This weekly breakdown is for the Northeast from DC north to Boston. "South" or "S" means from the PA line south to the DC area. "North" or "N" means from the PA line/Phila area north to Boston.
MONDAY: WARM EARLY, BREEZY LATER, SHOWERS IN EVENING. The second in a series of clippers will cut through the Great Lakes, sending welcome and warm southwest winds ahead of the cold front. Temperatures may actually reach 65 in Washington, and crack 60 in Baltimore, but as you would expect, warming is muted farther north due to a refreshed snowpack. New York will flirt with 50 and Boston not getting out of the mid 40's. Still this is a nice respite from a rude March thus far. Later in the evening, the cold front sweeps east and ushers in rain with an isolated thunderstorm along the coast.
TUESDAY: MUCH COLDER WITH RAIN/SNOW MIXED SOUTH, SNOW SHOWERS NORTH. With ground temperatures higher due to the Sunday-Monday warmup, any precip in PA and MD that falls behind the cold front could be as snow, but will not survive upon reaching the ground. From NYC northward it is a different story, as accumulating snow is possible after the Low lifts NE, with the ever-present "Ocean Effect" adding to Boston's record winter snow totals of 78" Boston NWS indicates "Heavy Snow" is on tap Tuesday night for a brief period as some backlash occurs while the storm lifts into the Canadian maritimes.
WEDNESDAY: SNOW LINGERS IN THE NORTH, COLD AND WINDY SOUTH. This is the important transition day as a portion of the polar vortex begins another dip southeastward behind the clipper. Stiff north to northwest winds will return the Northeast to a 15 degree below normal temperature regime. Normal high in Baltimore would be 53, but will actually be 38. Wind chill in the upper 20's. Boston by contrast has an overnight low in the teens, and the high not cracking 30!
THURSDAY: UNSETTLED AS MATCH IS LIT FOR COASTAL STORM DEVELOPMENT. The next clipper coming from central Canada may link up with moisture and energy coming out of the U.S. Southwest. A broad area of low pressure over the Northeast provides the gasoline in which the match will light if there is phasing of the northern and southern jet streams over this area. Given the cold upper level environment, this could lead to a rapidly intensifying coastal snowstorm by Thursday night-early Friday morning as depicted on the maps below. This storm would have most of it's impact felt from Eastern PA-New Jersey northward to Maine from Thursday into Friday. I think that computer models are having a hard time resolving some of the variability in pressures due to the influence and behavior of the nearby polar vortex, which is why you see your local forecasts changing so much day to day.
FRIDAY: SNOW SHOWERS SOUTH, INTENSIFYING STORM MAY DELIVER HEAVY SNOW AND WIND NORTH. As shown on the European model map below, indications are that a strong coastal storm will affect the northern I-95 corridor, with strong winds and considerable backlash snow filtering possibly as far south as Philadelphia. From Southern New England into eastern New York and most of Maine, this will be another significant coast and inland snowstorm that could deliver 12 or more inches of snow if the elements come together as outlined here. However this is a preliminary look at what is possible, not an outright forecast.
MSA WEATHER: I believe there is little to no risk of weather interrupting this week's rescheduled Maryland State Assessments. Any snow/rain mixed on Tuesday is not going to impede travel. The possibility remains of some snow Thursday night into Friday that could cause a delay Friday morning.
The period starting Tuesday and ending around St. Patrick's Day is going to be replete with storms and cold weather, making you wonder if perhaps we have simply have the calendar months out of sequence. The welcome warmth of Sunday and Monday is going to be short lived, and by Wednesday morning some parts of the Northeast will be digging out from more snow, with rumors of even MORE snow coming after that. And after that? More snow. What about after that? Uhhh....more snow. Call it the winter that never ends, which may challenge even the more die-hard powderhound into crying uncle and waving the GREEN spring-a-ling flag. Some computer models have projected widespread snow to be on the ground even by the 21st. The "Great Disturbance in the Force" is any number of things...the Polar Vortex in SE Canada, the upper level low in the U.S. Southwest, the fact that we have clipper systems lined up clear out to the Gulf of Alaska. This is where March Madness gets its name, as there are a lot of factors in play which could easily consolidate into a great big storm on the East Coast with very little notice.
EXPLAINING THE COMPUTER MODELS
The map posted above is the European Model's version of the week ahead as of 12 Noon eastern time today. You have probably noticed the whip-sawing going on with your local forecast on The Weather Channel today. This is because most TWC local forecasts are tied to NOAA's Global Forecast System, the GFS. This computer model completes a "run" or analysis of observation data and prints out a forecast every 6 hours. There are actually 12 different computer models, called the "ensemble members" each of which make their own individual analysis. The output of these 12 members is blended into the GFS operational model, which is what I view when making my analysis. Sometimes the computer interprets the data differently, and thus prints a different outcome with each run until it resolves a variety of data anomalies and begins to present consistency from "run to run." That is when you notice the percent of probability of precipitation increase for a specific time period. So if you get annoyed with a situation like today, when your local forecast just blowing all over the place, it means the GFS is having a hard time trying to come to an agreement on the timing and placement of the next set of weather events.
HOW STORMS TEMPORARY INFLUENCE LOCAL CLIMATE
Our last big storm from Monday the 28th pumped heat northeast into the combined double barrel air flow of Labrador Low and Azores High near Greenland. This warm air enhances both systems, creating a continous stream of air flow into far northeast Canada. When this warm air intrudes into higher latitudes, it has the logical effect of redirecting the polar vortex usually located much farther north down into in SE Canada or even over the Northeast US. When that happens, the vortex often gets "locked in" as shown by the Accuweather graphics in the previous post. This is why we have observed Negative NAO values as low as they have been in the past 50 years. As shown on my graphics, the PNA is already heading for the stratosphere, and forecasters at HPC as well as those from Baltimore to Boston are becoming noticeably concerned in their discussions that the -NAO and +PNA setup cannot go on much longer without a major phasing event on the East Coast.
DOWNSTREAM CONSEQUENCES. Each subsequent Low pressure system which passes on by uses it’s counterclockwise motion to enhance the double barrel effect which puts increasing pressure on the 500 mb Polar Vortex swirling about. Meanwhile a strong west coast ridge forces the split jet stream to ridge up over the Rockies and Canadian Coast Range and into far northwestern Canada. A Low pressure system off the California coast, and a sharply digging trough in the Gulf of Alaska helps lock this pattern in place as these two work in conjunction with a persistent high over the Rockies to continue directing the Pacific Polar Jet northeast. Any cold air lurking way up there in the Northwest Territories can also be tapped, as well as create the setup necessary to even have "cross polar flow" from Siberia. The polar jet then comes charging southeast across Canada, approaches the vortex in Quebec, and that continues to direct the jet south and underneath it...right across the Northeast U.S. This setup will continue to rule our weather for at least the next 7-10 days if not longer.
4. WHAT ARE EARLY INDICATIONS FOR SPRING BREAK?
This over-abundance of cold which should have been spent in December, January and February is now being worked out of the system. I would not expect a consistent return to normal temperatures until at least the weekend AFTER St. Patty’s Day. But I do think March will follow it’s traditional route… in like a lion, out like a lamb. It is not impossible to see much-above normal temperatures by Easter or even a few days prior to it. I believe many of us in the Northeast will see 70 F by then, and even 80 F before the month is out.
The way I see this pattern breaking by month's end is actually how it started. I believe the NAO is going to do itself in. As more and more systems get pushed southeast by the vortex, this inadvertently sends High pressure southeast as well. It is the Highs which can have the longest lasting effect, as once one gets parked in the Gulf of Mexico such as in what is happening right now...it tends to pump heat northeast. Although the cold gets reinforced by the strong vortex, the clash between cold and warm enhances. Another high is sent south or southeast behind a clipper, that high lingers in the Gulf a few days. Eventually we reach a point where the upper level low in the Southwest and a Gulf High have the combined effect of lifting the northwest flow out of the midwest. I can see this would put pressure on the vortex to lift northeast, especially if the NAO begins trending toward neutral. The last straw is if there is a brief letup in the storm parade. That enables the southern systems to overwhelm the pattern with southwest winds. When that happens, we will see a rapid return to spring and temperatures in the 70's throughout the Northeast, and probably by month's end.
It has happened before, and this March I believe will go to the extremes for both sides of the aisle. As for the rest of spring and into summer, a overly cold March would argue for a warmer April, a cooler May, and a warmer June according to the theory I use for how the months see-saw the variables until temperature anomalies balance out.
ABOUT THE GRAPHICS: I have learned that the graphics program I use is having programming problems and the company will hopefully fix this soon. It is unnerving not be able to show you some of the evidence in a graphical sense, but I trust you will be patient.
20 comments:
Hi. Just checking TWC website and they are calling for "SNOW" Thursday THROUGH Saturday! Is this going to be just one seperate MONSTA storm, or several smaller ones. What kind of snowfall are we talking about with this 3 day event, a foot or two. TWC never says "SNOW" unless they are really certain. Baseball practices start the 21st, do you think they'll have it? First game the 9th of April? Snowpack is still around 8-10" around here with most snow banks on the sides of streets 3-4 feet. Spring day here in the upper 30's, birds chirping, I was even thinking of getting a tan in the sun. Ahh, spring in New England. Just gotta dodge the light snow that is moving in for tonight. WINTER IS NOT OVER, NOT BY A LONG SHOT! We did something to deserve this...
Mr. F-
How about "Something Wicked This Way Comes"?
For you young folk, that's Ray Bradbury, not the title of a Heavy Metal CD from Japan...
TB
I think a large puppy is heading this way for next weekend. Don't get me wrong, because I do like Spring, but let's face it here; NO SPRING until March 20th. Besides even if it were warm, it's way too early for lawn and graden season. Too much frost risk. BRING ON THE SNOW!
You really like Star Wars, don't you? My siblings and I are fans too. Not the new ones though. The older ones are so much better. I couldn't help but notice all of your references. Sorry. Anyway, I hope you ski trip went well and I can't wait to see what unfolds next week! Talk to you later!
Accuweather says Valley Alabama has a chance for rain or snow showers Wed. night!! Could this be true?!! Is this the lion my boys and I have been waiting for? Pleeeze say it's so!!
:::looking around::: where the heck is everybody?? cant be out getting eggs, milk and toilet paper just yet! Mr. Foot.. how is the next weather event shaping up?
All of this storm central coverage is starting to get old...
For some reason the snowstorms in March just don't excite me as much as the ones around Christmas and January. We are getting the snow that we complained about not getting earlier in the year, at least you guys...we already have gotten 80" this season in Boston. Could we make it to 100"...we'll make a run at it at least.
Good night everybody. I'll talk with you all once I get home from school tomorrow. Nighty night.
I think we are here and busy! All of us are just in relax mode pending the new and perhaps last Kahuna of the season. Mr. Foot is grading papers and catching up with school work I'm sure, I'm painting and getting some much needed indictments prepared for grand jury etc. Can't wait for the last stand of winter, before I get into yard work mode. I think we are due for one last storm!
Today:
Standing in 3 inches of leftover snow, trimming back hedges for fuller growth this season.....
I kept wondering: "What's wrong with this picture?"
Mr. F- Sounds like from your preliminary report that Maryland may still get some accumulating snowness!
We can hope.
TB
...and a moment of silence for the late, great Chuck Thompson....hope the beer's cold...
Oh there is plenty of winter yet to talk about, it's just that you may be tiring of it. Hard to imagine there's one or two more systems on the schedule though. Tomorrow will be very deceiving. 60 degrees and sunshine will make you think... IT'S OVER.
By Wednesday, Monday memories will be quickly forgotten and you'll all be back in Storm Mode once again.
Good morning, Mr. Foot.
When you say we will "all be back in Storm Mode,"
do you mean there is a possibility of snow in the
Baltimore area that sticks?
I thought perhaps the real hope for accumulating snow
was confined more to "the sticks" of PA,
and northward, to New England...?
It seems like the ground will have warmed up
quite a bit with the upper 50s Sunday and Monday...?
I await your explanation with bait on my breath...
Well Chip I hope that bait tasted good because this March may go down in the "anals" of history as a busy stormy month.
The accumulating snow to which I am referring will not occur until later in the period, first shot is Thursday, then Saturday-Sunday, then again the week after that.
The short answer is yes. There will be snow on the ground again in Baltimore before this winter is over, and it probably will be from another big storm.
Hooray!
Even if it ends up missing us,
it's fun to anticipate a "big storm."
(Am I betraying my age if I
say that the word "anticipation"
reminds me of Carly Simon and
Heinz Ketchup?)
I await further analysis,
and keep up the good work, Mr. Foot!
Please let there be lots of snow in store for Dundalk!!! I have to go to the dentist on Thursday and I don't wan't to have to miss school!!! Any chance that the snow will start earlier on Thursday?
WINTER STORM WATCH is in effect for Boston and all of its SW and NW suburbs including...Worcester...Waltham....Newton, Norwood, Woburn, and northern MA.
NWS is currently calling for 2-6" of snow with this, called a WSW to be on the safe side in case storm lingers longer than anticipated, which at this point is very likely, looking at the NAM and GFS, not with the UKMET.
Mr. Foot, what is your input on this rather SURPRISE SNOWSTORM, caught me off guard...snowfall grades? Soon? It is to change to snow anywhere between 1-4PM. We are less than 24 hrs. away from this event! My Preliminary snowfall projections is for:
Boston: 3"
Woburn: 4"
Worcester: 5.5"
Providence: 1.5"
Thundersnow may also play a role in this so one town may get 8" or 9" and the town down the road by a few miles may only get 3" or 4". TOUGH COMPLEX FORECAST. Well, winter is hanging on with us. Fri/Sat. storm could be a WHOPPAH for all of us!!!
Snowfall to date: 78.1"
No, no my friend may have caught YOU off guard but remember I had called a week ago for something to develop explosively off the Mid Atlantic Coast Tuesday the 8th that could wallop New England. Remember I indicated that 6-12" was possible?
Go back and look at post for March 1. If YOU get 6" out of this storm, I think it is fair to say I alluded to a 6" snowstorm 7 days before anyone else on the internet.
And that would be a Big Kahuna.
Cha-Ching!
Hey mr foot i just looked at a few models... looks liek we might see a little wet snow tomorrow afternoon?
You are right! Sooo...what is your prediction for snowfall going to be:
Here is a few of what our local stations are calling for:
Boston/Woburn & Worcester
WBZ 4: 2-4"/4-8"
WCVB: 2-4"/4-8"
Fox 25: 6"+ NW of Boston
WHDH: 1-3" substitute weather guy on...
NECN: 4-8"/4-8"
WHAT IS YOUR FINAL PREDICTION?
That is the $64,000 question in Boston.
I am going out on a limb and say 6 inches for Boston because I think the models and forecasters are not considering the backlash effect.
Even if you get 4.25" that's still a C on a forecast from a week out.
Post a Comment