• Hello, please take a minute to check out our awesome content, contributed by the wonderful members of our community. We hope you'll add your own thoughts and opinions by making a free account!

Pattern The Great December Dump

6z gfs suggesting that some may squeeze out some snow before 2020. Another good tracking Miller A on New Years Eve with colder air closing in...At the very least, promising a better pattern to follow.
It's way out there but a couple of EPS members biting as well, GSO chart below but no need to post others because it is so minimal at this time.... just looks like there is a storm signal as of now

1576674521524.png
 
We're also probably gonna be staring down the barrel of RMM MJO phase 7 in early January which is notorious for producing winter storms in NC.

I'm very curious to see where we stand in a week or so.

View attachment 28382

When you posted this I went back and looked...I see what you mean. Of course I am cherry picking known snowy periods and it looks like it could be 6-8 in Jan/Feb.


MJO-snow.gif
 
I wouldn’t be so afraid of what the Gfs is showing in the long range as that is what we’ve been talking about for weeks now about how large scale features like the mjo are heading into favorable patterns by the end of December and early January ... all signs have pointed to winter getting started for us for this time period and now the models are just now being able to see it .. obviously the details will change but clearly the pattern isn’t leading to a major south east ridge .. we’re heading for cold and snowy (oh please lord let it be snowy)
 
Based on current forecasts I’ve seen, most of the SE US would end up with December being 3-5 warmer than normal and even most of NC would end up 2-3 warmer than normal thanks to a much warmer than normal last 10 days of the month being forecasted. Whereas this wouldn’t get December as a whole to torch levels like some in the recent past, it would get it to solidly above and the 9th warmer than normal Dec in a row for the bulk of the SE US should these forecasts verify.
 
Last edited:
Based on current forecasts I’ve seen, most of the SE US will end up with December being 3-5 warmer than normal and even most of NC will end up 2-3 warmer than normal thanks to a much warmer than normal last 10 days of the month being forecasted. Whereas this doesn’t get December as a whole to torch levels like some in the recent past, it does get it to solidly above and the 9th warmer than normal Dec in a row for the bulk of the SE US.
I wonder if the streak of 9 AN Decembers is the longest current streak of any month ? Also I wonder if any month has ever had such a long streak since records have been kept. Whats the most consecutive AN months that any month has ever recorded ?
 
I wonder if the streak of 9 AN Decembers is the longest current streak of any month ? Also I wonder if any month has ever had such a long streak since records have been kept. Whats the most consecutive AN months that any month has ever recorded ?

I don’t know 100% for sure off the top of my head, but I’m pretty confident this would be the longest AN streak in the SE for any nonsummer month. To get 9 AN in a row to the extent experienced purely randomly would be something like a one in several thousands chance. But of course we know that GW is the main reason and that therefore this isn’t a purely random occurrence. Another way to look at it is that the 1981-2010 normals are way outdated now with true normals significantly warmer.
 
I don’t know 100% for sure off the top of my head, but I’m pretty confident this would be the longest AN streak in the SE for any nonsummer month. To get 9 AN in a row to the extent experienced purely randomly would be something like a one in several thousands chance. But of course we know that GW is the main reason and that therefore this isn’t a purely random occurrence. Another way to look at it is that the 1981-2010 normals are way outdated now with true normals significantly warmer.
But why December ? Why has December been more consistently warm than any other month ? Why not January ? Or November ?
 
I don’t know 100% for sure off the top of my head, but I’m pretty confident this would be the longest AN streak in the SE for any nonsummer month. To get 9 AN in a row to the extent experienced purely randomly would be something like a one in several thousands chance. But of course we know that GW is the main reason and that therefore this isn’t a purely random occurrence. Another way to look at it is that the 1981-2010 normals are way outdated now with true normals significantly warmer.
Not sure we know this with absolute certainty.... but I don't want to debate it or discuss it in the main thread. Thanks
 
When you posted this I went back and looked...I see what you mean. Of course I am cherry picking known snowy periods and it looks like it could be 6-8 in Jan/Feb.


View attachment 28466

Here's what the actual data shows when you look at every winter storm in east-central NC since 1974 in Dec-Mar sorted by RMM phase when its amplitude is >1.

Phase 7 & 8 are favored in general, phases 2-3 are slightly more conducive than the Maritime Continent while few winter storms occur in RMM phase 1.

However, the major takeaway which reaffirms what I've been saying is that RMM MJO phase 7 in January leads the way by a country mile, nearly doubling the frequency of winter storms in any other month & phase and accounting for over 10% of the total number of winter storms in this time span!

I highlighted in yellow the peak total RMM MJO phase & peak phase by month.

Again, January MJO phase 7 sticks out like a sore thumb.

Screen Shot 2019-12-18 at 11.31.15 AM.png
 
Here's what the actual data shows when you look at every winter storm in east-central NC since 1974 in Dec-Mar sorted by RMM phase when its amplitude is >1.

Phase 7 & 8 are favored in general, phases 2-3 are slightly more conducive than the Maritime Continent while few winter storms occur in RMM phase 1.

However, the major takeaway which reaffirms what I've been saying is that RMM MJO phase 7 in January leads the way by a country mile, nearly doubling the frequency of winter storms in any other month & phase and accounting for over 10% of the total number of winter storms in this time span!

I highlighted in yellow the peak total RMM MJO phase & peak phase by month.

Again, January MJO phase 7 sticks out like a sore thumb.

View attachment 28473

Thanks! It is difficult now to not atleast be mildly optimistic.
 
From my 12/18/18 post here regarding major KATL winter storms:

MJO phase/amp for KATL major winter storms since MJO data available: (in = inside circle; out = outside circle)

1. ZR:
- 2/12-13/2014: 5 in
- 12/14-15/2005: 2-1 in
- 1/28-9/2005: 5 in
- 1/28-30/2000: 1-2 in
- 1/22-3/2000: 7-8 in
- 2/6-7/1979: 2 in

So all 6 major ZRs inside circle with phases 2 and 5 the most common

2. IP:
- 2/12-13/2014: 5 in
- 1/7/1988: 8 in
- 2/17-18/1979: 3 out/in

So, 2.5 of 3 major IP inside circle but very small sample

3. SN:
- 1/9-10/2011: 6-5 out
- 2/12/2010: 8 out
- 3/1/09: 4 out
- 1/2-3/2002: 7 out
- 3/13/1993: 4 out
- 1/18/1992: 8 out
- 1/22/1987: 3 out
- 3/24/1983: 8 in
- 1/12-14/1982: 4 in

So, 7 of 9 major SN outside circle with phases 4 and 8 the most common
 
From my 12/18/18 post here regarding major KATL winter storms:

MJO phase/amp for KATL major winter storms since MJO data available: (in = inside circle; out = outside circle)

1. ZR:
- 2/12-13/2014: 5 in
- 12/14-15/2005: 2-1 in
- 1/28-9/2005: 5 in
- 1/28-30/2000: 1-2 in
- 1/22-3/2000: 7-8 in
- 2/6-7/1979: 2 in

So all 6 major ZRs inside circle with phases 2 and 5 the most common

2. IP:
- 2/12-13/2014: 5 in
- 1/7/1988: 8 in
- 2/17-18/1979: 3 out/in

So, 2.5 of 3 major IP inside circle but very small sample

3. SN:
- 1/9-10/2011: 6-5 out
- 2/12/2010: 8 out
- 3/1/09: 4 out
- 1/2-3/2002: 7 out
- 3/13/1993: 4 out
- 1/18/1992: 8 out
- 1/22/1987: 3 out
- 3/24/1983: 8 in
- 1/12-14/1982: 4 in

So, 7 of 9 major SN outside circle with phases 4 and 8 the most common
Interesting. Thought 4 was mostly a shutout.
 
Here's what the actual data shows when you look at every winter storm in east-central NC since 1974 in Dec-Mar sorted by RMM phase when its amplitude is >1.

Phase 7 & 8 are favored in general, phases 2-3 are slightly more conducive than the Maritime Continent while few winter storms occur in RMM phase 1.

However, the major takeaway which reaffirms what I've been saying is that RMM MJO phase 7 in January leads the way by a country mile, nearly doubling the frequency of winter storms in any other month & phase and accounting for over 10% of the total number of winter storms in this time span!

I highlighted in yellow the peak total RMM MJO phase & peak phase by month.

Again, January MJO phase 7 sticks out like a sore thumb.

View attachment 28473
Am I looking at this correct? There have been 142 winter storms in east-central NC since 1974? That's a little over 3 a year on average.... that seems high to me but I guess this is every little nuisance event as well. Also, again if I'm reading correctly, any way of knowing how many of those years the MJO was in P7 during January?
 
Anyone else having problems with the tropical tidbits site when viewing models.. I can’t seem to see the exact frames anymore it’s just the scroll bar and i dont know if It’s only happening to me or if they changed something?
If your on mobile site that's all you are going to see now apparently, I noticed this yesterday, but on a PC you can still see them
 
The GEFS long range -EPO bias is rearing its ugly head in its later, more recent week 2 forecasts.

View attachment 28454

Even more delays/evidence of -EPA/+PNA bias on the 12Z GEFS...will it ever end lol? I liken it to a mirage. They almost always look good but not til late. Actually, the 12Z GEFS has the SE warmer than normal lasting all the way to the end of the run on 1/3 even while the upper Midwest westward is colder than normal and the cold is getting closer. Even more delays would not be a surprise obviously.
 
Am I looking at this correct? There have been 142 winter storms in east-central NC since 1974? That's a little over 3 a year on average.... that seems high to me but I guess this is every little nuisance event as well. Also, again if I'm reading correctly, any way of knowing how many of those years the MJO was in P7 during January?

Yeah the criteria I defined for a winter storm was pretty loose but it included storms I mapped, or ones that were identified by NWS RAH, NCSU Climate Office or were cases where at least one of the following reliable, long-term stations recorded at least 1" of snow: Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, or Wilmington to raise the sample size of events. Quite a few winter storms actually didn't make the cut at all, so these are only the storms that occurred when the MJO had amplitude.

When you look at Januarys where the MJO was in phase 7 for at least 3 successive days (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016)

east-central NC picked up a winter storm a whopping 60% of the time!

Since 1985, the frequency has increased and we've picked up a winter storm nearly 80% of the time (10 of the last 13 cases) when the MJO was in phase 7 in January!!

So, now you can see why I'm so upbeat about our chances in the longer term when I see us potentially staring down the barrel of a phase 7 MJO event in early or perhaps mid-January.

A 3 out 4 hit rate is certainly not bad. If we get a phase 7 MJO event next month given the kind of pattern we may be looking at (-EPO/+TNH) I'd be tempted to push all my chips to the center of the table.
 
Anyone else having problems with the tropical tidbits site when viewing models.. I can’t seem to see the exact frames anymore it’s just the scroll bar and i dont know if It’s only happening to me or if they changed something?
I've noticed a problem with the tropical tidbits site. It seems like the auto-loading is slower then normal, you have to refresh the page to make the frames available as the data comes out - for me at least, not sure about anyone else. That's all that I have noticed, it could be due to high volume of traffic.
 
I've noticed a problem with the tropical tidbits site. It seems like the auto-loading is slower then normal, you have to refresh the page to make the frames available as the data comes out - for me at least, not sure about anyone else. That's all that I have noticed, it could be due to high volume of traffic.
I've noticed that too. From PC, it loads quickly, but on mobile, it takes a long time. It didn't use to.
 
Yeah the criteria I defined for a winter storm was pretty loose but it included storms I mapped, or ones that were identified by NWS RAH, NCSU Climate Office or were cases where at least one of the following reliable, long-term stations recorded at least 1" of snow: Greensboro, Charlotte, Raleigh, or Wilmington to raise the sample size of events. Quite a few winter storms actually didn't make the cut at all, so these are only the storms that occurred when the MJO had amplitude.

When you look at Januarys where the MJO was in phase 7 for at least 3 successive days (1975, 1976, 1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1992, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, & 2016)

east-central NC picked up a winter storm a whopping 60% of the time!

Since 1985, the frequency has increased and we've picked up a winter storm nearly 80% of the time (10 of the last 13 cases) when the MJO was in phase 7 in January!!

So, now you can see why I'm so upbeat about our chances in the longer term when I see us potentially staring down the barrel of a phase 7 MJO event in early or perhaps mid-January.

A 3 out 4 hit rate is certainly not bad. If we get a phase 7 MJO event next month given the kind of pattern we may be looking at (-EPO/+TNH) I'd be tempted to push all my chips to the center of the table.
Combine this with some of my posts from the past few days, I think a legit window of opportunity for us to pot a winter storm is starting to emerge just before the mid point of January (Jan 5-15 ish). We’ll see how this goes
 
That's looking good! Winter storm come New Years? That pattern is a -NAO, slight -AO, neutral to slight +PNA, and -EPO. Active SJT, something is bound to happen! All eyes on New Years! That look is a good spot to be in at this time. If a winter storm does have a chance at occurring for New Years, thread name idea's should be great! Who isn't exicted for a new decade and a possible chance of a winter storm to start off the new decade? I know I 'am! gfs-ens_uv250_namer_57.png
 
I wonder if the streak of 9 AN Decembers is the longest current streak of any month ? Also I wonder if any month has ever had such a long streak since records have been kept. Whats the most consecutive AN months that any month has ever recorded ?

Well, I just learned that 1948-57 had 10 AN Febs in a row at KATL before 1958 totally crashed the party:

1576693768070.png

1576694035152.png
 
Well, I just learned that 1948-57 had 10 AN Febs in a row at KATL before 1958 totally crashed the party:

View attachment 28488

View attachment 28491

Well the past 3 in a row have been blistering here so hopefully we don't have to wait 5 more winters for another BN Feb.

Past few winters Jan has been our best month. I thnk 4 out of past 6 been BN.
 
Good god how many of these can we get before we cash in
33719b87135392dfe8545c06beb392eb.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Just a matter of when, not if.
Winter doesn't last but 2 or 3 months here. The odds of seeing this in 2020 with cold air aren't very high to start. Will we see anything? Maybe. But don't expect this to show up with cold air. The odds aren't too good looking ahead.
 
Winter doesn't last but 2 or 3 months here. The odds of seeing this in 2020 with cold air aren't very high to start. Will we see anything? Maybe. But don't expect this to show up with cold air. The odds aren't too good looking ahead.

From everything I have read here from folks like Webber, the odds look better than usual for winter storms going forward this winter.
 
From everything read and seen it is most definitely a matter of when not if.. almost every year we can squeak out at least one storm and the upcoming winter has trademarks of multiple winter storm possibilities this far south ... last year we were kicking can down the road and this year it can’t be kicked .. honestly this year has been predicted fairly well with the above normal December ANTICIPATED as well as a below normal and active January and February looking anticipated .. analogs show blocking to be a theme in those months and although it’s not all the ingredients needed .. this active southern jet will surely give us a few storms this winter .. I’ll go to the grave on that
 
One thing that I like seeing is no signs of the SER or WAR overtaking and controlling our pattern... even during periods of above average temperatures. One constant on models that does seem to be verifying is a SER pushed back for the most part and lower heights off the east coast.
 
Last edited:
Back
Top