Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
212 PM EST Fri Nov 13 2020
Valid 12Z Mon Nov 16 2020 - 12Z Fri Nov 20 2020
...Overview...
The Pacific Northwest and portions of the West Coast will be in an
active, wet pattern through the duration of the extended period as
an eastern Pacific trough moves onshore. Downstream, the ridge
will progress into the Plains and an amplified trough track across
the East Coast early in the week. The Trough will pull offshore by
the mid-week onward.
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
Model consensus was in decent agreement with the evolution of the
deepening closed low/trough over the eastern Pacific Ocean. Like
previous cycles, the CMC was slower which the resultant QPF for
Vancouver Island and surrounding areas were several inches higher
than other solutions. The UK was also slower this cycle. The 00Z
ECWMF and the 00/06Z GFS were comparable with the the eastern
Pacific trough moving onshore and the shortwave energy ejecting
out of it. The GFS is favoring a further south placement of the
mid/low-level low as it moves toward the West Coast and as such,
the QPF extends further south as well. The ensemble means of both
models help reduce the timing, magnitude and placement of specific
details. Opted to maintain continuity in model preference by
combining th ECWMF/GFS/GEFS mean/EC ensemble means with slightly
more weighting of he means by he middle and later periods.
...Sensible weather and hazards...
Onshore flow across the Pacific Northwest an California will bring
moderate rains to the lower elevations an snow in the mountains.
Precipitation intensity may become heavy at times, especially for
portions of he Coastal and Cascade ranges. The nearly
perpendicular flow over the terrain will result in enhanced lift
and may result in periods of higher rainfall rates. As the storm
deepens strong winds will accompany it. Some of the moisture will
extend into the northern Rockies through the week and perhaps into
the Northern Plains by next Friday. As the week progresses, the
rain will trend light across the West. Elsewhere, some areas of
precipitation will be possible to the lee of the upper-eastern
Great Lakes during the first half of the week while some areas of
mostly light precipitation may accompany the frontal system
traversing the northern tier U.S. into New England mid-late week.
A large portion of the western and central U.S. will see above to
well above normal temperatures during the period. Greatest
anomalies of plus 10-20F or slightly greater are most likely over
the north-central through southern High Plains and over/near the
Southwest. Best potential for some daily record highs should be
over the Southwest. Expect the upper trough arriving from the
Pacific and leading surface front to bring highs down to near or
slightly below normal values by next Fri over the West Coast
states and western Great Basin. Meanwhile some of the Plains
warmth should extend into the Midwest/Ohio Valley late in the
week, reversing an early-mid week episode of chilly weather over
the East. Within this chilly period the best potential for
double-digit anomalies may be on Wed when parts of the
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast could see highs up to 10-15F below normal.
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