Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
315 PM EST Fri Nov 27 2020
Valid 12Z Mon Nov 30 2020 - 12Z Fri Dec 04 2020
...Dynamic and multifaceted storm to impact the northeast quarter
of the CONUS early next week...
...Guidance Evaluation/Preferences...
The largest model differences and forecast uncertainty reside with
the evolution of the Pacific Northwest energy on Day 3 as it
carves out a deeper trough over the Rockies and eventually the
south-central Plains later in the period. The ECMWF (and to some
degree the UKMET) offer a slower solution with the shortwave
energy closing off over the Four Corners region while the GFS runs
(06/12Z) show a flatter, progressive solution. Additional
uncertainties exist in the northern stream as another shortwave
trough could carve out a deeper trough or closed low over the
northern tier (as depicted by the latest ECMWF/UKMET). Given the
timing and synoptic differences that become more significant in
the day 6/7 time frame, there was a heavier weight of the ensemble
means utilized as a compromise that blended well with continuity
as well.
...Sensible Weather and Hazards...
As low pressure occludes over the Appalachians and eastern Great
Lakes early next week, a surge of warm/moist air on the heels of
breezy southerly flow will result in a large precipitation shield
of moderate to locally heavy rainfall across the Mid-Atlantic
northward into the New England. The urban corridor along the coast
will be most susceptible to flooding in this setup. Wrap around
cold air will transition any precipitation over to snow with some
locations receiving appreciable amounts. As the low exits through
the St. Lawrence Valley, flow over the Great Lakes will wring out
additional snowfall or mixed rain/snow. For temperatures, the
largest departures from normal during the period will be across
southern US, southeast, and Florida where anomalies are forecast
to be 10-20F early next week. South Florida may not even break 70
degrees on Tuesday to start the month of December.
Incoming system to the Pac NW will be rather moisture-starved with
only light amounts for the coastal ranges and Cascades Monday and
across the Rockies Tuesday. Path of the upper trough/low will
dictate how far west the cooler push of air will travel, favoring
along/east of the Rockies per the forecast thinking. As the trough
heads east of 100W, increased Gulf moisture will spread northward
which favors an expanding area of rainfall along the northwest
Gulf Coast into the lower Mississippi Valley late Wed into Thu.
This should move eastward into Friday, perhaps through the
Southeast into the southern Mid-Atlantic, depending on frontal
wave development.
Fracasso/Taylor
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
Hazards:
- Heavy precipitation across portions of the Southern/Central
Appalachians, the Tennessee Valley, the Ohio Valley, the Great
Lakes, the Southeast, the Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast,
Mon-Tue, Nov 30-Dec 1.
- Heavy snow across portions of the Great Lakes and the Ohio
Valley, Mon-Tue, Nov 30-Dec 1.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Southern Plains, the Lower
Mississippi Valley, and the Southeast, Wed-Fri, Dec 2-Dec 4.
- Heavy rain across portions of the Central Appalachians, the
Mid-Atlantic, and the Northeast, Mon-Tue, Nov 30-Dec 1.
- Flooding occurring or imminent across portions of the Southeast.
- High winds across portions of the Northeast, Mon, Nov 30.
- Much below normal temperatures across portions of the Southern
Plains, the Lower/Middle Mississippi Valley, the Tennessee Valley,
the Southern Appalachians, and the Southeast, Tue-Wed, Dec 1-Dec 2.
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