Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Impressive Storm

An impressive, record breaking storm system continues to impact the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Ohio Valley region as I type this blog.  Blizzard warnings, heavy snowfall, very strong winds (thunderstorm and non-thunderstorm), severe thunderstorms and tornadoes have impacted nearly 1/2 of the CONUS over the last 24 hours. ~ CS

Here is a look at the pressures, frontal positions and selected METARS as of late this afternoon:



Here is a Public Information Statement from the NWS in Duluth, MN:

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DULUTH MN
1055 AM CDT TUE OCT 26 2010

...MINNESOTA ALL TIME LOWEST PRESSURE RECORD BROKEN THIS MORNING...
...PRESSURE IS STILL FALLING AND WILL CONTINUE INTO THE AFTERNOON...

REMEMBER THAT THIS INFORMATION IS PRELIMINARY. THE LOW IS STILL STRENGTHENING SO THE VALUES LISTED BELOW ARE LIKELY TO CHANGE. AN UNUSUALLY INTENSE LOW WAS AFFECTING THE STATE OF MINNESOTA THIS MORNING.

AT 1013 AM CDT...THE AUTOMATED WEATHER OBSERVING SYSTEM AT AITKIN MINNESOTA RECORDED A 962.3 MILLIBAR /28.42 INCHES/ PRESSURE. THIS BREAKS THE ALL TIME MINNESOTA STATE RECORD FOR THE LOWEST OBSERVED PRESSURE.

THE PREVIOUS RECORD WAS 962.6 MB SET ON NOVEMBER 10 1998 AT ALBERT LEA AND AUSTIN IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. IT SHOULD ALSO BE NOTED THAT DULUTH BROKE THEIR PRESSURE RECORD. AS OF 1028 AM...THE PRESSURE AT DULUTH WAS 962.9 MILLIBARS /28.44 INCHES/. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 964.3 MILLIBARS WHICH OCCURRED ON NOVEMBER 10 1998.

PRESSURE RECORDS AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS WERE ONLY AVAILABLE BACK TO 1948. THE LOWEST PRESSURE PREVIOUSLY AT THAT LOCATION WAS 971.9 MILLIBARS ON OCTOBER 10 1949. THE PRESSURE AS OF 1024 AM WAS 967.4 MILLIBARS /28.57 INCHES/. THEREFORE...INTERNATIONAL FALLS ALSO BROKE THEIR PRESSURE RECORD.

THE LOW CONTINUES TO DEEPEN AND THE PRESSURE WILL LIKELY CONTINUE TO FALL. THEREFORE...THIS STATEMENT IS PRELIMINARY AND WILL BE UPDATED ONCE THE LOWEST PRESSURE IS FINALLY OBSERVED. THE LOW WAS AT ABOUT 983 MB ONLY 24 HOURS AGO OVER CENTRAL SOUTH
DAKOTA. THAT IS A PRESSURE DROP OF ABOUT 21 MILLIBARS IN 24 HOURS.

Friday, October 22, 2010

FCST: October 23, KS, NE, IA, MO

TARGET: Redding, IA by 3 p.m. CDT (Albeit family obligations are going to keep me home)

DISCUSSION:
The below water vapor imagery depicts a large trough and several shortwaves that are going to interact with a front and surface low over the central CONUS on Saturday.  One shortwave is visible over northern NM/SE CO with a trailing dryline into the TX panhandle region.  Another impulse just coming ashore on the CA coast.  The right side of the image shows the mid level low in central NE with another front associated with a surface low over northern MN is evident in the northern portion of SD.  The latter is providing the showers we are experiencing in NW MO as I right this blog.



Here is a look at the 0Z/23 surface chart:


Here is the forecasted surface features for Saturday afternoon and evening:



Speed shear dynamics are not lacking with this system but I would like to see some more directional shear at the mid-levels.  Here is a look at the NAM and GFS 250mb charts for 0Z/24.  The ECMWF is for 12Z/23.






Here is a look at the NAM and GFS 500mb chart for 0Z/24:




Helicity values are appreciable in the target area:






Here is a SKEW-T / Hodo from Redding, IA at 23Z/24:



A strengthening low level jet will also be feeding into the area providing a decent moisture transport regime:







SBCAPE from the NAM and GFS:




The last images are forecasted precip from the 4km WRF for 0Z/24 (small caveat: the precip models have not been doing a very good job of late):



All that being said tomorrow has the conditional threat for a severe weather event with all modes of severe weather possible, albeit, the tornadic threat will be early on in the event. The most likely area to see tornadoes is along the IA/MO border where shear and helicity values will be enhanced.

Any existing outflow boundaries from overnight convection and residual cloud cover will have a drastic impact on tomorrow's threat. Throw in the sun angle for late October and it is imperative for clear skies to be around at peak heating to destabilize the atmosphere. As we saw today in TX, OK and KS, a thin veil of 250mb/300mb clouds and lack of any appreciable forcing will make all of the difference between severe weather and a few severe reports and thundershowers. ~ CS

Friday, September 10, 2010

9/10/10 ~ Disorganized area of Low Pressure in the GOM


UPDATE: September 11, 2010:  The shower and thunderstorms around this area of low pressure have increased in coverage and intensity the last 12 hours.  The SST and lack of shear in the area should allow this area of low pressure to continue to develop and reach tropical cyclone status within the next 24 to 36 hours.  The movement is a bit uncertain, but looking at yesterday and today's visible satellite images, it appears to be moving to the west into the western Caribbean Sea.






Old Discussion:
An area of low pressure and disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity has sprung up in the eastern Gulf of Mexico near the Windward Islands.  The National Hurricane Center has a 50% chance of this area of low pressure area organizing into a tropical cyclone within the next 48 hours.  More updates as this system evolves.

FCST: 9/10/10 MO/KS

I  have not had a chance to focus on the severe potential for today due to personal and work obligations the last 48 hours.  Thought I would throw up some quick thoughts on the severe potential today and best target area if I were to be chasing.

Target Area: Emporia, KS

Discussion:
A complex forecast is unfolding today as a developing area of surface low pressure is forming in NE KS.  An associated warm front is draped over west central MO back into the MO bootheel at the noon hour.  A cold front runs through the central portion of KS back into OK.  This potent late season storm system that will provide the foci for strong to severe thunderstorms late this afternoon and evening.

The warm front is surging northward and developing a small warm sector this afternoon where temperatures have risen into the 80's and dewpoints have climbed into the upper 60's to low 70's.  Strong to severe thunderstorms should be on-going by 5 p.m. this evening to the southwest of the KC metro area on the Kansas side.  The area along the the warm front and northeast of the low pressure center will be the area with highest tornado potential.  Needless to say surface and satellite observations are going to be key for tornadogenesis today and bagging a late season tornado!

Good luck and safe wishes to my chase partner Steve Polley and the other storm chasers as they get a last of the season chase in!

Summary:

Local Storm Report Data:


Wednesday, September 8, 2010

Tropical Storm Igor ~ Eastern Atlantic

UPDATE: September 11, 2010:

Tropical Storm IGOR is located at 17.4N and 39.5W, about 1030 miles west of the Cape Verde Islands and 1470 miles east of the Leeward Islands, and is expected to be a Categor 1 Hurricane by this evening.  The maximum sustained winds are 70mph with higher gusts.  Tropical Storm force winds extend outward 115 miles from the center.  Igor is moving to the west at 20mph and forward propagation is forecast to increase.  The minimum central pressure is 995mb (29.38 inches).

This storm is forecasted to be a major hurricane by mid-week.  At this time, it does not appear Igor will have an affect on the US mainland.  The area of clouds off the east coast as well as over the central CONUS depcit troughs which will affect the track of Igor.  Current thinking is Igor will turn to the north/northeast well before being a major impact on the east coast of the US.



OLD DISCUSSION:
Tropical Storm Igor has formed in the eastern Atlantic and is showing signs of strengthening.  Currently Igor is located at 13.7N and 23.5W and about 95 miles south of the southernmost Cape Verde Islands in the far eastern Atlantic Ocean.  Igor is moving to the west at 8 mph and this course is forecasted to remain steadfast the next 48 hours with some slight increase in forward propagation.  The maximum sustained winds are currently 40mph with Tropical Storm force winds extending outward 50 miles from the center.  The minimum central pressure is 1005mb (29.68 inches of mercury),  with forecasted strengthening over the next few days.

Here is a look at the most recent forecasted track from the National Hurricane Center for Igor:



Here is the latest satellite imagery of Igor:





Four Mile Canyon Fire ~ Boulder County, CO


UPDATE: September 10, 2010:

The Four Mile Canyon Fire continues to burn and currently involves 6,422 acres and is only 30% contained as of Friday evening September 9, 2010.  The terrain is difficult and fuel source is abundant so the chances of this fire growing is high. 

Currently, firefighters are being hampered by high winds gusting to 30mph in the Canyon.  A Type I incident management team is currently coordinating firefighting efforts.  The transition from a Type II incident to a Type I incident occurred on September 8, 2010.  There are 953 firefighters and assorted apparatus conducting fire suppression activities.

Current activities involve putting out hotspots and flame ups near residential areas.  The Boulder County OEM may begin allowing some residents access to their homes as of 9 a.m. MDT September 11, 2010.

Day 1 Fire Outlook and 24 Hour QPF:


Old Discussion:
A significant wildfire is currently burning approximately 5 miles west-northwest of Boulder, Colorado.  This fire began on September 6, 2010 and has charred over 7,100 acres and the fire is 0% contained as of 3 p.m. CDT September 8, 2010. 

Many homes have been destroyed and many others are threatened.  A total of 5 persons who did not heed evacuation warnings are reported as missing.  3,500 residents of the area are under mandatory evacuation.

Currently, there are over 200 hundred firefighters fighting this fire on the ground and from the air.  The cause of the fire cause is under investigation.

Current weather conditions in the fire area at 2 p.m. MDT September 8, 2010:
82F, winds out of the SE at 6, RH 19% (DP 36F) with conditions to remain static the next 24 hours. 

Here is a link to the NWS Incident Support Page:
http/www.crh.noaa.gov/bou/?n=fourmilefire_briefing

RadioReference Live Audio from Boulder County, Colorado:
http/www.radioreference.com/apps/audio/?ctid=247

Location of Four Mile Canyon:





Satellite Imagery from NASA of the FourMile Canyon Fire in the early stages:

Monday, September 6, 2010

FCST: September 6, 2010 ~ Lots of shear but no moisture!!

TARGET: Cedar Rapids, IA by 20Z/6.

DISCUSSION:  A compact and potent late season shortwave (995 mb) is moving across the central plains this afternoon.  This storm system will provide the threat of severe thunderstorms across eastern IA, southern MN and western WI later this afternoon and evening. 







The storm has plenty of shear to work with, but the rounds of recent cold fronts have scoured out most of the moisture from the area.  Couple in the progressive nature of the trough and you get plenty of shear and no moisture!
 



A 45 to 55 kt low level jet will be working its way into the target area by 0Z.




Currently, warm air advection is ongoing across eastern KS and western MO but even wtih that dewpoints have only recovered into the upper 50's to lower 60's.  Forecasted dewpoints had been in the upper 60's to lower 70's.  I do not feel these dews are going to be realized over the aforementioned areas based on my current thinking.



CAPE is forecasted to be in the 1000 to 1500 J/kg range by this afternoon which is appreciable for severe weather. 





A stout EML is advecting into the region as well and will need the approaching shortwave to provide the needed forcing to oversome the capping inversion. I am anticipating some early, isolated supercells from Des Moines northeastward that will quickly congeal into an MCS and march eastward overnight creating a damaging wind threat.







The early storms will yield any tornado threat in the target area.   Helicity values are maximized in these areas and a strong tornado is possible, but not probable in this amateur forecasters opinion. ~ CS






Tropical Storm Hermine ~ Gulf of Mexico

UPDATE September 8, 2010 :

Remnants of Tropical Storm Hermine to have an effect on the Kansas / Missouri area the next couple of days.  Here is a look at the forecasted track of the low and Days 1-2 QPF Forecasts overlayed in Google Earth:





OLD DISCUSSION:

Tropical Storm Hermine is approaching the Mexico/Texan coast and shows signs of gradual strengthening and will most likely be a Category One Hurricane when it makes landfall.  Currently, Tropical Storm Hermine is located at 24.1N and 96.5W, about 140 miles south.southeast of Brownsville, TX.  Maximum sustained winds are 60 mph with a movement to the north/northwest at 14 mph.  The minumum central pressure is 995mb (29.38 inches).

A hurricane watch is in effect from Rio San Fernando Mexico northward to Baffin Bay, TX.  A tropical storm warning is in effect from La Cruz Mexico to Port O'Connor, TX.

  

Here is the current forecasted track for Hermine the next few days:




Here is a look at the latest visible satellite imagery for Hermine.  Gradual strengthening is forecasted over the next 12 to 24 hours before it makes landfall over the Mexico/Texas border region. ~ CS