Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
255 PM EDT Mon Oct 25 2021
Valid 12Z Thu Oct 28 2021 - 12Z Mon Nov 01 2021
...Major storm to focus a heavy rainfall/flood threat for parts of
the Midwest/Southeast Thursday followed by the Mid-Atlantic and
the Northeast Friday and into the weekend...
...Overview and Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
An anomalously deep cyclone forecast to develop over the mid-South
will likely bring a period of active weather across the eastern
U.S. for the latter part of this week and into the weekend. Model
guidance have generally shown good agreement on the large scale
evolution and track of this system, with some expected
uncertainties in its timing and details. A general model
consensus appeared to work fine for this system by maintaining
good continuity with the previous forecasts. This system may
threaten October low pressure records across parts of the
mid-Mississippi to Ohio Valley.
Over the Pacific Northwest, models are in good agreement to bring
a frontal wave onshore with the potential of heavy precipitation
especially across the higher terrain. The GFS and GEFS tend to
push the associated upper-level shortwave and precipitation
farther south during the weekend than the rest of the model
guidance. A gradual drying trend should follow as models are
indicating that a cold high pressure system will build over
western Canada and then extend southward into the northern
Plains/Rockies early next week behind the upper trough.
Elsewhere, models continue to indicate a possible southern stream
upper low approaching California next Sat-Mon but with quite a bit
of timing uncertainties.
The WPC medium range forecasts were composed using an even blend
of the the 00Z ECMWF/00Z EC mean, 06Z GFS/GEFS mean with a smaller
contribution from the 00Z CMC and CMC mean.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
The biggest weather threat during the medium range period will be
the deep low pressure system working across the eastern third of
the U.S. later this week into next weekend, bringing widespread
moderate rain and areas of heavy rains. An anomalous closed upper
low will slow frontal system progression and sustain moisture feed
from the Atlantic to allow rainfall to expand across the Ohio
Valley/Appalachians/Southeast later this week and then the
Mid-Atlantic/Northeast into next weekend. Sustained moisture feed
interacting with favored orographic lift should focus a possible
flood/runoff threat for parts of the central Appalachians Thursday
to Friday and into parts of the Northwest during the weekend.
Out West, shortwave energy progressing towards the West Coast will
direct a plume of moisture to support another round of heavy
rain/mountain snows to mainly parts of the Pacific Northwest, but
also farther inland across the northern Rockies on Thursday into
Friday. Conditions should finally dry out by next weekend though
as upper ridging builds over the region.
For temperatures, the Midwest/South to the East Coast should
remain near or more likely below normal through much of the period
underneath cloudy and unstable skies. Humidity levels though
should allow overnight mins to be more above normal. Behind this,
upper ridging shifting across the central U.S. will initially
bring a period of above normal temperatures (+10-15F+) into the
northern High Plains before the next shortwave moderates
temperatures back towards normal by the weekend. By Sunday into
Monday, it appears that a Canadian high pressure system will bring
colder than normal readings down across the northern Rockies and
then into the northern and central Plains.
Kong/Santorelli
Additional 3-7 Day Hazard information can be found on the WPC
medium range hazards outlook 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