELS MAY BE ENOUGH TO KEEP THINGS DRY. HIGHS FRIDAY IN THE MID TO UPPER 60S WITH LOWS IN THE MID 40S TO AROUND 50 DEGREES. HIGH PRESSURE TO THE NORTH WILL RIDGE INTO THE AREA SUNDAY AND MONDAY. ASIDE FROM SOME HIGH CLOUDS...EXPECT EASTER SUNDAY TO BE DRY AND MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS MAINLY IN THE LOW TO MID 70S WITH LOWS IN THE MID TO UPPER 40S THROUGH THE END OF THE PERIOD. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 200 AM TUESDAY... 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD: MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA WILL LIKELY DECREASE FURTHER INTO IFR/LIFR BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY. HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTHWEST...ALREADY IMPACTING KINT AND KGSO...AND LIKELY MOVING OVER KFAY AND KRDU OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS (AND KRWI THEREAFTER). THOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THE CIGS MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY WITH THESE HEAVY SHOWERS...VISBYS WILL LIKELY DECREASE. AS ALREADY SEEN AT KINT AND KGSO...SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY (20-25 KTS) AS THE LOW LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS. IF THERE IS A BREAK IN THE PRECIP TUESDAY MORNING...CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...BUT EXPECT MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH CENTRAL NC DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG AND GUSTY THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD...EXPECT THEM TO VEER TO THE WEST THEN NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT. CIGS WILL LIFT AND VISBYS WILL IMPROVE BEHIND THE FRONT... WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. -KC LOOKING AHEAD: MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. THERE COULD BE SOME MORNING STRATUS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING AS MOISTURE ONCE AGAIN INCREASES AHEAD OF OUR NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTH THIS WEEKEND. -KRD && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR WED AND THU MORNING... AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WED: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 28/1943 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 25/1943 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 28/1950 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR NCZ007>010-021>026-038>041-073>077-083-084. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...BSD/DJF SHORT TERM...MWS/KCP LONG TERM...KCP AVIATION...KCP/KRD CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
254 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS...WARM AND MOIST SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL PERSIST AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT THAT WILL CROSS THE CAROLINAS THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. UNSEASONABLY STRONG AND COOL HIGH PRESSURE WILL THEN BUILD EAST ACROSS THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC REGION TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1015 PM MONDAY... WARM MOIST AIR CONTINUES TO FILTER INTO CENTRAL NC THIS EVENING WITH DEWPOINTS INCREASING INTO THE LOWER TO MID 60S AS SOUTH TO SOUTHEASTERLY FLOW IS INCREASING IN ADVANCE OF A STRONG COLD FRONT... CURRENTLY EXTENDING FROM THE EASTERN GREAT LAKES REGION SOUTH-SOUTHWESTWARD TO THE AROUND NEW ORLEANS. THIS FRONT WILL CONTINUE PUSHING EASTWARD OVERNIGHT... APPROACHING THE CENTRAL TO SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS BY 12Z TUESDAY. THE WEAK PRE-FRONTAL BAND OF CONVECTION THAT MOVED ACROSS TN/GA/SC AND WESTERN NC EARLIER TODAY WEAKENED FURTHER THIS EVENING AND HAS LEFT AN OUTFLOW BOUNDARY ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE WESTERN PIEDMONT. NEW SHOWERS AND STORMS ARE NOW FORMING ON THE BOUNDARY. INSTABILITY IS INCREASE ACROSS THE AREA IN GENERAL... WITH A NOSE OF MLCAPE (SMALL AMOUNT 100-250 J/KG) EXTENDING UP TOWARDS THE DAVIDSON/ROWAN COUNTY LINE. THIS COUPLE WITH STRONG DEEP LAYER SHEAR (0-6 KM SHEAR OF AROUND 40-50 KTS) AND A FAVORABLE LOW LEVEL WIND PROFILE (0-1KM SRH OF 150-200 M2/S2) HAS YIELDED SOME WEAK ROTATION WITH THESE VERY SHALLOW SHOWERS/STORMS FROM TIME TO TIME. AT THIS TIME DO NOT THINK ANY WEAK ROTATION WILL RESULT IN ANY ISOLATED BRIEF TORNADOES AS THE UPDRAFTS DO NO APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH. THAT SAID... WE WILL NEED TO KEEP AN EYE ON THE RADAR FOR ANY QUICK SPIKE IN INTENSITY WITH THESE SHOWERS/STORMS SINCE THEY ARE INVOF THE REMNANT OUTFLOW BOUNDARY FROM EARLIER. GIVEN THE ABOVE MENTIONED DEEP SHEAR AND FAVORABLE ATLANTIC LOW LEVEL SOUTHEASTERLY INFLOW WE WILL NEED TO WATCH ANY CONVECTION THAT FORMS OVER THE AREA OVERNIGHT... ESPECIALLY WITH THE LATEST RAP SHOWING AS MUCH AS 500 J/KG OF MLCAPE MOVING INTO OUR SOUTH/SOUTHEASTERN HALF OF CENTRAL NC OVERNIGHT. LATEST HRRR AND RAP SHOW AN INCREASE IN ACTIVITY AFTER 06Z TONIGHT. THUS... WILL MAINTAIN HIGH POPS AFTER 06Z TONIGHT AND MAINTAIN MENTION OF SOME STRONG WIND GUSTS. EXPECT OVERNIGHT LOWS WILL BE WARM GIVEN THE INCREASING MOISTURE/CLOUD COVER. THUS... EXPECT LOW TEMPS WILL BE IN THE LOWER TO MID 60S. TUE-TUE NIGHT: WEAKENING LIFT BUT WITH INCREASING 0-3KM SHEAR MOVES EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA EARLY TUESDAY...THEN THERE IS FORECAST A BRIEF RESPITE IN THE CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AROUND MID- MORNING WITH A SLIGHT DECREASE IN 850MB THETA-E VALUES AND INSTABILITY. AS THE AFTERNOON APPROACHES...850MB WINDS SHOULD INCREASE TO 50 TO 55KT AS A 120KT 300MB JET MOVES THROUGH THE AREA...COINCIDENT WITH THE RIGHT ENTRANCE REGION OF A 90KT 500MB JET. WHILE 1000-500MB LAPSE RATES ARE ONLY FORECAST AROUND 6C/KM...AND THOSE MAINLY EAST OF U.S. 1... MUCAPE THAT INCREASES OVERNIGHT TO NEARLY 1000J/KG ON THE NAM OVER THE FAR SOUTHWEST PIEDMONT CONTINUES TO PUSH ACROSS CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA WITH VALUES FROM 1000-1500J/KG DURING TUESDAY. 0-3KM SHEAR IS ON THE ORDER OF 40- 50KT TUESDAY AFTERNOON...INCREASING FURTHER TOWARD THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR LATE. MODEST LAPSE RATES IN A BROADLY MOIST AIR MASS SHOULD HELP TO LIMIT AVAILABLE INSTABILITY... BUT SYSTEM DYNAMICS ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT COULD COMPENSATE FOR THIS AND MAKE FOR THE POTENTIAL FOR ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS TUESDAY. IF A LOCATION SEEMED TO HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF ISOLATED SEVERE STORMS...IT WOULD SEEM TO BE ALONG AND EAST OF U.S. 1 WHERE THE OVERALL INSTABILITY AND SHEAR WILL BE BETTER TUESDAY AFTERNOON...AS LIFTED INDICES THERE SHOULD BE -2C TO -4C...WITH BETTER HEATING EXPECTED. THE PRIMARY SEVERE THREAT IS ANTICIPATED TO BE WIND...BUT WITH 0-3KM HELICITY VALUES FROM 100- 300 M2/S2...AN ISOLATED TORNADO CANNOT BE RULED OUT. HIGHS WERE LEANED TOWARD THE WARMER MAV GUIDANCE ANTICIPATING A BREAK IN PRECIPITATION DURING THE MORNING...UPPER 60S NORTHWEST TO AROUND 80 SOUTHEAST. STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION TAKES PLACE TUESDAY NIGHT AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES IN. ONCE THE STRONG MID-LEVEL TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE THREAT OF PRECIPITATION SHOULD END...THEN IMPACTS TURN TOWARD THE POTENTIAL FOR FREEZING CONDITIONS. THE GUIDANCE HAS BEEN CONSISTENT FORECASTING LOWS AT OR BELOW FREEZING FOR A COUPLE OF RUNS MAINLY ALONG AND WEST OF INTERSTATE 95...AND WHILE WINDS IN MANY LOCATIONS SHOULD STAY UP THROUGH A LARGE PART OF THE NIGHT IN A TIGHT GRADIENT BEHIND THE COLD FRONT AS THE HIGH BUILDS IN...LATE AT NIGHT THERE SHOULD BE JUST ENOUGH WIND REDUCTION IN COMBINATION WITH SIMPLE ADVECTION TO RESULT IN SEVERAL AREAS WITH TEMPERATURES BELOW FREEZING. WILL ISSUE A FREEZE WATCH FOR A LARGE PART OF CENTRAL NORTH CAROLINA FOR TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING... KEEPING OUT THE IMMEDIATE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR FOR NOW DUE TO GREATER WIND AND MIXING EXPECTED THERE. LOWS TUESDAY NIGHT 29 TO 32 MOSTLY FROM U.S. 1 WEST...33 TO 37 IN THE INTERSTATE 95 CORRIDOR. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 235 AM TUESDAY... WED AND WED NIGHT: RISING HEIGHTS ALOFT/DNVA AND ASSOCIATED STRONG SUBSIDENCE WILL RESULT IN FURTHER DEEP LAYER DRYING (SUNSHINE) WED...FOLLOWED BY GENERALLY NEUTRAL VERTICAL MOTION...BUT WITH A STILL STRONGLY CAPPED AND RESIDUALLY DRY REGIME OVER OUR REGION THROUGH WED NIGHT. BENEATH THE STRONG SUBSIDENCE ALOFT...SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WILL CONSEQUENTLY BECOME UNSEASONABLY STRONG INTO THE 1040-1045 MB RANGE AS IT BUILDS FROM THE OH VALLEY TO NEW ENGLAND. COOL NORTHEASTERLY FLOW AND DRY ADIABATIC MIXING THROUGH 900 MB...WITH A COUPLE OF DEGREES ADDED TO ACCOUNT FOR A USUAL SLIGHT COOL BIAS WITH THIS TECHNIQUE LIKELY IN PART OWING TO A SUPER- ADIABATIC NEAR SURFACE LAYER...SUPPORTS HIGHS IN THE LOWER TO MIDDLE 50S. PROJECTED LOW LEVEL THICKNESS VALUES IN THE 1300-1310 METER RANGE AT 12Z THU...WITH OPTIMAL RADIATIONAL COOLING...WOULD SUPPORT MIDDLE 20S. HOWEVER...A PROJECTED 4-6 MB RISE IN MSL PRESSURE WITH THE STRENGTHENING HIGH WED NIGHT WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY STIRRING FOR MOST AREAS OVERNIGHT...THOUGH WITH TYPICALLY COOLER/SHELTERED AREA LIKELY TO EXPERIENCE PERIODS OF CALM. IN ADDITION...MOISTURE ADVECTION IN NORTHEASTERLY FLOW BENEATH THE CAPPING INVERSION MAY RESULT IN SCT TO BKN LOW CLOUDS MAINLY IN THE COASTAL PLAIN LATE. AS SUCH...TEMPERATURES ARE APT TO DISPLAY A RELATIVELY LARGE RANGE...FROM 28-30 DEGREES IN RURAL WESTERN PIEDMONT LOCATIONS (IN CLOSEST PROXIMITY TO THE RIDGE AXIS) TO AROUND FREEZING IN URBAN AREAS FROM RDU WESTWARD TO THE TRIAD...TO 33-37 DEGREES IN THE COASTAL PLAIN AND EASTERN SANDHILLS. -MWS THURSDAY THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT: THIS PERIOD SHOULD REMAIN DRY WITH HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING IN FROM THE NORTHEAST...ALTHOUGH EXPECT CLOUDS TO INCREASE DURING THE EVE/OVERNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE SOUTH AND EAST...AS A LOW DEVELOPS OFF THE COAST. WITH THE CONTINUED NE FLOW AND CAA...STILL EXPECT TEMPS TO BE BELOW NORMAL. HOWEVER... GIVEN LOW-LEVEL THICKNESSES INCREASING FROM THE PREVIOUS NIGHT BY A GOOD 30-40 METERS...EXPECT TEMPS TO INCREASE BY 5-10 DEGREES...HIGHS IN THE LOW TO MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE UPPER 30S TO LOW 40S. -KCP && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 300 PM MONDAY... FOR FRI THROUGH MON: LONGWAVE TROUGHING THAT DRIFTS EAST ACROSS CENTRAL NOAM THU IS EXPECTED TO AMPLIFY SLIGHTLY AS IT HEADS EASTWARD INTO ERN NOAM FRI/SAT. THE APPROACH OF THIS TROUGH IS EXPECTED TO DRAW ENERGY FROM THE NRN GULF TOWARD THE NE... INDUCING SURFACE CYCLOGENESIS OVER THE NE GULF OR FL... WHICH WOULD THEN TRACK NORTHEASTWARD OVER OR JUST OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST FRI NIGHT/SAT. THE GFS IS FAIRLY DRY HERE... HOLDING ITS SRN STREAM PRECIP TO OUR SE AND ANY NRN STREAM PRECIP TO OUR NORTH. THE ECMWF IS STRONGER WITH THE SOUTHERN WAVE... DEEPENING IT OVER SRN GA AND FL... BUT IT TOO HOLDS MOST OF THE PRECIP WITH THIS WAVE TO OUR SE. WILL RETAIN THE BASIC STRUCTURE OF THE PRECIP CHANCES WE CURRENTLY HAVE IN THERE... BUT REDUCE THEM AND CONFINE THE BETTER POPS TO OUR SOUTHEAST SECTIONS. AFTER BOTH THE NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN TROUGHS SHIFT EAST OF OUR LONGITUDE LATE SAT INTO SAT NIGHT... MID LEVEL RIDGING OVERSPREADS THE GULF/MIDSOUTH INTO THE SOUTHEAST AS ANOTHER HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY BUILDS IN FROM THE NORTH ON SUNDAY. EXPECT DECREASING CLOUDS SAT NIGHT AND A GOOD BIT OF SUNSHINE EASTER SUNDAY WITH MODERATING TEMPS CLOSE TO SEASONAL NORMALS. LOW CONFIDENCE IN MONDAY`S FORECAST AS THE GFS DEEPENS A MID LEVEL LOW OVER THE LOWER GREAT LAKES... LEADING TO SURFACE LOW FORMATION ALONG A ROUGHLY E-W FRONT ACROSS THE REGION WITH WIDESPREAD RAIN MOVING IN... WHILE THE ECMWF IS MUCH WEAKER/SLOWER AND KEEPS NC DRY MON. WILL GO WITH THE WEAKER ECMWF SOLUTION AND KEEP MONDAY DRY FOR NOW... BUT STAY TUNED. EXPECT TEMPS CLOSE TO NORMAL MON. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 200 AM TUESDAY... 24 HOUR TAF PERIOD: MVFR/IFR CONDITIONS ACROSS THE AREA WILL LIKELY DECREASE FURTHER INTO IFR/LIFR BY DAYBREAK TUESDAY. HEAVY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ARE APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTHWEST...ALREADY IMPACTING KINT AND KGSO...AND LIKELY MOVING OVER KFAY AND KRDU OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS (AND KRWI THEREAFTER). THOUGH IT IS POSSIBLE THE CIGS MAY IMPROVE SLIGHTLY WITH THESE HEAVY SHOWERS...VISBYS WILL LIKELY DECREASE. AS ALREADY SEEN AT KINT AND KGSO...SOUTHWEST WINDS WILL BECOME GUSTY (20-25 KTS) AS THE LOW LEVEL FLOW STRENGTHENS. IF THERE IS A BREAK IN THE PRECIP TUESDAY MORNING...CONDITIONS MAY IMPROVE BACK TO MVFR...BUT EXPECT MORE SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS TO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT...EXPECTED TO MOVE FROM WEST TO EAST THROUGH CENTRAL NC DURING THE LATE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH WINDS WILL REMAIN STRONG AND GUSTY THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD...EXPECT THEM TO VEER TO THE WEST THEN NORTHWEST BEHIND THE FRONT. CIGS WILL LIFT AND VISBYS WILL IMPROVE BEHIND THE FRONT... WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED BY THE END OF THE PERIOD. -KC LOOKING AHEAD: MOSTLY VFR CONDITIONS WILL PERSIST THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK. THERE COULD BE SOME MORNING STRATUS BOTH FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING AS MOISTURE ONCE AGAIN INCREASES AHEAD OF OUR NEXT SYSTEM APPROACHING FROM THE SOUTH THIS WEEKEND. -KRD && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR WED AND THU MORNING... AND THE RECORD LOW MAXIMUM TEMPERATURES FOR WED: WED 04/16 THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR LOW MAX/YEAR LOW/YEAR FAY: 28/1943 56/1950 31/1953 GSO: 25/1943 48/1929 29/1953 RDU: 28/1950 46/1890 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR NCZ007>010-021>026-038>041-073>077-083-084. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...BSD/DJF SHORT TERM...MWS/KCP LONG TERM...HARTFIELD AVIATION...KC/KRD CLIMATE...MWS
PREVIOUS FORECAST DISCUSSION >
WESTERLY MID LEVEL FLOW WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE SLIDING OFF TO
THE EAST BECOMING CENTERED OVER NEW ENGLAND BY THURSDAY MORNING. A SOUTHERLY RETURN FLOW WILL BEGIN TO DEVELOP LATE TONIGHT ON THE BACK SIDE OF THIS RETREATING SFC HIGH. SKIES WILL START OUT MAINLY CLEAR THIS EVENING WITH AN INCREASE IN HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS OVERNIGHT. QUESTION REVOLVES AROUND WHETHER WIND/CLOUDS WILL MITIGATE FROST DEVELOPMENT TONIGHT. EXPECT THAT SOME FROST WILL DEVELOP ESPECIALLY IN PROTECTED AREAS. WILL CONTINUE FROST ADVISORY ACRS THE SOUTH WHERE THE SEASON HAS STARTED. HAVE TAKEN FROST MENTION OUT OF WEST CENTRAL OHIO WHERE WINDS PICK UP IN RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING GRADIENT. LOWS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM THE LOWER 30S NE TO THE MID 30S SOUTH. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THURSDAY MORNING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... A RETURN SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP BETWEEN RETREATING SFC HIGH PRESSURE AND WEAK COLD FRONT TO OUR WEST. THIS SRLY FLOW WILL ALLOW TEMPERATURES TO MODERATE TO READINGS SLIGHTLY ABOVE NORMAL ON THURSDAY. EXPECT A FAIR AMOUNT OF HIGH LEVEL CLOUDS MAINLY EARLY AND THEN DECREASING AS THE OHIO VALLEY GETS INTO THE WARM SECTOR. EXPECT HIGHS TO RANGE FROM THE LOWER 60S NE TO THE UPPER 60S SW. MID LEVEL SHORTWAVES TO PHASE TO OUR WEST WITH A LONG WAVE TROF AXIS PIVOTING THRU THE OHIO VALLEY FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT. EXPECT SOME INCREASE IN CLOUDS THICKEST ACRS THE WEST LATE THURSDAY NIGHT. WITH SOME WIND AROUND 5 KTS AND INCREASE IN CLOUDS EXPECT THURSDAY NIGHTS LOWS TO BE CLOSE TO NORMAL...RANGING FROM NEAR 40 NE TO THE LOWER/MID 40S SW. WEAK SFC COLD FRONT TO PIVOT EAST THRU ILN/S FA FRIDAY/FRIDAY EVENING. MODEL SOLN DIFFERENCES EXIST REGARDING MOISTURE/TIMING WITH THIS WEAK FRONT. MAIN SFC LOW WELL TO OUR NORTH AND FORCING IS VERY WEAK OVER ILN/S FA. WILL CONTINUE TO LIMIT POPS TO CHC IN THE WEST FRIDAY AFTN AND THEN ONLY ALLOW SLIGHT CHC IN THE SOUTHEAST. EXPECT HIGHS FROM THE LOWER 60S NW TO THE UPPER 60S SE FRIDAY. LOWS FRIDAY NIGHT TO RANGE FROM THE UPPER 30S NW TO THE MID 40S SE. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM SOUTHEAST CANADA THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY WILL KEEP DRY WEATHER OVER THE AREA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL ENTER THE REGION MONDAY. GFS AND ECMWF BOTH INDICATE THE FRONT...BUT DIFFERENCES IN TIMING EXIST...WITH GFS FASTER AND ECMWF OFFERING A SLOWER SOLUTION. SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODELS AND WENT WITH A MODEL BLEND...WHICH YIELDS THE LIKELIHOOD FOR SHOWERS MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. WITH MODELS SHOWING SCANT INSTABILITY AND RATHER WEAK WIND FIELDS ALONG THE FRONT...DECIDED TO OMIT THUNDER. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIR ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT A BIT COOL ON SATURDAY WITH HIGHS FORECAST TO BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S. DUE TO A MODEST AMOUNT OF WARM ADVECTION...HIGHS FOR SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE ANTICIPATED TO AVERAGE IN THE NEAR NORMAL MID AND UPPER 60S. && .AVIATION /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... WITH HIGH PRESSURE TO THE EAST...AND LOW PRESSURE TO THE WEST...SOUTHERLY FLOW WILL DEVELOP OVER THE OHIO VALLEY ON THURSDAY. SOUTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL TURN SOUTH BY LATE MORNING TOMORROW...WITH WINDS GENERALLY REMAINING IN THE 5-10 KNOT RANGE. A FEW OCCASIONAL GUSTS UP TO AROUND 15 KNOTS WILL BE POSSIBLE. WITH A FAIRLY DRY AIR MASS IN PLACE...CLOUDS WILL GENERALLY BE LIMITED TO PATCHES OF CIRRUS AND CIRROSTRATUS. A FEW CUMULUS COULD DEVELOP NEAR DAYTON...BUT VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED THROUGH THE PERIOD, OUTLOOK...MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY. && .ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR OHZ077>082- 088. KY...FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR KYZ089>100. IN...FROST ADVISORY FROM 2 AM TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR INZ073>075- 080. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AR NEAR TERM...HATZOS/AR SHORT TERM...AR LONG TERM...CONIGLIO AVIATION...HATZOS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
148 PM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL MOVE OFF THE CAROLINA COAST TONIGHT AS UNSEASONABLY COLD HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS ACROSS OUR REGION AND REMAINS INTO FRIDAY. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES FROM THE WEST TO START THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 145 PM EDT MONDAY...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS HAS DEVELOPED AHEAD OF THE SFC COLD FRONT. THIS IS PRETTY MUCH WHAT WAS EXPECTED AND THE LINE SHOULD MARCH EASTWARD ACROSS THE REST OF THE FORECAST AREA DURING THE REMAINDER OF THE AFTN. AS OF 1150 AM EDT MONDAY...BASED ON THE RAPID COOL-OFF OVER THE NC MTNS...AS WELL AS UPSTREAM SNOW REPORTS...I NOW HAVE SOME MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 5KFT OVER THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS AND THE NRN NC MTNS. ALSO ADJUSTED TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS ACROSS THE REGION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE RAPID TEMPERATURE DROP BEHIND THE FRONT. NO CHANGE ON THE THINKING IN THE WARM SECTOR. SHOWERS AND A FEW TSTMS SHOULD INCREASE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BUT NOT EXPECTING ENOUGH HEATING FOR A SEVERE THREAT UNTIL THE CONVECTION GETS EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AS OF 1045 AM EDT MONDAY...LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THE SFC COLD FRONT IS SHOWING UP AS A RADAR FINE LINE...AND HAS NOW MOVED INTO THE WRN UPSTATE...AND ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE NC MTNS. AS OF 905 AM EDT MONDAY...LOWERED POPS AND CUT BACK THUNDER CHANCES OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. SPC HAS CUT THE SLIGHT RISK AREA FROM OUR EASTERN ZONES AND THE LOW OVERCAST THAT IS NOW DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT SHOULD INHIBIT WHAT WAS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE LIMITED HEATING. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...I STILL THINK WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND FEW TSTMS. THE HRRR AND OUR LOCAL WRF-ARW INDICATE THIS. SO I DID KEEP HIGHER POPS OVER THE EASTERN ZONES A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. I/M GOING TO START THE WIND ADVISORY OVER THE MOUNTAINS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE NAM AVL BUFKIT SOUNDING SHOWS A NEARLY 10 DEG C TEMP DROP FROM 14 TO 15 UTC. THAT KIND OF COLD ADVECTION SHOULD BRING SOME GOOD GUSTS TO THE MTNS. AS OF 7 AM...SHRA WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THIS MORNING. EXPECT PRECIP TO TAPER OFF FROM SW TO NE THRU THE DAY. SYNOPTIC AND MESOSCALE GUIDANCE SUGGEST A WAVE DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE CLT AREA AROUND 18Z WITH FROPA. HAVE KEPT POP HIGH ACROSS THIS AREA THE LONGEST TO COVER THIS SCENARIO. IF THIS WAVE DOES DEVELOP...SVR STORM CHC WILL DEVELOP AS THE SHEAR AND HELICITY INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WILL BE LITTLE IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY...BUT WHAT THERE IS WILL BE OVER THAT AREA. UPDATED TO COVER THESE CONCERNS AND CURRENT CONDITIONS. AS OF 320 AM...WIDESPREAD SHRA CURRENTLY ACROSS THE AREA WITH SCT TSRA ACROSS THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WIDESPREAD SHRA SHOULD CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THRU MID MORNING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE FIRST WAVE OF TSRA WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW MUCH...IF ANY...ADDITIONAL TSRA DEVELOP AS THE FRONT MOVES THRU. FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE TO NO INSTABILITY AFTER DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE STRONG FORCING AND UPPER DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT. ALSO...GUIDANCE SHOWS A WAVE FORMING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE TSRA ARE CURRENTLY. ALTHOUGH NO LIGHTNING IS CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE...A SWIRL IS SEEN MOVING THIS WAY...AND WOULD REACH THE I-77 CORRIDOR BY OR SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK. THEREFORE... WILL KEEP CAT POPS ACROSS THE AREA THRU 12Z...THEN TAPER OFF POP FROM SW TO NE THRU THE MORNING...WITH LINGERING CAT POP OVER THE I-77 CORRIDOR THRU 18Z. WILL KEEP ISOLATED TO SCT TSRA ACROSS THE ARE WITH BEST CHC ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WITH THE HIGH SHEAR AND LOW CAPE ENVIRONMENT REMAINING IN PLACE...WILL HAVE TO WATCH ANY LINEAR STORM FEATURES THAT DEVELOP FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THAT SAID...BEST CHC OF ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE EAST AND SOUTH OF OUR CWFA. THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...SO WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON STREAM LEVELS. ISOLATED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...AND COULD BE LIMITED TO MAINLY MORE URBANIZED LOCATIONS. WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME QUITE GUSTY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS SHUD REACH ADVISORY CRITERION ACROSS THE MTNS OF THE CAROLINAS AND NE GA. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR THESE LOCATIONS FROM 2 PM THRU MIDNIGHT. PRECIP TAPERS OFF QUICKLY THIS EVENING...BUT LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE NW FLOW AND CAA COULD LEAD TO RAIN SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW SHOWERS BEFORE ENDING BY MIDNIGHT. ANY SNOW WOULD BE LIGHT WITH NO ACCUMS. ELSEHWERE...DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES EXPECTED. WITH THE VERY COLD AIR MASS MOVING IN...AN ADVECTIVE FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE CWFA. WILL UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR ALL BUT THE NRN MTNS WHICH HAVE NOT REACHED THE CLIMATOLOGICAL GROWING SEASON YET. LOWS WILL BE 15 TO NEARLY 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...AND WILL THREATEN RECORDS AT AVL AND CLT. THE RECORD AT GSP IS QUITE COLD AND SHOULD BE SAFE. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 210 PM TUESDAY...A DRY AND COOL ARIMASS WILL DOMINATE THE WEATHER THROUGH THURSDAY. AT THE SURFACE...A CP HIGH CENTERED OVER NEW ENGLAND WILL SLOWLY MOVE NORTHEAST...WITH A DRY WEDGE REMAINING ALONG THE EAST SLOPES OF THE APPALACHIANS. 12Z MODELS CONTINUE TO SHOW AN INCREASE IN MOISTURE ON FRI AS A SHORT WAVE TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND WINDS VEER TO A MORE EASTERLY/UPSLOPE COMPONENT. ALSO...CYCLOGENESIS IS STILL EXPECTED ALONG THE OLD FRONTAL ZONE OVER THE CENTRAL GULF AS THE UPPER WAVE APPROACHES. HOWEVER...WILL DISCOUNT THE CMH SOLUTION OF A MORE NORTHERN DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOW AND SIGNIFICANT QPF EXTENDING NORTH INTO THE AREA AND ACCEPT THE IDEA OF THE GFS/ECM THAT THE ASSOCIATED QPF WILL STAY WELL SOUTH OF THE AREA. THEREFORE EXPECT QPFTO BE MINIMAL OR NON-EXISTANT. WILL HAVE SOME VERY LOW END POPS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WHERE UPSLOPE FLOW COULD SQUEEZE OUT SOME SPRINKLES. THIS IDEA IS SUPPORTED BY THE NAM/SREF. THE HIGHEST IMPACT WEATHER THROUGH THE SHORT TERM WILL BE THE COLD TEMPS AGAIN WED NIGHT. WITH VERY FAVORABLE RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS ALONG WITH THE DRY AIRMASS...FROST/FREEZE CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED EARLY THU. FREEZING TEMPS ARE A GOOD BET ACROSS ALL OF THE MOUNTAINS/FOOTHILLS AND PORTIONS OF THE PIEDMONT. WILL BE POSTING A FREEZE WATCH FOR MOST OF THE AREA FOR WED NIGHT. ALSO...SOME SCT FROST CAN`T BE RULED OUT EARLY FRI OVER NORTHERN AREAS. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 340 AM TUESDAY...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT A H5 TROF AXIS WILL SLOWLY RIPPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LATE THIS WEEK. THE PASSAGE OF THE TROUGH MAY RESULT IN A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED WEATHER FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. HOWEVER...BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT A LOW MAY DEVELOP OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH A SECOND AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY. COVERAGE OF QPF ACROSS THE CWFA REMAINS VERY LIMITED BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. I WILL MAINTAIN SCHC TO CHC POPS FOR SHRA BETWEEN FRI TO SAT. SUN...MID LEVEL SHALLOW RIDGING WILL BUILD ACROSS THE REGION...WITH WEAK WAA. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RETURN TO AROUND NORMAL VALUES. ON MON...A SOUTHERN STREAM LOW MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. MOISTURE AND LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW MAY SUPPORT A FEW SHRA MON AFTERNOON. && .AVIATION /18Z TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... AT KCLT...A LINE OF SHOWERS AND TSTMS WILL CROSS THE AIRFIELD BETWEEN 18-20 UTC. EXPECT GUSTY AND ERRATIC WINDS AND VERY HEAVY RAIN AS THE LINE PASSES. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE LINE AS A COLD FRONT CROSSES THE AIRFIELD. MVFR CIGS ARE EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR A COUPLE HOURS AFTER THE FRONTAL PASSAGE. WINDS WILL GUST UP TO 28-30 KTS INTO THE EVENING HOURS. LATER TONIGHT THE WINDS WILL VEER TO THE NORTHEAST AS HIGH PRESSURE MOVES INTO THE MID-ATLANTIC STATES. ELSEWHERE...A COLD FRONT WITH ASSOCIATED SHRA/TSTMS WAS CROSSING THE AIRFIELDS AT KGSP/KGMU AT ISSUANCE TIME. WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE NORTHWEST BEHIND THE LINE OF STORMS...THOUGH SCT SHOWERS AND MVFR CIGS AREA EXPECTED TO PERSIST FOR A COUPLE HOURS BEHIND THE FRONT. WINDS MAY GUST AS HIGH AS 30 KTS INTO THE EVENING HOURS. WINDS AT KAVL WILL BE STRONGER...GUSTING ALMOST TO 40KTS FROM THE NW INTO THE EVENING HOURS. OUTLOOK...HIGH PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE VFR WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. CEILING AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WILL RETURN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE COAST. CONFIDENCE TABLE... 17-23Z 23-05Z 05-11Z 11-17Z KCLT HIGH 87% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGSP HIGH 93% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAVL HIGH 95% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KHKY HIGH 96% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGMU HIGH 93% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAND HIGH 93% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% THE PERCENTAGE REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED TAF ISSUANCE FLIGHT RULE CATEGORY. COMPLETE HOURLY EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLES AND ENSEMBLE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: (MUST BE LOWER CASE) WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION_TABLES && .CLIMATE... RECORD LOWS FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 16... AVL...26 IN 1943 CLT...29 IN 2008 GSP...24 IN 1907 && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ035>037-048-051>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082- 501>510. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-048>053- 058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509. SC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>003. && $$ SYNOPSIS...NED NEAR TERM...MCAVOY SHORT TERM...NED LONG TERM...NED AVIATION...MCAVOY CLIMATE...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1153 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE THE PIEDMONT AROUND MID DAY. UNSEASONABLY COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE IN CONTROL OF OUR WEATHER FROM TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES FROM THE WEST TO START THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1150 AM EDT MONDAY...BASED ON THE RAPID COOL-OFF OVER THE NC MTNS...AS WELL AS UPSTREAM SNOW REPORTS...I NOW HAVE SOME MINOR SNOW ACCUMULATIONS ABOVE 5KFT OVER THE SMOKY MOUNTAINS AND THE NRN NC MTNS. ALSO ADJUSTED TEMPS AND DEWPOINTS ACROSS THE REGION TO ACCOUNT FOR THE RAPID TEMPERATURE DROP BEHIND THE FRONT. NO CHANGE ON THE THINKING IN THE WARM SECTOR. SHOWERS AND A FEW TSTMS SHOULD INCREASE ALONG AND AHEAD OF THE FRONT...BUT NOT EXPECTING ENOUGH HEATING FOR A SEVERE THREAT UNTIL THE CONVECTION GETS EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA. AS OF 1045 AM EDT MONDAY...LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THE SFC COLD FRONT IS SHOWING UP AS A RADAR FINE LINE...AND HAS NOW MOVED INTO THE WRN UPSTATE...AND ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE NC MTNS. AS OF 905 AM EDT MONDAY...LOWERED POPS AND CUT BACK THUNDER CHANCES OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. SPC HAS CUT THE SLIGHT RISK AREA FROM OUR EASTERN ZONES AND THE LOW OVERCAST THAT IS NOW DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT SHOULD INHIBIT WHAT WAS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE LIMITED HEATING. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...I STILL THINK WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND FEW TSTMS. THE HRRR AND OUR LOCAL WRF-ARW INDICATE THIS. SO I DID KEEP HIGHER POPS OVER THE EASTERN ZONES A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. I/M GOING TO START THE WIND ADVISORY OVER THE MOUNTAINS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE NAM AVL BUFKIT SOUNDING SHOWS A NEARLY 10 DEG C TEMP DROP FROM 14 TO 15 UTC. THAT KIND OF COLD ADVECTION SHOULD BRING SOME GOOD GUSTS TO THE MTNS. AS OF 7 AM...SHRA WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THIS MORNING. EXPECT PRECIP TO TAPER OFF FROM SW TO NE THRU THE DAY. SYNOPTIC AND MESOSCALE GUIDANCE SUGGEST A WAVE DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE CLT AREA AROUND 18Z WITH FROPA. HAVE KEPT POP HIGH ACROSS THIS AREA THE LONGEST TO COVER THIS SCENARIO. IF THIS WAVE DOES DEVELOP...SVR STORM CHC WILL DEVELOP AS THE SHEAR AND HELICITY INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WILL BE LITTLE IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY...BUT WHAT THERE IS WILL BE OVER THAT AREA. UPDATED TO COVER THESE CONCERNS AND CURRENT CONDITIONS. AS OF 320 AM...WIDESPREAD SHRA CURRENTLY ACROSS THE AREA WITH SCT TSRA ACROSS THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WIDESPREAD SHRA SHOULD CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THRU MID MORNING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE FIRST WAVE OF TSRA WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW MUCH...IF ANY...ADDITIONAL TSRA DEVELOP AS THE FRONT MOVES THRU. FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE TO NO INSTABILITY AFTER DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE STRONG FORCING AND UPPER DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT. ALSO...GUIDANCE SHOWS A WAVE FORMING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE TSRA ARE CURRENTLY. ALTHOUGH NO LIGHTNING IS CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE...A SWIRL IS SEEN MOVING THIS WAY...AND WOULD REACH THE I-77 CORRIDOR BY OR SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK. THEREFORE... WILL KEEP CAT POPS ACROSS THE AREA THRU 12Z...THEN TAPER OFF POP FROM SW TO NE THRU THE MORNING...WITH LINGERING CAT POP OVER THE I-77 CORRIDOR THRU 18Z. WILL KEEP ISOLATED TO SCT TSRA ACROSS THE ARE WITH BEST CHC ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WITH THE HIGH SHEAR AND LOW CAPE ENVIRONMENT REMAINING IN PLACE...WILL HAVE TO WATCH ANY LINEAR STORM FEATURES THAT DEVELOP FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THAT SAID...BEST CHC OF ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE EAST AND SOUTH OF OUR CWFA. THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...SO WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON STREAM LEVELS. ISOLATED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...AND COULD BE LIMITED TO MAINLY MORE URBANIZED LOCATIONS. WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME QUITE GUSTY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS SHUD REACH ADVISORY CRITERION ACROSS THE MTNS OF THE CAROLINAS AND NE GA. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR THESE LOCATIONS FROM 2 PM THRU MIDNIGHT. PRECIP TAPERS OFF QUICKLY THIS EVENING...BUT LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE NW FLOW AND CAA COULD LEAD TO RAIN SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW SHOWERS BEFORE ENDING BY MIDNIGHT. ANY SNOW WOULD BE LIGHT WITH NO ACCUMS. ELSEHWERE...DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES EXPECTED. WITH THE VERY COLD AIR MASS MOVING IN...AN ADVECTIVE FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE CWFA. WILL UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR ALL BUT THE NRN MTNS WHICH HAVE NOT REACHED THE CLIMATOLOGICAL GROWING SEASON YET. LOWS WILL BE 15 TO NEARLY 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...AND WILL THREATEN RECORDS AT AVL AND CLT. THE RECORD AT GSP IS QUITE COLD AND SHOULD BE SAFE. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 310 AM TUESDAY...ON WEDNESDAY...THE CENTER OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BE CENTERED OVER THE MID APPALACHIANS AROUND SUNRISE. THE HIGH CENTER WILL REACH NEW ENGLAND BY 0Z THURSDAY...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO RIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. STRONG INSOLATION SHOULD RESULT IN GRADUAL WARMING...BUT LLVL THICKNESSES AND TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN UNSEASONABLE COOL. A BLEND OF PREFERRED MOS SUPPORTS HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE MTN VALLEYS TO NEAR 60 ACROSS THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT AFTERNOON MIXING MAY REACH AROUND 3 KFT...WITH PW VALUES AROUND 0.20 INCHES. AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS MAY MIX TO THE TEENS...RESULTING IN RH VALUES AROUND 20 PERCENT. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...A DRY AND COOL AIR MASS WILL REMAIN RIDGED ACROSS THE CWFA. LIGHT NE WINDS AND CLEAR SKY CONDITIONS SHOULD RESULT IN FAVORABLE RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS. LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM U20S TO NEAR 30 ACROSS THE NC MTNS...FOOTHILLS...AND PIEDMONT. LOW TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE UPSTATE AND NE GA MAY RANGE IN THE LOW TO MID 30S. ON THURSDAY...SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE THAT H85 TEMPERATURES WILL WARM 2-4 DEGREES FROM WED. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY SHOULD WARM AROUND 3 DEGREES WARMER THAN VALUES OBSERVED ON WED. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 340 AM TUESDAY...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT A H5 TROF AXIS WILL SLOWLY RIPPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LATE THIS WEEK. THE PASSAGE OF THE TROUGH MAY RESULT IN A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED WEATHER FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. HOWEVER...BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT A LOW MAY DEVELOP OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH A SECOND AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY. COVERAGE OF QPF ACROSS THE CWFA REMAINS VERY LIMITED BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. I WILL MAINTAIN SCHC TO CHC POPS FOR SHRA BETWEEN FRI TO SAT. SUN...MID LEVEL SHALLOW RIDGING WILL BUILD ACROSS THE REGION...WITH WEAK WAA. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RETURN TO AROUND NORMAL VALUES. ON MON...A SOUTHERN STREAM LOW MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. MOISTURE AND LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW MAY SUPPORT A FEW SHRA MON AFTERNOON. && .AVIATION /16Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AT KCLT...LOW CLOUDS HAVE DISSIPATED AS HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA. EXPECT A RETURN TO MVFR LATER THIS MORNING AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA...ALONG WITH CONTINUED SHRA. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT IFR CIGS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS...THOUGH CONFIDENCE ISN/T HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THAT AT THIS TIME. THE CHC FOR TSRA LOOKS TO BE AROUND 18Z NEAR THE TIME OF FROPA. HAVE MADE THE WIND SHIFT TO NW AT THAT TIME AS WELL. GUSTY NW WINDS WITH CLEARING SKIES THRU THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS CONTINUE INTO THRU MUCH OF THE NITE WITH WINDS TURNING NLY AND GUSTS DIMINISHING TOWARD DAYBREAK. ELSEWHERE...SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO KCLT...EXCEPT EARLIER ONSET...FROPA AND IMPROVEMENT. TSRA CHC MUCH LESS AT THESE LOCATIONS...SO HAVE LEFT OUT FOR NOW. VERY GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED ALL LOCATIONS AS WELL. KAND WILL SEE MORE WLY WIND THAN NW. KAVL MAY SEE SOME LINGERING LOW VFR CLOUDS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OUTLOOK...HIGH PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE VFR WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. CEILING AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WILL RETURN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE COAST. CONFIDENCE TABLE... 16-22Z 22-04Z 04-10Z 10-16Z KCLT HIGH 95% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGSP HIGH 90% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAVL HIGH 83% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KHKY HIGH 91% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGMU HIGH 89% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAND HIGH 92% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% THE PERCENTAGE REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED TAF ISSUANCE FLIGHT RULE CATEGORY. COMPLETE HOURLY EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLES AND ENSEMBLE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: (MUST BE LOWER CASE) WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION_TABLES && .CLIMATE... RECORD LOWS FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 16... AVL...26 IN 1943 CLT...29 IN 2008 GSP...24 IN 1907 && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ035>037-048-051>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082- 501>510. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-048>053- 058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509. SC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>003. && $$ SYNOPSIS...NED NEAR TERM...MCAVOY SHORT TERM...NED LONG TERM...NED AVIATION...MCAVOY/RWH CLIMATE...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
1044 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE THE PIEDMONT AROUND MID DAY. UNSEASONABLY COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE IN CONTROL OF OUR WEATHER FROM TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES FROM THE WEST TO START THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 1045 AM EDT MONDAY...LITTLE CHANGE FROM THE PREVIOUS UPDATE. THE SFC COLD FRONT IS SHOWING UP AS A RADAR FINE LINE...AND HAS NOW MOVED INTO THE WRN UPSTATE...AND ABOUT HALF WAY ACROSS THE NC MTNS. AS OF 905 AM EDT MONDAY...LOWERED POPS AND CUT BACK THUNDER CHANCES OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. SPC HAS CUT THE SLIGHT RISK AREA FROM OUR EASTERN ZONES AND THE LOW OVERCAST THAT IS NOW DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT SHOULD INHIBIT WHAT WAS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE LIMITED HEATING. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...I STILL THINK WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND FEW TSTMS. THE HRRR AND OUR LOCAL WRF-ARW INDICATE THIS. SO I DID KEEP HIGHER POPS OVER THE EASTERN ZONES A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. I/M GOING TO START THE WIND ADVISORY OVER THE MOUNTAINS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE NAM AVL BUFKIT SOUNDING SHOWS A NEARLY 10 DEG C TEMP DROP FROM 14 TO 15 UTC. THAT KIND OF COLD ADVECTION SHOULD BRING SOME GOOD GUSTS TO THE MTNS. AS OF 7 AM...SHRA WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THIS MORNING. EXPECT PRECIP TO TAPER OFF FROM SW TO NE THRU THE DAY. SYNOPTIC AND MESOSCALE GUIDANCE SUGGEST A WAVE DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE CLT AREA AROUND 18Z WITH FROPA. HAVE KEPT POP HIGH ACROSS THIS AREA THE LONGEST TO COVER THIS SCENARIO. IF THIS WAVE DOES DEVELOP...SVR STORM CHC WILL DEVELOP AS THE SHEAR AND HELICITY INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WILL BE LITTLE IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY...BUT WHAT THERE IS WILL BE OVER THAT AREA. UPDATED TO COVER THESE CONCERNS AND CURRENT CONDITIONS. AS OF 320 AM...WIDESPREAD SHRA CURRENTLY ACROSS THE AREA WITH SCT TSRA ACROSS THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WIDESPREAD SHRA SHOULD CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THRU MID MORNING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE FIRST WAVE OF TSRA WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW MUCH...IF ANY...ADDITIONAL TSRA DEVELOP AS THE FRONT MOVES THRU. FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE TO NO INSTABILITY AFTER DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE STRONG FORCING AND UPPER DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT. ALSO...GUIDANCE SHOWS A WAVE FORMING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE TSRA ARE CURRENTLY. ALTHOUGH NO LIGHTNING IS CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE...A SWIRL IS SEEN MOVING THIS WAY...AND WOULD REACH THE I-77 CORRIDOR BY OR SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK. THEREFORE... WILL KEEP CAT POPS ACROSS THE AREA THRU 12Z...THEN TAPER OFF POP FROM SW TO NE THRU THE MORNING...WITH LINGERING CAT POP OVER THE I-77 CORRIDOR THRU 18Z. WILL KEEP ISOLATED TO SCT TSRA ACROSS THE ARE WITH BEST CHC ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WITH THE HIGH SHEAR AND LOW CAPE ENVIRONMENT REMAINING IN PLACE...WILL HAVE TO WATCH ANY LINEAR STORM FEATURES THAT DEVELOP FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THAT SAID...BEST CHC OF ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE EAST AND SOUTH OF OUR CWFA. THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...SO WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON STREAM LEVELS. ISOLATED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...AND COULD BE LIMITED TO MAINLY MORE URBANIZED LOCATIONS. WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME QUITE GUSTY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS SHUD REACH ADVISORY CRITERION ACROSS THE MTNS OF THE CAROLINAS AND NE GA. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR THESE LOCATIONS FROM 2 PM THRU MIDNIGHT. PRECIP TAPERS OFF QUICKLY THIS EVENING...BUT LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE NW FLOW AND CAA COULD LEAD TO RAIN SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW SHOWERS BEFORE ENDING BY MIDNIGHT. ANY SNOW WOULD BE LIGHT WITH NO ACCUMS. ELSEHWERE...DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES EXPECTED. WITH THE VERY COLD AIR MASS MOVING IN...AN ADVECTIVE FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE CWFA. WILL UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR ALL BUT THE NRN MTNS WHICH HAVE NOT REACHED THE CLIMATOLOGICAL GROWING SEASON YET. LOWS WILL BE 15 TO NEARLY 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...AND WILL THREATEN RECORDS AT AVL AND CLT. THE RECORD AT GSP IS QUITE COLD AND SHOULD BE SAFE. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 310 AM TUESDAY...ON WEDNESDAY...THE CENTER OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BE CENTERED OVER THE MID APPALACHIANS AROUND SUNRISE. THE HIGH CENTER WILL REACH NEW ENGLAND BY 0Z THURSDAY...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO RIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. STRONG INSOLATION SHOULD RESULT IN GRADUAL WARMING...BUT LLVL THICKNESSES AND TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN UNSEASONABLE COOL. A BLEND OF PREFERRED MOS SUPPORTS HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE MTN VALLEYS TO NEAR 60 ACROSS THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT AFTERNOON MIXING MAY REACH AROUND 3 KFT...WITH PW VALUES AROUND 0.20 INCHES. AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS MAY MIX TO THE TEENS...RESULTING IN RH VALUES AROUND 20 PERCENT. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...A DRY AND COOL AIR MASS WILL REMAIN RIDGED ACROSS THE CWFA. LIGHT NE WINDS AND CLEAR SKY CONDITIONS SHOULD RESULT IN FAVORABLE RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS. LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM U20S TO NEAR 30 ACROSS THE NC MTNS...FOOTHILLS...AND PIEDMONT. LOW TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE UPSTATE AND NE GA MAY RANGE IN THE LOW TO MID 30S. ON THURSDAY...SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE THAT H85 TEMPERATURES WILL WARM 2-4 DEGREES FROM WED. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY SHOULD WARM AROUND 3 DEGREES WARMER THAN VALUES OBSERVED ON WED. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 340 AM TUESDAY...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT A H5 TROF AXIS WILL SLOWLY RIPPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LATE THIS WEEK. THE PASSAGE OF THE TROUGH MAY RESULT IN A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED WEATHER FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. HOWEVER...BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT A LOW MAY DEVELOP OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH A SECOND AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY. COVERAGE OF QPF ACROSS THE CWFA REMAINS VERY LIMITED BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. I WILL MAINTAIN SCHC TO CHC POPS FOR SHRA BETWEEN FRI TO SAT. SUN...MID LEVEL SHALLOW RIDGING WILL BUILD ACROSS THE REGION...WITH WEAK WAA. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RETURN TO AROUND NORMAL VALUES. ON MON...A SOUTHERN STREAM LOW MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. MOISTURE AND LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW MAY SUPPORT A FEW SHRA MON AFTERNOON. && .AVIATION /15Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AT KCLT...LOW CLOUDS HAVE DISSIPATED AS HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA. EXPECT A RETURN TO MVFR LATER THIS MORNING AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA...ALONG WITH CONTINUED SHRA. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT IFR CIGS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS...THOUGH CONFIDENCE ISN/T HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THAT AT THIS TIME. THE CHC FOR TSRA LOOKS TO BE AROUND 18Z NEAR THE TIME OF FROPA. HAVE MADE THE WIND SHIFT TO NW AT THAT TIME AS WELL. GUSTY NW WINDS WITH CLEARING SKIES THRU THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS CONTINUE INTO THRU MUCH OF THE NITE WITH WINDS TURNING NLY AND GUSTS DIMINISHING TOWARD DAYBREAK. ELSEWHERE...SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO KCLT...EXCEPT EARLIER ONSET...FROPA AND IMPROVEMENT. TSRA CHC MUCH LESS AT THESE LOCATIONS...SO HAVE LEFT OUT FOR NOW. VERY GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED ALL LOCATIONS AS WELL. KAND WILL SEE MORE WLY WIND THAN NW. KAVL MAY SEE SOME LINGERING LOW VFR CLOUDS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OUTLOOK...HIGH PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE VFR WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. CEILING AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WILL RETURN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE COAST. CONFIDENCE TABLE... 14-20Z 20-02Z 02-08Z 08-14Z KCLT HIGH 93% HIGH 94% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGSP HIGH 90% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAVL HIGH 84% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KHKY HIGH 88% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGMU HIGH 89% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAND HIGH 92% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% THE PERCENTAGE REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED TAF ISSUANCE FLIGHT RULE CATEGORY. COMPLETE HOURLY EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLES AND ENSEMBLE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: (MUST BE LOWER CASE) WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION_TABLES && .CLIMATE... RECORD LOWS FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 16... AVL...26 IN 1943 CLT...29 IN 2008 GSP...24 IN 1907 && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ035>037-048-051>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082- 501>510. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-048>053- 058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509. SC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>003. && $$ SYNOPSIS...NED NEAR TERM...MCAVOY SHORT TERM...NED LONG TERM...NED AVIATION...MCAVOY/RWH CLIMATE...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GREENVILLE-SPARTANBURG SC
912 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE THE PIEDMONT AROUND MID DAY. UNSEASONABLY COLD HIGH PRESSURE WILL BE IN CONTROL OF OUR WEATHER FROM TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. A DEEP UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES FROM THE WEST TO START THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TONIGHT/... AS OF 905 AM EDT MONDAY...LOWERED POPS AND CUT BACK THUNDER CHANCES OVER THE REGION FOR THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS. SPC HAS CUT THE SLIGHT RISK AREA FROM OUR EASTERN ZONES AND THE LOW OVERCAST THAT IS NOW DEVELOPING AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT SHOULD INHIBIT WHAT WAS ALREADY EXPECTED TO BE LIMITED HEATING. AS THE FRONT MOVES ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA...I STILL THINK WE WILL SEE AN INCREASE IN SHOWERS AND FEW TSTMS. THE HRRR AND OUR LOCAL WRF-ARW INDICATE THIS. SO I DID KEEP HIGHER POPS OVER THE EASTERN ZONES A LITTLE LATER IN THE DAY. I/M GOING TO START THE WIND ADVISORY OVER THE MOUNTAINS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY. THE NAM AVL BUFKIT SOUNDING SHOWS A NEARLY 10 DEG C TEMP DROP FROM 14 TO 15 UTC. THAT KIND OF COLD ADVECTION SHOULD BRING SOME GOOD GUSTS TO THE MTNS. AS OF 7 AM...SHRA WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA AS THE COLD FRONT APPROACHES THIS MORNING. EXPECT PRECIP TO TAPER OFF FROM SW TO NE THRU THE DAY. SYNOPTIC AND MESOSCALE GUIDANCE SUGGEST A WAVE DEVELOPING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE CLT AREA AROUND 18Z WITH FROPA. HAVE KEPT POP HIGH ACROSS THIS AREA THE LONGEST TO COVER THIS SCENARIO. IF THIS WAVE DOES DEVELOP...SVR STORM CHC WILL DEVELOP AS THE SHEAR AND HELICITY INCREASE SIGNIFICANTLY. THERE WILL BE LITTLE IN THE WAY OF INSTABILITY...BUT WHAT THERE IS WILL BE OVER THAT AREA. UPDATED TO COVER THESE CONCERNS AND CURRENT CONDITIONS. AS OF 320 AM...WIDESPREAD SHRA CURRENTLY ACROSS THE AREA WITH SCT TSRA ACROSS THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WIDESPREAD SHRA SHOULD CONTINUE ACROSS THE AREA THRU MID MORNING AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. THE FIRST WAVE OF TSRA WILL MOVE EAST OF THE AREA BY DAYBREAK. THE BIG QUESTION IS HOW MUCH...IF ANY...ADDITIONAL TSRA DEVELOP AS THE FRONT MOVES THRU. FCST SOUNDINGS SHOW LITTLE TO NO INSTABILITY AFTER DAYBREAK. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE STRONG FORCING AND UPPER DIVERGENCE ASSOCIATED WITH THE FRONT. ALSO...GUIDANCE SHOWS A WAVE FORMING ALONG THE FRONT AND MOVING ACROSS THE SAME LOCATION WHERE TSRA ARE CURRENTLY. ALTHOUGH NO LIGHTNING IS CURRENTLY ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FEATURE...A SWIRL IS SEEN MOVING THIS WAY...AND WOULD REACH THE I-77 CORRIDOR BY OR SHORTLY AFTER DAYBREAK. THEREFORE... WILL KEEP CAT POPS ACROSS THE AREA THRU 12Z...THEN TAPER OFF POP FROM SW TO NE THRU THE MORNING...WITH LINGERING CAT POP OVER THE I-77 CORRIDOR THRU 18Z. WILL KEEP ISOLATED TO SCT TSRA ACROSS THE ARE WITH BEST CHC ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE I-85 CORRIDOR AND ALONG AND EAST OF THE I-77 CORRIDOR. WITH THE HIGH SHEAR AND LOW CAPE ENVIRONMENT REMAINING IN PLACE...WILL HAVE TO WATCH ANY LINEAR STORM FEATURES THAT DEVELOP FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGING WIND GUSTS. THAT SAID...BEST CHC OF ANY SEVERE STORMS WILL BE EAST AND SOUTH OF OUR CWFA. THERE WILL BE QUITE A BIT OF ADDITIONAL RAINFALL ACROSS THE AREA THIS MORNING...SO WILL HAVE TO KEEP AN EYE ON STREAM LEVELS. ISOLATED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE...AND COULD BE LIMITED TO MAINLY MORE URBANIZED LOCATIONS. WINDS WILL INCREASE AND BECOME QUITE GUSTY BEHIND THE COLD FRONT THIS AFTERNOON. WIND GUSTS SHUD REACH ADVISORY CRITERION ACROSS THE MTNS OF THE CAROLINAS AND NE GA. WILL ISSUE A WIND ADVISORY FOR THESE LOCATIONS FROM 2 PM THRU MIDNIGHT. PRECIP TAPERS OFF QUICKLY THIS EVENING...BUT LINGERING MOISTURE IN THE NW FLOW AND CAA COULD LEAD TO RAIN SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW SHOWERS BEFORE ENDING BY MIDNIGHT. ANY SNOW WOULD BE LIGHT WITH NO ACCUMS. ELSEHWERE...DIMINISHING WINDS AND CLEARING SKIES EXPECTED. WITH THE VERY COLD AIR MASS MOVING IN...AN ADVECTIVE FREEZE IS EXPECTED ACROSS MOST OF THE CWFA. WILL UPGRADE THE WATCH TO A WARNING FOR ALL BUT THE NRN MTNS WHICH HAVE NOT REACHED THE CLIMATOLOGICAL GROWING SEASON YET. LOWS WILL BE 15 TO NEARLY 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...AND WILL THREATEN RECORDS AT AVL AND CLT. THE RECORD AT GSP IS QUITE COLD AND SHOULD BE SAFE. && .SHORT TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 310 AM TUESDAY...ON WEDNESDAY...THE CENTER OF SFC HIGH PRESSURE IS EXPECTED TO BE CENTERED OVER THE MID APPALACHIANS AROUND SUNRISE. THE HIGH CENTER WILL REACH NEW ENGLAND BY 0Z THURSDAY...BUT WILL CONTINUE TO RIDGE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST. STRONG INSOLATION SHOULD RESULT IN GRADUAL WARMING...BUT LLVL THICKNESSES AND TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN UNSEASONABLE COOL. A BLEND OF PREFERRED MOS SUPPORTS HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE MID 50S ACROSS THE MTN VALLEYS TO NEAR 60 ACROSS THE UPPER SAVANNAH RIVER VALLEY. FORECAST SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT AFTERNOON MIXING MAY REACH AROUND 3 KFT...WITH PW VALUES AROUND 0.20 INCHES. AFTERNOON DEWPOINTS MAY MIX TO THE TEENS...RESULTING IN RH VALUES AROUND 20 PERCENT. WEDNESDAY NIGHT...A DRY AND COOL AIR MASS WILL REMAIN RIDGED ACROSS THE CWFA. LIGHT NE WINDS AND CLEAR SKY CONDITIONS SHOULD RESULT IN FAVORABLE RADIATIONAL COOLING CONDITIONS. LOW TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM U20S TO NEAR 30 ACROSS THE NC MTNS...FOOTHILLS...AND PIEDMONT. LOW TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE UPSTATE AND NE GA MAY RANGE IN THE LOW TO MID 30S. ON THURSDAY...SHORT RANGE MODELS INDICATE THAT H85 TEMPERATURES WILL WARM 2-4 DEGREES FROM WED. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON THURSDAY SHOULD WARM AROUND 3 DEGREES WARMER THAN VALUES OBSERVED ON WED. && .LONG TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 340 AM TUESDAY...MEDIUM RANGE GUIDANCE INDICATES THAT A H5 TROF AXIS WILL SLOWLY RIPPLE ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST LATE THIS WEEK. THE PASSAGE OF THE TROUGH MAY RESULT IN A PERIOD OF UNSETTLED WEATHER FOR FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. HOWEVER...BOTH THE GFS AND ECMWF INDICATE THAT A LOW MAY DEVELOP OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST LATE FRIDAY AND SATURDAY...WITH A SECOND AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ACROSS THE UPPER OHIO RIVER VALLEY. COVERAGE OF QPF ACROSS THE CWFA REMAINS VERY LIMITED BETWEEN THE TWO SYSTEMS. I WILL MAINTAIN SCHC TO CHC POPS FOR SHRA BETWEEN FRI TO SAT. SUN...MID LEVEL SHALLOW RIDGING WILL BUILD ACROSS THE REGION...WITH WEAK WAA. TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST TO RETURN TO AROUND NORMAL VALUES. ON MON...A SOUTHERN STREAM LOW MAY DEVELOP AHEAD OF MID LEVEL SHORTWAVE ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. MOISTURE AND LIFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW MAY SUPPORT A FEW SHRA MON AFTERNOON. && .AVIATION /13Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AT KCLT...LOW CLOUDS HAVE DISSIPATED AS HEAVY RAIN HAS MOVED EAST OF THE AREA. EXPECT A RETURN TO MVFR LATER THIS MORNING AHEAD OF A COLD FRONT MOVING INTO THE AREA...ALONG WITH CONTINUED SHRA. THERE IS A CHANCE THAT IFR CIGS WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS...THOUGH CONFIDENCE ISN/T HIGH ENOUGH TO INCLUDE THAT AT THIS TIME. THE CHC FOR TSRA LOOKS TO BE AROUND 18Z NEAR THE TIME OF FROPA. HAVE MADE THE WIND SHIFT TO NW AT THAT TIME AS WELL. GUSTY NW WINDS WITH CLEARING SKIES THRU THE AFTERNOON. GUSTS CONTINUE INTO THRU MUCH OF THE NITE WITH WINDS TURNING NLY AND GUSTS DIMINISHING TOWARD DAYBREAK. ELSEWHERE...SIMILAR CONDITIONS TO KCLT...EXCEPT EARLIER ONSET...FROPA AND IMPROVEMENT. TSRA CHC MUCH LESS AT THESE LOCATIONS...SO HAVE LEFT OUT FOR NOW. VERY GUSTY WINDS EXPECTED ALL LOCATIONS AS WELL. KAND WILL SEE MORE WLY WIND THAN NW. KAVL MAY SEE SOME LINGERING LOW VFR CLOUDS DURING THE AFTERNOON AND EVENING. OUTLOOK...HIGH PRESSURE WILL PRODUCE VFR WEATHER WEDNESDAY AND THURSDAY. CEILING AND VISIBILITY RESTRICTIONS WILL RETURN FRIDAY AND SATURDAY AS A COLD FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST AND A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE COAST. CONFIDENCE TABLE... 13-19Z 19-01Z 01-07Z 07-13Z KCLT HIGH 87% HIGH 94% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGSP HIGH 92% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAVL HIGH 85% HIGH 98% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KHKY HIGH 91% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KGMU HIGH 92% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% KAND HIGH 90% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% HIGH 100% THE PERCENTAGE REFLECTS THE NUMBER OF GUIDANCE MEMBERS AGREEING WITH THE SCHEDULED TAF ISSUANCE FLIGHT RULE CATEGORY. COMPLETE HOURLY EXPERIMENTAL AVIATION FORECAST CONSISTENCY TABLES AND ENSEMBLE FORECASTS ARE AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING LINK: (MUST BE LOWER CASE) WWW.WEATHER.GOV/GSP/AVIATION_TABLES && .CLIMATE... RECORD LOWS FOR WEDNESDAY APRIL 16... AVL...26 IN 1943 CLT...29 IN 2008 GSP...24 IN 1907 && .GSP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... GA...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR GAZ010-017-018-026-028-029. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR GAZ010-017. NC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR NCZ035>037-048-051>053-056>059-062>065-068>072-082- 501>510. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR NCZ033-048>053- 058-059-062>065-501-503-505-507-509. SC...FREEZE WARNING FROM 11 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EDT WEDNESDAY FOR SCZ001>014-019. WIND ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR SCZ001>003. && $$ SYNOPSIS...NED NEAR TERM...MCAVOY/RWH SHORT TERM...NED LONG TERM...NED AVIATION...MCAVOY/RWH CLIMATE...
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BLACKSBURG VA
203 AM EDT TUE APR 15 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A COLD FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE WEST LATE TONIGHT AND PASS ACROSS THE REGION DURING TUESDAY RESULTING IN WIDESPREAD SHOWERS. MUCH COLDER AIR WILL RUSH IN BEHIND THE FRONT TUESDAY AFTERNOON AS UNSEASONABLY COLD HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD IN ON STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. THE HIGH WILL BUILD OVER THE MID ATLANTIC REGION WEDNESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/... AS OF 830 PM EDT MONDAY... SHOWERS HAVE BEEN SLOW TO EVOLVE THIS EVENING WITH MOSTLY LIGHT RAINFALL SEEN ACROSS THE SRN BLUE RIDGE ATTM DESPITE INCREASING MOISTURE OFF EVENING SOUNDINGS. MODELS REMAIN OVERDONE WITH DEGREE OF LIFT UNDER PASSING SHORTWAVES WELL AHEAD OF THE MAIN UPPER TROF THIS EVENING AS THE FLOW REMAINS MORE SW AND FORCING WEAK. LATEST HRRR SEEMS TO HAVE A HANDLE ON LIGHTER SHRA FOR A WHILE LONGER BEFORE THE FLOW DEEPENS/BACKS AND BETTER ISENTROPIC LIFT KICKS IN WITH AN INCREASING SOUTHERLY JET ESPCLY AFTER MIDNIGHT. HAVE ALREADY UPDATED TO LOWER POPS THIS EVENING...THEN QUICKLY REBOUND TO CATEGORICAL MOST SECTIONS OVERNIGHT AS BANDS OF SHRA BEGIN TO LIFT NORTH AHEAD OF THE WAVE AS WEAK INSTABILITY SHIFTS NORTH ACROSS SOUTHERN/EASTERN SECTIONS LATE. GIVEN THIS ALONG WITH STRONGER WIND FIELDS INCLUDED A LOW TOPPED TSRA MENTION ESPCLY FAR WEST JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONT AROUND DAWN AND OUT EAST FOR LOW TOPPED BANDS LATE AS WELL. BUMPED UP LOWS A LITTLE OUT WEST AS EXPECT THE FRONT TO BE JUST SLOW ENOUGH TO KEEP MOST TEMP FALLS FROM OCCURRING UNTIL THE MORNING. OTRW A MILD NIGHT WITH LOWS 50S TO LOWER 60S. WINDS AND LOW TOPPED SHRA THE MAIN CONCERNS DURING TUESDAY WITH STRONG ENOUGH GUSTS TO SUPPORT AT LEAST AN ADVISORY BLUE RIDGE SECTIONS WITH POSSIBLE BANDED SHRA OUT EAST DESPITE LIMITED INSTABILITY. AFTER COORDINATION WITH OTHER OFFICES HAVE DECIDED TO GIVE THE MIDSHIFT ANOTHER LOOK RATHER THAN HOISTING A WIND ADVISORY TONIGHT AS MAY BE CLOSE TO WARNING CRITERIA OVER THE SW FOR A PERIOD TUESDAY AFTERNOON. OTRW MADE SOME ADJUSTS TO TIMING OF THE HEAVIER SHRA AND POSSIBLE ISOLATED TSRA TUESDAY. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION AS OF 320 PM EDT MONDAY... SHOWERS STARTING TO ENTER THE WRN CWA THIS AFTERNOON. 12Z MODELS AND LATEST LOCAL HIGH-RES FAVOR SLOWER TIMING TO THE EAST THRU DUSK...BUT BY MIDNIGHT MOST AREAS WILL SEE LIKELY TO CATEGORICAL POPS AS SERIES OF UPPER VORTS MOVING AHEAD OF THE FRONT SHIFT FROM THE GULF COAST STATES INTO VA. APPEARS THUNDER THREAT WILL STAY ISOLATED AT BEST GIVEN INSTABILITY IS WEAK. GOOD JET DYNAMICS WILL LEAD TO POCKETS OF HEAVY RAIN OVERNIGHT INTO TUESDAY...AS FRONT APPROACHES. MODELS IN AGREEMENT EASING THE FRONT INTO THE MOUNTAINS BY 12Z-15Z TUESDAY AND SHIFTING TO THE EAST OF THE FORECAST AREA BY LATE TUE AFTERNOON. DESPITE FRONT MOVING THROUGH APPEARS ENOUGH LIFT AROUND THE BACKSIDE WITH SOUTHERLY JET TO KEEP THREAT OF RAIN WELL INTO TUESDAY AFTERNOON. RUSH OF COLDER AIR WORKS IN ABOUT 2-4 HOURS BEHIND THE FRONT CHANGING ANY LINGERING PRECIP TO SNOW SHOWERS IN THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. GIVEN WARMER GROUND THE SNOW AMOUNTS THROUGH TOMORROW WILL BE LESS THAN AN INCH OVER THE RIDGETOPS ABOVE 3000 FT. WILL HAVE TO WATCH FOR ISOLATED FLOODING GIVEN WAVES OF LOW PRESSURE ALONG THE FRONT AND POTENTIAL FOR SOME TRAINING...ALTHOUGH SPEED OF FRONT MAY HINDER IT SOME. STILL QPF LOOKING ON THE ORDER OF 1 TO 1.5 INCHES...THOUGH LOCALLY HIGHER SEEMS LIKELY IN HEAVIER DOWNPOURS. WILL HOLD OFF ON ANY FLOOD WATCHES. EVEN THE RIVER ENSEMBLE FORECASTS ARE NOT TAKING ANY RIVER STAGES ABOVE FLOOD STAGE. WILL HAVE TO WATCH SOUTH BOSTON ON THE DAN THOUGH...GIVEN AMOUNTS SEEM SIMILAR TO LAST WEEK. THE OTHER ISSUE SHOULD BE WINDS BEHIND THE FRONT AS 6 HR PRESSURE RISES ON THE ORDER OF 6 TO 12 MB ARE EXPECTED. MADE SOME ADJUSTMENTS UP IN WIND GUSTS TO 40 KNOTS ACROSS THE SRN BLUE RIDGE AND ADJACENT AREAS. WILL ALLOW FOR ONE MORE RUN OF THE MODELS AS CLOUD COVER WILL TEMPER SOME OF THE GUSTS ABOVE INVERSION. HWO WILL MENTION WIND ADVISORY POTENTIAL. AS FOR TEMPS WILL BE SEEING SLOW FALLING AT BEST OVERNIGHT WITH CONTINUED SOUTH FLOW...WITH SHOWERS HELPING TO COOL IT SOME. TOMORROW WILL BE MILD IN THE FAR EAST BUT TEMPS WILL BE FALLING TO THE FREEZING MARK INTO THE UPPER 30S ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS BY DUSK. && .SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/... AS OF 355 PM EDT MONDAY... H85 TEMPS PLUNGE BEHIND STRONG COLD FRONT TUESDAY NIGHT...NEARING -12C PER THE GFS. MOISTURE DRIES OUT RATHER QUICKLY ALOFT...BUT SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO GENERATE AN HOUR OR TWO OF UPSLOPE SNOW SHOWERS ACROSS WESTERN GREENBRIER WHERE A QUICK HALF INCH OR LESS MAY FALL ABOVE 2500 FEET. SNOW SHOWERS/FLURRIES MAY FALL FOR A BRIEF TIME DOWN TO BLUEFIELD...BUT NO ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED. SKIES SHOULD CLEAR RAPIDLY....WITH STRONG DOWNSLOPE...AND H85 JET NEAR 50KTS SHOULD PRODUCE WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA ACROSS NW NC/EXTREME SW VA AT THE VERY LEAST. POSSIBLY A SMALL WINDOW TUESDAY EVENING WITH HIGH WIND CRITERIA GUSTS NW NC. 1030MB HIGH PRESSURE NOSES ACROSS THE MOUNTAINS QUICKLY...AND MOS GUIDANCE IS SOLIDLY AT OR BELOW 32F FOR LOWS WED MORNING EVEN ACROSS THE PIEDMONT/SOUTHSIDE. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUED A FREEZE WATCH EAST OF THE BLUE RIDGE. WINDS SHOULD HOLD THROUGH MUCH OF THE NIGHT...AND SOMETIMES LOWS COME IN A FEW DEGREES WARMER IN THIS SETUP. THUS THE CHANCE OF A WIDESPREAD FREEZE MAY BE MARGINAL ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN CWA...SOUTHSIDE/NC PIEDMONT. MUCH BETTER CHANCE NORTH OF THIS REGION. SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE WEDGING DOWN THE APPALACHIANS IS PRETTY MUCH LOCKED IN THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT...WITH DRY SUNNY DAYS AND COLD NIGHTS EXPECTED. WITH LESS WIND WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND DEWPOINTS INTO THE TEENS WED PM...CONDS MAY BE EVEN MORE FAVORABLE FOR MORE WIDESPREAD FREEZE...WITH ANOTHER WATCH NECESSARY WED NIGHT/THURS MORNING. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 355 PM EDT MONDAY... WEAK TROUGH THROUGH THE MIDWEST EVENTUALLY PUSHES EAST...AND WEDGING HIGH PRESSURE EVENTUALLY DEPARTS THIS WEEKEND. WITH A RATHER DRY ANTECEDENT AIRMASS...QUESTIONABLE IF THIS MIDWEST TROUGH PRODUCES ANY PRECIP ONCE IT ARRIVES ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY AND MIDDLE ATLANTIC THIS WEEKEND. OP GFS IS FAR MORE WET THAN THE ECMWF. THUS...POPS WERE KEPT RATHER LOW. A ZONAL UPPER FLOW TAKES SHAPE BY LATE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...WITH UNEVENTFUL AND DRY WEATHER CONTINUING ACROSS THE REGION. && .AVIATION /06Z TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/... AS OF 150 AM EDT TUESDAY... MVFR TO IFR CIGS/VSBYS IN AREAS OF RAIN SHOWERS AND FOG EXPECTED THROUGH AROUND 18Z...AT WHICH POINT A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH...IMPROVING CIGS TO VFR AFT 18Z PIEDMONT...BUT WITH CONTINUED MVFR CIGS IN UPSLOPE FLOW AND -SHRA OR EVEN POSSIBLY -SHSN EASTERN WV TAF SITES. BCB WILL SEE PERIODS OF MVFR CIGS CONTINUING THROUGH EVENING. MVFR VSBYS MAY CONTINUE AT BLF FOR A WHILE IN THE AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING...BUT SHOULD IMPROVE TO VFR AT ALL OTHER SITES BY 20Z. WINDS WILL BE ONE OF THE GREATEST CONCERNS THIS TAF VALID CYCLE...MAINLY BEHIND THE FRONT. AHEAD OF THE FRONT...A GENERAL INCREASE OF SSE-SSW WINDS OF 10-20KTS CAN BE EXPECTED...BUT BEHIND THE FRONT...EXPECT WNW-NW 15-20KTS WITH GUSTS 30-40KTS. IT APPEARS THAT THIS WILL ONLY BE FOR A FEW HOURS...THEN DIMINISHING FAIRLY RAPIDLY AFT 02Z. MEDIUM CONFIDENCE IN CIGS/VSBYS THROUGH THE TAF VALID PERIOD. MEDIUM TO HIGH CONFIDENCE IN WIND DIR/SPD THROUGH THE TAF VALID PERIOD. LOW CONFIDENCE IN POTENTIAL FOR TSRA ROA/LYH/DAN AND LOW CONFIDENCE FOR -SHSN AT BLF/LWB THROUGH TAF VALIDP PERIOD. EXTENDED AVIATION DISCUSSION... MUCH DRIER AIR WORKS IN BEHIND THE FRONT WEDNESDAY WITH STRONG HIGH PRESSURE WEDGED IN FROM THE NE. THIS SHOULD ALLOW A RETURN TO WIDESPREAD VFR WITH THIS SCENARIO CONTINUING THURSDAY WITH HIGH PRESSURE RIDGING IN FROM OFF NEW ENGLAND AND THE NEXT COLD FRONT TO THE NW. THIS FRONT APPROACHES FROM THE WEST FRIDAY BUT APPEARS SLOW AND WEAK ENOUGH TO MAINTAIN VFR DURING THE DAY FOR NOW. THIS SYSTEM MAY BRING MVFR CIGS TO THE MOUNTAINS SATURDAY ALONG WITH A FEW SHOWERS OTRW VFR ELSW TO START THE WEEKEND. && .RNK WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... VA...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR VAZ022>024-032>035-043>047-058-059. NC...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING FOR NCZ003>006-019-020. WV...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...AMS/JH/WP NEAR TERM...JH/WP SHORT TERM...KM LONG TERM...KM AVIATION...JH/RAB
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS EUREKA CA
905 PM PDT WED APR 16 2014 .SYNOPSIS...A WEAK FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL BRING LIGHT RAIN TO AREAS NORTH OF CAPE MENDOCINO ON THURSDAY. THEN...BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE WILL RESULT IN A MOSTLY DRY WEEKEND BEFORE A STRONGER SYSTEM IMPACTS NORTHWEST CALIFORNIA. THIS SYSTEM IS CAPABLE OF BRINGING RAIN AND MOUNTAIN SNOW TO THE REGION BY EARLY NEXT WEEK. && .UPDATE...11-4U SAT IMAGERY SHOWED STRATUS DEVELOPING RAPIDLY OVER THE WATERS THIS EVENING AND EXPANDING TOWARDS THE COAST. MESO MODELS SHOW BL MOISTURE INCREASING ALONG THE COAST AND COASTAL RIVER VALLEYS TONIGHT. THE EXCEPTION IS ALONG THE DEL NORTE COAST WHERE THE RAP SHOWS OFFSHORE WINDS DEVELOPING FOR AN HOUR OR TWO AFTER 09Z...HOWEVER...CONFIDENCE IS LOW ON HOW MUCH CLEARING MAY OCCUR. SAT IMAGERY ALSO SHOWS LESS HIGH CLOUDS OVER CWA THIS EVENING. IF THIS TREND CONTINUES OVERNIGHT...BETTER RADIATIONAL COOLING WILL MAKE THREAT OF FROST POSSIBLE. ALTHOUGH TEMPS ARE RUNNING A DEGREE OR TWO HIGHER THAN LAST NIGHT...TRENDS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED OVERNIGHT. ISSUED QUICK UPDATE TO ADD FG AND INCREASE SKY COVER OVER THE WATERS AND ALONG THE COAST WHILE REDUCING SKY COVER INLAND THROUGH THU MORNING. UPDATED AVIATION AND MARINE DISCUSSIONS FOLLOW. && .AVIATION...STRATUS DEVELOPED RAPIDLY OVER THE WATERS THIS EVENING AND WILL PLAGUE THE COAST N OF CAPE MENDO THROUGH THE NIGHT. MESO MODELS SHOW WINDS ALONG THE COAST VARYING BETWEEN ONSHORE AND OFFSHORE MAKING FOR A TRICKY FCST. EXPECT IFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL ALONG THE COAST WITH PERIODS OF VFR AS WINDS SHIFT OFFSHORE. INLAND...EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO PREVAIL WITH LIGHT TERRAIN DRIVEN WINDS. INCREASING MID AND HIGH CLOUDS THURSDAY AS A FRONT APPROACHES NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. /KENNEDY && .MARINE...NEAR GALE TO GALES CONTINUE ACROSS FAR SRN PORTIONS OF THE SRN WATERS. GIVEN THE LIMITED AREAL COVERAGE...ELECTED TO ALLOW GALE WARNING TO EXPIRE AND HOISTED A SCA THROUGH THU MORNING AS WINDS AND SEAS WILL CONTINUE TO DIMINISH OVERNIGHT. CONDITIONS WILL DETERIORATE AGAIN THIS WEEKEND AS A STRONG LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM MOVES INTO THE EASTERN GULF OF ALASKA AND GENERATES ELEVATED WESTERLY SWELLS THAT WILL PROPAGATE THROUGH THE OFFSHORE WATERS. /KENNEDY && .PREV DISCUSSION......ISSUED AT 430 PM PDT... A BUILDING RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE POSITIONED OVER THE WESTERN UNITED STATES HAS RESULTED IN A MOSTLY CLEAR DAY ACROSS NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. CLEAR SKIES WILL BE SHORT LIVED AS CLOUD COVER ALOFT INCREASES OVERNIGHT WITH THE APPROACH OF A SHORTWAVE TROUGH. THIS SYSTEM WILL BRING THE NEXT OPPORTUNITY FOR LIGHT RAIN ON THURSDAY. MOST RAIN WILL BE RESTRICTED NORTH OF CAPE MENDOCINO WITH AMOUNTS AROUND 0.10" OR LESS AND PERHAPS UP TO 0.25" IN THE MOUNTAINS OF DEL NORTE COUNTY. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY WILL BE MOSTLY DRY BEFORE ANOTHER SYSTEM BRINGS A BRIEF SHOT OF RAIN SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. AGAIN, THE BEST CHANCES WILL BE RESTRICTED TO AREAS NORTH OF CAPE MENDOCINO WITH PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS TO REMAIN VERY LIGHT. A MORE PROMINENT SYSTEM IS EXPECTED TO IMPACT THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST EARLY NEXT WEEK AS A LOW OFF THE COAST OF BRITISH COLUMBIA DIGS SOUTHWARD. LONG RANGE MODELS HAVE BEEN DOING A POOR JOB HANDLING SHORTWAVES IN THE EXTENDED, HOWEVER, CONFIDENCE HAS INCREASED SINCE FORECAST CONFIDENCE TOOLS HAVE SIGNALED A TREND TOWARDS A DEEPENING LOW OVER THE PAST FEW DAYS. THERE IS STILL UNCERTAINTY IN ARRIVAL TIME OF THIS SYSTEM BUT PAST MODEL RUNS SHOW THE ECMWF HAS BEEN TRENDING TOWARDS THE MORE PROGRESSIVE GFS. AS A RESULT, STARTING ON MONDAY POPS HAVE BEEN INCREASED FROM AN ALL MODEL BLEND WITH THE CAP UP IN 50 THE PERCENT RANGE AND ABOVE CLIMO POPS FOR THE TAIL END OF THE FORECAST.KML && .EKA WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 3 AM PDT THU FOR PZZ455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 9 AM PDT THU FOR PZZ475. && $$ VISIT US AT HTTP://WWW.WEATHER.GOV/EUREKA FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER AT: HTTP://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/US.NATIONALWEATHERSERVICE.EUREKA.GOV HTTP://WWW.TWITTER.COM/NWSEUREKA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS PUEBLO CO
1111 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 849 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 UPDATED LATEST TEMPS AND MADE MINOR CHANGES TO TEMPS OVERNIGHT. ADJUSTED SOME SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FOR THE REST OF TONIGHT. && .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 254 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 ...HEAVY WET SNOW FOR THE SOUTHEASTERN MOUNTAINS TONIGHT... RAPIDLY EVOLVING STORM SYSTEM NOW IS MOVING INTO WRN CO THIS AFTERNOON. ALREADY AM SEEING SOME BANDED PRECIP...IN THE FORM OF SHRA...DEVELOP OVER EL PASO COUNTY. DEWPOINTS STILL PRETTY LOW OVER THE PLAINS...WHICH WILL HELP COOL THINGS OFF THIS EVE AS WET BULB IS REACHED IN HEAVIER PRECIP. EXPECT PRECIP TO EXPAND AND INTENSIFY THROUGH THE AFTERNOON...REACHING ITS PEAK FROM 00Z THROUGH 06Z TONIGHT. A COUPLE OF RECENT TRENDS ARE MAKING FOR A RATHER TRICKY FORECAST FOR THE SHORT TERM. RECENT GUIDANCE IS CONSIDERABLY WARMER THAN IT HAD BEEN A COUPLE DAYS AGO...WITH H7 TEMPS ONLY FALLING TO MINUS 5 OR 6 AS OPPOSED TO THE MINUS 10 OR LOWER FROM EARLIER MODEL RUNS. THIS IS POINTING AT THE SNOW LEVELS GENERALLY STAYING AT OR ABOVE 6000 FEET TONIGHT. BUT DEPENDING ON EVENTUAL STRENGTH AND TIMING...WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE SNOW FALLING AT THE LOWER ELEVATIONS. JUST NOT EXPECTING MUCH IF ANY ACCUMULATION BELOW 6K FEET...EXCEPT MAYBE ON GRASSY SURFACES. THE WINTER WX ADVISORY FOR THE SRN I-25 CORRIDOR WILL BE A PARTICULAR CHALLENGE SINCE ELEVATIONS FROM WALSENBURG TO TRINIDAD ARE GENERALLY IN THE 6000- 6500 FOOT RANGE. SO...EVEN A SLIGHT SHIFT IN THE LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES THIS EVE COULD MAKE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WET PAVEMENT AND A FEW INCHES OF SLUSH. HAVE GENERALLY PLAYED THE MIDDLE ROAD OF MODEL CONSENSUS...WHICH HAS SNOW LEVELS AT OR ABOVE THAT ELEVATION FOR THE EARLY EVE. BUT...HIGHER TRRN TO THE WEST AND CLOSER TO SPANISH PEAKS COULD SEE SIGNIFICANT WET SNOW...MORE THAN SIX INCHES FOR SOME AREAS. OTHER ISSUE IS THE RECENT TREND TOWARDS THE HEAVIEST ACCUMS FALLING OVER THE SRN ZONES...THE WETS AND SRN SANGRES GENERALLY SOUTH OF HIGHWAY 50. THE HRRR AND LOCAL HI-RES WRF...FOR EXAMPLE...KEEP MOST OF THE HEAVY PRECIP SOUTH OF THE PIKES PK REGION. THE NAM AND RUC..LOWER RES...KEEP HEAVY PRECIP OVER THE PIKES PEAK REGION. GIVEN THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE HIGHER RES SOLUTIONS SO FAR...AM INCLINED TO KEEP WITH AT LEAST MODERATE ACCUMS FOR PIKES PEAK...ALTHOUGH IT SEEMS REASONABLE THAT SRN AND ERN SIDES WILL GET A BIT MORE THIS EVE. MODELS ARE HITTING THE SRN SANGRES AND HIGHER WETS PRETTY HARD THROUGH 06-08Z TONIGHT. HAVE CONSIDERED UPGRADING FOR THOSE ZONES...BUT SINCE THE LIQUID-SNOW RATIOS WILL BE HIGHER GIVEN THE WARMER LOW-LEVEL THERMAL PROFILE...EXPECT THE MORE SIGNIFICANT ACCUMS TO BE PRETTY HIGH UP AND SPOTTY. SO...ADVISORIES LOOK GOOD FOR NOW BUT WILL HAVE TO FOLLOW THE SHORT TERM TRENDS PRETTY CAREFULLY. WILL SEE THE SYSTEM CLEAR OUT GRADUALLY FROM N TO S AFTER MIDNIGHT. COULD EVEN SEE SOME CLEARING BY SUNRISE ON THURSDAY. BALANCE OF THURSDAY LOOKS PRETTY NICE...WITH TEMPS REBOUNDING TO THE UPPER 50S OVER THE PLAINS BY AFTERNOON...AND INCREASING AMOUNTS OF SUN. ROSE .LONG TERM...(THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 254 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 NEXT SYSTEM WILL BE MOVING INTO THE REGION OVER THE WEEKEND BRINGING A RETURN OF ACTIVE WEATHER IN THE EXTENDED. CLOSED LOW MOVES IN FROM THE PACIFIC...ACROSS SOUTHERN CA AND INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. MOISTURE INCREASES...PARTICULARLY ACROSS WESTERN AREAS ON FRIDAY...SO SHOULD SEE ISOLATED TO SCATTERED RAIN AND HIGHER ELEVATION SNOW SHOWERS OVER THE MOUNTAINS WITH SOME ISOLATED EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS POSSIBLE DURING THE AFTERNOON. ANY SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS LOOKS LIGHT THROUGH THIS PERIOD...AND CONFINED TO THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS. THIS SYSTEM WILL GRADUALLY FILL AS IT MOVES INTO THE FOUR CORNERS REGION ON SATURDAY THEN ACROSS CO THROUGH SUNDAY MORNING AS AN OPEN TROF. PRECIPITATION WILL INCREASE ACROSS THE SOUTHWEST MOUNTAINS FRIDAY NIGHT...THEN SPREAD ACROSS ALL OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ADJACENT PLAINS ON SATURDAY. WITH COOLING ALOFT...LAPSE RATES STEEPEN...AND A COLD FRONT...THOUGH IT IS NOT ALL THAT COOL BEHIND IT...WILL MOVE THROUGH THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS DURING THE AFTERNOON. NAM12 IS THE FARTHEST SOUTH WITH THE FRONT SAT AFTERNOON SHOWING EASTERLY WINDS ACROSS THE PLAINS AND DEW POINTS INCREASING INTO THE 40S TO AROUND 50 NEAR THE EASTERN BORDER BY 00Z. GFS IS A TAD SLOWER...WITH NORTHERLY WINDS DROPPING THROUGH THE I-25 CORRIDOR DURING THE AFTERNOON...AND DEW POINTS IN THE 30S THROUGH THE AFTERNOON. ECMWF IS FAIRLY SIMILAR TO THE GFS...THOUGH A JUST A TAD MOISTER. EITHER WAY...SNOW LEVELS WILL BE ON THE HIGH SIDE AGAIN...PROBABLY AROUND 9.5-10KFT...SO BELOW THIS ELEVATION WILL HAVE TO MONITOR THE BURN SCARS CLOSELY FOR RAINFALL...ESPECIALLY THE WALDO. FOR NOW THOUGH...THINK THAT GFS PROBABLY HAS THE BEST HANDLE...AND ANY LOCALLY HEAVIER PRECIPITATION AMOUNTS WILL BE SPOTTY AS MODEL CAPE VALUES ARE NOT ALL THAT HIGH. ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL ALSO SPREAD ACROSS THE SOUTHEAST PLAINS SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING...THOUGH RAINFALL AMOUNTS LOOK FAIRLY LIGHT AT THIS POINT AS HIGHER CAPE REMAINS WELL TO THE EAST. THIS SYSTEM SLOWLY EXITS EASTERN CO ON SUNDAY...SO AFTER PRECIPITATION WINDS DOWN OVERNIGHT...ENOUGH INSTABILITY AND RESIDUAL MOISTURE WILL BE PRESENT FOR ANOTHER ROUND OF ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THESE LOOK A LITTLE SPOTTIER IN COVERAGE. DRY WEATHER RETURNS FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...THEN THE FORECAST WILL REVOLVE AROUND TRACK OF THE NEXT UPPER LOW WHICH DROPS INTO THE GREAT BASIN...THEN EVENTUALLY LIFTS OUT TO THE NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA WED. THIS WILL PUT MOST OF SOUTH CENTRAL AND SOUTHEAST COLORADO UNDER STRONG SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR CRITICAL FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS DEVELOPING ESPECIALLY BY WEDNESDAY. DEPENDING ON THE CONDITIONS OF FUELS...MAY NEED SOME FIRE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS DAY. OTHERWISE...DRY LINE WILL BE LURKING NEAR THE CO/KS BORDER DURING THE EARLY TO MIDDLE PART OF NEXT WEEK. TRENDS IN THE LATEST OPERATIONAL GFS AND ECMWF...SEEM TO SUGGEST A MORE NORTHERN TRACK AND LESS OF A PERSISTENT MERIDIONAL FLOW EARLY NEXT WEEK...SO THESE LATEST RUNS KEEP THE DRYLINE JUST TO OUR EAST. HOWEVER...THERE ARE STILL SOME RATHER LARGE DIFFERENCES IN THE EXTENDED MODELS FOR WED AS GFS SHOWS MORE ENERGY DROPPING SOUTHWARD INTO THE BASE OF THE TROF ACROSS THE GREAT BASIN WHICH EC DOES NOT HAVE...SO JURY IS STILL OUT. EITHER WAY...SHOULD BE AN ACTIVE PERIOD THROUGH NEXT WEEK. -KT && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1107 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 KALS...SNOW WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 08-10Z TONIGHT WITH REDUCED VIS AND CIGS TO MVFR TO IFR. AN ADDITIONAL INCH OF SNOW IS POSSIBLE ON AREA RUNWAYS. EXPECT IMPROVING CONDITIONS BY THURSDAY MORNING WITH VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. KCOS...A RAIN AND SNOW MIX WILL CONTINUE THROUGH 10-12Z TONIGHT WITH REDUCED CIGS AND VIS TO MVFR. EXPECT IMPROVING CONDITIONS AFTER 12Z WITH VFR CONDITIONS THROUGH THURSDAY EVENING. KPUB...LIGHT RAIN WILL CONTINUE...AND PERHAPS MIX WITH SNOW THROUGH AROUND 12Z WITH REDUCED CIGS TO NEAR MVFR. EXPECT RAIN AND SNOW TO DISSIPATE BY THURSDAY MORNING WITH VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON. MOZLEY && .PUB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 AM MDT THURSDAY FOR COZ072>075- 079>082-087-088. && $$ UPDATE...28 SHORT TERM...ROSE LONG TERM...KT AVIATION...MOZLEY
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MELBOURNE FL
440 AM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... ...WET THROUGH SATURDAY WITH POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST... ...HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK... TODAY-TONIGHT...POST FRONTAL DRY AIRMASS REMAIN FAIRLY PERVASIVE ACROSS THE REGION...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND VOLUSIA COUNTY WHERE DEWPOINTS ARE STILL IN THE MID-UPPER 50S. MODELS HAVE SO FAR BEEN VERY GUNG HO IN LIFTING THE OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY/ENHANCED MOISTURE BACK NORTH...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE NORTHWARD TREND MAY BE STARTING AS ONE HEAVY RAINBAND SET UP EARLIER THIS EVENING ACROSS BROWARD COUNTY THAT HAS SINCE DISSIPATED. CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM BREVARD/OSCEOLA COUNTIES SOUTHWARDS COINCIDENT WITH AN AREA OF WIND CONVERGENCE IN THE 1000-850MB LAYER. THIS IS WHERE RADAR IS ALSO NOW PICKING UP ON A RECENT UPSWING IN SHOWER COVERAGE. LOCAL WRF MODEL SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED PRECIP AROUND DAYBREAK OVER THE TREASURE COAST...BUT HRRR MODEL KEEPS THIS ACTIVITY MORE OVER SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL LATER. ITS TOUGH TO SAY WHERE OR IF ANY LOCALLY HEAVY BANDS MAY SET UP UNTIL THEY DO...BUT JUST AHEAD OF/ALONG WARM FRONT WOULD BE THE BEST BET. DO EXPECT AN INCREASE IN SHOWER FREQUENCY TOWARDS DAYBREAK ACROSS THE TREASURE COAST. FRONTAL REMNANTS AND BEST ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL MOVE BACK TO THE NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH THE DAY...ACCELERATING INTO NORTH FLORIDA TONIGHT AS UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE SWINGS EASTWARDS AND SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS ACROSS THE GULF. HAVE TAPERED BACK RAIN CHANCES TO 20 PERCENT NORTHERN INTERIOR TO 60 PERCENT OKEECHOBEE/TREASURE COAST BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS/MODEL FORECAST. COULD SEE A FEW PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ALONG THE COAST TODAY...BEFORE THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL LIFT NORTH OF THE REGION LATER TONIGHT. THOUGH IT WILL BE BREEZY AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON...IT DOESN`T APPEAR THAT SPEEDS/GUSTS WILL BE QUITE AS HIGH AS YESTERDAY SO HAVE NOT ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL STILL REMAIN CHOPPY ON AREA LAKES. COASTAL HIGHS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP TIMING...BUT OVERALL EXPECTED ANYWHERE FROM LOW 70S ALONG VOLUSIA COAST TO UPPER 70S/AROUND 80 IN BREVARD/TREASURE COAST. INTERIOR TEMPS IN THE UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S. MILD OVERNIGHT AS FLOW BECOMES MORE EAST-SOUTHEAST WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S INTERIOR/AROUND 70S COAST. FRI-SUN...THE OVERALL TREND OF THE SHORT RANGE FORECAST IS DECIDEDLY SLOWER AND WETTER INTO SUNDAY. STRONG SOUTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE EAST ALONG THE ERN GULF COAST BEFORE PINCHING OFF INTO A CLOSED MID-UPPER LOW INVOF THE FL/AL/GA TRI-STATE REGION FRI NIGHT. THE CLOSED LOW WILL THEN DRIFT SLOWLY EAST SOMEWHERE BTWN THE FL/GA BORDER AND PENINSULAR NORTH FL ON SAT...EASING OFFSHORE SAT NIGHT AND DRIFTING FARTHER OFFSHORE AND AWAY FROM THE FL EAST COAST ON SUN. AT THE SURFACE...AVBL MODEL GUIDANCE HAS CONVERGED TOWARD A MORE AGREEABLE (SLOWER) SOLUTION...ALTHOUGH THE GFS CONTINUES TO BE THE FASTEST. SFC FRONTAL WAVE SPINS UP INTO A LOW AND TRACKS ACROSS THE NERN GOMEX FRI...WITH THE SFC AND MID/UPPER LEVEL LOWS BECOMING VERTICALLY STACKED BY FRI NIGHT OVER NORTH FL. SFC WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL FL DURING THE MORNING...WHICH SHOULD TAKE WIDESPREAD STRATIFORM RAINFALL NWD ACROSS NORTH FL/GA...WHILE ECFL BREAKS OUT INTO THE WARM SECTOR OF THE GOMEX LOW. DEEP LAYER S-SW FLOW WITH PWATS AROUND 1.75" WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS/STORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF STRONGER STORMS TO REACH CTRL FL FROM THE GOMEX (N/W OF I-4) AROUND SUNSET (GIVE OR TAKE) AND CONTINUE TO DROP SEWD THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. SFC LOW WILL BE VERY SLOW TO MOVE ACROSS THE STATE FRI NIGHT...AND THEN LINGER OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST THROUGHOUT SAT. SUFFICIENT WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL EXIST FOR SCT TO NMRS SHOWERS...AND EVEN SOME STORMS GIVEN THE COLD H50 TEMPS UNDERNEATH THE H50 LOW OVHD. EXPECT LINGERING SHOWERS SAT NIGHT/SUNDAY IN COOL/MOIST NRLY FLOW ON BACK SIDE OF THE LOW...WHICH WILL BE GRUDGINGLY SLOW TO PUT SPACE BETWEEN ITSELF AND FL. COVERAGE/INTENSITY SHOULD BE RATHER LOW. MON-WED...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE FINALLY SETTLES IN TOWARD FL EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND DRYING CONDS OUT. THERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS OF A WEAK FRONTAL TROUGH AND ASCD MOISTURE BAND TAKING A GLANCING SHOT AT NORTH FL TUE-NIGHT INTO WED...BUT WILL NOT GET TOO INVOLVED IN DISSECTING DAY 6-7 POPS GIVEN THE MORE SIG WX IN DAYS 1-3. && .AVIATION...MOIST AND CLOUDY THROUGH THE PERIOD...THOUGH OVERALL IT APPEARS MOST LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN JUST INSIDE VFR WITH PREVAILING CIGS FL035-050. COASTAL SITES WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO SEE MVFR CIGS FL020-030. ISOLD SHRA MOVING ONSHORE INTO AREAS SOUTH OF KVRB THROUGH 13Z...THEN BECOMING SCT-NMRS. COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM SOUTH-NORTH AS OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS BACK TO THE NORTH THROUGH THE DAY. A FEW HEAVIER SHRA MAY PRODUCE TEMPO IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY ALONG COASTAL SITES. COULD SEE PREVAILING IFR CIGS LATER TONIGHT AS WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF REGION. && .MARINE...TODAY-TONIGHT...GUSTY NORTHEAST TO EAST FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT. PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN STRONGEST OVER WATERS NORTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET...KEEPING WINDS IN THE 20-25KT RANGE INTO THIS EVENING. WARM FRONT LIFTING BACK TO THE NORTH WILL EASE GRADIENT FURTHER SOUTH...VEERING WINDS MORE EAST IN THE 15-20KT RANGE BY LATE MORNING OFF THE TREASURE COAST. WINDS WILL VEER EAST-SOUTHEAST AND DROP TO 15-20KTS OVER ALL THE WATERS BY LATE TONIGHT AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE REGION. WILL KEEP ADVISORY FOR WINDS/SEAS NORTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET THROUGH LATE TONIGHT WITH SEAS 5-7FT NEARSHORE/6-9FT OFFSHORE. WILL HAVE ADVISORY FOR SEAS SOUTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET WHERE WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER...BUT SEAS WILL BE SIMILAR TO NORTHERN SECTIONS DUE TO INITIAL NORTHEASTERLY TRAJECTORY. FRI-MON...A SLIGHT DECREASE IN WINDS/SEAS IS EXPECTED AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NWD THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY. HOWEVER...STILL LOOKING AT CAUTIONARY CONDITIONS WITH 15-20KT AND SEAS TO 6FT...POSSIBLY A BIT HIGHER. COVERAGE OF RAIN AND STORMS/GUSTY WINDS WILL REMAIN MARINE THREATS INTO SATURDAY. SYNOPTIC GRADIENT WINDS WILL BEGIN TO PICK BACK UP SAT AFTERNOON AS THE LOW CENTER MOVES OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST AND PGRAD TIGHTENS. SEAS WILL RAMP BACK UP TO 7-10FT OR A LITTLE HIGHER SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN AS W-NW WINDS SHIFT TO N AND NNE BEHIND THE SLOWLY DEPARTING LOW. SLOW IMPROVEMENT IN WINDS SEAS MON. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 73 68 78 64 / 20 50 80 60 MCO 79 67 82 66 / 20 50 80 60 MLB 79 71 81 69 / 50 40 70 60 VRB 79 72 81 70 / 50 40 70 60 LEE 78 66 79 61 / 20 50 80 60 SFB 78 67 82 64 / 20 50 80 60 ORL 79 68 82 65 / 20 50 80 60 FPR 80 70 82 72 / 60 40 70 60 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE. && $$ SHORT TERM/AVIATION...MOSES LONG TERM....CRISTALDI
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SHREVEPORT LA
418 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... OVERALL...NEXT 7 DAYS WILL REMAIN FAIRLY ACTIVE WITH PERSISTENT RAIN CHANCES BEYOND NEXT WEEKEND...HOWEVER SEVERE WEATHER THREAT SHOULD BE LOW FOR MUCH OF THE NEXT WEEK. TEMPS WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY WARM DESPITE THE REPEATED RAIN CHANCES. TODAY SHOULD BE RAIN FREE UNTIL AFTER 00Z. TWO SHORTWAVE TROUGHS...ONE CURRENTLY OVER SE CO AND ANOTHER JUST SE OF THE BIG BEND OF TX WILL MOVE EWD OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS. THE SRN WAVE SHOULD MOVE WELL S OF THE CWA AND ANY PRECIP SHOULD BE CONFINED MORE TOWARDS THE GULF COAST. LATEST RUN OF THE HRRR BREAKS OUT SOME QPF ACROSS DEEP E TX LATER THIS MORNING BUT NONE OF THE OTHER MODELS ARE REALLY PICKING UP ON THIS. LATEST RADAR LOOPS INDICATE CONVECTION ACROSS CNTRL TX SHOULD STAY S OF THE CWA. THUS...WILL KEEP THE DAYTIME HRS DRY. BETTER CHANCES FOR SHWRS WILL LIKELY BE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AS THE CO SHORTWAVE DIVES SE TOWARDS THE CWA AND EVENTUALLY MERGES WITH THE TX TROUGH OVER THE LOWER MS VALLEY. WEAK COLD FRONT WILL ALSO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR A FEW SCT SHWRS. INSTABILITY LOOKS TO BE QUITE MEAGER SO WILL NOT MENTION THUNDER AT THIS TIME. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE DRY AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN PROGRESSIVE THOUGH AND THE RIDGE SHOULD MOVE E BY SATURDAY EVENING ALLOWING THE FLOW TO TRANSITION TO SWLY. DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL INCREASE WHILE A SERIES OF WEAK UPPER WAVES MOVE ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS. RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE BEGINNING EARLY SUNDAY AS THE FIRST OF THESE WEAK IMPULSES APPROACHES AND CONVECTION MOVES INTO THE CWA FROM THE W. BEST CHANCES FOR SHWRS/TSTMS WILL LIKELY BE LATE SUNDAY AND INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING AS AN UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES. CANNOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM OR TWO BUT INSTABILITY SHOULD BE RATHER LOW DUE TO THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY MORNING. CHANCES FOR SCT SHWRS/TSTMS WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THE UPPER TROUGH AND COLD FRONT WILL BE VERY SLOW TO PROGRESS. GFS/ECMWF HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN KEEPING RAIN IN THE AREA UNTIL THE FRONT FINALLY CLEARS THE CWA SO HAVE EXTENDED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. AFTER A BRIEF BREAK...ACTIVE PATTERN LOOKS TO CONTINUE AS A MUCH STRONGER UPPER TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LATE NEXT WEEK BUT IT APPEARS THE TROUGH WILL BE FARTHER N ACROSS THE CNTRL/NRN PLAINS. STILL...A COLD FRONT AT THE SFC SHOULD STILL PROVIDE AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR CONVECTION. /09/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 70 53 76 57 81 / 10 20 10 10 10 MLU 71 54 74 56 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 DEQ 70 46 77 52 76 / 10 20 10 10 10 TXK 70 51 75 55 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 ELD 70 50 75 54 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 TYR 70 54 75 57 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 GGG 70 53 75 56 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 LFK 71 54 78 57 80 / 10 20 10 10 10 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. LA...NONE. OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$ 09/13
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS RALEIGH NC
207 AM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS...UNSEASONABLY STRONG...POLAR HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD SOUTH FROM NEW ENGLAND TODAY...THEN LINGER THROUGH FRIDAY. MEANWHILE...LOW PRESSURE WILL DEVELOP OVER THE NORTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO FRIDAY...THEN MEANDER ALONG THE SOUTHEAST US COAST THROUGH THE WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/... AS OF 1000 PM WEDNESDAY... PRESSURE READINGS CONTINUE TO RISE ACROSS CENTRAL NC THIS EVENING AS A STRONG 1036MB SURFACE HIGH OVER NEW ENGLAND REACHES DOWN THE EAST COAST. THE MAIN STORY FOR THE OVERNIGHT PERIOD IS THE POTENTIAL FOR FREEZE AND FROST. WINDS HAVE DECOUPLED IN SOME SPOTS...BUT THE BUILDING SURFACE RIDGE IS KEEPING A LIGHT WIND STIRRING OVER MOST OF THE AREA. SHOULD SEE MORE AREAS DECOUPLE BY AFTER MIDNIGHT...ESPECIALLY ACROSS WESTERN AREAS. HOWEVER...THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IS FORECAST TO TIGHTEN A BIT OVER EASTERN NC BY 09Z IN RESPONSE TO A WESTWARD MIGRATING INVERTED TROUGH OFFSHORE...AND THE RATE AT WHICH TEMPS FALL OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN WILL SLOW AS THE RIDGE AXIS SETTLES TOWARD THE PIEDMONT. COULD ISSUE A FROST ADVISORY FOR THE COASTAL PLAIN...BUT RAP SOUNDINGS SHOW THE BOUNDARY LAYER STAYING AT LEAST PARTIALLY MIXED THROUGHOUT THE NIGHT...AND THE FROST SHOULD REMAIN PATCHY IN NATURE. THE FREEZE WARNING WILL CONTINUE AS FORECAST. IR SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS QUITE A BIT OF STRATO CU OFFSHORE...WHICH WILL BEGIN TO SPREAD INLAND LATE TONIGHT AND TOWARD THE I-95 CORRIDOR DURING THE MID-MORNING HOURS ON THURSDAY. -SMITH THURSDAY...CIRCULATION AROUND THE LOW LEVEL RIDGE WILL RESULT IN A LONG NE FETCH OFF THE ATLANTIC INTO EASTERN NC. THIS FLOW WILL TRANSPORT A SHALLOW THIN LAYER OF MOISTURE INTO THE COASTAL PLAIN...RESULTING IN A SCATTERED TO BRIEFLY BROKEN LAYER OF STRATOCU OVER THE COASTAL PLAIN LATER THURSDAY MORNING INTO THURSDAY AFTERNOON. LAYER TOO SHALLOW TO SUPPORT ANYTHING MORE THAN SPRINKLES IF EVEN THAT. TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL FOR MID APRIL THOUGH SOME RECOVERY COMPARED TO TODAY ANTICIPATED. AFTERNOON THICKNESSES PROJECTED TO BE ABOUT 20M WARMT THAN THIS AFTERNOON WHICH SUGGEST AFTERNOON TEMPS THURSDAY ABOUT 5 DEGREES WARMER THAN THIS AFTERNOON. THIS IS MORE SIMILAR TO THE COOLER GFS MOS GUIDANCE. MAX TEMPS UPPER 50S TO LOWER 60S. && .SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY /... AS OF 330 PM WEDNESDAY... THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY....SFC RIDGE AXIS WILL LIKELY MAINTAIN ITS INFLUENCE OVER THE PIEDMONT OF CENTRAL NC THROUGH THIS PERIOD AS PARENT HIGH BECOMES ANCHORED OVER NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND/CANADIAN MARITIME DUE TO CONFLUENT FLOW ALOFT. WHILE THE AIR MASS UNDERNEATH THIS RIDGE WILL GRADUALLY MODIFY...PRESENCE OF DRY AIR UNDER THIS WEATHER SYSTEM WILL MAINTAIN A BASICALLY CLOUD FREE ATMOSPHERE IN THE LOWEST 10K FEET. MEANWHILE...A S/W IS PROJECTED TO MOVE EAST-SE ACROSS THE CENTRAL NC PLAINS AND INTO THE TN VALLEY WHERE IT IS PROJECTED TO BEGIN TO INTERACT WITH A SYSTEM LIFTING E-NE ACROSS THE NORTHERN GULF. UPPER LEVEL FLOW OVER THE CAROLINAS WILL BACK IN RESPONSE TO THE APPROACH OF THESE SYSTEMS...TRANSPORTING HIGH LEVEL MOISTURE INTO OUR REGION. THIS SHOULD RESULT IN AN INCREASING VEIL OF HIGH CLOUDS THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. THE THICKNESS OF THESE HIGH CLOUDS WILL PLAY A ROLE IN WHETHER SCATTERED FROST WILL DEVELOP OVER THE PIEDMONT THURSDAY NIGHT/EARLY FRIDAY. IN ADDITION...LOW LEVEL ELY FLOW WILL ADVECT MOISTURE OFF THE ATLANTIC INTO THE COASTAL PLAIN BY FRIDAY MORNING. MIN TEMPS MID 30S WEST TO UPPER 30S/AROUND 40 EAST. SHOULD SEE AT A MINIMUM A MIXTURE OF SUN AND CLOUDS FRIDAY WITH THE CHARACTER OF THE SKY BECOMING MOSTLY CLOUDY OR OVERCAST BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ISENTROPIC UPGLIDE DOES NOT APPEAR STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT PRECIP FRIDAY AFTERNOON...ASIDE FROM A STRAY SHOWER ACROSS THE FAR SE. AIR MASS WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY MODIFY BUT AFTERNOON TEMPS WILL REMAIN WELL BELOW NORMAL. MAX TEMPS 60-65. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... AS OF 3 PM WEDNESDAY... FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT: THE WEEKEND FORECAST CONTINUES TO HAVE SOME UNCERTAINTY WITH REGARD TO THE EVOLUTION OF A POSSIBLE CLOSED LOW LINGERING ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S/OFFSHORE. WHILE THE NORTHERN STREAM ENERGY IS PROGRESSIVE AND PUSHES EASTWARD FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY. IN ADVANCE OF THE NORTHERN STREAM TROUGH BOTH THE 12Z GFS AND ECMWF PULLS MOISTURE NORTHWARD... AND PRODUCED SOME LIGHT RAIN ACROSS OUR FAR SOUTHEAST/EAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING... WITH THE BULK OF THE PRECIP EXPECTED TO BE TO OUR EAST AND SOUTH. HOWEVER... MODEL GUIDANCES IS STRUGGLING WITH WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH THE LINGERING SOUTHERN STEAM ENERGY THAT POSSIBLY CLOSES OFF INTO A CLOSED LOW AND LINGERS NEAR FL AND OFF THE SOUTHEAST U.S. COAST. THE 12Z ECMWF HAS COME A MORE IN THE LINE WITH THE 12Z GFS IN SHOWING LINGERING MID LEVEL ENERGY SLOWLY SHIFTING EASTWARD AND FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE COAST TO KEEP US DRY SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH THE REST OF THE WEEKEND. HOWEVER... GUIDANCES HAS SHOWN POOR RUN TO RUN CONTINUITY. THUS... CONFIDENCE IS NOT HIGH THAT LATE SATURDAY INTO SUNDAY THAT WE WILL BE COMPLETELY DRY AT THIS TIME ACROSS OUR ENTIRE AREA (IF PRECIP LINGER... LOCATIONS ACROSS THE EAST/SOUTHEAST WOULD SEE THE BEST CHANCE/MOST). FOR NOW WILL GO WITH A DRY FORECAST AS MENTIONED ABOVE FROM SATURDAY AFTERNOON ONWARD. WITH SURFACE HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING INTO THE AREA FROM THE NORTH AND A COOL EAST TO NORTHEASTERLY LOW LEVEL FLOW EXPECT HIGH TEMPS WILL REMAIN SLIGHTLY BELOW NORMAL WITH AT LEAST SOME CLOUD COVER (MORE EAST VS WEST). THUS... WILL GO WITH HIGH TEMPS THIS WEEKEND IN THE UPPER 60S TO LOWER 70S... WITH LOW TEMPS IN THE 40S TO LOWER 50S. MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY: NEXT MID LEVEL DISTURBANCE IS EXPECTED TO CROSS THE REGION ON TUESDAY... ALONG WITH A WEAK SURFACE TROUGH. HOWEVER... WITH LACK OF ANY SIGNIFICANT MOISTURE RETURN WILL KEEP POPS LOW AT THIS TIME. TEMPS EARLY TO MID NEXT WEEK ARE EXPECT TO WARM AGAIN... WITH HIGHS IN THE 70S AND LOWS IN THE 50S. && .AVIATION /06Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... AS OF 200 AM THURSDAY... UNSEASONABLY STRONG/POLAR HIGH PRESSURE WILL RIDGE SOUTH FROM NEW ENGLAND AND RESULT IN CLEAR/VFR CONDITIONS THIS MORNING...WHICH WILL YIELD TO BOTH INCREASING CIRRUS IN SW FLOW ALOFT FROM THE WEST...AND A BRIEF PERIOD OF SCT TO PERHAPS EVEN BKN STRATOCUMULUS BETWEEN 2500- 4000 FT MAINLY AT EASTERN TERMINALS BETWEEN MID-MORNING THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON. THE SURFACE RIDGE WILL ALSO MAINTAIN A NORTHEASTERLY SURFACE WIND OVER CENTRAL NC...STRONGEST AND OCCASIONALLY GUSTY INTO THE UPPER TEENS KTS AT EASTERN TERMINALS... ALSO FROM MID-MORNING TO EARLY AFTERNOON. OUTLOOK: A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL DEVELOP AND LINGER OFFSHORE THE SOUTHEAST US COAST LATE FRI THROUGH THE WEEKEND...AND THIS SYSTEM MAY RESULT IN RAIN AND SUB-VFR CONDITIONS AT KFAY/KRWI/KRDU FRI NIGHT-SAT. FORECAST CONFIDENCE REMAINS BELOW AVERAGE REGARDING THE TRACK OF THE LOW AND ASSOCIATED IMPACTS OVER CENTRAL NC...HOWEVER. && .CLIMATE... THE FOLLOWING ARE THE RECORD LOW TEMPERATURES FOR THIS MORNING: THU 04/17 LOW/YEAR FAY: 31/1953 GSO: 29/1953 RDU: 29/1962 && .RAH WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FREEZE WARNING FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 9 AM EDT THURSDAY FOR NCZ007>011-021>027-038>041-073>077-083>086. && $$ SYNOPSIS...MWS NEAR TERM...WSS/SMITH SHORT TERM...WSS LONG TERM...BSD AVIATION...MWS CLIMATE...MWS
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
1142 AM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OUT OF NEW ENGLAND AND ACROSS THE CANADIAN MARITIMES BUT STILL EXTEND ACROSS THE EASTERN SEABOARD THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING, BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE REESTABLISHES ITSELF ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND BUILDS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA NEXT TUESDAY, FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... NEXT ESTF UPDATE MAINLY FOR AN UPWARD A SKY COVER ADJUSTMENT EAST. WE FOUND THAT THE RAP IS HANDLING THE 925MB MOISTURE THE BEST. WRF- NMMB FCST SOUNDINGS ALSO LOOK BETTER THAN THE SOME OF THE PLAN VIEW MODEL MASS FIELDS. THEY BOTH SHOW SOME DRYING WITH MIXING LATER IN THE AFTERNOON BEFORE PREDICTED CLOUDS ROLL IN AT NIGHT. TEMPS IRONICALLY ARE RUNNING TOO LOW VS PREDICTIONS IN SUNNIER LOCALES FAR NORTH. OVERALL THOUGH NO BIG ADJUSTMENTS MADE THERE. 12Z SOUNDINGS SUPPORT FORECAST MAX TEMPS FOR TODAY. OTHERWISE...THIS DAY SHOULD BE LOADED WITH SUNSHINE OVER THE INTERIOR WITH ONLY THIN CIRRUS AT TIMES. WINDS WILL BE E-NE GUSTING 15 TO 20 MPH AT TIMES. THE FCST BASIS WAS A 50 50 BLEND 00Z/17 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM FRIDAY/... TONIGHTS FCST WAS ALSO A 50 50 BLEND OF THE 00Z/17 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE. THAT IN MIND...THE FCST TEMPS ARE GENERALLY FREEZING OR JUST ABOVE. COLLABORATING THE UNCERTAINTY REGARDING A FREEZE OR A FROST...HAVE BLENDED THE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. HERE IN THE MOUNT HOLLY AREA...THINK ODDS FAVOR SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPS TONIGHT THAN WHAT OCCURRED THIS THURSDAY MORNING AND SO A FROST APPEARS MORE LIKELY FROM MY VIEW IN OUR AREA...RATHER THAN A FREEZE BUT ITS POSSIBLE THE GUIDANCE IS 2 DEGREES TOO WARM? OTHERWISE THE ONSHORE WIND WILL BE DIMINISHING AND BECOME LIGHT. ITS POSSIBLE THAT LOW CLOUDS WILL FORM OR HAVE ALREADY FORMED AND LOCKED INTO PORTIONS OF THE COAST THIS EVENING AND THEN DEVELOP NWD AS THE BOUNDARY LAYER COOLS....ESPECIALLY CENTRAL NJ. PATCHY FOG IS ALSO POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT BUT NOT CURRENTLY IN THE GRIDS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THE HIGH PRESSURE THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDING SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE EAST COAST FROM CANADA WILL BEGIN PULLING OUT OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. AS THIS HAPPENS, OUR AREA WILL BE IN BETWEEN TWO FEATURES LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT; ONE BEING AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO OUR SOUTH OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST AND THE OTHER AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. WITH THE PERSISTENT NORTHEAST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA, WE EXPECT A FAIR AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SHOULD HELP KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY, SO WE REMAIN BELOW NORMAL. THE SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAR ENOUGH TO OUR SOUTH TO PREVENT WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION TO AFFECT THE AREA. HOWEVER, THERE REMAINS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME LIGHT RAIN ON THE VERY FAR NORTHERN EDGE COULD EXTEND ACROSS OUR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS, SO WE WILL KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ACROSS OUR SOUTHEASTERN ZONES. SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT THE VERTICAL MOISTURE IS RATHER SHALLOW, SO IT MAY BE MORE DRIZZLE, SO WE WILL INCLUDE CHANCE DRIZZLE WITH THE RAIN IN THE FORECAST LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA OVERNIGHT FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MORNING. ALL GUIDANCE INDICATES THE PRECIPITATION DRYING OUT AS IT APPROACHES OUR AREA, SO WE HAVE REMOVED POPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA AS WE NOW EXPECT A DRY FRONTAL PASSAGE. WE EXPECT DRY WEATHER TO BUILD IN ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY BEHIND THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD SOUTHWARD OUT OF CANADA. THE HIGH SHOULD SUPPRESS THE LOW TO OUR SOUTH BY SATURDAY SO THAT IT WOULDN`T HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR AREA ANYMORE. THIS HIGH WILL REESTABLISH ITSELF ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND BUILDS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD AGAIN INTO SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DRY WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK. WITH RIDGING ALOFT TAKING PLACE, TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN CLOSER TO NORMAL OVER THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. ON TUESDAY, A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE WEST. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN ALONG THE BOUNDARY AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT LOOKS TO BE THE NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. THEREFORE WE HAVE CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE AREA DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THIS LOW IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY PULL TO OUR NORTHEAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD SOUTHWARD OUT OF CANADA ONCE AGAIN. WEDNESDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE DRY, BUT SHOULD BE QUITE GUSTY WITH THE TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT. && .AVIATION /16Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. TODAY...VFR WITH SOME THIN CIRRUS AT TIMES THEN 3500-4000 FT MIDDAY. MEANWHILE 3000 SCTVBKN DEVELOPING ALONG THE SRN NJ AND DE COAST MAY BE PREDOMINANT JUST SOUTH OF KACY. CONFIDENCE ON CEILINGS A BIT BELOW AVG. WIND E-NE WITH GUSTS 15-20 KT BETWEEN 15-21Z. TONIGHT...PROBABLY VFR TO START BUT MVFR CIGS MAY DEVELOP LATE OR POSSIBLE EVEN SPOTTY IFR FOG...ESPECIALLY NJ. LIGHT WIND. CONFIDENCE ON CIGS/VSBY BELOW AVG. OUTLOOK... FRIDAY-FRIDAY NIGHT...MVFR CIGS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE COAST. SATURDAY-MONDAY...MOSTLY VFR. GUSTY N-NW WINDS 15-20 KNOTS SATURDAY. && .MARINE... SCA CONTINUES ATLC WATERS WITH SEAS ALREADY 5 FT AND WINDS/SEAS TO BUILD A LITTLE TODAY BEFORE SLOWLY SUBSIDING LATER TONIGHT. ADDED LOWER DE BAY TO THE SCA PER EXPECTED WIND IMPACT AT THE BAY ENTRANCE. OUTLOOK... FRIDAY-FRIDAY NIGHT...SEAS LIKELY TO REMAIN 5 FEET OR GREATER ON THE OCEAN THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY NIGHT, THEN BEGIN TO SUBSIDE. SATURDAY...SUB-SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA EXPECTED. SATURDAY NIGHT-SUNDAY...WINDS AND SEAS INCREASING TO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA OVERNIGHT SATURDAY AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY, ESPECIALLY ON OCEAN. SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY...A RETURN TO SUB-SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR PAZ060-101>103-106. NJ...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR NJZ012-013-015-017>022-027. DE...NONE. MD...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ450>455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ431. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ROBERTSON NEAR TERM...DRAG/GIGI SHORT TERM...DRAG LONG TERM...ROBERTSON AVIATION...DRAG/ROBERTSON MARINE...DRAG/ROBERTSON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MELBOURNE FL
1025 AM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... ...WET THROUGH SATURDAY WITH POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST... ...HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK... MORNING UPDATE... STATIONARY BOUNDARY PREVIOUSLY ANALYZED STATIONARY BOUNDARY OVER THE FLORIDA STRAITS NOW BEING ANALYZED AS A DIFFUSE BOUNDARY APPROACHING LAKE OKEECHOBEE. THE BIGGEST CHANGE FOR THE AFTERNOON WILL BE ADDING A SLIGHT CHANCE OF THUNDERSTORMS TO OKEECHOBEE...MARTIN...SAINT LUCIE...INDIAN RIVER AND SOUTHERN OSCEOLA COUNTIES WHERE THE AIR MASS WELL BE MORE MOIST AND ANY BREAKS IN THE SKY COVER WOULD ENHANCE THE INSTABILITY. MODEL TRENDS ARE INDICATING CAPE VALUES AROUND 1000 JOULES PER KILOGRAM (J/KG) FOR THE AFTERNOON HOURS. AREA 12Z SOUNDINGS WERE SHOWING 500MB TEMPERATURES IN THE -12C TO -14C RANGE BUT THE MODELS WERE SHOWING A LITTLE WARMING TO -10C TO 12C AS THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT ADVECTS SLIGHT WARMER AIR INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA. THE TAMPA AND CAPE CANAVERAL SOUNDINGS WERE SHOWING A WARM LAYER/WEAK CAP BETWEEN 700 AND 600MB THAT COULD HINDER STRONGER STORM DEVELOPMENT OVER THE AREA TO THE NORTH. ANY CELLS OVER THE SOUTHERN AREAS REACHING HIGH ENOUGH TO TAP THE COOLER AIR COULD BECOME STRONG ENOUGH TO PRODUCE GUSTY DOWNBURST WINDS AND LOCALLY HEAVY RAIN LATEST RADAR LOOP WAS SHOWING ONE AREA OF RAIN MOVING EAST TO WEST OFF THE SOUTHERN COASTAL WATERS AND INTO SAINT LUCIE AND MARTIN COUNTIES WITH AREAS OF LIGHT RAIN OVER THE CENTRAL SECTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. PREVIOUS DISCUSSION TODAY-TONIGHT...POST FRONTAL DRY AIRMASS REMAIN FAIRLY PERVASIVE ACROSS THE REGION...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND VOLUSIA COUNTY WHERE DEWPOINTS ARE STILL IN THE MID-UPPER 50S. MODELS HAVE SO FAR BEEN VERY GUNG HO IN LIFTING THE OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY/ENHANCED MOISTURE BACK NORTH...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE NORTHWARD TREND MAY BE STARTING AS ONE HEAVY RAINBAND SET UP EARLIER THIS EVENING ACROSS BROWARD COUNTY THAT HAS SINCE DISSIPATED. CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM BREVARD/OSCEOLA COUNTIES SOUTHWARDS COINCIDENT WITH AN AREA OF WIND CONVERGENCE IN THE 1000-850MB LAYER. THIS IS WHERE RADAR IS ALSO NOW PICKING UP ON A RECENT UPSWING IN SHOWER COVERAGE. LOCAL WRF MODEL SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED PRECIP AROUND DAYBREAK OVER THE TREASURE COAST...BUT HRRR MODEL KEEPS THIS ACTIVITY MORE OVER SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL LATER. ITS TOUGH TO SAY WHERE OR IF ANY LOCALLY HEAVY BANDS MAY SET UP UNTIL THEY DO...BUT JUST AHEAD OF/ALONG WARM FRONT WOULD BE THE BEST BET. DO EXPECT AN INCREASE IN SHOWER FREQUENCY TOWARDS DAYBREAK ACROSS THE TREASURE COAST. FRONTAL REMNANTS AND BEST ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL MOVE BACK TO THE NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH THE DAY...ACCELERATING INTO NORTH FLORIDA TONIGHT AS UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE SWINGS EASTWARDS AND SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS ACROSS THE GULF. HAVE TAPERED BACK RAIN CHANCES TO 20 PERCENT NORTHERN INTERIOR TO 60 PERCENT OKEECHOBEE/TREASURE COAST BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS/MODEL FORECAST. COULD SEE A FEW PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ALONG THE COAST TODAY...BEFORE THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL LIFT NORTH OF THE REGION LATER TONIGHT. THOUGH IT WILL BE BREEZY AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON...IT DOESN`T APPEAR THAT SPEEDS/GUSTS WILL BE QUITE AS HIGH AS YESTERDAY SO HAVE NOT ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL STILL REMAIN CHOPPY ON AREA LAKES. COASTAL HIGHS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP TIMING...BUT OVERALL EXPECTED ANYWHERE FROM LOW 70S ALONG VOLUSIA COAST TO UPPER 70S/AROUND 80 IN BREVARD/TREASURE COAST. INTERIOR TEMPS IN THE UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S. MILD OVERNIGHT AS FLOW BECOMES MORE EAST-SOUTHEAST WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S INTERIOR/AROUND 70S COAST. FRI-SUN...THE OVERALL TREND OF THE SHORT RANGE FORECAST IS DECIDEDLY SLOWER AND WETTER INTO SUNDAY. STRONG SOUTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE EAST ALONG THE ERN GULF COAST BEFORE PINCHING OFF INTO A CLOSED MID-UPPER LOW INVOF THE FL/AL/GA TRI-STATE REGION FRI NIGHT. THE CLOSED LOW WILL THEN DRIFT SLOWLY EAST SOMEWHERE BTWN THE FL/GA BORDER AND PENINSULAR NORTH FL ON SAT...EASING OFFSHORE SAT NIGHT AND DRIFTING FARTHER OFFSHORE AND AWAY FROM THE FL EAST COAST ON SUN. AT THE SURFACE...AVBL MODEL GUIDANCE HAS CONVERGED TOWARD A MORE AGREEABLE (SLOWER) SOLUTION...ALTHOUGH THE GFS CONTINUES TO BE THE FASTEST. SFC FRONTAL WAVE SPINS UP INTO A LOW AND TRACKS ACROSS THE NERN GOMEX FRI...WITH THE SFC AND MID/UPPER LEVEL LOWS BECOMING VERTICALLY STACKED BY FRI NIGHT OVER NORTH FL. SFC WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL FL DURING THE MORNING...WHICH SHOULD TAKE WIDESPREAD STRATIFORM RAINFALL NWD ACROSS NORTH FL/GA...WHILE ECFL BREAKS OUT INTO THE WARM SECTOR OF THE GOMEX LOW. DEEP LAYER S-SW FLOW WITH PWATS AROUND 1.75" WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS/STORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF STRONGER STORMS TO REACH CTRL FL FROM THE GOMEX (N/W OF I-4) AROUND SUNSET (GIVE OR TAKE) AND CONTINUE TO DROP SEWD THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. SFC LOW WILL BE VERY SLOW TO MOVE ACROSS THE STATE FRI NIGHT...AND THEN LINGER OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST THROUGHOUT SAT. SUFFICIENT WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL EXIST FOR SCT TO NMRS SHOWERS...AND EVEN SOME STORMS GIVEN THE COLD H50 TEMPS UNDERNEATH THE H50 LOW OVHD. EXPECT LINGERING SHOWERS SAT NIGHT/SUNDAY IN COOL/MOIST NRLY FLOW ON BACK SIDE OF THE LOW...WHICH WILL BE GRUDGINGLY SLOW TO PUT SPACE BETWEEN ITSELF AND FL. COVERAGE/INTENSITY SHOULD BE RATHER LOW. MON-WED...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE FINALLY SETTLES IN TOWARD FL EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND DRYING CONDS OUT. THERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS OF A WEAK FRONTAL TROUGH AND ASCD MOISTURE BAND TAKING A GLANCING SHOT AT NORTH FL TUE-NIGHT INTO WED...BUT WILL NOT GET TOO INVOLVED IN DISSECTING DAY 6-7 POPS GIVEN THE MORE SIG WX IN DAYS 1-3. && .AVIATION...WARM MOIST SOUTHWEST FLOW MOVING OVERTOP OF A RELATIVELY COOLER LOW LEVEL AIR MASS BEING ADVECTED EAST TO WEST OFF THE ATLANTIC WILL PRODUCE HIGHLY VARIABLE CLOUD BASES. NOT STRAYING VERY FAR FROM THE CURRENT MVFR TAFS FOR THE BALANCE OF THE DAY. PREVIOUS AVIATION DISCUSSION MOIST AND CLOUDY THROUGH THE PERIOD...THOUGH OVERALL IT APPEARS MOST LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN JUST INSIDE VFR WITH PREVAILING CIGS FL035-050. COASTAL SITES WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO SEE MVFR CIGS FL020-030. ISOLD SHRA MOVING ONSHORE INTO AREAS SOUTH OF KVRB THROUGH 13Z...THEN BECOMING SCT-NMRS. COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM SOUTH-NORTH AS OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS BACK TO THE NORTH THROUGH THE DAY. A FEW HEAVIER SHRA MAY PRODUCE TEMPO IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY ALONG COASTAL SITES. COULD SEE PREVAILING IFR CIGS LATER TONIGHT AS WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF REGION. && .MARINE... CURRENT-THIS AFTERNOON...BUOYS 113...114 AND 009 WERE RECORDING 4 TO 6 FEET NEARSHORE AND 7 FEET AT 20 MILES OFF THE COAST. BUOY 010 OUT AT 120 MILES OFFSHORE WAS RECORDING 10 FOOT SEAS WITH A 7 FOOT NORTHEAST SWELL. BOTH BUOYS 009 AND 010 WERE RECORDING NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 19 KNOTS WITH GUSTS TO 25 KNOTS. CURRENT AFTERNOON FORECAST OF WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS AND 6 TO 9 FOOT SEAS LOOKS GOOD. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ALL MARINE ZONES CONTINUES. PREVIOUS MARINE DISCUSSION TODAY-TONIGHT...GUSTY NORTHEAST TO EAST FLOW WILL CONTINUE TO PRODUCE HAZARDOUS CONDITIONS FOR SMALL CRAFT. PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL REMAIN STRONGEST OVER WATERS NORTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET...KEEPING WINDS IN THE 20-25KT RANGE INTO THIS EVENING. WARM FRONT LIFTING BACK TO THE NORTH WILL EASE GRADIENT FURTHER SOUTH...VEERING WINDS MORE EAST IN THE 15-20KT RANGE BY LATE MORNING OFF THE TREASURE COAST. WINDS WILL VEER EAST-SOUTHEAST AND DROP TO 15-20KTS OVER ALL THE WATERS BY LATE TONIGHT AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF THE REGION. WILL KEEP ADVISORY FOR WINDS/SEAS NORTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET THROUGH LATE TONIGHT WITH SEAS 5-7FT NEARSHORE/6-9FT OFFSHORE. WILL HAVE ADVISORY FOR SEAS SOUTH OF SEBASTIAN INLET WHERE WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER...BUT SEAS WILL BE SIMILAR TO NORTHERN SECTIONS DUE TO INITIAL NORTHEASTERLY TRAJECTORY. FRI-MON...A SLIGHT DECREASE IN WINDS/SEAS IS EXPECTED AS THE WARM FRONT LIFTS NWD THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY. HOWEVER...STILL LOOKING AT CAUTIONARY CONDITIONS WITH 15-20KT AND SEAS TO 6FT...POSSIBLY A BIT HIGHER. COVERAGE OF RAIN AND STORMS/GUSTY WINDS WILL REMAIN MARINE THREATS INTO SATURDAY. SYNOPTIC GRADIENT WINDS WILL BEGIN TO PICK BACK UP SAT AFTERNOON AS THE LOW CENTER MOVES OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST AND PGRAD TIGHTENS. SEAS WILL RAMP BACK UP TO 7-10FT OR A LITTLE HIGHER SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN AS W-NW WINDS SHIFT TO N AND NNE BEHIND THE SLOWLY DEPARTING LOW. SLOW IMPROVEMENT IN WINDS SEAS MON. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 73 68 78 64 / 20 50 80 60 MCO 79 67 82 66 / 20 50 80 60 MLB 79 71 81 69 / 50 40 70 60 VRB 79 72 81 70 / 50 40 70 60 LEE 78 66 79 61 / 20 50 80 60 SFB 78 67 82 64 / 20 50 80 60 ORL 79 68 82 65 / 20 50 80 60 FPR 80 70 82 72 / 60 40 70 60 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE. && $$ SHORT TERM/AVIATION...WIMMER LONG TERM/IMPACT WX...VOLKMER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
704 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 702 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 PLACED FOG IN FOR THIS MORNING OVER THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE AREA...MAINLY YUMA COUNTY. FOG SHOULD LIFT IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS OR SO. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD AND CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE PERIOD. SATELLITE SHOWING A SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED BUT STILL PROGRESSIVE FLOW FROM THE PACIFIC THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. STRONG SYSTEM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CANADA WITH A RIDGE PUSHING IN AHEAD OF IT. AT THIS TIME THIS IS LEAVING A NORTHWEST FLOW WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS OVER THE AREA. AT JET LEVEL...THE NAM WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE GFS. AT MID LEVELS...OVERALL THE MODELS WERE NOT TOO FAR APART WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO THE GFS. HOWEVER WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PASSING THROUGH THE REGION...THE ECMWF WAS DOING THE BEST. THE CANADIAN WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ECMWF...GFS AND NAM ON THE SURFACE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. THE GFS WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER OUTPUT IN THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD. TODAY/TONIGHT...LEFT FRONT QUADRANT STARTS OUT NEAR THE WESTERN END OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND THEN WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR/OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS...SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FAR SOUTH LOOKS REASONABLE AND DID NOT ADJUST. NEXT BUT MINOR CONCERN WILL BE HOW LONG THE CLOUD COVER WILL LAST THIS MORNING AND IF THAT WILL AFFECT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. MODELS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE STRATUS WITH RAP DOING THE BEST AND WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT AND OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS. AS SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH PULLS OUT...SHOULD GET A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDENCE FROM THAT BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE UPPER JET IS NOT YET TO OUR EAST. DUE TO THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER AND UNFAVORABLE SURFACE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PORTION... WILL NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND STUCK CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IF SKY COVER CLEARS AS THE MODELS THINK AND THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS/PRESSURE FALLS OCCUR AS SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST AND THE LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS...WINDS SHOULD GET AT LEAST BREEZY IN THE WESTERN HALF MAYBE EVEN WINDY. NO HIGHLIGHT WILL BE NEEDED. WINDS WILL STAY UP TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. MINS WILL BE WARMER AND MAY NEED TO BE WARMED UP MORE FROM WHAT I HAVE THEM. FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT...RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN/THROUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY WITH FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONING TO SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES AND PLENTY OF SUN WILL ALLOW FOR A GOOD WARMUP. TENDED TO FOLLOW THE WARMER GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...THE BIGGER STORY WILL BE THE INCREASING WINDS. GRADIENT AND 3 HOUR PRESSURE FALLS ARE TIGHTER/LARGER THAN FOR TODAY SO WILL DEFINITELY SEE A WINDY DAY. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WOULD SAY WIND SPEEDS WILL GET NEAR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AHEAD OF OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM THAT IS MOVING INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY AGAIN TO NOT ONLY INCREASE SPEEDS BUT ALSO AT A POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. LACK OF INSTABILITY AND AN EXTREMELY DEEP DRY LAYER IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION FROM DEVELOPING OR REACHING THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT. NO UPPER JET IS CLOSE AND NO LOW LEVEL JET LOOKS TO BE IN THE AREA. SO REMOVED THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD. WITH WARM AIR AND SOME MOISTURE ADVECTION STRATUS AND MAYBE SOME FOG MAY DEVELOP/MOVE INTO THE AREA. SINCE ONLY THE NAM IS SHOWING IT AND THE 06Z NAM PULLED BACK FROM EARLIER SOLUTION...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY FOG BUT THE DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...SPLIT FLOW WILL BE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THIS IS LEADING TO MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE MODELS HANDLE THE POSITION OF FEATURES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA. OVERALL THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL CONSENSUS AND ENSEMBLES WERE SIDING MORE WITH A SLOWER ARRIVING AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER TROUGH MOVING IN AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. HOW THE DETERMINISTIC OUTPUT HANDLED THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AFFECTED HOW FAST THEY MOVED IN THE FRONT WITH A SIMILAR CONSENSUS AS WHAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE UPPER LEVELS. THE 06Z NAM SLOWED DOWN FROM THE 00Z RUN AND MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN WHICH LOOKED TO BE HANDLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEE SIDE TROUGH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. SO DUE TO THE MODEL TRENDS AND ENSEMBLES...SIDED WITH THE SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER SOLUTION. SO THIS MEANT I PREFERRED THE SLOWER/FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION FOR THE DAY. SO AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION...BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN OCCUR. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONTAL POSITION WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO THAT...THE MODELS...DESPITE THE FRONT...TENDED TO CAP THE LOW LEVELS WITH THE NORTHWEST HALF HAVING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAP. SO BASED ON THE CAP...AND A FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION... I REDUCED THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION AND PUT THE HIGHEST POPS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL POSITION WHERE THE BOUNDARY/BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS AND WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKEST. ALSO CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM COULD INHIBIT HEATING AND EXPECTED INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FRONTAL POSITION AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER STORM SYSTEM. MODELS TENDED TO BE WARMER...ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HOWEVER...DID NOT GO AS WARM AS I COULD DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. BEST TIME FOR PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO ARRIVE DURING THE NIGHT. THE DEEPEST LIFT ARRIVES DURING THAT TIME AND THE DETERMINISTIC QPF OUTPUT AND ENSEMBLE PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES AGREE WITH THAT. THE SOUTHEAST HALF LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO LEFT THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT ALONE. SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. STORM MOVEMENTS WILL BE SLOW AND NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. SO THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR TRAINING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 SUNDAY THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WHICH TRIGGERED CONVECTION SATURDAY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE DRY LINE REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO BORDER. AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH...STORMS WILL TURN FROM MOVING NORTHEAST TO MOVING SOUTH...WHICH WILL INCREASE STORM COVERAGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY EVENING THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA CAUSING RAINFALL TO COME TO AN END. MONDAY THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH. WITH A DRY ENVIRONMENT IN PLACE AND NO SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH SO WILL KEEP THE DAY DRY. TUESDAY THE RIDGE WILL STILL BE OVER THE AREA. DURING THE AFTERNOON A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA. DESPITE THE DRY LINE STILL REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO LINE...THE WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE LCLS TO BE VERY HIGH WITH LARGE DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS AT THE LCL AS WELL. DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS SHRINK BY LATE AFTERNOON BUT THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL FILL BY THEN. MODEL CONSENSUS HAS NO RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THE AFTERNOON AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. BASED ON THE ABOVE CONSIDERATIONS WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST DRY...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO DEVELOP DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH FILLS. WEDNESDAY A SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AS THE DRY LINE IS PUSHED EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE EVEN DRIER THAN TUESDAY SO A THE DRY FORECAST WILL CONTINUE FOR THE DAY DESPITE THE DRY LINE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP AS A SURFACE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE AREA LEADING TO WINDY CONDITIONS. DUE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MOVING IN BEHIND THE DRY LINE...HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO TUESDAY AND EXTEND EAST INTO FAR NORTHWEST KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 540 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 VERY UNCERTAIN FORECAST FOR THE FIRST SIX HOURS SINCE THE MODELS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT THE CURRENT STRATUS FIELD IN PLACE ACROSS OUR AREA. CURRENTLY IFR/NEAR LIFR CONDITIONS AT KGLD AND MVFR CONDITIONS AT KMCK WITH NO MODEL OUTPUT SHOWING ANYTHING ANYWHERE CLOSE. SO GO WITH PERSISTENCE AND KEEP THE CURRENT CONDITIONS GOING THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING SINCE THE WIND FIELD IS LIGHT AND DO NOT EXPECT MUCH OF AN AIR MASS CHANGE. AT THIS TIME BY 18Z DO EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO OCCUR AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REST OF THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY AT BOTH SITES WITH KGLD BEING GUSTY OFF AND ON THROUGH THE NIGHT. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JTL SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...BULLER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
544 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD AND CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE PERIOD. SATELLITE SHOWING A SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED BUT STILL PROGRESSIVE FLOW FROM THE PACIFIC THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. STRONG SYSTEM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CANADA WITH A RIDGE PUSHING IN AHEAD OF IT. AT THIS TIME THIS IS LEAVING A NORTHWEST FLOW WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS OVER THE AREA. AT JET LEVEL...THE NAM WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE GFS. AT MID LEVELS...OVERALL THE MODELS WERE NOT TOO FAR APART WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO THE GFS. HOWEVER WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PASSING THROUGH THE REGION...THE ECMWF WAS DOING THE BEST. THE CANADIAN WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ECMWF...GFS AND NAM ON THE SURFACE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. THE GFS WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER OUTPUT IN THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD. TODAY/TONIGHT...LEFT FRONT QUADRANT STARTS OUT NEAR THE WESTERN END OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND THEN WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR/OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS...SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FAR SOUTH LOOKS REASONABLE AND DID NOT ADJUST. NEXT BUT MINOR CONCERN WILL BE HOW LONG THE CLOUD COVER WILL LAST THIS MORNING AND IF THAT WILL AFFECT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. MODELS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE STRATUS WITH RAP DOING THE BEST AND WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT AND OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS. AS SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH PULLS OUT...SHOULD GET A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDENCE FROM THAT BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE UPPER JET IS NOT YET TO OUR EAST. DUE TO THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER AND UNFAVORABLE SURFACE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PORTION... WILL NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND STUCK CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IF SKY COVER CLEARS AS THE MODELS THINK AND THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS/PRESSURE FALLS OCCUR AS SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST AND THE LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS...WINDS SHOULD GET AT LEAST BREEZY IN THE WESTERN HALF MAYBE EVEN WINDY. NO HIGHLIGHT WILL BE NEEDED. WINDS WILL STAY UP TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. MINS WILL BE WARMER AND MAY NEED TO BE WARMED UP MORE FROM WHAT I HAVE THEM. FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT...RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN/THROUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY WITH FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONING TO SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES AND PLENTY OF SUN WILL ALLOW FOR A GOOD WARMUP. TENDED TO FOLLOW THE WARMER GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...THE BIGGER STORY WILL BE THE INCREASING WINDS. GRADIENT AND 3 HOUR PRESSURE FALLS ARE TIGHTER/LARGER THAN FOR TODAY SO WILL DEFINITELY SEE A WINDY DAY. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WOULD SAY WIND SPEEDS WILL GET NEAR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AHEAD OF OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM THAT IS MOVING INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY AGAIN TO NOT ONLY INCREASE SPEEDS BUT ALSO AT A POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. LACK OF INSTABILITY AND AN EXTREMELY DEEP DRY LAYER IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION FROM DEVELOPING OR REACHING THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT. NO UPPER JET IS CLOSE AND NO LOW LEVEL JET LOOKS TO BE IN THE AREA. SO REMOVED THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD. WITH WARM AIR AND SOME MOISTURE ADVECTION STRATUS AND MAYBE SOME FOG MAY DEVELOP/MOVE INTO THE AREA. SINCE ONLY THE NAM IS SHOWING IT AND THE 06Z NAM PULLED BACK FROM EARLIER SOLUTION...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY FOG BUT THE DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...SPLIT FLOW WILL BE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THIS IS LEADING TO MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE MODELS HANDLE THE POSITION OF FEATURES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA. OVERALL THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL CONSENSUS AND ENSEMBLES WERE SIDING MORE WITH A SLOWER ARRIVING AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER TROUGH MOVING IN AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. HOW THE DETERMINISTIC OUTPUT HANDLED THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AFFECTED HOW FAST THEY MOVED IN THE FRONT WITH A SIMILAR CONSENSUS AS WHAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE UPPER LEVELS. THE 06Z NAM SLOWED DOWN FROM THE 00Z RUN AND MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN WHICH LOOKED TO BE HANDLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEE SIDE TROUGH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. SO DUE TO THE MODEL TRENDS AND ENSEMBLES...SIDED WITH THE SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER SOLUTION. SO THIS MEANT I PREFERRED THE SLOWER/FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION FOR THE DAY. SO AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION...BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN OCCUR. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONTAL POSITION WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO THAT...THE MODELS...DESPITE THE FRONT...TENDED TO CAP THE LOW LEVELS WITH THE NORTHWEST HALF HAVING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAP. SO BASED ON THE CAP...AND A FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION... I REDUCED THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION AND PUT THE HIGHEST POPS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL POSITION WHERE THE BOUNDARY/BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS AND WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKEST. ALSO CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM COULD INHIBIT HEATING AND EXPECTED INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FRONTAL POSITION AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER STORM SYSTEM. MODELS TENDED TO BE WARMER...ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HOWEVER...DID NOT GO AS WARM AS I COULD DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. BEST TIME FOR PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO ARRIVE DURING THE NIGHT. THE DEEPEST LIFT ARRIVES DURING THAT TIME AND THE DETERMINISTIC QPF OUTPUT AND ENSEMBLE PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES AGREE WITH THAT. THE SOUTHEAST HALF LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO LEFT THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT ALONE. SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. STORM MOVEMENTS WILL BE SLOW AND NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. SO THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR TRAINING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 SUNDAY THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WHICH TRIGGERED CONVECTION SATURDAY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE DRY LINE REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO BORDER. AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH...STORMS WILL TURN FROM MOVING NORTHEAST TO MOVING SOUTH...WHICH WILL INCREASE STORM COVERAGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY EVENING THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA CAUSING RAINFALL TO COME TO AN END. MONDAY THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH. WITH A DRY ENVIRONMENT IN PLACE AND NO SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH SO WILL KEEP THE DAY DRY. TUESDAY THE RIDGE WILL STILL BE OVER THE AREA. DURING THE AFTERNOON A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA. DESPITE THE DRY LINE STILL REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO LINE...THE WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE LCLS TO BE VERY HIGH WITH LARGE DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS AT THE LCL AS WELL. DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS SHRINK BY LATE AFTERNOON BUT THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL FILL BY THEN. MODEL CONSENSUS HAS NO RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THE AFTERNOON AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. BASED ON THE ABOVE CONSIDERATIONS WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST DRY...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO DEVELOP DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH FILLS. WEDNESDAY A SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AS THE DRY LINE IS PUSHED EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE EVEN DRIER THAN TUESDAY SO A THE DRY FORECAST WILL CONTINUE FOR THE DAY DESPITE THE DRY LINE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP AS A SURFACE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE AREA LEADING TO WINDY CONDITIONS. DUE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MOVING IN BEHIND THE DRY LINE...HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO TUESDAY AND EXTEND EAST INTO FAR NORTHWEST KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 540 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 VERY UNCERTAIN FORECAST FOR THE FIRST SIX HOURS SINCE THE MODELS HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO CLUE ABOUT THE CURRENT STRATUS FIELD IN PLACE ACROSS OUR AREA. CURRENTLY IFR/NEAR LIFR CONDITIONS AT KGLD AND MVFR CONDITIONS AT KMCK WITH NO MODEL OUTPUT SHOWING ANYTHING ANYWHERE CLOSE. SO GO WITH PERSISTENCE AND KEEP THE CURRENT CONDITIONS GOING THROUGH MOST OF THE MORNING SINCE THE WIND FIELD IS LIGHT AND DO NOT EXPECT MUCH OF AN AIR MASS CHANGE. AT THIS TIME BY 18Z DO EXPECT VFR CONDITIONS TO OCCUR AND THOSE WILL CONTINUE THROUGH THE REST OF THE PERIOD. WINDS WILL BE SOUTHERLY AT BOTH SITES WITH KGLD BEING GUSTY OFF AND ON THROUGH THE NIGHT. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...BULLER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD AND CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE PERIOD. SATELLITE SHOWING A SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED BUT STILL PROGRESSIVE FLOW FROM THE PACIFIC THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. STRONG SYSTEM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CANADA WITH A RIDGE PUSHING IN AHEAD OF IT. AT THIS TIME THIS IS LEAVING A NORTHWEST FLOW WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS OVER THE AREA. AT JET LEVEL...THE NAM WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE GFS. AT MID LEVELS...OVERALL THE MODELS WERE NOT TOO FAR APART WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO THE GFS. HOWEVER WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PASSING THROUGH THE REGION...THE ECMWF WAS DOING THE BEST. THE CANADIAN WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ECMWF...GFS AND NAM ON THE SURFACE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. THE GFS WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER OUTPUT IN THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD. TODAY/TONIGHT...LEFT FRONT QUADRANT STARTS OUT NEAR THE WESTERN END OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND THEN WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR/OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS...SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FAR SOUTH LOOKS REASONABLE AND DID NOT ADJUST. NEXT BUT MINOR CONCERN WILL BE HOW LONG THE CLOUD COVER WILL LAST THIS MORNING AND IF THAT WILL AFFECT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. MODELS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE STRATUS WITH RAP DOING THE BEST AND WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT AND OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS. AS SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH PULLS OUT...SHOULD GET A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDENCE FROM THAT BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE UPPER JET IS NOT YET TO OUR EAST. DUE TO THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER AND UNFAVORABLE SURFACE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PORTION... WILL NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND STUCK CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IF SKY COVER CLEARS AS THE MODELS THINK AND THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS/PRESSURE FALLS OCCUR AS SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST AND THE LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS...WINDS SHOULD GET AT LEAST BREEZY IN THE WESTERN HALF MAYBE EVEN WINDY. NO HIGHLIGHT WILL BE NEEDED. WINDS WILL STAY UP TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. MINS WILL BE WARMER AND MAY NEED TO BE WARMED UP MORE FROM WHAT I HAVE THEM. FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT...RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN/THROUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY WITH FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONING TO SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES AND PLENTY OF SUN WILL ALLOW FOR A GOOD WARMUP. TENDED TO FOLLOW THE WARMER GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...THE BIGGER STORY WILL BE THE INCREASING WINDS. GRADIENT AND 3 HOUR PRESSURE FALLS ARE TIGHTER/LARGER THAN FOR TODAY SO WILL DEFINITELY SEE A WINDY DAY. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WOULD SAY WIND SPEEDS WILL GET NEAR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AHEAD OF OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM THAT IS MOVING INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY AGAIN TO NOT ONLY INCREASE SPEEDS BUT ALSO AT A POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. LACK OF INSTABILITY AND AN EXTREMELY DEEP DRY LAYER IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION FROM DEVELOPING OR REACHING THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT. NO UPPER JET IS CLOSE AND NO LOW LEVEL JET LOOKS TO BE IN THE AREA. SO REMOVED THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD. WITH WARM AIR AND SOME MOISTURE ADVECTION STRATUS AND MAYBE SOME FOG MAY DEVELOP/MOVE INTO THE AREA. SINCE ONLY THE NAM IS SHOWING IT AND THE 06Z NAM PULLED BACK FROM EARLIER SOLUTION...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY FOG BUT THE DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...SPLIT FLOW WILL BE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THIS IS LEADING TO MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE MODELS HANDLE THE POSITION OF FEATURES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA. OVERALL THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL CONSENSUS AND ENSEMBLES WERE SIDING MORE WITH A SLOWER ARRIVING AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER TROUGH MOVING IN AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. HOW THE DETERMINISTIC OUTPUT HANDLED THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AFFECTED HOW FAST THEY MOVED IN THE FRONT WITH A SIMILAR CONSENSUS AS WHAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE UPPER LEVELS. THE 06Z NAM SLOWED DOWN FROM THE 00Z RUN AND MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN WHICH LOOKED TO BE HANDLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEE SIDE TROUGH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. SO DUE TO THE MODEL TRENDS AND ENSEMBLES...SIDED WITH THE SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER SOLUTION. SO THIS MEANT I PREFERRED THE SLOWER/FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION FOR THE DAY. SO AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION...BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN OCCUR. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONTAL POSITION WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO THAT...THE MODELS...DESPITE THE FRONT...TENDED TO CAP THE LOW LEVELS WITH THE NORTHWEST HALF HAVING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAP. SO BASED ON THE CAP...AND A FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION... I REDUCED THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION AND PUT THE HIGHEST POPS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL POSITION WHERE THE BOUNDARY/BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS AND WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKEST. ALSO CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM COULD INHIBIT HEATING AND EXPECTED INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FRONTAL POSITION AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER STORM SYSTEM. MODELS TENDED TO BE WARMER...ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HOWEVER...DID NOT GO AS WARM AS I COULD DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. BEST TIME FOR PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO ARRIVE DURING THE NIGHT. THE DEEPEST LIFT ARRIVES DURING THAT TIME AND THE DETERMINISTIC QPF OUTPUT AND ENSEMBLE PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES AGREE WITH THAT. THE SOUTHEAST HALF LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO LEFT THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT ALONE. SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. STORM MOVEMENTS WILL BE SLOW AND NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. SO THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR TRAINING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 SUNDAY THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WHICH TRIGGERED CONVECTION SATURDAY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE DRY LINE REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO BORDER. AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH...STORMS WILL TURN FROM MOVING NORTHEAST TO MOVING SOUTH...WHICH WILL INCREASE STORM COVERAGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY EVENING THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA CAUSING RAINFALL TO COME TO AN END. MONDAY THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH. WITH A DRY ENVIRONMENT IN PLACE AND NO SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH SO WILL KEEP THE DAY DRY. TUESDAY THE RIDGE WILL STILL BE OVER THE AREA. DURING THE AFTERNOON A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA. DESPITE THE DRY LINE STILL REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO LINE...THE WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE LCLS TO BE VERY HIGH WITH LARGE DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS AT THE LCL AS WELL. DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS SHRINK BY LATE AFTERNOON BUT THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL FILL BY THEN. MODEL CONSENSUS HAS NO RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THE AFTERNOON AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. BASED ON THE ABOVE CONSIDERATIONS WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST DRY...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO DEVELOP DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH FILLS. WEDNESDAY A SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AS THE DRY LINE IS PUSHED EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE EVEN DRIER THAN TUESDAY SO A THE DRY FORECAST WILL CONTINUE FOR THE DAY DESPITE THE DRY LINE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP AS A SURFACE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE AREA LEADING TO WINDY CONDITIONS. DUE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MOVING IN BEHIND THE DRY LINE...HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO TUESDAY AND EXTEND EAST INTO FAR NORTHWEST KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 06Z TAFS THROUGH 06Z THURSDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 1030 PM MDT WED APR 16 2014 KGLD...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED BEFORE 11Z AND AFTER 15Z. HAVE INTRODUCED MVFR CIGS IN THE 11Z-15Z TIME FRAME AS STRATUS MOVES DOWN FROM THE NORTH/NORTHEAST (WHERE CIGS CURRENTLY MVFR). A WEATHER DISTURBANCE CURRENTLY ALONG THE COLORADO FRONT RANGE IS FORECAST TO MOVE EAST/SOUTHEAST TONIGHT EXITING THE AREA BEFORE 18Z THURSDAY. EAST WINDS AROUND 6KTS AT TAF ISSUANCE FORECAST TO VEER TO THE SOUTHEAST BY 11Z THURSDAY. DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS SOUTH/SOUTHEAST WINDS OF 12-17KTS WITH GUSTS AROUND 25KTS EXPECTED. KMCK...VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED BEFORE 08Z AND AFTER 12Z. HAVE INTRODUCED MVFR CIGS IN THE 08Z-12Z TIME FRAME AS STRATUS MOVES DOWN FROM THE NORTH/NORTHEAST. SIMILAR SYNOPTIC SCENARIO AS KGLD. NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 10KTS AT TAF ISSUANCE TO BECOME EASTERLY BY 14Z THEN SOUTHEAST AND SOUTH/SOUTHEAST AFTER 18Z AND THROUGH THE REST OF THE TAF PERIOD. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...DDT
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS SHREVEPORT LA
1033 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... SHORT WAVE NEAR COAST CREATING CONVECTION OVER GULF...WITH SHOWERS MOVG NEWD ONSHORE...BUT WEAKENING AS THEY MOVE INTO MORE STABLE AIRMASS...AS SEEN ON 12Z LCH RAOB. ADDED ISOLD SHOWERS TO FCST FOR THIS AFTN...TO SOUTHERN PORTIONS TO ACCOUNT FOR SHOWERS TRYING TO WORK THEIR WAY FROM THE SOUTH. TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN STEADILY CLIMBING DESPITE THICKENING MID LVL CLOUDINESS...SO FOR NOW...WILL STILL EXPECT AFTN TEMPS TO REACH UPPER 60S TO AROUND 70./VII/ && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 418 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014/ DISCUSSION... OVERALL...NEXT 7 DAYS WILL REMAIN FAIRLY ACTIVE WITH PERSISTENT RAIN CHANCES BEYOND NEXT WEEKEND...HOWEVER SEVERE WEATHER THREAT SHOULD BE LOW FOR MUCH OF THE NEXT WEEK. TEMPS WILL CONTINUE TO GRADUALLY WARM DESPITE THE REPEATED RAIN CHANCES. TODAY SHOULD BE RAIN FREE UNTIL AFTER 00Z. TWO SHORTWAVE TROUGHS...ONE CURRENTLY OVER SE CO AND ANOTHER JUST SE OF THE BIG BEND OF TX WILL MOVE EWD OVER THE NEXT 24 HRS. THE SRN WAVE SHOULD MOVE WELL S OF THE CWA AND ANY PRECIP SHOULD BE CONFINED MORE TOWARDS THE GULF COAST. LATEST RUN OF THE HRRR BREAKS OUT SOME QPF ACROSS DEEP E TX LATER THIS MORNING BUT NONE OF THE OTHER MODELS ARE REALLY PICKING UP ON THIS. LATEST RADAR LOOPS INDICATE CONVECTION ACROSS CNTRL TX SHOULD STAY S OF THE CWA. THUS...WILL KEEP THE DAYTIME HRS DRY. BETTER CHANCES FOR SHWRS WILL LIKELY BE THIS EVENING AND TONIGHT AS THE CO SHORTWAVE DIVES SE TOWARDS THE CWA AND EVENTUALLY MERGES WITH THE TX TROUGH OVER THE LOWER MS VALLEY. WEAK COLD FRONT WILL ALSO MOVE ACROSS THE AREA TONIGHT WHICH SHOULD PROVIDE A FOCUS FOR A FEW SCT SHWRS. INSTABILITY LOOKS TO BE QUITE MEAGER SO WILL NOT MENTION THUNDER AT THIS TIME. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE DRY AS AN UPPER RIDGE BUILDS OVER THE AREA. FLOW ALOFT WILL REMAIN PROGRESSIVE THOUGH AND THE RIDGE SHOULD MOVE E BY SATURDAY EVENING ALLOWING THE FLOW TO TRANSITION TO SWLY. DEEP LAYER MOISTURE WILL INCREASE WHILE A SERIES OF WEAK UPPER WAVES MOVE ACROSS THE SRN PLAINS. RAIN CHANCES WILL INCREASE BEGINNING EARLY SUNDAY AS THE FIRST OF THESE WEAK IMPULSES APPROACHES AND CONVECTION MOVES INTO THE CWA FROM THE W. BEST CHANCES FOR SHWRS/TSTMS WILL LIKELY BE LATE SUNDAY AND INTO EARLY MONDAY MORNING AS AN UPPER TROUGH ARRIVES. CANNOT RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SEVERE STORM OR TWO BUT INSTABILITY SHOULD BE RATHER LOW DUE TO THE LOSS OF DAYTIME HEATING SUNDAY NIGHT/MONDAY MORNING. CHANCES FOR SCT SHWRS/TSTMS WILL PERSIST INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK AS THE UPPER TROUGH AND COLD FRONT WILL BE VERY SLOW TO PROGRESS. GFS/ECMWF HAVE BEEN VERY CONSISTENT IN KEEPING RAIN IN THE AREA UNTIL THE FRONT FINALLY CLEARS THE CWA SO HAVE EXTENDED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS INTO EARLY TUESDAY MORNING. AFTER A BRIEF BREAK...ACTIVE PATTERN LOOKS TO CONTINUE AS A MUCH STRONGER UPPER TROUGH MOVES ACROSS THE COUNTRY LATE NEXT WEEK BUT IT APPEARS THE TROUGH WILL BE FARTHER N ACROSS THE CNTRL/NRN PLAINS. STILL...A COLD FRONT AT THE SFC SHOULD STILL PROVIDE AT LEAST A SLIGHT CHANCE FOR CONVECTION. /09/ && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... SHV 70 53 76 57 81 / 10 20 10 10 10 MLU 71 54 74 56 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 DEQ 70 46 77 52 76 / 10 20 10 10 10 TXK 70 51 75 55 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 ELD 70 50 75 54 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 TYR 70 54 75 57 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 GGG 70 53 75 56 78 / 10 20 10 10 10 LFK 71 54 78 57 80 / 10 20 10 10 10 && .SHV WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... AR...NONE. LA...NONE. OK...NONE. TX...NONE. && $$
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS TWIN CITIES/CHANHASSEN MN
601 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 414 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 EARLY THIS MORNING...WEAKENING SURFACE LOW WAS MOVING EAST NEAR LA CROSSE, WI. THIS LOW WILL RAPIDLY WEAKEN AS IT MOVES ACROSS WISCONSIN TODAY...BUT NORTH TO NORTHWEST WINDS ACROSS MINNESOTA WILL REMAIN BLUSTERY EARLY THIS MORNING BEFORE THE WEAKENING PRESSURE GRADIENT ALLOWS THEM TO SUBSIDE SOME. A MIX OF RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS WEST CENTRAL WISCONSIN EARLY THIS MORNING WILL QUICKLY DISSIPATE AND MOVE EAST OVER THE NEXT FEW HOURS. THE TOUGH PART OF THIS FORECAST PERIOD INCLUDES PREDICTING THE EXTENT OF THE STRATUS DECK TODAY...AND THE MAX TEMPERATURES TODAY CONSIDERING ALL THE FRESH SNOW COVER AND THE PESKY LOW CLOUDS. THE CLOUD COVER LOOKS TO LINGER ACROSS EAST CENTRAL MN THROUGH SOUTH CENTRAL MN...AND WEST CENTRAL WI...WHILE WESTERN AND NORTHWESTERN MN REMAIN PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWERED TEMPERATURES SLIGHTLY FROM MOST GUIDANCE ACROSS THE SNOW PACK...BUT DIDN`T GO TOO CRAZY WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS MID APRIL AND DEEP MIXING CAN STILL OCCUR IN THIS SITUATION. OTHERWISE...SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN THIS AFTERNOON AND WINDS BECOME CALM THIS EVENING UNDER THE RIDGE AXIS...ANOTHER COOL NIGHT IS FORECAST WITH SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 414 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 SURFACE RIDGING WILL PUSH EAST EARLY FRIDAY WITH SOUTHEASTERLY WIND INCREASING THROUGH THE DAY. A WARM FRONT PUSHING NORTHEAST INTO FAR SOUTHWESTERN MN MAY KICK OFF A FEW SHOWERS OVER CENTRAL AND WESTERN MN. MODELS HAVE BEEN TRENDING DRIER WITH THE MOST RECENT NAM NOW ALMOST COMPLETELY DRY. MAINTAINED SLIGHT CHANCE POPS...BUT THEY COULD BE REMOVED IN FUTURE FORECASTS. CLOUD COVER WILL BE EXTENSIVE IN STRONG WAA ENVIRONMENT...AND WHEN COUPLED WITH INCREASING SOUTHEASTERLY WIND AND RESIDUAL SNOW COVER...WILL BRING A CHILLY DAY WITH HIGHS IN THE 40S...EXCEPT SOME 50S NEAR THE IOWA BORDER DEPENDING HOW FAR NORTH THE FRONT CAN LIFT DURING THE DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL DROP OFF FRIDAY EVENING BEFORE BECOMING STEADY OR SLOWLY RISE OVERNIGHT FOLLOWING THE PASSAGE OF THE WARM FRONT. LOW PRESSURE WILL TREK NORTH ACROSS THE DAKOTAS INTO SOUTHERN MANITOBA SATURDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL STRETCH TO THE SOUTH INTO THE MIDWEST AND EASTERN PLAINS...BUT FORCING WILL BE WEAK WITH MUCH OF THE ENERGY BEING DEFLECTED TO THE NORTH. NOT PARTICULARLY EXCITED ABOUT SHOWER CHANCES SATURDAY...BUT THEY WILL BE BEST ACROSS CENTRAL MN. IF SOME SUN CAN BREAK THROUGH...HIGHS WILL REACH THE 60S WHICH COULD TAP ENOUGH ELEVATED INSTABILITY FOR A LOW PROBABILITY OF THUNDER. THE FRONT WILL SLOW SATURDAY NIGHT...EVENTUALLY WASHING OUT ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND MID MISSOURI VALLEY SUNDAY. SHOWER CHANCES WILL LINGER NEAR THIS FRONT ACROSS SERN MN AND WRN WI. THE REST OF THE REGION WILL SEE CLEARING SKIES. MILD PACIFIC AIR WILL PUSH ACROSS THE PLAINS DURING THIS TIME AND PLENTIFUL SUNSHINE IN MUCH OF MN WILL BRING TEMPS BACK INTO THE 60S OR LOW 70S. THERMAL RIDGING ARRIVES MONDAY AS 925 MB TEMPS RISE INTO THE +14 TO +16C RANGE. MIXING TO 850 MB WILL TAKE FULL ADVANTAGE OF THIS THERMAL RIDGING AND TEMPS WILL CLIMB INTO THE MID 60S TO MID 70S. AS STRONG LOW PRESSURE DEVELOPS OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES BY MID WEEK...THE WARM FRONT WILL RETREAT AND WINDS WILL BACK EASTERLY/SOUTHEASTERLY. THIS WILL MARK A TREND TOWARD COOLER TEMPS AT LEAST TEMPORARILY MIDWEEK...PARTICULARLY AS A BAND OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP NORTH OF THE BOUNDARY. VERY WARM AND HUMID AIR IN THE WARM SECTOR WILL TRY TO MAKE AN APPEARANCE BY THURSDAY PENDING THE TRACK OF THE LOW. THIS WILL BRING INCREASING SEVERE WEATHER CHANCES...WHICH BEARS WATCHING. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 12Z TAFS THROUGH 12Z FRIDAY MORNING) ISSUED AT 554 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 WE`LL STILL SEE CYCLONIC FLOW ACROSS EASTERN MINNESOTA AND WESTERN WISCONSIN THROUGH MUCH OF THE DAY...SO THE QUESTION IS HOW LONG WILL THE LOW STRATUS LINGER...WHICH IS A TOUGH FORECAST AS I BELIEVE THE HI-RES MODELS ARE BEING TOO PESSIMISTIC IN THIS CASE. SO...EXPECTING CEILINGS TO SLOWLY RAISE THIS MORNING AS THE SURFACE WARMS...AND SCATTER OUT THIS AFTERNOON AS THE SURFACE RIDGE PUSHES IN FROM THE WEST...AND THE CYCLONIC FLOW MOVES FURTHER TO THE EAST. OTHERWISE A DRY FORECAST PERIOD WITH NORTHWEST WINDS BECOMING LIGHT AND VARIABLE THIS EVENING UNDER THE RIDGE. KMSP...GOING AGAINST THE RAP WHICH IS PESSIMISTIC IN SCATTERING CLOUDS OUT AS IT WANTS TO HOLD ON TO THE STRATUS UNTIL THIS EVENING. THINKING DRY AIR ADVECTING IN AND SURFACE RIDGE WILL SCATTER OUT THE STRATUS FASTER (BY THE AFTERNOON). /OUTLOOK FOR KMSP/ FRI...MAINLY VFR. CHC MVFR FRI NIGHT WITH -RA. WINDS NE 5-10 KTS. SAT...MAINLY VFR. CHC MVFR WITH -RA. WINDS ESE 10-15 KTS. SUN...VFR. WINDS NNE 5-10 KTS. && .MPX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... MN...NONE. WI...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR WIZ025- 027. WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 AM CDT THIS MORNING FOR WIZ015-016. && $$ SHORT TERM...SPD LONG TERM...BORGHOFF AVIATION...SPD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED AVIATION
NWS ST LOUIS MO
652 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2014 .SHORT TERM: (Through Tonight) Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2014 A weak cold front will move into the area today and could serve as the focus for scattered light rain showers during the afternoon and evening. Convergence along the front is not very impressive and the low levels are somewhat dry, but the combination of increasing large scale ascent ahead of an approaching vort max along with the presence of a surface boundary merits slight chance to chance PoPs. Kanofsky .LONG TERM: (Tomorrow through Wednesday) Issued at 300 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2014 For the last 4 nights in a row, no two consecutive 00z runs of the ECMWF/GFS/GEM have had the same solution for upcoming frontal systems, and there has also been a fair amount of variability between models regarding the location of important features such as upper vorticity maxima and surface boundaries. The latest runs keep a strong vort max and its surface low up near the US/Canada border on Fri night and Sat, therefore precipitation is no longer expected with this system across the LSX CWA. The dominant feature for Fri-Sat now appears to be ridging. Winds should eventually turn southerly, bringing warmer air into the region for Sat and reinforcing a baroclinic zone extending from the US/Canada system as it starts to occlude. A broad trough moving through the desert southwest could bring precipitation to the area on Sun/Mon. Chance PoPs remain an acceptable compromise in light of the model uncertainty. Confidence remains low in the forecast for this weekend and beyond. Kanofsky && .AVIATION: (For the 12z TAFs through 12z Friday Morning) Issued at 638 AM CDT Thu Apr 17 2014 Weak cold front currently on the door step of KCOU and KUIN will drift east today, and not reach the STL metro area until 21-00z time frame. Post frontal band of MVFR SC with bases 1-2kft has worked into northern Missouri, and over the last few hours higher clouds have obscured their movement on satellite imagery. However, surface ob trends as well as RUC low level RH progs suggest that this cloud deck will reach KUIN shortly, and then dissipate by mid-late morning. With this expected trend, cloud deck should remain n of KCOU, and not threaten STL area. Otherwise, cloud trends today and into this evening should be dominated by a thickening mid deck with bases aoa 5kft. We are expecting a few post frontal showers, but given the hit and miss coverage that is anticipated have not included in TAFS at this time. Specifics for KSTL: Weak cold front currently over mid MO not expected to reach the area until the 21-23z time frame, with winds shifting slowly to the northwest once fropa occurs. Otherwise, looking for a gradual increase in mid clouds over the area, with bases remaining aoa 5kft. A few showers are possible in the evening, but as mentioned in the primary aviation discussion have omitted from this TAF set due to the spotty nature of the precip. Truett && .LSX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES: MO...NONE. IL...NONE. && $$ WFO LSX
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WILMINGTON OH
1153 AM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TODAY AS SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPS AROUND HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NORTHEAST. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CROSS OUR REGION ON FRIDAY...BRINGING A LOW END CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING FAIR WEATHER AND SEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... THE LATEST RAP MODEL...COMPARED TO THE 12Z KILN SOUNDING...SEEMS TO BE HANDLING THE OVERALL MOISTURE PROFILE ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING. ALSO...IT IS MIXING THE AIRMASS THROUGH 850 MB BY LATE AFTN. THIS DEEPER MIXING...ALONG WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES...WILL YIELD TEMPERATURES A LITTLE WARMER THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. HIGHS SHOULD RANGE FROM THE MID 60S NORTH TO AROUND 70 NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... WEAK LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWARD FROM THIS LOW WILL APPROACH OUR AREA OVERNIGHT...AND WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS NORTHERN IN/IL BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. THE HIGH ACROSS NEW ENGLAND TODAY WILL HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE BY TONIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A WEAKENING SURFACE GRADIENT AND LIGHT WINDS OVERNIGHT. THE AIRMASS THAT WILL BE IN PLACE WILL BE DRY...WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 30S. SKIES WILL START OFF MOSTLY CLEAR...WITH A GRADUALLY INCREASE IN CLOUDS FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT AHEAD OF THE WEAK COLD FRONT. THE COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AT THE SURFACE...LIGHT WINDS...AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES TO START OFF TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE 40S. SOME LOCATIONS EAST OF COLUMBUS MAY DROP INTO THE 30S WITH A LONGER PERIOD OF MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED THERE. THE WEAK FRONT WILL ARRIVE IN OUR AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST ON FRIDAY. MODELS CONTINUE TO TREND TOWARD WEAKENING THIS MOISTURE STARVED FRONT AS IT MOVES INTO OUR AREA. SHOWERS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT FRIDAY JUST WEST OF OUR AREA. HOWEVER...THESE SHOWERS ARE FORECAST TO LESSEN IN COVERAGE AND WEAKEN AS THEY TRY TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ALSO...IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE FRONT WILL BE LOSING ITS CHARACTERISTICS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE ASSOCIATED LOW LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD FROM OUR REGION....AND THE CANADIAN HIGH BEHIND THE LOW FAILS TO BUILD TOO FAR SOUTH INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. ALL OF THESE FACTORS DO NOT BODE WELL FOR ANY DECENT POPS...AND THE CHANCE POPS ACROSS OUR NORTHERN ZONES MAY BE GENEROUS FOR THIS FRONT. HIGHS ON FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL RISE ONCE AGAIN INTO THE 60S ACROSS ALL ZONES. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURES FRIDAY COMPARED TO TODAY MAY BE THE SLIGHTLY COOLER LOWER 60S EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTH DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE WEAK COLD FRONT. 500-1000 HPA HEIGHTS WILL BEGIN TO BUILD ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTH WILL PROVIDE NORTHEASTERLY SURFACE WINDS. THE COUNTERACTING NATURE OF THE HEIGHT RISES AND NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL PRODUCE YET ANOTHER DAY OF MID TO UPPER 60S ACROSS THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY. ACROSS THE NORTH...THE NORTHEASTERLY WINDS SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM RISING MUCH ABOVE 60 AS COOLER AIR IS DRAWN ACROSS THOSE ZONES FROM LAKE ERIE. SOUTHERLY SURFACE FLOW WILL DEVELOP ON SUNDAY AS THE HIGH TO OUR NORTH SHIFTS TO OUR NORTHEAST. THE COMBINATION OF THE RETURN FLOW AND BUILDING 500-1000 HPA HEIGHTS WILL RESULT IN HIGHS IN THE 70S ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA...WITH PERHAPS A FEW UPPER 60S ACROSS THE NORTH. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM SOUTHEAST CANADA THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY WILL KEEP DRY WEATHER OVER THE AREA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL ENTER THE REGION MONDAY. GFS AND ECMWF BOTH INDICATE THE FRONT...BUT DIFFERENCES IN TIMING EXIST...WITH GFS FASTER AND ECMWF OFFERING A SLOWER SOLUTION. SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODELS AND WENT WITH A MODEL BLEND...WHICH YIELDS THE LIKELIHOOD FOR SHOWERS MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. WITH MODELS SHOWING SCANT INSTABILITY AND RATHER WEAK WIND FIELDS ALONG THE FRONT...DECIDED TO OMIT THUNDER. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIR ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT A BIT COOL ON SATURDAY WITH HIGHS FORECAST TO BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S. DUE TO A MODEST AMOUNT OF WARM ADVECTION...HIGHS FOR SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE ANTICIPATED TO AVERAGE IN THE NEAR NORMAL MID AND UPPER 60S. && .AVIATION /16Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/... RETURN FLOW PATTERN IN PLACE ACROSS THE REGION THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON WILL PROVIDE FOR PRIMARILY JUST SOME HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS. A WEAK FRONT WILL APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST TONIGHT. MOISTURE IS FAIRLY LIMITED AHEAD OF THE FRONT SO JUST EXPECT AN INCREASE IN SOME LOWER VFR CLOUDS TONIGHT. OUTLOOK...MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES ARE POSSIBLE MONDAY. && .ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...HICKMAN/LATTO NEAR TERM...HICKMAN/LATTO SHORT TERM...LATTO LONG TERM...CONIGLIO AVIATION...JGL
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NWS FORT WORTH TX
1057 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .UPDATE... SATELLITE IMAGERY AND UPPER AIR ANALYSIS SHOWS A DISTURBANCE MOVING INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE AT THIS HOUR. LOW CLOUDS CONTINUE TO SPREAD NORTH AHEAD OF THIS DISTURBANCE AND DRIZZLE/LIGHT RAIN IS BEING REPORTED UNDERNEATH THESE LOW CLOUDS AT SEVERAL SITES ACROSS THE SOUTHERN HALF OF THE CWA. LIGHT RETURNS ON AREA RADARS SHOW THE LIGHT RAIN/DRIZZLE MOVING NORTH TOWARDS THE I-20 CORRIDOR. WEAK LIFT COMBINED WITH INCREASING MOISTURE WILL ALLOW SCATTERED SHOWERS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE REGION TODAY. THIS AFTERNOON...THE CONCENTRATION OF RAIN MAY BECOME MORE FOCUSED NEAR A COLD FRONT MOVING TOWARDS OUR NORTHWESTERN COUNTIES. INCREASED POPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY TO 30 PERCENT ACROSS THE REGION WITH 40 POPS IN THE NORTHWEST QUADRANT THIS AFTERNOON. FORECAST SOUNDINGS CONTINUE TO SHOW A WELL CAPPED ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE DAY AND KEPT THUNDER OUT OF THE FORECAST. OTHERWISE...EXPECT OVERCAST TO MOSTLY CLOUDY SKIES FOR MOST OF THE DAY. LOWERED DAYTIME HIGHS A FEW DEGREES DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. 82/JLD && .AVIATION... LATEST RAP AND 12Z NAM SHOWING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DRY AIR IN THE LOWER LEVELS THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. HAVE AMENDED TAFS TO INCREASE CIGS HEIGHTS TODAY AND TONIGHT ABOVE 2000FT. THESE MVFR CIGS WILL STILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE SOUTH BY LATE MORNING...WITH SOME CHANCE OF LIGHT DRIZZLE OR BR THIS AFTERNOON. IF PRECIPITATION IS ENOUGH TO SATURATE THE LOWER LEVELS CIGS MAY DROP BELOW 2000FT. THIS POTENTIAL IS GREATER OVER TARRANT COUNTY THAN IN DALLAS COUNTY...SO THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. TR.92 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 400 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014/ EARLY MORNING SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATED A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA WITH A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTHWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. THIS FRONT WILL SAG SOUTHWARD A LITTLE FARTHER THROUGH THE DAY BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH NORTH TEXAS. ACROSS OUR PART OF THE STATE...SOUTHERLY FLOW HAS HELPED TRANSPORT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE NORTHWARD...RESULTING IN INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND WARMER TEMPERATURES. SOME SCATTERED CONVECTION DEVELOPED OVER CENTRAL TEXAS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS WHICH IS A BIT SURPRISING GIVEN THE EXPECTED THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE ACROSS THE REGION. 00Z SOUNDING DATA AND 7Z MODEL ANALYSIS INDICATE A STRONGLY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT WITH MOISTURE CONFINED GENERALLY BELOW 800MB. THE MODEL ANALYSIS CLEARLY APPEARS TO BE IN ERROR AS THE ATMOSPHERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MODIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY TO GET CONVECTION. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DOES SHOW A FAIRLY STRONG SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH WEST TEXAS...AHEAD OF THE MAIN DISTURBANCE WHICH IS A LITTLE FARTHER WEST. CAPPING INVERSION IS LIKELY MUCH WEAKER ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS...AT LEAST IMMEDIATELY DOWNSTREAM OF THE APPROACHING SHORTWAVE...WHERE LIFT IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME ANY REMAINING INHIBITION. DESPITE THE POOR MODEL PERFORMANCE DOWNSTREAM OF THIS LEAD SHORTWAVE...THINK THE CONVECTION SHOULD BE CONFINED WELL SOUTH OF OUR AREA THROUGH THE MORNING AND WILL LIKELY WEAKEN AS IT PROGRESSES FARTHER EAST. ACROSS OUR AREA TODAY...CLOUDY SKIES WILL PREVAIL WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60S. LIFT FROM THE MAIN DISTURBANCE WILL INCREASE LATER TODAY...BUT STRONG CAPPING IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE WITH ANY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT SHOWERS BENEATH THE CAP. BEST CHANCES WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE NORTHWEST COUNTIES CLOSER TO THE SURFACE BOUNDARY AND BETTER LIFT TO THE NORTH. THIS SYSTEM MOVES EAST BY TONIGHT BUT LEAVES BEHIND AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE DRY WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE UPPER 70S AND LOWER 80S BENEATH RIDGING ALOFT. BY SATURDAY NIGHT ANOTHER DISTURBANCE MOVES OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST U.S. AND SPREADS ASCENT ACROSS NORTH TEXAS. CONVECTION SHOULD DEVELOP INITIALLY ACROSS WEST TEXAS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOVE EAST WITH TIME. BEST CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS APPEARS TO BE DURING THE DAY SUNDAY WHEN LIFT FROM THE UPPER TROUGH IS STRONGEST. AMPLE HEATING SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL LEAD TO SURFACE BASED CAPE IN EXCESS OF 1500J/KG ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. WIND FIELDS ARE GENERALLY WEAK ALTHOUGH DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF THE UPPER TROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE STORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. UPPER TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST SOME LIFT ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY WHEN A WEAK FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. RAISED POPS SUNDAY NIGHT AND ADDED SOME LOW POPS ACROSS THE AREA FOR EARLY MONDAY. BEYOND MONDAY...IT LOOKS DRY AT LEAST THROUGH MIDWEEK UNDER RIDING ALOFT WITH MORE ACTIVE WEATHER TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK. DUNN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 66 57 77 61 79 / 30 20 10 10 10 WACO, TX 68 54 76 55 79 / 30 20 10 10 10 PARIS, TX 66 50 75 55 77 / 30 20 10 10 10 DENTON, TX 66 53 75 56 78 / 40 20 10 10 10 MCKINNEY, TX 66 52 75 56 78 / 30 20 10 10 10 DALLAS, TX 66 57 77 61 80 / 30 20 10 10 10 TERRELL, TX 68 53 75 58 78 / 30 20 10 10 10 CORSICANA, TX 66 54 77 59 79 / 30 20 10 10 10 TEMPLE, TX 68 55 77 57 79 / 30 20 10 10 10 MINERAL WELLS, TX 68 58 74 57 79 / 40 20 10 10 10 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ 92/82
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS FORT WORTH TX
1013 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .AVIATION... LATEST RAP AND 12Z NAM SHOWING SIGNIFICANTLY MORE DRY AIR IN THE LOWER LEVELS THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. HAVE AMENDED TAFS TO INCREASE CIGS HEIGHTS TODAY AND TONIGHT ABOVE 2000FT. THESE MVFR CIGS WILL STILL MOVE INTO THE AREA FROM THE SOUTH BY LATE MORNING...WITH SOME CHANCE OF LIGHT DRIZZLE OR BR THIS AFTERNOON. IF PRECIPITATION IS ENOUGH TO SATURATE THE LOWER LEVELS CIGS MAY DROP BELOW 2000FT. THIS POTENTIAL IS GREATER OVER TARRANT COUNTY THAN IN DALLAS COUNTY...SO THIS WILL NEED TO BE MONITORED. TR.92 && .PREV DISCUSSION... /ISSUED 400 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014/ EARLY MORNING SURFACE ANALYSIS INDICATED A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM ACROSS SOUTHEAST MINNESOTA WITH A COLD FRONT TRAILING SOUTHWARD INTO THE SOUTHERN PLAINS ACROSS NORTH CENTRAL OKLAHOMA AND INTO THE TEXAS PANHANDLE. THIS FRONT WILL SAG SOUTHWARD A LITTLE FARTHER THROUGH THE DAY BUT IS NOT EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH NORTH TEXAS. ACROSS OUR PART OF THE STATE...SOUTHERLY FLOW HAS HELPED TRANSPORT LOW LEVEL MOISTURE NORTHWARD...RESULTING IN INCREASING CLOUD COVER AND WARMER TEMPERATURES. SOME SCATTERED CONVECTION DEVELOPED OVER CENTRAL TEXAS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF HOURS WHICH IS A BIT SURPRISING GIVEN THE EXPECTED THERMODYNAMIC PROFILE ACROSS THE REGION. 00Z SOUNDING DATA AND 7Z MODEL ANALYSIS INDICATE A STRONGLY CAPPED ENVIRONMENT WITH MOISTURE CONFINED GENERALLY BELOW 800MB. THE MODEL ANALYSIS CLEARLY APPEARS TO BE IN ERROR AS THE ATMOSPHERE WOULD HAVE TO BE MODIFIED SIGNIFICANTLY TO GET CONVECTION. WATER VAPOR IMAGERY DOES SHOW A FAIRLY STRONG SHORTWAVE MOVING THROUGH WEST TEXAS...AHEAD OF THE MAIN DISTURBANCE WHICH IS A LITTLE FARTHER WEST. CAPPING INVERSION IS LIKELY MUCH WEAKER ACROSS CENTRAL TEXAS...AT LEAST IMMEDIATELY DOWNSTREAM OF THE APPROACHING SHORTWAVE...WHERE LIFT IS SUFFICIENT TO OVERCOME ANY REMAINING INHIBITION. DESPITE THE POOR MODEL PERFORMANCE DOWNSTREAM OF THIS LEAD SHORTWAVE...THINK THE CONVECTION SHOULD BE CONFINED WELL SOUTH OF OUR AREA THROUGH THE MORNING AND WILL LIKELY WEAKEN AS IT PROGRESSES FARTHER EAST. ACROSS OUR AREA TODAY...CLOUDY SKIES WILL PREVAIL WITH TEMPERATURES IN THE UPPER 60S. LIFT FROM THE MAIN DISTURBANCE WILL INCREASE LATER TODAY...BUT STRONG CAPPING IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN IN PLACE WITH ANY PRECIPITATION EXPECTED TO BE LIGHT SHOWERS BENEATH THE CAP. BEST CHANCES WILL BE THIS AFTERNOON ACROSS THE NORTHWEST COUNTIES CLOSER TO THE SURFACE BOUNDARY AND BETTER LIFT TO THE NORTH. THIS SYSTEM MOVES EAST BY TONIGHT BUT LEAVES BEHIND AMPLE LOW LEVEL MOISTURE. FRIDAY AND SATURDAY SHOULD BE DRY WITH TEMPERATURES WARMING INTO THE UPPER 70S AND LOWER 80S BENEATH RIDGING ALOFT. BY SATURDAY NIGHT ANOTHER DISTURBANCE MOVES OUT OF THE SOUTHWEST U.S. AND SPREADS ASCENT ACROSS NORTH TEXAS. CONVECTION SHOULD DEVELOP INITIALLY ACROSS WEST TEXAS LATE SATURDAY NIGHT AND MOVE EAST WITH TIME. BEST CHANCES FOR SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS ACROSS NORTH TEXAS APPEARS TO BE DURING THE DAY SUNDAY WHEN LIFT FROM THE UPPER TROUGH IS STRONGEST. AMPLE HEATING SUNDAY AFTERNOON WILL LEAD TO SURFACE BASED CAPE IN EXCESS OF 1500J/KG ACROSS MUCH OF THE AREA. WIND FIELDS ARE GENERALLY WEAK ALTHOUGH DEEP LAYER SHEAR WILL INCREASE WITH THE APPROACH OF THE UPPER TROUGH SUNDAY AFTERNOON. THERE WILL BE THE POTENTIAL FOR SOME STRONG TO MARGINALLY SEVERE STORMS SUNDAY AFTERNOON. UPPER TROUGH WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE AT LEAST SOME LIFT ACROSS NORTH TEXAS SUNDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY MONDAY WHEN A WEAK FRONT APPROACHES THE AREA. RAISED POPS SUNDAY NIGHT AND ADDED SOME LOW POPS ACROSS THE AREA FOR EARLY MONDAY. BEYOND MONDAY...IT LOOKS DRY AT LEAST THROUGH MIDWEEK UNDER RIDING ALOFT WITH MORE ACTIVE WEATHER TOWARD THE END OF NEXT WEEK. DUNN && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DALLAS-FT. WORTH, TX 68 57 77 61 79 / 20 20 10 10 10 WACO, TX 70 54 76 55 79 / 20 20 10 10 10 PARIS, TX 67 50 75 55 77 / 10 20 10 10 10 DENTON, TX 67 53 75 56 78 / 30 20 10 10 10 MCKINNEY, TX 67 52 75 56 78 / 20 20 10 10 10 DALLAS, TX 69 57 77 61 80 / 20 20 10 10 10 TERRELL, TX 70 53 75 58 78 / 20 20 10 10 10 CORSICANA, TX 71 54 77 59 79 / 20 20 10 10 10 TEMPLE, TX 70 55 77 57 79 / 20 20 10 10 10 MINERAL WELLS, TX 67 58 74 57 79 / 30 20 10 10 10 && .FWD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ /
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
615 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. MORE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD DOWN FROM CANADA AND REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA THIS WEEKEND AND INTO MONDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER DISTURBANCE WILL AFFECT THE REGION TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... FROST ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR SOME LOCATIONS AROUND THE I95 CORRIDOR FOR LATE TONIGHT WHERE THE GROWING SEASON HAS STARTED. A GFS/WRF-NMMB BLEND SEEMED TO WORK BEST OFF THE 12Z SOUNDINGS AND MODELING INITIALIZATION. OUR FORECAST IMPACT UNFORTUNATELY IS COMING FROM NON SOUNDING LOCATIONS AND THUS ADDS A LAYER OF UNCERTAINTY TO THE NEAR AND SHORT TERM FORECASTS. THE MOISTURE OFF THE OCEAN, THE RAP HAS HAD A BETTER HANDLE ON IT THAN THE PLAN FORECAST MOISTURE FIELDS OF THE GFS AND WRF-NMMB. IT WAS USED AS A BASIS FOR TONIGHT`S FORECAST. BASED ON THE RAP`S PREMISE WE SEE THAT MIXING IS FINALLY STOPPING THE WESTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE STRATOCU CIG. BUT, WE EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO START ITSELF LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS THE MOISTURE REMAINS TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE INVERSION AND IS FORECAST TO SPREAD. EAST OF THE GFS AND WRF-NMMB RIDGE AXIS LINE IS A PROXY TO WHERE THE CIGS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES. THIS AXIS SHIFTS WEST TONIGHT AS WE ARE EXPECTING THE CLOUDS TO GO. BASED ON INCREASING DEW POINTS AND MORE MARGINAL TEMPERATURES WE HAVE OPTED TO CONVERT THE FREEZE WATCH TO A FROST ADVISORY. HIGHEST CONFIDENCE IS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE HEADLINES WITH LOWER CONFIDENCE IN NJ. WE DID KEEP THE MENTION OF SOME PATCHY FROST (IN THE HWO TOO) IN LOCALES FARTHER TO THE SE (BUT NOT IN CENTRAL/LOWER DELMARVA). BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE CLOUD AND WIND IDEA, FOR MIN TEMPS WE ARE HIGHER THAN STAT GUIDANCE EAST AND CLOSER TO A STAT GUIDANCE BLEND WEST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/... THE 925MB LEVEL DRY AIR SOUTH OF MAINE AND EAST OF MASSACHUSETTS IS DESTINED TO MOVE WESTWARD OVERNIGHT AND BE OVER OUR CWA ON FRIDAY. ALSO THE SFC HIGH IS FORECAST TO BE NESTLED PRETTY MUCH OVER OUR CWA. WE ARE EXPECTING THE LOW CLOUD CIG TO DISSIPATE DURING THE MORNING. THIS IN PART WILL BE REPLACED BY HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEAKENING COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. GIVEN THE LATEST RIDGE AXIS POSITION, WE REMOVED THE LOW CHC OF PCPN NEAR THE COAST. AWAY FROM THE COAST WE LEANED TOWARD THE HIGHER OF THE STAT GUIDANCE FOR MAX TEMPS AND MORE OF A BLEND CLOSER TO AND ALONG THE ATLANTIC. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A FAIRLY BENIGN PATTERN FOR OUR REGION DURING THE LONG TERM. A WEAK UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHEAST AND MIDDLE ATLANTIC FRIDAY THRU SATURDAY. ANOTHER TROUGH WILL WILL MOVE FROM THE GREAT LAKES MONDAY NIGHT AND CROSS INTO THE ATLANTIC BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. THESE TWO SYSTEMS ARE FAIRLY WEAK AND SHOULD ONLY BRING SMALL CHC FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA MON NIGHT INTO TUE NIGHT. PREVIOUS FCSTS HAD SOME SHOWERS IN FOR FRI NIGHT ALSO...BUT WE HAVE REMOVED THEM FROM THE FCST ATTM...SINCE THE CHC LOOKS LESS WITH THE MEAGER AMTS OF LIFT AND LIMITED MOISTURE. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT COOL FOR FRI WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE LOW/MID 50S ACROSS THE AREA. READINGS WILL THEN CLIMB TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS FOR SAT THRU MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL THEN BE 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL NEXT TUESDAY...BEFORE SETTLING BACK TO NEAR NORMAL NEXT WED. NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE HIGHS IN THE MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE MID 40S FOR PHILADELPHIA. UP ACROSS THE NORTH IN THE POCONOS AN NRN NJ...THE NORMALS ARE CLOSE TO 10 DEGREES LESS THAN THOSE FOR PHILADELPHIA. && .AVIATION /22Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. EAST WINDS WILL AVERAGE AROUND 10 KTS WITH GUSTINESS UP TO AROUND 20 KTS FROM THE KPHL AREA TERMINALS EASTWARD. REST OF EVENING AND OVERNIGHT, PREDICTING A MVFR CIG TO OVERSPREAD ALL THE TERMINALS ARRIVING AT KABE AND KRDG AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDS SHOULD BECOME LIGHTER FROM THE EAST. MVFR HAS ALREADY REACHED KACY. ON FRIDAY MORNING, THE MVFR CIG IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE WITH A CIRRUS DECK ABOVE IT. SYNOPTIC SCALE WINDS OVERALL SHOULD BE LIGHTER (GENERALLY AN EASTWARD COMPONENT) THAN TODAY AND A SEA BREEZE FRONT MAY FORM DURING THE AFTERNOON. OUTLOOK... FRI NIGHT THRU MON NIGHT...MOSTLY VFR. TUESDAY...MOSTLY VFR WITH SCT SHOWERS. && .MARINE... NO CHANGES TO THE MARINE HEADLINES. SCA CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER DELAWARE BAY ARE EXPECTED TO END THIS EVENING. THE WIND PART OF THE SCA SHOULD ALSO END OVER THE OCEAN TONIGHT. BUT, SEAS WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET BELOW SCA CRITERIA ON THE OCEAN AS WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO LINGER THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY. OUTLOOK... FRI NIGHT AND SAT...SEAS ON THE OCEAN WILL REMAIN JUST BELOW SCA CONDITIONS. SAT NIGHT THRU SUN NIGHT...SCA CONDITIONS ON THE OCEAN. MON THRU TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUB-SCA CONDITIONS. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR PAZ060-101>104- 106. NJ...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR NJZ012-015-019. DE...NONE. MD...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR MDZ008. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ450>455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ431. && $$ SYNOPSIS...O`HARA NEAR TERM...GIGI/NIERENBERG SHORT TERM...GIGI LONG TERM...O`HARA AVIATION...GIGI/NIERENBERG/O`HARA MARINE...GIGI/O`HARA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
311 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... A RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE WILL REMAIN ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION FRIDAY NIGHT. MORE HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD DOWN FROM CANADA AND REMAIN ACROSS THE AREA THIS WEEKEND AND INTO MONDAY NIGHT. ANOTHER DISTURBANCE WILL AFFECT THE REGION TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/... FROST ADVISORIES ISSUED FOR SOME LOCATIONS AROUND THE I95 CORRIDOR FOR LATE TONIGHT WHERE THE GROWING SEASON HAS STARTED. A GFS/WRF-NMMB BLEND SEEMED TO WORK BEST OFF THE 12Z SOUNDINGS AND MODELING INITIALIZATION. OUR FORECAST IMPACT UNFORTUNATELY IS COMING FROM NON SOUNDING LOCATIONS AND THUS ADDS A LAYER OF UNCERTAINTY TO THE NEAR AND SHORT TERM FORECASTS. THE MOISTURE OFF THE OCEAN, THE RAP HAS HAD A BETTER HANDLE ON IT THAN THE PLAN FORECAST MOISTURE FIELDS OF THE GFS AND WRF-NMMB. IT WAS USED AS A BASIS FOR TONIGHT`S FORECAST. THE SPREADING UNCERTAINTY OF THE CLOUD COVER AND WIND COUPLED WITH BELOW NORMAL TEMPS DID NOT MAKE THE FROST/FREEZE DECISION AN EASY OR CONFIDENT ONE. PLEASE CHECK FOR FURTHER UPDATES LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND EVENING. BASED ON THE RAP`S PREMISE WE SEE THAT MIXING IS FINALLY STOPPING THE WESTWARD PROGRESSION OF THE STRATOCU CIG. BUT, WE EXPECT THIS PROCESS TO START ITSELF LATER THIS EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS THE MOISTURE REMAINS TRAPPED UNDERNEATH THE INVERSION AND IS FORECAST TO SPREAD. EAST OF THE GFS AND WRF-NMMB RIDGE AXIS LINE IS A PROXY TO WHERE THE CIGS HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SUSTAIN THEMSELVES. THIS AXIS SHIFTS WEST TONIGHT AS WE ARE EXPECTING THE CLOUDS TO GO. BASED ON INCREASING DEW POINTS AND MORE MARGINAL TEMPERATURES WE HAVE OPTED TO CONVERT THE FREEZE WATCH TO A FROST ADVISORY. HIGHEST CONFIDENCE IS IN THE WESTERN PART OF THE HEADLINES WITH LOWER CONFIDENCE IN NJ. WE DID KEEP THE MENTION OF SOME PATCHY FROST (IN THE HWO TOO) IN LOCALES FARTHER TO THE SE (BUT NOT IN CENTRAL/LOWER DELMARVA). BEING CONSISTENT WITH THE CLOUD AND WIND IDEA, FOR MIN TEMPS WE ARE HIGHER THAN STAT GUIDANCE EAST AND CLOSER TO A STAT GUIDANCE BLEND WEST. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH 6 PM FRIDAY/... THE 925MB LEVEL DRY AIR SOUTH OF MAINE AND EAST OF MASSACHUSETTS IS DESTINED TO MOVE WESTWARD OVERNIGHT AND BE OVER OUR CWA ON FRIDAY. ALSO THE SFC HIGH IS FORECAST TO BE NESTLED PRETTY MUCH OVER OUR CWA. WE ARE EXPECTING THE LOW CLOUD CIG TO DISSIPATE DURING THE MORNING. THIS IN PART WILL BE REPLACED BY HIGH LEVEL CLOUDINESS ASSOCIATED WITH THE WEAKENING COLD FRONT APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. GIVEN THE LATEST RIDGE AXIS POSITION, WE REMOVED THE LOW CHC OF PCPN NEAR THE COAST. AWAY FROM THE COAST WE LEANED TOWARD THE HIGHER OF THE STAT GUIDANCE FOR MAX TEMPS AND MORE OF A BLEND CLOSER TO AND ALONG THE ATLANTIC. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/... A FAIRLY BENIGN PATTERN FOR OUR REGION DURING THE LONG TERM. A WEAK UPPER TROUGH WILL MOVE THROUGH THE NORTHEAST AND MIDDLE ATLANTIC FRIDAY THRU SATURDAY. ANOTHER TROUGH WILL WILL MOVE FROM THE GREAT LAKES MONDAY NIGHT AND CROSS INTO THE ATLANTIC BY EARLY WEDNESDAY. THESE TWO SYSTEMS ARE FAIRLY WEAK AND SHOULD ONLY BRING SMALL CHC FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA MON NIGHT INTO TUE NIGHT. PREVIOUS FCSTS HAD SOME SHOWERS IN FOR FRI NIGHT ALSO...BUT WE HAVE REMOVED THEM FROM THE FCST ATTM...SINCE THE CHC LOOKS LESS WITH THE MEAGER AMTS OF LIFT AND LIMITED MOISTURE. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT COOL FOR FRI WITH HIGHS ONLY IN THE LOW/MID 50S ACROSS THE AREA. READINGS WILL THEN CLIMB TO NEAR NORMAL LEVELS FOR SAT THRU MONDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL THEN BE 5 TO 10 DEGREES ABOVE NORMAL NEXT TUESDAY...BEFORE SETTLING BACK TO NEAR NORMAL NEXT WED. NORMAL TEMPERATURES FOR THIS TIME OF YEAR ARE HIGHS IN THE MID 60S AND LOWS IN THE MID 40S FOR PHILADELPHIA. UP ACROSS THE NORTH IN THE POCONOS AN NRN NJ...THE NORMALS ARE CLOSE TO 10 DEGREES LESS THAN THOSE FOR PHILADELPHIA. && .AVIATION /19Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. THE 18Z TAFS MVFR CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST TO OCCUR AT ALL OF THE TAF SITES TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING, ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS PROGRESSIVELY LOWER THE FARTHER WEST OUR TAF SITES ARE. FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING A VFR STRATOCU CIG IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE WEST AND BE BATTLED BY SOME MIXING AND DRY AIR. FROM KPHL AREA TERMINALS EASTWARD WE ARE EXPECTING A VFR CIG AT TIMES, ALTHOUGH KACY MIGHT BECOME MVFR. FARTHER WEST NO CIG EXPECTED. EAST WINDS WILL AVERAGE AROUND 10 KTS WITH GUSTINESS UP TO AROUND 20 KTS FROM THE KPHL AREA TERMINALS EASTWARD. REST OF EVENING AND OVERNIGHT, PREDICTING A MVFR CIG TO OVERSPREAD ALL THE TERMINALS ARRIVING AT KABE AND KRDG AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDS SHOULD BECOME LIGHTER FROM THE EAST. ON FRIDAY MORNING, THE MVFR CIG IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE WITH A CIRRUS DECK ABOVE IT. SYNOPTIC SCALE WINDS OVERALL SHOULD BE LIGHTER (GENERALLY AN EASTWARD COMPONENT) THAN TODAY AND A SEA BREEZE FRONT MAY FORM DURING THE AFTERNOON. OUTLOOK... FRI NIGHT THRU MON NIGHT...MOSTLY VFR. TUESDAY...MOSTLY VFR WITH SCT SHOWERS. && .MARINE... NO CHANGES TO THE MARINE HEADLINES. SCA CONDITIONS IN THE LOWER DELAWARE BAY ARE EXPECTED TO END THIS EVENING. THE WIND PART OF THE SCA SHOULD ALSO END OVER THE OCEAN TONIGHT. BUT, SEAS WILL TAKE LONGER TO GET BELOW SCA CRITERIA ON THE OCEAN AS WE ARE EXPECTING THEM TO LINGER THROUGH THE DAY ON FRIDAY. OUTLOOK... FRI NIGHT AND SAT...SEAS ON THE OCEAN WILL REMAIN JUST BELOW SCA CONDITIONS. SAT NIGHT THRU SUN NIGHT...SCA CONDITIONS ON THE OCEAN. MON THRU TUESDAY...MOSTLY SUB-SCA CONDITIONS. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR PAZ060-101>104- 106. NJ...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR NJZ012-015-019. DE...NONE. MD...FROST ADVISORY FROM 1 AM TO 8 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR MDZ008. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ450>455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ431. && $$ SYNOPSIS...O`HARA NEAR TERM...GIGI SHORT TERM...GIGI LONG TERM...O`HARA AVIATION...GIGI/O`HARA MARINE...GIGI/O`HARA
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MOUNT HOLLY NJ
100 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... HIGH PRESSURE WILL MOVE OUT OF NEW ENGLAND AND ACROSS THE CANADIAN MARITIMES BUT STILL EXTEND ACROSS THE EASTERN SEABOARD THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY. A FRONTAL BOUNDARY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING, BEFORE HIGH PRESSURE REESTABLISHES ITSELF ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND BUILDS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD SUNDAY INTO MONDAY. ANOTHER FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS EXPECTED TO AFFECT THE AREA NEXT TUESDAY, FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE FOR THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... NEXT ESTF UPDATE MAINLY FOR AN UPWARD A SKY COVER ADJUSTMENT EAST. WE FOUND THAT THE RAP IS HANDLING THE 925MB MOISTURE THE BEST. WRF- NMMB FCST SOUNDINGS ALSO LOOK BETTER THAN THE SOME OF THE PLAN VIEW MODEL MASS FIELDS. THEY BOTH SHOW SOME DRYING WITH MIXING LATER IN THE AFTERNOON BEFORE PREDICTED CLOUDS ROLL IN AT NIGHT. TEMPS IRONICALLY ARE RUNNING TOO LOW VS PREDICTIONS IN SUNNIER LOCALES FAR NORTH. OVERALL THOUGH NO BIG ADJUSTMENTS MADE THERE. 12Z SOUNDINGS SUPPORT FORECAST MAX TEMPS FOR TODAY. OTHERWISE...THIS DAY SHOULD BE LOADED WITH SUNSHINE OVER THE INTERIOR WITH ONLY THIN CIRRUS AT TIMES. WINDS WILL BE E-NE GUSTING 15 TO 20 MPH AT TIMES. THE FCST BASIS WAS A 50 50 BLEND 00Z/17 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM FRIDAY/... TONIGHTS FCST WAS ALSO A 50 50 BLEND OF THE 00Z/17 NCEP MOS GUIDANCE. THAT IN MIND...THE FCST TEMPS ARE GENERALLY FREEZING OR JUST ABOVE. COLLABORATING THE UNCERTAINTY REGARDING A FREEZE OR A FROST...HAVE BLENDED THE EARLY FRIDAY MORNING HEADLINE WITH OUR NEIGHBORS. HERE IN THE MOUNT HOLLY AREA...THINK ODDS FAVOR SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPS TONIGHT THAN WHAT OCCURRED THIS THURSDAY MORNING AND SO A FROST APPEARS MORE LIKELY FROM MY VIEW IN OUR AREA...RATHER THAN A FREEZE BUT ITS POSSIBLE THE GUIDANCE IS 2 DEGREES TOO WARM? OTHERWISE THE ONSHORE WIND WILL BE DIMINISHING AND BECOME LIGHT. ITS POSSIBLE THAT LOW CLOUDS WILL FORM OR HAVE ALREADY FORMED AND LOCKED INTO PORTIONS OF THE COAST THIS EVENING AND THEN DEVELOP NWD AS THE BOUNDARY LAYER COOLS....ESPECIALLY CENTRAL NJ. PATCHY FOG IS ALSO POSSIBLE LATE TONIGHT BUT NOT CURRENTLY IN THE GRIDS. && .LONG TERM /FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/... THE HIGH PRESSURE THAT HAS BEEN EXTENDING SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE EAST COAST FROM CANADA WILL BEGIN PULLING OUT OF THE AREA DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. AS THIS HAPPENS, OUR AREA WILL BE IN BETWEEN TWO FEATURES LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT; ONE BEING AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE TO OUR SOUTH OFF THE SOUTHEAST COAST AND THE OTHER AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT. WITH THE PERSISTENT NORTHEAST FLOW ACROSS THE AREA, WE EXPECT A FAIR AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THIS SHOULD HELP KEEP TEMPERATURES COOL THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY, SO WE REMAIN BELOW NORMAL. THE SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH IS EXPECTED TO REMAIN FAR ENOUGH TO OUR SOUTH TO PREVENT WIDESPREAD PRECIPITATION TO AFFECT THE AREA. HOWEVER, THERE REMAINS A SLIGHT CHANCE SOME LIGHT RAIN ON THE VERY FAR NORTHERN EDGE COULD EXTEND ACROSS OUR SOUTHEASTERN AREAS, SO WE WILL KEEP SLIGHT CHANCE POPS ACROSS OUR SOUTHEASTERN ZONES. SOUNDINGS INDICATE THAT THE VERTICAL MOISTURE IS RATHER SHALLOW, SO IT MAY BE MORE DRIZZLE, SO WE WILL INCLUDE CHANCE DRIZZLE WITH THE RAIN IN THE FORECAST LATE FRIDAY INTO FRIDAY NIGHT. THE AFOREMENTIONED COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA OVERNIGHT FRIDAY INTO SATURDAY MORNING. ALL GUIDANCE INDICATES THE PRECIPITATION DRYING OUT AS IT APPROACHES OUR AREA, SO WE HAVE REMOVED POPS FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE AREA AS WE NOW EXPECT A DRY FRONTAL PASSAGE. WE EXPECT DRY WEATHER TO BUILD IN ACROSS THE AREA SATURDAY BEHIND THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD SOUTHWARD OUT OF CANADA. THE HIGH SHOULD SUPPRESS THE LOW TO OUR SOUTH BY SATURDAY SO THAT IT WOULDN`T HAVE AN EFFECT ON OUR AREA ANYMORE. THIS HIGH WILL REESTABLISH ITSELF ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND BUILDS SOUTHWARD ALONG THE EASTERN SEABOARD AGAIN INTO SUNDAY AND MONDAY. THIS WILL CONTINUE TO PROVIDE DRY WEATHER OVER THE WEEKEND INTO MONDAY OF NEXT WEEK. WITH RIDGING ALOFT TAKING PLACE, TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN CLOSER TO NORMAL OVER THE WEEKEND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK. ON TUESDAY, A COLD FRONT IS FORECAST TO APPROACH THE AREA FROM THE WEST. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP AND STRENGTHEN ALONG THE BOUNDARY AS IT MOVES ACROSS THE AREA LATE TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT. TUESDAY INTO TUESDAY NIGHT LOOKS TO BE THE NEXT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE AREA. THEREFORE WE HAVE CHANCE POPS ACROSS THE AREA DURING THIS TIME PERIOD. THIS LOW IS EXPECTED TO SLOWLY PULL TO OUR NORTHEAST THROUGH WEDNESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BEGINS TO BUILD SOUTHWARD OUT OF CANADA ONCE AGAIN. WEDNESDAY IS EXPECTED TO BE DRY, BUT SHOULD BE QUITE GUSTY WITH THE TIGHTENING PRESSURE GRADIENT. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... THE FOLLOWING DISCUSSION IS FOR KPHL, KPNE, KTTN, KABE, KRDG, KILG, KMIV, KACY AND SURROUNDING AREAS. WITH 18Z TAFS MVFR CONDITIONS FORECAST TO OCCUR AT ALL OF THE TAF SITES TONIGHT AND FRIDAY MORNING, ALTHOUGH CONFIDENCE IS PROGRESSIVELY LOWER THE FARTHER WEST OUR TAF SITES ARE. FOR THE REST OF THIS AFTERNOON INTO EARLY THIS EVENING A VFR STRATOCU CIG IS EXPECTED TO CONTINUE TO MOVE WEST AND BE BATTLED BY SOME MIXING AND DRY AIR. FROM KPHL AREA TERMINALS EASTWARD WE ARE EXPECTING A VFR CIG AT TIMES, ALTHOUGH KACY MIGHT BECOME MVFR. FARTHER WEST NO CIG EXPECTED. EAST WINDS WILL AVERAGE AROUND 10 KTS WITH GUSTINESS UP TO AROUND 20 KTS FROM THE KPHL AREA TERMINALS EASTWARD. REST OF EVENING AND OVERNIGHT, PREDICTING A MVFR CIG TO OVERSPREAD ALL THE TERMINALS ARRIVING AT KABE AND KRDG AFTER MIDNIGHT. WINDS SHOULD BECOME LIGHTER FROM THE EAST. ON FRIDAY MORNING, THE MVFR CIG IS EXPECTED TO DISSIPATE WITH A CIRRUS DECK ABOVE IT. SYNOPTIC SCALE WINDS OVERALL SHOULD BE LIGHTER (GENERALLY AN EASTWARD COMPONENT) THAN TODAY AND A SEA BREEZE FRONT MAY FORM DURING THE AFTERNOON. OUTLOOK... FRIDAY AFTERNOON-FRIDAY NIGHT...MVFR CIGS POSSIBLE, ESPECIALLY CLOSER TO THE COAST. SATURDAY-MONDAY...MOSTLY VFR. GUSTY N-NW WINDS 15-20 KNOTS SATURDAY. && .MARINE... SCA CONTINUES ATLC WATERS WITH SEAS ALREADY 5 FT AND WINDS/SEAS TO BUILD A LITTLE TODAY BEFORE SLOWLY SUBSIDING LATER TONIGHT. ADDED LOWER DE BAY TO THE SCA PER EXPECTED WIND IMPACT AT THE BAY ENTRANCE. OUTLOOK... FRIDAY-FRIDAY NIGHT...SEAS LIKELY TO REMAIN 5 FEET OR GREATER ON THE OCEAN THROUGH EARLY FRIDAY NIGHT, THEN BEGIN TO SUBSIDE. SATURDAY...SUB-SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA EXPECTED. SATURDAY NIGHT-SUNDAY...WINDS AND SEAS INCREASING TO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA OVERNIGHT SATURDAY AND CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY, ESPECIALLY ON OCEAN. SUNDAY NIGHT-MONDAY...A RETURN TO SUB-SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CRITERIA EXPECTED SUNDAY NIGHT. && .PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... PA...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR PAZ060-101>103-106. NJ...FREEZE WATCH FROM LATE TONIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY MORNING FOR NJZ012-013-015-017>022-027. DE...NONE. MD...NONE. MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 PM EDT FRIDAY FOR ANZ450>455. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EDT TONIGHT FOR ANZ431. && $$ SYNOPSIS...ROBERTSON NEAR TERM...DRAG/GIGI SHORT TERM...DRAG LONG TERM...ROBERTSON AVIATION...GIGI/ROBERTSON MARINE...DRAG/ROBERTSON
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MELBOURNE FL
336 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .DISCUSSION... ..WET THROUGH SATURDAY WITH POTENTIAL FOR LOCALLY HEAVY RAINFALL ESPECIALLY ALONG THE COAST... ...HAZARDOUS BOATING CONDITIONS THROUGH THIS WEEKEND AND INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK... CURRENT...HIGH PRESSURE OVER THE MID ATLANTIC STATES NORTHWARD RIDGES TO THE NORTHEAST GULF OF MEXICO. THE NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDFLOW AROUND THE SOUTHEAST AREA OF THE HIGH WAS PUSHING MARINE STRATOCU ASHORE EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. THE 915MHZ VERTICAL WIND PROFILERS AT THE SPACE CENTER BEAR THIS OUT WITH EASTERLY 20 TO 25 KNOTS WINDS FROM JUST OFF THE SURFACE TO AROUND 5000 FEET/APPROX 850MB. THE WINDS THEN MAKE AN ABRUPT SHIFT TO THE WEST AT AROUND 6500 FEET AND REMAIN OUT OF THE WEST TO 10000 FEET WHICH IS THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE 915MHZ RECORDING HEIGHTS. THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY THAT WAS ANALYZED AS A DIFFUSE WARM FRONTAL BOUNDARY JUST SOUTH OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE THIS MORNING HAS MOVED TO JUST NORTH OF THE LAKE. WEATHER RADARS DETECTING SCATTERED SHOWERS AND LIGHTNING STORMS OVER SOUTH FLORIDA WITH MORE SHOWERS AND STORMS ALONG THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY AS IT SLOWLY LIFTS NORTH ACROSS THE SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA. TONIGHT...MODEL TIME HEIGHT CROSS SECTIONS WERE INDICATING THAT THE CURRENT CONDITIONS SHOULD CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS SLOWLY NORTHWARD AS A WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A DEVELOPING AREA OF LOW PRESSURE IN THE NORTH CENTRAL GULF OF MEXICO. PRECIPITABLE WATER VALUES BETWEEN AN INCH AND A HALF AND 1.9 INCHES AND THE LIFT PROVIDED BY THE SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS MOVING OVER THE LOWER LAYER EASTERLY WINDS SHOULD GIVE US AT LEAST CHANCE...30-50 PERCENT... OF OVERNIGHT RAINS. FRIDAY...THE NEWLY FORMED WARM FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM IN THE NORTH GULF OF MEXICO LIFTS NORTHWARD AS THE LOW TRACKS OFF TO THE NORTHEAST CROSSING NORTH FLORIDA AND INTO THE ATLANTIC EAST OF GEORGIA WITH A TRAILING COLD FRONT CROSSING OVER FLORIDA OVERNIGHT FRIDAY. THE BRISK SOUTH TO SOUTHWEST WINDFLOW AHEAD OF THE COLD FRONT WILL MAKE FOR A BREEZY FRIDAY WITH RAIN CHANCES RANGING FROM AROUND 60 PERCENT SOUTHERN AREAS TO 80 TO 90 PERCENT NORTHERN AREAS. HAVE KEPT THUNDERSTORMS IN THE FRIDAY FORECAST AS COLDER...-10C TO -12C...MID LEVEL AIR MOVES OVERHEAD STEEPENING MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES AND STRONG MID LEVEL IMPULSE MOVES OVERHEAD DURING THE DAY FRIDAY. TEMPERATURES RANGE FROM THE MID 80S SOUTHERN AREAS TO LOW 80S NORTHWEST VOLUSIA AND NORTHEAST LAKE COUNTIES. FRIDAY NIGHT...THE COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED TO SWEEP ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA OVERNIGHT FRIDAY AND SATURDAY MORNING CLEARING CENTRAL FLORIDA SATURDAY AFTERNOON. LOWS SATURDAY MORNING MID AND UPPER 60S. SATURDAY-SATURDAY NIGHT...SOUTHWEST TO WEST WINDS ADVECTING GULF MOISTURE ACROSS THE PENINSULA KEEP RAIN CHANCES IN THE 30 TO 50 PERCENT AREA. HIGHS RANGE SHOULD RANGE FROM THE UPPER 70S NORTHWEST LAKE COUNTY TO THE MID 80S ON THE IN THE AREAS ON THE LEEWARD SIDE OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE. NORTHWEST WINDS OVERNIGHT SATURDAY BRING COOLER AIR INTO CENTRAL FLORIDA. OVERNIGHT SATURDAY/SUNRISE SUNDAY MORNING LOWS IN THE MID AND UPPER 50S SUNRISE SUNDAY MORNING. PREVIOUS ZONES DISCUSSION TODAY-TONIGHT...POST FRONTAL DRY AIRMASS REMAIN FAIRLY PERVASIVE ACROSS THE REGION...ESPECIALLY ACROSS THE INTERIOR AND VOLUSIA COUNTY WHERE DEWPOINTS ARE STILL IN THE MID-UPPER 50S. MODELS HAVE SO FAR BEEN VERY GUNG HO IN LIFTING THE OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY/ENHANCED MOISTURE BACK NORTH...BUT IT APPEARS THAT THE NORTHWARD TREND MAY BE STARTING AS ONE HEAVY RAINBAND SET UP EARLIER THIS EVENING ACROSS BROWARD COUNTY THAT HAS SINCE DISSIPATED. CURRENT ANALYSIS SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED LOW LEVEL MOISTURE FROM BREVARD/OSCEOLA COUNTIES SOUTHWARDS COINCIDENT WITH AN AREA OF WIND CONVERGENCE IN THE 1000-850MB LAYER. THIS IS WHERE RADAR IS ALSO NOW PICKING UP ON A RECENT UPSWING IN SHOWER COVERAGE. LOCAL WRF MODEL SHOWS A BAND OF ENHANCED PRECIP AROUND DAYBREAK OVER THE TREASURE COAST...BUT HRRR MODEL KEEPS THIS ACTIVITY MORE OVER SOUTH FLORIDA UNTIL LATER. ITS TOUGH TO SAY WHERE OR IF ANY LOCALLY HEAVY BANDS MAY SET UP UNTIL THEY DO...BUT JUST AHEAD OF/ALONG WARM FRONT WOULD BE THE BEST BET. DO EXPECT AN INCREASE IN SHOWER FREQUENCY TOWARDS DAYBREAK ACROSS THE TREASURE COAST. FRONTAL REMNANTS AND BEST ISENTROPIC LIFT WILL MOVE BACK TO THE NORTH ACROSS CENTRAL FLORIDA THROUGH THE DAY...ACCELERATING INTO NORTH FLORIDA TONIGHT AS UPPER LEVEL SHORTWAVE SWINGS EASTWARDS AND SURFACE LOW DEVELOPS ACROSS THE GULF. HAVE TAPERED BACK RAIN CHANCES TO 20 PERCENT NORTHERN INTERIOR TO 60 PERCENT OKEECHOBEE/TREASURE COAST BASED ON CURRENT TRENDS/MODEL FORECAST. COULD SEE A FEW PERIODS OF HEAVY RAIN ALONG THE COAST TODAY...BEFORE THE BEST RAIN CHANCES WILL LIFT NORTH OF THE REGION LATER TONIGHT. THOUGH IT WILL BE BREEZY AGAIN THIS AFTERNOON...IT DOESN`T APPEAR THAT SPEEDS/GUSTS WILL BE QUITE AS HIGH AS YESTERDAY SO HAVE NOT ISSUED A LAKE WIND ADVISORY. HOWEVER CONDITIONS WILL STILL REMAIN CHOPPY ON AREA LAKES. COASTAL HIGHS WILL BE HIGHLY DEPENDENT ON CLOUD COVER AND PRECIP TIMING...BUT OVERALL EXPECTED ANYWHERE FROM LOW 70S ALONG VOLUSIA COAST TO UPPER 70S/AROUND 80 IN BREVARD/TREASURE COAST. INTERIOR TEMPS IN THE UPPER 70S AND LOW 80S. MILD OVERNIGHT AS FLOW BECOMES MORE EAST-SOUTHEAST WITH LOWS IN THE UPPER 60S INTERIOR/AROUND 70S COAST. FRI-SUN...THE OVERALL TREND OF THE SHORT RANGE FORECAST IS DECIDEDLY SLOWER AND WETTER INTO SUNDAY. STRONG SOUTHERN STREAM SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE EAST ALONG THE ERN GULF COAST BEFORE PINCHING OFF INTO A CLOSED MID-UPPER LOW INVOF THE FL/AL/GA TRI-STATE REGION FRI NIGHT. THE CLOSED LOW WILL THEN DRIFT SLOWLY EAST SOMEWHERE BTWN THE FL/GA BORDER AND PENINSULAR NORTH FL ON SAT...EASING OFFSHORE SAT NIGHT AND DRIFTING FARTHER OFFSHORE AND AWAY FROM THE FL EAST COAST ON SUN. AT THE SURFACE...AVBL MODEL GUIDANCE HAS CONVERGED TOWARD A MORE AGREEABLE (SLOWER) SOLUTION...ALTHOUGH THE GFS CONTINUES TO BE THE FASTEST. SFC FRONTAL WAVE SPINS UP INTO A LOW AND TRACKS ACROSS THE NERN GOMEX FRI...WITH THE SFC AND MID/UPPER LEVEL LOWS BECOMING VERTICALLY STACKED BY FRI NIGHT OVER NORTH FL. SFC WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTHWARD THROUGH CENTRAL FL DURING THE MORNING...WHICH SHOULD TAKE WIDESPREAD STRATIFORM RAINFALL NWD ACROSS NORTH FL/GA...WHILE ECFL BREAKS OUT INTO THE WARM SECTOR OF THE GOMEX LOW. DEEP LAYER S-SW FLOW WITH PWATS AROUND 1.75" WILL LEAD TO WIDESPREAD SHOWERS/STORMS WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR A BAND OF STRONGER STORMS TO REACH CTRL FL FROM THE GOMEX (N/W OF I-4) AROUND SUNSET (GIVE OR TAKE) AND CONTINUE TO DROP SEWD THROUGH THE EVENING HOURS. SFC LOW WILL BE VERY SLOW TO MOVE ACROSS THE STATE FRI NIGHT...AND THEN LINGER OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST THROUGHOUT SAT. SUFFICIENT WRAP AROUND MOISTURE WILL EXIST FOR SCT TO NMRS SHOWERS...AND EVEN SOME STORMS GIVEN THE COLD H50 TEMPS UNDERNEATH THE H50 LOW OVHD. EXPECT LINGERING SHOWERS SAT NIGHT/SUNDAY IN COOL/MOIST NRLY FLOW ON BACK SIDE OF THE LOW...WHICH WILL BE GRUDGINGLY SLOW TO PUT SPACE BETWEEN ITSELF AND FL. COVERAGE/INTENSITY SHOULD BE RATHER LOW. MON-WED...WEAK HIGH PRESSURE FINALLY SETTLES IN TOWARD FL EARLY NEXT WEEK...AND DRYING CONDS OUT. THERE ARE SOME SUGGESTIONS OF A WEAK FRONTAL TROUGH AND ASCD MOISTURE BAND TAKING A GLANCING SHOT AT NORTH FL TUE-NIGHT INTO WED...BUT WILL NOT GET TOO INVOLVED IN DISSECTING DAY 6-7 POPS GIVEN THE MORE SIG WX IN DAYS 1-3. && .AVIATION...PREVAILING MVFR THROUGH THE EVENING AND OVERNIGHT AS A WARM FRONT AND WITH AREAS OF LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN MOVES SLOWLY UP THE PENINSULA. PREVAILING VFR OVC FRIDAY AS THE WARM FRONT CLEARS AND WE ARE IN THE WARM SECTOR. PREVIOUS AVIATION MOIST AND CLOUDY THROUGH THE PERIOD...THOUGH OVERALL IT APPEARS MOST LOCATIONS WILL REMAIN JUST INSIDE VFR WITH PREVAILING CIGS FL035-050. COASTAL SITES WILL BE MORE LIKELY TO SEE MVFR CIGS FL020-030. ISOLD SHRA MOVING ONSHORE INTO AREAS SOUTH OF KVRB THROUGH 13Z...THEN BECOMING SCT-NMRS. COVERAGE WILL INCREASE FROM SOUTH-NORTH AS OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTS BACK TO THE NORTH THROUGH THE DAY. A FEW HEAVIER SHRA MAY PRODUCE TEMPO IFR CONDITIONS MAINLY ALONG COASTAL SITES. COULD SEE PREVAILING IFR CIGS LATER TONIGHT AS WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH OF REGION. && .MARINE... CURRENT-OVERNIGHT...NOAA BUOYS 009 AND 010 WERE RECORDING NORTHEAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS AND 8 TO 9 FOOT SEAS. THE TWO SCRIPPS BUOYS 4 AND 6NM OFF THE COAST WERE RECORDING 4 AND 7 FEET RESPECTIVELY. NORTHEAST TO EAST WINDS AROUND 20 KNOTS CONTINUE OVERNIGHT AS A SLOW MOVING WARM FRONT WORKS ITS WAY NORTHWARD. WILL KEEP THE SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY THROUGH THE EVENING THROUGH 4AM COASTAL ISSUANCE. FRI...WINDS SHIFT TO SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST AS THE COASTAL WATERS COME INTO THE WARM SECTOR BETWEEN THE WARM FRONT TO THE NORTH AND THE COLD FRONT IN THE CENTRAL/EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO. WINDS DECREASE AS THE PRESSURE GRADIENT IN THE WARM SECTOR DECREASES BUT EXPECT TO HAVE SMALL CRAFT EXERCISE CAUTION WITH 15-20KT AND SEAS TO 6FT POSSIBLY A BIT HIGHER. SAT-MON (MODIFIED)... COVERAGE OF RAIN AND STORMS/GUSTY WINDS WILL REMAIN MARINE THREATS INTO SATURDAY. SYNOPTIC GRADIENT WINDS WILL BEGIN TO PICK BACK UP SAT AFTERNOON AS THE LOW CENTER MOVES OFFSHORE THE FL EAST COAST AND PGRAD TIGHTENS. SEAS WILL RAMP BACK UP TO 7-10FT OR A LITTLE HIGHER SAT NIGHT THROUGH SUN AS W-NW WINDS SHIFT TO N AND NNE BEHIND THE SLOWLY DEPARTING LOW. SLOW IMPROVEMENT IN WINDS SEAS MON. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... DAB 68 78 68 74 / 30 90 60 30 MCO 68 82 67 79 / 30 80 60 30 MLB 72 81 71 79 / 30 60 60 30 VRB 72 81 71 80 / 30 60 60 30 LEE 66 79 65 77 / 30 90 60 30 SFB 67 82 68 79 / 30 80 60 30 ORL 68 82 67 79 / 30 80 60 30 FPR 72 82 70 81 / 30 60 60 30 && .MLB WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...NONE. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE OUT 20 NM- COASTAL WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM FLAGLER BEACH TO VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE-WATERS FROM VOLUSIA BREVARD COUNTY LINE TO SEBASTIAN INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 6 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR COASTAL WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET OUT 20 NM-WATERS FROM SEBASTIAN INLET TO JUPITER INLET 20 TO 60 NM OFFSHORE. && $$ FORECASTS...WIMMER IMPACT WX...VOLKMER
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS MIAMI FL
303 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .NEAR TERM...(THIS EVENING) THE INITIAL CONCERN WILL BE THROUGH LATE AFTERNOON AND EVENING PERIODS ALONG THE GULF COAST AND FROM NAPLES TO THE LAKE REGION DUE TO THE POTENTIAL FOR STRONG THUNDERSTORMS AND HEAVY RAINFALL ASSOCIATED WITH A FRONTAL BOUNDARY LIFTING NORTH. THE LATEST RADAR LOOP SHOWED SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND A FEW EMBEDDED THUNDERSTORMS SHIFTING WESTWARD TOWARD THE GULF COAST ACROSS THE INTERIOR AREAS. THE LATEST HRRR AND WRF MODELS REFLECT THIS AND INDICATE THIS ACTIVITY BECOMING CONCENTRATED AROUND THE NAPLES AREA THROUGH THIS TIME. IF THIS SCENARIO UNFOLDS...LOCALIZED FLOODING COULD BECOME AN ISSUE DEPENDING ON WHERE THE HEAVY RAINFALL FOCUSES. IN ADDITION TO THE RAINFALL...A FEW STRONG STORMS CAN`T BE RULED OUT THROUGH THIS TIME OVER THESE AREAS WITH THE MAIN THREATS BEING STRONG WIND GUSTS AND HAIL. THE MORNING SOUNDING INDICATED DECENT MID-LEVEL LAPSE RATES WITH -12 C DEG 500 MB TEMPERATURES ALONG WITH 1.8" PWS. 85/AG .SHORT TERM...(TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY)... THE LATEST SHORT-RANGE MODEL GUIDANCE REMAINS IN DECENT AGREEMENT AND GENERALLY INDICATES THE WARM FRONT LIFTING NORTH OUT OF OUR LOCAL AREA TONIGHT AS A COLD FRONT ASSOCIATED WITH A GULF LOW APPROACHES THE AREA FROM THE WEST FRIDAY AND FRIDAY NIGHT. THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY IS PROGGED TO MOVE THROUGH THE AREA WITH DRIER AIR AND NW FLOW SATURDAY AFTERNOON THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT. MODEL SOUNDINGS INDICATE THE LOW-LEVEL FLOW SHIFTING TO THE SOUTH THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY WITH DECENT DRY MID-LEVEL AIR FILLING IN FROM THE SOUTHEAST. ALTHOUGH SOME SHOWER/TSTM ACTIVITY WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THROUGH THE DAY FRIDAY...ESPECIALLY AROUND THE LAKE THROUGH THE AFTERNOON PERIOD...PLENTY OF UPPER CLOUDS MAY ACT TO LIMIT INSTABILITY DURING THE PEAK HEATING HOURS OF THE DAY...WHICH IS INDICATED FROM THE MODEL SOUNDINGS. THE LATEST WRF MODEL REFLECTIVITIES MAINLY SHOW SCATTERED ACTIVITY DEVELOPING ALONG AND JUST AHEAD OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH EARLY SATURDAY MORNING AS THE FRONT APPROACHES AND BEGINS TO MOVE INTO THE AREA. TEMPERATURES WILL REMAIN AT AND JUST ABOVE NORMAL THROUGH THIS TIME...THEN TREND BACK TO NORMAL IN THE WAKE OF THE FRONTAL BOUNDARY SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY MORNING. 85/AG .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY-EARLY NEXT WEEK) THE DRY WEATHER WILL REMAIN IN PLACE OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK...AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS INTO THE SOUTHEASTERN UNITED STATES FROM THE CENTRAL UNITED STATES. THE HIGH WILL THEN MOVE EAST INTO THE WESTERN ATLANTIC WATERS FOR THE MIDDLE TO END OF NEXT WEEK ALLOWING FOR A COLD FRONT TO MOVE THROUGH SOUTH FLORIDA. THIS FRONT WILL BE A DRY COLD FRONT WHICH WILL JUST REINFORCE THE DRY WEATHER OVER SOUTH FLORIDA FOR THE MIDDLE TO END OF NEXT WEEK. BNB && .MARINE... LIGHT TO MODERATE NORTHEAST WINDS WILL SHIFT TO THE SOUTHEAST BY FRIDAY AS A WARM FRONT LIFTS NORTH AND A COLD FRONT APPROACHES AND MOVES THROUGH THE AREA FRIDAY NIGHT INTO SATURDAY MORNING. A MIX OF NORTHEAST SWELL AND WIND WAVES WILL REMAIN AT ADVISORY LEVELS THROUGH TONIGHT...THEN ONCE AGAIN OVER THE WEEKEND IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD FRONT...MAINLY ACROSS THE PALM BEACH WATERS. IN ADDITION TO THE WINDS AND SEAS...SCATTERED TO NUMEROUS SHOWERS AND ISOLATED STORMS OVER THE LOCAL WATERS WILL BE CAPABLE OF GENERATING FREQUENT LIGHTNING...HEAVY RAINFALL AND LOCALLY CHOPPIER CONDITIONS IN AND AROUND THE HEAVIER SHOWERS. && .PRELIMINARY POINT TEMPS/POPS... WEST PALM BEACH 73 84 72 86 / 40 50 50 40 FORT LAUDERDALE 74 85 75 87 / 30 40 50 40 MIAMI 73 85 74 86 / 30 40 50 40 NAPLES 70 87 69 79 / 40 50 50 30 && .MFL WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... FL...HIGH RIP CURRENT RISK UNTIL 8 PM EDT THIS EVENING FOR FLZ168. AM...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR HAZARDOUS SEAS UNTIL 2 AM EDT FRIDAY FOR AMZ650-670. GM...NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM...84/AK LONG TERM....85/AG
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
108 PM MDT THU APR 17 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 702 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 PLACED FOG IN FOR THIS MORNING OVER THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE AREA...MAINLY YUMA COUNTY. FOG SHOULD LIFT IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS OR SO. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD AND CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE PERIOD. SATELLITE SHOWING A SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED BUT STILL PROGRESSIVE FLOW FROM THE PACIFIC THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. STRONG SYSTEM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CANADA WITH A RIDGE PUSHING IN AHEAD OF IT. AT THIS TIME THIS IS LEAVING A NORTHWEST FLOW WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS OVER THE AREA. AT JET LEVEL...THE NAM WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE GFS. AT MID LEVELS...OVERALL THE MODELS WERE NOT TOO FAR APART WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO THE GFS. HOWEVER WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PASSING THROUGH THE REGION...THE ECMWF WAS DOING THE BEST. THE CANADIAN WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ECMWF...GFS AND NAM ON THE SURFACE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. THE GFS WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER OUTPUT IN THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD. TODAY/TONIGHT...LEFT FRONT QUADRANT STARTS OUT NEAR THE WESTERN END OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND THEN WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR/OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS...SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FAR SOUTH LOOKS REASONABLE AND DID NOT ADJUST. NEXT BUT MINOR CONCERN WILL BE HOW LONG THE CLOUD COVER WILL LAST THIS MORNING AND IF THAT WILL AFFECT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. MODELS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE STRATUS WITH RAP DOING THE BEST AND WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT AND OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS. AS SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH PULLS OUT...SHOULD GET A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDENCE FROM THAT BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE UPPER JET IS NOT YET TO OUR EAST. DUE TO THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER AND UNFAVORABLE SURFACE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PORTION... WILL NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND STUCK CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IF SKY COVER CLEARS AS THE MODELS THINK AND THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS/PRESSURE FALLS OCCUR AS SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST AND THE LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS...WINDS SHOULD GET AT LEAST BREEZY IN THE WESTERN HALF MAYBE EVEN WINDY. NO HIGHLIGHT WILL BE NEEDED. WINDS WILL STAY UP TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. MINS WILL BE WARMER AND MAY NEED TO BE WARMED UP MORE FROM WHAT I HAVE THEM. FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT...RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN/THROUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY WITH FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONING TO SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES AND PLENTY OF SUN WILL ALLOW FOR A GOOD WARMUP. TENDED TO FOLLOW THE WARMER GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...THE BIGGER STORY WILL BE THE INCREASING WINDS. GRADIENT AND 3 HOUR PRESSURE FALLS ARE TIGHTER/LARGER THAN FOR TODAY SO WILL DEFINITELY SEE A WINDY DAY. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WOULD SAY WIND SPEEDS WILL GET NEAR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AHEAD OF OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM THAT IS MOVING INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY AGAIN TO NOT ONLY INCREASE SPEEDS BUT ALSO AT A POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. LACK OF INSTABILITY AND AN EXTREMELY DEEP DRY LAYER IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION FROM DEVELOPING OR REACHING THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT. NO UPPER JET IS CLOSE AND NO LOW LEVEL JET LOOKS TO BE IN THE AREA. SO REMOVED THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD. WITH WARM AIR AND SOME MOISTURE ADVECTION STRATUS AND MAYBE SOME FOG MAY DEVELOP/MOVE INTO THE AREA. SINCE ONLY THE NAM IS SHOWING IT AND THE 06Z NAM PULLED BACK FROM EARLIER SOLUTION...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY FOG BUT THE DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...SPLIT FLOW WILL BE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THIS IS LEADING TO MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE MODELS HANDLE THE POSITION OF FEATURES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA. OVERALL THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL CONSENSUS AND ENSEMBLES WERE SIDING MORE WITH A SLOWER ARRIVING AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER TROUGH MOVING IN AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. HOW THE DETERMINISTIC OUTPUT HANDLED THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AFFECTED HOW FAST THEY MOVED IN THE FRONT WITH A SIMILAR CONSENSUS AS WHAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE UPPER LEVELS. THE 06Z NAM SLOWED DOWN FROM THE 00Z RUN AND MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN WHICH LOOKED TO BE HANDLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEE SIDE TROUGH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. SO DUE TO THE MODEL TRENDS AND ENSEMBLES...SIDED WITH THE SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER SOLUTION. SO THIS MEANT I PREFERRED THE SLOWER/FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION FOR THE DAY. SO AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION...BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN OCCUR. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONTAL POSITION WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO THAT...THE MODELS...DESPITE THE FRONT...TENDED TO CAP THE LOW LEVELS WITH THE NORTHWEST HALF HAVING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAP. SO BASED ON THE CAP...AND A FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION... I REDUCED THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION AND PUT THE HIGHEST POPS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL POSITION WHERE THE BOUNDARY/BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS AND WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKEST. ALSO CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM COULD INHIBIT HEATING AND EXPECTED INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FRONTAL POSITION AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER STORM SYSTEM. MODELS TENDED TO BE WARMER...ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HOWEVER...DID NOT GO AS WARM AS I COULD DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. BEST TIME FOR PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO ARRIVE DURING THE NIGHT. THE DEEPEST LIFT ARRIVES DURING THAT TIME AND THE DETERMINISTIC QPF OUTPUT AND ENSEMBLE PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES AGREE WITH THAT. THE SOUTHEAST HALF LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO LEFT THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT ALONE. SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. STORM MOVEMENTS WILL BE SLOW AND NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. SO THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR TRAINING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 1252 PM MDT THU APR 17 2014 SOUTHERN STREAM SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL APPROACH THE AREA SATURDAY AFTERNOON. COLD FRONT FORECAST TO BE NEAR A NORTON TO TRIBUNE LINE WILL BE THE MOST LIKELY AREA FOR CONVECTIVE INITIATION. SBCAPE AXIS OF UP TO 1500 J/KG WILL BE IN PLACE ALONG AND EAST OF THE FRONT WITH AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 80S. DEEP LAYER SHEAR OF 20-30KTS IS FORECAST FOR THAT AREA. THOSE PARAMETERS ONLY MARGINALLY SUPPORTIVE OF SEVERE STORMS BUT STILL COULD SEE SOME SMALL HAIL POSSIBLY UP TO QUARTER SIZE WITH STRONGER UPDRAFTS. MORE SHOWERS/ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WILL DEVELOP IN THE POST FRONTAL UPSLOPE ENVIRONMENT SATURDAY NIGHT AS MAIN SYNOPTIC SCALE FORCING ARRIVES. MODELS SHOW SCATTERED SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDER LINGERING INTO SUNDAY WITH COLDER AIR ALOFT ASSOCIATED WITH THE UPPER SHORTWAVE...BUT INSTABILITY WILL BE VERY LIMITED BY THAT TIME SO NOTHING SEVERE. HIGH TEMPERATURES ON SUNDAY WILL BE AROUND 70. UPPER RIDGE WILL REBUILD FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK. WARMING SURFACE TEMPERATURES AND UPSLOPE FLOW INTO COLORADO WILL CONTRIBUTE TO ISOLATED AFTERNOON/EARLY EVENING STORMS DESPITE LACK OF UPPER LEVEL FORCING. ACTIVITY WILL BE DIURNAL IN NATURE...QUICKLY DISSIPATING AFTER SUNSET. NEXT SHORTWAVE TROUGH WILL ARRIVE ON WEDNESDAY BUT MODELS INDICATE MOST OF THE LOCAL AREA WILL GET DRY SLOTTED. HOWEVER...DRY LINE WILL BE NEAR THE FAR EASTERN COUNTIES AND THEY STAND THE BEST CHANCES OF GETTING THUNDERSTORMS WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AND WEDNESDAY NIGHT. UPPER TROUGH AXIS WILL STILL BE NEARBY ON THURSDAY SO HARD TO RULE OUT AN ISOLATED SHOWER OR THUNDERSTORM THOUGH INSTABILITY AXIS WILL BE FAR EAST BY THAT TIME. TEMPERATURES MONDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY WILL BE ABOVE TO MUCH ABOVE NORMAL THEN NEAR NORMAL ON THURSDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1125 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 MORNING STRATUS IS RAPIDLY BURNING OFF. STRATUS HAS CLEARED KMCK AND SHOULD CLEAR KGLD WITHIN THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS. SOUTH WINDS INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND REMAIN ELEVATED THROUGHOUT THE TAF CYCLE... ESPECIALLY AT KGLD. FORECAST GUIDANCE INDICATES ANOTHER ROUND OF STRATUS IS POSSIBLE TOMORROW MORNING AS MOISTURE RETURN INCREASES. FOR NOW...HAVE PLACED A SCT MVFR GROUP IN TAF FOR KGLD AND FEW MVFR GROUP FOR KMCK. THE MAJORITY OF THE STRATUS SHOULD STAY SOUTH. SOUTH WINDS BECOME GUSTY DURING THE LATE MORNING TOMORROW AS A LEE TROUGH STRENGTHENS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JTL SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...024 AVIATION...RRH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS GOODLAND KS
1125 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 702 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 PLACED FOG IN FOR THIS MORNING OVER THE NORTHWEST PART OF THE AREA...MAINLY YUMA COUNTY. FOG SHOULD LIFT IN THE NEXT 2 HOURS OR SO. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST PROBLEMS WILL BE WINDS THROUGH THE PERIOD AND CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION LATE IN THE PERIOD. SATELLITE SHOWING A SOMEWHAT AMPLIFIED BUT STILL PROGRESSIVE FLOW FROM THE PACIFIC THROUGH NORTH AMERICA. STRONG SYSTEM SYSTEM APPROACHING THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST AND SOUTHWEST CANADA WITH A RIDGE PUSHING IN AHEAD OF IT. AT THIS TIME THIS IS LEAVING A NORTHWEST FLOW WITH EMBEDDED SHORTWAVE TROUGHS OVER THE AREA. AT JET LEVEL...THE NAM WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE GFS. AT MID LEVELS...OVERALL THE MODELS WERE NOT TOO FAR APART WOULD HAVE TO GIVE A SLIGHT EDGE TO THE GFS. HOWEVER WITH THE SYSTEM CURRENTLY PASSING THROUGH THE REGION...THE ECMWF WAS DOING THE BEST. THE CANADIAN WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE ECMWF...GFS AND NAM ON THE SURFACE WIND/PRESSURE FIELD. THE GFS WAS DOING A LITTLE BETTER THAN THE OTHER OUTPUT IN THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL FIELD. TODAY/TONIGHT...LEFT FRONT QUADRANT STARTS OUT NEAR THE WESTERN END OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE DAY AND THEN WILL MOVE ACROSS THE EASTERN HALF DURING THE AFTERNOON...WHICH MEANS IT WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA AT THE BEGINNING OF THE NIGHT. UPPER SYSTEM WILL CONTINUE TO AFFECT THE FAR SOUTHERN PORTION OF THE AREA EARLY THIS MORNING. BASED ON CURRENT RADAR/OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS...SLIGHT CHANCE TO LOW CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IN THE FAR SOUTH LOOKS REASONABLE AND DID NOT ADJUST. NEXT BUT MINOR CONCERN WILL BE HOW LONG THE CLOUD COVER WILL LAST THIS MORNING AND IF THAT WILL AFFECT THE HIGH TEMPERATURES. MODELS NOT DOING A GOOD JOB WITH THE STRATUS WITH RAP DOING THE BEST AND WILL CONTINUE TO WATCH IT AND OBSERVATIONAL TRENDS TO MAKE ANY FURTHER ADJUSTMENTS. AS SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTH PULLS OUT...SHOULD GET A DECENT AMOUNT OF SUBSIDENCE FROM THAT BUT AS MENTIONED ABOVE THE UPPER JET IS NOT YET TO OUR EAST. DUE TO THE LINGERING CLOUD COVER AND UNFAVORABLE SURFACE WINDS...ESPECIALLY IN THE EASTERN PORTION... WILL NOT GET TOO EXCITED ABOUT WARMING TEMPERATURES AND STUCK CLOSE TO THE PREVIOUS FORECAST. IF SKY COVER CLEARS AS THE MODELS THINK AND THE GRADIENT TIGHTENS/PRESSURE FALLS OCCUR AS SURFACE HIGH MOVES EAST AND THE LEE TROUGH DEVELOPS...WINDS SHOULD GET AT LEAST BREEZY IN THE WESTERN HALF MAYBE EVEN WINDY. NO HIGHLIGHT WILL BE NEEDED. WINDS WILL STAY UP TONIGHT AS WARM AIR ADVECTION KICKS IN. MINS WILL BE WARMER AND MAY NEED TO BE WARMED UP MORE FROM WHAT I HAVE THEM. FRIDAY/FRIDAY NIGHT...RIDGING ALOFT MOVES IN/THROUGH IN THE FIRST HALF OF THE DAY WITH FLOW ALOFT TRANSITIONING TO SOUTHWEST IN THE AFTERNOON. WARMER 850 MB TEMPERATURES AND PLENTY OF SUN WILL ALLOW FOR A GOOD WARMUP. TENDED TO FOLLOW THE WARMER GUIDANCE. HOWEVER...THE BIGGER STORY WILL BE THE INCREASING WINDS. GRADIENT AND 3 HOUR PRESSURE FALLS ARE TIGHTER/LARGER THAN FOR TODAY SO WILL DEFINITELY SEE A WINDY DAY. SOME OF THE GUIDANCE WOULD SAY WIND SPEEDS WILL GET NEAR WIND ADVISORY CRITERIA. THIS WILL BE POSSIBLE DUE TO THE SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT DEVELOPING AHEAD OF OUR NEXT STORM SYSTEM THAT IS MOVING INTO THE DESERT SOUTHWEST. DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO LOOK AT THIS CLOSELY AGAIN TO NOT ONLY INCREASE SPEEDS BUT ALSO AT A POSSIBLE WIND ADVISORY. LACK OF INSTABILITY AND AN EXTREMELY DEEP DRY LAYER IN THE LOWER LEVELS OF THE ATMOSPHERE WILL KEEP PRECIPITATION FROM DEVELOPING OR REACHING THE GROUND DURING THE NIGHT. NO UPPER JET IS CLOSE AND NO LOW LEVEL JET LOOKS TO BE IN THE AREA. SO REMOVED THE SLIGHT CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION FROM THE NIGHTTIME PERIOD. WITH WARM AIR AND SOME MOISTURE ADVECTION STRATUS AND MAYBE SOME FOG MAY DEVELOP/MOVE INTO THE AREA. SINCE ONLY THE NAM IS SHOWING IT AND THE 06Z NAM PULLED BACK FROM EARLIER SOLUTION...WILL NOT INCLUDE ANY FOG BUT THE DAY SHIFT WILL NEED TO TAKE ANOTHER LOOK. SATURDAY/SATURDAY NIGHT...SPLIT FLOW WILL BE OVER THE AREA THROUGH THIS PERIOD. THIS IS LEADING TO MAJOR DIFFERENCES IN HOW THE MODELS HANDLE THE POSITION OF FEATURES AT ALL LEVELS ACROSS THE AREA. OVERALL THE DETERMINISTIC MODEL CONSENSUS AND ENSEMBLES WERE SIDING MORE WITH A SLOWER ARRIVING AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER TROUGH MOVING IN AND THROUGH THE AREA DURING THIS PERIOD. HOW THE DETERMINISTIC OUTPUT HANDLED THE MID/UPPER LEVELS AFFECTED HOW FAST THEY MOVED IN THE FRONT WITH A SIMILAR CONSENSUS AS WHAT WAS SHOWN FOR THE UPPER LEVELS. THE 06Z NAM SLOWED DOWN FROM THE 00Z RUN AND MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLED THE ECMWF AND CANADIAN WHICH LOOKED TO BE HANDLING THE BEHAVIOR OF THE LEE SIDE TROUGH BETTER THAN EVERYBODY ELSE. SO DUE TO THE MODEL TRENDS AND ENSEMBLES...SIDED WITH THE SLOWER AND FURTHER SOUTHWEST UPPER SOLUTION. SO THIS MEANT I PREFERRED THE SLOWER/FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION FOR THE DAY. SO AHEAD OF THE FRONT...MOSTLY IN THE SOUTHEAST PORTION...BREEZY TO WINDY CONDITIONS WILL ONCE AGAIN OCCUR. MORE IMPORTANTLY THE FRONTAL POSITION WILL DETERMINE WHERE THE BEST CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION WILL BE. IN ADDITION TO THAT...THE MODELS...DESPITE THE FRONT...TENDED TO CAP THE LOW LEVELS WITH THE NORTHWEST HALF HAVING THE LEAST AMOUNT OF CAP. SO BASED ON THE CAP...AND A FURTHER WEST FRONTAL POSITION... I REDUCED THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION AND PUT THE HIGHEST POPS IN THE NORTHWEST AND CENTRAL POSITION WHERE THE BOUNDARY/BEST LOW LEVEL CONVERGENCE IS AND WHERE THE CAP IS WEAKEST. ALSO CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THIS SYSTEM COULD INHIBIT HEATING AND EXPECTED INSTABILITY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE TRICKY DUE TO THE UNCERTAINTY OF THE FRONTAL POSITION AND ALSO THE AMOUNT OF CLOUD COVER IN ADVANCE OF THE UPPER STORM SYSTEM. MODELS TENDED TO BE WARMER...ESPECIALLY AHEAD OF THE FRONT. HOWEVER...DID NOT GO AS WARM AS I COULD DUE TO THE CLOUD COVER. BEST TIME FOR PRECIPITATION LOOKS TO ARRIVE DURING THE NIGHT. THE DEEPEST LIFT ARRIVES DURING THAT TIME AND THE DETERMINISTIC QPF OUTPUT AND ENSEMBLE PRECIPITATION PROBABILITIES AGREE WITH THAT. THE SOUTHEAST HALF LOOKS TO HAVE THE BEST CHANCE. SO LEFT THE PRECIPITATION FORECAST FOR THE NIGHT ALONE. SOMETHING TO WATCH FOR ONCE THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP. STORM MOVEMENTS WILL BE SLOW AND NEARLY PARALLEL TO THE FRONT. SO THERE WILL BE POTENTIAL FOR TRAINING AND HEAVY RAINFALL. .LONG TERM...(SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 421 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 SUNDAY THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WHICH TRIGGERED CONVECTION SATURDAY WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA WITH THE DRY LINE REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO BORDER. AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH...STORMS WILL TURN FROM MOVING NORTHEAST TO MOVING SOUTH...WHICH WILL INCREASE STORM COVERAGE TO THE SOUTH OF THE AREA IN THE AFTERNOON. SUNDAY EVENING THE UPPER LEVEL TROUGH WILL BE EAST OF THE AREA CAUSING RAINFALL TO COME TO AN END. MONDAY THE UPPER LEVEL RIDGE WILL MOVE IN BEHIND THE EXITING TROUGH. WITH A DRY ENVIRONMENT IN PLACE AND NO SHORT WAVE TROUGH MOVING THROUGH SO WILL KEEP THE DAY DRY. TUESDAY THE RIDGE WILL STILL BE OVER THE AREA. DURING THE AFTERNOON A WEAK SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE OVER THE AREA. DESPITE THE DRY LINE STILL REMAINING NEAR THE KS/CO LINE...THE WELL ABOVE NORMAL TEMPERATURES WILL CAUSE LCLS TO BE VERY HIGH WITH LARGE DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS AT THE LCL AS WELL. DEW POINT DEPRESSIONS SHRINK BY LATE AFTERNOON BUT THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL FILL BY THEN. MODEL CONSENSUS HAS NO RAINFALL FORECAST FOR THE AFTERNOON AS THE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH. BASED ON THE ABOVE CONSIDERATIONS WILL LEAVE THE FORECAST DRY...BUT WOULD NOT BE SURPRISED TO SEE AN ISOLATED STORM OR TWO DEVELOP DURING THE LATTER HALF OF THE AFTERNOON BEFORE THE SHORT WAVE TROUGH FILLS. WEDNESDAY A SUBTLE UPPER LEVEL SHORT WAVE TROUGH WILL MOVE ACROSS THE AREA AS THE DRY LINE IS PUSHED EAST ACROSS THE AREA. THE ENVIRONMENT WILL BE EVEN DRIER THAN TUESDAY SO A THE DRY FORECAST WILL CONTINUE FOR THE DAY DESPITE THE DRY LINE MOVING ACROSS THE AREA. TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY A TIGHT SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL DEVELOP AS A SURFACE TROUGH MOVES THROUGH THE AREA LEADING TO WINDY CONDITIONS. DUE LOW RELATIVE HUMIDITIES MOVING IN BEHIND THE DRY LINE...HAZARDOUS FIRE WEATHER CONDITIONS MAY DEVELOP OVER PARTS OF EAST CENTRAL COLORADO TUESDAY AND EXTEND EAST INTO FAR NORTHWEST KANSAS ON WEDNESDAY. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1125 AM MDT THU APR 17 2014 MORNING STRATUS IS RAPIDLY BURNING OFF. STRATUS HAS CLEARED KMCK AND SHOULD CLEAR KGLD WITHIN THE NEXT 1-2 HOURS. SOUTH WINDS INCREASE THIS AFTERNOON AND REMAIN ELEVATED THROUGHOUT THE TAF CYCLE... ESPECIALLY AT KGLD. FORECAST GUIDANCE INDICATES ANOTHER ROUND OF STRATUS IS POSSIBLE TOMORROW MORNING AS MOISTURE RETURN INCREASES. FOR NOW...HAVE PLACED A SCT MVFR GROUP IN TAF FOR KGLD AND FEW MVFR GROUP FOR KMCK. THE MAJORITY OF THE STRATUS SHOULD STAY SOUTH. SOUTH WINDS BECOME GUSTY DURING THE LATE MORNING TOMORROW AS A LEE TROUGH STRENGTHENS ALONG THE FRONT RANGE. && .GLD WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... KS...NONE. CO...NONE. NE...NONE. && $$ UPDATE...JTL SHORT TERM...BULLER LONG TERM...JTL AVIATION...RRH
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
420 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .SHORT TERM...(THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY) ISSUED AT 420 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD INCLUDE INCREASING PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS THE WEST...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. IN THE NEAR TERM...SNOW SHOWERS IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST HAVE DISSIPATED WHILE CLOUDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE HAS MOVED INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY WITH AN INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT AND BRISK SE FLOW ACROSS THE WEST. HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS...INCLUDING THE RAP AND HRRR..INDICATING A 500MB SHEARED VORTICITY AXIS PUSHING INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING AND PUSHING EAST OVERNIGHT. A SWATH OF ENHANCED LIFT MAY SUPPORT SOME LIGHT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST TONIGHT AND HAVE MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO POPS. ON FRIDAY...EXPECT BREEZY CONDITIONS BUT WIDESPREAD ADVISORY CRITERIA (SUSTAINED 30 MPH) IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE REACHED. INCREASING WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL BOOST AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE 50S TO LOWER 60S. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL PUSH INTO MONTANA WITH DIFFLUENT SOUTHWEST FLOW SUPPORTING RAIN ACROSS NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. SOME ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS CAN`T BE RULED OUT WITH A SHOWALTER INDEX NEAR OR JUST BELOW ZERO. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY) ISSUED AT 420 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE EXTENDED FORECAST IS A TRANSITION TO A MORE ACTIVE WEATHER PATTERN INTO NEXT WEEK. THE 12 UTC DETERMINISTIC SUITE IS IN GOOD AGREEMENT ON A PROGRESSIVE SHORTWAVE TO IMPACT THE NORTHERN PLAINS FRIDAY EVENING INTO SATURDAY MORNING. PRECIPITATION ASSOCIATED WITH ISENTROPIC LIFT IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AS RAIN...AND POSSIBLY TRANSITIONING TO SNOW LATE FRIDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY SATURDAY MORNING. LITTLE TO NO ACCUMULATION IS ANTICIPATED AT THIS TIME. THEREAFTER...A SIGNIFICANT TROUGH PROPAGATES INTO THE WESTERN CONUS TUESDAY INTO THURSDAY...POTENTIALLY PLACING THE NORTHERN PLAINS UNDER SOUTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. WHILE DIFFERENCES EXIST AMONGST THE GUIDANCE REGARDING THE EVOLUTION OF THE SYSTEM AS IT PROPAGATES ONTO THE PLAINS...INCREASING MOISTURE TRANSPORT AND INSTABILITY SUPPORTS THE POTENTIAL FOR THUNDERSTORMS TUESDAY INTO WEDNESDAY. THE GUIDANCE BEGINS TO DIVERGE THE MOST THURSDAY...WITH THE 12 UTC GFS CLOSING OFF A POTENT LOW ACROSS NORTH DAKOTA...WITH THE 12 UTC ECMWF ACROSS SOUTHERN SASKATCHEWAN. WHILE SIGNIFICANT QPF IS EXPECTED SOMEWHERE IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS AND CANADIAN PRAIRIES...PREICPITATION TYPE AND PLACEMENT WILL REMAIN HIGHLY UNCERTAIN FOR THE COMING DAYS. IN LIGHT OF MOIST SOILS...HYDROLOGIC IMPACTS WILL ALSO NEED TO BE CONSIDERED. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 420 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 EXPECTING MAINLY LOW VFR CEILINGS BECOMING MVFR THIS EVENING AT KMOT/KISN/KBIS. ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AT KISN/KMOT...BUT LOW PROBABILITY DOES NOT WARRANT MORE THAN A VCSH MENTION AT THIS TIME. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ SHORT TERM/AVIATION...RP KINNEY LONG TERM...AYD
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS BISMARCK ND
205 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 .UPDATE... ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD INCLUDE INCREASING PRECIPITATION CHANCES ACROSS THE WEST...ESPECIALLY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. IN THE NEAR TERM...SNOW SHOWERS IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST HAVE DISSIPATED WHILE CLOUDS CONTINUE TO INCREASE FROM WEST TO EAST ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA. THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE HAS MOVED INTO THE RED RIVER VALLEY WITH AN INCREASING PRESSURE GRADIENT AND BRISK SE FLOW ACROSS THE WEST. HIGH RESOLUTION MODELS...INCLUDING THE RAP AND HRRR..INDICATING A 500MB SHEARED VORTICITY AXIS PUSHING INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS EVENING AND PUSHING EAST OVERNIGHT. A SWATH OF ENHANCED LIFT MAY SUPPORT SOME LIGHT RAIN/SNOW SHOWERS FROM NORTHWEST TO SOUTHEAST TONIGHT AND HAVE MADE SOME MINOR ADJUSTMENTS TO POPS. ON FRIDAY...EXPECT BREEZY CONDITIONS BUT WIDESPREAD ADVISORY CRITERIA (SUSTAINED 30 MPH) IS NOT EXPECTED TO BE REACHED. INCREASING WARM AIR ADVECTION WILL BOOST AFTERNOON TEMPERATURES INTO THE 50S TO LOWER 60S. AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL PUSH INTO MONTANA WITH DIFFLUENT SOUTHWEST FLOW SUPPORTING RAIN ACROSS NORTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA...ESPECIALLY DURING THE AFTERNOON HOURS. UPDATE ISSUED AT 951 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 MORNING UPDATE FOR MINOR CHANGES TO POPS ACROSS THE WEST AND HOURLY TEMPERATURE TRENDS. LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS CONTINUE ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHWEST THIS MORNING. EXPECTING TRANSITION TO LIGHT RAIN THIS AFTERNOON...WITH ANY PRECIPITATION CONFINED MAINLY TO THE WESTERN THIRD OF THE FORECAST AREA. UPDATE ISSUED AT 700 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 BOWMAN RADAR WAS SHOWING WEAK RETURNS THROUGH SOUTHWEST NORTH DAKOTA. FLURRIES THIS MORNING...ISOLATED RAIN SHOWERS LATER AS WE WARM...WESTERN THIRD. && .SHORT TERM...(TODAY AND TONIGHT) ISSUED AT 430 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 FORECAST HIGHLIGHTS IN THE SHORT TERM PERIOD INCLUDE TEMPERATURES AND POSSIBLY SOME LIGHT SHOWERS IN THE WEST. CURRENTLY...HIGH PRESSURE WAS CENTERED OVER SOUTHERN MANITOBA WITH LOW PRESSURE IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. PERSISTENT CLOUDS LINGERED BETWEEN THE HIGH PRESSURE RIDGE AXIS THAT EXTENDED SOUTHWARD FROM MANITOBA ACROSS THE CENTRAL DAKOTAS...AND THE LEE-SIDE LOW PRESSURE TROUGH. REGIONAL RADARS INDICATED THAT LIGHT SHOWERS OR VIRGA CONTINUED OVER EASTERN MONTANA INTO WESTERN SOUTH DAKOTA AND THE SOUTHWESTERN CORNER OF NORTH DAKOTA. THE AREA OF LIGHT SHOWERS IS LIKELY ASSOCIATED WITH AN UPPER LEVEL IMPULSE MOVING EAST/SOUTHEAST IN THE NORTHWEST FLOW ALOFT. THIS IMPULSE IS FORECAST TO MOVE ACROSS WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS MORNING...THEN WEAKEN FURTHER AS IT MOVES INTO EASTERN NORTH DAKOTA THIS AFTERNOON. MEANWHILE AT THE SURFACE...THE SURFACE GRADIENT TIGHTENS TODAY AND SHOULD BE CONDUCIVE FOR GUSTY SOUTHEAST WINDS OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA LATE THIS MORNING AND INTO THE AFTERNOON. H850 WINDS AROUND 25 MPH FROM THE SOUTHEAST...WITH GOOD WARM ADVECTION AT H700 WITH WESTERLY WINDS. THIS SCENARIO WILL KEEP WARM ADVECTION CLOUDS DEVELOPING OVER THE WESTERN HALF OF THE STATE. THIS COMBINED WITH WEAK UPPER LEVEL ENERGY IMPULSES WILL KEEP A CHANCE OF SHOWERS OVER WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA TODAY. TONIGHT A SHORTWAVE RIDGE WILL MOVE INTO WESTERN NORTH DAKOTA AHEAD OF A MORE SIGNIFICANT TROUGH. THE LEADING EDGE OF UPPER LEVEL ENERGY WITH THIS NEXT UPPER TROUGH WILL APPROACH NORTHWESTERN NORTH DAKOTA LATE TONIGHT. THE BEST THUS WILL KEEP A MENTION OF SHOWERS AFTER MIDNIGHT IN THE NORTHWEST AND NORTH CENTRAL. THE SLOW WARMING TREND BEGINS WITH HIGHS TODAY IN THE 40S...WITH LOWER 50S IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST. .LONG TERM...(FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY) ISSUED AT 430 AM CDT THU APR 17 2014 THIS LONG TERM DISCUSSION VERY SIMILAR TO THAT FROM YESTERDAY AND EXPECTATIONS HAVE CHANGED ONLY SLIGHTLY FOR THE LONG TERM. OF MOST INTEREST CONTINUES TO BE THE SIGNIFICANT WARM UP JUST IN TIME FOR EASTER...WITH HIGHS 65 TO 70 FOR MOST OF THE FORECAST AREA THAT DAY. THE THUNDERSTORM CHANCES REMAIN...ESPECIALLY SOUTH... FROM LATER TUESDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY...BUT INSTABILITY PARAMETERS ARE WEAKER THAN PREVIOUSLY INDICATED. THE LONG TERM IS VERY ACTIVE WITH A MID LEVEL COLD POCKET PASSING JUST NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA TO START...FOLLOWED BY SIGNIFICANT RIDGING IN THE MID LEVELS BEGINNING SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO MID WEEK. THE COLD POCKET BRINGS MIXED PRECIPITATION...PREDOMINANTLY RAIN DURING THE DAY TIMES AND SNOW AT NIGHT. SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE MINIMAL WITH MAYBE AN INCH... AT MOST...WEST AND NORTH. THIS WOULD BE QUICK TO MELT DURING DAY TIMES AND WITH RAIN. THE PERIOD IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE LONG TERM...SO THURSDAY AND FRIDAY...LOOKS WET AT FIRST AND THEN WITH COLDER AIR WORKING IN AS THE SYSTEM PULLS OUT...A CHANCE THAT PRECIPITATION WOULD END AS A PERIOD OF SNOW...THAT FOR APRIL 24-25...AND FOR MOST WOULD BE UNWELCOME. TO BACK UP A BIT CONCERNING THE THUNDERSTORM CHANCES FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY...LOW PRESSURE FORMS IN THE LEE OF THE ROCKIES. THE THERMAL RIDGE AHEAD OF IT...INTO NORTH DAKOTA...IS NOW DEPICTED BY THE MODELS NOT AS STRONG AS YESTERDAYS RUNS. THE LOW IS ALSO DEPICTED WEAKER AND WITH THAT THE INCREASE IN LOW LEVEL MOISTURE AND INSTABILITY LESS. CAPE THAT WAS FORECAST TO NEAR 1500 J/KG ALONG THE SOUTH DAKOTA BORDER AND LI TO -4...IS NOW DEPICTED AS LESS THAN 500 J/KG AND LI TO -2. IT IS STILL PRUDENT TO KEEP A MENTION OF THUNDERSTORMS...BUT THEY COULD BE MORE THUNDERSHOWERS AS COMPARED TO STORMS. && .AVIATION...(FOR THE 18Z TAFS THROUGH 18Z FRIDAY AFTERNOON) ISSUED AT 1252 PM CDT THU APR 17 2014 EXPECTING MAINLY LOW VFR CEILINGS BECOMING MVFR THIS EVENING AT KMOT/KISN/KBIS. ISOLATED LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT AT KISN/KMOT...BUT LOW PROBABILITY DOES NOT WARRANT MORE THAN A VCSH MENTION AT THIS TIME. && .BIS WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... NONE. && $$ UPDATE/AVIATION...RP KINNEY SHORT TERM...JV LONG TERM...JPM
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NWS WILMINGTON OH
146 PM EDT THU APR 17 2014 .SYNOPSIS... WARMER TEMPERATURES WILL RETURN TODAY AS SOUTHERLY FLOW DEVELOPS AROUND HIGH PRESSURE TO OUR NORTHEAST. A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL CROSS OUR REGION ON FRIDAY...BRINGING A LOW END CHANCE FOR SHOWERS TO THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BRING FAIR WEATHER AND SEASONABLY WARM TEMPERATURES TO THE REGION THIS WEEKEND. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/... THE LATEST RAP MODEL...COMPARED TO THE 12Z KILN SOUNDING...SEEMS TO BE HANDLING THE OVERALL MOISTURE PROFILE ACROSS THE REGION THIS MORNING. ALSO...IT IS MIXING THE AIRMASS THROUGH 850 MB BY LATE AFTN. THIS DEEPER MIXING...ALONG WITH MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES...WILL YIELD TEMPERATURES A LITTLE WARMER THAN PREVIOUSLY FORECAST. HIGHS SHOULD RANGE FROM THE MID 60S NORTH TO AROUND 70 NEAR AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. && .SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT/... WEAK LOW PRESSURE WILL CROSS THE NORTHERN GREAT LAKES TONIGHT. A COLD FRONT EXTENDING SOUTHWARD FROM THIS LOW WILL APPROACH OUR AREA OVERNIGHT...AND WILL BE LOCATED ACROSS NORTHERN IN/IL BY DAYBREAK FRIDAY. THE HIGH ACROSS NEW ENGLAND TODAY WILL HAVE MOVED OFFSHORE BY TONIGHT. THIS WILL RESULT IN A WEAKENING SURFACE GRADIENT AND LIGHT WINDS OVERNIGHT. THE AIRMASS THAT WILL BE IN PLACE WILL BE DRY...WITH SURFACE DEWPOINTS EXPECTED TO BE IN THE 30S. SKIES WILL START OFF MOSTLY CLEAR...WITH A GRADUALLY INCREASE IN CLOUDS FROM WEST TO EAST OVERNIGHT AHEAD OF THE WEAK COLD FRONT. THE COMBINATION OF DRY AIR AT THE SURFACE...LIGHT WINDS...AND MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES TO START OFF TONIGHT WILL RESULT IN TEMPERATURES DROPPING INTO THE 40S. SOME LOCATIONS EAST OF COLUMBUS MAY DROP INTO THE 30S WITH A LONGER PERIOD OF MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES EXPECTED THERE. THE WEAK FRONT WILL ARRIVE IN OUR AREA FROM THE NORTHWEST ON FRIDAY. MODELS CONTINUE TO TREND TOWARD WEAKENING THIS MOISTURE STARVED FRONT AS IT MOVES INTO OUR AREA. SHOWERS ARE FORECAST TO DEVELOP ALONG THE FRONT FRIDAY JUST WEST OF OUR AREA. HOWEVER...THESE SHOWERS ARE FORECAST TO LESSEN IN COVERAGE AND WEAKEN AS THEY TRY TO PUSH ACROSS THE AREA FRIDAY AFTERNOON. ALSO...IT NOW APPEARS THAT THE FRONT WILL BE LOSING ITS CHARACTERISTICS FRIDAY AFTERNOON AS THE ASSOCIATED LOW LIFTS NORTHEASTWARD FROM OUR REGION....AND THE CANADIAN HIGH BEHIND THE LOW FAILS TO BUILD TOO FAR SOUTH INTO THE OHIO VALLEY. ALL OF THESE FACTORS DO NOT BODE WELL FOR ANY DECENT POPS...AND THE CHANCE POPS ACROSS OUR NORTHERN ZONES MAY BE GENEROUS FOR THIS FRONT. HIGHS ON FRIDAY AHEAD OF THE FRONT WILL RISE ONCE AGAIN INTO THE 60S ACROSS ALL ZONES. THE ONLY DIFFERENCE IN TEMPERATURES FRIDAY COMPARED TO TODAY MAY BE THE SLIGHTLY COOLER LOWER 60S EXPECTED ACROSS THE NORTH DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE WEAK COLD FRONT. 500-1000 HPA HEIGHTS WILL BEGIN TO BUILD ACROSS THE REGION ON SATURDAY. HIGH PRESSURE OFF TO THE NORTH WILL PROVIDE NORTHEASTERLY SURFACE WINDS. THE COUNTERACTING NATURE OF THE HEIGHT RISES AND NORTHEASTERLY WINDS WILL PRODUCE YET ANOTHER DAY OF MID TO UPPER 60S ACROSS THE SOUTH ON SATURDAY. ACROSS THE NORTH...THE NORTHEASTERLY WINDS SHOULD KEEP TEMPERATURES FROM RISING MUCH ABOVE 60 AS COOLER AIR IS DRAWN ACROSS THOSE ZONES FROM LAKE ERIE. SOUTHERLY SURFACE FLOW WILL DEVELOP ON SUNDAY AS THE HIGH TO OUR NORTH SHIFTS TO OUR NORTHEAST. THE COMBINATION OF THE RETURN FLOW AND BUILDING 500-1000 HPA HEIGHTS WILL RESULT IN HIGHS IN THE 70S ACROSS MOST OF THE AREA...WITH PERHAPS A FEW UPPER 60S ACROSS THE NORTH. && .LONG TERM /SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/... HIGH PRESSURE STRETCHING FROM SOUTHEAST CANADA THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES AND OHIO VALLEY WILL KEEP DRY WEATHER OVER THE AREA SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. A COLD FRONT WILL ENTER THE REGION MONDAY. GFS AND ECMWF BOTH INDICATE THE FRONT...BUT DIFFERENCES IN TIMING EXIST...WITH GFS FASTER AND ECMWF OFFERING A SLOWER SOLUTION. SPLIT THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MODELS AND WENT WITH A MODEL BLEND...WHICH YIELDS THE LIKELIHOOD FOR SHOWERS MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT. WITH MODELS SHOWING SCANT INSTABILITY AND RATHER WEAK WIND FIELDS ALONG THE FRONT...DECIDED TO OMIT THUNDER. HIGH PRESSURE AND DRY AIR ARE EXPECTED TO RETURN FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL START OUT A BIT COOL ON SATURDAY WITH HIGHS FORECAST TO BE IN THE UPPER 50S TO MID 60S. DUE TO A MODEST AMOUNT OF WARM ADVECTION...HIGHS FOR SUNDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY ARE ANTICIPATED TO AVERAGE IN THE NEAR NORMAL MID AND UPPER 60S. && .AVIATION /18Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/... LOW PRESSURE OVER EASTERN WISCONSIN WILL MOVE NORTHEAST INTO SOUTHEAST CANADA THROUGH THE TAF PERIOD. AS IT DOES...A WEAK COLD FRONT WILL PUSH EAST INTO OUR REGION ON FRIDAY. THIS FRONT IS MOISTURE STARVED. AS SUCH...NOT MUCH IS EXPECTED IN TERMS OF PRECIPITATION AS IT CROSSES THE TAF SITES FRIDAY AFTERNOON. HIGH CLOUDS WILL INCREASE THROUGH THIS EVENING WITH VFR 5000 FOOT CEILINGS EXPECTED LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY. OUTLOOK...MVFR CEILINGS AND VISIBILITIES POSSIBLE MONDAY INTO TUESDAY. && .ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... OH...NONE. KY...NONE. IN...NONE. && $$ SYNOPSIS...HICKMAN/LATTO NEAR TERM...HICKMAN/LATTO SHORT TERM...LATTO LONG TERM...CONIGLIO AVIATION...HICKMAN