POST “STORM” REVIEW

Snow will be ending from west to east shortly.

Well, I’m glad I had emphasized last night that all the major model’s built-in snow algorithms had predicted only 0.35 to 0.50 inches of snow and they didn’t support my old technique and the 1.5 to 2.0 inches which I had thought possible.

Indeed, this morning,  the NAM QPF amounts look to be over-done, based on radar. (Perhaps this is why the NCEP has recently decided to stop further development efforts of the NAM.)

Radar 6:37 AM. (Courtesy of weatherTAP.com- https://weatherTAP.com )

Looking back several days, the ‘new’ GFS probably did the best in advance, the Canadian not so good.  I had not mentioned the new NBM (National Blend of Models)  in my posts, but looking back, it also did well with the snow forecast in advance.

WEDNESDAY WEATHER UPDATE

[su_note note_color=”#defcdc”]Update Tues 9:45PM: The latest NAM data suggests that a wave develops along the front, increasing the precipitation and delaying the end of the snow.

Current QPF  values have increased to 0.35 inches water equivalent during a time when the precipitation type will be snow. Using my own method and accounting for melting and warmer ground temps, it seems that about 2 inches of snow are possible.  Snow flurries and showers may linger until 10-11AM.

10 :15 PM Update: The NAM built-in snow algorithms show less than 1 inch of snow. The latest WRF models are closer to the NAM, so my 2 inch total isn’t supported by the built in algorithms. We’ll see what happens.

10:45 PM Update:  Latest GFS doesn’t show the enhanced precipitation nor does it delay the snow ending. It maintains a snow total of about 1/2 inch.  [/su_note]


I’ve had a chance to review the afternoon model runs.  Both the GFS and the NAM still predict just a coating (0.30 and 0.50) of snow falling after midnight and ending about 7-9 AM, based on their built-in snow algorithms.

As mentioned in my previous post, using my old, time-tested (but not always accurate) NAM FOUS data technique, I’m coming up with 1.5 to 2 inches of snow.

I’ve never been a big fan of the built-in snow depth algorithms.

Interestingly, this afternoon’s Canadian High Resolution Model (HRDPS) has been consistently predicting ~1.6 inches of snow.

The latest RAP (Rapid Refresh) just available shows 1 inch of snow and ends with light flurries about 9 AM.

So it will be interesting to see how things turn out.    I’ll be looking at the NAM data which comes out about 9:15 and the NAM FOUS data which becomes available about 9:35 PM tonight.   Check back later for an update.