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Risk Of Heavy Snow Showers As It Turns Extremely Cold Sunday Night/Monday

18911131458

Comments

  • Closed Accounts Posts: 2,693 ✭✭✭Redsunset


    Severe snowstorm to blast nw france perhaps southern UK Sun into Mon. Coldest air of winter into UK on the way

    Joe B has also tweeted these. Out of date now but you get the idea.

    week ago tweeted for the UK to not buy false spring I saw being touted. Truly amazing snow/temp 4cast for coming wk pic.twitter.com/gtwmAucYF2

    BEz_oCUCEAMHDAj.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,855 ✭✭✭Nabber


    Streamers, they look beautiful on the rain-dars, when they start dropping there load, tis just magical. I'll be happy with 1-2cms. Setup is right for us to enjoy it too.

    Still a few more runs till I'll look at precip charts, anyways I much prefer radar and lamp post watching.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,970 ✭✭✭Storm 10


    Just looked at Met Eireann forecast after the 9pm news, dont see much to get excited about, few snow showers on Monday the dry and cold after that.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,596 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Not inclined to change much about the east coast streamers in the forecast, as some have pointed out, global models do not generally forecast these very well and I have been relying more on a meso-scale modelling based on the general input from the model consensus. The other portion of the snowfall potential, namely parts of south being hit Sunday night from the low tracking towards Cornwall, remains a possibility but I was always more concerned about large-scale streamer development merging with that feature.

    As to the suggested "half-way house" forecast being a case of Met-E and MT equally wrong, I don't think that's valid, the half-way house sounds almost like my forecast and widespread accumulations of snow is a lot closer to what I'm saying than "severe frost and mixed wintry showers" -- not that I'm here to make trouble with the Met service, but I don't see that as half-way at all. It may however prove to be correct, when I say something about "blizzards" I am going by what I perceive to be common perceptions of that term as disruptive snowfall events, and to me, 5-15 cm of snow in Dublin coming down fairly hard in the daytime would be disruptive. Whether that's technically a blizzard or not, I don't know, over here it would need to be more like 30 cm of snow and strong winds, limited visibility. There may be some of that by Monday in parts of England and possibly in Wicklow.

    The guidance has not changed much overnight (in my time zone) and continues to spread over a slight range, so the best idea for now I believe is to concentrate on the potential for significant streamers and keep a watch on the south coast for any incursions from the Atlantic system (which I think is going to brush past but sometimes you can get a parallel inland band representing the arctic front in the circulation, fed by streamers). I am expecting that streamer development will be robust starting about midnight Sunday and that there will be two main bands, one running across Drogheda into Meath and Kildare and possibly Laois before weakening around Tipps, and one possibly over Dublin at times then shifting south later to cover most of Wicklow.

    If these streamers develop then they have potential to become heavy, and being steady-state then some heavy amounts can be created in some locations. I guess what surprises me about the Met forecast is not the conservative approach but the lack of coverage of what appears to be at least a 50-50 chance of accumulating snow right in the heaviest population zone that they serve. But kudos to them if it doesn't snow (and I won't try to spin a 2cm flurry in Arklow or some minor event, let's set a reasonable bar and say there would have to be lying snow reported by 25 different observers at their homes not driving around the Sally Gap or wherever).

    In the back of my mind also is the "what if" scenario of that low pushing north of the forecast track, they seem to do that almost effortlessly on the other side of the country. In that case, we would be looking at a very severe event. I haven't looked at all permutations of the GFS but I'll bet there's one or two showing that scenario. But for now, that very disruptive scenario seems likely to be heading towards Cornwall and Devon, Somerset, inland south central counties of England and later on northern France and southeast England.

    Somebody was wondering about travel disruptions later in the week -- don't think that will be a problem for you unless you're trying to drive into some isolated high elevation location in Dartmoor, by Wednesday any disruptive snow in England should be either cleared away or melted in the daytime sun, but some higher parts of Devon and Somerset could be cut off for a few days, as well as conceivably a few parts of north Yorkshire, if the North Sea develops its share of streamers. Now if this had been January, there would be a longer spell of lying snow after any storms.

    I think in general we dodged the bullet of last-minute downgrade at 12z, can see from the 18z map that all elements of the developing scenario are coming together (cold advection into Poland and northern Germany is rapid) and that brings me to the last part of my homily, which is, respect the thickness advection. Ireland is well into the 522 dam contour and almost into the 516 dam contour by Sunday midnight as it approaches Belfast and then all models show the -10 C 850 mb zone covering all of Ireland at some point Sunday night. There's a 30 knot E-NE gradient and dew points near -7 C in England advecting across the Irish Sea. It takes a brave soul to picture no snow in this scenario, I guess some are saying I'm out on a limb, would have to wonder if it isn't the other way around given the synoptics. Probably as always a middle course will verify but it's interesting I just went through the exact opposite of this on an American weather forum by suggesting (in a contest rather than a discussion) very low snowfall numbers for DC and BWI, in fact one person suggested that my forecast be edited out of the thread because it would prevent the spread of panic -- and in the end my low numbers were too high :D (I said something like one inch of snow at DCA, consensus was ten or fifteen, actual was a rather embarrassing 0.2). That thread has never received a comment since the storm didn't happen.

    I am guessing this thread will receive a comment or two if this one doesn't happen. Keep your fingers crossed, and remember Nov/Dec 2010 -- the Irish Sea rules.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Storm 10 wrote: »
    Just looked at Met Eireann forecast after the 9pm news, dont see much to get excited about, few snow showers on Monday the dry and cold after that.

    As mentioned before, this will be more than likely a streamer event, ME generally don't take these sort of event into account in their forecasts, they seem to forget that the Irish Sea is a snow making machine especially with the synoptic's that are nailed in for Sunday and Monday. ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,970 ✭✭✭Storm 10


    MT whats St Patricks day loking like I saw a mention of possible storm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,030 ✭✭✭Tom Cruises Left Nut


    Well, the precip charts are beefed up on this run !

    That low has nudged a bit north :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,030 ✭✭✭Tom Cruises Left Nut


    18z:

    prectypeuktopo.png

    12z:

    prectypeuktopo.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,186 ✭✭✭Elmer Blooker


    Storm 10 wrote: »
    Just looked at Met Eireann forecast after the 9pm news, dont see much to get excited about, few snow showers on Monday the dry and cold after that.
    I don't think it's possible to put "excited" and Gerry Murphy in the same sentence.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Not inclined to change much about the east coast streamers in the forecast, as some have pointed out, global models do not generally forecast these very well and I have been relying more on a meso-scale modelling based on the general input from the model consensus. The other portion of the snowfall potential, namely parts of south being hit Sunday night from the low tracking towards Cornwall, remains a possibility but I was always more concerned about large-scale streamer development merging with that feature.

    As to the suggested "half-way house" forecast being a case of Met-E and MT equally wrong, I don't think that's valid, the half-way house sounds almost like my forecast and widespread accumulations of snow is a lot closer to what I'm saying than "severe frost and mixed wintry showers" -- not that I'm here to make trouble with the Met service, but I don't see that as half-way at all. It may however prove to be correct, when I say something about "blizzards" I am going by what I perceive to be common perceptions of that term as disruptive snowfall events, and to me, 5-15 cm of snow in Dublin coming down fairly hard in the daytime would be disruptive. Whether that's technically a blizzard or not, I don't know, over here it would need to be more like 30 cm of snow and strong winds, limited visibility. There may be some of that by Monday in parts of England and possibly in Wicklow.

    The guidance has not changed much overnight (in my time zone) and continues to spread over a slight range, so the best idea for now I believe is to concentrate on the potential for significant streamers and keep a watch on the south coast for any incursions from the Atlantic system (which I think is going to brush past but sometimes you can get a parallel inland band representing the arctic front in the circulation, fed by streamers). I am expecting that streamer development will be robust starting about midnight Sunday and that there will be two main bands, one running across Drogheda into Meath and Kildare and possibly Laois before weakening around Tipps, and one possibly over Dublin at times then shifting south later to cover most of Wicklow.

    If these streamers develop then they have potential to become heavy, and being steady-state then some heavy amounts can be created in some locations. I guess what surprises me about the Met forecast is not the conservative approach but the lack of coverage of what appears to be at least a 50-50 chance of accumulating snow right in the heaviest population zone that they serve. But kudos to them if it doesn't snow (and I won't try to spin a 2cm flurry in Arklow or some minor event, let's set a reasonable bar and say there would have to be lying snow reported by 25 different observers at their homes not driving around the Sally Gap or wherever).

    In the back of my mind also is the "what if" scenario of that low pushing north of the forecast track, they seem to do that almost effortlessly on the other side of the country. In that case, we would be looking at a very severe event. I haven't looked at all permutations of the GFS but I'll bet there's one or two showing that scenario. But for now, that very disruptive scenario seems likely to be heading towards Cornwall and Devon, Somerset, inland south central counties of England and later on northern France and southeast England.

    Somebody was wondering about travel disruptions later in the week -- don't think that will be a problem for you unless you're trying to drive into some isolated high elevation location in Dartmoor, by Wednesday any disruptive snow in England should be either cleared away or melted in the daytime sun, but some higher parts of Devon and Somerset could be cut off for a few days, as well as conceivably a few parts of north Yorkshire, if the North Sea develops its share of streamers. Now if this had been January, there would be a longer spell of lying snow after any storms.

    I think in general we dodged the bullet of last-minute downgrade at 12z, can see from the 18z map that all elements of the developing scenario are coming together (cold advection into Poland and northern Germany is rapid) and that brings me to the last part of my homily, which is, respect the thickness advection. Ireland is well into the 522 dam contour and almost into the 516 dam contour by Sunday midnight as it approaches Belfast and then all models show the -10 C 850 mb zone covering all of Ireland at some point Sunday night. There's a 30 knot E-NE gradient and dew points near -7 C in England advecting across the Irish Sea. It takes a brave soul to picture no snow in this scenario, I guess some are saying I'm out on a limb, would have to wonder if it isn't the other way around given the synoptics. Probably as always a middle course will verify but it's interesting I just went through the exact opposite of this on an American weather forum by suggesting (in a contest rather than a discussion) very low snowfall numbers for DC and BWI, in fact one person suggested that my forecast be edited out of the thread because it would prevent the spread of panic -- and in the end my low numbers were too high :D (I said something like one inch of snow at DCA, consensus was ten or fifteen, actual was a rather embarrassing 0.2). That thread has never received a comment since the storm didn't happen.

    I am guessing this thread will receive a comment or two if this one doesn't happen. Keep your fingers crossed, and remember Nov/Dec 2010 -- the Irish Sea rules.

    Ladies and Gentlemen that is how to ramp, MT, I tip my hat to you, and even if this doesn't come off at least you had the cojones to call it as you see it. Respect. :D

    In my humble and untrained chart reading opinion we are in for a pasting :D;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,970 ✭✭✭Storm 10


    In fairness to MT he has always had the courage to call these events way ahead of ME, I remember over the years he called storms well ahead of ME and they always left it very late to upgrade their forecast, I really hope this happens


  • Registered Users Posts: 932 ✭✭✭snowstorm445


    :D:D:D

    uksnowrisk.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,039 ✭✭✭redsteveireland


    :D:D:D

    uksnowrisk.png

    Is it just me or does that look like a big middle finger to the Atlantic? :D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭Rougies


    Storm 10 wrote: »
    In fairness to MT he has always had the courage to call these events way ahead of ME, I remember over the years he called storms well ahead of ME and they always left it very late to upgrade their forecast, I really hope this happens

    True, but in fairness to Met E, they have more than just their reputation on weather forums on the line. They can't afford to be "courageous", they have to be professional. In saying that, their forecasts this evening aren't exactly screaming professional to me at all.

    Anyway. 18z. Quite nice indeed :)
    You see the precip now Maq? :P


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    :D:D:D

    uksnowrisk.png

    The snow shield has stepped down for this event so.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Is it just me or does that look like a big middle finger to the Atlantic? :D

    Brilliant, good spot; and yes it does look like the Beast from the East is giving the Atlantic a good "F" you....:pac::D


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    My iPhone has stopped predicting snow for Monday. That's the GFS model right?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 36,403 ✭✭✭✭LuckyLloyd


    braveheart-hold-original.jpg


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    LuckyLloyd wrote: »
    braveheart-hold-original.jpg

    Eh???


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 207 ✭✭okla


    I think Met e will slowly upgrade their forecast with more emphasis of the risk closer to the event. Didn't they get into trouble a few years ago for forecasting snow in Donegal which didn't materialise.

    I can't remember the last time we had synoptics like this. It really is extraordinary. -12 uppers and an easterly gale. Negative Dewpoints. And it's March.

    I expect the Irish Sea to deliver big beefy showers especially on Monday. I think even coastal east regions will see snow to sea level.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    funny-gif-fox-jumping-snow.gif

    DoctorDonnaShock.gif


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 6,238 ✭✭✭Oneiric 3


    Deank wrote: »
    ME generally don't take these sort of event into account in their forecasts, they seem to forget that the Irish Sea is a snow making machine especially with the synoptic's that are nailed in for Sunday and Monday. ;)

    244254.png

    New Moon



  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,030 ✭✭✭Tom Cruises Left Nut


    Will someone put up the +48 nae snow / rainfall chart when it comes out ?

    On my phone so can't check, ta !


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    t|nt|n wrote: »
    Will someone put up the +48 nae snow / rainfall chart when it comes out ?

    On my phone so can't check, ta !

    Well for some to be on the beer in Grace's all weekend ;)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,030 ✭✭✭Tom Cruises Left Nut


    Deank wrote: »

    Well for some to be on the beer in Grace's all weekend ;)

    Oh I wish I was, watching the late late in herselfs house !


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    t|nt|n wrote: »
    Oh I wish I was, watching the late late in herselfs house !

    Ah cure for that is to bring your laptop and feign chronic diarrhea and spend the night in the jacks. (don't forget the 6 pack)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 915 ✭✭✭downwiththatsor


    13031018_2_0818.gif
    t|nt|n wrote: »
    Will someone put up the +48 nae snow / rainfall chart when it comes out ?

    On my phone so can't check, ta !

    http://expert-images.weatheronline.co.uk/daten/proficharts/en/nae/2013/03/08/basis18/ukuk/prty/13031018_2_0818.gif


  • Registered Users Posts: 248 ✭✭mothel


    latest from ME
    TOMORROW NIGHT: Dry, cold and clear for much of the night, with widespread frosty and possibly icy conditions. Some wintry showers of rain, sleet and snow will feed in from the Irish Sea towards morning, with a dusting of snow likely across the east of Leinster (mainly on higher ground, but also on lower levels here too). Very cold, with overnight lows of -1 to - 4 degrees Celsius (coldest in the northwest), and mainly moderate northeast breezes.
    MONDAY: An extremely cold day with a significant wind chill effect. Many places will be dry with good sunshine, however some wintry showers will continue to feed into Leinster, Munster and east Ulster, streaming in on a stiff northeast flow. Some snow accumulations on lower levels, but amounts will be fairly small. Highest temperatures just 1 to 4 degrees Celsius, but feeling even colder, with a strong northeast gradient. Becoming dry early in the night, with the exception of a few wintry flurries closer to the east coast. Another very cold and frosty night, as northerly winds fall off light, with icy in parts also. Lowest temperatures -1 to -6 degrees Celsius; again coldest in the northwest.
    TUESDAY: A severe frost with ice in parts to begin. Still very cold but holding mainly dry with good sunshine - risk of a few wintry showers along eastern fringes, with one or two rain showers in the northwest later. Highest temperatures only around 4 or 5 degrees Celsius, with mostly moderate northerly winds, occasionally fresh in the afternoon along eastern and southern counties. A sharp frost overnight, again with ice locally.
    WEDNESDAY: Frost and ice in parts early on. Holding dry across most areas with sunny spells, but a few scattered rain showers will feed in from the Atlantic later. Temperatures improving on recent days, but still cool, with afternoon maxima of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius; coolest in the north. Winds will be moderate to fresh northwest.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,333 ✭✭✭Saganist


    mothel wrote: »
    latest from ME
    TOMORROW NIGHT: Dry, cold and clear for much of the night, with widespread frosty and possibly icy conditions. Some wintry showers of rain, sleet and snow will feed in from the Irish Sea towards morning, with a dusting of snow likely across the east of Leinster (mainly on higher ground, but also on lower levels here too). Very cold, with overnight lows of -1 to - 4 degrees Celsius (coldest in the northwest), and mainly moderate northeast breezes.
    MONDAY: An extremely cold day with a significant wind chill effect. Many places will be dry with good sunshine, however some wintry showers will continue to feed into Leinster, Munster and east Ulster, streaming in on a stiff northeast flow. Some snow accumulations on lower levels, but amounts will be fairly small. Highest temperatures just 1 to 4 degrees Celsius, but feeling even colder, with a strong northeast gradient. Becoming dry early in the night, with the exception of a few wintry flurries closer to the east coast. Another very cold and frosty night, as northerly winds fall off light, with icy in parts also. Lowest temperatures -1 to -6 degrees Celsius; again coldest in the northwest.
    TUESDAY: A severe frost with ice in parts to begin. Still very cold but holding mainly dry with good sunshine - risk of a few wintry showers along eastern fringes, with one or two rain showers in the northwest later. Highest temperatures only around 4 or 5 degrees Celsius, with mostly moderate northerly winds, occasionally fresh in the afternoon along eastern and southern counties. A sharp frost overnight, again with ice locally.
    WEDNESDAY: Frost and ice in parts early on. Holding dry across most areas with sunny spells, but a few scattered rain showers will feed in from the Atlantic later. Temperatures improving on recent days, but still cool, with afternoon maxima of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius; coolest in the north. Winds will be moderate to fresh northwest.

    At least that's some sort of upgrade from met Eir. :eek:


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 9,030 ✭✭✭Tom Cruises Left Nut


    They obviously listened to the phone call about the wind chill !!


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  • Registered Users Posts: 932 ✭✭✭snowstorm445


    mothel wrote: »
    latest from ME
    TOMORROW NIGHT: Dry, cold and clear for much of the night, with widespread frosty and possibly icy conditions. Some wintry showers of rain, sleet and snow will feed in from the Irish Sea towards morning, with a dusting of snow likely across the east of Leinster (mainly on higher ground, but also on lower levels here too). Very cold, with overnight lows of -1 to - 4 degrees Celsius (coldest in the northwest), and mainly moderate northeast breezes.
    MONDAY: An extremely cold day with a significant wind chill effect. Many places will be dry with good sunshine, however some wintry showers will continue to feed into Leinster, Munster and east Ulster, streaming in on a stiff northeast flow. Some snow accumulations on lower levels, but amounts will be fairly small. Highest temperatures just 1 to 4 degrees Celsius, but feeling even colder, with a strong northeast gradient. Becoming dry early in the night, with the exception of a few wintry flurries closer to the east coast. Another very cold and frosty night, as northerly winds fall off light, with icy in parts also. Lowest temperatures -1 to -6 degrees Celsius; again coldest in the northwest.
    TUESDAY: A severe frost with ice in parts to begin. Still very cold but holding mainly dry with good sunshine - risk of a few wintry showers along eastern fringes, with one or two rain showers in the northwest later. Highest temperatures only around 4 or 5 degrees Celsius, with mostly moderate northerly winds, occasionally fresh in the afternoon along eastern and southern counties. A sharp frost overnight, again with ice locally.
    WEDNESDAY: Frost and ice in parts early on. Holding dry across most areas with sunny spells, but a few scattered rain showers will feed in from the Atlantic later. Temperatures improving on recent days, but still cool, with afternoon maxima of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius; coolest in the north. Winds will be moderate to fresh northwest.

    It seems ME have picked up on the idea of streamers but they seem to have dropped the possibility of snow in the south altogether on Sunday night/Monday morning.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    What's the wind like on Monday?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭Rougies


    It seems ME have picked up on the idea of streamers but they seem to have dropped the possibility of snow in the south altogether on Sunday night/Monday morning.

    They never had it there in the first place.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,068 ✭✭✭Iancar29


    Streamers for the East , and frontal snow for the South . :cool:

    244255.png

    High areas in the S , especially the south east.... you've been warned!!!


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    What's the wind like on Monday?

    NNE and slack, about 11 KMPH according to the latest charts.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    Deank wrote: »

    NNE and slack, about 11 KMPH according to the latest charts.

    So the lack of wind is probably what is making ME cautious.


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Iancar29 wrote: »
    Streamers for the East , and frontal snow for the South . :cool:

    244255.png

    High areas in the S , especially the south east.... you've been warned!!!

    In layman's terms we're in for a pasting? All digits crossed...


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    So the lack of wind is probably what is making ME cautious.

    No the snow could be heaving out of the heavens in Glasnevin and they'd still say wintery showers.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭Rougies


    Deank wrote: »
    NNE and slack, about 11 KMPH according to the latest charts.

    :confused:

    Between 15 and 25 Knots over the course of the day according to the latest GFS, which is about 25-45 kmph.

    13031115_0818.gif


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Rougies wrote: »
    :confused:

    Between 15 and 25 Knots over the course of the day according to the latest GFS, which is about 25-45 kmph.

    Was going off Accuweather for wind speed, I favour your readings though, faster convection and all that;)


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 3,298 ✭✭✭Duggys Housemate


    Isle of Man shadow?




    /runs away


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Isle of Man shadow?




    /runs away

    Mind the door doesn't beat the arse off you several times on the way out, the door is that way >>>>>>>>


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,068 ✭✭✭Iancar29


    Deank wrote: »
    In layman's terms we're in for a pasting? All digits crossed...

    I'd go with many areas in the east getting some lying snow. With some disruptive amounts in areas where they seem to train. Wicklow and downwind areas of the mountains could get some decent falls too.

    Down south it will be more of a transition with the front , from sleet to snow.. but if it happens quick enough it could lead to disruptive amounts too , close to coasts too and high areas .

    Basically... its still GAME ON for the east and south...


    EDIT.... HELLO There Mr inversion and breeze!..... I shall be greeting your spawning CU Congestus ....
    Dare i even say CBs? :D
    very happily on monday ! :D
    244257.png


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,596 ✭✭✭✭M.T. Cranium


    Map shows the "MTC" model (preview 9MAR:00z) for snowfall potential from about 12z Sunday to 18z Tuesday although mostly on Monday.

    Red arrows show streamer formation expected in schematic form. The northerly in Donegal Bay would come into play later overnight Monday-Tuesday and fade out later Tuesday. By then the Irish Sea streamers would be out in the middle of the Sea heading south towards Britain and Wales.

    I also show the southern low which would be about 100-200 miles off the southern margin of this map running parallel to the track as shown. That has been depicted close enough to drop some snow in Cork and Waterford on Sunday night on some models.

    Areas of snowfall by expected depth (colour coded) should be read as maximum potential in various regions, as the snowfall will be largely convective there are bound to be gaps between cells and streamers. There are hints of 20 cm + amounts but those are mainly orographic maxima above the elevation where most people live, so 15 cm is probably a realistic upper limit in Leinster except where any streamers might possibly get into thunder-snow production rates.

    For the city of Dublin the scale of this map probably obscures what I'm trying to show here which is 5-10 cm near the seafront and inner city increasing to about 8-12 cm west, 10-15 cm higher south.

    The snow depicted in Connacht would be more likely to fall Monday night into Tuesday. I am not optimistic for accumulations in Clare, Limerick (city in particular) and Galway but there are scenarios where 1-2 cm could fall there also. Some parts of the west are bound to go snow-free, I would think.

    Higher east-facing slopes of Wicklow could be in the "jackpot" and one or two reports of 25-30 cm would not be surprising there.

    Ulster is a bit more delicate given the wind directions but could be in for locally heavy accumulations.

    I may publish an updated version of this forecast map closer to "snow time" on Sunday afternoon if I have any updated ideas. Really, this will be a nowcasting situation, with streamers in play, the radar is really your model of choice.

    244258.jpg


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 5,362 ✭✭✭Trotter


    Amazing that at this close point we havent ruled Waterford out yet. We're usually looking for the sunglasses again by now.. and not needing them either.

    Can I ask a question regarding Met Eireann and the expert opinions here?
    Is the difference in forecasts tonight a different type of chart interpretation which leads the Met to be more conservative or skeptical of the charts we see posted here, or is it more of a policy of ME's not to 'ramp' until 24 hours out so as not to cause unnecessary concern?


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  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    Iancar29 wrote: »
    I'd go with many areas in the east getting some lying snow. With some disruptive amounts in areas where they seem to train. Wicklow and downwind areas of the mountains could get some decent falls too.

    Down south it will be more of a transition with the front , from sleet to snow.. but if it happens quick enough it could lead to disruptive amounts too , close to coasts too and high areas .

    Basically... its still GAME ON for the east and south...


    EDIT.... HELLO There Mr inversion and breeze!..... I shall be greeting your spawning CU Congestus ....
    Dare i even say CBs? :D
    very happily on monday ! :D
    244257.png

    Potentially this is on
    507997main_ireland670-1210.jpg


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 422 ✭✭The Assistinator


    Not inclined to change much about the east coast streamers in the forecast, as some have pointed out, global models do not generally forecast these very well and I have been relying more on a meso-scale modelling based on the general input from the model consensus. The other portion of the snowfall potential, namely parts of south being hit Sunday night from the low tracking towards Cornwall, remains a possibility but I was always more concerned about large-scale streamer development merging with that feature.

    As to the suggested "half-way house" forecast being a case of Met-E and MT equally wrong, I don't think that's valid, the half-way house sounds almost like my forecast and widespread accumulations of snow is a lot closer to what I'm saying than "severe frost and mixed wintry showers" -- not that I'm here to make trouble with the Met service, but I don't see that as half-way at all. It may however prove to be correct, when I say something about "blizzards" I am going by what I perceive to be common perceptions of that term as disruptive snowfall events, and to me, 5-15 cm of snow in Dublin coming down fairly hard in the daytime would be disruptive. Whether that's technically a blizzard or not, I don't know, over here it would need to be more like 30 cm of snow and strong winds, limited visibility. There may be some of that by Monday in parts of England and possibly in Wicklow.

    The guidance has not changed much overnight (in my time zone) and continues to spread over a slight range, so the best idea for now I believe is to concentrate on the potential for significant streamers and keep a watch on the south coast for any incursions from the Atlantic system (which I think is going to brush past but sometimes you can get a parallel inland band representing the arctic front in the circulation, fed by streamers). I am expecting that streamer development will be robust starting about midnight Sunday and that there will be two main bands, one running across Drogheda into Meath and Kildare and possibly Laois before weakening around Tipps, and one possibly over Dublin at times then shifting south later to cover most of Wicklow.

    If these streamers develop then they have potential to become heavy, and being steady-state then some heavy amounts can be created in some locations. I guess what surprises me about the Met forecast is not the conservative approach but the lack of coverage of what appears to be at least a 50-50 chance of accumulating snow right in the heaviest population zone that they serve. But kudos to them if it doesn't snow (and I won't try to spin a 2cm flurry in Arklow or some minor event, let's set a reasonable bar and say there would have to be lying snow reported by 25 different observers at their homes not driving around the Sally Gap or wherever).

    In the back of my mind also is the "what if" scenario of that low pushing north of the forecast track, they seem to do that almost effortlessly on the other side of the country. In that case, we would be looking at a very severe event. I haven't looked at all permutations of the GFS but I'll bet there's one or two showing that scenario. But for now, that very disruptive scenario seems likely to be heading towards Cornwall and Devon, Somerset, inland south central counties of England and later on northern France and southeast England.

    Somebody was wondering about travel disruptions later in the week -- don't think that will be a problem for you unless you're trying to drive into some isolated high elevation location in Dartmoor, by Wednesday any disruptive snow in England should be either cleared away or melted in the daytime sun, but some higher parts of Devon and Somerset could be cut off for a few days, as well as conceivably a few parts of north Yorkshire, if the North Sea develops its share of streamers. Now if this had been January, there would be a longer spell of lying snow after any storms.

    I think in general we dodged the bullet of last-minute downgrade at 12z, can see from the 18z map that all elements of the developing scenario are coming together (cold advection into Poland and northern Germany is rapid) and that brings me to the last part of my homily, which is, respect the thickness advection. Ireland is well into the 522 dam contour and almost into the 516 dam contour by Sunday midnight as it approaches Belfast and then all models show the -10 C 850 mb zone covering all of Ireland at some point Sunday night. There's a 30 knot E-NE gradient and dew points near -7 C in England advecting across the Irish Sea. It takes a brave soul to picture no snow in this scenario, I guess some are saying I'm out on a limb, would have to wonder if it isn't the other way around given the synoptics. Probably as always a middle course will verify but it's interesting I just went through the exact opposite of this on an American weather forum by suggesting (in a contest rather than a discussion) very low snowfall numbers for DC and BWI, in fact one person suggested that my forecast be edited out of the thread because it would prevent the spread of panic -- and in the end my low numbers were too high :D (I said something like one inch of snow at DCA, consensus was ten or fifteen, actual was a rather embarrassing 0.2). That thread has never received a comment since the storm didn't happen.

    I am guessing this thread will receive a comment or two if this one doesn't happen. Keep your fingers crossed, and remember Nov/Dec 2010 -- the Irish Sea rules.
    i have to say fair dues mt for hanging about here and for your input many people would just walk away but you keep hanging on here with your wisdom and knoweldge keeping us all up to date and i hope you continue to stay here the place just would not be the same without you cheers.


  • Registered Users Posts: 261 ✭✭aboyro


    Deank wrote: »
    Potentially this is on
    507997main_ireland670-1210.jpg

    i hope not cos thats balls for me!!!!!!:(:(


  • Registered Users Posts: 7,238 ✭✭✭Deank


    aboyro wrote: »
    i hope not cos thats balls for me!!!!!!:(:(

    Just a snapshot in time of what has come before, if (and I think he is) MT is correct on this event most of the south coast will be a fair pasting of sneachta....:D


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,682 ✭✭✭Rougies


    Trotter wrote: »
    Amazing that at this close point we havent ruled Waterford out yet. We're usually looking for the sunglasses again by now.. and not needing them either.

    Can I ask a question regarding Met Eireann and the expert opinions here?
    Is the difference in forecasts tonight a different type of chart interpretation which leads the Met to be more conservative or skeptical of the charts we see posted here, or is it more of a policy of ME's not to 'ramp' until 24 hours out so as not to cause unnecessary concern?

    A bit of both.

    This evening's forecasts from MetE are largely based on the 00z ECM model, while here we are looking at the 12z ECM and the latest GFS/UKMO and others. The latest explosion in ramping is due to the the latest 18z GFS.

    And then there's MetE conservative approach (especially when Gerry Murphy is on duty) coming into play. I expect them to gradually start mentioning the possibility of significant accumulating and/or disruptive snow as the time draws nearer.


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