Model Diagnostic Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 255 PM EDT Wed Aug 29 2018 Valid Aug 29/1200 UTC thru Sep 02/0000 UTC ...See NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) for the status of the upper air ingest... 12Z model evaluation with final preference ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...Overall Synoptic Pattern across the CONUS... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preference: 12Z GFS / 12Z ECMWF blend Confidence: Slightly above average 19Z update: Some changes were noted in the 12Z UKMET/CMC toward the previous preference across the West with 500 mb heights which helps the case for a GFS/ECMWF blend. Otherwise, changes made across the remaining portions of the U.S. were minor in the 12Z ECMWF/UKMET/CMC compared to their previous 00Z cycles. The upper pattern will feature a series of progressive shortwaves advancing through southern Canada and the northern tier of the U.S. through Saturday, with an eventual evolution toward mean troughing across the western U.S. while mid-level ridging continues out East. The biggest differences were noted across the western U.S. with the 00Z CMC flatter with the degree of amplification through Saturday compared to the remaining model consensus. The 00Z UKMET was also noted to be a bit more amplified with energy advancing through quasi-zonal flow into southwestern Canada Saturday morning compared to the remaining consensus. Elsewhere, the NAM was noted to be strongest with a disorganized low-level wave in the Gulf of Mexico by Saturday morning. A GFS/ECMWF blend is recommended given the best agreement to the ensemble means and remaining deterministic guidance. Model trends at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/model2.shtml 500 mb forecasts at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/h5pref/h5pref.shtml Otto/Weiss