Monday, January 20, 2014

Here is How I Forecast this Storm From 2 Weeks Out

I was not perfect by any means, BUT my first reference was made in my 2 week forecast at 14 days out.  My first detailed reference was on Saturday, January 11th, 10 days out.  It is an interesting read when you get the time.  If not just scroll through and look at the stuff I highlighted in red.  This was not an easy forecast by any means.  The models lost it completely for several days, then brought it back as a Thursday threat, before changing it back to a Tuesday threat.  At one point I had centered the threat right between the two for Wednesday.  Even when the model lost it and when it brought it back on Thursday, you can see in my discussion how leery I was of the whole thing.  Please tell everyone you know and even people you don't know about this blog. Thank you.  

Tuesday, January 7th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT MONDAY – increasing cloudiness, chance of snow at night, low in the low to mid single digits, high in the upper teens to low 20’s
NEXT TUESDAY – variably cloudy, chance of snow showers, temperatures remaining in the mid to upper teens all day

Wednesday, January 8th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

with the chance for more storms the following Saturday and Tuesday. 

Thursday, January 9th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT TUESDAY – chance of rain or snow, low in the low 20’s, high in the mid 30’s

Thursday, January 9th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

there will be yet another chance for rain or snow next Friday night and Saturday, then again the following Tuesday. 

Thursday, January 9th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

then another chance of snow showers next Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, then again the following Tuesday. 

Friday, January 10th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT TUESDAY – chance of rain or snow, low in the upper teens, high in the upper 30’s

Friday, January 10th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

After that storm passes we will have a chance of some snow showers next Friday and Saturday morning, then a chance of rain or snow the following Tuesday and Wednesday.  

Friday, January 10th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

with chances for snow on Friday night into Saturday of next week, then Tuesday or Wednesday or the following week,

Saturday, January 11th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT WEDNESDAY – chance of rain or snow, low in the upper 20’s to low 30’s, high in the upper 30’s to low 40’s

Saturday, January 11th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then another storm is likely to approach for next Wednesday, bringing another chance for rain or snow.

Saturday, January 11th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

After that storm passes it definitely seems as if we will be in a much colder and snowier pattern for the rest of the 2 week period, and possibly beyond, with a chance for snow showers on Friday night, again on Sunday night, then the Polar Vortex might make a run at us again for early next week, followed by a chance for a more significant snowstorm for around Wednesday of next week.  Check back in the morning on the latest for the potential snow on Wednesday and the potential pattern change with possible Polar Vortex intrusion for early next week.  

Sunday, January 12th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT TUESDAY – increasing cloudiness in the morning, chance of rain or snow in the afternoon and at night, low in the upper teens to low 20’s, high in the mid 30’s

NEXT WEDNESDAY – chance of rain or snow, temperatures remaining in the mid 30’s all day

Sunday, January 12th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

At the moment it appears that there will be a chance for more significant storms next week, one on Tuesday afternoon into Wednesday, and another one Friday afternoon into Saturday. 

Sunday, January 12th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then I am fairly certain we will have a chance of some snow on Friday night and again on Sunday night and that we may see a significant storm toward the middle of next week.

Monday, January 13th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT TUESDAY – chance of snow, low in the mid to upper 20’s, high in the upper 30’s

NEXT WEDNESDAY – chance of snow, low in the low to mid 20’s, high in the upper 20’s

Monday, January 13th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

The next possibility for a significant storm looks to be toward the middle of next week and we will need to keep an eye on that one.  It may also get much colder after that storm passes.  

European Model Update

then a bigger storm will affect our area for Tuesday into Wednesday of next week

Monday, January 13th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then the REALLY interesting possibility is for the middle of next week, centered on Wednesday.  It is looking as if there is a fairly decent chance of a very significant snowstorm centered on Wednesday of next week.  This storm continues to look as if it could be quite intense as well, with some initial indications that it would have the potential to reach blizzard classification for our area, and possibly be quite an intense one at that, especially up into New England.  The storm also has the potential to be slow moving, lasting 2-3 days, possibly starting on Tuesday and ending on Thursday.  PLEASE keep in mind that this is merely a possibility at this point, but I stand by what I am saying 100%.  I believe it is a very real possibility; however I MUST reiterate, that it is just a POSSIBILITY at this point.  Just because there is a chance DOES NOT mean it will happen.  I am just laying out the possibilities for you as I see them. 

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

NEXT TUESDAY – variably cloudy, chance of snow showers, low in the mid 20’s, high in the upper 30’s

NEXT WEDNESDAY – chance of snow, temperatures remaining in the upper 20’s all day

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

Toward the middle of next week there is the possibility of a very significant Nor'easter developing in our area that would have the potential to bring us a significant snowstorm centered on next Wednesday.

Tuesday, January 14th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then the storm for the middle of next week is simply too far away to tell what will happen, although the potential still seems to be there for a significant storm, although even this storm does not look as impressive now as it did yesterday at this time.

Blizzard Potential Next Wednesday

The early morning run of the European model brought back the blizzard potential for next Wednesday.  Full forecast by 6:30.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

TUESDAY – increasing cloudiness in the morning, chance of snow in the afternoon, low in the mid to upper 20’s, high in the mid 30’s

NEXT WEDNESDAY – chance of snow, low in the mid to upper 20’s, high in the upper 20’s

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

On Tuesday of next week two weak storm systems and the Polar Vortex may come together to create a Nor'easter near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina.  This storm may then rapidly intensify as it moves northeast on Tuesday night and Wednesday to a point just to the east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts by Wednesday afternoon, and then into the Gulf of Maine by Wednesday night.  This storm may become quite strong and would have the potential to reach blizzard classification, especially for eastern Long Island and eastern New England.  The current path projected by the European model would keep the worst effects to the east of our area but would still have the potential to bring us some significant snow for Tuesday night into Wednesday morning.  We will obviously need to keep a close eye on this potential as a track any further west would bring us much worse conditions, while a track further to the east could keep us completely dry and sunny.  One thing looks certain though.  Either way, it will likely get extremely cold after this storm passes as one of the main reasons this storm could become so strong is that it will be interacting with the Polar Vortex and pulling it down for a re-visit to our area.  This could cause temperatures toward the end of next week to approach zero once again.  It also looks as if this time the visitation could last much longer, possibly through the end of the month, with more snow chances next Sunday and then the following Tuesday as well.  The cold and snow chances every couple of days show no let up through at least the end of the month.  

Wednesday, January 15, 2014

Afternoon European Model Update

Then it still produces the strong Nor'easter for the middle of next week, however it moves it up to Tuesday night, bringing us about 6 inches of snow.  It does not reach blizzard category until it reaches New England on this run.  Needless to say we need to keep a close eye on this potential storm.

Wednesday, January 15th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

then two weak storm systems and the Polar Vortex may come together to create an intense Nor'easter on Tuesday night.  There are however still many questions as to what track this storm will ultimately take.  Most of the computer guidance is currently keeping this storm well out to sea, while the operational run of the European model has produced nearly identical solutions on the last two runs of the model that would give us a significant snowstorm that would approach blizzard classification in our area, and attain blizzard classification over New England.  I am not yet ready to buy into the European model solution as its own ensemble mean is not yet in agreement with the operational run of the model, looking more like the other models and keeping the storm out to sea.  The European model does sometimes blow storms up too much in this time range, so that certainly may be the case here.  On the other hand, it does have the highest degree of accuracy of any model, so we need to keep a close eye on this potential.

Thursday, January 16th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

TUESDAY – chance of snow, low in the low to mid 20’s, high in the mid 20’s

Thursday, January 16th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then a stronger storm is likely to develop on Monday night and Tuesday off the coast of New Jersey.  This storm will likely turn into a Nor'easter, however the model runs this morning do not have it being as strong as it was on prior runs and have moved it up to Monday night into Tuesday.  It would still have a chance of bringing us significant snow though on Monday night and Tuesday.
First the American model comes out this afternoon showing a promising snowstorm for Tuesday, then the Canadian model comes out showing a blizzard on Tuesday, then the European model comes out showing nothing on Tuesday, after showing a very significant snowstorm on prior runs.  Ok, now we have every possible option on the table.  Which will it be?  Obviously you have to lean toward the European solution.  Let's wait and see what the European model ensemble mean and the individual members show later before we give up on this storm.

It says don't give if up on the Tuesday storm yet.  It definitely shows the possibility of this storm coming closer to the coast than the operational run of the model that showed it being well out to sea on this run.  It also shows the possibility of this either developing a day or so later, or possibly lingering into Thursday.  My guess is that this run of the European model was wrong, but that is just a guess.

Thursday, January 16th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

Hot off the press.  Although the main operational run of the American model shows nothing for the middle of the week, 4 of the 12 ensemble members of the latest run that just came out now show a massive blizzard-like storm just off shore.  They all keep it off shore, BUT the Canadian model did not keep it off shore and produced an all-out blizzard for our entire area on Tuesday night and the American model has a known southeast bias with East Coast storms.  The American model has it centered more on Wednesday, but this is a major change for the American model.  The prior run of the American model only had one member that showed such a scenario.  My gut instinct right now is that the European model had a bad run this afternoon.  I am NOT saying that we will get a blizzard next Wednesday, but what I am saying is that it is definitely not out of the question this evening and that you should check back tomorrow morning……..Then all the questions arise with the potential major East Coast storm or even blizzard for Tuesday or Wednesday, probably Tuesday night into Wednesday.  The European model had been all over this potential for days, then dropped it completely this afternoon while the American model currently has nothing as well, however 4 out of 12 of the ensemble members have a blizzard-like storm just off shore, much like the Canadian model has over our heads.  So, the question is whether the European model simply had a bad run this afternoon?  It does this quite often and it did so with our last major snowstorm in this time frame as well.  My hunch is that it did indeed have a bad run.  This does not of course mean that we will get a blizzard, as the storm could still be just off shore as the American model ensemble members show, or it could simply be a weaker storm.  A couple of the European ensemble members also produce a major snowstorm in our area, but keep in mind that the European model has 51 members, so that is not saying much.

Friday, January 17, 2014

Quick Update

We will get a bit of snow on Saturday morning (possibly a dusting to as much as an inch in parts of Northwest New Jersey), a few snow showers are possible on Sunday, then very cold air will move into our area at the same time that several storms are likely to develop off the coast next week.  One on Tuesday, one on Thursday and one on Friday or Saturday.  The big question is how close to the coast these storms come?  Right now it is looking as if they may remain just far enough off shore to keep us cold and dry next week, but we definitely need to keep a close eye on the storms, especially the one for Tuesday, as that one has explosive potential. Full forecast by 6:30.

Friday, January 17th, 2014 - Look at the Next 2 Weeks

TUESDAY – variably cloudy, slight chance of snow, low in the low to mid teens, high in the upper teens to low 20’s

Friday, January 17th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then, for days, the models had been indicating the possibility of a monster Nor'easter on Tuesday or Wednesday.  Now the models have backed off on this possibility, keeping the energy out to sea, developing the storm well off the coast.  The big question is whether the models are correct in keeping this storm out to sea?  Well, as you get closer in time the models should indeed be getting a better handle on things, so most likely the storm will remain out to sea.  However, sometimes the models drop storms in this time range, only to have them re-appear as the energy gets back over land.  Right now some of the energy that will produce this storm is still out over the Pacific Ocean where there is very little data for the models.  As this energy gets back on land, where more data can be obtained by the various weather stations, there is still the possibility that this storm could re-appear, so don’t put your guard down just yet.  Yes, it most likely will miss us, but check back just in case, as there is a definite possibility for explosive development with this storm on Tuesday or Wednesday, if it were to occur.  As this energy passes by on Tuesday, cold air will pour into our area and will likely remain for the long-term.

Friday, January 17th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

I don't feel comfortable with any model solution right now, and I definitely felt uncomfortable with the European model this morning that had all of the storms missing us.  It just did not seem likely that all of these disturbances would miss us.  This afternoon the European model decided to focus on the disturbance for Thursday and I will fly with that, but honestly, I think it could just as easily come back and be on Tuesday or Wednesday, but I definitely think that one of these will blow up into a significant storm and it will be very cold.  So anyway, what I am saying is that I believe that there will be a significant snowstorm around the middle of the week, whether it is Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday remains yet to be determined

Saturday, January 18th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then on Thursday it is likely that we will get a significant snowstorm as a disturbance will move to our south and exit the coast near the Delmarva.  This will bring snow to our area starting on Thursday morning.  After the storm exits the coast it is likely to intensify rapidly and turn into a Nor'easter, with snow increasing in intensity around mid day on Thursday and continuing possibly heavy at times in the afternoon, ending in the evening.  Significant accumulations are possible with this storm, especially in eastern sections, and especially as you head out toward Long Island and eastern New England.  

Afternoon European Model Update

then it is starting to get close to bringing back the Tuesday storm, getting some light snow as close as Southern and Coastal New Jersey on Tuesday.  Then it does bring us some snow again on Thursday, although it is not as vigorous with this storm as it was on the prior runs.

Saturday, January 18th, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

After that there are many questions.  The models seem to be trying to bring back the Tuesday storm, with the possibility of light snow as close as South Jersey and the Jersey Coast on Tuesday.  Since the models have been focusing more on this storm, they have been focusing a bit less on the Thursday storm, changing that to a light snowfall instead.  I will say that I feel very uncomfortable with the model uncertainty.  The potential is there for one of these storms to become quite significant, but it is unlikely that both will be, as there needs to be more distance between storms to have two more significant storms.  If the first one is strong enough to bring us some snow on Tuesday, then most likely the second one would be very weak.  If the first storm on Tuesday is weaker and misses everyone completely, then it would be more likely that the second storm on Thursday would be stronger.  It is nearly impossible at this point to tell what will happen.  We just have to wait for the models to figure it all out, but this evening I am very uncomfortable with the way the models are handling things.  We may be in for a surprise with the models come tomorrow I believe.  I am just not certain what the surprise will be, but it is one of those cases where I feel pretty confident that there will be major changes with the models come tomorrow.

Sunday, January 19th, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

his storm should remain just far enough off shore on Tuesday to prevent any significant precipitation from getting into our area.  However, the models were a few days back showing the possibility of a significant snowstorm for our area on Tuesday.  Now the models keep trying to bring back this storm on each run, bringing it closer and closer on Tuesday.  Now it looks as if we could actually get at least a bit of snow on Tuesday, whether it is flurries or an accumulating snow is yet to be seen, but at the moment it does appear that we could get a dusting to an inch of snow on Tuesday.  If by any chance the trend of bringing this storm back were to continue, it could mean even more snow on Tuesday, so I will be keeping a close eye on it, especially since the upper atmosphere will be extremely cold on Tuesday, so even very small amounts of precipitation can lead to large amounts of snow on Tuesday as the ratios under those circumstances can easily double or even triple, much as they did yesterday morning.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

American Model Update for Tuesday

By the way, we are getting a snow shower at the moment that is laying down a dusting of snow.  As far as Tuesday goes, the storm continues trending to the north and west on this run and the American model now has us down for between a dusting and an inch or two of snow, with as much as 3-4 inches possible along Coastal New Jersey and for Eastern Long Island.

Afternoon European Model Update

 Then on Tuesday it looks as if we will get about a half of an inch to an inch of snow as a Nor'easter develops off shore, but it should remain just far enough off shore to prevent significant accumulations. 
It is quite a bit north and west of the operational run of the model, most likely bringing us an inch or two of snow on Tuesday, starting in the late morning and ending around midnight.  Obviously, if this trend continues we will end up with even more snow.  Already it has coastal sections of New Jersey probably down for around 3 inches.  

I swear, I started talking about this storm possibility on Tuesday a long time ago.  I would have to dig it back up to find out when, but the latest run of the short-range American model that just came out has completely changed from its prior run only 6 hours ago.  It now brings a significant snowstorm to Southern and Coastal New Jersey and as close as New York City itself.  One more shift west and we would all have a significant snowstorm here on Tuesday. What is amazing is how these models so often show a storm two weeks out, then lose them, then bring them back.  It is just unreal how close this now is to being a significant snowstorm.  I have many theories as to why the models are sometimes better two weeks out then 2 days out, but I have never had anyone give a very good explanation.  It is simply stunning how the models are completing changing only 2 days before the storm. One more time and we would have a significant snowstorm on Tuesday.  

The control run of the European model goes out far enough to show that the storm next Monday has a chance to be quite a significant snow storm 

It continues the north and west trend with the storm, now giving us 1-2 inches of snow on Tuesday, with a significant snowstorm for Coastal New Jersey and Eastern Long Island with 3-6 inches likely, and near-blizzard conditions on Eastern Long Island and for Eastern New England.  Didn't I say this like 2 weeks ago already?  Amazing.  The start time for this storm is like 9-10 am on Tuesday morning and the end time would be around mid night on Tuesday night.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

It is Exactly What I Said Before

The piece of energy responsible for producing the Tuesday storm only got inland in Canada late this morning, so the models are starting to revert somewhat back to where they were a week ago when this piece of energy was over Siberia.  It spent the rest of this past week over the open waters of the Pacific.  Amazing stuff.  How far will this go?  Stay tuned.  Right now my best guess would be 1-3 inches on Tuesday, starting around 9-10 am and ending around midnight, with 3-6 inches likely along Coastal New Jersey and for Eastern Long Island, with near-blizzard conditions possible on Eastern Long Island and for Eastern New England.
Well, well, what do we have here?  My first post on this possible storm was back last Monday.  I said it had blizzard potential, and the way it looks this evening, it may be close for eastern Long Island and eastern New England.  A week ago it initially looked as if this storm might be slow moving, as the model at that time was combining the two storms this week, the one coming on Tuesday, with the one coming on Thursday.  It is now obvious that these two storms will remain separate, but they both have the potential to bring us some significant snow.  At the moment I am leaning toward the one on Tuesday bringing us about 1-3 inches starting around 9-10 am on Tuesday morning and ending around midnight on Tuesday night, with 3-6 inches likely for Coastal New Jersey and Eastern Long Island, with near-blizzard conditions possible for Eastern Long Island and Eastern New England.  It is still possible that this storm could trend further north and west, much as the near-blizzard did back the beginning of the month.  That one looked like nearly nothing 2 days prior, just as this one did earlier today.  The models had this one pegged a week ago when the disturbance responsible for creating it was over Siberia where there are few people, but there are weather stations collecting data for the models.  Then the disturbance went out over the North Pacific Ocean where there is only data for the models coming from any random ships or planes that happen to fly through it, or from satellite derived data.  Today the disturbance moved inland in Northern Canada where there are once again weather stations to collect data for the models, hence the big storm coming back.  This also goes against human psychology because you would think that the models would be better 3 days out than 8 days out, but that is often not the case with these types of situations for just this reason.  The big question is how much more this trend will continue?  It may be about over, but it might continue more this evening, only time will tell.  If this trend were to continue it is possible that near-blizzard conditions could get into our area as well on Tuesday, but that would have to remain a long shot at this point.  However, this is a nearly identical situation to what happened when the Polar Vortex made its last visit to our area back the beginning of the month.  I remember the models really struggling with the storm until only 2 days prior, with the European model only figuring it out just before the storm actually hit, even though it pegged it a week out. 

The preliminary data coming in for the evening run of the short-range American model is even more impressive than the last run of the model.  I don't want to go crazy here yet based on preliminary model data, but this could be VERY interesting here when this model run comes in over the next hour.  Stay tuned.  Will we end up back where the models were when I first started talking about this storm a week ago?

One shows nearly nothing here in Northern New Jersey, while another shows a near-blizzard just like earlier this month. Which will it be?

2-5 inches or more now for the entire State of New Jersey, Southeastern New York, and 5+ inches for Northeastern Coastal New Jersey near Asbury Park and Sandy Hook areas, to most of Long Island from about JFK eastward and near-blizzard conditions for eastern Long Island and eastern New England.  Unreal.  We are almost exactly back to where this all started with my first post on this potential storm back last Monday.

Canadian Model

4-8 inches or more

Monday, January 20, 2014

European Model

Major shift north and west also.  Looks like we have model agreement now on about a 2-5 inch snowfall in Northern New Jersey and 5+ for Coastal New Jersey and Long Island with near-blizzard conditions for Eastern Long Island and Eastern New England. Start time around 9-10 am on Tuesday morning and end time around 11 pm - 12 midnight on Tuesday night.


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