November 23-25 Significant Storm System

A strong storm system looks to impact the US in the November 23-25 period.

Tropical Tidbits

The image above shows the temperature forecast for 5,000 feet off the ground, as forecasted by the ECMWF model, valid on November 24th. In this image, we see a storm system of 973 millibar strength shooting northward into Wisconsin, surrounded by above-freezing air temperatures on all sides. Pure observation of this chart tells us there won't be that much of a snowy side, but given the potential for model guidance to cool down as the forecast grows colder, or more likely yet, the precipitation shield does extend into the cold sector, snowfall may still occur. This snow would not be significant, at least according to this forecast, but the storm itself would be.

Tropical Tidbits

The GFS model gives a very similar story to the ECMWF. We see a 973 millibar low pressure system over the Upper Peninsula of Michigan on November 24th, but now with significantly more cold air on the western fringe of the storm. This appears to have happened as the storm wrapped itself up and occluded, pulling all that Arctic air to the south (this will have significant implications for the Thanksgiving storm, which we will discuss tomorrow (Thursday) afternoon).

Tropical Tidbits

That GFS forecast does lay down some hefty snows in the Upper Midwest, where amounts of 6-12" may be seen. The heaviest snow appears in northern Minnesota into Canada, where amounts closer to the 2' mark may be anticipated. However, it remains to be seen if this solution will win out against the ECMWF, or vice versa.

To summarize:

- Model guidance favors a very strong storm system moving into the Upper Midwest by the start of next workweek.
- Some model guidance favors heavy snow in the far northern US, while other guidance keeps this a rain/ possible severe storm event.

Andrew