As of 230 PM EST Monday: Tuesday evening we start out with quasi-
zonal flow while a strong
low pressure system deepens across the
Desert Southwest.
Zonal flow will phase out late Tuesday night into
early Wednesday morning as a subtropical
ridge across the eastern
United States and the strong
low pressure system tracks into the
Southern Plains. This
ridge should remain over the region into
Wednesday night while the cut-off low progresses eastward across the
Tennessee Valley. Rain chances will decrease from north to south
Tuesday evening as the cold
front sinks southward. Tuesday night
into Wednesday we have the potential to remain wedged in due to a
high pressure system building into the
CWA behind the departing
front. Forecast confidence on the wedge holding is moderate due warm
air
advection riding over the wedge of cold air below. We will not
get a good scouring until the cold
front passes through on Thursday.
The warm
front associated with the low and located to our south will
gradually lift northward over the
CWA Wednesday into early Thursday.
This will lead to gradual increase in rain chances from west to east
Wednesday morning into Wednesday night. This warm
front will also
contribute to southerly
flow aloft pulling in plentiful
moisture
from the Gulf of Mexico.
As a result the CWA should be in the warm
sector by Thursday. The cold front associated with the low pressure
system should start tracking into the western Carolinas and
northeastern GA by Thursday afternoon. This will lead to the highest
rain chances being late Wednesday night into Thursday afternoon. It
is important to note that models are not in agreement regarding the
timing if the frontal passage. Currently the GFS has the front
progressing much quicker compared to the ECMWF. However, due to the
GFS runs over the past few days, I am more inclined to follow the
ECMWF regarding the timing of the FROPA, which would be Thursday
afternoon. Since the front would track through during the afternoon
hours during ample daytime heating, severe weather is possible. The
main potential impacts would be damaging winds and marginally severe
hail. The 0-1 km shear looks to peak around 18z at the critical
threshold of 40 knots. This means the timing of the front will
ultimately determine the severity of this event. The overall
tornado threat with this system looks to be low, but it is not
zero. If a tornado were to occur in this environment it would be
short lived. We will continue to monitor the progression of
this system in the coming days.
GSP's take on Thursday as of now.