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Carvers Gap

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  1. Carvers Gap
    IDK...gonna have to dig a little bit. I do understand the correlation map...the labeling of -PDO=warm for the SE is throwing me off. We may have to disagree that is a textbook PDO. To me that gradient is not sharp enough around the edges. One thing that Typhoon Tip has stated is that the lack of gradient is creating issues with analog years in the Pacific, in some cases actually resulting in the opposite of what one would think should happen. Jeff has alluded to that as well. The above ideas have definite merit. Will have to give them a closer look when I have time. Below is a textbook -PDO with a very sharp gradient with waters found near coastal AK and Cali/Baja. Right now, the Pacific does not have that sharp of a gradient in those areas. It is close by definition, but very muted w a poor gradient IMHO. Reference: https://climate.ncsu.edu/climate/patterns/pdo
  2. Carvers Gap
    Good info. I am not following that first PDO map, though - labels don't seem to fit or my mind might be missing the point....Anyway, -NAOs though usually signal very warm temps here during summer and early fall. No surprise there as that teleconnection has been accurate. As you noted the -NAO signal then converts to a cold signal during winter. Not sure when that -NAO finally begins to help us...but it has kept us abnormally warm for much of early fall. The cold off western SA definitely will be in play and may have consequences that equal the north PAC. It is a bit of a Nina signal, even though a Modoki is likely. That ENSO area has a tendency to signal a pretty good SER in early winter and then the SER collapses mid-winter. Will be interesting to see if any big storms or deteriorating typhoons impact that warm water in the GOA. That warm water will have a tendency to push AN heights into AK. That is where things get tricky. The past couple of winters have had the cold tuck almost underneath an Alaskan ridge. What is tricky is that if that kink in the jet (which is allowing for that cold under that high) resolves, the cold comes East. I tend to think this winter will feature more of a progressive pattern with cold building in the NW and then heading SE, sometimes severe in nature. Of note, I have seen several seasonal forecast predict a +NAO for this winter which would make since it has been negative for much of summer. So, I do agree that the Pacific will have to deliver cold as the Atlantic may be tough to convince. That said, seasonal weather models last winter were about as bad as I can remember. I still tend to believe that winter sets up shop in the Rockies for December and then spreads eastward during January and February. As PSU noted in the MA forum, tons of conflicting signals this winter and it is just tough to know which one. I agree that the oceans will likely drive it, but which signal....the Indian Ocean, the MJO, a falling or stalled QBO, PDO, warm ENSO in the mid-PAC, cold signal in the eastern PAC, a warm GOM, etc? Lastly, we are way overdue for a pattern change. This has been pretty much locked-in for nearly ten months. It can't stay there forever. But I guess it is always safer to bet the streak. I will comment a bit more on the Weeklies tomorrow. The do look colder for weeks 1-4ish. That said...shoulder it is season and the bust potential is always high.
  3. Carvers Gap
    I would not be shocked if this is the pattern for winter....cold builds over the Rockies and then rushes East with pockets of very warm air pushing up the east side of approaching fronts in between. Obviously, it will be less warm as the winter progress, just speaking of comparative norms. The seasonal models and even Weeklies bounce around from western trough to mid-continent trough for DJF. I think that might be because this winter could potentially feature a fairly progressive pattern where winter starts out West and builds eastward. I also realize that October is not a great indicator of winter. However, with the snowpack building over western Canada, at some point that cold air mass will move SE. Also agree that it is difficult to tell if this is a shake-up due to wavelengths or is an actual pattern change...but it is certainly different than the mega ridge. As a numbers game, I just think another big western winter is less likely, though I do think they get going strong in December....but the West has been due for big winters after the 90s which was a terrible decade in terms of water if I remember correctly. However, we are long overdue for a pattern change and wx models are notorious for perpetuating old patterns. No idea, but that is part of what makes weather a great hobby....And hey, the Vols even won! Might be that their play teleconnects well to the SER. Big SER beginning this weekend, and of course the Vols play at Alabama. Might be something to that.
  4. Carvers Gap
    As I dig a bit deeper(catching up after being out of pocket since Thursday PM)....modeling looks to have maintained a look where the SER only briefly bounces back next weekend and then it looks like maybe 1-2 pretty strong cold fronts move in later in the month into early October. No idea if true at this range. Modeling is yet again signaling a pretty significant pattern change. Does it hold or is it muted or even real? Time will tell. While the last "step down" was certainly muted, high temps are roughly 10-20 degrees cooler(depending on what days being compared) than even ten days ago. Temps are still AN, but tolerable to even pleasant. Looks to me like some true fall temps are going to show up during the coming 2-3 weeks. Easy prediction since it is fall...but given the past mega-ridge, I was beginning to wonder if fall would show. Interestingly, SE KY has a special weather statement posted for scattered frost tonight! It is important to note that some pretty warm air not unsurprisingly surges northward between cold fronts. I would not be surprised(as I noted in earlier posts) to see yet another record high or two posted. What I think might be interesting is that a record low might be approached as well due to the sharpness of the ridges being modeled on operational and ensembles. (That EPS ridge/trough look was not warm. ) I think it likely a lock that October finishes AN. Those first four days and the slow step down to tolerable temps thereafter(still well AN) pretty much assured that. Looks like TRI will have some highs in the 60s this week with even some low 60s possible. Within roughly 14 days of the mega ridge, that would mean that high temps have dropped by roughly 30 degrees. Again, I think we see a bounce back but not weeks-on-end of that heat ridge. While it was cold last evening while sitting outside, I think most(while cold) were thankful to see those mid90s temps gone.
  5. Carvers Gap
    The 18z GFS...Well. LOL. And, I thought I was cold with it being in the mid-50s last night! In all seriousness, I get a bit nervous when the GEFS and the EPS begin to get in lock step about potential cool downs - been some notorious misses recently. Sometimes it is a "to good to be true scenario." I am sort of in a "I have to see it to believe it" mode. However, if one were to take the 12z GEFS/EPS suites, that is not a warm look. That trend has been in place for a few days. So, one would expect operational models to now start spitting out some pretty wild looks from time to time reflecting what the ensembles are doing. I just want a day where we have highs in the 40s where I can tell my grandkids someday that...one time in October we set four straight record highs only to have highs in the 40s later that month. It was definitely surreal last evening as I was sitting outside in very light drizzle, a light breeze, and temps in the 50s in Johnson City. People, I forgot to bring a stinking coat or even a shirt with long sleeves!!!! All of these bands from all over the SE, which have been practicing in record heat, were almost certainly dealing with similar situations. Great and memorable evening for sure.
  6. Carvers Gap
    Very possible. There were a lot of bands there...was a big BOA regional competition. I didn't get to see many bands perform as I help with getting stuff on and off the field...and on and off the semi. I usually only get to see another school's band right before our band goes on. I was able to see the finals presentation as we stopped to take a peak.
  7. Carvers Gap
    Been outside working at a band competition. About. Froze. My. Tail. Off. Temps weren't super cold, but after mid-90s for temps, walking around in the 50s feels significantly cold. Really, that is a forty degree difference. Just not used to that weather yet.
  8. Carvers Gap
    The 12z EPS again looks nice with its evolution post d10 - if one likes fall weather. 18z GFS looks remarkably similar. Let's see if those looks get modified as we get closer as has been the recent pattern. For now, maybe some guarded hope that we might see some pretty chilly temps later this month(likely to see one more strong ridge embedded in the 16 day forecast range...but looks like it might be limited in duration.) Speaking of temps...I have West Yellowstone on my phone for wx. When I woke up, it was 2 degrees there. Record cold temps during this past night out West.
  9. Carvers Gap
    The garden is doing well. You can compare to the first garden pic in the drought comparison. Three weeks ago the raised beds were pretty much void. Cool nights along with low humidity but warm days is like steroids right now for these crops. Cabbage, baby kale, baby mustard greens, strawberries(not producing, but to be totally expected during fall) and cover crop surrounding the raised beds are seen. Right behind the kale one can see the sprigs of some newly sprouted onions. One negative side effect to this heat...dang flea beetles are still alive and strong and got into my Swiss chard. All of that greenery is courtesy of the City of Kingsport water department.
  10. Carvers Gap
    Will continue to compare MBY....lighting is different as well as the camera angle which makes it look a tad worse but to the exposure/brightness of the photo. However one can see the toll that the drought has taken during the last three weeks.
  11. Carvers Gap
    During the pas 44 days, the closest weather station has recorded 0.09" of precip. That station is about 1.5 miles from MBY.
  12. Carvers Gap
    If you can get hands on the overnight run of the EPS, give it a look d10-16 evolution is interesting for kicks and giggles - almost all of NA is cold at 850. Not sure I buy that, but that would be a trough that means business. Proceed at your own risk as this is the time of year(shoulder season) that it really flips around. We can at least enjoy it until the next run.
  13. Carvers Gap
    500 pattern on tonight's Weeklies looked acceptable. It runs almost all of the way through the end of November now but not quite. Pattern is a ridge in the East builds and is beaten down by a trough. Trough temporarily sets up shop in the East. Wash, rinse, repeat. No death permanent death ridge. 850 temps look reasonable. 2m temps again look exaggerated to the AN side. Nice to actually look at a set of maps that are not set on perpetual furnace mode with never-ending 500 mega-ridges. I think the forum has done a good job hashing out what is to come for the rest of the month. Those ideas look good. November is a question mark for me. I can definitely see both sides of the coin. With those heights over AK and the coastal West and heights in HB...have to think the pattern will likely be an elongated trough from the Northwest into the East of varying depths....Missoula to say Kansas City with it at times extending to Atlanta. Going to be a real fight between the SER and approaching cold fronts. Right now with summer time temps in the SE, the SER is formidable. As winter kicks in...the cold fronts will likely have more power to punch and hold. Keep the fires burning...I have been working as a volunteer in our local HS marching band this season. Weekends are gonna be busy for the month of October. Fridays are obviously HS games and Saturdays will be competitions. Huge amounts of respect for those young people as they have marched right through this record heat...tough hombres. Obviously, they are monitored closely with plenty of water breaks. Still..now you know why I have been interested in the heat. This week has been a welcome reprieve! You folks from the area know how hard they work. They pocketed their first ever national title in their division last year. Needless to say, they will get everyone's best this season during regional competitions. Regardless, they will take a trip to the Rose Bow Parade in January. Definitely going to be keeping an eye on the weather during the next three weekends, though this weekend is in a dome. Next two are outside. Probably will get you all to keep an eye on the weather in Pasadena when they head out there...
  14. Carvers Gap
    12z ensemble show a very back-and-forth pattern. Looks like a great week next week, then maybe a quick pop of the SER and another trough. MJO is helping us out - maybe. JMA was much different than CFS/Euro combo for weeks 3-4. Haven't done my usual browsing through today's wx data, but did get a quick look at the 12z suite. MRX has highs in the mid to upper 60s later next week for TRI - Jeff's fall weather which he discussed.. Right now we are running anywhere from 14-20 degrees below last week..and still somewhat AN. However, it feels great given where we were. Also, potentially some low 40s for lows at TRI next week.
  15. Carvers Gap
    And the happy hour run of the 18z GFS did not disappoint. LOL. Brrrrrr. Low 40s into the Florida Panhandle.
  16. Carvers Gap
    That cold next to South America has SER written all over it. Worst case could be a torch...best case an inland storm track.
  17. Carvers Gap
    LOL. Nashville folks may want "in" on this ranking, probably Memphis as well...and maybe whatever defense showed up against Georgia State. Also, I am a Steelers fan. I feel fairly certain Rudolph sort of feels like he wondered into a snow black hole on Sunday after getting knocked out cold.
  18. Carvers Gap
    Somebody explain how the extreme version of the IOD will impact the MJO weather and/or downstream weather in the US...I always forget which zones are which for the MJO. Would maybe think that it is or is going to have some impact on the SOI as it measures the pressure differences between Tahiti and Darwin. @nrgjeff, with this being so strong do we know what the downstream effects will be or is it an unknown? As noted earlier, you used this last year. How is it best used?
  19. Carvers Gap
    Now, the real question is whether it is actually overdone or not. Considering that the cold is not in a shallow trough, that is good. Right now, to be expected, the cold has a tendency not to get as far south as modeled. If it follows recent patterns, that front will moderate quite a bit during future runs. But we have some wiggle room with that map. The problem with last Friday's cool front and today's is that the base of the trough was shallow. The Euro won both battles regarding tough depth. Still is much cooler, but was not as cool as the GFS maps. So, knowing that...use the map accordingly. LOL. The Euro Weeklies from tonight are fairly interesting in that they are not enthused about leaving any reformation of the Eastern ridge in place during November. Is it right? No idea. Heck, am I even interpreting a fairly washed out look correctly? I will give it a shot without boxing myself in to one camp or the other. What is frustrating is the Euro Weeklies maps continue to miss BN temps on the surface map, even though though current surface temps have actually had plenty of BN temps in NA. (Conversely, some CFS maps will look like the Ice Age is advancing) That said, if one looks at the 500 maps and 850 maps...looks like a bit of a washed out trough that tries to develop over the East in early to mid November(take the slower timing IMHO). What does that tell me? Looked like a washed out mess in November. What they do suggest is there are likely several members that are not in agreement with an eastern trough but maybe slightly more that do at 500. Again, always good to remind folks that we don't live at 500, but it does give a good idea at hemispheric circulation patterns. Around the last week of October it shows a ridge out West build with a shallow mean trough centered over the MS w a SER(kudos to Jeff) over the SE east of the Apps which eventually evolves into a broad trough over the eastern 2/3 of the country during early to mid November and leaves a slight hint of a SER. Now, sometimes a SER is a bad word...it is just bad when it pumps 90 degree temps into my neighborhood in perpetuity. We don't want things so suppressed that everything goes OTS. Got to have a little bit of one or at least some resistance in the western Atlantic. We also don't want that SER to connect with a -NAO...Overall, looks like maybe a nice fall pattern which evolves. I will add that I have generally begun to ignore Euro Weeklies temp constructs after week 2 and just look at 500 and 850temp maps. Problem with ignoring the Euro temps maps is they don't show source regions very well for the bank of maps that I have access to. I can just see anomaly maps vs actual temp maps. What looks like a nice trough might not have a ton of cold available. Anyway, hopefully Jeff will chime in and add his thoughts. I do think October will finish much AN...just to many positive departures to erase. November I would guess as normalish based on those maps...but again source regions matter as well as the depth of any trough. Last thing I will say to folks is to be very wary of Weeklies maps during shoulder seasons...they are notoriously fickle for understandable reasons.
  20. Carvers Gap
    18z GFS advertising sharp cold front swing through Friday. Jeff mentioned this in his earlier discussion. GFS has temps in the upper 30s in middle TN by Saturday AM - we'll see if that is right. 40s seem more likely. Still...look at the temps in from and behind this boundary. Pretty impressive. I just grabbed the front as it approaches Nashville. Later in the run, temps are in the upper 30s in middle TN while temps in NE TN are in the low 60s.
  21. Carvers Gap
    I have a legit chance of getting very little to nothing from this, not looking like anywhere near the half inch plus amounts advertised by local offices. I don't blame weather forecast offices though. Today is a great example of how things can easily go wrong, and why this region is so tough to get right. What a lot of folks used to see as the "Bubble" in Kingsport is just downsloping that can occur from three different directions. Now, the Bubble is the real deal on marginal snow events, and all of us up here know how that comes to pass - local joke, but I can just about guarantee that everyone in Kingsport know exactly what I am talking about. But today is a great example of how a forecast can bust for this area. Our forecast high was 72...we hit 79 which I think is tops for all of E TN. The front hung up and the sun came out for longer than expected I think. North of 81 and west of 26 pretty much didn't receive any rainfall. We dealt with downloading winds off the Smokies for much of the day. When the winds did shift the precip line failed to reform until almost right over downtown Kingsport, and even still...not much. I think a combination of the left over ridge, the ongoing drought, and downsloping were likely issues. Also, I was reminded by a friend to beware of rainy fronts(of the entry angle seen today) as they rarely verify well here. In NE TN, we normally need some type of wave running a boundary, a frontal boundary that drapes over the area, or sometimes a quicker front works. Another thing that really messes up the conveyor up here is convection to our south - don't think that happened either. But today does go to show just how many ways precip can dissipate. If this had been a winter event, we would have gotten blanked. We average less rainfall up here, and today is likely a great example of why. Thankfully temps have been much more tolerable. Valley temps are 15-20 degrees cooler than last week with SW VA maybe pushing 20-25 degrees cooler.
  22. Carvers Gap
    I don't like see bands that are split in that manner. They have a habit of missing portions of NE TN as they slide up...agree.
  23. Carvers Gap
    Got the shaft on rain this afternoon. Fairly robust line of rain developed over town and head east. West Kingsport and northwest Hawkins Co only received at best .01-.02. That one hurt. I could see the heavy rain from my neighborhood. Not overly confident in the next line, but it will have to do as that is it. Might be able to squeeze out a tenth or two at best. Right now sitting at .01" for the current system.
  24. Carvers Gap
    I will say that while a warmish December would not surprise me...I also would not be surprised for a lot of clouds and rains. I am a little nervous calling for rain during December as E TN droughts have a tendency to self-perpetuate(look at the rain bands falling apart today) sometimes without a ton of warning. IMBY, a lot of times the reason that Nino Decembers are warm is that nighttime temps are AN with daytime temps only slightly above. I will say that the SER will be an absolute bear if it doesn't rain IMHO...OTH super dry air over E TN does sometimes make cold air masses worse as the nighttime lows go really low with not humidity. I have not bitten not he typhoon recurve yet. I suspect that may be part of the back-and-forth in the LR with ridge/trough placement. Those recurving typhoons can make a mess out of modeling until they get resolved in modeling (which might be happening already). I read somewhere on Twitter(saw it on Twitter so it must be true, right!) that sometimes recruiting typhoons can actually pump the trough in the GOA and force a downstream ridge over eastern NA. Now, I am no fan of early season typhoons unleashing the Arctic hounds. That has happened twice in the last ten years that I can think of and it took forever for NA to reload the cold pattern as the cold was "spent" too early. The following two winters I think were warm early on, maybe the entire winter. I am willing to bide my time with slightly AN temps for the next 8-10 weeks until we can get a delivery mechanism which is able deliver the coldest air during winter and not fall. Yep. Saw that the ridge is showing some signs of returning on the EPS mean and also on the GEFS mean, though the 6z GEFS run was less enthused. Seems like then 6z CFS(the one that runs through mid Nov) was cold for November, but everyone knows I don't trust the CFS. OTH, the CFSv2 seasonal through January is exactly opposite of my winter ideas. LOL. Definitely interested to see what the MJO does. If it gets into phases 2 and 3 I think that favors more of a trough over the eastern US. But I completely understand betting the ridge as it has the "hot hand." (bad joke Monday)
  25. Carvers Gap
    Yeah, how could I forget the downslope! LOL. Winds have indeed been out of the SE this morning.
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