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The "What To Title The Storm?" Thread - Dec 8-9


stormtracker

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24 hr QPF (from hr 60 to 84) is paltry.  0.1 to 0.15 at BWI... ~0.25 at IAD, ~0.30 at DCA.  All of it is frozen FWIW

I thought I looked and by 21Z the 850 temp was above freezing on the NAM at DCA.  To me it looked like those old fashion disappointment storms since the precip does not come in with the vigor of last night's GFS. 

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I thought I looked and by 21Z the 850 temp was above freezing on the NAM at DCA.  To me it looked like those old fashion disappointment storms since the precip does not come in with the vigor of last night's GFS. 

 

That's why I said "frozen" ;)  Its the gamut of snow/sleet/freezing rain... just no rain at all on this run

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HM pretty much is right on.  For us to get a decent snow we need strong uvv and a thump on the front end.  The dry air has to be overcome  to do that which can happen but is why we have so few decent snows with the low tracking to our west.  It's harder to get the good mid level frontogenesis with such poor upper level support.  It's gonna be a tricky forecast. 

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The CAD modeling trends will do what they always do. The only thing that matters is getting that right timing of factors for lift: mid level frontogen, isentropic lift, diff. thermal advection to beat the dry air.

 

yes...I am a little concerned over dry air, and how the precip shield orients, since the models are pretty inconsistent.  Though I don't think the later start time is bad for us.  It may be good.  IN terms of snow there will be somewhat large localized differences imo that aren't necessarily oriented on a classic SE to NW gradient.  But of course the western burbs will do better.  But it won't be uniform.  

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HM pretty much is right on. For us to get a decent snow we need strong uvv and a thump on the front end. The dry air has to be overcome to do that which can happen but is why we have so few decent snows with the low tracking to our west. It's harder to get the good mid level frontogenesis with such poor upper level support. It's gonna be a tricky forecast.

If we do not see sufficient lift, we don't see the cooling and moistening. If we don't see that aloft, dry air wins. So the folks obsessed with CAD and QPF better understand this before expectations are bolstered beyond reason.

Having said that, if it is going to happen anywhere, it's going to be you guys! Up here in S NJ, it's lolz.

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HM pretty much is right on.  For us to get a decent snow we need strong uvv and a thump on the front end.  The dry air has to be overcome  to do that which can happen but is why we have so few decent snows with the low tracking to our west.  It's harder to get the good mid level frontogenesis with such poor upper level support.  It's gonna be a tricky forecast. 

 

The bust potential is pretty high for me and you.  Less so for western areas esp in terms of icing.  I think throwing around 3"+ totals, 72 hours out for me and you is a bit brazen...I think people have to check themselves.  And these snow maps are silly and don't involve any real forecasting.

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yes...I am a little concerned over dry air, and how the precip shield orients, since the models are pretty inconsistent. Though I don't think the later start time is bad for us. It may be good. IN terms of snow there will be somewhat large localized differences imo that aren't necessarily oriented on a classic SE to NW gradient. But of course the western burbs will do better. But it won't be uniform.

I agree. You'll get your normal thermal distribution of snow accumulation SE to NW but made ugly by the dry air/bands.

This, btw, is not the same issue as last year's bust where CI induced convection in VA robbed lift. But again, understanding lift is key here and how that may or may not change as we get closer.

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The bust potential is pretty high for me and you.  Less so for western areas esp in terms of icing.  I think throwing around 3"+ totals, 72 hours out for me and you is a bit brazen...I think people have to check themselves.  And these snow maps are silly and don't involve any real forecasting.

I think I remember quite a few "underperformers" in this type of set up.  It's still not time to give out accumulation unless you want to be first and then proclaim it to the world.  I give us about 50% chance of getting an inch or more.  That's taking into account we're still 3 days away from the event. 

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I think I remember quite a few "underperformers" in this type of set up. It's still not time to give out accumulation unless you want to be first and then proclaim it to the world. I give us about 50% chance of getting an inch or more. That's taking into account we're still 3 days away from the event.

I'm with you Wes. The model porn is great to look at but looking back at similar events has kept me very reasonable. Unfortunately the 6z gfs was Cindy Crawford like and the 12 nam is basically Nancy Pelosi.

1-2" at best around the cities has been my thoughts for some time. I'm glad to see you feel about the same for an inch or so. Encouraging words imo.

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I think I remember quite a few "underperformers" in this type of set up. It's still not time to give out accumulation unless you want to be first and then proclaim it to the world. I give us about 50% chance of getting an inch or more. That's taking into account we're still 3 days away from the event.

I remember a number of front end thumps that were more like a light swat
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mood around here sure changes pretty easily like the wind     

it's not like it was the Euro that jumped ship

I'm actually not that worried.    We poo poo the NAM when it shows a crushing QPF bomb, so we should do the same now.   If the GFS shows the same trend, then it's time to wonder....

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What may become a concern should the lift end up ragged and QPF drops, would be more region-wide ZR. Poor snow making and intensity could mean that, pending soundings of course.

For ice accretion that might be the best type of event as really heavy precip would start as snow, goto cie pellets and then heavy freezing rain tends to bet messed up because of latest heating. 

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mood around here sure changes pretty easily like the wind     

it's not like it was the Euro that jumped ship

 

Mitch, we do this every time. There's always a phail model run at this stage. I loved looking at the best case runs but I never bought into them. I doubt the nam is right with how weak it is with the precip compared to all other reliable guidance. Not to mention we're far past the 48 hour useful range. I doubt the gfs and even the euro because we not getting 4"+ near the cities with this unless it goes down in the books as one of the more unusual CAD/low to the west events. 

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For ice accretion that might be the best type of event as really heavy precip would start as snow, goto cie pellets and then heavy freezing rain tends to bet messed up because of latest heating.

Exactly. I linked papers on zr in December Discussion thread yesterday. Feel free to add more if you've got any good ones on hand.

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When you haven't seen a good snow for almost 3 years (excluding March of last year) you get very antsy

 

Amen to that!  But have to take it all in stride at this point, the event is still 3 days out.  And even that March event (I assume you're refering to the morning of Mar. 25?) was not really "area-wide" in terms of getting more than a couple of inches.

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Exactly. I linked papers on zr in December Discussion thread yesterday. Feel free to add more if you've got any good ones on hand.

 

I saw your links back in that forum, and wanted to say thanks for posting them.  I'd like to take a look at them when I've got more of a chance (at least a cursory read).  Freezing rain and sleet events are quite interesting in terms of the thermodynamics going on.

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