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2023 Mid-Atlantic Severe Wx Thread (General Discussion)


Kmlwx
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I know sim reflectivity is not the and-all-be-all...BUT - I've got to say that the guidance is now pretty consistently spitting out sim reflectivity panels that are the most impressive I've seen for this area in some time. Not this weak sauce isolated crap or a weak line...this looks like an actual threat if things come together correctly. 

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37 minutes ago, Kmlwx said:

I know sim reflectivity is not the and-all-be-all...BUT - I've got to say that the guidance is now pretty consistently spitting out sim reflectivity panels that are the most impressive I've seen for this area in some time. Not this weak sauce isolated crap or a weak line...this looks like an actual threat if things come together correctly. 

Worried that we see a drop off north of I-66. This seems like a Virginia and maybe Delmarva event.

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20 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Worried that we see a drop off north of I-66. This seems like a Virginia and maybe Delmarva event.

Always a risk! However, I'm cautiously optimistic that there aren't a ton of models (at least for now) that skunk big chunks of the area. A few DO favor south - but even those blow up good activity over the DC/Baltimore metros. 

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@Eskimo Joe - Not that it will alleviate your concerns of being shafted - but some models even focus a chunk of the activity NE of DC. HREF updraft helicity seems to show this. 

Some of the modeling seems to indicate there may be a dead-zone between a batch to the NE and a batch to the S. That could also be a failure mode for us locally...

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8 minutes ago, MN Transplant said:

Paying attention to the DPs on the HRRR vs NAM.  HRRR is much drier and the coverage is unimpressive.  Is that a bias in convective scenarios this year?  I haven’t been paying attention.

If my memory isn't failing me yet (it probably is) I do think that the HRRR had a tendency in past severe seasons to pull dew points way too far down. But I'm sure the NAM could be too moist. 

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30 minutes ago, Kmlwx said:

If my memory isn't failing me yet (it probably is) I do think that the HRRR had a tendency in past severe seasons to pull dew points way too far down. But I'm sure the NAM could be too moist. 

   Yes, the NAM is typically too moist, but the HRRR absolutely overmixes.

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4 hours ago, MN Transplant said:

Paying attention to the DPs on the HRRR vs NAM.  HRRR is much drier and the coverage is unimpressive.  Is that a bias in convective scenarios this year?  I haven’t been paying attention.

HRRR does mix things out a lot. It's a known bias.

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This was from this morning LWX AFD... haven't seen them mention destructive winds before 

SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
After a lackluster start to the severe weather season, things
quickly begin to change as a robust upper trough sweeps through
the Ohio Valley to Mid-Atlantic. Presently, the upper low is
situated over the Upper Midwest while eventually racing toward
the east-southeast during the next 12 to 36 hours. With warm
sector temperatures rising into the upper 80s/low 90s and dew
points reaching the low 70s, ample instability will be available
for convective development. Depending on the forecast model,
surface-based instability nears 3,000 J/kg, accompanied by
unusually steep mid-level lapse rates. With such lapse rates
into the 7 to 8 C/km range, there is an increasing threat for
large hail, especially from the D.C. metro southward.
Additionally, large downdraft CAPE values are evident in
forecast soundings which supports damaging to locally
destructive winds.

The latest model suites favor early afternoon convective
initiation over the terrain as well as along a well established
lee trough. Seasonably high CAPE values should allow rather
quick development of updrafts. Within a couple hours after
initiation, high-resolution models favor upscale growth into a
eastward propagating squall line. The Storm Prediction Center
has placed areas east of I-81 in a Slight risk for severe
thunderstorms, with an Enhanced risk grazing Spotsylvania and
King George counties. Depending on how subsequent models and
observational data indicate, some expansion of these threat
areas are possible.

With an above average precipitable water air mass advecting into
the region, there will be some threat for flash flooding. The
cold pool driven thunderstorm activity should keep convection on
the move. However, a quick inch or two is possible within many
of these storms. A Slight risk continues from the Blue Ridge
eastward, but especially over the DC to Baltimore urban sprawl.
As the cold front does not arrive until late Monday into early
Tuesday morning, some of these thunderstorms may linger into the
overnight hours. Nighttime low temperatures will range from the
60s to low 70s.
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Afternoon AFD from LWX... and here we go @Eskimo Joe @high risk

SHORT TERM /MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/...
Closed upper-level low pressure will remain over the Great Lakes
Monday and a potent jetmax associated with this system will move
into the area during this time. This will cause the wind field
aloft to increase while heights fall. A surface trough will most
likely setup east of the Allegheny Front due to differential
heating.

Showers and thunderstorms are most likely to develop along the
surface trough during the early to mid afternoon hours (approx
16-18z) before propagating eastward (additional showers and
thunderstorms are likely west of the trough as well due to the
breaking capping inversion from falling heights). Thunderstorms
are expected to intensify as they propagate eastward, possibly
congealing into linear segments that produce more widespread
wind damage. Deep layer shear is progged to be around 25-40 kt,
and mid-level lapse rates will be steep due to the falling
heights. SBCAPE is progged to be around 1500-3000 J/KG with the
highest amounts east of the Blue Ridge. DCAPE will most likely
be over 1,000 J/KG for many locations, enhancing the threat for
downbursts. Also, some of the fattest CAPE in the soundings is
progged to be around the -20C level, suggesting that there is a
potential for very large hail in addition to the damaging wind
threat. Veering profiles also suggest that an isolated tornado
is possible as well.

Please pay attention to the latest forecasts for Monday
afternoon/evening, and be prepared to seek shelter if warnings
are issued. The most likely timing for severe storms is around
noon to 4 PM west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, and 4 PM through
8 PM east of the Blue Ridge Mountains into the metro areas, and
perhaps lingering until around 9 or 10 PM toward southern MD and
the Bay.

Convection should dissipate later Monday evening. However, if
we do not get widespread convection during the afternoon/early
evening, there is a threat for isolated to scattered severe
storms well into the evening because the atmosphere will not be
worked over. Overnight, most of the time should turn out dry
with just an isolated shower or t-storm possible.
 
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Latest disco on the severe threat from Mount Holly-

Deeper convection is forecast to develop to our west near a pre- frontal trough. The model forecast soundings indicate some discrete cells out that way should quickly consolidate into a convective line as it shifts eastward. An examination of model point forecast soundings indicate ample instability developing along with rather steep low-level lapse rates, and the mid level lapse are on the steeper side as well. The shear profiles are somewhat on the weaker side, however model soundings show some initial backed low-level flow with around 30 knots of shear. This would be enough when combined with strong forcing for ascent arriving for the risk for severe thunderstorms. Storms should organize into a line as it approaches our region with damaging winds and some hail the main threats. Given the backed near surface flow ahead of the line, cannot rule out some rotation within the eastward advancing squall line (QLCS) especially across Delmarva. CAM guidance shows convection quickly becoming linear, with even some hinting at strong outflow winds. Given the steep low-level lapse rates, downdraft instability (DCAPE) should be on the high side, which will enhance convective winds down to the surface especially associated with any forward surges in the line. With increased confidence in linear thunderstorm segments capable of producing damaging winds forming, the Storm Prediction Center now has much of our area south of the I-78 corridor in an Enhanced risk (level 3 of 5) for severe thunderstorms on Monday.

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Not questioning the SPC - but I would have held off on that hatching until a subsequent outlook. Adding it on the initial D2 and removing it on the updated D2 is less ideal than just leaving it off until confidence is higher. 

As others have already said - I think the failure modes for us are still present. The mid-level lapse rates (if they come to fruition) should at least be able to give us some "wiggle room" for exciting weather. Unless we get a huge squall line stretching the entire area - some places (as always) will get shafted. 

That being said...my thoughts remain largely unchanged. I think this is our best severe weather threat in some time now. If the NAM moisture and HRRR moisture met in the middle - probably would still yield a decent setup. 

All will come down to nowcasting as it often does here. Will be interested to see how the models look at the 0z suite and even the 6 and 12z runs tomorrow. Lots of eyes will be on the dewpoints during the morning and the mesoanalysis page. 

I know we all cringe at trying to "forecast" the SPC. But I'd put my two cents in that the D1 outlook overnight for tomorrow will be largely unchanged from right now - unless guidance suggests some huge change or outbreak. Wouldn't be surprised to see the hatched hail come back at some point - the SARS analog data getting spit out on some forecast soundings is quite impressive on hail size.

OT - but tomorrow is one of my in-office days of the week. And I'm in until 5:30pm...really hoping I can either duck out early...doubt it, though.

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5 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Big red flag for tomorrow.is how underwhelming the event has been today in the Midwest. Was expected to be a squall line, instead it's mostly clusters.

Weenie-ism = It's underperforming today so that the juice can be saved for our event tomorrow. 

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8 minutes ago, Eskimo Joe said:

Big red flag for tomorrow.is how underwhelming the event has been today in the Midwest. Was expected to be a squall line, instead it's mostly clusters.

A more cellular event could lead to a better chance of large hail over damaging winds 

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