okay.... but, when a seasonal forecast is made about how many storms can be expected over the course of an entire season, and that forecast is made well before the season even starts, I don't see how that is protecting anyone from anything. especially when it's never even close to being right. I didn't say we shouldn't predict. I didn't say, "don't be prepared". What exactly did I say that you disagree with SPECIFICALLY, because based on what I meant and what you said, I really don't think you understood me. I was referring to the overall seasonal expectations not actual weather forecasts. I was talking about the pre-season predictions about how many storms , hurricanes, and majors can be expected. Not actual weather forecasts. Did you LOOK AT THE ARTICLE that we referenced at all? That's what I was responding about.
it's like guessing what teams will be in the play-offs before the first pre-season game
and also..back to original subject please didn't mean to discourse
February: Clear Skies & Moderating Temps To End The Month
- srainhoutx
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19673
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:32 pm
- Location: Maggie Valley, NC
- Contact:
A significant Winter Storm is underway across the Plains on E into the Mid West/Greats Lakes and New England. Heavy snow is falling across portions of the Southern/Central Rockies as a Pacific origin upper low treks ENE along the Polar boundary. Various Winter Storm Warnings and Advisories are in affect for a large portion of the Eastern half of the CONUS.
The storm will continue to move E today and drop a strong front into Texas later today into tonight. Much colder air settles across our Region tomorrow and clouds increase as the next short wave approaches. While the over night guidance has trended toward less moisture as that Coastal trough/low is now suggested to be weaker as well as the next upper air disturbance dropping SE from the Pacific NW being out of phase with the upper trough pattern, the WPC suggests that the various model solutions as well as the ensembles are not handling the various features very well and that the forecast is still one of low confidence.
MODEL DIAGNOSTIC DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
324 AM EST TUE FEB 04 2014
VALID FEB 04/0000 UTC THRU FEB 07/1200 UTC
...SEE NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) FOR THE STATUS OF THE UPPER AIR
INGEST...
==============================================
FINAL 00Z MODEL EVALUATION AND PREFERENCES
==============================================
NAM/GFS INITIALIZATION ERRORS DON'T APPEAR TO
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THEIR LARGE SCALE OUTPUT.
==============================================
...SHORTWAVE EJECTING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST TUE
MORNING-WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
PREFERENCE: GFS/ECMWF
CONFIDENCE: AVERAGE
NO SIGNIFICANT RUN-TO-RUN CHANGES WERE NOTED IN THE NAM SINCE 00Z.
THE GFS HAS TRENDED A LITTLE DEEPER WITH THE INITIAL SURFACE
SURFACE LOW LIFTING FROM THE TN VALLEY TO THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS
TUE NIGHT-WED MORNING. OVERALL THE MODELS ARE FAIRLY WELL
CLUSTERED AT 500MB-SURFACE THROUGH WED BUT SUBTLE DIFFERENCES
REMAIN. ONE OF THE MORE NOTED DIFFERENCES IS THAT THE NAM IS
FASTER TO LIFT THE INITIAL LOW NORTHWARD INTO THE TN VALLEY TUE
EVENING AND FROM THERE TRACKS THE LOW A LITTLE FURTHER WEST
THROUGH THE OH VALLEY WED MORNING THAN THE CURRENT MODEL
CONSENSUS.
...LOW CLOSING OFF OVER THE NORTHWEST EARLY FRI/TROUGH OVER THE
WESTERN U.S....
PREFERENCE: GFS/ECMWF COMPROMISE...GEFSMEAN
CONFIDENCE: BELOW AVERAGE
00Z GFS/UKMET/CANADIAN GLOBAL HAVE ALL MADE A MARKED TREND TOWARD
A MORE SHEARED/NORTHERLY LOW OVER THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY MON. THE
NAM MADE A SIMILAR TREND...BUT NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE...LEAVING IT
MORE IN LINE WITH THE 12Z GUIDANCE. THE 00Z ECMWF HAS CONTINUED
THIS NORTHERLY TREND...MORE SO THAN THE NAM...BUT LESS THAN THE
GFS/UKMET/CANADIAN GLOBAL. THE 00Z GEFSMEAN HAS ALSO TRENDED
FURTHER TO THE NORTH...BUT IS FURTHER TO THE SOUTH THAN THE GFS.
IN ADDITION TO THE SPREAD...CONFIDENCE IS FURTHER LIMITED BY THE
FACT THAT A KEY PLAYER IN THE EVOLUTION OF THIS SYSTEM IS ENERGY
DROPPING IN FROM WELL TO THE NORTH OVER THE POORLY SAMPLED POLAR
REGION...SUGGESTING FURTHER RUN-TO-RUN DISCONTINUITIES MAY BE IN
STORE. WITH LIMITED CONFIDENCE...SUGGEST A COMPROMISE ON DAY 3
BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF...SIMILAR TO THE GEFSMEAN. FURTHER TO THE
SOUTH ACROSS CA INTO THE SOUTHWEST THE FORECAST IS EQUALLY MURKY
WITH THE MODELS SHOWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF SPREAD/DIVERGING TRENDS
WITH THE TIMING/AMPLITUDE OF THE ENERGY DIGGING INTO THE REGION ON
DAY 3. HERE TOO A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF MAY BE IN
ORDER...AT LEAST UNTIL THE GUIDANCE BEGINS TO SHOW A MORE
CONSISTENT TREND.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/model2.shtml...
PEREIRA
The storm will continue to move E today and drop a strong front into Texas later today into tonight. Much colder air settles across our Region tomorrow and clouds increase as the next short wave approaches. While the over night guidance has trended toward less moisture as that Coastal trough/low is now suggested to be weaker as well as the next upper air disturbance dropping SE from the Pacific NW being out of phase with the upper trough pattern, the WPC suggests that the various model solutions as well as the ensembles are not handling the various features very well and that the forecast is still one of low confidence.
MODEL DIAGNOSTIC DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
324 AM EST TUE FEB 04 2014
VALID FEB 04/0000 UTC THRU FEB 07/1200 UTC
...SEE NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) FOR THE STATUS OF THE UPPER AIR
INGEST...
==============================================
FINAL 00Z MODEL EVALUATION AND PREFERENCES
==============================================
NAM/GFS INITIALIZATION ERRORS DON'T APPEAR TO
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THEIR LARGE SCALE OUTPUT.
==============================================
...SHORTWAVE EJECTING FROM THE SOUTHWEST TO THE NORTHEAST TUE
MORNING-WEDNESDAY NIGHT...
PREFERENCE: GFS/ECMWF
CONFIDENCE: AVERAGE
NO SIGNIFICANT RUN-TO-RUN CHANGES WERE NOTED IN THE NAM SINCE 00Z.
THE GFS HAS TRENDED A LITTLE DEEPER WITH THE INITIAL SURFACE
SURFACE LOW LIFTING FROM THE TN VALLEY TO THE CENTRAL APPALACHIANS
TUE NIGHT-WED MORNING. OVERALL THE MODELS ARE FAIRLY WELL
CLUSTERED AT 500MB-SURFACE THROUGH WED BUT SUBTLE DIFFERENCES
REMAIN. ONE OF THE MORE NOTED DIFFERENCES IS THAT THE NAM IS
FASTER TO LIFT THE INITIAL LOW NORTHWARD INTO THE TN VALLEY TUE
EVENING AND FROM THERE TRACKS THE LOW A LITTLE FURTHER WEST
THROUGH THE OH VALLEY WED MORNING THAN THE CURRENT MODEL
CONSENSUS.
...LOW CLOSING OFF OVER THE NORTHWEST EARLY FRI/TROUGH OVER THE
WESTERN U.S....
PREFERENCE: GFS/ECMWF COMPROMISE...GEFSMEAN
CONFIDENCE: BELOW AVERAGE
00Z GFS/UKMET/CANADIAN GLOBAL HAVE ALL MADE A MARKED TREND TOWARD
A MORE SHEARED/NORTHERLY LOW OVER THE NORTHWEST BY EARLY MON. THE
NAM MADE A SIMILAR TREND...BUT NOT TO THE SAME DEGREE...LEAVING IT
MORE IN LINE WITH THE 12Z GUIDANCE. THE 00Z ECMWF HAS CONTINUED
THIS NORTHERLY TREND...MORE SO THAN THE NAM...BUT LESS THAN THE
GFS/UKMET/CANADIAN GLOBAL. THE 00Z GEFSMEAN HAS ALSO TRENDED
FURTHER TO THE NORTH...BUT IS FURTHER TO THE SOUTH THAN THE GFS.
IN ADDITION TO THE SPREAD...CONFIDENCE IS FURTHER LIMITED BY THE
FACT THAT A KEY PLAYER IN THE EVOLUTION OF THIS SYSTEM IS ENERGY
DROPPING IN FROM WELL TO THE NORTH OVER THE POORLY SAMPLED POLAR
REGION...SUGGESTING FURTHER RUN-TO-RUN DISCONTINUITIES MAY BE IN
STORE. WITH LIMITED CONFIDENCE...SUGGEST A COMPROMISE ON DAY 3
BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF...SIMILAR TO THE GEFSMEAN. FURTHER TO THE
SOUTH ACROSS CA INTO THE SOUTHWEST THE FORECAST IS EQUALLY MURKY
WITH THE MODELS SHOWING A FAIR AMOUNT OF SPREAD/DIVERGING TRENDS
WITH THE TIMING/AMPLITUDE OF THE ENERGY DIGGING INTO THE REGION ON
DAY 3. HERE TOO A COMPROMISE BETWEEN THE GFS/ECMWF MAY BE IN
ORDER...AT LEAST UNTIL THE GUIDANCE BEGINS TO SHOW A MORE
CONSISTENT TREND.
www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/model2.shtml...
PEREIRA
Carla/Alicia/Jerry(In The Eye)/Michelle/Charley/Ivan/Dennis/Katrina/Rita/Wilma/Humberto/Ike/Harvey
Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
- srainhoutx
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19673
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:32 pm
- Location: Maggie Valley, NC
- Contact:
Morning Update from Jeff:
series of storm systems will move across the state over the next 7 days bringing fairly rapid daily changes to the weather.
Currently a warm front is approaching the upper TX coast with sea fog noted at oil rigs off both the TX and LA coasts. Warm front may reach to near the coastal counties by late morning, but do not expect much if any penetration of the boundary. North of the boundary widespread light rain, drizzle, and fog is ongoing with a cool air mass locked in place due to coastal troughing located off Matagorda Bay. This is resulting in NE winds being overrun by southerly winds just above the surface and the widespread clouds and drizzle. Upper level system ejecting out of the southern Rockies into the central plains currently with the main forcing for ascent located from NE TX into OK and AR where the greatest and heaviest precipitation is occurring. Expect to see current weather continue through early after followed by rapid clearing from the west this evening as a cold front sweeps across the area. Rainfall amounts today will again be on the light side with most locations between .10 and .20 of an inch.
Wednesday-Saturday:
Fresh arctic air mass moves into the area tonight into Wednesday. Gusty north winds will transport cold air across the snow covered plains southward into TX. Highs on Wednesday even under mostly sunny skies will struggle into the 50’s. Fast upper level flow gives little break in the clouds and light rain chances with the next system already approaching the state by Thursday morning. Yesterday this late week storm system looked more compact and potent as a single storm system….today things are looking different with a mean trough over the area and several disturbances rotating through this trough resulting in a prolonged period of clouds and light rainfall from Thursday through Saturday. Forecast models have been trending drier and drier with this late week weather pattern and rainfall amounts are currently looking on the low side (.05 to .25 of an inch). As for temperatures, critical period appears to be Friday morning with surface temperatures falling into the low to mid 30’s. Current thinking is that while it is possible for a few locations to fall below freezing over parts of the area, temperatures will be warm enough to keep everything liquid. Additionally, given the expected very light rain/drizzle I am not sure we will even see falling precipitation when the air temperature is near the freezing mark. Forecast profiles indicate a significant warm layer in the mid levels with a shallow cold layer near the surface which would support freezing rain over any other precipitation only if the surface temperature is below freezing and at this point this is looking fairly unlikely. There is still a fair amount of uncertainty in this part of the forecast so some changes will be possible toward the end of the week into the weekend.
Climate:
All top four climate sites (CLL, IAH, HOU, GLS) have currently recorded their top 10 coolest low temperatures for the period from November 1 to January 31. Low temperatures departures for this period are running 4.0-4.6 degrees below normal across the area…so indeed this winter has been cold. High temperatures for this same period are running 2.5-3.6 degrees below normal.
Also of interest has been the number of days below freezing for morning lows. All four top climate sites have already passed their average number of daily freezes (Oct –Mar).
IAH:
12.5 (average)
16 (2013-2014)
CLL:
17.7 (average)
21 (2013-2014)
GLS:
2.3 (average)
4 (2013-2014)
series of storm systems will move across the state over the next 7 days bringing fairly rapid daily changes to the weather.
Currently a warm front is approaching the upper TX coast with sea fog noted at oil rigs off both the TX and LA coasts. Warm front may reach to near the coastal counties by late morning, but do not expect much if any penetration of the boundary. North of the boundary widespread light rain, drizzle, and fog is ongoing with a cool air mass locked in place due to coastal troughing located off Matagorda Bay. This is resulting in NE winds being overrun by southerly winds just above the surface and the widespread clouds and drizzle. Upper level system ejecting out of the southern Rockies into the central plains currently with the main forcing for ascent located from NE TX into OK and AR where the greatest and heaviest precipitation is occurring. Expect to see current weather continue through early after followed by rapid clearing from the west this evening as a cold front sweeps across the area. Rainfall amounts today will again be on the light side with most locations between .10 and .20 of an inch.
Wednesday-Saturday:
Fresh arctic air mass moves into the area tonight into Wednesday. Gusty north winds will transport cold air across the snow covered plains southward into TX. Highs on Wednesday even under mostly sunny skies will struggle into the 50’s. Fast upper level flow gives little break in the clouds and light rain chances with the next system already approaching the state by Thursday morning. Yesterday this late week storm system looked more compact and potent as a single storm system….today things are looking different with a mean trough over the area and several disturbances rotating through this trough resulting in a prolonged period of clouds and light rainfall from Thursday through Saturday. Forecast models have been trending drier and drier with this late week weather pattern and rainfall amounts are currently looking on the low side (.05 to .25 of an inch). As for temperatures, critical period appears to be Friday morning with surface temperatures falling into the low to mid 30’s. Current thinking is that while it is possible for a few locations to fall below freezing over parts of the area, temperatures will be warm enough to keep everything liquid. Additionally, given the expected very light rain/drizzle I am not sure we will even see falling precipitation when the air temperature is near the freezing mark. Forecast profiles indicate a significant warm layer in the mid levels with a shallow cold layer near the surface which would support freezing rain over any other precipitation only if the surface temperature is below freezing and at this point this is looking fairly unlikely. There is still a fair amount of uncertainty in this part of the forecast so some changes will be possible toward the end of the week into the weekend.
Climate:
All top four climate sites (CLL, IAH, HOU, GLS) have currently recorded their top 10 coolest low temperatures for the period from November 1 to January 31. Low temperatures departures for this period are running 4.0-4.6 degrees below normal across the area…so indeed this winter has been cold. High temperatures for this same period are running 2.5-3.6 degrees below normal.
Also of interest has been the number of days below freezing for morning lows. All four top climate sites have already passed their average number of daily freezes (Oct –Mar).
IAH:
12.5 (average)
16 (2013-2014)
CLL:
17.7 (average)
21 (2013-2014)
GLS:
2.3 (average)
4 (2013-2014)
Carla/Alicia/Jerry(In The Eye)/Michelle/Charley/Ivan/Dennis/Katrina/Rita/Wilma/Humberto/Ike/Harvey
Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
Member: National Weather Association
Facebook.com/Weather Infinity
Twitter @WeatherInfinity
- wxman57
- Global Moderator
- Posts: 2621
- Joined: Thu Feb 04, 2010 5:34 am
- Location: Southwest Houston (Westbury)
- Contact:
With the passage of this week without any snow, I think I'm ready to call "winter over" for Houston in terms of any good chance of seeing measurable snow. Long-range models (deterministic and ensembles) agree on a gradual pattern change that will shunt all cold air coming across the Pole west of Alaska with a big upper low developing in the northern Gulf of Alaska into southern Alaska. With that kind of flow pattern it's quite unlikely we'll have any more winter weather events in Houston. Of course, a stray sleet pellet may still be possible, but that is about it.
Days are increasing in length by over 1 1/2 minutes each day now, and the sun angle is increasing by about 0.35 deg/day. March will be here before we know it.
P.S. I didn't see my shadow on Sunday
Days are increasing in length by over 1 1/2 minutes each day now, and the sun angle is increasing by about 0.35 deg/day. March will be here before we know it.
P.S. I didn't see my shadow on Sunday
- Texaspirate11
- Posts: 1278
- Joined: Tue Dec 31, 2013 12:24 am
- Contact:
You are my new hero. Bring that heat!wxman57 wrote:With the passage of this week without any snow, I think I'm ready to call "winter over" for Houston in terms of any good chance of seeing measurable snow. Long-range models (deterministic and ensembles) agree on a gradual pattern change that will shunt all cold air coming across the Pole west of Alaska with a big upper low developing in the northern Gulf of Alaska into southern Alaska. With that kind of flow pattern it's quite unlikely we'll have any more winter weather events in Houston. Of course, a stray sleet pellet may still be possible, but that is about it.
Days are increasing in length by over 1 1/2 minutes each day now, and the sun angle is increasing by about 0.35 deg/day. March will be here before we know it.
P.S. I didn't see my shadow on Sunday
Just because you're disabled, you don't have to be a victim
Be Weather Aware & Prepared!
Barbara Jordan Winner in Media
Disability Integration Consultant
Be Weather Aware & Prepared!
Barbara Jordan Winner in Media
Disability Integration Consultant
- srainhoutx
- Site Admin
- Posts: 19673
- Joined: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:32 pm
- Location: Maggie Valley, NC
- Contact:
EXTENDED FORECAST DISCUSSION...CORRECTED TYPOS
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
1100 AM EST TUE FEB 04 2014
VALID 12Z FRI FEB 07 2014 - 12Z TUE FEB 11 2014
...OVERVIEW...
UPPER-LEVEL FLOW PATTERN WILL BE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD THIS
MEDIUM RANGE PERIOD. WHAT IS CURRENTLY AN AMPLIFIED FLOW WITH A
DOMINANT RIDGE ALONG THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA...BECOMES A
FLAT...BUT MOIST WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. DOWNSTREAM...THE RATHER
PERSISTENT TROUGH IN EASTERN CANADA AND A RELOADING OF
COLD...CANADIAN AIRMASSES...WILL GRADUALLY BECOME ENTRAINED IN A
SOUTHERN STREAM THAT STARTS OUT WITH GULF OF MEXICO
INFLUENCES...THEN TRANSITIONS TO MORE OF A PACIFIC INFLUENCE BY
NEXT TUESDAY (11 FEB 2014).
...PREFERENCES...
WPC CONTINUITY HAS BEEN PLANTED IN A UKMET/ECMWF CAMP...WHICH
SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE (TRANSITION) IN
THIS NORTH AMERICAN FLOW PATTERN--THAT BEING--THE BREAKDOWN OF THE
RIDGE ALONG THE WEST COAST. MUCH OF THE SPREAD BACK 4-7 DAYS AGO
WAS RELATED TO THE EROSION OR WEAKENING OF THIS EXPANSIVE RIDGE
ALONG ITS EASTERN FLANKS. AND FOR THE MOST PART... THE ECMWF
APPEARS TO BE "THE MORE CORRECT" GUIDANCE IN DETERMINING WHEN THE
TIMING OF THE EROSION WOULD OCCUR AS THE STRONG BUT SHARP
SHORTWAVE TRACKED SOUTHWARD ALONG THE CANADIAN ROCKIES AND
INTO THE LOWER 48. PER THE CURRENT SATELLITE IMAGERY...THIS SHARP
SHORTWAVE IS MOVING THROUGH THE YUKON TERRITORY (AT LAST
GLANCE_4/12Z TIME FRAME).
IN TERMS OF THE PRESENT...AND THE DAY 3-7 FORECAST AHEAD...THE
SPREAD ALOFT REMAINS TIED TO THE OUTCOME THIS SHARP SHORTWAVE AS
IT MIGRATES OUT OF THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND PLAINS STATES DAYS 3-4.
BY DAY 4...SIDED WITH A SLIGHTLY-MORE AMPLIFIED SOLUTION
ALOFT...LESS SHEARED...LIKE THE 4/00Z DETERMINISTIC ECMWF AND ITS
MEAN...AND IN TURN...ALLOWS A SHORTWAVE AND COASTAL WAVE(S) TO
DEVELOP DOWNSTREAM ALONG THE PRE-EXISTING BUT DIFFUSE FRONTAL
DRAPE THAT WILL BE IN PLACE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...BUT
SOUTH OF THE OHIO VALLEY. IF THERE'LL BE A CONTINUED SHEARING OF
THIS WAVE...IT WILL LIKELY OCCUR INVOF 120W AND DIG SOUTHWARD INTO
THE GREAT BASIN. BUT AT THE MOMENT...VERY LITTLE SUPPORTS THIS
NOTION. AND BECAUSE ALL THE GUIDANCE WANTS TO BRING IT INTO THE
CENTRAL PLAINS...THERE IS A 'GENERAL CONSENSUS' WITH YET ANOTHER
WINTER SYSTEM DEVELOPING IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS ON SATURDAY
(DAY4) AND TRACKING EASTWARD TO THE EAST COAST ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY (DAY6).
I PUT VERY LITTLE STOCK IN THE GFS DETERMINISTIC RUNS...ESPECIALLY
THE SUB-970MB LOW SOLUTION OF THE 14/06Z GFS FOR TWO REASONS. AND
BOTH ARE TIED TO THE SAME PREMISE...A SLIGHTLY MORE AMPLIFIED FLOW
ALOFT DAYS 3-4...WHICH THIS GFS RUN DELAYS TO THE POINT THAT IT'S
A GOOD 12-18 HOURS SLOWER UPSTREAM WITH THE SHARP TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH THE CENTRAL PLAINS...AND ALLOWS MUCH MORE NORTHERN STREAM
ENERGY TO BECOME INCORPORATED INTO THE EXITING SYSTEM (DAY 6)
SEEMS TO BE A STRETCH. OVERALL...THAT SOLUTION WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE
OF EITHER THE GEFS OR ECENS MEANS. OVERALL...THE KEY TO THE
FORECAST REMAINS TIED TO THE SHORTWAVE TRACKING (CURRENTLY OVER
THE YUKON). IT WILL BE WORTH WATCHING...AS THE SHORTWAVE BEGINS TO
TRULY ERODE THE WEST COAST RIDGE IN THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS. UNTIL
THEN...THE ECENS IS A DECENT GUIDANCE TOOL FOR DAYS 5-7.
...SENSIBLE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS...
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN/SNOW IN THE WEST WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD
AND INCREASE IN COVERAGE AS THE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE NORTHERN
GULF COAST SAT/D4 INTO THE SOUTHEAST SUN/D5. A WELL-DEFINED SYSTEM
SHOULD MOVE UP ALONG THE COAST AND THEN EXIT NORTHEASTWARD INTO
THE CANADIAN MARITIMES MON/D6 AND WELL INTO ATLANTIC CANADA BY
TUE/D7. PRECIPITATION COULD BE ROBUST... OR COULD BE NEXT TO
NOTHING...FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.
IN THE WEST... A MORE SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE
ADVERTISED BY THE WEEKEND WITH LINGER EFFECTS INTO NEXT WEEK...
CENTERED ON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. PRECIPITATION SHOULD SPREAD ALL
ALONG THE COASTAL REGION OF WA/OR/CA WITH WIDESPREAD MODERATE
RAIN... AND A DECENT AMOUNT OF CARRYOVER EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS AS
WELL... ESPECIALLY INTO OR/NV.
TEMPERATURES NEARLY CONUS-WIDE WILL STAY RELATIVELY COLD WITH ONLY
CENTRAL/SOUTHERN FLORIDA REMAINING ABOVE CLIMO.
VOJTESAK
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
1100 AM EST TUE FEB 04 2014
VALID 12Z FRI FEB 07 2014 - 12Z TUE FEB 11 2014
...OVERVIEW...
UPPER-LEVEL FLOW PATTERN WILL BE IN A TRANSITION PERIOD THIS
MEDIUM RANGE PERIOD. WHAT IS CURRENTLY AN AMPLIFIED FLOW WITH A
DOMINANT RIDGE ALONG THE WEST COAST OF NORTH AMERICA...BECOMES A
FLAT...BUT MOIST WESTERLY FLOW ALOFT. DOWNSTREAM...THE RATHER
PERSISTENT TROUGH IN EASTERN CANADA AND A RELOADING OF
COLD...CANADIAN AIRMASSES...WILL GRADUALLY BECOME ENTRAINED IN A
SOUTHERN STREAM THAT STARTS OUT WITH GULF OF MEXICO
INFLUENCES...THEN TRANSITIONS TO MORE OF A PACIFIC INFLUENCE BY
NEXT TUESDAY (11 FEB 2014).
...PREFERENCES...
WPC CONTINUITY HAS BEEN PLANTED IN A UKMET/ECMWF CAMP...WHICH
SEEMS TO MAKE SENSE OF THE CATALYST FOR CHANGE (TRANSITION) IN
THIS NORTH AMERICAN FLOW PATTERN--THAT BEING--THE BREAKDOWN OF THE
RIDGE ALONG THE WEST COAST. MUCH OF THE SPREAD BACK 4-7 DAYS AGO
WAS RELATED TO THE EROSION OR WEAKENING OF THIS EXPANSIVE RIDGE
ALONG ITS EASTERN FLANKS. AND FOR THE MOST PART... THE ECMWF
APPEARS TO BE "THE MORE CORRECT" GUIDANCE IN DETERMINING WHEN THE
TIMING OF THE EROSION WOULD OCCUR AS THE STRONG BUT SHARP
SHORTWAVE TRACKED SOUTHWARD ALONG THE CANADIAN ROCKIES AND
INTO THE LOWER 48. PER THE CURRENT SATELLITE IMAGERY...THIS SHARP
SHORTWAVE IS MOVING THROUGH THE YUKON TERRITORY (AT LAST
GLANCE_4/12Z TIME FRAME).
IN TERMS OF THE PRESENT...AND THE DAY 3-7 FORECAST AHEAD...THE
SPREAD ALOFT REMAINS TIED TO THE OUTCOME THIS SHARP SHORTWAVE AS
IT MIGRATES OUT OF THE CENTRAL ROCKIES AND PLAINS STATES DAYS 3-4.
BY DAY 4...SIDED WITH A SLIGHTLY-MORE AMPLIFIED SOLUTION
ALOFT...LESS SHEARED...LIKE THE 4/00Z DETERMINISTIC ECMWF AND ITS
MEAN...AND IN TURN...ALLOWS A SHORTWAVE AND COASTAL WAVE(S) TO
DEVELOP DOWNSTREAM ALONG THE PRE-EXISTING BUT DIFFUSE FRONTAL
DRAPE THAT WILL BE IN PLACE EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...BUT
SOUTH OF THE OHIO VALLEY. IF THERE'LL BE A CONTINUED SHEARING OF
THIS WAVE...IT WILL LIKELY OCCUR INVOF 120W AND DIG SOUTHWARD INTO
THE GREAT BASIN. BUT AT THE MOMENT...VERY LITTLE SUPPORTS THIS
NOTION. AND BECAUSE ALL THE GUIDANCE WANTS TO BRING IT INTO THE
CENTRAL PLAINS...THERE IS A 'GENERAL CONSENSUS' WITH YET ANOTHER
WINTER SYSTEM DEVELOPING IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL PLAINS ON SATURDAY
(DAY4) AND TRACKING EASTWARD TO THE EAST COAST ON SUNDAY NIGHT AND
MONDAY (DAY6).
I PUT VERY LITTLE STOCK IN THE GFS DETERMINISTIC RUNS...ESPECIALLY
THE SUB-970MB LOW SOLUTION OF THE 14/06Z GFS FOR TWO REASONS. AND
BOTH ARE TIED TO THE SAME PREMISE...A SLIGHTLY MORE AMPLIFIED FLOW
ALOFT DAYS 3-4...WHICH THIS GFS RUN DELAYS TO THE POINT THAT IT'S
A GOOD 12-18 HOURS SLOWER UPSTREAM WITH THE SHARP TROUGH MOVING
THROUGH THE CENTRAL PLAINS...AND ALLOWS MUCH MORE NORTHERN STREAM
ENERGY TO BECOME INCORPORATED INTO THE EXITING SYSTEM (DAY 6)
SEEMS TO BE A STRETCH. OVERALL...THAT SOLUTION WAS NOT SUPPORTIVE
OF EITHER THE GEFS OR ECENS MEANS. OVERALL...THE KEY TO THE
FORECAST REMAINS TIED TO THE SHORTWAVE TRACKING (CURRENTLY OVER
THE YUKON). IT WILL BE WORTH WATCHING...AS THE SHORTWAVE BEGINS TO
TRULY ERODE THE WEST COAST RIDGE IN THE NEXT 24-36 HOURS. UNTIL
THEN...THE ECENS IS A DECENT GUIDANCE TOOL FOR DAYS 5-7.
...SENSIBLE WEATHER HIGHLIGHTS...
LIGHT TO MODERATE RAIN/SNOW IN THE WEST WILL TRANSLATE EASTWARD
AND INCREASE IN COVERAGE AS THE SYSTEM DEVELOPS ALONG THE NORTHERN
GULF COAST SAT/D4 INTO THE SOUTHEAST SUN/D5. A WELL-DEFINED SYSTEM
SHOULD MOVE UP ALONG THE COAST AND THEN EXIT NORTHEASTWARD INTO
THE CANADIAN MARITIMES MON/D6 AND WELL INTO ATLANTIC CANADA BY
TUE/D7. PRECIPITATION COULD BE ROBUST... OR COULD BE NEXT TO
NOTHING...FOR SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND.
IN THE WEST... A MORE SIGNIFICANT SYSTEM CONTINUES TO BE
ADVERTISED BY THE WEEKEND WITH LINGER EFFECTS INTO NEXT WEEK...
CENTERED ON NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. PRECIPITATION SHOULD SPREAD ALL
ALONG THE COASTAL REGION OF WA/OR/CA WITH WIDESPREAD MODERATE
RAIN... AND A DECENT AMOUNT OF CARRYOVER EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS AS
WELL... ESPECIALLY INTO OR/NV.
TEMPERATURES NEARLY CONUS-WIDE WILL STAY RELATIVELY COLD WITH ONLY
CENTRAL/SOUTHERN FLORIDA REMAINING ABOVE CLIMO.
VOJTESAK
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- wxman57
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Here are 12z GFS meteograms for Houston & Dallas-Ft. Worth. Cold Thu-Fri but no precip at all according to this morning's GFS run. The trend is definitely toward a little cold air but no frozen/freezing precip. That spike on Saturday looks a bit odd, but the model is forecasting a warm front to approach the coast on Saturday. Sort of like the warm front that almost made it to Galveston this morning. Temps are in the low 70s just south of the island. I'm not sure if the warm front will reach Houston on Saturday, though.
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Looking for frozen precip? Take a look at this video shot yesterday in Slovenia. It's of an ice storm that I think hit the area Sunday.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ff0_1391451920
Some still shots:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/amazing-scenes ... ce-1434997
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ff0_1391451920
Some still shots:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/amazing-scenes ... ce-1434997
I doubt anyone here is hoping for a bad ice storm. Winter has not been working for us this year as far as p-type goes. The 12z GFS is a little interesting @ 192 hours but not quite cold enough for anything more than a cold rain.wxman57 wrote:Looking for frozen precip? Take a look at this video shot yesterday in Slovenia. It's of an ice storm that I think hit the area Sunday.
http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=ff0_1391451920
Some still shots:
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/amazing-scenes ... ce-1434997
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One thing to keep an eye on is the NAM hi-res (which has been doing a pretty good job lately) does indicate that there might be a little more activity than depicted by some of the globals. Just something to keep an eye on.
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- srainhoutx
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Actually the Euro as well as the HIRES NAM are 'hinting' a brief window near and just after daybreak mainly N of I-10 as a disturbance both at the 700mb and 500mb level sweeps across the area. We will see. And I hope this is the last we potentially see of this mess. We've had wintry mischief threats since late last November and it's getting old. Bring on Spring!!Andrew wrote:One thing to keep an eye on is the NAM hi-res (which has been doing a pretty good job lately) does indicate that there might be a little more activity than depicted by some of the globals. Just something to keep an eye on.
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have the models changed on how cold it will get towards the end of the week? Is the very cold air still filtering down?
It will be stuck in the 30s and dry for a couple days starting Thursday, with maybe a light freeze that night. Nothing out of the ordinary for this year. Now we would be measuring the snow in feet if the GFS verified on precip for the middle of next week but dropped the temps 10F. Probably won't happen.
nws thinks we have chance
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I took a work trip to dreadful Woodward, OK yesterday with temp a little above freezing, awaited winter storm and got more than I bargained for. Stayed up until 2 am to see sleet (same as home) then woke up at 6 this morning to 25 and heavy snow, 8-12 in. by 12 pm that didn't let up until about 5 pm. Horrific road conditions. Trust me, folks... If you want to see winter wx, take a cheap flight north and let a city more prepared deal with it.
Now, by some miracle (without being stuck in NW OK for the week) I was able to drive to Amarillo where it's 18 looking forward to a low of 4 or 5, wind chills are so bad I think it's gotta be -10, maybe worse.
After being teased with sleet, ice and more possible snow, I am finally seeing what wxman57 is always talking about. Warmth is good to think of, especially when you're cold.
Now, by some miracle (without being stuck in NW OK for the week) I was able to drive to Amarillo where it's 18 looking forward to a low of 4 or 5, wind chills are so bad I think it's gotta be -10, maybe worse.
After being teased with sleet, ice and more possible snow, I am finally seeing what wxman57 is always talking about. Warmth is good to think of, especially when you're cold.
FBHoustonWeather wrote:I took a work trip to dreadful Woodward, OK yesterday with temp a little above freezing, awaited winter storm and got more than I bargained for. Stayed up until 2 am to see sleet (same as home) then woke up at 6 this morning to 25 and heavy snow, 8-12 in. by 12 pm that didn't let up until about 5 pm. Horrific road conditions. Trust me, folks... If you want to see winter wx, take a cheap flight north and let a city more prepared deal with it.
Now, by some miracle (without being stuck in NW OK for the week) I was able to drive to Amarillo where it's 18 looking forward to a low of 4 or 5, wind chills are so bad I think it's gotta be -10, maybe worse.
After being teased with sleet, ice and more possible snow, I am finally seeing what wxman57 is always talking about. Warmth is good to think of, especially when you're cold.
I live here in Norman, OK and I wouldn't say we're that prepared. Most schools close if an inch (if that) falls on the ground. Even public schools closing tomorrow because windchills will be between -5 and -15 here in the morning. But I agree. I've lived in Houston for 20 years and always loved winter weather and any wintery precip, but after just living up here for not even a full 6 months yet, this winter weather gets quite annoying. Snow is pretty the first few hours it falls, after that you just wish a heat wave would come and melt it. I'm certainly ready for Spring like weather!
Blake
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- srainhoutx
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A strong cold front is pushing across SE Texas at this hour and should be near the Coast by mid morning. Temperatures may struggle to reach 50 today before clouds advance across Texas as a short wave advances E toward Texas and the Southern Plains. Over running very light precip should develop tomorrow as a weak Coastal trough develops and the upper air disturbance arrives. Temperatures on Thursday may struggle to reach the low 40's as a thick cloud cover blankets our Region and cold air advection continues over a snow covered Central and Southern Plains. The fly in the ointment is that light QPF may develop on Thursday into Friday as the upper level system nears N Central Texas and a bit more lift is generated as surface temperatures drop to near or just below freezing mainly N of I-10 extending into Louisiana. While the precip is expected to be very light mist or drizzle, in the order of .01 to possibly .10 In some isolated locations, there is a chance that a few hours of freezing drizzle or very light freezing rain may accumulate on elevated surfaces. Across the Panhandle and N Texas, light snow should develop although amounts will be light. Travel issues are not expected at this time for Thursday into Friday morning, but Winter Weather Advisory criteria may be met.. The trend via the shorter range meso guidance as well as the Euro is a bit stronger short wave than originally expected earlier this week, so it is worth monitoring as the day unfolds into tomorrow. A major travel issue again is not expected, so just something to be aware of.
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Update from Jeff:
Arctic cold front moving across the area this morning will bring another round of very cold temperatures.
Shallow but potent arctic boundary moving into the northern sections of SE TX will move off the coast late this morning. NW winds will become gusty by mid morning under increasing cold air advection regime. Upstream air mass is pretty cold with most of N TX at or below freezing and 10’s across much of snow covered OK and KS. Expect little if any temperature recovery today with highs in the low to mid 40’s.
Changes begin tonight as the cold arctic air settles into the region and disturbances aloft begin to ride into and over the cold dome. Moisture and lift begin to increase late tonight, but the surface layer while cold will be fairly dry. As expected over the last few days, models have trended colder for lows on Thursday morning likely as a result of less modification of the incoming air mass over the snow covered plains. Expect temperatures to fall below freezing over much of the region north of I-10 Thursday morning. Incoming disturbance looks to arrive Thursday morning across the area and help to generate a period of very light rain or more likely drizzle/fog. NCEP probabilistic freezing rain probabilities of greater than .01 of an inch are in the 10-30% range from the College Station to Crockett area early Thursday. While temperature appear cold enough to support freezing of drizzle and rain on contact with elevated surfaces it is questionable still at this point if in fact any precipitation will fall over the area. Think the best chances of actually seeing precipitation is north of HWY 105 and this is also where surface temperatures will be the coldest. Some freezing drizzle or light freezing rain will be possible Thursday morning north of HWY 105, but expect impacts to be minor. Further southward to I-10 expect precipitation to be very light if at all while temperatures are near the freezing mark.
Clouds and drizzle/fog on Thursday will result in a very cold day with temperatures holding in the 30’s for all areas all day under continued north winds. Another disturbances approaches Friday, but moisture continues to look limited so a low chance of drizzle or very light rain. Surface temperatures again on Friday morning will be at or below freezing for many areas so if the drizzle falls during that window some minor ice accumulation (trace to .01 an inch) would be possible on elevated surfaces.
Cloudy and cold pattern will begin to break down with some sun possible by late Saturday into Sunday which will help temperatures recover to more seasonal levels of highs in the 50’s and 60’s. This looks short lived however as another fairly potent looking storm system looks to affect the state and region early to mid next week.
Arctic cold front moving across the area this morning will bring another round of very cold temperatures.
Shallow but potent arctic boundary moving into the northern sections of SE TX will move off the coast late this morning. NW winds will become gusty by mid morning under increasing cold air advection regime. Upstream air mass is pretty cold with most of N TX at or below freezing and 10’s across much of snow covered OK and KS. Expect little if any temperature recovery today with highs in the low to mid 40’s.
Changes begin tonight as the cold arctic air settles into the region and disturbances aloft begin to ride into and over the cold dome. Moisture and lift begin to increase late tonight, but the surface layer while cold will be fairly dry. As expected over the last few days, models have trended colder for lows on Thursday morning likely as a result of less modification of the incoming air mass over the snow covered plains. Expect temperatures to fall below freezing over much of the region north of I-10 Thursday morning. Incoming disturbance looks to arrive Thursday morning across the area and help to generate a period of very light rain or more likely drizzle/fog. NCEP probabilistic freezing rain probabilities of greater than .01 of an inch are in the 10-30% range from the College Station to Crockett area early Thursday. While temperature appear cold enough to support freezing of drizzle and rain on contact with elevated surfaces it is questionable still at this point if in fact any precipitation will fall over the area. Think the best chances of actually seeing precipitation is north of HWY 105 and this is also where surface temperatures will be the coldest. Some freezing drizzle or light freezing rain will be possible Thursday morning north of HWY 105, but expect impacts to be minor. Further southward to I-10 expect precipitation to be very light if at all while temperatures are near the freezing mark.
Clouds and drizzle/fog on Thursday will result in a very cold day with temperatures holding in the 30’s for all areas all day under continued north winds. Another disturbances approaches Friday, but moisture continues to look limited so a low chance of drizzle or very light rain. Surface temperatures again on Friday morning will be at or below freezing for many areas so if the drizzle falls during that window some minor ice accumulation (trace to .01 an inch) would be possible on elevated surfaces.
Cloudy and cold pattern will begin to break down with some sun possible by late Saturday into Sunday which will help temperatures recover to more seasonal levels of highs in the 50’s and 60’s. This looks short lived however as another fairly potent looking storm system looks to affect the state and region early to mid next week.
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