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Category: PNA
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/09/12/video-soon-to-be-sally-heads-for-the-north-central-gulf-coast-pattern-takes-an-active-turn-towards-late-month/
Sep 11
Long Range Update: Walking Through The Back Half Of September…
We believe the pattern during the 2nd half of the month will be driven by the MJO and PNA. The MJO is forecast into Phase 6 and 7 by the 18th-24th time frame.
Phase 6 is quite warm, but notice how the chilly air begins to push during Phase 7.
Neither phase is overly wet, but there’s hope compared to how dry it’s been over the past 2-3 weeks.
Interestingly enough, after a “neutral” phase with the PNA, both the GFS and European ensemble products predict a strong positive shift just after the 20th. This suggests to me that the week starting around that point should feature more widespread and stronger chill, compared to normal.
Let’s look at the latest model guidance, starting with the European ensemble:
Week 1 is still warmer than normal across our region, but notice the strong cooling by Week 2 (Sept. 18th-25th time frame).
The GFS ensemble is similar during the Week 1 and Week 2 time frame.
Given that strong PNA by late month, it wouldn’t surprise me to see these anomalies grow cooler as time gets closer during that Week 2 period.
Overall, the pattern continues to look dry, although there should be a better shot of rain/ storms as the cold front moves into the region that will ultimately deliver the much cooler air late month.
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/09/11/long-range-update-walking-through-the-back-half-of-september/
Jul 24
Long Range Update; Initial August Forecast…
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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/07/24/long-range-update-initial-august-forecast/
Jun 25
VIDEO: Long Range Update Through The Remainder Of Summer And Early Hint At Fall…
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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/06/25/video-long-range-update-through-the-remainder-of-summer-and-early-hint-at-fall/
Jun 12
Long Range Update: Timing Out When The Dry Pattern Breaks Down; 2nd Half Of Summer Chatter…
The balance of the upcoming 7-10 days will feature bone dry conditions across central Indiana. A fast moving disturbance will drop southeast Saturday and could spawn a scattered shower across central Indiana, but we believe the more concentrated rain activity will remain to our east and southwest. If you do see a Saturday shower, count yourself lucky! This disturbance and associated cold front will serve to reinforce the dry airmass currently in place, along with bring temperatures down another couple of “notches” for the weekend (wouldn’t be surprised if some outlying areas get into the 40s Sunday or Monday mornings).
As we look ahead, a ridge of high pressure will dominate next week’s weather pattern. An extended stretch of dry (pleasant humidity levels), sunny days can be expected with a slow warming trend.
Things begin to get a little more “murky” late next week as forecast model solutions differ significantly. The new GFS forecast model drives a cold front into the Ohio Valley before stalling out as multiple disturbances ride along the boundary. This would lead to needed rain (and potentially heavy rain at that) late next week into next weekend. Meanwhile, the European model isn’t nearly as excited about this wet weather potential. The reality likely lies somewhere in between and we’ll trend our forecast wetter late week, but hold on the heavy rain threat for now. Stay tuned.
With that said, we do believe (given the pattern drivers discussed below) that the wetter trends shown on the GFS ensemble data in the Week 2 (and beyond) time frame has validity.
The latest JMA Weekly data also shows a similar wet idea during this time period.
As we look at the PNA and EPO, the transition in both teleconnections next week do give credence to the wetter them shown above during the said period.
Additionally, the positive PNA (image 1 above) and negative EPO (image 2 above) argue for the possibility of another period of cool weather to wrap up the month. This would come after transitional heat late next week.
The GEFS is cooler than the European during this time frame. Given the above, it wouldn’t surprise us if the Euro is forced to cool as we get closer to this period.
We’re undoubtedly entering into a critical time frame for the remainder of the summer. The upcoming couple of weeks will go a long way in determining the balance of the rest of this season. Despite the short-term dry pattern, we do believe (at least locally), rain will return before things get out of hand. The same may not be able to be said just to our west. It’s there (more from the Rockies into the Plains) where we think July heat will build in more significant fashion with the drier soils.
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/06/12/long-range-update-timing-out-when-the-dry-pattern-breaks-down-2nd-half-of-summer-chatter/
May 22
Long Range Update: Warmth Once Again Takes A Back Seat To Cooler Times; Drier Open To June?
With meteorological summer looming around the corner, will the pattern follow suit? At least in the short-term, warmth and humidity will have things feeling very much like summer, but this warmer regime likely won’t hold. The culprit? You guessed it- developing negative EPO, strongly positive PNA, and the MJO re-amplifying with eyes sets on the cooler phases to open June.
After a chilly May (month-to-date), most will welcome this weekend’s heat and humidity with open arms! This is courtesy of finally kicking the “cut off” low to the curb and replacing its’ influence with an upper level ridge. Scattered shower and thunderstorm activity is possible through the short-term, but coverage will be of the “splash and dash” variety- very typical of summer-time!
This warmer regime will be fleeting as a combination of ingredients align in a manner to drive cooler, more refreshing air back into the region as we close May and open June. Most notably this is being driven by a negative EPO, strongly positive PNA, and the MJO set to roll through Phases 7 and 8 during said period.
Accordingly, we note the models shifting things up quite significantly as we go into the Week 2 time period (May 29th-June 4th).
The cooler regime will likely also come with a drier overall pattern to open June, at least compared to average.
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/05/22/long-range-update-warmth-once-again-takes-a-back-seat-to-cooler-times-drier-open-to-june/
May 15
Long Range Update: Heat Comes In Spurts, But Still A Long Way Off From Sustained Warmth…
After a chilly May featuring all-time record cold to begin the month, the flip to warmer air has been welcome by many over the past 24 hours. This warmer regime will continue into the weekend before getting beaten back next week. This is due to a closed off upper level low that will actually manufacture it’s on chill across the Ohio Valley, Mid-Atlantic, and Southeast during this time frame.
Sometimes it can be like pulling teeth to get these kind of features to leave and models can struggle (case in point, this upper low was originally modeled to be located over Nova Scotia- NOT the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic)!
Nevertheless, we believe the one time expected surge of heat next week will only be a scenario of “delayed, not denied.” By the time we head into Memorial Day weekend, we continue to believe legitimate summer warmth will move in (85°-90° stuff).
The new CFSv2 agrees with the European ensembles above.
Longer range (last few days of May and early June) will depend heavily on what goes on with a combo of the MJO and EPO/ PNA. 2 of 3 of these signals argue for cooler air to return during that time period.
We shall see how it plays out, but our official lean is towards the cooler side of things after the Memorial Day heat. From a precipitation perspective, after the short-term wet period, overall dry conditions are set to return as we wrap up May.
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/05/15/long-range-update-heat-comes-in-spurts-but-still-a-long-way-off-from-sustained-warmth/
May 12
Major Flip On Deck; Discussing Longevity…
Indianapolis is running a whopping 8° below normal month-to-date. We’ve set new daily and all-time records already this month for the cold. Note the vast nature of this May chill.
If you’re not a fan of the late season chill, hang in there, as a major flip in the pattern awaits. We alluded to this possibility in our May Outlook and it continues to look like a rather abrupt change is a couple of days away. While we’re dealing with frost this morning in spots across east-central Indiana, it’s looking more and more likely that the first true summer-like surge of air for the season arrives Thursday into the weekend. Warmth will be accompanied by a significant uptick in humidity levels.
The Week 2 period looks warmest, relative to average, and should feature at least a couple of days with highs approaching the 85°-90° mark.
While most data maintains a warmer pattern to close the month, there are a couple of items to pay close attention to as we try and understand the longevity of said warmth.
- The MJO is forecast to remain “bottled up” in the wheelhouse through the next couple of weeks. Thereafter, there are indications that the MJO might become more amplified and it’ll be important to keep an eye on what phase(s) it’ll move through as we get set to close May/ open June.
2. The PNA is forecast to take a negative dip which supports the coming flip to warm. However, recent ensemble data is bullish on a move towards a positive (some data shows even strongly so) state around or just after Memorial Day. This would suggest the window of warmth may be limited in duration. Simply based on looking at the chart below, one could build a case for a cool open to meteorological summer.
Finally, on the precipitation front, a wetter pattern is anticipated to accompany the warm change, but longer range data points towards this being only a temporary wetter regime. In fact, recent models are beginning to agree on a dry close to May/ open to June.
Much more later!
Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/05/12/major-flip-on-deck-discussing-longevity/
May 08
VIDEO: Stage Set For Record Cold Saturday AM; Updated Long Range Thoughts Towards Memorial Day Weekend…
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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/05/08/video-stage-set-for-record-cold-saturday-am-updated-long-range-thoughts-towards-memorial-day-weekend/
May 06
VIDEO: Record Territory; Looking Ahead To Late May…
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Permanent link to this article: https://indywx.com/2020/05/06/video-record-territory-looking-ahead-to-late-may/