Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 9, 2008

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
339 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

.SYNOPSIS...
A QUICK MOVING FRONTAL SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH THE REGION THIS
EVENING. A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL MOVE THROUGH THE AREA SUNDAY.
HIGH PRESSURE WILL FOLLOW FOR MONDAY. A WARM FRONT IS EXPECTED TO
LIFT NORTH OVER THE AREA TUESDAY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER COLD FRONT
EARLY WEDNESDAY. LOW PRESSURE IS FORECAST TO DEVELOP OVER THE
CAROLINAS WEDNESDAY MORNING AND THEN INTENSIFY AS IT MOVES RAPIDLY
NORTHEAST AND OUT TO SEA THROUGH WEDNESDAY NIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE
BUILDS OVER THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES THURSDAY AND FRIDAY.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH TODAY/...
THE FRONTAL SYSTEM THAT MOVES THROUGH THE REGION THIS EVENING WILL
GENERATE WARM ADVECTION AHEAD OF IT AND ALSO SOME ISENTROPIC LIFT.
THE GFS SHOWS STRONGER ISENTROPIC LIFT THAN THE NAM BUT MAY BE
OVERDONE. THE REASON I THINK THIS, IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT HARDLY
ANY PCPN WAS DEVELOPING WITH THE LIFT OVERNIGHT TO THE WSW. HOWEVER,
THE LIFT IS FORECAST TO STRENTHEN TODAY AS THE ASSOCIATED UPPER
SHORT WAVE ALOFT MOVES ACROSS THE REGION. DUE TO THE TRACK OF THE
UPPER SHORT WAVE, THERE IS LESS CHANCE OF SEEING PCPN SOUTH, AND A
MUCH HIGHER LIKELIHOOD NORTH. MODEL SOUNDINGS AND GUIDANCE SUGGEST
PCPN DEVELOPING LATE MORNING AS SNOW NORTH AND RAIN SHOWERS
CENTRAL AND POSSIBLY SOUTH. THEN WARM AIR MOVING IN FROM THE SOUTH
CHANGES ALL PCPN OVER TO LIQUID...EVEN NORTH. IN THE POCONOS AND
NW NJ, THE SNOW WILL LAST THE LONGEST AND 1 TO 3 INCHES SHOULD
ACCUMULATE. FCST TEMPS ARE IN GENLY LINE WITH MAV GUIDANCE.

&&

.SHORT TERM /TONIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
THERE IS SOME DRYING BEHIND THE FRONT THAT MOVES THROUGH THIS
EVENING, BUT ENOUGH MOISTURE MAY LINGER NORTH FOR SOME LIGHT RAIN
SHOWERS CHANGING TO SNOW SHOWERS. OTHERWISE SKIES STAY CLOUDY.
TEMPERATURES DROP INITIALLY WITH COLD ADVECTION IN THE EVENING
THEN RISE LATE AT NIGHT AHEAD OF THE NEXT FRONTAL SYSTEM AFTER
MIDNIGHT. MAV MINS LOOK REASONABLE.

ON SUNDAY, AN ARCTIC COLD FRONT MOVES THROUGH FROM THE WEST IN
RESPONSE TO A CLOSED UPPER LOW MOVING THROUGH THE GREAT LAKES
REGION AND THEN THROUGH NEW ENGLAND. WINDS WILL INCREASE WITH AND
BEHIND THE FRONT AS THE COLD AIR MOVES IN, ESPECIALLY IN THE
AFTERNOON AND THIS WILL CAUSE TEMPS TO FALL. CYCLONIC FLOW ALOFT
SHOULD BE ENOUGH TO GENERATE SCATTERED RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS AHEAD
OF THE FRONT, CHANGING TO SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS OR FLURRIES
BEHIND IT.

WINDS SHOULD GUST TO 40 MPH SUNDAY AFTERNOON, AND THERE ARE
SUGGESTIONS IN THE MODEL THAT THEY MIGHT EVEN BE HIGHER. IF THIS
HAPPENS, A WIND ADVISORY WOULD BE NEEDED.

SUNDAY NIGHT WILL BE VERY COLD WITH WIND CHILLS BELOW ZERO NORTH
AND IN THE SINGLE DIGITS SOUTH AS BRISK WEST TO NW WINDS CONTINUE.
H8 TEMPS ARE FCST TO BOTTOM OUT BETWEEN MINUS 22 AND MINUS 24
AROUND MIDNIGHT SUPPORTING THE VERY COLD FCST.

MONDAY LOOKS DRY BUT STILL COLD. HOWEVER, WE SHOULD LOSE MOST OF
THE WIND DURING THE DAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN FROM THE WEST.
GFS FCST TEMPS LOOK REASONABLE CONSIDERING THE MODIFYING AIRMASS
COMBINED WITH SOME SUNSHINE.

.LONG TERM /MONDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY/...
DRY WEATHER IS FORECAST MONDAY NIGHT WITH HIGH PRESSURE. WARM
ADVECTION DEVELOPS ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE HIGH AS A WARM FRONT
APPROACHES FROM THE SOUTH. RAIN AND SNOW SHOWERS ARE POSSIBLE
NORTH TUESDAY. THEN TUESDAY NIGHT...THE COMBINATION OF A NEW COLD
FRONT COMING THROUGH FROM THE WEST AND DEVELOPING LOW PRESSURE TO
THE SOUTH COULD ALLOW FOR MORE WIDESPREAD PCPN TUESDAY NIGHT INTO
WED MORNING. PTYPE THAT FAR OUT IN TIME IS UNCERTAIN WITH THIS
SYSTEM, BUT CONSIDERING THE PATTERN FCST, I WENT WITH PSBL SNOW
NORTH AND RAIN SOUTH.

BEHIND THE FRONT, COLDER AIR RETURNS AND THE PCPN SHOULD BECOME
SHOWERS OR END. THE 00Z ECMWF SHOWS A LOW INTENSIFYING SLOWLY AS
IT MOVES BY TO THE EAST WEDNESDAY SUPPORTING THE FCST MENTIONED
ABOVE, WHILE THE 00Z GFS SUGGESTS A POSSIBLE NOREASTER WITH A LOW
FORMING TO THE SOUTH INTENSIFYING FASTER AS IT HEADS NE TO THE EAST OF
NJ. CONSIDERING PAST BEHAVIOUR OF THE GFS, I WENT WITH THE MORE
CONSERVATIVE ECMWF WHICH IS ALSO CLOSER TO THE HPC FCST.

THURSDAY AND RIDAY LOOK TRANQUIL WITH HIGH PRESSURE MOVING BY TO
THE SOUTH.

&&

.AVIATION /08Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
SOME CLEARING OCCURRED IN BETWEEN SYSTEMS EARLY LAST NIGHT, BUT AS
OF 08Z SCATTERED STRATOCUMULUS AND WIDESPREAD ALTOCUMULUS WERE
ARRIVING IN ADVANCE OF THE APPROACHING WEAKISH COLD FRONT, WHICH IS
SUPPORTED BY A BROAD UPPER TROUGH. MAINLY VFR CONDITIONS ARE
ANTICIPATED TODAY, AT LEAST FOR THE SOUTHERN AND CENTRAL TAF SITES
WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF RAIN SHOWERS. FOR KABE AND KRDG, SOME SNOW MAY
OCCUR THIS MORNING WITH THE COLD LOW LEVEL TEMPERATURES, AND THIS
MAY LOWER VISIBILITIES INTO THE IFR RANGE FOR A TIME. CEILINGS MAY
DROP BRIEFLY TO IFR TOO, BUT  MARGINAL VFR CEILINGS WERE INCLUDED IN
THE TEMPO GROUP AS THIS WAS THOUGHT TO BE THE BETTER DESCRIPTOR OF
TEMPORARY CONDITIONS BASED ON THE STATISTICAL GUIDANCE.

WITH THE FRONT MOVING THROUGH EARLY THIS EVENING, IMPROVING
CONDITIONS ARE FORECAST, WITH MID LEVEL CLOUDS SCATTERING OUT BY
LATE EVENING.

A SECOND STRONGER ARCTIC COLD FRONT IS ANTICIPATED LATER SUNDAY
MORNING OR BY MIDDAY. IT MAY BRING CONVECTIVE-TYPE RAIN AND SNOW
SHOWERS TO OUR REGION WITH SOME MARGINAL VFR CEILINGS AND
VISIBILITIES, WITH A VERY STRONG WEST TO NORTHWEST WIND BY LATE
SUNDAY MORNING INTO SUNDAY NIGHT BEING THE MAIN WEATHER FEATURE
SUNDAY.

HIGH PRESSURE IS SLATED TO RETURN FOR MONDAY, WITH SOME RAIN
POSSIBLE FOR TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY.

&&

.MARINE...
A COUPLE OF FRONTS WILL BE AFFECTING THE MARINE AREA OVER THE NEXT
48 HOURS, AND WINDS AND WAVES WILL BE INCREASING, ESPECIALLY FOR
SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT. CONDITIONS MAY APPROACH STORM FORCE LEVELS
SUNDAY AFTERNOON AND SUNDAY EVENING.

THE FIRST FRONT WILL BE APPROACHING THE COAST FROM THE WEST TODAY
AND PASS THROUGH THE AREA WATERS EARLY THIS EVENING. THIS SHOULD
INCREASE GUSTS TO SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY TERRITORY, AND A SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY HAS BEEN HOISTED STARTING THIS EVENING ON THE OCEAN, AND
AROUND MIDNIGHT ON DELAWARE BAY. THEN, THE ARCTIC FRONT HAULS
THROUGH THE WATERS MIDDAY SUNDAY OR EARLY AFTERNOON, AND WINDS AND
WAVES WILL BUILD SHARPLY BY EARLY AFTERNOON. SO, A GALE WARNING WAS
ISSUED (FOR OUR 3RD PERIOD AS CONFIDENCE IS PRETTY HIGH), STARTING
AT 11Z SUNDAY, ALTHOUGH IT MAY TAKE A FEW HOURS FOR CONDITIONS TO
RAMP UP IN THE MORNING. THE GALE WARNING WAS DRAGGED THROUGH THE 4TH
PERIOD, SUNDAY NIGHT), WITH CONDITIONS DIMINISHING BACK TO SMALL
CRAFT LEVELS MONDAY. ONE THING TO NOTE IS THAT CONDITIONS MAY REACH
STORM FORCE WITH THIS EVENT, AS 925 HPA WINDS ARE PROGGED AT 50
KNOTS ON THE GFS. SO, LATER FORECASTERS AND USERS MAY WISH TO WATCH
FOR THIS EVENTUALITY.

HIGH PRESSURE SHOULD RETURN FOR MONDAY, THEN ANOTHER COLD FRONT FROM
THE WEST IS FORECAST TO ARRIVE EARLY WEDNESDAY WITH A COASTAL LOW
ALSO POSSIBLY AFFECTING US LATER WEDNESDAY, SO MORE HEADLINES ARE
LIKELY TO BE NEEDED AT THOSE TIMES.

&&

.PHI WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
PA...NONE.
NJ...NONE.
DE...NONE.
MD...NONE.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM EST
     SUNDAY FOR ANZ430-431-450>455.
     GALE WARNING FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM EST MONDAY FOR ANZ430-
     431-450>455.

&&

SYNOPSIS...STAUBER
NEAR TERM...STAUBER
SHORT TERM...STAUBER
LONG TERM...STAUBER
AVIATION.../
MARINE.../

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MOUNT HOLLY NJ
319 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

NJZ001-PAZ054-055-101000-
SUSSEX-CARBON-MONROE-
319 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND
NORTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

1 TO 3 INCHES OF SNOW COULD FALL LATE THIS MORNING AND EARLY THIS
AFTERNOON BEFORE SNOW CHANGES OVER TO RAIN. THE HIGHEST
ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY
EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

NJZ007-008-PAZ061-062-101000-
WARREN-MORRIS-LEHIGH-NORTHAMPTON-
319 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR NORTHERN NEW JERSEY AND EAST
CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

THERE COULD BE AN INCH OF SNOW OVER THE HIGHER ELEVATIONS LATE
THIS MORNING OR EARLY THIS AFTERNOON.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY
EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

DEZ001>004-MDZ008-012-015-019-020-NJZ009-010-012>024-026-027-PAZ060-
067>071-101000-
NEW CASTLE-KENT DE-INLAND SUSSEX-DELAWARE BEACHES-CECIL-KENT MD-
QUEEN ANNES-TALBOT-CAROLINE-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-
WESTERN MONMOUTH-EASTERN MONMOUTH-MERCER-SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-
NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-OCEAN-CUMBERLAND-ATLANTIC-CAPE MAY-
ATLANTIC COASTAL CAPE MAY-COASTAL OCEAN-SOUTHEASTERN BURLINGTON-
BERKS-CHESTER-MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
319 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR CENTRAL DELAWARE...NORTHERN
DELAWARE...SOUTHERN DELAWARE...EASTERN MARYLAND...NORTHEAST
MARYLAND...CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...NORTHERN NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN NEW
JERSEY...EAST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND SOUTHEAST PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

STRONG GUSTY WINDS ARE POSSIBLE ON SUNDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY
EVENTUALLY BE NEEDED.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.

ANZ430-431-450>455-101000-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS NORTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
DELAWARE BAY WATERS SOUTH OF EAST POINT NJ TO SLAUGHTER BEACH DE-
COASTAL WATERS FROM SANDY HOOK TO MANASQUAN INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM MANASQUAN INLET TO LITTLE EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM LITTLE EGG INLET TO GREAT EGG INLET NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM GREAT EGG INLET TO CAPE MAY NJ OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE MAY NJ TO CAPE HENLOPEN DE OUT 20 NM-
COASTAL WATERS FROM CAPE HENLOPEN TO FENWICK ISLAND DE OUT 20 NM-
319 AM EST SAT FEB 9 2008

...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 6 AM
EST SUNDAY...
...GALE WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM SUNDAY TO 6 AM EST MONDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR ATLANTIC COASTAL WATERS AND
DELAWARE BAY WATERS.

.DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY.

.DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY

PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE
INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS.

   GALE WARNING.

.SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT...

SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.