I’m always looking to find the best way to offer the most transparency to the process of weather forecasting. Recent feedback suggests that my attempts to show all updates/edits may have made the forecasts too confusing.
Going forward, I’m inclined to have any update to the initial post contained in a single update box; previous updates will be deleted. But let’s hear what YOUR preferences are.
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Updated on Fri 8:50 AM in the green box below Updated on Thu 7:50 PM in the box below Updated on Thu 8:35 AM in the box below
The coming weekend will be a transitional time for the current weather pattern.
The current highly amplified jet flow trough that’s giving us such cool weather will transition by Sunday to a more typically hot summer upper air ridge with a Bermuda high as shown below—
Current amplified trough
Upper Air building Ridge
The current GFS and NBM show sunny skies with a slight chance of a shower Saturday late afternoon or evening, followed by sunny, hot and humid weather for Sunday.
Updated on Fri 8:47 AM The general forecast trend is for more clouds on Saturday, but most models are keeping any showers mostly southeast of Philadelphia area until evening hours.
Sunday will feature an upper air low centered over Philadelphia and a surface low off of the coast. The models are keeping the showers far east right now with a mix of sun and clouds on Sunday.
Both days will feature hot and humid weather, but not as hot and humid as previously forecast. Temps 88-90 with dew points in the low to mid 60s.
Check back for the Weekend Weather forecast this evening.
Thu 07:49 PM Update — What had appeared to be a slam-dunk weekend forecast now appears much cloudier, both literally and figuratively. This afternoon’s GFS model suggests an upper low lingers over the area on Sunday, with clouds and showers. Too soon to trust the GFS, since it’s an outlier with the other models. We’ll have a better handle Friday morning. Don’t be surprised if the forecast for the weekend changes considerably.
Thu 08:48 AM Update — Last night’s models have more clouds Saturday ahead of a warm front and a somewhat increased chance of showers/thunderstorms in the evening. High temperatures in the upper 80s.
The high temps will be in the upper 80s Saturday and just above 90º for Sunday.
Currently, the longer range models show all of next weekto be very hot, humid and rain-free with high temps in the low 90s and dewpoints in the uncomfortable 70º range. With the exception of a widely scattered or isolated thunderstorm, much of the upcoming week looks to be dry.
Sun 09:59 PM Forecast Review — The models did well with the forecast for the storms to diminish as they approached Philadephia Sunday evening.
I’m trying to get past yesterday’s model forecast failure in the immediate Philadelphia area. Anthony Wood wrote a Philadelphia Inquirer article which mentions the forecast failure, but the expert he interviews provides an excuse, not any real answer, to explain the forecast failure. With so many models incorrectly forecasting heavy rain/storms in Philadelphia proper, the only thing I can postulate is there was some essential upper air data that was missing and/or systematically incorrect. But let’s move on…
Updated Saturday forecast, Fri 10:30 PM highlighted below Updated Sunday forecast, Sat 8:30 AM highlighted below Updated Sunday forecast, Sat 7:40 PM highlighted below Updated Sunday forecast, Sat 11:40 AM highlighted below Updated Sunday forecast, Sat 9:15 PM highlighted below
Current Water Vapor Image 4 PM Friday showing moisture not that far to our south. (Click on image for a larger view.)
The front that moved through here Thursday is south of us, but the boundary isn’t that far south as shown on today’s water vapor image—
The cool air that’s with us on Friday will remain through Saturday, but aloft, warm humid air will try to return northward. Some cloudiness will develop as this moisture tries to return and will affect areas from the city southward according to the GFS.Any cloudiness dissipates by the afternoon. (The NBM has very little cloudiness.) Still a very nice day with high temperatures 78.7º ± 2.2º Blue Bell (NBM) and very low humidity.
Sunday’s weather will be influenced by a warm front, followed by a strong upper air disturbance with a cold front moving through Sunday evening.
Strong Upper air disturbance (1) moving southward push a cold front through Sunday night. GEFS model forecast for 2 AM Sunday (Click on image for a larger view.)
The warm front will continue to push from the south aloft. This will result in cloudiness and some scattered showers Sunday.The NBM has considerable showers, the GFS not so much.
Update: Today’s GFS joins the other models with showers/thunderstorms for most of Sunday, starting during the morning and continuing through the afternoon as the warm front moves through. There may be a break in the action late afternoon. Additional showers/thunderstorms during the evening, about 9 PM.
Update: Most models have the line of thunderstorms Sunday evening weakening as it approaches Philadelphia from the west; they may not make it into the city or eastward.
At 9 15 PM, there hasn’t been much weakening of the line of storms. We’ll see what happens..
Update: The GFS maintains very little in the way of showers during the day.Any showers/thunderstorms in the evening will be mostly north and west of the city, less into Philadelphia. High temperatures 77.9º ± 3.3º Blue Bell (NBM) with higher humidity/dewpoints in low 60s.
As the cold front moves in Sunday evening, more showers and thunderstorms are likely. Current estimates are between 6-9 PM.
This upper air impulse (above graphic #1) will be the kicker for a very amplified jet flow next week. We’ll be on the cool side of things, but the amplification will spawn low pressure that, depending upon the exact track, may provide very unsettled and rainy conditions, especially by next Thursday.
GEFS Wednesday forecast showing VERY amplified jet flow for July. This will spawn low pressure. Exact placement to be determined. (Click on image for a larger view.)
Current amplified trough
