Model Diagnostic Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 406 PM EDT Sat Apr 06 2019 Valid Apr 06/1200 UTC thru Apr 10/0000 UTC ...See NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) for the status of the upper air ingest... 12Z Model Evaluation with Preferences and Confidence ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...Northern Tier of CONUS... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preference: Non-CMC blend Confidence: Slightly above average ---19Z UPDATE--- The 12Z CMC has generally converged closer to the other models and could be incorporated into a model blend. However, the preference is still for less weight on the CMC. ---PREVIOUS DISCUSSION--- A zonal flow pattern will more-or-less persist across the northern U.S. over the next several days, with a trough digging into the West Coast Monday Night. Ensemble spread of various height and temperature fields are amplified by the strong gradients associated with the northern stream jet -- small differences in placement lead to fairly large spread. However, the agreement on timing and placement of major synoptic features seems reasonably close and thus a general model blend is preferred. The one exception is with the 00Z CMC, which has a considerably stronger shortwave pushing through the Great Lakes on Sunday Night and Monday, which has consequences for the flow pattern in that region for the remainder of the period. ...Southern stream system affecting Gulf Coast... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preference: Non-ECMWF blend Confidence: Average ---19Z UPDATE--- The 12Z ECMWF shows a focused band of QPF further inland over the Southeast now, more similar to the other models. However, the progression of the trough continues to be faster than the other models (likely due to less amplification). The preference is still to place less weight on the ECMWF and more weight on the GFS. ---PREVIOUS DISCUSSION--- The major difference with the southern stream trough and associated surface low is that the 00Z ECMWF and many of its ensemble members have a weaker trough and low. This leads to a southward shift in QPF, less focused and located closer to the Gulf Coast. Most other models show more substantial cyclogenesis just inland over the Southeast, which leads to a more focused band of QPF further inland. Given the lack of support for the ECMWF from other models, the preference is to lean closer to the 12Z GFS, which is supported to varying extents by the NAM, UKMET, CMC and NAEFS. Model trends at www.wpc.noaa.gov/html/model2.html 500 mb forecasts at www.wpc.noaa.gov/h5pref/h5pref.shtml Lamers