Thursday, October 20, 2011

Long-Range Forecast (Out to 3 Months)

6-14 DAYS OUTLOOK 
6-10 Day Precipitation Outlook


6-10 Day Temperature Outlook
The next 6-10 days will feature cooler conditions across the Southeast US, where chances of below normal temperatures rise above 60%, investing quite a bit of confidence in this forecast. This cool down will also affect the Midwest, Great Lakes, and Ohio Valley regions. Areas in the South hit hard by the drought will get some relief from this cool down. However, the West Coast will see much above normal temperatures, with areas like Seattle andLos Angeles in this warmer area.
When looking at precipitation anomalies, we see still below normal temperatures likely across the south-central US northward through the Plains. A small area including much of Colorado will be under the chance for above normal precipitation. A similar above normal precipitation region will extend from the Northeast into the Great Lakes regions.

8-14 DAYS OUTLOOK
8-14 Day Precipitation Outlook

8-14 Day Temperature Outlook
The next 8-14 day period will feature the cool down in the East US retreating to include Florida in the worst area of cooler temperatures, while the Great Lakes and Plains will ease out of this harsh cold spell, mainly affecting the South. Cooler temperatures will still exist from the Northeast into the Ohio Valley and along the Eastern Seaboard, but with not as intense effects. The warm air mass stationed out west will slowly glide eastward, helping to diminish the colder temperatures.
The Precipitation Outlook includes a huge portion of the country under a below normal precipitation spell for this 8-14 day period. While the Northeast and Northwest will be under some potentially above normal precipitation, it will be a heavy majority of the country that may see more sun than rain.

1 MONTH OUTLOOK
1 Month Precipitation Outlook

1 Month Temperature Outlook
Temperatures will not be as extreme as we saw in the 6-10 day outlooks and the 8-14 day outlooks, but this one month outlook will still include a warmer than normal air mass prevailing over the Plains and Midwest into the Southwest. Florida will have its own little area of below normal precipitation, while the East Coast will end up in a moderated month of temperatures.
The Southern half of the country will be the main areas under a precipitation deficit according to this one month outlook. It is not too surprising, as we enter a La Nina and the trademark precipitation deficit returns for the South. Notice the area in the Ohio Valley with an 'EC' in it. While the 'EC' doesn't matter (it means equal chances for above/below normal precip), notice how the area of EC is set up- it is set up in a way that promotes more precipitation in the Ohio Valley than other areas- another sign of a La Nina.

3 MONTH OUTLOOK

For the 3 month period, let's take a look at precipitation first. Once again, as in the one month outlook, we see the 'EC' present again in the Ohio Valley, but this time with more of a penetrating effect of more precipitation than other areas placed more southerly than usual. It could mean some drought relief for this winter, but let's not get into something like that just yet. We remain a far ways off. Anyways, The South will begin to slip back into a rut of very below normal precipitation anomalies throughout this 3 month period, while the Northern Plains into the Northwest will be in a above average precipitation area.
Temperature wise, the above average temperature will be present in the South Central Plains, extending northwestward into far eastern portions of the Southwest. This isn't horribly surprising- we saw it coming several months ago, but not with confidence. Notice the cooler temperatures at the tip of Florida. It isn't too significant but may end up being something to watch. Also, a small portion of the North Plains is forecast to be under a cooler than normal 3 month average.

NOAA Releases 2011-2012 Winter Outlook

Press Release: http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2011/20111020_winteroutlook.html

Main Points from Article:

  • Pacific Northwest:  colder and wetter than average. La Niña often results in below-average temperatures and increased mountain snow in the Pacific Northwest and western Montana during the winter months. This may set the stage for spring flooding in the Missouri River Basin;
  • California: colder than average with odds favoring wetter than average conditions in northern California and drier than average conditions in southern California.  All of the southern part of the nation are at risk of having above normal wildfire conditions starting this winter and lasting into the spring;
  • Northern Plains: colder and wetter than average.  Spring flooding could be a concern in parts of this region;
  • Southern Plains and Gulf Coast States: warmer and drier than average. This will likely exacerbate drought conditions in these regions;
  • Florida and south Atlantic Coast: drier than average, with an equal chance for above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures. Above normal wildfire conditions;
  • Ohio and Tennessee Valleys: wetter than average with equal chances for above-, near-, or below-average temperatures. Potential for increased storminess and flooding;
  • Northeast and Mid-Atlantic: equal chances for above-, near-, or below-normal temperatures and precipitation. Winter weather for these regions is often driven not by La Niña but by the Arctic Oscillation. If enough cold air and moisture are in place, areas north of the Ohio Valley and into the Northeast could see above-average snow;
  • Great Lakes: tilt toward colder and wetter than average;
  • Hawaii: Above-average temperatures are favored in the western islands with equal chances of above-, near-, or below average average precipitation.  Statewide, the current drought is expected to continue through the winter. Drought recovery is more likely over the windward slopes of the Big Island and Maui;
  • Alaska: colder than average over the southern half of the state and the panhandle with below average precipitation in the interior eastern part of the state.

Long-Range Forecast (Next 3 Months) To be Released this Afternoon

A long-range forecast for the US will be released this afternoon that will go out to three months.
Keep in mind this is not the release of the final 2011-2012 Winter Forecast, which will be released November 5th.
We will also try to release a La Nina update if the site we use will update today.