Jump to content
  • Member Statistics

    17,597
    Total Members
    7,904
    Most Online
    DAinDC
    Newest Member
    DAinDC
    Joined

Central PA - February 2017


MAG5035

Recommended Posts

2 hours ago, maytownpawx said:

Sure it can. But severe thunderstorms are called severe because of the understanding that damage can and likely will result from them. Look, I'm not against or angry at people that like severe weather. I'm really not. I'm just not personally interested in it happening near my home or my family, so why would I be interested in it happening near someone else? But I do object somewhat to the word "fascination"...perhaps that's all it is for you, but there are plenty that are more than fascinated by severe weather, they actively root for it to occur. And when I read some comments from those people, I can't help but wonder what they'd say if a big fat tree split their house in half or if large hail decimated their personal vehicles. Will they continue to cheer lead at that point? I can't answer that. But I wonder...

They're messed up in the head tbh. I love when we get beautiful set ups over uninhabited plains because it's best of both worlds. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • Replies 1.7k
  • Created
  • Last Reply

Unfortunately the new SPC products this morning now bring a slight risk to the entire commonwealth on Wednesday (Day 2). It bears some similarities to the Saturday outbreak in that there will be a strong, deep, and generally unidirectional flow aloft. 850 winds at 18z Wed progged to be 40-60knots with 700mb screaming along at 70-80 knots over our region. There's definitely a decided straight-line wind threat for sure once again. New 6z NAM also generates some good CAPE (good for this time of the year) in the Sus Valley at this timeframe as well with values in the 1000-1500 range in south-central and Sus Valley. Also showing some reasonable helicity and strong shear present so EHI values are elevated. 0-1km values are 1-2 in the Sus Valley and the 0-3km are actually quite high (over 3). Those are easily values supportive of an elevated tornado risk.. it's a good thing we don't have late spring/early summer heating yet. As such, it will likely be the same type of threat we had Saturday with a couple possible spin-ups. Predominant mode should be lines and clusters, so will have to mainly watch for imbedded stuff of the QLCS variety when it comes to tornadoes...although if anything individual develops it will need to be watched very closely. The primary threat though will be the damaging straight line winds again, and given the look I wouldn't be surprised if SPC noses an enhanced into PA when this threat becomes D1 range. So this makes 2 severe outbreak threats in 4 days.. at the end of February. Hope this isn't a sign of the upcoming warm season. 

After that whole ordeal Wed afternoon and evening comes through and we go back to cold Thursday, the next system of note comes Thur night into Friday... and the threat from that one will actually be snow for a change. GFS/Euro have had it pretty consistently. The GFS has been taking a swath of snow right through the heart of PA the last couple runs after focusing on northern PA. The Euro continues to be a bit further south and somewhat drier, with a light snow swath coming across the southern third or so of PA. The NAM is just starting to see it and the 6z looked similar to the 0z GFS. The track of the weak low is being progged right through or just below southern PA, so this is actually a good track to maintain a snow swath across the state. In terms of amounts we're talking a 1-3" type of event.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 4K NAM has very impressive soundings for south central PA on Wednesday afternoon. Hodographs are elongated and curve rightward with the large increase in wind speed and veering from the surface to 850 mb. With surface temperatures in the low 70s, dew points in the low 60s, and cold air aloft, CAPE is substantial enough for severe convection. I almost wonder if the shear is strong enough to inhibit convection to some degree given modest, but not exceptional instability.

nam4km_2017022800_042_40.17--76.46.png

Like MAG said, if we get discrete convection initiating ahead of the surface front, these storms could be in an environment highly favorable for supercells and potential tornadoes. The GFS has less instability with lower surface temperatures and dew points, and thus a less favorable environment. Either way, we may still have a damaging wind threat as any convection could mix the strong winds at 700 mb down to the surface.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

10 hours ago, maytownpawx said:

Sure it can. But severe thunderstorms are called severe because of the understanding that damage can and likely will result from them. Look, I'm not against or angry at people that like severe weather. I'm really not. I'm just not personally interested in it happening near my home or my family, so why would I be interested in it happening near someone else? But I do object somewhat to the word "fascination"...perhaps that's all it is for you, but there are plenty that are more than fascinated by severe weather, they actively root for it to occur. And when I read some comments from those people, I can't help but wonder what they'd say if a big fat tree split their house in half or if large hail decimated their personal vehicles. Will they continue to cheer lead at that point? I can't answer that. But I wonder...

In my experience, the answer is no. They completely change their tune, I've seen it numerous times. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Thanks Mag and Heavy for the updates.  Gotta say it makes me nervous just reading your info. (although I've got to say that you boys were spewing alot of Greek to me as I've much to learn if I'm going to educate myself to the severe side).  

At the end of the day Sunday, we were packing up equipment to head to my brothers for a belated birthday celebration (he and his wife both turned 50 on Sunday, but canecelled bday dinner plans to help me w/ my mini cleanup crew), and the homeowner from pic #1 who just started a Gofundme account because of insurance...(hence my rant of yesterday), turned to us and said "I heard more tornados Wednesday".  I told her its going to be fine, and that its way to far out to worry about that.  God i hope i was right.  

Like Maytown, i'm not here to judge, as most of us are here to talk about weather, and yes our fascination of it.  But at the end of the day, severe wx trumps all in how it can largely affect lives....and not just our own.  

Squall lines and Severe storms are WAY more frequent than snow events, and w/ snow, most can divert travel plans or take a snow day to stay out of harms way.  Cant get around the severe stuff - except to go the basement like many did.  

As weve just witnessed, severe can now start in Feb and run right into Nov., so we basiclly a 9 month window of opportunity.

Snow.....well thats just a figment of my/our imagination.

Nut 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I guess I look at it as, weather is going to do whatever conditions make it inclined to do. From my experience here, discussion stays mainly scientific, though damage posts do come up as it is part of the data as a whole. I hate seeing property and lives ruined, as should everyone, but it's those few fascinated and brilliant people who allow us to prepare and learn.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

16 minutes ago, Wmsptwx said:

I guess I look at it as, weather is going to do whatever conditions make it inclined to do. From my experience here, discussion stays mainly scientific, though damage posts do come up as it is part of the data as a whole. I hate seeing property and lives ruined, as should everyone, but it's those few fascinated and brilliant people who allow us to prepare and learn.

You make a good point man, as I thought of that when this discussion started.  Without those people, our understanding and ability to take cover with much more precision than ever....would be largely non existent.  

After seeing the destruction first hand, and witnessing the despair (like Sauss and any other EMS folk do on a regular basis), I have to say its altered my perspective even more.  

Best analogy I can come up w/ regarding Severe WX....its like the "Walmart Syndrome" of many years ago....everyone wanted to see one pop up.....just not in their backyard.

Nut

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 minute ago, sauss06 said:

oh he does. Last winter i text her about the big storm, she said "You're late, already got it from Horst" B)

Pretty cool stuff that a relatively small school like MU has such a stout meteorology program. I graduated right across the street (literally) from Penn Manor 34 years ago and it was well known for that back then. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

12 minutes ago, maytownpawx said:

Pretty cool stuff that a relatively small school like MU has such a stout meteorology program. I graduated right across the street (literally) from Penn Manor 34 years ago and it was well known for that back then. 

They're strong in a lot of areas. I have complaints of MU and my daughter is getting a quality education. 

Good luck tomorrow!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have been through many different types of storms,  I usually do not get scared, but...I do get excited. I do (like most of you) look at the awe and power of Nature. I love  good exciting storm (what ever it is) but do not want to see anyone hurt.

Wednesday weather is exciting from one point but at the same time, but after Saturday, I do not want to see another tornado...

 

Rick

Link to comment
Share on other sites

2 hours ago, maytownpawx said:

Pretty cool stuff that a relatively small school like MU has such a stout meteorology program. I graduated right across the street (literally) from Penn Manor 34 years ago and it was well known for that back then. 

My wife graduated from PM in 87.

Family owned Pine View Dairy (bagged milk).

Nut

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 hours ago, pasnownut said:

 I'm not sure why the vehicle is a qualifier. Miles = danger. I'm just accept it as part of my job in sales.  

Nut  

 

First, I drive 100,000+ miles per year. I'm on the road 9 to 11 hours per day. 

Second, your car weighs at best 4,500 lbs. My truck weighs between 60,000 to 80,000 lbs.

Third, my truck is articulated. Once I hit the brakes on snow or ice, that trailer wants to go in a different direction than the tractor.

So, yes, the vehicle does make a difference...

Link to comment
Share on other sites

3 hours ago, 2001kx said:

How does tomorrow look up my way?

I hate severe storms (wind mainly) Im surrounded by huge pine trees.

I'm no pro or expert by any stretch but I doubt you see much severe. 

I am not overly impressed with the setup outside of the SE corner of the state. I very well might be wrong, so ymmv. But I would bet a beer no one in this forum encounters anything severe enough for a headline. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

21 minutes ago, canderson said:

I'm no pro or expert by any stretch but I doubt you see much severe. 

I am not overly impressed with the setup outside of the SE corner of the state. I very well might be wrong, so ymmv. But I would bet a beer no one in this forum encounters anything severe enough for a headline. 

I'd be glad to buy you a beer if you can keep tomorrow to just run of da mill stuff. 

No floor hockey tomorrow night. Cancelled because of damage to some structures and many trees still down in area. Ugh 

 Nut. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

50 minutes ago, canderson said:

I'm no pro or expert by any stretch but I doubt you see much severe. 

I am not overly impressed with the setup outside of the SE corner of the state. I very well might be wrong, so ymmv. But I would bet a beer no one in this forum encounters anything severe enough for a headline. 

I hope your right.

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...