Updated Thu 08/10 @ 7:58 PM — Friday looks quite nice with temperatures in the low to mid 80s. Sunshine through high cirrus clouds for most of the day.
Thursday Update
Thu 7:47 PM Forecast Review —So how much rain did we get?
MRMS radar- rain gauge estimated total amount of rainfall on Thursday. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Most models over-estimated the rainfall today. Last night’s 06zHRRR came the closest in predicting the axis of heavy rain. This morning’s HRRR didn’t do as well, probably due to inadequate model spin-up time.
Thu 1:54 PM Forecast Review — Based on current radar trends and RAP data, I don’t see the severe weather occurring in our immediate area. Probably just 0.5-1″ in the immediate PHL area.
Radar about 1:20 PM (Click on image for a larger view.)
Updated Thu 08/10 @ 10:58 AM — Light sprinkles have moved in earlier than forecast. The main activity is still to our southwest—
Thursday Forecast Clarified
Updated Thu 08/10 @ 8:05 AM — Severity Parameter Comparison Table for Today– Allows comparison to recent severe events.
Severity Parameter (HRRR)
Sept 1 , 2021 Tornado Outbreak (example of highly severe)
Severity Parameters Impact: ⚑ indicates favors Severity⚐ indicates Possible Severity ↓ indicates works against Severity ⇩ Significant, but less impact
Update Thu 8/10 7:37 AM — Last night’s 06z models have come together to allow for better forecast accuracy. It appears that CAPE values will be higher than previously forecast. The chance for strong to severe thunderstorms has increased for today. The biggest issue will be heavy rainfall in some areas, on the order of 1-2 inches.
Per the GFS (which had the best timing for Monday night’s storms) showers have already moved into far western parts of Montgomery county, but are heading northward, away from the city.
The main activity moves into immediate Philadelphia area between 11 and noon. Peak activity is around 2 PM, lasting on and off until 5-6 PM.
Thursday Outlook- More Thunderstorms
Update Wed 8/09 11:11 PM — Tonight’s high resolution models have a wide spread of forecasts. Some have heavy rain east in NJ, some have heavy rain northwest of the city. You get the idea. We simply don’t know where the heaviest rain will fall. Many areas may only get about 0.6”. A few may get 1.5”. Severe storms look less likely, with CAPE values unimpressive.
I’ll try to pin it down tomorrow morning.
Updated Wed 08/09 @ 5:15 PM — A rapidly moving system will move in from the west on Thursday. Showers and thunderstorms are likely to move in from the southwest from mid to late morning and linger through much of the afternoon. Some moderate to heavy rain expected in some areas.Some strong storms also appear likely, but CAPE values are in the 500-600 Joule/Kg range rather than the 2500 range of this past Monday night.
The latest HRRR shows an area of significantly elevated severe parameters between 11 AM and 2 PM in the Philadelphia area, while the NAM-NEST shows the most likely areas for strong (to severe) storms will be south into Delaware and much of the NJ Shore during the later afternoon. I generally go with the HRRR model with these sort of things.
Here’s the 18z HRRR—
Today’s 18z HRRR shows significantly elevated vertical shear (color shading) and significant helicity (brown rounded contours). Storm motion vectors (short arrows) are aligned with the direction of the shear (longer streamlines), increasing likelihood of stronger storms. CAPE values (not shown) are not all that impressive, due to lack of sunshine. Still enough CAPE to allow for thunderstorm development.Lower CAPE may put a lid on the severity of the thunderstorms. White arrow shows expected storm track. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Updated 9:00 PM It looks like a few storms popped tonight—
Wed 5:13 PM Forecast Review — The isolated shower/storms haven’t materialized here except just north of Allentown. This afternoon’s NAM-NEST continues to forecast showers moving into our area between 9 and 11 PM. A low confidence forecast.
Wednesday Forecast Update
Updated Wed 08/09 @ 9:40 AM — The 06z HRDPS shows an upper air disturbance rotating through our area between 4 and 7 PM today with a few widely scattered/isolated showers and clouds. The latest 12z HRRR shows only a bit of activity, but we’ve seen the HRRR underestimate these situations over past weeks.
06z HRDPS shows widely scattered to isolated showers moving through at 5 PM. As always, the exact location of the model-predicted showers is just a rough guide, not to be taken literally. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Wednesday Outlook
Updated Tue 08/08 @ 7:58 PM — A beautiful day in store for Wednesday. Sunny, low humidity. A bit windy/breezy in the early afternoon. High 85º-86º.
A disturbance in Nebraska will bring showers and thunderstorms to us by Thursday afternoon.
RGEM forecast 3 hour precipitation at 4 PM Thursday. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Tuesday Outlook
Updated Tue 08/08 @ 9:08 AM —Departing low pressure at the surface and an rapid increase in cold air aloft will result in instability cloudiness and windy conditions today.
NBM cloud cover (dark) with standard deviation (contours) (Click on image for a larger view.)
Mon 09:32 PM Forecast Review — I think the models did pretty good today. The GFS correctly got the earlier timing. The HRDPS and the HRRR correctly predicted the bow echo appearance. The storms, while still strong, did reduce in intensity as they moved into NJ.
Update Mon 8/07 6:31 PM — The bow echo, predicted by the HRDPS early today, seems to have developed—
Update Mon 8/07 6:01 PM — Evidence of rotation in Lancaster county visible on current radar
Severe Weather Update
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 5:34 PM — The latest NBM continues the trend of showing storms at their strongest in western suburbs with reduced severity as they move into NJ. The exception in NJ where severity continues – areas south of Vineland and Salem and Cape May Counties.
Severe Parameter Table for this Storm
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 3:48 PM — My regular readers know I like to prepare this table of severe parameters to compare with known other severe events. Today’s severity table is impressive.
Severity Parameter (HRRR)
Sept 1 , 2021 Tornado Outbreak (example of highly severe)
Recent 4-1-23 Tornadoes (Example of severe)
Recent 08-07-23 18z HRRR Bow Echo
08-10-23 Today’s 06z HRRR & Impact
Notes
CAPE Joules/kg
3500-4200 ⚑⚑⚑⚑
2100 ⚑⚑
2600 ⚑⚑
1200 ⚐ ⚐
Helicity m^2/s^2
1350 ⚑⚑⚑⚑⚑
655 ⚑⚑
726 ⚑⚑
560 ⚑
Vertical Shear 1/sec
40-46 ⚑⚑⚑
40-45 ⚑⚑⚑
30 ⚑
32 ⚑
Precipitable Water
2.7″ ⚑⚑⚑⚑
0.83” ↓
2.1″ ⚑⚑
2.3″ ⚑⚑
Heavy rain potential
Lifted Index º K
minus 6º ⚑⚑
minus 9.3º ⚑⚑⚑
minus 9.9º ⚑⚑⚑
Minus 4.4º ⚐
HRRR Hail inches
1.9 ⚑⚑
1.4 ⚑
1.8 ⚑⚑
1.6 ⚑
Peak Wind Gusts mph
40-50 ⚑⚑
40-50 ⚑⚑
65mph ⚑⚑
32mph ⚐
Storm Motion Shear Vector Alignment
Aligned – ~ 90º ⚑⚑
Almost aligned ⚑⚑
aligned ⚑⚑
Somewhat aligned ⚐
250 mb Jet Stream Wind mph
63 ⚑
135 ⚑⚑
74 ⚑
95-104 ⚑⚑
Severity Parameters Impact: ⚑ indicates favors Severity⚐ indicates Possible Severity ↓ indicates works against Severity ⇩ Significant, but less impact
Monday Severe Storm Threat Update
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 3:28 PM — The latest HRRR (18z) shows the following trends:
Activity begins far western sections around 6 PM
Activity moves into immediate Philadelphia area between 7 and 9 PM
Strongest severe threat is in western suburbs, but strong to severe storms possible in and around Philadelphia and across into NJ.
Latest HRRR shows storms continuing through 11 PM
Significant Hail threat across the entire region.
Tornadic activity possible in Lancaster county, far southern Chester county into Delaware and Maryland.
Monday Severe Storm Threat
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 12:58 PM — The current version of the NBM model (version 4.1) features a new parameter, 4 hour Tornado Probability. The latest NBM shows an area to our west having an elevated probability of tornado formation at 8 PM. Note that this area is west and south of the immediate PHL area.
Today’s 15z NBM shows elevated 4 hour Tornado Probability to our west and south. NBM model version 4.1 was released early 2023. This is the first time I’ve seen this parameter noticeably elevated in our general area since its inception. (Click on image for a larger view.)
This morning’s models continue with a range of start times for the storms. As early as 5:30 to 6 PM (GFS) and closer to 8-9 PM (HRDPS) for the immediate Philadelphia areas.
The trend noted earlier, that the most severe storms remain to our south and west, continues. However the latest models do show a few strong storms near Philadelphia and just east into NJ.
The latest 15z HRRR continues to show some weakening of the line of storms as it moves east into NJ.
Monday Severe Storm Threat
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 10:30 AM — additional graphics for tornadoes and hail added below.
Updated Mon 08/07 @ 9:49 AM — The 12z HRRR has become available. The 12z model runs (and the 00z model runs) utilize direct upper air measurements with weather balloons (and radiosondes) launched globally. While upper air measurements can be obtained with satellite imagery and radar, the direct measurements have an advantage.
The 12z HRRR has supported my impressions from last night: the severity of the storms weaken as they move through Philadelphia and eastward into NJ. But much can happen before moving across the Delaware River.
The HRRR shows a bow-echo type appearance at 7 PM, west of the city—
12z HRRR instantaneous PRATE (precipitation rate) at 7 PM. (Click on image for a larger view.)
By 8 PM, the change in intensity is is apparent—
12z HRRR at 8 PM. (Click on image for a larger view.)
The earlier 06z HRDPS is most impressive with its bow-shape image which also weakens as it moves eastward—
Today’s earlier 06z Canadian HRDPS shows an impressive bow-shaped precip signature of severe weather. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Assuming the reduction in intensity occurs, much can still transpire between 7 PM and 8 PM. The takeaway from this is one might expect less intensity east of Philadelphia. The greatest threat of severe weather is from Philadelphia westward and especially southwardtowards Delaware and southern South Jersey.
Tornado Potential — The HRRR is showing isolated tornadic potential—
HRRR high helicity in areas of precip. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Hail
12z HRRR Areas of increased risk of large size hail. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Monday Severe Storm Threat
Update Mon 8/07 8:22 AM — The jet stream/upper air dynamics that had suggested weakening of storms from Philadelphia and east no longer appears to be the case. That said, the most severe threat is still western suburbs of Philadelphia and southern areas near Wilmington Delaware and South Jersey. Storm threat is about 6-8 PM (HRRR) and 8-10 PM (HRDPS.
Last night’s 06z models are showing a “bow echo” signature of a severe storm line to the west Philadelphia.
Some scattered storms possible as early as 3-4 PM, ahead of the main line of storms.
Look for an update here before 10AM with the latest 12z HRRR data.
Monday Storm Outlook
Update Sun 8/06 10:41 PM — I know this flies in the face of some of tv/radio forecasts predicting severe weather later Monday, but a number of models show the heavy activity late Monday moving to our north and south, weakening in the immediate Philadelphia area. (The upper air dynamics become unfavorable in our immediate neck of the woods.) Something to keep in mind. Too early to be certain.
It also looks like scattered storms are possible earlier in the afternoon, ahead of the main group of storms.
Updated Sun 08/06 @ 7:37 PM — An approaching warm front will bring showers and thunderstorms tonight, after midnight in the immediate Philadelphia area and an hour or so earlier southwestern suburbs.
Currently the storms are in the Baltimore / Washington area—
Combined Water Vapor and Radar image at 7 PM with superimposed RAP model low level winds and moisture convergence. The heaviest rain will move up to our west tonight, but storms here can still bring some heavy downpours. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Some areas will receive heavy rainfall tonight, especially areas northwest of Allentown and southern Chester County.
Showers may linger until 8 AM Monday.
Some models have clouds breaking for periods of sunshine by Monday afternoon, but some models have clouds lingering with ongoing scattered showers during the day. Probably somewhere in between.
There’s a range of model timing for the thunderstorms with the approaching cold front Monday late afternoon and evening.
The GFS, HRDPS and RAP have 5-6 PM as the start of some heavier storms in Philadelphia and immediate suburbs. The HRRR was closer to 7-8 PM Monday evening. Heavy rain and strong wind gusts are possible with these storms.
Some activity may diminish in intensity as it moves through Philadelphia, but that’s not a certainty.
Updated Fri 08/04 @ 2:11 PM — I’ve delayed this update to allow time for clarification regarding the line of storms expected with the cold front passage this evening.
There’s still a wide range of forecasts, with some models having the line of showers/storms move through between 6 and 9 PM while other forecast guidance has the storms closer to 9 PM to midnight.
Most, but not all, models have the storms losing upper level support causing them to weaken considerably as they approach Philadelphia.
The latest HRRR continues with that scenario, but does have some potentially severe storms in Lehigh Berks counties and upper Bucks/Montgomery counties. Those storms weaken considerably as they move southeastward towards Philadelphia.
Here’s the 15z HRRR showing elevated CAPE and highly elevated helicity in Berks county.
The latest HRRR has a later arrival of any showers/storms here, between 9 PM and midnight—
Today’s 15z HRRR shows simulated radar and elevated surface CAPE (orange-yellow). Highly elevated helicity values (contours) in white box. (Click on image for a larger view.)
We’ll see some sunshine break through this afternoon. The more sunshine, the more energy for storms.
As for Saturday, the forecast promise of a perfect weekend is not all that clear. Several models are showing considerable cloudiness lingering on Saturday as low pressure develops on the stalled front near Virginia. More details later this evening.
Friday Forecast
Update Thu 8/03 10:01 PM — Tonight’s models show any shower or thunderstorm activity tomorrow to be unimpressive, especially as they approach Philadelphia tomorrow evening. It appears they will lose their upper air support and weaken as they approach the city.
Updated Thu 08/03 @ 5:47 PM — There’s some uncertainty around the forecast for tonight and Friday. The HRRR and HRDPS both show clouds early Friday morning breaking for sunshine by noon. Then a fast moving cold front moves through between 7 and 10 PM Friday evening with showers and thunderstorms, some strong.
On the far other end of the spectrum is the latest NAM-NEST which shows considerable shower activity this evening and tonight into Friday morning. The NAM-NEST continues with the showers into the afternoon and has little in the way of sunshine. I’m going to downplay this NAM-NEST forecast for now and go with the drier HRRR/HRDPS forecast for the daytime Friday.
Some strong storms possible Friday evening with the cold front. Stay tuned.
Thursday Update
Thu 5:44 PM Forecast Review — The skies looked threatening at times early this afternoon, but only a few isolated showers broke out about 5 PM in Bucks county. Overall, we had more clouds than had been forecast and much less in the way of showers.
Updated Thu 08/03 @ 9:31 AM — Most of our NCEP models continue to keep us dry during the daytime today (Thursday). but notably, the ECMWF, RGEM and HRDPS forecast some light scattered shower activity in the afternoon. To try to determine which is correct, let’s see if there’s any satellite imagery that supports showers—
This morning’s IR Satellite shows several weak disturbances in the jet stream flow. I’m now leaning towards some widely scattered shower activity in the early afternoon. Most areas won’t have any showers. (Click on image for a larger view.)
I’m now leaning towards some widely scattered shower activity in the early afternoon. Most areas won’t have any showers.
Thursday Outlook
Update Wed 8/02 10:59 PM — After reviewing tonight’s early models, my earlier forecast still holds.
So mostly sunny, a few periods of cloudiness. During the afternoon, a few isolated showers west of the city, but most areas dry. More scattered showers possible in the evening, again mainly west of the city.
Updated Wed 08/02 @ 5:23 PM — The previously forecast warm front isn’t looking that impressive for Thursday, yet some models are cranking out periods of sun and clouds and very widely scattered showers on Thursday afternoon and evening. Most of the showers are forecast to be light and west of Philadelphia, but we’ve seen that forecast accuracy of location of precip is less than stellar.
So mostly sunny, a few periods of cloudiness. During the afternoon, a few isolated showers mostly west of the city, but most areas dry. More scattered showers possible in the evening, again mainly west of the city.
A weak warm front will cause some of these showers, but it will be enhanced by a rather strong jet streak.
Read more: THIS WEEK’S WEATHER12z ECMWF jet stream wind forecast for Thursday at 11 AM The jet streak position (white arrow) (red/magenta =high winds) puts our area into the left exit region (white box) of the jet streak . Rising motion occurs in the left exit region; with moisture, showers develop. (Click on image for a larger view.)
The forecast for tomorrow will be interesting. The latest NAM-NEST and HIRESW and RGEM models have scattered shower activity in the afternoon and evening. The latest HRRR and HRDPS show virtually no shower activity in the afternoon.
I’m leaning towards the sunnier and drier forecast for tomorrow, but it’s a bit lower confidence than average.
So mostly sunny, a few periods of cloudiness. During the afternoon, a few isolated showers mostly west of the city, but most areas dry. More scattered showers possible in the evening, again mainly west of the city.So mostly sunny, a few periods of cloudiness. During the afternoon, a few isolated showers mostly west of the city, but most areas dry. More scattered showers possible in the evening, again mainly west of the city.
Wednesday -Friday Update
Updated Tue 08/01 @ 7:49 PM — Not much happening weather-wise. Another beautiful day on Wednesday.
On Thursday, a warm front approaches with an increase in cloudiness, but the showers and clouds appear to be unimpressive.
Friday looks to be the most unsettled with periods of light showers, but the models aren’t showing any severe weather at this time. A cold front moves through Friday night with some showers and thunderstorms.
The weekend looks good!
Previously Posted Mon 10:47 AM —
Overview
There isn’t much to talk about weather-wise for the next three or so days. We’re in an upper level trough, with associated cooler weather, while the Midwestern US will be very hot, although not to levels seen for much of earlier July.
Expect clear and sunny weather through Wednesday, with low humidity.
On Mondays, I usually begin This Week’s Weather with a jet stream level map (250 mb level in summer). I’ll mix it up this week with a 500mb map (mid level atmosphere ~ 18,000 feet) this week, (which looks similar jet stream level map)—
Today’s 06z NAEFS 500 mb forecast map for Tuesday morning. Mid- level low and trough (1) bringing cooler weather here while mid and upper level high (2) keeps hot weather over the central US, all the way up to the Canadian Border.
Notice the orange contour that snakes across Florida and extends up the Canada in the central US. South of this 5476 “500-1000 mb thickness” contour, it’s extremely hot and humid. (Notice it’s just south of the jet flow winds.)
In this setup, impulses move along and near this thickness level with rain and unsettled weather in most cases. By Thursday, the mid level flow flattens out and the orange contour will be closer to our area, bringing increased chances of showers and thunderstorms.
