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The Second Wave: Dec 10 (Model Discussion)


stormtracker

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Reminds me of February 2, 2010

To me a perfect analog (not synoptically, but in the way its been tracked). Also followed the 1/30/10 event for seemingly 2 weeks, which we sorta did. In this storm, we had ours eyes on yesterdays event forever. 2/2 snuck up on the area to some, dropped a nice 4-6" snowfall in a shorter period of time like this one will. I expect much of the same. Sterling upgraded that day to a WSWarning a few hours before the storm. 

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What a stretch! Does look like a good band sets up...and there may be higher lollis than predicted where that sets up.

 

 

Coastal, you made a kick a$$ post on the thread yesterday as to why the banding did what it did. Any clues about tomorrow? Meaning, does dca metro / burbs stand a chance or should we just accept the fact that we don't get banded anymore?

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To me a perfect analog (not synoptically, but in the way its been tracked). Also followed the 1/30/10 event for seemingly 2 weeks, which we sorta did. In this storm, we had ours eyes on yesterdays event forever. 2/2 snuck up on the area to some, dropped a nice 4-6" snowfall in a shorter period of time like this one will. I expect much of the same. Sterling upgraded that day to a WSWarning a few hours before the storm. 

 

Mitch, randy, and I have been tracking this event since September. 

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Yesterday was a classic setup for synoptic-scale lift with low-mid level deformation, differential thermal advection, PVA etc. When you have general large-scale lift, spatially, you can anticipate mesoscale banding along deformation zones (momentum-pending). The dry air, in these situations, is always modeled to win for QPF, because synoptically, the model is correct. However, when you are making perfect dendrites, prolifically, with omega/RH in the snow growth zone, the bands tend to be equally prolific. These lead to the busts like we saw in Jan 2010, Jan 2011 and yesterday on the northern edge of QPF.

 

Tomorrow, is not the same thing. We do not have all the factors that favor large-scale lift in-place. During the time of snow potential, large-scale low to mid level cold air advection is favored. In fact, the profiles may get a bit unstable for a while, similar to a summertime squall line. Your band / period of snow will be more N-S orientated while up in PA, it will have a little more time to accumulate with a SW-NE tilt. So between the duration and synoptic-scale setup, I would say it's another one that favors north of you. But let's see how the GFS comes in. Given the unstable nature to this round of snow, it could be really fun for a while.

 

Makes total sense, HM. Yesterday had a beastly hp nosing down into the waa precip. Even though the models didn't really show it accurately, it make sense that the w-e oriented battle zone would be the win zone. That "finger" was modeled to some extent but was further south until the end. And even then it wasn't modeled well. But I'm not so sure you can expect models to see all the details correctly until it is basically happening anyways. Something to keep in the memory banks for the next time a similar setup happens. Probably in 10 years or so. lol

 

With tomorrow we have the cold air pressing behind so I can totally see why the bands will be nw-sw oriented. I just hope we can at least be in the "middle of the pack" with accum snow and not look like a bunch of 3rd stringers on the bench not even dressed to play. 

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