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Oct.-Nov Pattern Discussion


jaxjagman

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As I reviewed weather forecast charts over the past few days, my memory was jogged back to a time when incessant cold intrusions, massive winter storms, and extensive blocking signatures were the rule and not the exception. I am talking about the late 1970s, a magical time in my life when forecasting the weather was far more difficult than what is the case today. However, the predictions were more exciting not just because of difficulty (computer modeling was in its infancy, with only the Barotropic, LFM, and AVN series to choose from), but also because if you liked the challenges and the eventual extreme outcome, you got to view history in the making.

All of this nostalgia has a point, you see. It has been a long while since I saw nearly all of the numerical models set up a triple or quadruple blocking signature with an active southern branch jet stream. Even more bizarre is the notion is that this configuration could last for two weeks or more! You see, if you review even the extreme cold seasons of the 1980s, 1990s, and 2000s, the radical cAk plunges were quite progressive. Colder monthly averages were achieved by multiple delivery of colder values, not by a routine day-after-day cold spells. This "long lived chill" is the scenario we may be facing for much of the rest of November, IF the equations verify!

There seems to be some agreement also on the idea of yet another storm taking shape in southern Texas around November 20. The most probable track for this system is probably a "Miller A" type along the Gulf Coast and then running up along the Eastern Seaboard. If we do maintain a mild West vs. cold Central and East alignment, the snowpack will drop as far south as the Ozark Plateau, Tennessee Valley, and possibly just to the right of the Appalachian Mountains (NC to ME). Remember that the more snow we get farther south only favors a longer stay of cold air and more of a "duration winter". I am still sticking with the idea that after a volatile late November and December (leaning cold but still capable of some warmer "burps" east of the High Plains), that we settle into a rather painful stormy and bitterly cold period from January through much of March. So far the analog comparisons have been correct with respect to the coldest values this month being mainly between the Rocky Mountains and Appalachia.

Speaking of analogs, I am toying with the idea of adding 1976-77 and 1957-1958 to the roster of comparative winters. The ferocious 1976 set-up had help from a typhoon injection (just like Nuri), while the fall of 1957 saw a very warm SST anomaly along the entire eastern shoreline of the Pacific Ocean. The former period had a lasting and strong national warm-up starting in mid-February, while the latter was notorous for its balmy December followed by a brutal JFM time frame. The 500MB and temperature deviation charts for the DJFM realm are included above, using the additional analogs.

"Mild West, Cold, Stormy Central And East" may be ringing in your brain this winter. Along with high energy and grocery bills, too.


Prepared by Meteorologist LARRY COSGROVE

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If the pattern is right, climo doesn't matter that much this time of year. That's why we have had major snow storms in November, March, and even April. We even saw a major snow event two weeks ago in South Carolina because the pattern was right.

 

That said, who knows if the pattern will be right, at the best of times that's often tough here. 

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If the pattern is right, climo doesn't matter that much this time of year. That's why we have had major snow storms in November, March, and even April. We even saw a major snow event two weeks ago in South Carolina because the pattern was right.

 

That said, who knows if the pattern will be right, at the best of times that's often tough here. 

 

This weekend, from what I can tell, looks to be the type of storm you plateau folks will do decent with.  Just enough elevation to overcome the marginal conditions that will likely keep the valley in a cold rain or mix.  I hope you cash in bud.

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Interesting to say the least when you compare the Parallel to the the GFS on the 18z

 

attachicon.gifecmwf ens_z500a_namer_11.png 1024×622 .png

 

attachicon.gifgfsp_asnow_namer_28.png 1024×622 .png

 

Edit:On my text,just going to throw these two out on the regular GFS

 

It shows mem with .00  qpf's

BNA      .01 QPFS

 

This is for the system this weekend

Another comparison,quite a bit of difference

 

 

http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfsp/2014111018/gfsp_z500_mslp_namer_28.png

 

http://www.tropicaltidbits.com/analysis/models/gfs/2014111018/gfs_z500_mslp_namer_28.png

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Interesting to say the least when you compare the Parallel to the the GFS on the 18z

 

attachicon.gifecmwf ens_z500a_namer_11.png 1024×622 .png

 

attachicon.gifgfsp_asnow_namer_28.png 1024×622 .png

 

Edit:On my text,just going to throw these two out on the regular GFS

 

It shows mem with .00  qpf's

BNA      .01 QPFS

 

This is for the system this weekend

 

 

There's even more support for the 00z GFS models. It's too far out to really tell, but I do remember some people saying the Euro supported something at that timeframe a few days ago.

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I know the para is in beta, but it seems to be bonkers like the old GFS with extreme amounts. I hope it's correct and not wonky at all. Was it available for the Halloween snow event and if so, what did it show?

Yes it was available...it actually did fairly well. Better than the old GFS. Its also been pretty consistent with this weekends system.

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