Nationwide cold wave continues with more low temperature records likely to be set… Great Lakes snowfall is coming
The “perfect” scenario for places like Buffalo and Watertown in western New York state to be covered in snow during the Great Lakes snowfall is for an extended period of low-level W-SW winds – and this is for sure. are being considered for these locations from Thursday through the weekend. Map courtesy NOAA, tropicaltidbits.com
Paul Dorian
overview
Temperatures across the nation on Wednesday morning hit an impressive average of nearly 12 degrees (F) below normal in mid-November, and no state in the Lower 48 has escaped colder than usual. The first widespread snow event of the season took place late Tuesday across the interior, higher elevations of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern US with up to half a foot of snow recorded in many points. Over the next few days there will be a “Great Lakes snow machine” that will be turned on at full capacity and result in several feet of snow in some downstream locations such as Buffalo and Watertown in western New State. York. The cold spell across the country will continue until the end of next week.
The nationwide temperature anomaly on Wednesday morning was nearly 12 degrees (F) below average on Nov. 16. The unusually widespread early-season cold will continue across the country until to next weekend. Map courtesy of NOAA, weathermodels.com (Dr. Ryan Maue, Twitter)
Cold from coast to coast continues to be cold
The first few weeks of November mean temperatures were much higher than normal for much of the eastern half of the country, but the overall weather pattern has certainly changed in a significant way. Virtually all of the states in the Lower 48 experienced colder-than-normal weather Wednesday morning with the 10 a.m. national temperature anomaly being nearly 12 degrees (F) below normal for the day. The cold front of this season will continue through the weekend in most countries as the cold air mass strengthens from Canada to hit the US. In fact, the next cold front is likely to bring record low temperatures over the weekend; in particular, across parts of the central US where temperatures can drop as much as 30 degrees below normal by mid-November.
There were a few record low or near temperatures set for Tuesday morning (left map) and Wednesday morning (right map). More lower temperature records are likely to be set over the weekend with even colder air flows; especially across the central states where temperatures can drop to nearly 30 degrees below normal. Map courtesy coolwx.com, NOAA
First snow Tuesday in inland Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern US
The depression developed late Tuesday near the mid-Atlantic coast and then strengthened as it moved northeast over the overnight hours. A bone-chilling downpour hit the immediate I-95 corridor (though sometimes some snowflakes and ice particles mixed together), but it turned out to be the first widespread snowfall for the area. with many locations within, higher elevations of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern United States with many being measured in half a foot.
Inner, higher-altitude areas of the Mid-Atlantic/Northeastern US experienced the first large-scale snowfall of the season late Tuesday with spots up to half a foot of snow. Map provided by NOAA
Great Lakes Snow Event Is Happening
Starting late Thursday and lasting through the weekend, setting the atmosphere will be right in several locations downstream of the Great Lakes to forecast intense and potentially paralyzing snowfall. Very cold air at this time of year will continuously overwhelm the still relatively warm waters of the Great Lakes and this action will destabilize the atmosphere in conditions that are likely to become a drag event. long weekend.
The potential for huge snowfall in the coming days is up to several feet in places like Buffalo and Watertown in western New York state. Map provided by NOAA/Buffalo NWS
It’s always been a difficult forecast to pinpoint the all-important headwind in this type of upcoming local (“medium-range”) weather event, but it looks like there’s going to be a long stretch of W- SW blows over Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. This is perfect The wind trajectory causes places like Buffalo and Watertown to be covered with thick sheets of snow because this wind direction allows the air to blow over the lake of interest (Erie or Ontario) for the longest time possible based on the geographic orientation of the each lake. With this projected headwind scenario, a large amount of moisture would push into Buffalo (from Lake Erie) and Watertown (from Lake Ontario) as a thick band of snow. This type of event has the potential to devalue some feet snow in local areas like Buffalo and Watertown with incredible hourly snowfall rates possible…crippling early snow is possible.
Meteorologist Paul Dorian
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