Technical Discussion 2/8/11

Synopsis:

The "warm" temperatures of Monday fled the state quickly on Tuesday in the path of an approaching cold front. The front passed in the late evening but sprinkled the Commonwealth with a wintry mix of precipitation during the afternoon hours on Monday, leaving a light accumulation of snow to clean up on Tuesday morning. In its wake, blustery winds have settled into the area along with a period of clear skies, lowering the already frigid temperatures. Another system will pass south of the state on Wednesday, providing no significant precipitation for Pennsylvania.

Short Term (through Wednesday afternoon):

Bitterly cold temperatures will settle into the Commonwealth Tuesday night on the tail of a cold front that made it's way out of the area Tuesday afternoon. The cold air advection following the cold front will be facilitated by winds in excess of 15mph across the state from the W to WNW. During this period of time, no major precipitation is expected. However weak warm air advection will occur during the day on Wednesday as winds shift to the WSW in the presence of a system of low pressure that will scrape just south of the state. Southern reaches of the state could perhaps see a few flurries, but that is unlikely.

Long Term (through Sunday):

A frigid arctic air mass will remain over the state for the next couple of days, bringing little to no relief from temperatures ranging from the single digits to the low 20s. Late Friday night, a low pressure system will pass north of the state, allowing for a brief period of lake enhanced snow late Friday night and into the day on Saturday. It will be followed by another "Alberta Clipper" on Sunday which will bring slightly warmer temperatures and a chance for a wintry mix (southern reaches of the state) and light to moderate snow accumulations (northern reaches of the state. A shortwave pattern sets up after the clipper passes late Sunday evening. This will allow for the chance of lake effect snow in the western and southwestern sectors of the state through Monday and Tuesday.

Forecaster,
-Tom Bedard