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Jan 17-18th disco thread--1st big threat of the year


Midlo Snow Maker

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For the weenies, can you explain why they are showing so much different results?

 

Sure thing. It is actually the same model and the same model run, the difference is which parameters are used in the making of the map. My guess is that the link being spread around with the "big hit" is mapping a parameter called composite reflectivity. This means that if you were to add up the different simulated radar reflectivity at all the different levels of the atmosphere, then that is the map you would get. This parameter is useful for identifying things such as cloud thickness and layers of clouds that would not be normally seen in the other main product, which is the one usedtobe (wes) posted. The one he posted, and the one you should use, is called base reflectivity (or 1km reflectivity). That product shows the models interpretation of what would be actually be falling out of the clouds at close to ground level and thus most likely falling to the ground.

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Sterling maintains the WSW while laying the groundwork for a downgrade:

 

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC957 PM EST WED JAN 16 2013.SYNOPSIS...A STATIONARY FRONT WILL REMAIN OVER THE CAROLINAS TONIGHT. LOW PRESSUREDEVELOPING NEAR THE SOUTHERN APPALACHIANS LATE TONIGHT WILL MOVEINTO THE CAROLINAS ON THURSDAY...BRINGING WINTRY PRECIPITATION TOPORTIONS OF THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVERHEAD FRIDAY INTOSATURDAY BEFORE A COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH SUNDAY.&&.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT/...A STRONG SOUTHERN BRANCH SYSTEM WILL TREK ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERNSTATES TONIGHT BEFORE MOVING OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST BY LATETHURSDAY NIGHT. DIFFLUENCE ALOFT INCREASES AS THE SYSTEM MOVES BY TOTHE SOUTH ON THURSDAY. THE OLD FRONTAL BOUNDARY MAY PROVIDE A FOCUSWHEN COUPLED WITH STRONG VERTICAL MOTION FOR A BAND OF HEAVY SNOW TODEVELOP THURSDAY. THE BEST POTENTIAL FOR THIS TO OCCUR IS FROMHIGHLAND COUNTY TO CHARLOTTESVILLE. GIVEN THE DYNAMICS...A PERIOD OFSNOWFALL RATES OF 2+ INCHES PER HR WOULD BE POSSIBLE IN THIS BAND.THE MAIN FORECAST PROBLEM IS HOW FAR NORTH AND EAST THE BAND WILLMOVE...AND WHAT WILL BE THE IMPACT FOR THE DC AREA. THERE WILL BE ABIG DROP OFF OF SNOW ACCUMULATION NORTH OF THE BAND. THE NAM KEEPSIT FARTHEST SOUTH...WITH LITTLE IMPACT FOR THE DC AREA. THE GFSWOULD SUPPORT A FEW INCHES OF SNOW FALLING IN THE METRO AREAS WHILETHE EC...UKMET AND ARW APPEAR TO BE COMPROMISE SOLUTIONS. THE 21ZSREF ALSO CAME IN SOMEWHERE IN-BETWEEN. THERE IS CONCERN THATTEMPERATURES WILL BE TOO WARM FOR SNOW TO ACCUMULATE RAPIDLY ONROADWAYS...BUT AN INCH OR TWO CAN NOT BE RULED OUT IN THE LATEAFTERNOON AND EARLY EVENING. THE CURRENT THINKING IS THAT ANADVISORY TYPE EVENT REMAINS POSSIBLE...SO THE WINTER STORM WATCHESWILL BE LEFT IN PLACE THOUGH PUSHED BACK A FEW HOURS. WARNINGS WILLREMAIN IN PLACE WHERE THEY HAVE BEEN ISSUED. PLEASE CONTINUE TOMONITOR OUR FCST AS THIS SCENARIO UNFOLDS.
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Looks like it still has almost .25 but some of that comes early with real light stuff so maybe .20 or so that might try to accumulate.  I'm not sure that gets 2 inches.  Jason's last map looks good. 

yeah im pretty sure now that if you and jason as lead snow forecasters aren't excited nothing good is going to happen. im still secretly hoping to get banded though.

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Can I ask a question?  Since when did we stop looking at the players on the field, and start relying strictly on the models?  Do the current features really push us towards punting?  I mean that SE ridge and the decent amount of GOM moisture look ok.  In a normal situation where the cutoff is not as sharp as with this one, none of us would question a 50 mile shift, switching someone from say 3" to 5".  When do we nowcast?

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