Model Diagnostic Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
100 AM EDT Wed May 06 2020
Valid May 06/0000 UTC thru May 09/1200 UTC
...See NOUS42 KWNO (ADMSDM) for the status of the upper air
ingest...
00Z NAM/GFS Evaluation Including Preliminary Preferences and
Confidence
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...700 mb low tracking across the northern mid Atlantic to
southeast New England Wed evening and into the offshore waters Wed
night night-Thu...
...Surface low development over North Carolina Tue night and off
the mid Atlantic coast Wed/Thu...
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Preference: non-12Z CMC blend
Confidence: Slightly above average
Some minor west-east differences exist with a surface low tracking
offshore of the New England coast Wednesday night into Thursday
night. The 00Z NAM is closest to the coast while the 12Z UKMET is
the farthest offshore. Trends in the ensemble scatter low plots
show better clustering with the preferred middle ground/ensemble
means supporting a placement between the western 00Z NAM and
eastern 00Z GFS/12Z ECMWF/12Z UKMET/12Z CMC. The 12Z CMC is
farthest from the ensemble scatter low plot clustering, so it will
not be included as part of the preference.
...Mid-level shortwave moving from Pacific Northwest Coast Tuesday
night across the northern Rockies Wednesday night, northern Plains
Thursday, then the MS Valley to Ohio Valley Friday...
...Cold front dropping southward through the Great Plains on
Thursday and low pressure developing on the front in the OH Valley
Fri, tracking near southern New England early Saturday...
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Preference: nearest to 00Z NAM
Confidence: Average
Timing differences show up early with the southern end of a
shortwave trough which is forecast to evolve into a closed low
over MT/WY early Thursday. These differences continue as the
closed low weakens into an open wave which then moves through the
Great Plains Thursday night.
The 12Z CMC is weakest and fastest with the mid-level shortwave
while the 00Z NAM/GFS are a bit slower and stronger. Trends in
both the deterministic and ensemble guidance has been slower and
stronger with this feature so removing the 12Z CMC is likely a
good idea. The 12Z UKMET is next in line with a somewhat weaker
and faster mid-level shortwave, followed next by the 12Z ECMWF.
Some blend of the 00Z NAM, 00Z GFS and 12Z ECMWF is preferred, but
with the thinking that the 00Z GFS is likely too strong with the
wave and 12Z ECMWF too weak.
An average of the latest available ensemble means is preferred for
the closed low placement in southern Ontario/Quebec and when tying
it in with the feature to the south, and accounting for ensemble
scatter low plot placement, the 00Z NAM appears to be the best
middle ground at this point. Confidence in the details is a little
below average, but overall, the models have a decent handle on
this scenario.
...Mid-level shortwave and corresponding surface low on Fri/Sat
affecting the northern Rockies and northern Plains...
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Preference: 00Z GFS/12Z ECMWF blend
Confidence: Slightly below average
Downstream of a sharp and elongated mid-level ridge in place over
the west coast of North America, the northern end of the shortwave
mentioned in the previous section is forecast to drop
southeastward from British Columbia and Alberta late this week.
Confidence with where and when this feature drops southeastward is
below average given the complexity of its evolution. However, the
ensemble means paint a reasonably similar picture in the middle of
the deterministic spread. Currently, this middle ground is best
represented by a 00Z GFS and 12Z ECMWF blend.
Model trends at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/html/model2.shtml
500 mb forecasts at www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/h5pref/h5pref.shtml
Otto