Jump to content
  • Member Statistics

    17,507
    Total Members
    7,904
    Most Online
    SnowHabit
    Newest Member
    SnowHabit
    Joined

January 2020 General Discussions & Observations Thread


Rtd208
 Share

Recommended Posts

Today saw a continuation of warmer than normal weather. The generally warmer than normal conditions will likely persist through Friday. However, a more winter-like pattern lies ahead in the medium-term.

During the coming weekend, colder air will likely return for a period. There is potential for the temperature to fall into the teens even in New York City. Afterward, even as moderation should follow for a time, the cold will likely return during the closing week of the month. At that point, the cold could become sustained and continue into at least the start of February.

On Friday night and Saturday there is potential for a system to bring New York City and Newark its first measurable snowfall since January 6. Philadelphia could receive its first measurable snowfall since December 11. At present, this continues to appear to be the kind of storm that could bring 1"-3"/2"-4" to Philadelphia to New York City, more to the north and west, including New England, and less to the south and east.

The ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly was +0.2°C and the Region 3.4 anomaly was +0.5°C for the week centered around January 8. For the past six weeks, the ENSO Region 1+2 anomaly has averaged +0.27°C and the ENSO Region 3.4 anomaly has averaged +0.50°C. The remainder of winter 2019-2020 will likely feature neutral-warm to weak El Niño conditions.

The SOI was -10.64 today.

Today, the preliminary Arctic Oscillation (AO) figure was +4.368.

The AO will average above +3.000 during the January 1-15 period. Since 1950, there were 7 cases when the AO averaged +2.000 or above during that period. Four (57%) saw the AO average for the final 15 days of January average 1.500 or more sigma lower than the January 1-15 figure (1952, 1983, 2005, and 2007) with 1952 and 2005 having a negative average for the latter period. All four had a negative AO average for February. Three (43%) saw smaller declines (1975, 1989, and 1993). All three had February AO averages > 0.000.

No significant stratospheric warming event appears likely through January 22. Wave 2 activity will remain relatively suppressed just past mid-January. Toward January 20, a short-lived moderate amplitude Wave 2 could impact the upper stratosphere. Overall, most of the stratosphere is forecast to remain cold on the EPS.

On January 13, the MJO was in Phase 5 at an amplitude of 3.555 (RMM). The January 12-adjusted amplitude was 3.530. The January 13 amplitude is the highest January figure on record during Phase 5 of the MJO.

Since 1974, there were 8 prior cases where the MJO reached Phase 4 at an amplitude of 1.500 or above in the January 5-20 period. In 7 or 88% of those cases, the MJO progressed into Phases 7 and 8. Progression consistent with the historical experience would increase prospects for the development of a colder pattern during late January, which could continue into at least the start of February.

Further, the MJO was in Phase 4 at an amplitude of 2.273 on January 7 with an AO of +4.048. Since 1974, there were January three cases when the MJO was in Phase 4 at an amplitude of 2.000 or above and an AO of +3.000 or above. In all three cases the Week 3-4 period was colder than the Week 1-2 period (smallest change: 2.7° in 1993; largest change 16.8° in 2007). The change in 14-day average temperatures from the above three cases would imply a January 22-February 3 mean temperature of 10°-12° below the January 8-21 mean temperature in New York City. This data implies that the latter two week period would be colder than normal overall.

In addition, an MJO in Phase 7 at an amplitude of 2.000 or above typically sees measurable snowfall consistent with overall January 16-31 climatology. That would imply approximately 2 measurable snow events for Philadelphia to New York City and 2-3 such events for Boston during the closing two weeks of January.

Based on sensitivity analysis applied to the latest guidance, New York City has an implied 77% probability of a warmer than normal January.

 

 

  • Thanks 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 minutes ago, doncat said:

For a winter month, I don't think  that you could have a more boring first two weeks... +9° temp departure... 0.46" of precip and 1" of snow. I'm not an all snow guy, so give me cold Temps and some stormieness  and I'm ok...but geez  come on.

Last 10 days of December were bad too-temps in the 40's, no precip, yawn city. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

6 hours ago, rclab said:

Didn’t we have a recent memory cold season that had zero accumulation a but into March? As always....

97-98 had 0.5" until a surprise 5" snowfall in late March, preventing that winter from having the record lowest snowfall.

  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The next 8 days are averaging 32degs., or just Normal.

Month to date is  +10.0[42.5].         Should be +6.4[38.6] by the 23rd.      OK, using the next 17 day average temperature (28.6 or -3.5) as predicted by the GFS, January will end near +2.7.

2020011500_054@007_E1_knyc_I_NAEFS@EPSGR

44* here at 6am.   46* by 9am.     49* by Noon.     52* by2pm.      54* at 4pm.

 

Do not expect more than 2" Sat., or even beyond.      Models are back to the 50's by the 25th. or so.       A great decade---but not now please.

Which meteorologist will be the first to pull plug on this winter and admit there is no money for their proposed weather.       They should debate on national TV.

  • Haha 3
  • Confused 1
  • Weenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

53 minutes ago, CIK62 said:

The next 8 days are averaging 32degs., or just Normal.

Month to date is  +10.0[42.5].         Should be +6.4[38.6] by the 23rd.

44* here at 6am.

Do not expect more than 2" Sat., or even beyond.      Models are back to the 50's by the 25th. or so.       A great decade---but not now please.

Which meteorologist will be the first to pull plug on this winter and admit there is no money for their proposed weather.       They should debate on national TV.

What happened to the pattern flip after the 20th? Can any of these models really be that good? This winter has stinker written all over it, but that's just gut feeling. I'll wait and see what happens, because what else can one do?

  • Like 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

The most frustrating thing about winters like this is the models always show something just over there towards the end of their run. Then we discuss it for awhile only for that to then appear as snow to rain and then closer to the event mainly white rain and then plain rain. It is frustrating. Hoping to head to Vermont in February to see some ‘winter’. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

You can see the models adjusting milder around the 25th now that they have such a strong AAM rise. This is occurring as the record MJO enters the Western Pacific phases. We are getting a very strong WWB with this and a more El Niño looking regime. The stronger ridge building into SE Canada around the 25th is part of this pattern.

A90C512C-9F57-4D01-87EF-9A6B947DF826.thumb.jpeg.7da315a565614d319a60482c8dd4d37f.jpeg

 

265A2B1A-08C7-4903-BDC6-789D885BF7CF.thumb.png.e3add6b8ab1863939a2ce4018f5af67b.png
03F83EFC-D860-408E-8B77-E8F6980D05B4.gif.d2799a2eaf0eed6a3d265fe0265650d9.gif

  • Like 3
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

47 minutes ago, weatherpruf said:

What happened to the pattern flip after the 20th? Can any of these models really be that good? This winter has stinker written all over it, but that's just gut feeling. I'll wait and see what happens, because what else can one do?

Not looking great all the sudden.  January could have an incredible +++ departure if next weekend ends up warm.    NYC is something like +10 right now.

  • Haha 1
  • Sad 1
  • Weenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, weatherpruf said:

What happened to the pattern flip after the 20th? Can any of these models really be that good? This winter has stinker written all over it, but that's just gut feeling. I'll wait and see what happens, because what else can one do?

The flip is still coming

  • Haha 1
  • Weenie 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, weatherpruf said:

What happened to the pattern flip after the 20th? Can any of these models really be that good? This winter has stinker written all over it, but that's just gut feeling. I'll wait and see what happens, because what else can one do?

The entire h5 set up is changing after the 20th. It’s not going to be consistently cold for weeks on end. We will have times where it will warm up. Today will be the last warm day for a while. 

  • Like 2
  • Thanks 1
Link to comment
Share on other sites

22 minutes ago, Snow88 said:

In PB we trust

Why do you think the rest of the winter will suck ?

Never said it would suck, but I'm starting to doubt we see anything memorable. There was no ridging 2 days ago on models now that's showing up....(and we know how that works-name a winter warmup that did not over-perform)    Some cold mixed in with warmups, hopefully a  snowstorm or two to salvage things.  Last time NYC saw a storm of more than 4 inches?   Nov 2018.   Let's hope we can at least get that and hopefully more.   Give me a Feb 2006 storm and I'd call it a day for sure.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, bluewave said:

You can see the models adjusting milder around the 25th now that they have such a strong AAM rise. This is occurring as the record MJO enters the Western Pacific phases. We are getting a very strong WWB with this and a more El Niño looking regime. The stronger ridge building into SE Canada around the 25th is part of this pattern.

A90C512C-9F57-4D01-87EF-9A6B947DF826.thumb.jpeg.7da315a565614d319a60482c8dd4d37f.jpeg

 

265A2B1A-08C7-4903-BDC6-789D885BF7CF.thumb.png.e3add6b8ab1863939a2ce4018f5af67b.png
03F83EFC-D860-408E-8B77-E8F6980D05B4.gif.d2799a2eaf0eed6a3d265fe0265650d9.gif

Do you think will then get more of a classic Nino February? The stj is definitely going to become more active and with are at the coldest climo part of the year. We don’t need -25 over are heads to snow in late January 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.
×
×
  • Create New...