December 17-20 Potential Significant Winter Storm (Updated 12/12)

There remains potential for a significant winter weather event to occur over some part of the central and eastern US. Let's see what the models are saying.

The National Weather Service's GFS model starts out with our system in the early morning hours of December 17th. These images will show sea level pressure (SLP) anomalies, with cool colors showing areas of low pressure, and warmer colors depicting higher pressure areas, hence the terms high and low pressure systems. We can see a nice swath of dark green across the Gulf Coast showing the presence of a storm system. I'll just come out and say it- at this point in time, with a lack of a strong high pressure system immediately offshore the Southeast, it's obvious this system wants to go up the East Coast.

In the afternoon of December 17th, the main storm system has now strengthened, with light green anomalies blossoming across the Southeast. The low pressure system is now apparently in the southern Ohio Valley, or the western Mid Atlantic region. Again, the absence of a high pressure system and a negative NAO (more on that later) make me think that this system will try and slide offshore.

In the early morning hours of December 18th, the Northeast is greeted by a rapidly strengthening system. In a 12 hour period, our storm system has dropped its central pressure from 1001 millibars to 993 millibars- nearly a 10 millibar drop. This is no doubt due to the Atlantic Ocean's influence, something that will work to strengthen the system further as time goes on.

The afternoon of December 18th brings about an even stronger storm system, with a central minimum pressure of 984 millibars. The system is located just onshore. While many of you may jump for joy at the potential of a huge snowstorm, the GFS predicts a small corridor of intense snow well inland, with lighter amounts towards the coast. Immediate inland areas would receive rain.

While I think the GFS is too strong, it has been consistent with a forecast of a storm going up the coast.

We now take a look at the European's ECMWF model, known to slightly outperform the GFS on a regular basis. The ECMWF, however, has a very similar solution to the GFS, with a storm system originating near the Gulf Coast at a minimum pressure of 1002 millibars. Again, the absence of a big ridge in the Southeast tells me a move offshore and up the coast is possible.

On the morning of December 19th (keep an eye on these timing issues, they could be crucial), we see that the ECMWF has indeed taken this storm towards the coast, and we now see a strong system hitting NC/VA. The tight alignment of isobars near these two states tells me that winds will be strong, regardless of precipitation. I should mention that this looks to be a rain event at this point in time.

Going ahead further to the morning of December 20th, our storm system has fully bombed out and is immediately offshore the New England area. Very strong winds are predicted across the region. Now, I know what you Northeast folk are thinking: snowstorm. And to that I say: hold on. This system came from the South, which means it is carrying a warm and humid influence with it. That doesn't help snow prospects in the least. But, to see if this is the case, let's see the forecast for 850mb temperatures.

In order to get snow, we want to see 850mb temperatures below 0, or in colors that are not light orange. Personally, I would want to see dark green/light blue to be confident of a snow potential. All we see in New England is dark green and spots of light blue. That's not encouraging to me. I'm not buying this scenario just yet of an all out snow storm in the Northeast. Now, if I were to combine the GFS/ECMWF and make a forecast out of that, yes, there is potential for accumulating snow in the Northeast. However, the next segment explains why I am hesitant to believe such an idea.

This is the ECMWF Ensemble Prediction Center, also known as the ECMWF EPS. Imagine the ECMWF model, but there are 51 different forecasts of the ECMWF, each with its parameters slightly changed to give diversity to the forecast. This image and the next will show the average of these 51 ensemble members. This first forecast, valid the morning of December 18th, sees our system in the Ohio Valley rather than the Gulf Coast. That difference in placement, while it may seem small, is pretty darn significant. This particular scenario would give snow to the Midwest and Ohio Valley rather than just into the Northeast.

24 hours later, the ECMWF EPS sends this storm out into the Atlantic, just offshore of the Mid-Atlantic region. Cold air looks to be sufficient to give snow potential to the Northeast as a whole. If you haven't already guessed, the GFS/ECMWF are at war with the ECMWF EPS to see whose forecast will verify.

Usually, I would side with the ECMWF EPS, but the consistency of the GFS and the new trend in the ECMWF brings me confidence too low to make a call.

Preferred Forecast: Indifferent To All
Confidence: N/A

Andrew