Scientific Forecaster Discussion

NWS Discussion
			
				

Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service State College PA 
732 PM EDT Wednesday Jun 19 2013 


Synopsis... 
high pressure over the area will bring chilly temperatures 
to the area tonight. As this high pressure system moves 
to the southeast by the end of the week...a warming trend will set 
in...coinciding with the official beginning of Summer on Friday. 
Mainly warm and dry conditions will prevail this weekend and much 
of next week. There will be a chance for a shower or thunderstorm 
now and then after Sunday...but most of the time it will remain 
dry. A cold front could bring more in the way of widespread 
showers and thunderstorms to the area by late next week. 


&& 


Near term /until 6 am Thursday morning/... 
clear skies and low precipitable water will make for another chilly night 
across northern PA where nighttime lows will fall into the upper 30s. 
Expect some readings in the upper 30s across the northern tier... 
with most locations right around 40. Reading will range through 
the middle to upper 40s across the central mountains and to the upper 
40s to lower 50s across the south. 




&& 


Short term /6 am Thursday morning through Thursday night/... 
upper ridge over the plains states will shift eastward this period as 
a deep closed low moves from the Pacific northwest into the northern rockies. 500 mb 
heights climb above normal by Friday. Winds will veer around to the 
south/southwest as the surface high moves off the middle-Atlantic coast. The 
return flow will result in an increase in daytime temperatures and low level 
moisture/dewpoints/humidity later Thursday. 


&& 


Long term /Friday through Wednesday/... 
the warmer pattern will arrive on schedule with the first day of 
astronomical Summer /see climate section for more details/. Model 
data suggests isolated diurnal convection is possible along The Spine 
of the north-central appalchns into the Laurel Highlands/S-cntrl 
ridges...but for the most part expect most areas to stay rain- 
free. Capping inversion may be a limiting/negative factor for 
terrain-induced thunderstorms later Friday after. Left the forecast dry for now. 


Northern rockies 500mb trough will eject northeastward into the S-central 
Canadian prairies over the weekend...allowing the subtropical 
ridge to retrograde and expand westward back across the Southern Plains. With 
broad subtropical ridging covering the southern 1/2 of the Continental U.S....the 
jet stream will be confined along the US/Canadian border - which 
is where it should be for this time of year. 


Thus looking at mainly dry and warm conditions into at least 
the middle of next week. The main threat of showers and storms 
would be north of PA...but a slight chance to chance of a shower or 
storm will be possible after Sat...as any weak system could 
touch off some...given higher dewpoints and terrain features. 


While temperatures come up...dewpoints really not expected to be 
anything abnormal. Looking at mainly temperatures between 80-85f across the 
alleghenies and 85-90f east of the mountains in the central ridges and susq 
valley. The main area of extreme conditions will be further west 
across the plains. 


&& 


Aviation /00z Thursday through Monday/... 
expect widespread VFR to continue into Friday...as high pressure 
and dry air build into the region. 


High pressure will control the weather into the weekend. There will 
be a slight chance to chance of a shower or thunderstorm sun and Monday... 
but most areas will remain dry with VFR conditions. 


Outlook... 


Sat...no sig weather. 


Sun-Mon...isolated PM thunderstorms and rain impacts possible. 


&& 


Climate... 
astronomical Summer begins at 104 am EDT on Friday June 21st. 


&& 


Ctp watches/warnings/advisories... 
none. 


&& 


$$ 
Synopsis...gartner/Martin/steinbugl 
near term...devoir/Martin 
short term...Martin/steinbugl 
long term...Martin/steinbugl 
aviation...la corte 
climate...