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Wintry Jan 15-16 Winter Storm Discussion & Obs

looks like the 6z EPS was improved over 0z much like the operational Euro. Still has the most western tracks through NC compared to GEFS
Yeah a smidge of improvement, not bad your way

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This is it imo. Any wholesale change's will happen in the next 2 to Maybe 3 cycles. After that it's it's lock.
You know what's gonna suck? If this thing shift S/SE to almost a perfect track but slows down so that by the time it arrives we've lost most of the cold air, not out of the question
 
But...... and maybe I'm wishcasting, but, the Euro isn't necessarily in it's wheelhouse at this juncture. I'll reserve too many negative comments (for Central/Eastern NC) until we see what the 12z suite looks like. If the NAM/RGEM still show very good cold dry air feed with a smidge better slp track, then could still be a significant event around here. Still lots to sort out

I don't like a lot tbh. I think you have a better chance at a slightly longer duration period of snow to start but 850s already near 0c as the precip is starting means snow will likely be brief, no good initial fgen push yet that I've seen. Looking at the nam soundings vs ptype I think with the dry nose present between 875 and 950 we can over perform on ip vs zr through mid morning early afternoon but eventually we go to zr by that point though we are inching so close to freezing at the sfc it may not be of huge consequence like it'll be even 50 miles west of us.
 
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You know what's gonna suck? If this thing shift S/SE to almost a perfect track but slows down so that by the time it arrives we've lost most of the cold air, not out of the question
Yeah that is still plausible. You know sometimes models show a storm in the long range but lose it mid range only to bring it back to some form the original long range depiction. Usually it shows no storm. I've been wondering as these slight SE adjustments show up if we were gonna eventually see it revert back to its early depictions. Not sure we get that but it's possible I suppose.
 
For the central NC folks, this will be another "right on the line" event. Many transitions between p-types. The big question right now is do we go above freezing (to rain). Most models say we do, but there is some thought that the CAD may hold stronger. Lee Ringer (Spectrum Meteorologist) thinks there is a possibility this could occur. Maybe the latest data being collected (storm is now moving on shore) and the short-range models (now coming in range) will make things a little clearer later today.
 
Can't say that I blame them based on what occurred overnight. I'm honestly skeptical of any backside impact other than novel flakes.
What’s weird is they say they went on the cooler side of guidance, but looking at EPS trends it seems things look better for us, not worse.

Getting into the weeds a bit about temperatures, the ECMWF is
slightly colder across the far NE at the onset of precipitation
through about 18Z Sun. The GFS is much faster bringing in the cold
air aloft, which makes sense because it is the faster solution. This
becomes important because it speaks to the strength/depth of the
warm nose aloft which plays a large role in ptype forecasting. GFS
model soundings look pretty consistent with the strength of the warm
nose as in previous runs. The ECMWF has a slimmer warm nose, but
starts out colder at the surface. The GFS has bounced back and forth
a bit with surface temps. The NAM is just starting to give us a peek
at into early Sunday, and is closer to the ECMWF with colder temps
at the surface. Still think that it is prudent to go on the cooler
side of the temp guidance, especially since it will be precipitating
much of Saturday, which can definitely reinforce the wedge.
 
For the central NC folks, this will be another "right on the line" event. Many transitions between p-types. The big question right now is do we go above freezing (to rain). Most models say we do, but there is some thought that the CAD may hold stronger. Lee Ringer (Spectrum Meteorologist) thinks there is a possibility this could occur. Maybe the latest data being collected (storm is now moving on shore) and the short-range models (now coming in range) will make things a little clearer later today.
If the CAD holds stronger than at some point the models have to show the slp track further east, it will not hold on long at all if it tracks inland like they are all showing. That's my experience anyway and according to @Lickwx I've got the most experience on here by about 100 years Lol
 
Wilkes is now under extreme impacts by Blacksburg. But I think Ice will save us and lower snow to around 6”. We can deal with that no prob
 
If the CAD holds stronger than at some point the models have to show the slp track further east, it will not hold on long at all if it tracks inland like they are all showing. That's my experience anyway and according to @Lickwx I've got the most experience on here by about 100 years Lol
That's true. It might be until the storm is occurring, do we see the track adjusting eastward. Regardless of what happens, this is a fun storm to track.
 
Like most storms around here we really have no clue outside of ~72 hours. It’s crunch time now with our energy being sampled out west and then up north later today. It can go either way imo.
 
Like most storms around here we really have no clue outside of ~72 hours. It’s crunch time now with our energy being sampled out west and then up north later today. It can go either way imo.
Not really things have been really consistent it’s just social media confusing people with snow maps when it’s clearly a mixed bag. It’s been a i77 snow storm for days with severe ice down to Charlotte metro and even further south. Yea there have been trends but by and large this storm has been “easy” with no rug pulls.
 
What’s weird is they say they went on the cooler side of guidance, but looking at EPS trends it seems things look better for us, not worse.

Getting into the weeds a bit about temperatures, the ECMWF is
slightly colder across the far NE at the onset of precipitation
through about 18Z Sun. The GFS is much faster bringing in the cold
air aloft, which makes sense because it is the faster solution. This
becomes important because it speaks to the strength/depth of the
warm nose aloft which plays a large role in ptype forecasting. GFS
model soundings look pretty consistent with the strength of the warm
nose as in previous runs. The ECMWF has a slimmer warm nose, but
starts out colder at the surface. The GFS has bounced back and forth
a bit with surface temps. The NAM is just starting to give us a peek
at into early Sunday, and is closer to the ECMWF with colder temps
at the surface. Still think that it is prudent to go on the cooler
side of the temp guidance, especially since it will be precipitating
much of Saturday, which can definitely reinforce the wedge.
Sounds like they're hedging due to the uncertainty of the warm nose based on that, and those usually aren't sampled until its go time. Gonna be tight either way.
 
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