Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
243 AM EDT Sat Apr 22 2023
Valid 12Z Tue Apr 25 2023 - 12Z Sat Apr 29 2023
...Excessive rainfall threat to spread across The South Tuesday
into Wednesday...
...Overview and Guidance/Predictability Assessment...
Models and ensembles show a reasonably similar larger scale
pattern evolution through medium range time scales, albeit
highlighted by a tricky/transitional blocky flow focus from the
northeastern CONUS through eastern Canada and the digging of a
series of systems through the West that eject across the U.S.
southern tier underneath the block. The WPC medium range product
suite was primarily derived from best clustered guidance from the
18 UTC GFS/GEFS and 12 UTC ECMWF/UKMET/ECMWF ensemble mean along
with the 01 UTC National Blend of Models. Predictability remains
more suspect than normally would be the case as evident by
differences with system timing/emphasis embedded within the
southern stream flow and evolutional aspects of a less defined
than normal rex/omega style block.
...Weather/Hazards Highlights...
Expect light rain chances will linger across the Northeast through
early-mid next week. WPC forecast progs show ssystem
progressions/re-developments across the region into the Atlantic,
but overall trends may prove slower given the complex/blocky
nature.
A main upper trough and surface frontal system is slated to dig
slowly southeastward across the West Tuesday and spread
cooled/unsettled conditions with a moderate precipitation/mountain
snow focus through the north-central Rockies. Activity across
mainly the central Rockies/High Plains may be locally enhanced by
lower atmospheric upslope fetch and added moisture. Mid-late next
week system ejections across the South/Southeast may have less
certain lead impulses focus and emerging pattern favorable for
moderate to heavy convective rainfall. Activity may be greatly
enhanced across The South with multiple wavy/reforming fronts
acting to focus Gulf of Mexico to Atlantic moisture and
instability. The experimental WPC medium range Excessive Rainfall
Outlook plans to show a "Slight Risk" area over the lower
Mississippi Valley Tuesday and the Southeast Wednesday despite
uncertainties with supporting waves. SPC suggests some potential
for strong to severe thunderstorms. Midweek coastal low potential
could bring heavier activity up through the Mid-Atlantic, but the
deep solution of the 12 UTC Canadian seems overdone/too far north
given blocking to the north. The latest 00 UTC Canadian has
trended weaker and more offshore, but the 00 UTC UKMET now has a
deepened low suggesting model sensitivity and lingering
plausibility. Recent GFS/ECMWF runs and ensembles show greater
likelihood for a more moderately developed low.
Meanwhile upstream, the next main upper trough from the Gulf of
Alaska and western Canada are then slated to dig
east-southeastward across the Northwest and north-central U.S.
mid-late next week. Run to run continuity is not stellar, but this
general track would focus some light-moderate precipitation across
the region in a pattern favoring development of much below normal
temperatures with sharp southward frontal surge of cold Canadian
air in the wake of system passage.
Schichtel
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, experimental excessive rainfall
outlook, 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/#page=ero
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/wwd/pwpf_d47/pwpf_medr.php?day=4
https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/heat_index.shtml