Scientific Forecaster Discussion

NWS Discussion
			
				

Area forecast discussion 
National Weather Service New York New York 
502 am EDT Wednesday may 22 2013 


Synopsis... 
a stalled front will move back north as a warm front today. A cold 
front will then slowly approach from the west...then pass through 
Thursday night into Friday morning. Canadian high pressure will then 
build in for the Memorial Day weekend and early next week. 


&& 


Near term /until 6 PM this evening/... 
continuing to monitor an area of showers and thunderstorms across 
southwestern Connecticut early this morning. Convection appears 
outflow-dominated which suggests eventual weakening. 
Otherwise...similar day on tap today with plenty of clouds and fog 
in the morning and chance pop for showers and thunderstorms during the 
afternoon and evening. 


&& 


Short term /6 PM this evening through 6 PM Thursday/... 
showers and thunderstorms this afternoon and evening. Convection should 
be scattered at best with only marginal instability in place. 
Showers and thunderstorms will become more widespread as the upper 
level trough and associated surface cold front approach the area 
late tonight with activity continuing through Thursday. 


Highs today will be in the middle 80s...except along the coast. With 
highs on Thursday in the middle to upper 70s. 


&& 


Long term /Thursday night through Tuesday/... 
main issue for the start of this period is the interaction of the 
eastward moving central US trough with several northern stream 
shortwaves rotating around a persistent eastern Canadian trough. The 
complex interaction is resulting in timing and amplification issues 
as this trough slides to the East Coast. GFS continues to be slower 
than all the guidance Friday into Sat as the upper low negatively tilts 
and closes off as it approaches the Middle Atlantic States. This would 
result in a prolonged period of Post-frontal rain into Sat. With 
majority of 00z operational guidance trending a bit slower...have 
also trended a bit slower with precipitation gradually tapering off Friday 
afternoon into Friday night. Subsequent model trends will need to be 
closely monitored to see if the frontal system slows down even 
further. 


As for the sensible weather...cold front slowly crosses the region 
Thursday night into Friday. Although instability will likely be falling to 
marginal levels Thursday night...widespread shower and thunderstorm 
development is likely with abundant moisture streaming ahead of 
approaching shortwave energy/cold front. The severe threat should 
diminish into Thursday night...with heavy rain the main threat 
with precipitable waters  about 2 Standard above normal and steering flow nearly aligned 
with the slow moving front. Will have to monitor the extent of 
interaction of the front with a subtropical plume streaming up the 
coast Thursday night...which if closer to the coast would enhance 
the flash flood threat. Convective threat should decrease in 
the wake of the cold front...but potential wave development could 
prolong light to moderate Post-frontal stratiform rains through 
Friday into Friday night...particularly across eastern sections. 
Average basin rainfall should be close to an inch...with localized 
higher amounts. 


A drying northwest flow set ups Friday night into Sat with strong cold advection. 
High pressure builds across the Great Lakes and into the Middle 
Atlantic States through early next week with temperatures several 
degrees below seasonable levels. 


&& 


Aviation /09z Wednesday through Sunday/... 
a back door cold front will move across the area terminals early 
this morning...then lift to the north later this morning. 


As the back door cold front pushes through...ceilings and 
visibilities are lowering to IFR and could fall as low as vlifr at 
the coastal terminals especially between 10z and 12z. Conditions 
improve early Wednesday morning...mainly between 13z to 15z. Wind 
will be light from the south through the night then increase to 10 
to 15 knots during Wednesday. 


Showers and thunderstorms will be possible after 16z mainly north 
and west of the New York terminals...however due to low confidence 
of timing and placement...have not included any showers or 
thunderstorms in the tafs. 


..NY metropolitan enhanced aviation weather support... 


Detailed information...including hourly taf wind component forecasts can 
be found at: http://www.Erh.NOAA.Gov/zny/n90 (lower case) 


Kjfk fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


Klga fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


Kewr fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


The afternoon kewr haze potential forecast is yellow...which implies 
slant range visibility 4-6sm or greater outside of cloud. 


Kteb fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


Khpn fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


Kisp fcster comments: amendments expected through 15z for changing 
flight categories in stratus and/or fog. 


Outlook for 06z Thursday through Sunday... 
Wednesday night...scattered rain showers and thunderstorms possible. IFR possible in fog 
and stratus. 
Thursday-Friday...numerous rain showers and thunderstorms possible. IFR possible in 
fog and stratus. 
Saturday...residual rain showers behind a cold front with MVFR. Becoming VFR 
with northwest winds increasing to 20-30kt. 
Sunday...VFR with northwest winds 20-25kt. 


&& 


Marine... 
dense fog across the waters will continue through this morning. 
Shallow back door cold front should bring southeast-east winds today to the 
eastern-most ocean waters...also Long Island Sound and the bays of 
Long Island. Otherwise...S-SW sub Small Craft Advisory winds should continue 
through tonight. Seas slowly build this afternoon to Small Craft Advisory 
levels and remain above Small Craft Advisory levels through Thursday. 


A cold front will move east across the area waters late Thursday 
through Friday afternoon...with high pressure building through the 
weekend. Winds should gradually fall below marginal Small Craft Advisory levels 
Thursday night...with Small Craft Advisory seas on the ocean likely remaining above 
Small Craft Advisory criteria through Saturday morning with residual southerly 
swells. Undercut wavewatch by a foot during this time as it was 
slower bringing the frontal system across the area. There is though 
some uncertainty with the seas due to the timing differences amongst 
the models. 


&& 


Hydrology... 
scattered showers/thunderstorms this afternoon will be capable of producing 
locally heavy rainfall...with the best chances north/west of NYC. 
Total basin average quantitative precipitation forecast for Wednesday-Thursday could be 1/4 to 1/2 inch...with 
locally higher amts in thunderstorms. 


Showers and thunderstorms ahead of an approaching cold front late 
Thursday into Friday morning...should produce average basin 
rainfall amounts close to an inch...with localized higher amounts. 
There is the potential for training of thunderstorms which could 
result in flash flooding. Additional lighter rainfall amounts are 
likely Friday...possibly into Friday night. 


For details on specific area rivers and lakes...including observed 
and forecast river stages and lake elevations...please visit the 
advanced hydrologic prediction service /ahps/ graphs on our website. 


&& 


Okx watches/warnings/advisories... 
CT...none. 
New York...none. 
New Jersey...none. 
Marine...dense fog advisory until 10 am EDT this morning for anz330-335- 
340-345-350-353-355. 
Small Craft Advisory from 5 PM this afternoon to 6 PM EDT 
Thursday for anz350-353-355. 


&& 


$$