Model Diagnostic Discussion NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD 1207 AM EDT Wed Aug 28 2019 Valid Aug 28/0000 UTC thru Aug 31/1200 UTC ...See NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) for the status of the upper air ingest... 00Z Model Evaluation with Preferences and Forecast Confidence ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ...Overall Pattern Across the CONUS... ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Preference: General model blend Exceptions: Non-CMC after 60hrs in Northwest Non-NAM QPF in Central/Southern Plains Day 3 Confidence: Slightly above average Best NHC Proxy (Erin): 18z GFS or 00z GFS/12z CMC blend (Dorian)D3: 00z GFS and 12z UKMET/ECWMF blend The synoptic pattern continues to be very strongly agreed upon through the first 2+ days particularly, with the strong/deep closed low across Ontario. Its associated frontal zone is, also well agreed upon on depth/timing until there is interaction with the approach of TS Erin. Erin remains very sheared with large convective complex near the inner core/surface wave but also has a very elongated northerly surface trof that is already shifting toward the approaching height falls. The 12z ECMWF is most aggressive now, faster and closer to the coast while the 00z NAM, 12z UKMET and CMC are slower but much closer in placement. The 18z GFS is very close to the official 03z NHC forecast and is best to use as NHC best proxy; the 00z GFS, slowed a fraction but matched closest to the CMC, so it is just south of the official forecast. So use of the 18z GFS is the best mass proxy to the official forecast. By 60hrs, the 12z CMC starts to break down compared to the remaining guidance particularly with the approaching shortwave/closed low nearing SW Canada by 84hrs. The CMC is a bit further north overall with increased pumping of the downstream ridge in the Rockies which starts around 60hrs. At the tail end of the frontal zone crossing the northern tier/Great Lakes on Thursday and Friday intersects with the return moisture stream over the Central Plains, and mass fields are quite agreeable through Sat as well, however, the 00z NAM and lesser so the GFS suggest greater southward propagation likely on stronger LLJ/inflow than the UKMET/CMC/ECMWF. The NAM becomes particularly out of phase in the QPF axis to suggest a lower weighting or removal at the end of Day 3 in this area though the remaining mass fields are less affected than the QPF axis. Tropical Storm, forecast hurricane by Day 3, Dorian is expected to enter the Northern Bahamas/Southern Sargasso Sea. Moderately sizable spread remains in placement and strength. However, the NAM/CMC are much too far south to the official 03z forecast. The GFS/UKMET are north of the forecast track (fast/slow, respectfully) while the ECMWF is timed ideally in longitude but a shade south. As such, a blend of the GFS/UKMET and ECMWF provides a good placement blend, but a straight blend of the 3 (ie not retaining the shape/depth/etc)...so re-centering and blending to the common point would be the best proxy to keep the integrity of the system as a whole. Model trends at www.wpc.noaa.gov/html/model2.html 500 mb forecasts at www.wpc.noaa.gov/h5pref/h5pref.shtml Gallina