Monthly Archives: January 2024

Philadelphia Weather Outlook

THIS WEEK’S WEATHER

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Fri 4:29 PM —Forecast Review — The high temperatures were closer to the NAM-NEST forecast, as was the cloud cover and drizzle mist. The warm front never made it through our area.

Here are the actual temperatures recorded by the RTMA—

RTMA (Real Time Mesoscale Analysis) at 3:15 PM, actual temperatures . Contours are 1º increments. (Click on image for a larger view.)

Friday Forecast Change

Posted Friday 01/26/24 @ 11:11 AM — It looks like the NAM-NEST forecast will be closer to reality, perhaps a bit too cold. Here’s the latest NAM-NEST (12z)

01-26-24 12z NAM_NEST high temperatures for Friday. The NAM-NEST has been the consistent colder temperature forecast. (Click on image for a larger view.)

If we’re going totally with the NAM-NEST model, instead of the clearing and sunshine around noontime (as forecast by the other models), the NAM-NEST keeps us cloudy all day! It even keeps the drizzle going in some areas through the afternoon. This is what happens when one “ignores the NAM”.

Posted Friday 01/26/24 @ 8:39 AM — A quick mobile update. Well, I just viewed this morning’s (12z) HRRR which just became available after tunneling into my weather data server. It is leaning towards a much cooler day with high temperatures in the low 50s. My guess is later runs of the NBM will show this trend too. Perhaps I should learn to follow my own mantra— “Never ignore the NAM”. (In this case, the NAM-NEST).

Friday’s Temperatures

Posted Friday 01/26/24 @ 6:56 AM — The models have trended closer to the 60º+ promised earlier in the week. Here’s the latest NBM—

01-26-24 06z NBM high temps for Friday. (Click on image for a larger view.)

As mentioned, consistent with this forecast has been the HRRR. Also consistent (but often forecasts too warm in this location) is the Canadian HRDPS—

01-26-24 06z HRDPS high temps. (approx) (Click on image for a larger view.)

So I’m forced to go with the warmer NBM forecast. It’s designed to do the heavy lifting with these sort of forecasts. BUT…

Just food for thought is the NAM-NEST. It’s still maintaining much colder temperatures. I’ve seen it correct in these situations. If the warm forecast goes bust, we’ve ignored the NAM-NEST—

01-26-24 06z NAM-NEST. Much cooler temps than the other models. Could it be correct?? (Click on image for a larger view.)
So How Warm will it be Friday?

Posted Thursday 01/25/24 @ 5:03 PM — That’s a great question. The latest models have a ± 10 degree spread (sd=10º) which is as large as I’ve ever seen in a less than 24 hour forecast.

The latest (18z) GFS keeps us in the 50s as does the NBM and HREF forecast. The NAM-NEST is forecasting the upper 40s for us while the HRRR is consistently forecasting 65º. The HRRR is probably our most advanced model.

Here’s the latest HREF which combines and time lags several different models—

01-25-24 18z HREF forecast high temps for Friday. Contours are 1º intervals. In Philadelphia, there’s an uncertainty of ± 10 degrees, which is as large as it gets. (Click on image for a larger view.)

As much as I want it to be 65º on Friday, my experience whenever the NAM-NEST is so cold with warm front passages in winter, means the warm front doesn’t make it through. (It’s different in Spring and Summer, where the NEST can be too cold. )

I’m planning on biking on the Schuylkill Trail Friday whether it’s 48º or 65º. I just hope they’ve dealt with the mud!

Posted Thursday 01/25/24 @ 11:06 AM — I’ve waited to update to review this morning’s models. The forecast for Friday, which has been “up in the air” based on the large spread in model forecasts, has not clarified and it’s not clear that we break out into sunshine by mid to late morning with temperatures in the mid 60s, as forecast consistently by the HRRR!

Basically, it’s not clear whether the warm front will move far enough north of our area on Friday. The warm front is somewhat stationary near us and waves of low pressure will move over us on Thursday into early Friday morning delivering an additional 0.75″ of rain. —

Current satellite water vapor image Thursday 11 AM with superimposed RAP model 500-1000 mb thickness lines (yellow), Mean Sea Level Pressure isobars (black contours) potential vorticity (fine violet contours) with superimposed MRMS RADAR. Warm front position drawn based on wind direction at the surface. (Click on image for a larger view.)

The model blend (NBM )still has us in considerable cloudiness into mid afternoon with a high in the mid 50s and the HREF, an ensemble model based on several models keeps us in the mid 50s with clouds not really breaking until 1-2 PM, earlier in western suburbs.

Here’s this morning’s 12z model blend (NBM) —

01-25-24 12z NBM high temp forecast for Friday. The trend has been downward, (Click on image for a larger view.)

In contrast, the latest Canadian RGEM (which does tend to run a bit too warm in our area) is closer to the much warmer HRRR —

01-25-24 12z Canadian RGEM (RDPS) (Click on image for a larger view.)

Winter warm front passages are notorious for slow northward movement in our area. I’ll keep an eye on it.

Posted Wednesday 01/24/24 @ 8:02 PM — The forecast for the next few days continues to be a challenge and it appears to have changed considerably from yesterday. As described over past posts, the high temperature as forecast by the model blend (NBM) has had huge standard deviations, indicating high spread in the model forecasts and much higher uncertainty in the overall forecast.

Wednesday certainly turned out bit more dismal than expected and if you liked today, you’ll like Thursday which promises to have much more rain, perhaps with a break in the action mid day.

Several things have changed with today’s model guidance—

• The gusty winds forecast around midnight are now only forecast by the GFS. The wind gust forecasts from the other models are not impressive.
• The timing of each bolus of rain and each wave along the warm front varies. Some models have the rain ending around daybreak Friday with possible breaks of sun. Other models have rain lingering until at least noontime and remaining cloudy.
• The much promised 60º+ temperatures on Friday are not a certainty and the forecast trend for temperatures stay in the 50s here. Essentially, the warm front may not make it north past Philadelphia.
• The front will return as a weak cold front and temperatures on Saturday look to be lower than whatever we reach on Friday.

It’s a good thing all forecasts aren’t this challenging.

Here’s the model blend (NBM) high temperature forecast. Note that this temperature forecast is the average based on the many models that comprise the NBM.

Statistically, these highs temps are very uncertain with a standard deviation (think of it as “±” ) 7º. We could hit near 70º; we could stay in the 50s.

This afternoon’s 18z NBM shows highs that are somewhat lower than this morning’s forecast and with an even larger standard deviation. (Click on image for a larger view.)

Posted Wednesday 01/24/24 @ 8:24 AM — A warm front will move through tonight around midnight an very windy conditions will develop at that time as a very strong low level jet (about 3000 feet above) moves over us.

Before that time, I’ll have to retract my forecast of cloudy but “dry” conditions today, Wednesday, as some models are cranking out light drizzle or very spotty showers.

I keep hearing on the radio about highs of over 60º; That that will occur on Friday, not Thursday. We’ll only be in the mid 50s at best on Thursday, late afternoon.

The warm front clears our area on Friday and we’ll be in the low 60s by mid to late afternoon. (There’s still an unusually high “spread” in model forecast high temperatures of ± 5.5º, capturing high uncertainty in that high temperature; it could be higher, it could be lower.)

High temperatures on Friday—

01-24-24 06z NBM high temperatures for Friday (Click on image for a larger view.)

Posted Tuesday 01/23/24 @ 7:26 PM — We had more sunshine today (Tuesday) than had been forecast.

Wednesday does appear to be cloudy, but dry until the evening. There’s a large spread (higher than usual uncertainty) in the high temperatures forecast on Wednesday, with the GFS keeping us in the low 40s while the NBM and HRRR has us reaching 46º.

Around midnight Wednesday into Thursday morning, rain will move in with very GUSTY WINDS.

Much of Thursday will have periods light rain and temperatures are expected to reach the low 50s but still with a wide spread in the model forecast highs. (The GFS keeps us only in the mid 40s.)

Friday looks damp and wet early, then cloudy with temperatures in the low 60s!

Saturday looks cloudy but mild and dry. An easterly wind will keep us from being as warm as Friday.

Rain moves in for Sunday.

Between Wednesday and Monday morning, we will likely have received another 2 inches of rain—

Todays’ GEFS model’s accumulative rain through Monday morning. (Click on image for a larger view.)

Just wanted to mention that the large spread in the forecast high temperatures usually indicates large uncertainty in cloud cover and the forecast in general. I expect daily forecast specifics to change.

Posted Monday 01/22/24 @ 4:46 PM — The stream of moisture continues to take shape and poised to move in late Tuesday into Wednesday and especially Thursday into Friday—

Current satellite water vapor image (Monday afternoon) with superimposed RAP model 500-1000 mb thickness lines (yellow), Mean Sea Level Pressure isobars (black contours) potential vorticity (fine violet contours) with superimposed MRMS RADAR.

Plenty of clouds are expected Tuesday but rain is expected to stay to our north.

Light rain develops before daybreak Wednesday, but the heavy rain probably won’t move in until Thursday into Friday. Another round of rain, possibly late Saturday into Sunday. I expect the exact timing of each system to change.

Over this time period, we may get another 2 inches of rain total!

So we’ll be getting milder weather through Saturday, then a chill down early next week.

The beginning of February may be quite mild.

Previously Posted Sun 9:39 PM —

This week will feature a transition from a very cold upper level trough to a building upper level ridge with moisture from a southwesterly flow from the Gulf of Mexico. Here’s the current water vapor image showing the developing moisture conveyor belt from the Gulf—

Water Vapor image with RAP model thickness contours and jet stream wind streamlines. The disturbance developing in Texas will bring a continuous stream of moisture from late Tuesday possibly through Saturday or Sunday. (Click on image for larger view.)

The NAEFS forecast for Wednesday captures the developing flow of moisture and low pressure systems that will move in from the southwest—

NAEFS forecast for Wednesday at 4 PM shows the developing moisture stream from our southwest. (Click on image for larger view.)

Monday will be the nicest day (sunshine-wise) but also still the coldest. There may be a period of cloudiness during the day Monday as some moisture from the system moves off to our northwest.

Gradual moderating temperatures through the week with rain expected by late Tuesday. Temperatures by Friday may be near 60º but it might be quite wet. An inch or more of rain is possible by Friday. Frozen ground, existing snow cover, saturated frozen ground may result in some flooding, although the exact level of a flooding threat isn’t known just yet.

Philadelphia Area Weather Forecasts

WEEKEND WEATHER FORECAST

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Posted Sun, 01/21/24 @ 3:38 PM— I’ve updated this past Friday’s snow forecast review with some new information and insights.

Previously Posted Fri 6:01 PM —

The low pressure system that brought us the snow Friday will be followed by a very cold high pressure system, and the upper air cyclonic flow and pressure gradient will result in cloudiness on Saturday and windy conditions both Saturday and Sunday.

Current satellite water vapor image with superimposed RAP model 500-1000 mb thickness lines (yellow), jet level wind streamlines (orange contour-arrows) potential vorticity (fine violet contours) and superimposed MRMS radar. The upper low over the Great Lakes will drift eastward. (Click on image for a larger view.)

Saturday

Some sun in the morning, followed by mostly cloudy skies late morning into the mid afternoon. Clouds should diminish late afternoon. WINDY and extremely cold.

High temperature 23º ( NBM model— location Blue Bell, PA)
High temperature 24º ( NBM model— location Philadelphia, PA)
above average confidence.

Sunday

Sunny and continued windy in the morning, less windy in the afternoon. Still very cold, but not as cold as Saturday.

High temperature 29º ( NBM model— location Blue Bell, PA)
High temperature 30º ( NBM model— location Philadelphia, PA)

Winds

NBM wind meteogram for location Blue Bell, PA (Click on image for a larger view.)

Extended Outlook

I don’t see any more snow through the end of January. Moderating temperatures later this coming week. There may be a big warm up later in the month into February.