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Jan 15-16 Storm Thread 3: Obs and Disco


stormtracker
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5 minutes ago, high risk said:

       The NAM struggles with synoptics for sure, but once it figures those out, it's pretty damn good with winter event details.    And to be clear, I'm focused on the 3 km NAM Nest, as the 12 km parent is meh.    There is no model better than the NAM Nest for resolving cold air damming, and while it sometimes runs too cold in the low levels when sorting out precip details, it's also really good at capturing warm layers that screw up a snow profile.     The RRFS has yet to prove competence in these areas, and the HRRR isn't great either, so we will miss the NAM on some days when it's gone.

I prefer a model that is too slow on eroding cold air damming. For Example, if it shows you're above freezing by 12:00 pm and we know it has a cold bias, then it boosts confidence that things will clear up in the afternoon.

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5 minutes ago, high risk said:

       The NAM struggles with synoptics for sure, but once it figures those out, it's pretty damn good with winter event details.    And to be clear, I'm focused on the 3 km NAM Nest, as the 12 km parent is meh.    There is no model better than the NAM Nest for resolving cold air damming, and while it sometimes runs too cold in the low levels when sorting out precip details, it's also really good at capturing warm layers that screw up a snow profile.     The RRFS has yet to prove competence in these areas, and the HRRR isn't great either, so we will miss the NAM on some days when it's gone.

This ^ 

The NAM has its faults, but when it has the right setup in line, it can be very useful. This seems like one of those times it has a good handle on the synoptic evolution and handling the thermals properly. It’s been fairly rock steady for a long succession of runs. Great to see considering the HRRR isn’t just out to lunch, I think it’s on vacation…

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Just now, Eskimo Joe said:

I prefer a model that is too slow on eroding cold air damming. For Example, if it shows you're above freezing by 12:00 pm and we know it has a cold bias, then it boosts confidence that things will clear up in the afternoon.

     I agree 100%,  and the NAM Nest is that model.    It's sometimes a bit too slow in eroding the cold air, but that's better than the GFS and HRRR which wipe it out way too fast.

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23 minutes ago, Wxtrix said:

revised WWA for my area. honestly i’ll be surprised if it verifies. 

Winchester WWA updated to 3-5”, too.

Winter Weather Advisory

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
227 PM EST Mon Jan 15 2024

MDZ003-501-502-WVZ051>053-160330-
/O.CON.KLWX.WW.Y.0007.000000T0000Z-240116T1500Z/
Washington-Extreme Western Allegany-Central and Eastern Allegany-
Morgan-Berkeley-Jefferson-
227 PM EST Mon Jan 15 2024

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 10 AM EST
TUESDAY...

* WHAT...Snow expected. Total snow accumulations of 3 to 5 inches,
  with higher amounts up to 6 inches on the higher hilltops.

* WHERE...Washington and Allegany counties in Maryland and
  Morgan, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties in West Virginia.

* WHEN...Until 10 AM EST Tuesday.

They lowered us from 4-6". I agree with you, based off guidance 2-4" seems a better bet for us but we'll see what happens.

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7 minutes ago, Deck Pic said:

For I-95 there is definitely a danger that we lull overnight as everything pushes north and west. How this unfolds is still unclear.  
 

of course if I have 3” at midnight I’m not gonna whine too much. 

Sitting at 0.8" so 2.2" to go!!

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24 minutes ago, MillvilleWx said:

This is a reminder to pay zero attention to the HRRR for this storm unless it really gains a clue. It is off immensely at this point to where a certified meteorologist is not following it at all. It has been wrong the entire event so far. It had ZERO snow north of the Potomac for much of last night and didn’t have any until late runs as it was already happening. It has no snow in the area right now and we know for a fact it is dead wrong. 
 

Don’t bother. NBM is also too low on snow right now and it is because of the HRRR factor into the forecast. NAM Nest is doing a formidable job at the moment. Obs show a nice start and the best ascent is still to our south. Good stuff not till later. Enjoy and just watch it fall. Models be damned. 

It was snowing here when the sun came up and it is still snowing!  I don’t care if it has only accumulated an inch or two so far.  It has been awesome! 29°

IMG_8802.jpeg

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Just now, Warm Nose said:

Back to --SN

Roads are laughing at these rates (or lack thereof)

Sunset should give the snow some ammo.  I can see already driveway is slushy again.  Just hope the snow stays around long enough to capitalize on the temps and darkness 

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Upgrades maybe?

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Baltimore MD/Washington DC
326 PM EST Mon Jan 15 2024

.SYNOPSIS...
Low pressure sliding to our south will bring widespread light to
moderate snow to the region. The low pressure system will slide off
the Delmarva coast Tuesday morning with arctic high pressure
building in. Dry and cold conditions are expected midweek before
another wave of low pressure and front approach Friday.


&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TUESDAY/...
Snow will continue to pick up in intensity while overspreading the
area from the south and west this afternoon. This is in response to
a strong wave of low pressure ejecting out of the Tennessee River
Valley and into the central Appalachians later this evening and
into the overnight hours. The strongest lift with this system
looks to arrive between 6pm-2am. This is when most of the area
could see a period of moderate snow. Current 12z HREF guidance
continues to hold on a general 3 to 5 inches of snow across much
of northern/central MD and northern VA with even a few members
hinting at amounts of 6"+ across northern portions of Frederick,
Baltimore, Carroll, Harford, and Cecil counties (in the favored
climo/Parrs Ridge zone). Elsewhere, a general 2-4 inches of
snow is likely across much of the Shenandoah Valley, central VA,
and southern MD. Some freezing rain may mix in on the tail end
of the system across central VA and southern MD with warmer air
trying to work in as it departs Tuesday. Winter Weather
Advisories remain in effect for the aforementioned threats
above. These advisories may need to be re- evaluated especially
with forecast snow to liquid ratios running as high as 20:1
during the period of strongest upward motion this evening into
the front half of the overnight hours. Mountain locations will
see a touch more snow with accumulations ranging between 4 to 8
inches along and west of the Allegheny Front. This is due to the
added lift from the terrain plus upslope component that looks
to keep snow going through early Tuesday afternoon. Highest snow
amounts look to be from Keysers Ridge south along Backbone
Mountain and down toward Spruce Knob, WV where Winter Storm
Warnings remain in effect.

High temperatures will range from the teens over the mountains to
upper 20s across most of the region. Lows will be quite similar
overnight in the mid to upper 20s areawide outside the mountains.

Low pressure will continue to lift north and east of the
Delmarva coast Tuesday morning. Some light snow may linger over
northern MD through mid-morning with upslope snow showers set
to continue in northwest flow over the mountains through Tuesday
afternoon. Highs Tuesday will range between the teens over the
mountains to mid to upper 30s south/east of I-95.
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