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Central PA OMG SNOW thread -- Winter 2016


neff

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When it comes to systems and the influence on the STJ, models have a hard time grasping the full scope of the moisture flux that is provided with a setup such as this. A perfect example was the Feb storm in 2014 when models were calling for 10-16" for parts of CMD and southern PA and it ended up higher by 20-40% in SPA and up to 20" in MD due to the wall of moisture that was coming in. My dad is a weather junkie and the reason I'm a meteorologist. He is a winter weather weenie just like most of us and has had so much experience with these storms in his lifetime. I remember I made a bet with him on the snow that would fall at our house just north of Baltimore. I went with model consensus and he went with 16-22". I thought he was nuts. Well, 19" later, I owed him lunch haha

 

He told me through his lifetime, no one ever predicts these southern systems right in terms of precip. They under do it all the time. That's why the QPF shield always ends up a little further to the north and areas in the bulls eye get slammed time and time again with "shocking" totals. That being said, for the northern fringe of things, the confluence to the north is going to kill chances most likely north of I80 getting anything other than light snow and to the north in NYS, they'll get the smoking cirrus. 

 

I was gonna make a map, but I think I'll just post my thoughts here. I feel like the southern tier south of Rt 30 will still walk with a foot with the typical spots for jackpots at 16-22" (ie. Mapgirl, 83 Blizzard, Cashtown and anyone else south of that line). Mapgirl and PSU could very well get 20-24" wen all said and done. Areas between Rt 30 and the turnpike to the east of 81, I can see 8-14" with the higher end towards the south. To the west of 81 in that same zone, I see 5-10" as the max due to the proximity away from the low. Above the turnpike to I80 is the rough spot.2-8" with again the further to the south. Clearfield region I can see getting 1-3" when all said and done, but the axis of qpf will be running wsw across the state, so areas like Pittsburgh could get shut out. 

 

This is just a call off the top of my head. The synoptic setup for this storm is incredible with the H5 depiction and LLJ structures that will play a huge role in banding and unexpected surprises. Systems this large and dynamic will put up some crazy numbers. I don't follow QPF maxes for my forecast, but more of the QPF placement. Are models and QPF/Snow maps fun to look? You're damn right they are, but a forecaster does not get driven by model run after model run. They look at the bigger picture and examine the different components to see what's lining up and what has been most consistent. The meso details are spared for later on during the storm, so for now, just sit back and watch the Meso Analysis and satellite/radar combo and watch how Mother Nature puts on a show. 

 

Great writeup!

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CONFIDENCE CONTINUES TO INCREASE FOR HEAVY...DOUBLE-DIGIT

SNOWFALL AMOUNTS ACROSS THE FAR SOUTHERN TIER COUNTIES ALONG THE

TURNPIKE TO THE MARYLAND BORDER. HAVE REWORDED THE WSW TO INDICATE

THE POTENTIAL FOR 12+ INCHES OVER THIS AREA...WITH MAX AMOUNTS IN

THE 15 TO 20 INCH RANGE. THE OTHER CONCERN IS FOR POSSIBLE

BLIZZARD AND WHITEOUT CONDITIONS INVOF LANCASTER COUNTY WITH PEAK

WIND GUSTS SATURDAY MORNING IN THE 30 TO 35 MPH RANGE. SIGNIFICANT

BLOWING AND DRIFTING COULD COMPOUND HEAVY SNOW IMPACTS -- MAKING

TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS TO NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE DURING THE HEIGHT

OF THE STORM. SNOW CONTINUES OVER SOUTHEAST PA INTO SATURDAY NIGHT

BEFORE ENDING SUNDAY MORNING.

 
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This 100%

 

I don't care if DC gets 3 feet of snow as long as I can get 12" or so.

 

Anyway, yesterday someone asked about making maps. That was me who was doing them last year, so here is one for the 12z NAM from today. This is the model I'd like to see come close to verifying...lol

 

attachicon.gifUntitled-1.jpg

Thank you for this map.  

Even though I am in the Pgh forum, I lurk here and do appreciate when you do these and include all the counties

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Your description gives me the ideas you have MDT around 5" median. I can see that. I live about 5 miles due north of the turnpike (as the crow flies), every time I hear "south of the turnpike will do well" I want to punch things lol.

i wouldn't be that excited. i believe we'll see more then 5"

 

 

jmister, i sent mine via pm. would you prefer it here?

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ok one last argument why this could trend north for southern 1/2 of PA. First I dont think the track will trend north much. SLP will track over eastern NC, but I do think the low could/should make it a little north of where some models turn it east...maybe getting it up towards the southern tip of the delmarva. But if you look at the NAM, its low location isnt much off from the other guidance it just has a much more expansive qpf field. SInce january 1996 is the number 1 analog on the threat guidance right now I pulled up the track. Yes it got all the way to Boston because the low kept going north up until ocean city MD then northeast. I dont think that happens this time...but for PA look at this precip map from the 1996 storm and the low location. That low location at that point is right where this one is going to be with an almost identicle H5 position at that time also. THe NAM is the only model showing a similar qpf distribution though. WHat I am saying is its not unfounded that without much change in the track heavy snow could get further into PA then the models are showing (except the nam). Thoughts?

attachicon.gifCurrSur-2200Z-07Jan96.jpg

The lows look pretty much the same. With the Nam maybe a touch north & hanging coast tighter.

Awesome post Millville!

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The ECMWF ENS are coming in a good 20-30 miles south of the 00z

 

I don't know why some mets are so bullish down here. 

 

I had a 10-14" MAX 

 

Ensembles are not a tool to use at this type of lead time. They are great for >72 hrs. After that, they lose sight of some of the intricate details that go in a developing storm system. Best to use meso models and any trends in the H5 depiction of the globals. That's the important stuff for now. 

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Ensembles are not a tool to use at this type of lead time. They are great for >72 hrs. After that, they lose sight of some of the intricate details that go in a developing storm system. Best to use meso models and any trends in the H5 depiction of the globals. That's the important stuff for now. 

 

I agree. Still a pain to see another southward shift on a major piece of guidance. 

 

I do love how the UCAR-MPAS model, NMM, ARW, RGEM, Para SREFS, and NAM look for here.

 

I think this one completely comes down to nowcasting.  

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