Jump to content
  • Member Statistics

    17,586
    Total Members
    7,904
    Most Online
    LopezElliana
    Newest Member
    LopezElliana
    Joined

Summer 2015 General Thunderstorm Thread


powderfreak

Recommended Posts

NAM 4km is pretty meh on the simulated reflectivity products, but you can see it spits out a few rogue supercells in the warm sector.

I think the one real plus we have going is that the steepest lapse rates overspead the area after dark, so whatever convection gets going should have the fuel to sustain. Definitely not one of those scenarios where you expect thunder to crap out with the setting sun.

do i need to cancel my leave tomorrow night?
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 2.1k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

The NAM seems to push the steepest lapse rates off to the east around/shortly after 0z tomorrow night.  I just had the chance to look at 12z GFS bufkit for BDL and it's quite intriguing...actually has lapse rates nearing 8 C/KM in the 700-550mb layer near 3z with great cape...even some slight turning evident on the hodo

 

GFS and Euro seem to be on board regarding lapse rate advection late tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

GFS and Euro seem to be on board regarding lapse rate advection late tomorrow.

 

I've noticed the NAM does not seem to really handle lapse rates all that well, particularly when we're talking about the advection of steeper lapse rates.  The NAM is often too aggressive in pushing the lapse rates east or weakening them.  It probably has to do with the physics of the model and such and how it handles modeled convection and using that to ruin lapse rates.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Maybe I'll come back from Loudon and go straight into severe weather ops.

 

Still mostly potential tomorrow night, not ready to bite on the event actually happening.

 

Part of the issue too is just the timing of everything.  It's highly possible the timing of all the features is just too off...activity moving in before the strongest shear arrives (this is going to be the key aspect IMO with regards to the overall severe potential).  If the strongest shear lacks but we have the steep lapse rates present we're probably looking at a few severe pulsers but if the strongest shear can arrive in time along with steep lapse rates present we could be looking at a little more in the way of organized severe 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I've noticed the NAM does not seem to really handle lapse rates all that well, particularly when we're talking about the advection of steeper lapse rates.  The NAM is often too aggressive in pushing the lapse rates east or weakening them.  It probably has to do with the physics of the model and such and how it handles modeled convection and using that to ruin lapse rates.  

 

Given the look of the 12km version simulated reflectivity, it generates quite a bit of convection which probably erases any lapse rates.

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Given the look of the 12km version simulated reflectivity, it generates quite a bit of convection which probably erases any lapse rates.

 

 

that makes sense...I guess it can't be completely discounted as a scenario but given what the GFS/Euro are displaying I am a bit more confident in this scenario not being highly likely.  

 

What I would have really liked to see was that pocket of 500mb winds >50-60 knots on the GFS remain in tact as it pushes into New England but that pocket weakens and we're looking at closer to 40-45 knots.  I know some of our bigger nocturnal events not only are associated with steep lapse rates but typically I believe 500mb winds usually are in excess of 50 knots.    

Link to comment
Share on other sites

that makes sense...I guess it can't be completely discounted as a scenario but given what the GFS/Euro are displaying I am a bit more confident in this scenario not being highly likely.  

 

What I would have really liked to see was that pocket of 500mb winds >50-60 knots on the GFS remain in tact as it pushes into New England but that pocket weakens and we're looking at closer to 40-45 knots.  I know some of our bigger nocturnal events not only are associated with steep lapse rates but typically I believe 500mb winds usually are in excess of 50 knots.    

 

I mean shear isn't really that bad believe it or not, when you are looking over a deep enough layer. MCS maintenance is differentiating better by looking at those deep layers. We're talking over 70 knots based on the 18z GFS (through 0-10km).

 

Might like to see the mid level winds a little more northwesterly if we were looking for a severe MCS, but we definitely have some players on the table for late tomorrow.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I mean shear isn't really that bad believe it or not, when you are looking over a deep enough layer. MCS maintenance is differentiating better by looking at those deep layers. We're talking over 70 knots based on the 18z GFS (through 0-10km).

 

Might like to see the mid level winds a little more northwesterly if we were looking for a severe MCS, but we definitely have some players on the table for late tomorrow.

 

Over 70 knots in the 0-10km layer...wow that's actually pretty darn impressive really.  Definitely a good signal for an organized squall line...or like you even said maybe an MCS?  

 

I was actually just talking with someone about MCS potential tomorrow night...I wonder if we could see something like that evolve on the nose of the MLJ?  

 

EDIT:

 

Thanks for bringing up the 0-10 km shear value...didn't look into that.  I wish weather.cod would have those types of parameters listed.  I know on twisterdata you can look at bulk shear values through various levels.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not our area but was looking at SPC SREF and noticed there was a little area of SIG TOR hatched in western NY off the lakes...with these types of setups it's not completely uncommon to have some enhancement off the lakes with lake breeze boundaries locally enhancing helicity and causing a brief spin-up or two

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Over 70 knots in the 0-10km layer...wow that's actually pretty darn impressive really.  Definitely a good signal for an organized squall line...or like you even said maybe an MCS?  

 

I was actually just talking with someone about MCS potential tomorrow night...I wonder if we could see something like that evolve on the nose of the MLJ?  

 

EDIT:

 

Thanks for bringing up the 0-10 km shear value...didn't look into that.  I wish weather.cod would have those types of parameters listed.  I know on twisterdata you can look at bulk shear values through various levels.  

 

I kind of took apart the SPC MCS maintenance parameter and looked at each part individually.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Not our area but was looking at SPC SREF and noticed there was a little area of SIG TOR hatched in western NY off the lakes...with these types of setups it's not completely uncommon to have some enhancement off the lakes with lake breeze boundaries locally enhancing helicity and causing a brief spin-up or two

 

Should be a pseudo-warm front just south of Lake Ontario. That ROC to SYR corridor is always good for a big storm.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Vector subtraction, or just ask AWIPS to do it like I did. Ha

 

I wouldn't mind doing the math, that would be fun.  Plus, I don't have AWIPS so I can't ask it lol

 

Should be a pseudo-warm front just south of Lake Ontario. That ROC to SYR corridor is always good for a big storm.

 

That is a great area for severe...they can get some monster looking storms.  Always have to watch storms out that way when you have so many boundaries around.  

Link to comment
Share on other sites

That is a great area for severe...they can get some monster looking storms.  Always have to watch storms out that way when you have so many boundaries around.  

 

For something long tracked or significant, you really want that cooler water source to be to your north and that way it can act as a warm front. Cold water to the south sucks, because it just undercuts the updrafts and your instability ends up behind the storm rather than ahead of it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For something long tracked or significant, you really want that cooler water source to be to your north and that way it can act as a warm front. Cold water to the south sucks, because it just undercuts the updrafts and your instability ends up behind the storm rather than ahead of it.

 

Plus with the source to the north, if you have a stronger lake breeze occurring, it can really enhance the 0-1km shear and you have a pretty nice looking little hodo.  

 

The best s when you have one of those cells occurring that ride right along the boundary and go to town for a good period.  It's pretty amazing when you look at tornado tracks across that portion of NY how many tornado tracks are pretty much exactly the same....not only path but length

Link to comment
Share on other sites

BOX not mincing words

SHORT TERM /6 AM SUNDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY NIGHT/...

***POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SEVERE WEATHER OUTBREAK SUNDAY

EVENING WITH ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE STORMS POSSIBLY LASTING

WELL INTO THE NIGHT***

WE HAVE TWO SIGNIFICANT ISSUES FOR THE SHORT TERM PERIOD.

FIRST...SUNDAY WILL FEATURE HOT TEMPERATURES AND HIGH HUMIDITY. MAX

TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO REACH THE LOWER 90S ACROSS MUCH OF

THE INTERIOR. COMBINED WITH DEWPOINTS NEAR 70 DEGREES...HEAT

INDICES WILL REACH INTO THE UPPER 90S ACROSS PORTIONS OF THE

INTERIOR FOR A TIME SUNDAY AFTERNOON. HIGHEST VALUES IN THE 97 TO

99 RANGE EXPECTED ALONG THE CT RIVER VALLEY FROM THE SPRINGFIELD

AREA ON SOUTH. THESE VALUES ARE JUST A TAD BELOW THE HEAT ADVISORY

THRESHOLD. WE ARE EXPECTING NO RAIN DURING THE DAYTIME PERIOD ON

SUNDAY AS A CAPPING AREA OF WARM AIR ALOFT WILL INHIBIT

CONVECTION. THAT CAP...HOWEVER...WILL BEGIN TO ERODE TOWARD

EVENING.

SECOND...WE ARE CONCERNED THAT THE CAP WILL ERODE ENOUGH SUNDAY

EVENING TO ALLOW STRONG TO SEVERE CONVECTION TO DEVELOP IN

MODERATE TO HIGH INSTABILITY AND INCREASING VERTICAL WIND SHEAR.

THERE LOOKS TO BE AN ELEVATED MIXED LAYER WITH MID LEVEL LAPSE

RATES EXPECTED TO APPROACH OR EVEN EXCEED 7C/KM AFTER 00Z MON.

MODEL CONSENSUS INDICATES THAT TOTAL TOTALS WILL RISE TO BETWEEN

50 AND 55 AND SHOWALTER INDICES BELOW -4. VERTICAL WIND SHEAR IS

INITIALLY A MODEST 25 TO 30 KT IN THE EARLY EVENING BUT INCREASES

TO 35 TO 40+ KT BY AROUND MIDNIGHT. THINK WE COULD SEE ORGANIZED

STRONG TO SEVERE TSTM LINE SEGMENTS WITH POSSIBLY A FEW BOW

ECHOES. HEAVY DOWNPOURS WITH PWATS 1.5 TO 1.8 INCHES...SOME HAIL

AND PROBABLY FREQUENT LIGHTNING ARE ADDITIONAL HAZARDS FOR SUNDAY

EVENING INTO SUNDAY NIGHT.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Until mets can jump in and clarify the threat potential all we can do is hope for a huge outbreak with many, many trees down in blowdowns

1) SEVERAL PIECES OF GUIDANCE...ESPECIALLY THE GLOBAL MODELS KEEP

THE MAIN ACTION TO OUR NORTH ACROSS NORTHERN NEW ENGLAND IN THE

VICINITY OF THE MAIN SHORTWAVE. IF THIS OCCURS...ISOLATED STRONG TO

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS WILL MAINLY OCCUR NORTH OF THE MA TURNPIKE FROM

LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING. ISOLATED WIND DAMAGE WOULD

OCCUR BUT MUCH OF THE REGION MAY END UP DRY ESPECIALLY OUR SOUTHERN

ZONES.

(2) MEANWHILE...SOME OF OUR MESOSCALE GUIDANCE SHOWS THIS ISOLATED

ACTIVITY MERGING INTO AN MCS AND DIVING INTO PORTIONS OF OUR REGION.

THIS IS CERTAINLY POSSIBLE GIVEN STEEP MID LEVEL LAPSE RATES KEEPING

HIGH INSTABILITY IN PLACE WELL AFTER SUNSET. IN THESE TYPE OF

ENVIRONMENTS...COMPLEXES OF THUNDERSTORMS CAN OFTEN PUSH FURTHER

SOUTH THAN THE MODELS DEPICT TO AS A RESULT OF COOL OUTFLOW PUSHING

SOUTH INTO A VERY UNSTABLE ENVIRONMENT. IF THIS DOES COME TO

FRUITION...POCKETS OF SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE WOULD BE POSSIBLE

GIVEN EML IN PLACE ALONG WITH IMPROVING 0 TO 6 KM SHEAR. MODELS

SHOW THE BEST SHOT AT THIS NORTH OF THE MA TURNPIKE...BUT IF AN MCS

DOES GET GOING IT COULD END UP SWEEPING ACROSS THE REST OF THE

REGION AS WELL. IN ADDITION...TO THE THREAT FOR POCKETS OF

SIGNIFICANT WIND DAMAGE...TORRENTIAL RAINFALL MAY RESULT IN

LOCALIZED FLOODING ALONG WITH DANGEROUS CLOUD TO GROUND LIGHTNING.

ALL IN ALL...WE SHOULD AT LEAST BE DEALING WITH ISOLATED STRONG TO

SEVERE THUNDERSTORMS. WHETHER OR NOT WE END UP WITH A SIGNIFICANT

SEVERE WEATHER EVENT REMAINS TO BE SEEN...BUT WILL HAVE TO CLOSELY

MONITOR THAT POTENTIAL LATER TODAY. PRIME TIME FOR SEVERE WEATHER

LOOKS TO OCCUR FROM 4 PM TO MIDNIGHT...BUT ISOLATED STRONG TO SEVERE

STORMS WILL REMAIN POSSIBLE THEREAFTER AS A RESULT OF STEEP MID

LEVEL LAPSE RATES KEEPING INSTABILITY IN PLACE.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Great write-up by BOX. They explained the few scenarios with tremendous detail. All you can really do at this stage is just really nowcast. Models really aren't going to be a big help at this point.

We know it's going to be pretty damn unstable, we know lapse rates will be steep, we know shear will increase. It's all about whether activity that develops into an MCS and if so where does it track.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

From SPC overnight...new update coming in 30 minutes.

 

THE SEVERE THREAT SHOULD
EXTEND AS FAR NORTHEAST AS NEW YORK AND INTO PARTS OF NEW ENGLAND
WHERE LARGE-SCALE ASCENT WILL BE STRONGER DUE TO THE APPROACHING
SHORTWAVE TROUGH. OVER THIS AREA...FORECAST SOUNDINGS SHOW SOME
DIRECTIONAL SHEAR IN THE LOW LEVELS WITH ENOUGH DEEP-LAYER SHEAR FOR
ROTATING STORMS ACCOMPANIED BY DAMAGING WIND GUSTS AND HAIL.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

×
×
  • Create New...