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Pittsburgh/Western PA Spring 2024


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The Gfs for next Saturday is like a microcosm of this nino winter. 
The positive aspects are outweighed by the negative.

This winter had plenty of SS vorts to provide moisture, unfortunately the tendency for NS vorts to stay north was amplified more so, preventing any phasing below our latitude. Hope this makes somewhat sense.  

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Also, on the topic of snowfall. Currently sixth lowest seasonal total [since 1880-1881]. Last year's total was eighth least but may drop to ninth (as shown below) if there is no additional significant snowfall this year.

image.png.05c4276ebb368c5ab7f7c07d6cd1c3a1.png

Limiting to snowfall records taken at one of the two airport sites (1935-1936 to present), makes it even worse.

image.png.7961d356fc1f626189fcc457eabcf89e.png

There had only been 3 years with less than 20" at either airport site (1937-1938, 1973-1974, and 1990-1991) and we are currently in danger of a second straight year with less than 20 inches. I blame @Burghblizz. He had noted we haven't had to deal with any 20" or less seasons shortly before the March 2018 storm were a lot of people were complaining about the lack of snowfall in recent winters. Of course, 2017-2018 had a crazy ending with 10.5" from the big storm and another 7.3" over the first few weeks of April. Now we've had two straight [likely], and just barely exceeded that total in 2019-2020.

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1 hour ago, TheClimateChanger said:

When will be our first below normal month? Any guesses?

I’m going to go with August 2025. It’s the month that has gone the longest without being below normal (last time was 2017, which broke a streak of 18 straight above normal months), but it’s going to be a hot summer and won’t happen this year.

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On 3/26/2024 at 3:29 PM, TimB said:

I’m going to go with August 2025. It’s the month that has gone the longest without being below normal (last time was 2017, which broke a streak of 18 straight above normal months), but it’s going to be a hot summer and won’t happen this year.

A slightly above average summer with below average number of 90 degree days.  That's the theme.

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On 3/26/2024 at 2:35 PM, TheClimateChanger said:

Also, on the topic of snowfall. Currently sixth lowest seasonal total [since 1880-1881]. Last year's total was eighth least but may drop to ninth (as shown below) if there is no additional significant snowfall this year.

image.png.05c4276ebb368c5ab7f7c07d6cd1c3a1.png

Limiting to snowfall records taken at one of the two airport sites (1935-1936 to present), makes it even worse.

image.png.7961d356fc1f626189fcc457eabcf89e.png

There had only been 3 years with less than 20" at either airport site (1937-1938, 1973-1974, and 1990-1991) and we are currently in danger of a second straight year with less than 20 inches. I blame @Burghblizz. He had noted we haven't had to deal with any 20" or less seasons shortly before the March 2018 storm were a lot of people were complaining about the lack of snowfall in recent winters. Of course, 2017-2018 had a crazy ending with 10.5" from the big storm and another 7.3" over the first few weeks of April. Now we've had two straight [likely], and just barely exceeded that total in 2019-2020.

Haha - I did say that. For a bunch of years it was the NFL equivalent of having non-losing seasons and losing in the playoffs. Got snow, but missed in the big games (storms). My positive spin was that at least we are practically guaranteed 20”+ regardless of how bad it was. At that point, it had happened maybe 1-2 times in 40 years. 

The funny thing is in the last 6-7 years we’ve had a decent group of 8-12” storms. The lack of those for a while was causing a lot of whining. But obviously 3 seasons in that period have been historically low overall.

 

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Flood Watch
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
148 PM EDT Mon Apr 1 2024

OHZ039-040-048>050-PAZ021-029-073-074-WVZ001>003-020345-
/O.EXA.KPBZ.FA.A.0003.000000T0000Z-240403T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-Allegheny-
Washington-Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Hancock-
Brooke-Ohio-
Including the cities of Canonsburg, Monessen, Lower Burrell,
Malvern, Ligonier, Carrollton, Washington, Steubenville, Donegal,
Murrysville, Weirton, Dover, Greensburg, Wellsburg, Coshocton,
New Philadelphia, Wheeling, Follansbee, New Kensington, Latrobe,
Pittsburgh Metro Area, and Cadiz
148 PM EDT Mon Apr 1 2024

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be
  possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central Ohio, including the following
  areas, Carroll, Coshocton, Harrison, Jefferson OH and Tuscarawas,
  Pennsylvania, including the following areas, Allegheny, Higher
  Elevations of Westmoreland, Washington and Westmoreland, and West
  Virginia, including the following areas, Brooke, Hancock and Ohio.

* WHEN...Through Tuesday evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
  creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
  Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur
  in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected
    through Tuesday evening. Each will have the potential to
    produce heavy rain, with a cumulative effect evolving to
    create increasing potential for excessive runoff with each
    successive round. Total rainfall estimates through Tuesday
    evening will likely reach 1 to 2 inches across the Watch
    area, with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches possible.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People in the watch area, especially those living in areas prone to
flooding, should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
Monitor the latest forecasts and be alert for possible flood
warnings.

&&
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11 minutes ago, north pgh said:
Flood Watch
National Weather Service Pittsburgh PA
148 PM EDT Mon Apr 1 2024

OHZ039-040-048>050-PAZ021-029-073-074-WVZ001>003-020345-
/O.EXA.KPBZ.FA.A.0003.000000T0000Z-240403T0000Z/
/00000.0.ER.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.000000T0000Z.OO/
Tuscarawas-Carroll-Coshocton-Harrison-Jefferson OH-Allegheny-
Washington-Westmoreland-Higher Elevations of Westmoreland-Hancock-
Brooke-Ohio-
Including the cities of Canonsburg, Monessen, Lower Burrell,
Malvern, Ligonier, Carrollton, Washington, Steubenville, Donegal,
Murrysville, Weirton, Dover, Greensburg, Wellsburg, Coshocton,
New Philadelphia, Wheeling, Follansbee, New Kensington, Latrobe,
Pittsburgh Metro Area, and Cadiz
148 PM EDT Mon Apr 1 2024

...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH TUESDAY EVENING...

* WHAT...Flooding caused by excessive rainfall continues to be
  possible.

* WHERE...Portions of east central Ohio, including the following
  areas, Carroll, Coshocton, Harrison, Jefferson OH and Tuscarawas,
  Pennsylvania, including the following areas, Allegheny, Higher
  Elevations of Westmoreland, Washington and Westmoreland, and West
  Virginia, including the following areas, Brooke, Hancock and Ohio.

* WHEN...Through Tuesday evening.

* IMPACTS...Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers,
  creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations.
  Creeks and streams may rise out of their banks. Flooding may occur
  in poor drainage and urban areas.

* ADDITIONAL DETAILS...
  - Multiple rounds of showers and thunderstorms are expected
    through Tuesday evening. Each will have the potential to
    produce heavy rain, with a cumulative effect evolving to
    create increasing potential for excessive runoff with each
    successive round. Total rainfall estimates through Tuesday
    evening will likely reach 1 to 2 inches across the Watch
    area, with locally higher amounts up to 3 inches possible.
  - http://www.weather.gov/safety/flood

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

People in the watch area, especially those living in areas prone to
flooding, should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.
Monitor the latest forecasts and be alert for possible flood
warnings.

&&

Severe risk also seems to have really amped up with latest guidance.

SPC sounded the alarms with their latest outlook:

102D3D00-3C55-4A39-B031-8CCD20F9D28F.jpeg.33717677fdd9ff3b50a3058108dc4996.jpeg

And PBZ introduced this to the zone forecast for Allegheny County:

F75E3550-4644-45D4-A411-0167F5EF4839.jpeg.e105178bdd4eea593a980d217963429e.jpeg

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2 hours ago, TheClimateChanger said:

Wow. Not sure I've ever seen it this high for our region.

image.png.1509a33483cc502ae8aeaf12f2bc4539.png

Last Day 2 moderate risk for anywhere in PBZ’s domain was issued on 7/26/2014. That system ultimately produced 2 hail reports and 8 wind reports in PBZ’s area, so we dodged that one.

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Looks like Ohio is this spring's Tornado Alley.

I feel like we tend to get our worst severe weather when it's not forecasted, so maybe this will bust.  Something to keep an eye on, however, as TimB noted it's been a decade since we've had a "Moderate" risk locally.

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36 minutes ago, jwilson said:

Looks like Ohio is this spring's Tornado Alley.

I feel like we tend to get our worst severe weather when it's not forecasted, so maybe this will bust.  Something to keep an eye on, however, as TimB noted it's been a decade since we've had a "Moderate" risk locally.

Just no hail and extreme wind damage and I'll be fine. 

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12 hours ago, jwilson said:

Looks like Ohio is this spring's Tornado Alley.

I feel like we tend to get our worst severe weather when it's not forecasted, so maybe this will bust.  Something to keep an eye on, however, as TimB noted it's been a decade since we've had a "Moderate" risk locally.

Yeah, it does seem like at least anecdotally I've gotten more damage from random Spring / Summer storms than these situations. Obviously not a reason to pay no mind to conditions later this afternoon though as the ingredients are there. Reading some discussions seems like the big jump in threat is due to expected recovery from this mornings storms. If that fails to materialize then that should put a cap on this, but also the chance it could expand further NE. NWS made mention of a special RAOB balloon as well this afternoon. I won't be mad if this busts though, not interested having any extra outdoor cleanup lol.

A major shift has been made to the convective outlook for
Tuesday afternoon/evening in collaboration with neighboring WFOs
and the Storm Prediction Center. A rare Moderate Risk has been
added to eastern OH and Enhanced Risk was added for western PA
(including much of Allegheny County PA) for the threat for
tornadoes, large hail, and damaging wind gusts. What has
prompted this adjustment is the potential for recovery in the
wake of early-morning showers/storms in eastern OH. As a warm
front lifts north towards Erie, a surge of low-lvl moisture will
increase CAPE within a highly sheared environment. This
combination will favor supercells within the warm sector as a
strong low advances into the Ohio River Valley from the west.

After 2pm, the joint probability of 40kt of 0-6km shear and
1000 J/kg of surface-based CAPE increases to 80-90% (especially
for eastern OH). The probability significantly drops off
northeast of Pittsburgh, where models suggest cloud coverage
will remain and buoyancy will be limited.

The probability of severe storms could increase farther east
and north from the current most-likely outlook area if
sufficient heating and moisture advance into west-central PA
beyond where currently expected. A special RAOB will likely be
launched Tuesday afternoon at PIT to get a sense of atmospheric
changes in the wake of morning showers.

Overall summary: confidence is high that strong wind shear will
be available to organize storms. Destabilization in the wake of
the morning showers/storms will be the potential limiting
factor in storm severity Tuesday afternoon.
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