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Coastal storm departs, cold air persists

The storm system which brought significant winter weather to the Gulf Coast and Southeast States over the past two days still found a way to scrape our area with light snow from Tuesday Night into Wednesday, with most areas east of the city receiving 1-3″ of fresh powdery snow. Those in Southeast New Jersey, especially Cape May county, will argue that the storm more than “scraped” us — there were multiple reports of over 6″ of snow. But the impacts were especially relegated to the coast this time, as the system headed seaward and banding associated with it battled with dry air farther inland.

Throughout the remainder of today, clearing skies will take over the area’s weather from west to east (with Eastern LI hanging on to some clouds for the longest). Cold air will funnel back in behind the storm system, with blustery west winds becoming noticeable by afternoon. Tonight’s Stadium Series game at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx will feature temperatures in the upper 20’s to teens, with blustery conditions. Bundle up for the game if you’re headed out!

Visible satellite imagery from the morning of Wednesday Jan 29 2014, showing the coastal system departing the area.

Visible satellite imagery from the morning of Wednesday Jan 29 2014, showing the coastal system departing the area.

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Cold weather continues, storms offshore

For the greater part of the past month, the weather has featured below normal temperatures with occasional precipitation — and much of the same will continue. We’ve experienced two or more “significant” winter weather events, but for now, the pattern looks to continue to feature the aforementioned cold temperatures while significant precipitation events tend to avoid our area. Although this will eventually change when the amplitude of the trough axis over the Northeast US decreases somewhat, we’re not expecting much of a change in the forthcoming work week.

Monday, a system passes to our north with the low pressure center actually tracking through Northern New England. A cold front will approach our area by the afternoon hours and west winds will usher in another cold airmass. The only other noteworthy weather event in the coming week will be a southern stream disturbance which will slide off the Southeast Coast. But forecast models are in good agreement on the fact that the developing surface low will head seaward — well too far south and east of our area for any impacts in terms of sensible weather. Some light precipitation may ultimately graze the area coasts should the track of the storm end up farther north and west of current guidance.

GFS model indicating a low pressure system passing off the coast on Wednesday -- too far south and east for impacts in our area.

GFS model indicating a low pressure system passing off the coast on Wednesday — too far south and east for impacts in our area.

Super Bowl event should be light, but may feature mixed precipitation: In a similar fashion to the parade of clipper systems which we have experienced over the past few weeks, forecast models are indicating a pattern change which will allow for frequent precipitation events emerging from the south and west of our forecast area. The first looks to impact the area during the upcoming weekend — in fact from Saturday into Sunday — and may impact the Super Bowl and associated activities.

That being said, guidance is still very inconsistent with timing and precipitation impacts. The general idea, however, is for a low pressure system to shift front the MS Valley into the Northeast US. What remains uncertain is how quickly it does so, and how much warm air advection pushes north through our area. This will determine when the heaviest precipitation falls, and whether it falls as frozen precipitation or the warm air takes over and results in rain.

Over the next few days we will feature the super bowl forecast for free in each of our daily posts, with updates on the latest information.

Deep winter pattern begins this weekend

Some will argue that the pattern over the last several weeks had already been established as a “wintry” one, and that may technically be true. But in terms of snow cover, cold and duration  the forthcoming pattern over the next few weeks will trump what we have experienced fairly easily. After Tuesday’s snowfall event — the biggest of the season for much of the I-95 corridor in our area — left a significant snowpack, polar air will rotate in and out of the area for the good part of the next two weeks. And while the main polar vortex may be just to our north over Eastern Canada, multiple disturbances rotating around it will bring plentiful chances for snowfall.

The first of these chances will likely come on Saturday, as an arctic frontal boundary swings through the Northeast United States. While no significant snowfall is expected, widespread snow squalls are likely — and strong winds will almost make the arctic frontal passage seem dramatic. The snow squalls, however insignificant they may seem after Tuesdays storm, could cause wildly reduced visibility at times and quick accumulating snow. Another chance for snow will come Sunday Night into Monday as a low pressure system tracks through the Northeast United States on the southern periphery of the aforementioned Polar Vortex.

Euro model showing sustained cold air in much of the Northern United States at Day 7.

Euro model showing sustained cold air in much of the Northern United States at Day 7.

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Winter storm likely Tuesday into Wednesday

Forecast model guidance has come into good agreement on the eventual track and intensity of a winter storm which is forecast ot impact the area from Tuesday through Wednesday. The system was initially forecast to develop well seaward, but guidance over the last 24 to 48 hours has trended more amplified, slower and stronger with the storm system. The result is a moderate impact winter storm which is expected to begin during the afternoon on Tuesday and continue into Wednesday morning. A mid level disturbance dropping south from the Northern Plains will eventually amplify in the Mississippi Valley before moving off the East Coast, helping to develop a surface low and a nor’easter overnight into Wednesday morning.

It is the exact track and intensity of this low pressure which forecast models have struggled with. But newer guidance agrees that the placement and development of the system will support widespread snowfall through the area. Heavier bands of snow and wind are likely from the I-95 corridor south and east, with highest snowfall totals expected near the area coasts of New Jersey and Long Island. These bands, however, remain unpredictable and can often wind up impacting other areas despite what forecast guidance suggests. Below, we have included our 411 on the storm system including expected totals, timing, and information as well as a snowfall forecast map. Later tonight, we will issue a new set of products including hazards briefings and other information.

Storm Total Snowfall Forecast from Jan 20 2014

Storm Total Snowfall Forecast from Jan 20 2014

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