Author: Miguel Pierre

Cold Temperatures This Morning Giveway to A Gradual Warming Trend

Miguel Pierre Short-Term, Spring Wx

Overnight skies cleared and winds calmed lightened. This allowed temperatures to drop into upper 20s and lower 30s in the suburbs and a freeze to occur. Closer to New York City, temperatures dropped into middle to upper 30s. This cold airmass is impressive for this time of year. However, it’s not unprecedented. We were several degrees above most record low temperatures for this period. The only exception is new a record low this at Islip, NY. Which records only go back to 1982.

RECORD EVENT REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
0747 AM EDT SAT APR 25 2015

…RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE SET AT ISLIP NY THIS MORNING…

A RECORD LOW TEMPERATURE OF 32 DEGREES WAS SET AT ISLIP NY AT
344 AM. THIS BREAKS THE PREVIOUS RECORD OF 36 SET IN 2012.

Low temperatures overnight in the Tri-State area
Temperatures(F) early this morning in the Tri-State area

Temperatures are expected in to climb into upper 50s to lower 60s with mostly sunny skies this afternoon. Which is still several degrees below normal for this time of year. But warmer than then the past two days. A low-pressure system tracking well to our south may be bring more clouds tonight. Especially over Central and Southern New Jersey. However any rainfall is expected stay south of the Tri-State area. Any clouds around early tomorrow morning should break for some sunshine. High temperatures on Sunday afternoon are expected be in upper 50s to lower 60s again. A gradual warming trend should continue into middle of next week with closer to normal temperatures. A couple of disturbances with a cold pool aloft, might cause some widely-scattered showers during the afternoon hours on Monday. Otherwise, fair weather is expected with highs further into 60s on Monday and Tuesday. On Wednesday, increasing mid-level heights and downsloping winds could cause temperatures to rising into upper 60s to around 70 on Wednesday with plenty of sunshine. These temperatures are closer to normal this time of year.

The GFS showing temperatures in the middle to upper 60s on Wednesday with wsw winds and sunshine
The GFS model showing temperatures in the middle to upper 60s on Wednesday with west-southwest winds winds and partly sunny skies

Later in the week, the weather looks little more muddled with possibly another upper-level low over region causing some widely scattered showers. Temperatures are still likely to reach the 60s. There was some concern that storm developing over Southeast United States, would come up further up the coast and impact the Tri-State region late this week. This was due to the some high-latitude blocking and ridge amplification over Western US. causing the northern and southern streams to phase. Current model trend now show this storm going out into Atlantic, well south and east of region. The blocking pattern is weaker and the ridge shifts east more into Central US. The result is a more positively-tilted trough over the Eastern and less phasing. However, I will still monitor this storm. Stay tuned for more updates over the next several, in case there are any major changes.

 

6z GEFS showing the ridge over Central US with positive-tilted trough over East Coast. This keeps the storm over Southeast US from coming further north.
This morning’s GFS ensemble showing the ridge over the Central US with a positively-tilted trough over the East Coast.This keeps the storm over Southeast US from coming further north.

High Wind Gusts with Showers and Thunderstorms 4/22/15

Miguel Pierre Severe Wx

A wind gust to 71mph was reported Philadelphia International Airport yesterday , with a band of showers and embedded thunderstorms along a cold front. This was the forth highest wind gust ever recorded, at the airport. Other strong winds gusts between 55 mph and 65 mph gusts occurred over other parts of Southeast Pennsylvania, and central and southern sections of  New Jersey. Some wind gust 45mph-55mph range were recorded some sites over northern New Jersey, the Lower Hudson Valley and New York City. Many of these showers and thunderstorms had weak updrafts due a lack of substantial moisture and CAPE.   However, very steep lapse rates helped mixed down stronger winds aloft. This band begin to weaken, as it moved into a more stable marine airmass over over Long Island and Southern Connecticut. More information is below from courtesy of sites such as Storm Prediction Center, Wunderground and the National Weather Service:

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Heavy Rain & Thunderstorm Threat Monday

Miguel Pierre Severe Wx, Spring Wx

After a beautiful weekend, that featured the first 80 degree weather for local area. Some nasty weather is on the way for tomorrow. Fortunately, this storm is just a nuisance for the most part. Still some details for you to be prepared for:

Rainfall:  As a warm front with with a wave low approaches, rain will slowly overspread from the southwest the late tonight. A 50kt+ southeasterly low-level jet and a plume of sub-tropical of moisture will provide ample lift and moisture rain to be heavy at times, during the morning and early afternoon hours on Monday. Forecast sounding show a stable airmass during this time frame. So thunderstorms are not expected. Rain will taper off later in the afternoon. As the best forcing with low-level jet starts to shift northeast of the Tri-State area.  A cold front may cause a few more showers and thunderstorms tomorrow night. A widespread 1.00″- 1.50″ of rainfall is expected late tonight and tomorrow with locally heavier amounts possible. Some ponding of water in typical poor-drainage or low-lying areas is possible. However, with lack of any significant rainfall recently, more serious flash or river flooding is not anticipated.

Winds: 850mb winds will be running between 50-60kts tomorrow morning and early afternoon. A stable airmass does not support these winds to mix down. However, there could be wind gusts between 30mph and 40mph with the rainfall. Especially near the coast. Also any thunderstorm will be capable of producing stronger wind gusts tomorrow night with the cold front. This is discussed more in the severe weather section below.

18z GFS showing precipitable water values over 1.2"-1.5" over the area tomorrow morning.
18z GFS showing precipitable water values over 1.2″-1.5″ over the area tomorrow morning.

Tidal flooding. With the new moon this weekend and  the east to southeast flow tomorrow, there could be some minor coastal flooding at high tides tomorrow. Particularly around New York Harbor, the south shores of Long Island and the New Jersey shore. Tides could be 1 to 1 1/2 feet above normal.

Severe Weather: The storm prediction center has issued marginal and slight risks for severe thunderstorms. A cold front associated with this system will move across the area tomorrow night.  A deeper southwesterly flow just above the surface, will generate more elevated instability, ahead of this front. More rainfall from more scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms will possible tomorrow night. Any thunderstorm will capable producing heavy rain and gusty winds. But are unlikely to reach severe levels with the warm front remaining south of NYC. Over parts of Central and Southern New Jersey some clearing may take place later tomorrow afternoon. This could atmosphere to destabilize further for stronger thunderstorms with isolated damaging wind gusts.