Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
137 AM EST Mon Nov 04 2019
Valid 12Z Thu Nov 07 2019 - 12Z Mon Nov 11 2019
...Pattern Overview and Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
The large scale pattern across the CONUS shows above average
predictability during the medium range. An amplified ridge from
the northeastern Pacific to Alaska and British Columbia will favor
a mean upper trough downstream over the east-central U.S.
It remains the case that the main guidance difference becomes
evident Thu into Sat with a potential wave of low pressure along
the surface front across the OH Valley/Appalachians to off the
Northeast U.S. Differences hinge largely in the timing of a
shortwave crossing the Upper Midwest/Great Lakes/Northeast
Thu-Fri. Guidance is still divided into two camps surrounding this
feature, with recent ECMWF/CMC runs slower and deeper with the
shortwave and recent GFS/UKMET runs faster. The slower solutions
develop a more significant wave off the Eastern Seaboard whereas
the faster solutions move the front out to sea quickly. Another
notable differences in the GFS was that the trailing end of the
front interacts with a stronger southern stream impulse, causing a
wave of low pressure to develop across the Southeast Thu night-Fri
night. Based on an assessment of ensembles and run-to-run
consistency, still opt to go more toward the ECMWF/CMC scenario
that actually has reasonable GEFS support. This idea keeps better
WPC continuity and seems more plausible considering favorable
upstream ridge amplitude and baroclinic/dynamic environment to
feed upon for development. However, confidence in this aspect of
the forecast is not high considering short wavelength spacing
between the progressive impulses embedded in the large scale flow
that dig and carve out the e-central U.S. upper trough from a
distant Arctic/Alaska source region.
By the end of the forecast period late in the week, a relatively
strong North Pacific flow regime should persist, with forecast
confidence in the timing of specific shortwaves reaching the CONUS
relatively low despite somewhat above average consensus on the
large scale pattern.
Overall, the WPC forecast was based mainly on the ECMWF/CMC and
GEFS/ECENS ensembles.
...Weather Highlights/Threats...
Expect mainly dry conditions for much of the West except until
late week as Pacific moisture spreads inland into Pacific
Northwest terrain. The downstream pattern will favor the spread
and periodic reinforcement with colder than normal airmasses from
the Rockies and Central U.S. to the East as post-frontal high
pressure cells spill down from Canada. High temperatures are
forecast to be as much as 10-20 deg F below average across much of
the central and eastern U.S. at times as the strong Canadian high
pressure moves southward into the U.S. Moisture will be mainly
limited across the mid-higher latitudes, but the passage of
several clipper lows should support mainly snows swaths over the
cooled U.S. northern tier from the Rockies through the Great
Lakes/Northeast where activity will be prolonged by lake effect.
There remains a signal for overrunning precipitation north of a
surface front across the Southern Plains and lower MS Valley Thu,
with the potential for a couple inches of rainfall, with more
modest activity spreading quickly northeastward Fri. Strong high
pressure and cold temperature well north of the surface front,
from the central Plains and Mid-Mississippi Valley to the Ohio
Valley and Northeast, could result in a risk of wintry
precipitation whose threat would be enhanced with aforementioned
organized frontal then potential coastal low development. This
threat continues to be shown in recent WPC Winter Weather Outlook
probabilities.
Schichtel/Ryan
Additional 3-7 Day Hazards information can be found on the WPC
medium range hazards chart at:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/threats/threats.php
WPC medium range 500mb heights, surface systems, weather grids,
quantitative precipitation, winter weather outlook probabilities
and heat indices are at:
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst500_wbg.gif
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/medr/5dayfcst_wbg_conus.gif
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/5km_grids/5km_gridsbody.html
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/day4-7.shtml
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/pwpf_d47/pwpf_medr.php?day=4
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heat_index.shtml