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The annual countdown to May 1st thread ©


weatherwiz

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I just hope May isn't as miserable as the Euro ENS version of this April.  Days and days of gorgeous weather.

 

 

Euro ens weren't advertising miserable weather for April...they did miss on one system, but otherwise they did a pretty good job. They consistenly showed the torch predictions before the month not verifying and it looks like that is exactly what will happen. We did have a cold start to the month, and recently have had very near-average April temps, but lots of sun have made it quite nice.

 

If we fail to see that rain potential between 5/6-512-ish not materialize, then that would be a fail for them.

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Cloudy and coolish today while areas off to my east are mostly sunny. It's one of those rather rare spring days where being west puts you in the cruddy weather. We could use rain, so this cloudy weather is kind of a waste. Those showers off to my SW are trying oh-so-hard to fight the ridge and get here.

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Euro ens weren't advertising miserable weather for April...they did miss on one system, but otherwise they did a pretty good job. They consistenly showed the torch predictions before the month not verifying and it looks like that is exactly what will happen. We did have a cold start to the month, and recently have had very near-average April temps, but lots of sun have made it quite nice.

 

If we fail to see that rain potential between 5/6-512-ish not materialize, then that would be a fail for them.

 

Even the GEFS seem like they try to bring some wetter weather in around that timeframe. This blocking eventually will break down so one has to think rain comes sooner or later.

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Euro ens weren't advertising miserable weather for April...they did miss on one system, but otherwise they did a pretty good job. They consistenly showed the torch predictions before the month not verifying and it looks like that is exactly what will happen. We did have a cold start to the month, and recently have had very near-average April temps, but lots of sun have made it quite nice.

 

If we fail to see that rain potential between 5/6-512-ish not materialize, then that would be a fail for them.

Yes, Will, the EC and ECENS did a GREAT job with this pattern.  I was on the long term desk last week, and did the forecast for this timeframe.  It's working out very well.  

 

Even the GEFS seem like they try to bring some wetter weather in around that timeframe. This blocking eventually will break down so one has to think rain comes sooner or later.

We'll see.  Models try to break down big blocks faster than then actually do, usually.  We'll see.  It is nice to have extended quiet weather...can catch up on training and other stuff at work, and at home!!!

 

--Turtle

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While we can get some decent events in August and even September...usually after the 3rd week of July or so things really begin to slow down.

I think a case can be made that if the season starts in May, it should last through a good chunk of August.

 

Using the new SPC climo tools, the severe weather probabilities are roughly the same on September 7th as they are on May 1st.

May 1: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/climographics/any_severe/122.png

Sep 7: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/climographics/any_severe/251.png

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I think a case can be made that if the season starts in May, it should last through a good chunk of August.

 

Using the new SPC climo tools, the severe weather probabilities are roughly the same on September 7th as they are on May 1st.

May 1: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/climographics/any_severe/122.png

Sep 7: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/misc/climographics/any_severe/251.png

 

I never had any scientific reasoning for using May 1st as a benchmark...I just really did it b/c we are coming off winter/spring and it's more of the excitement that we would start getting severe potential shortly.  

 

Plus, typically our biggest events usually come from like Mid-May through first few weeks of July...not saying they've never happened later b/c they have but the chances fall pretty quickly.

 

September can be fun though with low-topped squall lines!

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I never had any scientific reasoning for using May 1st as a benchmark...I just really did it b/c we are coming off winter/spring and it's more of the excitement that we would start getting severe potential shortly.  

 

Plus, typically our biggest events usually come from like Mid-May through first few weeks of July...not saying they've never happened later b/c they have but the chances fall pretty quickly.

 

September can be fun though with low-topped squall lines!

Either way, let's hope it's an active season in these parts!

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I just go by a date when one can reasonably expect decent severe in the area. May 15 is about right, maybe May 20 is better

Unofficial start...occasionally we can see severe weather early in the month, but I'd agree that the second half of May is when the season really gets going. On the flip side, September and even October (Windsor Locks tornado) can feature severe weather, but I think most of us agree the season is winding down in August.

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Unofficial start...occasionally we can see severe weather early in the month, but I'd agree that the second half of May is when the season really gets going. On the flip side, September and even October (Windsor Locks tornado) can feature severe weather, but I think most of us agree the season is winding down in August.

 

We've had some good Labor Day events.. September can be fun given a good airmass and not garbage lapse rates. 

 

Once monsoon season starts out west EML advection seems to struggle and a lot of times in August/September you can get stuck with a tropical airmass that's no good for big convection.

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We've had some good Labor Day events.. September can be fun given a good airmass and not garbage lapse rates. 

 

Once monsoon season starts out west EML advection seems to struggle and a lot of times in August/September you can get stuck with a tropical airmass that's no good for big convection.

 

Yeah those setups in late August can be brutal where even though it's like 85/68 we still can't even get past 1500 Cape b/c mlvl lapse rates are barely 5 C/KM

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I'm finding some new resources from SPC/NWS. Here's the yearly breakdown of severe weather climatology for BOX's portion of southern New England:

BOX1.gif

 

That graph is kinda interesting. Why the late May peak followed by a sudden drop-off and then a gradual increase to a second/main peak around July? Is the early June dip a real trend, do you think, or just noise? If it's real, why does it happen? What mechanism could possibly suppress severe weather in early June - or enhance it in late May, depending on how you look at it?

 

Or am I reading too much into a single graph from a limited data-set?

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That graph is kinda interesting. Why the late May peak followed by a sudden drop-off and then a gradual increase to a second/main peak around July? Is the early June dip a real trend, do you think, or just noise? If it's real, why does it happen? What mechanism could possibly suppress severe weather in early June - or enhance it in late May, depending on how you look at it?

 

Or am I reading too much into a single graph from a limited data-set?

At a quick glance, there appears to be a relatively small sample of reports, so it doesn't take too many to skew the graph. Notice how three days towards the end of May have a spike in reports, with respect to nearby days, especially when compared to early June. Also, I imagine part of this could be the timing of the season. I'd think we might expect a higher probability of strong storm systems earlier in the spring, so combine that with warming temperatures and May can sometimes have a fair amount of severe weather in these parts? 

 

EDIT:

I looked at nearby locations and the spike is also there, in fact, somewhat more apparent for ENX and OKX. It's pretty interesting.

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