The April 12-13, 2007 Storm: Initial Thoughts

Winter Weather Discussion

Moderator: S2k Moderators

Forum rules

The posts in this forum are NOT official forecast and should not be used as such. They are just the opinion of the poster and may or may not be backed by sound meteorological data. They are NOT endorsed by any professional institution or STORM2K.

Help Support Storm2K
Message
Author
donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

The April 12-13, 2007 Storm: Initial Thoughts

#1 Postby donsutherland1 » Tue Apr 10, 2007 3:58 pm

For several days, the ensemble guidance and operational models have pointed to the possibility of a late-season snowstorm across a portion of New England. The latest forecast position for the trough in the East is to the north of that which has typically been associated with a number of appreciable or significant late-season events in southern or central New England.

NCEP ensemble 500 mb anomalies: 72 hours:
Image

Composite 500 mb anomalies:
Image

At this point in time, especially considering the recent trends in the modeling, I believe the highest risk of a significant snowfall (6” or more) covers portions of northern New York State, Vermont, including Burlington, and portions of New Hampshire and Maine. There, if historic experience with some late-season snowstorms is representative, some locations might have the potential to pick up 10” or more of heavy wet snow. Higher elevations should do particularly well. There is still a small chance that Boston could pick up 4” or more snow, but odds increasingly favor the heavier snow staying well to the north and west of Boston.

In terms of weather history, although late-season snowstorms subsequent to April 10 have not produced more than 5.0” of snow at Boston since regular recordkeeping commenced in 1872 (5.0” on 4/13/1933 is the highest figure), such storms have occurred prior to 1872. For example, on April 11-12, 1841, a massive snowstorm dumped 18” at Boston, 12” in New York City, and 10”-12” at Philadelphia. During that storm, the New York Express wrote on April 12 8 pm, “[T]he snow is falling fast, and nearly as heavy as during any period of the past winter. The ground is covered eight to ten inches deep. The housetops, trees, and the forest of masts are all covered with a coat of snow… It is rare indeed to see the peach blossom and the snow at the same time, but such is the fact at the present time.”

At this point in time, my initial estimates are as follows:

Albany: 2”-5”
Boston: 1”-3”
Burlington: 5”-10”
Caribou: 3”-7”
Concord: 3”-7”
Portland: 2”-4”
Worcester: 2”-4”
0 likes   

slartibartfast
Tropical Low
Tropical Low
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:45 am
Location: eastern ontario

#2 Postby slartibartfast » Tue Apr 10, 2007 10:49 pm

Hey Don any totals for us canadaians Toronto, montreal and Ottawa.
Thanks
0 likes   

User avatar
Hybridstorm_November2001
S2K Supporter
S2K Supporter
Posts: 2811
Joined: Sat Aug 21, 2004 2:50 pm
Location: SW New Brunswick, Canada
Contact:

#3 Postby Hybridstorm_November2001 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 8:52 am

One of my Professor friends at the University of Maine has started ruefully calling this the; "year without a spring".
0 likes   

donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

#4 Postby donsutherland1 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:45 am

While going over this morning's data, I observed that the 4/11 6z GFS is showing little or no snow at Albany or Boston. I believe that idea is unrealistic. If anything, the forecast ensemble mean 500 mb anomaly is a little more favorable for snowfall than it was yesterday.

NCEP ensemble 500 mb anomalies from 4/10 0z: 72 hours:
Image

NCEP ensemble 500 mb anomalies from 4/11 0z: 48 hours:
Image

As a result, at this point in time, I believe my figures for Albany, Boston, Concord, Portland, and Worcester are reasonable, if not a little on the conservative side. Later today, perhaps after the 12z guidance is in, I might make some revisions.
0 likes   

donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

#5 Postby donsutherland1 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 9:46 am

Slartibartfast,

I'll include those cities a little later today after I've reviewed the 12z guidance.
0 likes   

donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

#6 Postby donsutherland1 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 12:10 pm

Total snowfall estimates for select Canadian cities:

Montreal: 5"-10" (12.5 cm to 25.0 cm)
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.5 cm to 15.0 cm)
Toronto: 1" or less (2.5 cm or less)
0 likes   

donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

#7 Postby donsutherland1 » Wed Apr 11, 2007 1:27 pm

At 12z, there remained huge differences between the NAM and GFS with regard to snowfall totals. For example, according to Bufkit, the 12z NAM forecast 8"-10" snow at Albany. In contrast, the GFS forecast no snow at all! Part of the difference can be attributed to the track differences between the two models. It should also be noted that during the late-winter/early spring, dynamics can play a huge role in transforming marginal to somewhat unlikely snow events into a thumping of heavy, wet snow. As a result, taking into consideration the ensemble guidance, I continue to believe that the GFS is incorrect in assuming that Albany, Boston, and Worcester will receive no measurable snow.

At this time, I believe most of my estimates remain reasonable and I'll leave them as they currently stand, while adding Montreal and Ottawa to the mix.

My latest estimates are as follows:

Albany: 2”-5”
Boston: 1”-3”
Burlington: 5”-10”
Caribou: 3”-7”
Concord: 3”-7”
Montreal: 5"-10" (12.5 cm - 25.0 cm)
Ottawa: 3"-6" (7.5 cm - 15.0 cm)
Portland: 2”-4”
Worcester: 2”-4”
0 likes   

slartibartfast
Tropical Low
Tropical Low
Posts: 15
Joined: Mon Jan 10, 2005 4:45 am
Location: eastern ontario

#8 Postby slartibartfast » Wed Apr 11, 2007 5:09 pm

Thanks for the info Don, I get a huge amount of information from your forecasts and explanations and greatly appreciate it.
Mark
0 likes   

cpdaman
Category 5
Category 5
Posts: 3131
Joined: Sat Jun 10, 2006 11:44 am
Location: SPB county (gulf stream)

#9 Postby cpdaman » Thu Apr 12, 2007 11:28 pm

these spring storms are tuff to call

next one seems like a beaut
0 likes   

donsutherland1
S2K Analyst
S2K Analyst
Posts: 2718
Joined: Mon Sep 15, 2003 8:49 pm
Location: New York

#10 Postby donsutherland1 » Sun Apr 15, 2007 8:48 am

Cpdaman,

The verification figures will be in as soon as Environment Canada posts its final snowfall tallies for Ottawa and Montreal. Montreal appears to have verified. Ottawa may have fallen a little short. The other scores were not very good.
0 likes   


Return to “Winter Weather”

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 21 guests