Jump to content
  • Member Statistics

    17,601
    Total Members
    7,904
    Most Online
    ArlyDude
    Newest Member
    ArlyDude
    Joined

Historic Christmas Cold & maybe snow?! Dec 23rd-30th


Wurbus
 Share

Recommended Posts

I love looking back on these threads to see what went right or wrong. So I'm glad it's here.  

I feel like it'll be Tuesday before we have the right idea or something close, on this one. 

I will say this, I was reading the CPC talking about model biases and model verification. It noted that the GFS scored much better in what they called "extreme events" and I believe this qualifies. It also noted that all models had a North precip shield being to dry bias West of the Appalachians. Something we've discussed on here for years. 

  • Like 5
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, John1122 said:

I love looking back on these threads to see what went right or wrong. So I'm glad it's here.  

I feel like it'll be Tuesday before we have the right idea or something close, on this one. 

I will say this, I was reading the CPC talking about model biases and model verification. It noted that the GFS scored much better in what they called "extreme events" and I believe this qualifies. It also noted that all models had a North precip shield being to dry bias West of the Appalachians. Something we've discussed on here for years. 

Agreed on having the thread. Boom or bust, it is nice to have to reference. Besides, not like we get many shots some years. May as well enjoy what we get...or don't get! 

  • Like 4
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I just read a post, maybe even by you, from the March storm as it approached, that the Euro had just completely caved to the GFS. That said, this one is still early in the game regarding the storm. Extreme cold seems nearly unavoidable but it would be tempered with snow vs without snow. There's still very often major model disagreement inside 90 hours over the last few years.

I mentioned something about that earlier today from March. I also remember the GFS was really close in the 7-10 day range, kinda lost it or started jumping around for 48 hours and then it settled back in with what it was showing in the 7-10 day frame. I don’t remember much about the CMC but the Euro was pretty wild until about 4 days out when it came to the GFS. Both mods made minor adjustments inside d5 but they pretty well settled in enough that we knew a storm in the south was likely.


.
  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The Canadian would be an extremely rare storm. Models show that look of a low retrograding to the WNW on occasion but it almost never happened. I've seen it modeled several times over the years and none of them verified. The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 did that. And maybe one of the 70s blizzards. They are extremely rare. 

  • Like 3
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just now, John1122 said:

The Canadian would be an extremely rare storm. Models show that look of a low retrograding to the WNW on occasion but it almost never happened. I've seen it modeled several times over the years and none of them verified. The Great Appalachian Storm of 1950 did that. And maybe one of the 70s blizzards. They are extremely rare. 

Exactly Odds are against that for sure. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Euro is a no go again. Extreme cold front with virtually no moisture behind it, nothing more.  Something will give one way or another over the next few days. The GFS is locked in, the Icon moved toward it. The Canadian is locked in and the Euro now is two runs in a row. Eventually it'll all come to a head. The energy for this storm has been over Siberia and is now probably in the northern Pacific.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

No idea if it will mean anything for this event, but the Euro was completely lost on the December 2020 Christmas even snow event as little as 36-48 hours out. The GEFS was rock steady except for maybe one off run in the 36 hours out time frame, the GFS spotted the event first at hour 228 and was steady until it waffled some inside 48 hours. The Euro was all over the place, showed almost every possible outcome. The UKIE kept missing the area completely. The NAM suite was all over the place and the RGEM was steady and eventually very close to correct as well. The RGEM was initially who correctly modeled the snow showers that lasted into Christmas day that added 1-2 inches for many in the area. 24 hours out the Euro finally got close to the actual final solution and the GFS returned from it's 24 hours MIA.

I'll also note that in the thread about the December 20202 event I noted the prior year the Euro had also been led by the GFS on a potent cold front/anafrontal snow situation. 

 

None of that may apply here but it shows you how much modeling chaos there potentially is remaining in this event at this distance. 

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Having the ICON climb on board gets me back to 55/45 it is going to happen as the GFS has it.  I think the Euro is playing into some old biases.  @Holston_River_Rambler, what are you doing up so early?  As for me, we had a carbon monoxide detector battery go bad.  The periodic beep was driving us crazy.  LOL.  We have been wondering through the house for about fifteen minutes trying to find which detector was bad.  As any good wx hobby person would do, I sat down and looked at modeling instead of going back to bed.

  • Like 3
  • Haha 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something to consider, the 0z EPS is much different over the Aleutians d10-15.  It is much warmer than other modeling in the LR.  Its 500mb pattern over the continental US/Canada looks similar to other modeling, but the strength of that low is causing very warm temp anomalies.  I can't find that on other models, especially over the eastern US.  It makes me wonder if there is an issue w/ the model in the northwest Pacific.  It seems like it is stalling systems in error.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 6z GFS still goes w/ a powerful Noreaster.  It does pop a low over Erie, so it does see the potential for a more westward solution.  At one point it has a low was of Detroit, one over maybe PA, and one off the SE coast.  There is more snow in Ohio on that run which tells me more energy was held back west of the Apps.  I think that is a reasonable run as wonky as it was.  The Euro seems too wound up.  It makes sense to pop a coastal or a slp in the GOM(which this GFS run has) due to the strength of the front.  The 500vort map definitely had a more shallow run over the TN Valley.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

The 6z GFS, as did the CMC about a day later, has a slider which would give light snow to nearly everyone in the forum area after the 23rd/24th system.  I have the discussion for it in the pattern thread so as to keep the two systems separate for now.  We can slide it over here when needed.  Hopefully, that means that the northern stream is going to be active similar to 14-15.

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

National Weather Service Nashville TN
518 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Sunday night)
Issued at 201 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

Satellite imagery this morning shows some scattered low clouds
across our east but shrinking in coverage with time, and most of
the area is now clear with temps in the 30s. Clouds clearing out
along with dewpoints in the 20s should allow lows to drop into
the upper 20s by sunrise. Even colder weather is expected this
weekend with highs only in the 30s/40s and lows in the low to mid
20s later today through Sunday night.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday through next Saturday)
Issued at 201 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

Warming trend begins on Monday as flow aloft becomes more
southwesterly. Light rain will spread across MS/AL/GA just to our
south from Monday into Tuesday as a shortwave trough travels
eastward along the Gulf Coast. Have kept our forecast dry, but
some sprinkles are possible in our far southern counties.

Forecast from Wednesday onward continues to be difficult due to
significant differences amongst the main global models, and how
far southeast an initial surge of Arctic air will make it on
Wednesday. Overall, 00Z guidance shows a large and very intense
upper trough digging southward into the Gulf Coast states from
Wednesday into Thursday, with strengthening WAA ahead of the
trough causing light rain to develop areawide Wednesday night
into Thursday. As the Arctic cold front races through the area
Thursday afternoon/evening, rain rapidly changes to light snow
from west to east, with snow continuing into early Friday before
ending. Although models generally agree with this scenario, 00Z
GFS continues to show some of next week`s Arctic airmass oozing
down into our northwest counties as early as Wednesday morning,
with the Arctic air remaining in place into Thursday as the main
surge pushes through. This would cause precip to be ice/snow much
longer than than the considerably warmer ECMWF, which keeps the
Arctic air well off to our northwest until Thursday
afternoon/evening. Regardless, both models and NBM have trended
wetter so have bumped up pops and snow accums accordingly for the
Thursday/Thursday night timeframe. Even if the current forecast
snow amounts are too high, any ice or snow accumulation combined
with the expected cold temperatures would create hazardous travel
conditions.

Bitterly cold and dry conditions are expected to continue through
the holiday weekend, with lows in the single digits and teens and
highs only in the 20s through at least Christmas Day.
Temperatures could be even colder than currently shown if we get
substantial snow cover. Wind chills will also fall as low as 10
below zero at times, which would be well into our wind chill
advisory criteria if it pans out.
  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

35 minutes ago, jaxjagman said:
National Weather Service Nashville TN
518 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

...New AVIATION...

.SHORT TERM...
(Today through Sunday night)
Issued at 201 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

Satellite imagery this morning shows some scattered low clouds
across our east but shrinking in coverage with time, and most of
the area is now clear with temps in the 30s. Clouds clearing out
along with dewpoints in the 20s should allow lows to drop into
the upper 20s by sunrise. Even colder weather is expected this
weekend with highs only in the 30s/40s and lows in the low to mid
20s later today through Sunday night.

&&

.LONG TERM...
(Monday through next Saturday)
Issued at 201 AM CST Sat Dec 17 2022

Warming trend begins on Monday as flow aloft becomes more
southwesterly. Light rain will spread across MS/AL/GA just to our
south from Monday into Tuesday as a shortwave trough travels
eastward along the Gulf Coast. Have kept our forecast dry, but
some sprinkles are possible in our far southern counties.

Forecast from Wednesday onward continues to be difficult due to
significant differences amongst the main global models, and how
far southeast an initial surge of Arctic air will make it on
Wednesday. Overall, 00Z guidance shows a large and very intense
upper trough digging southward into the Gulf Coast states from
Wednesday into Thursday, with strengthening WAA ahead of the
trough causing light rain to develop areawide Wednesday night
into Thursday. As the Arctic cold front races through the area
Thursday afternoon/evening, rain rapidly changes to light snow
from west to east, with snow continuing into early Friday before
ending. Although models generally agree with this scenario, 00Z
GFS continues to show some of next week`s Arctic airmass oozing
down into our northwest counties as early as Wednesday morning,
with the Arctic air remaining in place into Thursday as the main
surge pushes through. This would cause precip to be ice/snow much
longer than than the considerably warmer ECMWF, which keeps the
Arctic air well off to our northwest until Thursday
afternoon/evening. Regardless, both models and NBM have trended
wetter so have bumped up pops and snow accums accordingly for the
Thursday/Thursday night timeframe. Even if the current forecast
snow amounts are too high, any ice or snow accumulation combined
with the expected cold temperatures would create hazardous travel
conditions.

Bitterly cold and dry conditions are expected to continue through
the holiday weekend, with lows in the single digits and teens and
highs only in the 20s through at least Christmas Day.
Temperatures could be even colder than currently shown if we get
substantial snow cover. Wind chills will also fall as low as 10
below zero at times, which would be well into our wind chill
advisory criteria if it pans out.

Interesting to see such transparency in the morning discussion. 

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, matt9697 said:

Interesting to see such transparency in the morning discussion. 

Agree.  Here in east TN, the Morristown NWS office at times has to see the snow falling before making the type of statement Nashville made.  lol
 

Complicated evolution coming up.  Northern stream systems are notorious to throw wrenches in things, especially when there’s the potential of a phase and especially when there is a handoff of energy to occur.  Probably wise for Nashville to at least mention it.  As they say, the coming cold will be so sudden, even a small amount of snow/ice could prove to be a problem in such a populated area as Nashville.  There have been SO many move to that area, it wouldn’t surprise me if that factored in to the decision to make the statement.

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...