Tag Archives: nyc

NYC Weather Update – Mar 27, 2014

Climate, Northwest, NYC, Outside of NYC, Snow, Storms, Weather Update, Weekend, Western US, , , , , , , ,

We’re entering into a pattern of active weather through the weekend and into early next week. Today will be dry and pleasant, though well below normal with highs only in the mid 40s.

High pressure will move east of NYC before a cold front approaches from our west on Friday. Southwest flow around the high pressure center and ahead of the frontal boundary will usher in milder, moist air from the southeast. Temperatures on Friday will be near normal in the mid 50s. As the front passes through, expect periodic rain showers throughout the afternoon hours.

Saturday – a second frontal system is forecast to spawn a low that will track offshore of the East Coast, bringing a second round of rain to the area. This round will be heavier than Friday’s, with ample moisture available for the storm to draw on. With the clouds and rain, high temperatures will be suppressed to around 50.

Sunday – there is some uncertainty about how quickly the low impacting us Saturday will exit the region. At this time, it does appear that rain will continue through portions of the day. Should the low be slow to exit, colder air could work into the system allowing for accumulating snow Sunday night! High temperatures Sunday will be in the mid 40s.

Monday – should be a fair day, dry, with high temperatures near normal in the mid 50s. So, even if it snows on Sunday, the snow will melt rapidly. Next shot at precipitation comes with another frontal system Tuesday.

Check out the cumulative quantitative precipitation forecast from the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center for Thursday through Sunday morning. Note that our area is forecast to receive as much as 2.5″ of precipitation through Sunday. Also, there are pockets of as much as 4-6″ of precipitation forecast for the West Coast. For California, that’s some good news as it will help with the drought conditions, but as we saw with Oso, Washington mudslide this much precipitation in such a short span of time can lead to landslides. This is especially the case for Oregon and Washington which are no longer as drought-stricken and soil saturated from previous storms.

Untitled

Below is a NAVGEM forecast model run depicting two storms simultaneously impacting the West Coast and the Northeast on Sunday.

Untitled1

NYC Weather Update – Mar 25, 2014

NYC, Snow, Weather Update, , , , ,

A very brief update to let you all know the storm will miss us well to the southeast. This will limit snowfall totals to less than 2″ in most areas of the NYC region tonight into Wednesday, with the possible exception of far eastern Long Island.

Thereafter, expecting a general warming trend through the end of the week. Temps will top out in the upper 50s to around 60 by the weekend, when the next frontal system approaches from our west (no more snow, thank God). More detailed forecast to come.

NYC Weather Update – March Snowstorm? Mar 21, 2014

Climate, Noreaster, NYC, Snow, Storms, Weather Update, Weekend, , , , , , ,

This is not the news any of us want to hear, but confidence is increasing for a potential late-March snowstorm to impact the NYC area next Tuesday-Wednesday. First, the weekend forecast:

Saturday

A warm front will push through early Saturday followed by a cold front later in the day, with a slim chance for precipitation. After the passage of the warm front, gusty winds will increase from the south and southwest, ushering in some much anticipated spring-like warm air. High temperatures may top 60, but with mostly cloudy skies and the influence of the wind it will feel cooler.

Sunday

Clouds will diminish Sunday, but in the wake of the cold front, temperatures will struggle to hit the low-mid 40s. Polar high pressure continues to build overnight, with low temperatures much below average only in the mid-20s!

Monday

Fair conditions with the polar high in control, temperatures will only be in the mid-30s, nearly 15 degrees below normal for this time of year.

Tuesday and into Wednesday

An area of low pressure forecast to form offshore of the Carolinas will track into our area. Forecast models are pointing to this system rapidly strengthening with a sharp decrease in central pressure as it progresses into the waters off of Long Island. Recent model show a track closer to the 40N/70W benchmark, which increases the potential for a significant snowstorm. However, 5 days out, there’s still a good deal of uncertainty as to final track, positioning of precipitation bands, and available moisture. A track slightly further north will mean increased odds for a significant snow event, while a track too far north or south will diminish these chances.

GFS model showing a strong low pressure center consolidating southeast of Long Island around 1AM Wednesday morning.

Untitled

GEFS model (spaghetti strings show upper air circulation 552mb and 564mb). The two main bunches of the strings represent the polar and subtropical jet streams respectively. Notice the loops connecting the two streams over the our region. This is converging of energy from both streams will feed the rapidly deepening low pressure center.

Untitled2

 

NYC Weather – Spring Climate Outlook – Mar 20, 2014

Climate, Noreaster, NYC, Outside of NYC, Western US, , , , , ,

Today is the vernal equinox and marks the first day of astronomical spring (because as next week will show, even though it is technically ‘spring’, it won’t feel that way from a weather or climatological perspective).

The equinox denotes the precise date when the sun is directly overhead of the equator at noon. Although it is popularly stated that the equinox is also the date when the length of day and night are equal, this is not necessarily true depending on where you are on the planet. For example, the exact length of daylight for NYC today is 12 hours and 8 minutes, according to astronomical data from Weather Underground. That means the actual equinox for NYC occurred a couple of days ago.

Spring Climate Outlook

This is a good time for us to look ahead towards the forecast climate trends for the United States. Below you’ll see a map showing the Climate Prediction Center’s three-month outlook for both temperature and precipitation. Note that the northern tier of the US is forecast to have anywhere between 33% and 40% chances of a cooler than average spring, while much of the southern and western US is forecast to have between 33% and 50% chances of a warmer than average spring. California in particular is forecast to have 50% chance of warmer than average spring, combined with 33%-40% chance of below normal precipitation, which will be conducive for the persistence of the severe drought in the region.

NYC and the surrounding region is in a zone of equal chances, meaning there’s no strong indication as to whether we’ll have an above, below, or normal spring in terms of both temperature and precipitation.

Untitled

Untitled2

NYC Midweek Weather Update – Mar 19, 2014

NYC, Snow, Weather Update, , , , , ,

Rain is on the way this Wednesday afternoon. Temperatures should be in the mid 40s around the city. We’re not expecting anything too heavy in terms of precipitation, more likely a light, showery type of event.

Here’s an infrared satellite image of the incoming low pressure system that will be our rainmaker today and tonight. Note the classic comma head formation starting to take shape, indicating a low pressure center with a trailing cold front.
 Untitled2

Thursday, the first day of spring, will be a dry day, even though the cold front will push through, easterly winds associated with the departing low pressure center will keep overnight temps up. Highs on Thursday should be around 50 with mostly sunny skies.

Friday promises to be another dry day with sunny skies and a high right around average for this time of year at 50.

Saturday another weak low pressure system will move through and bring a chance for rain. The cold front coming along with this low pressure center will have a bigger bite: a polar high pressure will slide down behind this front, leading again to much colder temps Sunday-Tuesday.

By Monday & Tuesday, we’re looking at temperatures only in the upper 30s, nearly 15 degrees below average. A storm system is forecast to form in the Gulf of Mexico and track across the Southeast, moving offshore of the Atlantic Tuesday. There is still uncertainty as to whether we’ll see precipitation, but if we do, temperature profiles will support snow showers/flurries.

Here’s the GFS Model’s forecast for the storm on Tuesday. It will pass well offshore of NYC, but may still precipitation bands may still rotate around it far enough north to impact us.

Untitled1

NYC Weather Update – Mar 17, 2014

Climate, Drought, Northwest, NYC, Outside of NYC, Snow, Storms, Weather Update, Western US, , , , , , , ,

We were fortunate to avoid a white Monday, as our friends to the south in NJ, DC, and Philadelphia got hit with between 4-9″ of snow during this last storm. Once again, despite temperatures being cold enough, we missed the area with higher moisture content, and dry air took the day, leading to some light flurries but no accumulation.

Check out the snow total map for the DC, Maryland, Delaware, and Southern NJ region below:

Screen shot 2014-03-17 at 3.18.53 PM

Looking ahead to the rest of the week, it looks like the formal start of Spring will bring a significant warmup for the area.

Tuesday – A sunny day as the departing storm and associated clouds clear out overnight. Good conditions for radiational cooling will mean a cold start to the day with lows in the mid 20s. However, ample sun will boost high temps up to near 40.

Wednesday – the next storm system approaches overnight Tuesday into Wednesday. A low pressure center will pass over the Great Lakes and to our north, with an accompanying trailing cold front. Temps ahead of the cold front will warm up to near normal for this time of year in the upper 40s, near 50. The cold front will bring along light showery precipitation during the afternoon Wednesday. See forecast diagram from the National Weather Service below:

Screen shot 2014-03-17 at 3.12.38 PM

End of the week will feature high pressure over the area with milder temps near the seasonal average of 50, and fair conditions. The next storm system is forecast to enter the area Friday night into Saturday.

Strong Pacific Storm Possible 10 Days

Parts of the west coast continue to see some abatement of drought conditions, with significant improvement for portions of Oregon and Northern California. Nine of twelve GFS model ensemble members are forecasting a strong Pacific storm coming ashore mid-week next week, which is good news for areas that could definitely use the rain. Below are two of the ensemble members. Note the fairly tight isobars denoting pressure, indicating a strong low pressure center.Screen shot 2014-03-17 at 3.11.55 PM

NYC Weekend Weather Update – Mar 15, 2014

NYC, Snow, Weather Update, Weekend, , , , ,

Expecting a pleasant, mild, and mostly sunny day Saturday, temps in the mid-upper 50s – if you get a chance, definitely go out and enjoy the nice weather before a storm system enters the NYC region Sunday night into Monday night.

The mild temps today are as a result of southwest winds ahead of an approaching cold front. When the cold front pushes through, winds will shift to the west, ushering gusts up to 40mph and a significantly colder air mass.

Sunday – should be another mostly sunny day, though much cooler than today with highs temps only in the mid 30s. Sunday night, increasing chance of snow begins from south to north across the area. Overnight lows into Monday only in the mid 20s.

Monday – high temps will be right about freezing near the coast, and in the mid 20s in the interior. The setup for this storm system is very similar to the last snow storm (or non-storm) on Mar 3rd. Forecast models are suggesting that the bulk of moisture and favorable dynamics for heavy snow will remain offshore. Should this scenario hold, then we’d only expect to see a dusting to maybe an inch of snow in the city and Long Island, with negligible totals further north.

During the last storm, forecasters had difficulty resolving the uncertainty about exactly where the best conditions for heavier snow would exist. Again, this time, the line is quite close. A slight adjustment northward of the current forecast track for the low pressure system that is developing over the Gulf now could result in higher snowfall totals. See below how close the areas of darker blue representing moderate precipitation are to our area!

Screen shot 2014-03-15 at 11.29.13 AMTuesday – a dry and sunny day, but with temps still suppressed in the mid 30s in the city as a high pressure system temporarily sits over the NYC area.

Wednesday – the next low pressure system to impact the area will be moving in from the Great Lakes, with a low pressure center sliding to our north and a trailing cold front. Temps will climb into the low-mid 40s ahead of the cold front, so precipitation would be mixed to mostly rain.

Screen shot 2014-03-15 at 11.31.49 AM

The end of the week looks to be dry with highs near normal (around 47-49 deg at this time of the year).

Weather Update – Midweek Storm, Mar 11, 2014

NYC, Outside of NYC, Snow, Thunderstorms, Weather Update, , , , , , , ,

Wednesday is shaping up to be a stormy, rainy day. Low pressure center currently located over Nebraska and Oklahoma will slide to the northeast into the Ohio valley while continuing to strengthen.

Current forecasts point to the storm center tracking just north of the NYC area. This should ensure that most of the region receives all rain for this storm. As the storm center draws closer, a nearly stationary frontal boundary will slowly push through to just north of the NYC area. This will allow the area to be entrenched in the warm sector, this means temperatures will stay relatively mild with highs in the mid-50s. It also raises the possibility for some weak thunderstorms in the afternoon hours as the cold front trailing the storm center pushes through.

aasd

In fact, the Storm Prediction Center has placed the DC-PHL metro areas as well as parts of southern Pennsylvania, northern Virginia, Maryland (see diagram below) under a slight risk for severe thunderstorms. The same cold front could trigger stronger storms down to the south due to the likelihood of warmer temperatures, more unstable air, and favorable conditions for thunderstorm initiation.

Screen shot 2014-03-11 at 4.24.37 PM

Behind the cold front, temperatures will plummet during the evening and overnight hours. The departing low will continue to strengthen into Thursday, with increasing northwest winds ushering in this colder air as well as a chance for snow showers (negligible accumulation expected). Highs will only barely hit the mid-20s.

Conditions will improve later in Thursday and Friday as an area of high pressure moves over the region. Temps will climb back into the low 40s Friday just below average, and rise to near 50 Saturday. Next chance of significant precipitation looks to be Sunday into Sunday night – with the potential for a snow storm!

 

NYC Weather Update – Mar 10, 2014

NYC, Outside of NYC, Storms, Weather Update, , , , ,

After a quiet weather weekend, the NYC area will be experiencing a mid-week storm.

Tuesday – a mild day with partly sunny skies and highs in the mid-upper 50s across the area ahead of the frontal system that will impact the region on Wednesday. The cold front will be draping west-east and positioned through Pennsylvania, allowing a westerly flow of warm air into the area.

Wednesday –  the surface low pressure responsible for the mid-week storm will be over the central Ohio valley. Precipitation will extend eastward from the low pressure center along the frontal boundary referenced above. The center of the storm is forecast to pass right over the NYC region. Coastal areas should see all rain from this storm with a warming onshore flow developing (east winds). Areas in the interior could see a mix of rain/snow and possibly freezing rain. Heavy rain could develop during the afternoon hours.

Thursday – the low pressure center will strengthen as it passes over NYC and eventually pushes offshore. Cold air will wrap around the low pressure center and winds will shift to the north and northwest. There’s a possibility that the city could see a transition from rain to snow during this period of cooling temps. Temps on Thursday will struggle to only reach the low 30s.

Friday – high pressure will build in briefly Friday allowing a return to mostly clear conditions and warmer temps in the low 40s before the next storm system moves in with a clipper type system moving in from Canada. Dry conditions should lower chances for precipitation on Saturday.

Below: NAVGEM forecast map for 7PM EST Wednesday night. Notice an area of surface low pressure forming off the coast of Southeast NJ.

Screen shot 2014-03-10 at 8.14.58 PM

NYC Midweek Weather Update – Mar 5, 2014

Climate, NYC, Snow, Weather Update, , , , , , ,

Just a quick update on the weather for NYC for the rest of the work week into the weekend. It’s finally going to be a quiet weather week for us after what’s been an cold and snowy February.

Tonight, a slight chance of flurries, and a cold night with fairly good conditions for radiational cooling, lows dropping into the low 20s in the city and teens in the interior. Wind chills in the single digits for Thursday morning.

Thursday – high pressure will prevail and bring sunny skies, but still a cold day with highs in the low 30s. Clouds will increase during the day with another slight chance for snow during the night into Friday morning.

Friday – cloudy with temps warming to the low 40s. As the high pressure center moves offshore, winds will shift to the west.

Saturday – increasingly warm with temps near 50 especially in coastal areas due to a northeast wind off of the relatively warmer ocean waters. A storm system will pass well to our south and east, so no precipitation is expected.

Sunday – slightly cooler with highs in the low 40s and a increasing wind from the north.

Our local NWS forecast office put together a great graphic that shows how this past February stacks up climatologically. Check it out:

1655921_789274487768535_1057056616_n