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Central PA Late January Thread Part III


Rick G

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just looking at the latest grid numbers briefly (00Z run, ABE, IPT, AVP, and DUJ, GFS and NAM models); when is the governor in PA going to announce he'll be closing the interstates to all traffic because of the potential for crippling ice? because if he doesn't for tuesday night into wednesday, i don't care if people are trying to get to the knob including phil himself, they'll be lucky they don't kill themselves trying to get up or down it, imho.

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Another storm fades away inside 24hrs. Same old.

Well this is such a disapointment :( go figure thats just how our winter has gone. I guess there goes any of our chance of seeing mostly snow

The NAM is cold, but because the GFS warmed up you guys are throwing in the towel? Sheesh...

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just looking at the latest grid numbers briefly (00Z run, ABE, IPT, AVP, and DUJ, GFS and NAM models); when is the governor in PA going to announce he'll be closing the interstates to all traffic because of the potential for crippling ice? because if he doesn't for tuesday night into wednesday, i don't care if people are trying to get to the knob including phil himself, they'll be lucky they don't kill themselves trying to get up or down it, imho.

In your cursory glance, do you feel MDT escapes the brunt of ice?

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Since the models have been trending warmer, I think "true central PA" is more likely to see a majority ZR over IP now. I know this is going against what I said earlier, but it is hard to ignore the SREFs, NAM, and GFS which all give the region major ice accretion. Places at the southern border of PA still look to get significant ZR, but I believe at a decent amount of the second batch will fall with surface temperatures above freezing.

One thing to take note: there will be a solid layer of snow/sleet/ice on the ground almost everywhere when the surface goes above freezing. The heaviest of the precip will fall between 6z and 12z Wed, which is basically dark. So with no aid from the sun, and a cold ground, I would think ice could continue to accumulate (or at least still be an issue) even in 32.5-33.0 degrees if it is fairly light. Obviously the harder the precip, the easier it will run off.

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Since the models have been trending warmer, I think "true central PA" is more likely to see a majority ZR over IP now. I know this is going against what I said earlier, but it is hard to ignore the SREFs, NAM, and GFS which all give the region major ice accretion. Places at the southern border of PA still look to get significant ZR, but I believe at a decent amount of the second batch will fall with surface temperatures above freezing.

One thing to take note: there will be a solid layer of snow/sleet/ice on the ground almost everywhere when the surface goes above freezing. The heaviest of the precip will fall between 6z and 12z Wed, which is basically dark. So with no aid from the sun, and a cold ground, I would think ice could continue to accumulate (or at least still be an issue) even in 32.5-33.0 degrees if it is fairly light. Obviously the harder the precip, the easier it will run off.

Not a trend just yet since last runs were colder at 18Z. If 6Z gets even warmer or is the same then ya it's a trend.

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The NAM is cold, but because the GFS warmed up you guys are throwing in the towel? Sheesh...

I agree, the resolution of the GFS is too broad to catch most of the topography and the cold air damming. The NAM almost always is better in these situations because it does a much better job of banking the cold against the mountains and keeping the valleys colder. I still expect a lot of ice, especially east of Route 219 and north of Route 22.

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In your cursory glance, do you feel MDT escapes the brunt of ice?

not sure they do. nam says no, gfs says yes but barely (bringing about a worse driving scenario of water on top of ice). this is going to go down to the wire on who gets it bad. but someone's going to have to make the call tomorrow evening based on what's being observed, lest they have another nightmare like feb 14, 2007. i remember the night of the event too well. things were going as planned, then everybody started seeing the sleet and freezing rain several hours before they were supposed to, and everyone went bezerk, expect for penndot who should have closed 78 down but didn't.

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just looking at the latest grid numbers briefly (00Z run, ABE, IPT, AVP, and DUJ, GFS and NAM models); when is the governor in PA going to announce he'll be closing the interstates to all traffic because of the potential for crippling ice? because if he doesn't for tuesday night into wednesday, i don't care if people are trying to get to the knob including phil himself, they'll be lucky they don't kill themselves trying to get up or down it, imho.

i was just up there today and when i was driving by the vendor area where they were setting up i was thinking " i wonder if they know what they are in for?" :stun:

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I agree, the resolution of the GFS is too broad to catch most of the topography and the cold air damming. The NAM almost always is better in these situations because it does a much better job of banking the cold against the mountains and keeping the valleys colder. I still expect a lot of ice, especially east of Route 219 and north of Route 22.

I'm only throwing the towel in for staying mostly snow, the NAM can show all the CAD it wants til the cows come home but as long as there is one point over my head that reaches above 0°C its sleet. I'm still liking this storm its just my confidence in seeing above 8" is slowly diminishing

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Was outside for a bit. Been starting to have some light precip but debatable whether its grains or freezing drizzle. Actually looks like its freezing drizzle. Radars showing signs of starting to fill in so should see if we can get some solid snow to start this or if we're dealing with a mix from the getgo. Radar signature along the southern tier might be suggesting the latter.

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Was outside for a bit. Been starting to have some light precip but debatable whether its grains or freezing drizzle. Actually looks like its freezing drizzle. Radars showing signs of starting to fill in so should see if we can get some solid snow to start this or if we're dealing with a mix from the getgo. Radar signature along the southern tier might be suggesting the latter.

I wish we could do a special night time weather ballon launch at the Walker building to help us out on this! laugh.gif

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Was outside for a bit. Been starting to have some light precip but debatable whether its grains or freezing drizzle. Actually looks like its freezing drizzle. Radars showing signs of starting to fill in so should see if we can get some solid snow to start this or if we're dealing with a mix from the getgo. Radar signature along the southern tier might be suggesting the latter.

SHORT TERM FORECAST

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE STATE COLLEGE PA

1128 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011

PAZ017>019-027-010630-

CLEARFIELD-MIFFLIN-NORTHERN CENTRE-SOUTHERN CENTRE-

INCLUDING THE CITY OF...STATE COLLEGE

1128 PM EST MON JAN 31 2011

.NOW...

LIGHT SNOW WILL OVERSPREAD MOST OF THE AREA BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND

2 AM. A HALF INCH OF ACCUMULATION IS LIKELY BY 3 AM...AFTER WHICH

THE SNOW MAY BEGIN MIXING WITH SLEET.

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What I'm really hoping for is what is depicted on the NAM, as soon as the heavier precip enters the area it cools the column down to the surface via evaportional cooling and thus sends the 0°C line back to the south which in fact would provide a snowier solution, I'm just not confident thats the right solution, whos to say we don't have a slightly more wound up LP and sends WAA further to the north? You mets are doing a great job, I'm just presenting my concerns especially with the slightly warmer trends in the models

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I'm only throwing the towel in for staying mostly snow, the NAM can show all the CAD it wants til the cows come home but as long as there is one point over my head that reaches above 0°C its sleet. I'm still liking this storm its just my confidence in seeing above 8" is slowly diminishing

I'll throw in that towel with you. In my experience, snow always seems to change to sleet more than is anticipated. As you said, all it takes is the smallest sliver of the atmosphere to be above 0 and you get sleet. I think you'll get quite a bit of snow and sleet, but the actually result at the end may not look all that impressive because of the sleet packing down the snow.

The warm air aloft is going to reach to the NY/PA border. The freezing line at the surface is another key -- and like I said before, I doubt that makes it much past Route 22 before the heavy precip ends.

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