Extended Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1149 PM EST Sun Jan 16 2022
Valid 12Z Thu Jan 20 2022 - 12Z Mon Jan 24 2022
...Cooled Deep South to East Coast Snow/Ice threats with uncertain
wave genesis pattern...
...Guidance/Predictability Assessment and Weather
Highlights/Hazards...
Major model differences persist in a data sensitive pattern with
rampant run to run continuity issues days 3-7. Instead of chasing
uncertain shortwaves, the WPC medium range product suite was
primarily derived from the 01 UTC National Blend of Models and a
composite blend of the 18 UTC GEFS/12 UTC ECMWF ensemble means
whose reasonably compatible solutions lessen detail consistent
with a pattern with lower than normal embedded system
predictability. Manual adjustments were applied to incorporate as
much WPC system continuity as feasible.
...Pattern Overview and Weather Highlights/Threats...
A deepened low and wrapping snows/winds is slated to exit the
Northeast Day 3/Thu as a massive Arctic high spreads across much
of the central and eastern CONUS. Cold air flow also favor lake
effect snow. A continuing series of uncertain impulses will carve
out and reinforce the large mean upper trough over the central and
eastern U.S. through this forecast period, digging downstream of
an amplified upper ridge position just offshore the West Coast.
This pattern will be conducive for periods with snow to spread
across the Northern and Central Rockies Thu/Fri, and beyond that
for uncertain periods of shortwave/frontal wave enhanced
precipitation to span from Texas/western Gulf Coast through the
Deep South and Southeast to the Mid-Atlantic/East Coast. This
includes threats for snow/ice on the northern periphery of
activity across the South/Southeast and potentially up the
Appalachians/East Coast to the U.S. northern tier/Northeast given
the extent of cold air intrusions and with uncertain systems
rotating through the mean upper trough position. However, ample
forecast spread and continuity issues limits predictability of
particular system threats days 4-7.
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, 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