Category: Ensemble Discussion

VIDEO: Long Range Update; And Looking At This Weekend’s Snow Storm…

Tonight’s video update focuses on the long range and reviews some of the fresh short-term data churning on this weekend’s snow storm.

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/video-long-range-update-and-looking-at-this-weekends-snow-storm/

Pre-Christmas Weather Rambles…

I. While we certainly aren’t talking about significant weather events between now and Christmas Day, there will be a couple of impulses of upper level energy that may be just strong enough to produce snow showers and flurries at times.  We’re tracking (2) weak disturbances that stand a chance to get a couple of snow showers going Sunday evening and again Christmas Day.  The one on Christmas, itself, will be a bit stronger and may have a shield of more organized precipitation- likely that would start as wet snow before transitioning to rain before ending.

II. A much stronger storm system will wrap up to our northwest Wednesday night and Thursday.  We’ll notice an increasingly strong southerly breeze during this time period and rain will be on the increase as we progress through the day Thursday.  The trade-off?  Highs between 55° and 60° to close the week- though those temperatures may actually come Thursday evening before cooler air begins to slip in here during the day Friday.

As things stand now, both the GFS and European models, courtesy of Weathermodels.com, aren’t overly excited on rainfall amounts with this storm system, but I think they’ll trend wetter as time goes on.  We’ll continue to forecast amounts between 0.50″ and 1″.

III. All attention is squarely focused on a significant pattern change that takes shape as we head into the new year.  As mentioned in previous posts and discussions, the transition is likely to be a stormy one, but it’s far too early to talk precipitation types.  A combination of ingredients appears to be aligning to create a colder than normal (and potentially significantly so) pattern at the traditionally coldest time of year (mid-Jan).

In the more immediate term, we note the latest GEFS showcases a classic “horse shoe” block that will favor a wintry regime across the east to open the new year- thanks to Tropicaltidbits.com.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/pre-christmas-weather-rambles/

Deeper Look Into The Long Range…

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/deeper-look-into-the-long-range/

New Month; New Pattern (In Some Aspects) Around The Corner…

October got off to a warm start, but unseasonably chilly conditions have dominated over the past couple of weeks.  In fact, we’re on a stretch of (12) consecutive days below average after the summer-like start.  The other common theme?  Dry, dry, dry.  Officially, IND is running close to 1″ below average through the first few weeks of the month.  Changes loom- at least to some extent.

We notice the ensemble data (both the European and GFS) is painting a more active, wetter regime as we move through early November.  Given the upper air pattern, we would tend to agree.

European data, courtesy of Weathermodels.com, paints a much more active picture early November.

GFS data, courtesy of Tropicaltidbits.com, shows the return of a wetter pattern for early November.

While confident on the return of wet conditions as we traverse the first week or two of November, data is struggling to get a handle on the PNA past the short-term.  The PNA, or Pacific North American Pattern, teleconnection is one of our favorites this time of year to “key in” on the medium range pattern.  While the NAO and AO get a lot of attention the deeper we get into the cold season, the PNA can be a tremendous tool during transition seasons.  We note latest data is trending significantly more towards a positive PNA (compared to previous runs)- which is a colder signal.

To no surprise, data has trended chillier during today’s 12z update.

To close, bank on a return of the wet conditions as we move into the mighty month of November.  From a temperature perspective, the forecast is much tougher for the first half of November.  As things stand now, we continue to favor a relaxation of the anomalous chill overall, but can certainly see where “pops” of cold air can easily sweep in behind what should be an active storm track from the mid-south up into the Mid West and Ohio Valley.  Stay tuned.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/new-month-new-pattern-in-some-aspects-around-the-corner/

Welcome To Fall (Finally)!

You must be logged in to view this content. Click Here to become a member of IndyWX.com for full access.  Already a member of IndyWx.com All-Access?  Log-in here.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/welcome-to-fall-finally/