Category: Long Range Discussion

Mar 29

Long Range Report: Active Pattern As We Head Into And Through April…

Updated 03.29.24 @ 6:57a

Don’t get used to any one particular pattern for any length of time over the next few weeks. “Active” will sum things up best in a single word as a transitional regime takes hold.

The NEW JMA Weeklies highlight this transitional theme best over the upcoming (4) week period.

Week 1

Week 2

Weeks 3/4

To no surprise, especially given the transitional nature of the pattern, the upcoming few weeks should feature above normal rainfall for a good chunk of the Great Lakes and Ohio Valley.

We’ll also want to keep tabs on the potential of greater than average severe weather episodes, notable considering we’re almost into April. It’s a byproduct of the “topsy-turvy” look to the overall pattern.

Pattern drivers, including the EPO, back up the transitional them over the upcoming couple weeks. Reminder, negative phase favors chilly conditions and positive phases favor milder air (compared to average). This look, too, screams wet and stormy.

Bottom line, buckle up for an active storm track and associated heavier than normal rainfall over the next few weeks. Temperature regimes will feature a bit of it all, including above and below normal periods, likely all balancing out slightly above normal when all is added up.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/29/long-range-report-active-pattern-as-we-head-into-and-through-april/

Mar 23

VIDEO: Weekend Sunshine; Tracking 2 Storm Systems In The Week Ahead And Looking At The Early-April Pattern…

Updated 03.23.24 @ 10:51a A quiet weekend will turn more active as we open the new work week. We’re tracking this system and another storm late in the week. Both…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/23/video-weekend-sunshine-tracking-2-storm-systems-in-the-week-ahead-and-looking-at-the-early-april-pattern/

Mar 21

VIDEO: Light Rain Returns Friday; Cooler, Wetter Than Normal Pattern Anticipated O/ The Next 2 – 3 Weeks…

Updated 03.21.24 @ 7a The area will receive a glancing blow from our late week low pressure “tag team” that will deliver light rain Friday (most areas will be under…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/21/video-light-rain-returns-friday-cooler-wetter-than-normal-pattern-anticipated-o-the-next-2-3-weeks/

Mar 16

Long Range Report: Cooler, Drier Week 1 Turns Wetter To Close March; Open April…

Updated 03.16.24 @ 7:55a

Indianapolis is running right at average month to date from a rainfall perspective (1.78”).

We’re transitioning to a much drier pattern in the week ahead as a cooler, Canadian airmass dominates (for a change).

Several hard freezes (mid-upper 20s) are on tap in the upcoming 7-10 day period: Monday/ Tuesday morning and again late next week/ next weekend.

Cooler? Yes, but I still don’t see anything overly cold on the horizon as we navigate the next couple of weeks.

What’s more notable is the shift in the precipitation pattern over the next few weeks. The dry Week 1 (now) transitions to a significantly wetter and more active look Week 2 (below).

The JMA also sees the wetter regime.

This is forecast to continue in the Weeks 3/4 timeframe.

Continues to back up the idea of an active (wet) and stormy (more in the way of severe weather) spring as a whole.

Down the road, an eventual move into a hot, dry (compared to normal) summer may loom. (Yet one that is very active from a tropical perspective, continuing into the fall). More on that in the coming weeks…

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/16/long-range-report-cooler-drier-week-1-turns-wetter-to-close-march-open-april/

Mar 09

Long Range Report: Period Opens With More Of The Same, But Cooler Than Normal For A Change Late Month…

Updated 03.09.24 8:14a

It’s been a very warm March. So far, Indianapolis is running nearly 13° above the average month-to-date.

In the short-term (Week 1), the pattern will remain on the milder side of normal.

That all begins to change as we move into Week 2.

This is largely driven by the MJO sprinting through the traditionally warm phases for this time of year into the colder Phase 8 late month.

The temperature composite analog for MJO Phase 8 in March during an El Nino season:

Strikingly similar to what we see above on the Week 2 charts, huh?

The teleconnection suite aligns towards a cold look by Week 2.

A potentially more significant storm system looms late next week or over St. Patrick’s Day weekend to usher in the pattern change. Otherwise, with a colder pattern than normal settling in Week 2, this will also likely lead to a drier airmass and subsequent opportunity to dry out after a wetter than normal open to March (also of note is that we’re running a little more than 1″ above normal, year-to-date).

No way to be specific with details from this distance, but given the look to the overall pattern, I’d be surprised if we end the month without an opportunity of a little wet snow with the colder transition.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/09/long-range-report-period-opens-with-more-of-the-same-but-cooler-than-normal-for-a-change-late-month/

Mar 08

VIDEO: Rain Increases In Intensity By Evening; MJO Influences On The Longer Range…

Updated 03.08.24 @ 7:50a “Showery” weather through the early to mid afternoon will give way to an increasingly heavier rain by evening, continuing through the overnight. This is all thanks…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/03/08/video-rain-increases-in-intensity-by-evening-mjo-influences-on-the-longer-range/

Feb 29

Long Range Report: Warm Open To Meteorological Spring; MJO And NAO Impacts Longer Term…

Updated 02.29.24 @ 5:13a

Tomorrow we’ll welcome in meteorological spring and the first couple weeks of March appear to continue the unseasonably warm trend. At times, additional warm records will likely fall.

A ‘mean’ eastern ridge (and strong western trough) will dominate the 1st half of March.
Well above average temperatures are expected through the 1st half of March.

This is strongly correlated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation highly amplified in the classic warm phases this time of year. (You can absolutely say goodbye to any sort of sustained cold prospects this time of year with the MJO in phases 4, 5, and especially 6). Now, down the road, we’ll want to watch and see if we can maintain this amplitude and rumble into the transitional colder Phase 7 before a potential opportunity to see cold grow more impressive should we *finally get into Phase 8 late month. Remember that we made an attempt at that back in mid-February before things instead collapsed into the neutral phase. Moral of the story for folks longing for one more bout of sustained cold prior to the warmer months ahead, “don’t hold your breath.” The trend certainly isn’t your friend.

Back to the present. No matter what the teleconnections say, an amplified MJO will always win out. And the current MJO forecast to roll through the phases listed above screams that our recent warm times will “keep on keepin’ on” as we navigate the 1st half of March.

MJO forecast through March 13th

The Phase 5 and Phase 6 composite analogs at 500mb (upper air pattern) for an El Niño March:

What this should also result in is an active first half of the month, including above normal rainfall and likely at least another early season strong to severe weather event before we get to mid month.

It’s a classic pattern that should feature low pressure systems ejecting out of the Southwest and South-central into the Plains and western Great Lakes region. That puts our neck of the woods on the warm/ wet (and at times stormy) side of the equation.

As we move into late-March and early April, we’ll have our eyes focused on the MJO and whether or not we can, indeed, get into those traditionally colder phases. Stay tuned.

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/02/29/long-range-report-warm-open-to-meteorological-spring-mjo-and-nao-impacts-longer-term/

Feb 24

VIDEO: Overall, Strong Signal For Unseasonable Warmth Remains On Charts Into Early March. Watching Storms Early Next Week…

Updated 02.24.24 @ 8a Any lingering light snow showers will quickly come to an end this morning and we’ll welcome sunshine back into the picture later today. Sunday will feature…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/02/24/video-overall-strong-signal-for-unseasonable-warmth-remains-on-charts-into-early-march-watching-storms-early-next-week/

Feb 20

Evening VIDEO: Mild Pattern Comes With Heavy Rain/ Storm Risk In The Days (And Weeks) Ahead…

Updated 02.20.24 @ 6:22p With the exception of a couple cooler (can’t even call it “cold” by late February/ early March standards) days, the pattern over the upcoming couple weeks…

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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/02/20/evening-video-mild-pattern-comes-with-heavy-rain-storm-risk-in-the-days-and-weeks-ahead/

Feb 18

Taste Of Spring To Close February And Open March: Monitoring Storm Potential…

Updated 02.18.24 @ 10:59a

Though we dealt with a bitter start to the day, those strong and gusty southwest winds signal a regime change through the 1st half of the work week. Highs will pop into the 60s even by midweek- a far cry from this morning’s sub-zero “feels like” over the heart of the fresh snowpack.

This morning’s visible satellite image shows clear skies across our region and the fresh snowpack.

The upcoming 10-day period will feature an expanding ridge across the East and the ‘mean’ trough position settling into the West.

After another brief shot of cold air this weekend, a significant unseasonably mild pattern will arrive next week. Cold settles into the West.

The developing upper air pattern will lead to a more active storm track to close February and open March. See the anticipated above normal precipitation pattern taking hold. This is likely a sign of what the balance of meteorological spring will feature.

In the week ahead, we continue to track a rain maker Wednesday night into Thursday and a brief “jolt” of cold for the weekend.

Looking ahead to next week, a more widespread and stronger storm should take aim on our area. Though still a ways off, the signal is one that looks like this feature will be able to tap into the Gulf of Mexico, allowing for a more widespread, potentially, heavier rain event and also the chance of storms.

Note precipitable water values (PWATs) are forecast nearly 300% of the norm.

As we get closer, we’ll have to keep tabs on instability levels and available energy for the prospects of storms. More on this Day 8-10 feature in the coming days. Make it a great Sunday!

Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2024/02/18/taste-of-spring-to-close-february-and-open-march-monitoring-storm-potential/

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