Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Birmingham AL
1015 PM CST Mon Jan 28 2019
.UPDATE...
Evening Update.
&&
.SHORT TERM...
A day in the life of a Deep South weather forecaster. Model
solutions have been bouncing around way too close to the potential
wintry weather event than this forecaster needs to see. Luckily,
the main theme we have been advertising has reappeared as a
potential solution in the
Hi-Res output. The latest satellite
imagery has a robust
jet digging into the Southern Plains and will
partially phase with the
jet on the eastern side of the longwave
trough. The subfreezing air was trailing cold
front back to the
west, but believe there will be much more going on than plain
advection. Significant frontogenetic forcing and enhanced
precipitation will occur over a 2-3 hour window just before and
after sunrise. At least that is the main timing. Expect
diabatic
cooling to knock temps down to near freezing very quickly. This
should allow snow to accumulate due to the rate of fall,
regardless of exact surface temp.
Added Marengo and Perry Counties to the
warning. Actually lowered
snow amounts in Marion and Winston, but will keep
warning going at
this time due to potential travel issues and keep a consistent
message to all of Alabama. The northwest areas will eventually be
the coldest too. Kept the storm totals close but lowered the east
and northwest and left everyone else where they were. Generally
1-3 inches in the
warning areas and
trace to 1.5 inches in the
advisory areas.
More updates to follow.