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Mid January Discussion


earthlight

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Im literally jumping out of my skin here at what i see developing after this week. Wow.

Notice how much Monday has changed over the past few days. Originally progged to surge > +10c 850's with sfc temps nearing 60F, but now it looks like we'll escape a torch (50+) with highs Monday in the 40s. Strong sfc ridge to the north doing its dirty work - probably some ZR to start Sun night/Mon morning for the interior. Beyond that, the pattern is much improved from the past 2 months, which should be sufficient in the best time of year climatologically for snowfall. However, I don't think we'll get any major -NAO block going at least through week 2. The now negative AO and rising PNA should keep us seasonably cold late Jan/early February, which again, will be cold enough for snow chances.

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Notice how much Monday has changed over the past few days. Originally progged to surge > +10c 850's with sfc temps nearing 60F, but now it looks like we'll escape a torch (50+) with highs Monday in the 40s. Strong sfc ridge to the north doing its dirty work - probably some ZR to start Sun night/Mon morning for the interior. Beyond that, the pattern is much improved from the past 2 months, which should be sufficient in the best time of year climatologically for snowfall. However, I don't think we'll get any major -NAO block going at least through week 2. The now negative AO and rising PNA should keep us seasonably cold late Jan/early February, which again, will be cold enough for snow chances.

I don't think we'll get a big block either, but maybe a minor block would do.

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Unfortunately, we don't have a decent high in SE Canada. The first low tracking over the Great lakes, isn't good for us either.

Edit: Was looking at the 0z Euro. 12z Euro is much better, with the 1024mb high over SE Canada.

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If the pattern does improve as shown on some models for February this winter could easily end up better than both 06-07 and 07-08 and bring us closer to the average... for parts of NE NJ, NYC and Long Island, all that's needed is 1-2 more snowstorms like this one and we already pass these two winters, which is very possible with the improvements starting to show in the pattern for February. It doesn't look like the pattern completely flips to a much colder/snowier one, but even a moderate cold pattern with some snow, which is already an improvement over what we have seen so far, could result in a somewhat decent February and perhaps March for some.

Something else that I find interesting for the winter is the gradient. Right now there's already a seasonal snow gradient across the area; NYC and LI I think are somewhere in the 3-8 inch range for the winter totals, maybe a bit more/less, the north/west suburbs are already above 10" and the further inland areas are approaching and/or passing 20 inches for the seasonal total. Unless a big snowstorm slams the southern parts of the area, this winter looks like it could end up as one where the biggest totals could end up to the north/NW of the city, with the lower amounts to the south of the city.

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If the pattern does improve as shown on some models for February this winter could easily end up better than both 06-07 and 07-08 and bring us closer to the average... for parts of NE NJ, NYC and Long Island, all that's needed is 1-2 more snowstorms like this one and we already pass these two winters, which is very possible with the improvements starting to show in the pattern for February. It doesn't look like the pattern completely flips to a much colder/snowier one, but even a moderate cold pattern with some snow, which is already an improvement over what we have seen so far, could result in a somewhat decent February and perhaps March for some.

Something else that I find interesting for the winter is the gradient. Right now there's already a seasonal snow gradient across the area; NYC and LI I think are somewhere in the 3-8 inch range for the winter totals, maybe a bit more/less, the north/west suburbs are already above 10" and the further inland areas are approaching and/or passing 20 inches for the seasonal total. Unless a big snowstorm slams the southern parts of the area, this winter looks like it could end up as one where the biggest totals could end up to the north/NW of the city, with the lower amounts to the south of the city.

Good read and I look forward to what February provides. I italicized the last sentence because isn't this almost always the case (with rare exceptions)?...

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If the pattern does improve as shown on some models for February this winter could easily end up better than both 06-07 and 07-08 and bring us closer to the average... for parts of NE NJ, NYC and Long Island, all that's needed is 1-2 more snowstorms like this one and we already pass these two winters, which is very possible with the improvements starting to show in the pattern for February. It doesn't look like the pattern completely flips to a much colder/snowier one, but even a moderate cold pattern with some snow, which is already an improvement over what we have seen so far, could result in a somewhat decent February and perhaps March for some.

Something else that I find interesting for the winter is the gradient. Right now there's already a seasonal snow gradient across the area; NYC and LI I think are somewhere in the 3-8 inch range for the winter totals, maybe a bit more/less, the north/west suburbs are already above 10" and the further inland areas are approaching and/or passing 20 inches for the seasonal total. Unless a big snowstorm slams the southern parts of the area, this winter looks like it could end up as one where the biggest totals could end up to the north/NW of the city, with the lower amounts to the south of the city.

very true...im sitting at a total of about 4.5 inches for the year...on the low end of the metro

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... NYC and LI I think are somewhere in the 3-8 inch range for the winter totals, maybe a bit more/less, the north/west suburbs are already above 10" and the further inland areas are approaching and/or passing 20 inches for the seasonal total. ...

Huh? Other than the October storm I've had less than 1.5" until today. I have a hard time thinking of that early storm as part of "the season." Kinda like when ski areas include all the piddly events in the fall that really don't count just to bump their seasonal average.

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Interesting - CAD signature still fairly pronounced through 12z Monday on the 18z GFS. Surface high moves east of Maine by morning, which will warm up the coast, but if we can get light pcpn prior to 09z I could see some ZR. Interior will definitely have to watch Monday morning with sfc temps holding near freezing and light precip. Light ZR is arguably one of the most dangerous set-ups for bad road conditions, largely because folks don't know its there. Also, I find that most who don't know about weather see rain and automatically think everything's fine (somedon't know the concept of freezing rain).

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Huh? Other than the October storm I've had less than 1.5" until today. I have a hard time thinking of that early storm as part of "the season." Kinda like when ski areas include all the piddly events in the fall that really don't count just to bump their seasonal average.

I did include the October snowstorm for that as I'm considering the seasonal totals, since officially the October storm does count for the winter totals. For the winter months Dec-Feb though, almost the entire region did horribly in terms of snow totals.

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If the 12z GEFS is right about Davis Straight -NAO, large PV over Hudson Bay and SE Canada and the +PNA, than will have something potentially significant to watch the Jan 29-31st.

Very strongly agree. The GFS height anomalies are forecasting the movement of arctic air associated with the Polar Vortex within 5 days which is extremely encouraging. This movement takes the arctic air and associated piece of the Polar Vortex from British Columbia, and slides it southeast through Canada to a position very favorable for a few things in our area. First, the cold air source is very good to our north. We shouldn't have a big problem if we were to time a shortwave well. Second, the presence of (albeit weak) ridging into Greenland and the Davis Straight suggest we might have our first help from the Atlantic in a while. And third, the movement of the large vortex from Alaska and British Columbia, occurring as a downstream result of an upper level low over the Sea of Japan, suggests we may see a spike in the PNA as a ridge builds on the West Coast.

You have to wonder if there may be an overrunning event towards the end of the month, especially when you look at the GEFS and see some support for a shortwave moving east/northeast from the Southwest US..through the Gulf Coast..and towards the Mid Atlantic.

f192.gif

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Very strongly agree. The GFS height anomalies are forecasting the movement of arctic air associated with the Polar Vortex within 5 days which is extremely encouraging. This movement takes the arctic air and associated piece of the Polar Vortex from British Columbia, and slides it southeast through Canada to a position very favorable for a few things in our area. First, the cold air source is very good to our north. We shouldn't have a big problem if we were to time a shortwave well. Second, the presence of (albeit weak) ridging into Greenland and the Davis Straight suggest we might have our first help from the Atlantic in a while. And third, the movement of the large vortex from Alaska and British Columbia, occurring as a downstream result of an upper level low over the Sea of Japan, suggests we may see a spike in the PNA as a ridge builds on the West Coast.

You have to wonder if there may be an overrunning event towards the end of the month, especially when you look at the GEFS and see some support for a shortwave moving east/northeast from the Southwest US..through the Gulf Coast..and towards the Mid Atlantic.

f192.gif

atleast is there is an overrunning event there should be much more moisture and a nice cold air source to work with too right?
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