Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
255 PM EDT Fri Apr 10 2020
Valid 12Z Mon Apr 13 2020 - 12Z Fri Apr 17 2020
...Heavy rain threat Wednesday night/Thursday for parts of the
Southeast and southern Mid-Atlantic...
...Overview and Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
The synoptic pattern remains fairly consistent through the
extended periods, with an expansive ridge over the eastern
Pacific/West Coast and a broad longwave trough over much of the
central and eastern CONUS. Within this cyclonic flow will be
multiple upper level shortwaves/impulses rotating through. The
main feature on day 3 will be an explosive upper level
low/deepening surface low that will lift through the Great Lakes
into eastern Canada by Tuesday. Model remain in fairly good
agreement with the timing and evolution, as well as, a shortwave
diving into the north-central states Wednesday progressing south
through the Central U.S. late next week.
Model guidance has been hinting that shortwave energy will
undercut the ridge over the eastern Pacific the last few runs.
There continues to be disparity on the 14th and 15th but lock onto
a low offshore the central California coast for the 16th and 17th.
The CMC had the feature but it was positioned near the
Oregon/California coast. This feature is fairly washed out in the
means, but at least shows an open wave present near California.
This cycle of the WPC fronts/pressures progs consisted of heavier
weighting toward the 00Z ECWMF/EC ensemble means and the 06Z GFS,
with lighter weighting of the 00Z CMC/UKMET.
...Weather/Hazard Highlights...
A robust and rapidly deepening surface low will lift from the
Great Lakes/Ohio Valley region into Canada while ushering in
strong winds and snow from the central U.S. to the Great Lakes
region. Locally heavy snow possible for Michigan. The main surface
low will continue to track northeast through Canada while the
trailing cold front extends south along the Mid-Atlantic/
Southeast Coast and across Florida. Impulses of energy will move
through the Upper Mississippi Valley and Great Lakes region in the
days to follow keeping this region unsettled. Meanwhile, Strong,
possibly severe, thunderstorms will be possible for parts of the
Mid-Atlantic and Southeast. Periods of heavy rain may lead to
areas of rapid runoff or urban ponding.
A weak wave will develop along the frontal boundary near the Gulf
Coast/Southeast; which will keep showers and thunderstorms in the
area. The western portion of this boundary will become stationary
into mid week before weakening across the Four Corners region with
showers possible along the boundary. A weak cold front dropping
into the Central Plains may bring some light showers to parts of
the region, as well as, snow to some of the favored higher terrain
of the Northern/Central Rockies.
A majority of the lower 48 will have a broad area of high
pressure, which will maintain a colder than average airmass for
mid-April.Afternoon highs are expected to be 20 to 30 degrees
colder from the Rockies east to the Midwest through midweek. This
chilly airmass will drift to the east by the end of the week. With
the ridging building into much of the West, temperatures will be
on the warmer side. Rainfall may return to parts of the West late
next week as system develops offshore California.
Campbell
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