Thursday, January 2, 2014

Here It is For the Record, How I Forecast this Storm from 18 Days Out - Not Perfect By Any Means and Striving to do Better, But Well, Here It Is. Feel free to click on the links or search the blog for these dates. I Cut out a lot of the other stuff to save room.

Then I am ready to declare the next chance of snow as being Tuesday, December 31st.  Yes, Happy New Year! 

Monday, December 16th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

The next storm to watch after this will likely occur on Tuesday, December 31st, New Years Eve. 

Monday, December 16th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

The next storm to watch will then likely be on New Year's Eve. 

Tuesday, December 17th 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

After that the next storm to watch will likely occur on New Year’s Eve.

Tuesday, December 17th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then I continue to see signs of a possibly significant storm for New Year's Eve.  It is way too early to tell if this one would happen but there are definitely sings there for the potential of something significant. 

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

After that it may get quite cold into the following weekend, followed by the chance for a very significant storm to develop along the Gulf Coast, and then head northeast up the coast, possibly forming into a potent Nor'easter just in time for New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Happy New Year!  

Wednesday, December 18th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

then we have to watch for the possibility of a storm developing along the Gulf Coast and moving northeast up the coast for Monday, December 30th and Tuesday, December 31st.

Thursday, December 19th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then we will have to watch for the possibility of a storm developing along the Gulf Coast next weekend that will bring us the chance of some snow for Monday, December 30th, and Tuesday, December 31st.  Happy New Years!

Thursday, December 19th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then the next possible storm is for Tuesday, December 31st

Friday, December 20th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then the following Monday a storm may start developing in the Southeastern United States.  This storm may then strengthen as it moves northeast and in our direction, possibly forming into a Nor’easter that would affect us for New Year’s Eve.  

Friday, December 20th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then we will have to watch for the possibility of a rather significant storm to start taking shape along the Gulf Coast next Monday.  This storm should then track northeast towards us for New Year's Eve, bringing with it a chance for a significant snowstorm.

Saturday, December 21st, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

The next storm to watch will then be one for New Year’s Eve when another storm may form along Gulf Coast and move northeast towards us. 

Saturday, December 21st, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then the next more interesting possibility is likely to occur for New Year's Eve.  A storm may very well develop along the Gulf Coast and head northeast and in our direction.  This storm has the possibility of bringing significant precipitation to our area, and very possibly in the form of snow. 

Sunday, December 22nd, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then the next storm to watch will be one that has the chance to be quite significant, currently timed for around New Year’s Eve, but it could start as early as next Monday.  This storm could continue into New Year’s Day.

Sunday, December 22nd, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

The next chance of snow will be the following week, with the chances starting as early as Monday of next week, but centered around New Year's Eve.

Monday, December 23rd, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then all of next week looks fairly unsettled, however at the moment there is no single area of organized low pressure showing up on any of the models.  The models are currently just indicating weak disturbances moving through our area, bringing some snow showers from time to time starting this coming Sunday and going through the following Sunday.  I am not sure that I buy into this however, so I would certainly check back in for updates.  Any one of these disturbances has the possibility to become more significant.   I remain most focused on Tuesday, December 31st

Monday, December 23rd, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then the next storm to watch will be a potential storm forming along the coast next Tuesday for New Year's Eve

Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

and then cooling off on Monday with a chance of snow showers on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, although we need to watch this storm closely for more development. 

Tuesday, December 24th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then another storm is likely to approach, possibly as early as Wednesday, but the focus seems to be more toward Thursday or Friday.  The American and European models both bring us a significant storm during this time period but the European and American models disagree on how this storm develops.  This tells me that neither model is really sure how all this is going to happen just yet, but it also gives me an idea that they do think something is likely to happen.  This is how many significant storms appear on the models this far out in the future.  With pretty much every truly significant storm I can remember, they appear on the models in the distant future because the model knows something big is likely to happen, but the model will often go about producing the storm from different pieces of energy, as if it just knows that something is going to happen, but it does not know the details yet, so it tries these puzzle pieces, then those puzzle pieces, until it finally finds the right pieces to put the puzzle together.  I flagged this general time period long ago as the models seemed to think that something would happen around the new year.  Now as we get closer in time there seems to be some agreement that something big might happen, but the models are still not sure what pieces will come together to produce the storm.  They will eventually figure it out and you will know just as soon as I do.  Check back for updates.  

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then next Thursday it looks as if a disturbance may drop down from Canada at the same time that another disturbance is moving along the Gulf Coast.  These disturbances may combine as they head in our direction, causing snow to develop late in the morning next Thursday, and the snow may become heavy at times on Thursday afternoon.  The snow may then mix with or change to sleet and freezing rain, then to rain, depending on how this storm develops and where it tracks.  Both the American and European models combine the storms in a way that the storm intensifies rapidly as it approaches our area, producing the possibility of heavy precipitation and strong winds as we head into Friday.  The exact track that the storm takes will determine who gets rain and who gets snow, and how much of each.

Wednesday, December 25th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then we will have to watch another storm that is likely to move into our area for next Thursday and Friday.  The European model backed off substantially on how this storm will develop and now just has snow showers for us for next Thursday and Friday as the two disturbances did not come together on this model run.  We will need to keep a close eye on this storm though in case the pieces do come together.

Thursday, December 26th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Moving beyond this storm it will get quite cold just in time for New Year’s Eve with the highs next Tuesday only in the mid to upper 20's, and temperatures around midnight on New Year’s being in the low teens.  It MAY then get quite cold after that, with highs only in the upper teens and lows in the single digits in many locations for a few days.  There are however many questions come next Thursday and Friday with how several disturbances will move across the country.  None of the models bring these disturbances together at the moment, giving us just a chance of some snow next Thursday and Friday.

Thursday, December 26th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then another storm may develop in or near our area for Thursday and Friday of next week.  It is too early to tell whether this storm will bring us anything more than snow showers at this time.  Lots of stuff to watch.  Check back in the morning for the latest.

Friday, December 27th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

Then a more important storm may form for Thursday and Friday as two disturbances may combine, one dropping down from Canada, and one moving along the Gulf Coast.  If these systems combine they would have the potential to develop into a very significant Nor’easter as they approach the Middle Atlantic Coast.  As is typical however, there are many questions as to whether these systems will combine at all, and if they do, where the resulting storm would track.  If they were to combine, the track that the storm takes would determine how much and what type of precipitation we would receive.  The models have been indicating the possibility of a very significant storm in this time frame for many days now, as I mentioned in a post a couple of days ago.  However, it is still too early to tell whether these pieces will come together.  Check back for updates.  

 

Friday, December 27th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then on Thursday two separate disturbances will be approaching our area, one dropping down from Canada and one moving eastward along the Gulf Coast.  There are still many questions as to whether these two systems will interact, and if they do, to what extent.  We will need to keep a close eye on this situation, as these storms have the potential to bring us some nasty weather come next Thursday and Friday.  Check back in the morning for updates.


Saturday, December 28th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

On Thursday a disturbance will be dropping down into the central United States from Canada at the same time that a disturbance is moving along the Gulf Coast.  These two disturbances MAY combine near Cape Hatteras, North Carolina on Thursday night, becoming an intense Nor'easter and bringing us a chance for snow on Thursday and Friday as extremely cold air will be in place in our area at that time.  If these two disturbances do indeed combine, the track that the storm takes will determine how much snow we get, but at this time it does look likely that we will get at least some snow on either Thursday or Friday or both.  There is always a chance though that these pieces don’t come together or that the storm forms further out to sea missing us, so check back for updates.  To give you a little more insight, the ensemble mean of the European model is currently projecting 6 inches of snow on Thursday night and Friday in our area.  That means that half of the 51 ensemble members show less than 6 inches and half show more.  In fact, a third of the members currently show around a foot or more of accumulation.  The only reason I am mentioning this is to give you an idea of the POTENTIAL, but please understand this is still a long way out and just because there is potential, does not mean that the potential will be realized.  It could be, but of course this storm may not come together at all.  Be sure to check back for updates.  

Saturday, December 28th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

Then we will have to watch two disturbances, one dropping down from Canada and one moving eastward along the Gulf Coast.  It now looks as if these two disturbances will combine into a strong Nor'easter near the Middle Atlantic Coast on Thursday evening.  Depending on how this storm develops it has the potential to bring us a significant snowstorm.  The snow is currently projected to start late on Thursday morning and end late on Friday morning with the possibility of 6-12 inches of accumulation.  Check back in the morning for the latest.  

Sunday, December 29th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

New Year’s Day evening light snow may then start to develop as two disturbances approach our area, one dropping down into the central United States from Canada and one moving eastward along the Gulf Coast.  These two disturbances will combine near the Middle Atlantic Coast, bringing us light snow possibly starting as early as Wednesday evening and continuing into Thursday afternoon, then possibly becoming heavy at times and continuing through Thursday night and into Friday morning.  The snow will then start to subside prior to ending around mid day on Friday.  Significant accumulations are possible.  Just how much snow we get will depend upon where these two disturbances combine.  If they combine further to the south near the DelMarva Peninsula they will bring us higher accumulations, while if they combine further to the north near Long Island they will bring us lighter accumulations, either way though, the possibility exists for significant accumulations with the European Model Ensemble mean currently projecting around five inches of snow.  It will then get quite cold as this storm departs, as this storm will strengthen quite a bit, pulling very cold air down into our area from Canada.

Sunday, December 29th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

We will have cooler weather for the New Year's holiday, then it looks as if we will be getting a significant snowstorm on Thursday into Friday morning as two disturbances are likely to combine forces near the Delmarva Peninsula on Thursday night, bringing light snow to our area starting on Thursday morning, becoming moderate to occasionally heavy on Thursday afternoon and night, and ending on Friday morning. At the moment it is looking as if total accumulations may end up being around 6 inches. As the storm departs it is likely to get extremely cold with temperatures possibly dropping to the upper single digits by Friday afternoon.

Monday, December 30th, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

On New Year’s Day clouds will increase as two disturbances start to approach our area, one dropping down into the central United States and one moving eastward along the Gulf Coast.  These two storms will continue heading east, then will combine near the Middle Atlantic Coast late in the day on Thursday, very possibly becoming a strong Nor'easter, and possibly attaining blizzard classification by Friday morning in Northern New Jersey and for Long Island and all of New England for the rest of the day on Friday.  The light snow should start in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday morning, becoming moderate in the afternoon, then heavy at times at night and continuing into Friday morning.  The snow should start to taper to snows showers and flurries by late morning on Friday.  Total possible accumulations of 6-12 inches or more are possible, with blowing and drifting of snow on Friday with wind gusts of over 40 mph possible, especially in far eastern sections.  It will likely get VERY cold as this storm departs with temperatures dropping to the low to mid teens by Friday afternoon.  Temperatures are then likely to be BELOW ZERO in most locations on Saturday morning as the strong storm pulls very cold air down into our area from Canada. 

Monday, December 30th, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

two storms will merge near the Middle Atlantic Coast on Thursday night and it looks as if this is an absolutely classic set-up for a blizzard for us and New England.  I am not certain yet that this storm will quite make it to blizzard classification, but it definitely has that potential.  The snow should commence lightly in the pre-dawn hours on Thursday, and continue lightly throughout the day, possibly accumulating to an inch or two by Thursday evening.  Then on Thursday evening the two storms will start to combine forces, become an intense Nor'easter that has the possibility of attaining blizzard classification by Friday morning as it intensifies off the coast and moves eastward to the south of Long Island.  The snow will be heaviest late on Thursday night through Friday morning when travel may become nearly impossible.  In addition, winds may gust over 40 mph, especially in eastern sections.  This would lead to blowing and drifting of the snow as well, as the snow should be of the light and fluffy variety, as the cold air will start to pour in by Friday morning.  The snow should start to taper off by late morning on Friday after as much as a foot or more has fallen throughout our area.  The temperatures will fall to and remain in the low to mid teens during the day on Friday, then drop to the mid to low single digits BELOW ZERO by Saturday morning and a high only in the mid teens on Saturday even though it will be sunny. 

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013 - Morning Weather Discussion

light snow should start before sunrise on Thursday and continue through the day with an inch of accumulation possible by Thursday night.  On Thursday night the snow will become moderate in intensity and will end before sunrise on Friday with total accumulations of 4-5 inches likely.  Temperatures will drop to single digits by Friday morning, with highs only in the teens.

Tuesday, December 31st, 2013 - Evening Weather Discussion

The snow will likely start lightly and fall intermittently and lightly throughout the day on Thursday, then become moderate on Thursday night and into early Friday morning, ending in the morning.  As this storm departs, temperatures will plummet on Friday morning to the single digits and may remain there all day, then likely drop below zero on Saturday morning.

Wednesday, January 1st, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

 the snow will likely start late tonight lightly and remain light during the day tomorrow, before becoming moderate to occasionally heavy tomorrow night and into early Friday morning, ending around or shortly after sunrise with 3-7 inches of accumulation.  As the storm departs, extremely cold air will move into our area, with temperatures dropping to the upper single digits to low teens and holding steady during the day, then dropping to the low single digits below zero by Saturday morning. 

Wednesday, January 1st, 2014 - Evening Weather Discussion

Well, this impending storm has been a nightmare to try and forecast.  The European model held fast until yesterday, giving every indication of a very significant snowstorm for us.  Then yesterday it backed down completely.  Now it is on the verge of indicating this being a very significant snowstorm again.  The American models went nuts last night, then backed off today, then came back again, now the American medium-range model backed off.  Almost every major storm we have ever had in this area has these volatile changes at the last minute.  What makes these storms so intense and dramatic in the first place is the volatile conditions that create them.  This causes havoc with the models as very small changes in initial conditions can have dramatic effects on the eventual outcome.  As we go to sleep this evening I can honestly say this storm can go anywhere from being a fairly insignificant nuisance to an all-out blizzard with more than a foot of snow.  Most likely we will end up right in between the two.  Will all of this in mind, I will go into this evening continuing with my rather broad range forecast of 4-10 inches.  I am not yet ready to narrow this down further.  I would expect that the models will converge by tomorrow morning and I will give you a nearly exact snowfall forecast.  Right now though I am leaning towards the exact middle of the 4-10 inch range or around 7 inches in most locations.  That is as of right now, based on the latest computer guidance.  This may very well change in the morning and can easily go either way, so I encourage you to check back.  Keep in mind that although the snow flurries may have already started in Sussex County in some places, the snow should be very light for at least the next 24 hours.  It should not get moderate to heavy until tomorrow night after the evening rush.  The heaviest of the snow should fall between 7 pm tomorrow night and 7 am on Friday morning, coming to an end around or shortly after sunrise on Friday.

Thursday, January 2nd, 2014 - Morning Weather Discussion

I am going with 5-10 inches for Northwest New Jersey and 6-12 inches for Northeast New Jersey, Southeastern New York, Central New Jersey, New York City, and Long Island with near blizzard conditions.  There will be light intermittent snow during the day today with a dusting to an inch of accumulation possible in some locations.  The snow will become moderate to heavy at times between 5 pm and 8 pm this evening and will continue until around sunrise tomorrow, then taper to snow flurries and end by around 8 am to 9 am.  It will also be quite windy late tonight and tomorrow morning.  Temperatures will plummet as the storm departs dropping to the upper single digits in most locations and then remain steady all day tomorrow, then drop to 5-10 degrees BELLOW ZERO tomorrow morning. 


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