Back to Back Snow Events FEB 9th-11th

There are a couple of shots for more snowfall on Tuesday and Thursday next week. Let’s use this thread to discuss and analyze those events.

The one on Tuesday resembles a clipper-style that doesn’t have a very high ceiling. Fast moving clippers generally have a max of 3-6 inches. The GFS tracks this clipper north of the area which results in rain for NYC and south, while the ICON has it going south of us which keeps us all cold enough to snow.







Notice with the 500mb map how the strongest PvA is north of our area on Tuesday afternoon. The Polar Vortex is near the Hudson Bay and trying to press down to the SE. This “press” is essential because it combats the SE Ridge and keeps our area below freezing. But the GFS isn’t feeling the press, so the storm finds a path of least resistance that is NW of us. The NAM agrees with the GFS. The CMC tracks the low right over NYC and the ICON (shown above) is the furthest south. My guess is the PV is actually too far NW, which gives room for this clipper to track NW and bring most of us a very light rainfall. However, low level cold may still be intact for area NW of NYC to see a couple of inches.

The possible storm two days later is a different animal. This one sees the aforementioned Polar Vortex drop south near the US/Canada border. A strong piece of upper level energy ejects out of the SW CONUS and marches toward our area. With confluence and the PV to the north, there may not be room for it to cut. If it does, a secondary low may try to form off the coast. Sound familiar? It should, because that’s what occurred with the Roidzilla storm.

This threat remains a bit away and models can’t get a handle on the PV. If the PV is too far north then the SE ridge flexes. Once that happens the storm is likely to cut to our west and we all warm up. Also, models show the PV elongating across the US-CAN border. There is confluence in New England, but again, is it enough? These questions won’t get answered until the final days leading up to the storm. All we can do is monitor trends this weekend then on Monday we’ll begin looking deeper at the pattern.

Wow, this is like a REAL winter lol 3 potential storms in one week. So 4-8 tomorrow, possibly 3-6 midweek and then a potential for a big storm, we will be buried, havent seen that in ages, lets say that the 3rd storm ends up being a monster if i saw another 20 inches of snow this would rival the biggest snow since ive been on this board, that would be amazing even if its small my totals are climbing steadily to the top 2 or 3..

Very active pattern and plenty of cold air which is good. But let's temper expectations just a bit to keep anyone from being disappointed. Frank said clippers generally have a "max" upside of 3-6"; "max" is a key word there. In this case Frank points out some models show a "warmer" track (more rain) and even if it takes a track to our south there's no guarantee with a clipper that we get that "max" upside. Often we get less. The Tuesday system might at best be a 2-4" event and maybe just a slop-fest. So we'll have to see what the next 24 hours holds on the model runs.
But definitely a lot to track in the coming week.

Frank- when does the sun angle start being a factor during these storms?

billg315 wrote:Very active pattern and plenty of cold air which is good. But let's temper expectations just a bit to keep anyone from being disappointed. Frank said clippers generally have a "max" upside of 3-6"; "max" is a key word there. In this case Frank points out some models show a "warmer" track (more rain) and even if it takes a track to our south there's no guarantee with a clipper that we get that "max" upside. Often we get less. The Tuesday system might at best be a 2-4" event and maybe just a slop-fest. So we'll have to see what the next 24 hours holds on the model runs.
But definitely a lot to track in the coming week.

Yeah it was totally a what if statement i made, but the fact that we are tracking so much,

dsix85 wrote:Frank- when does the sun angle start being a factor during these storms?

Hopefully soon. I’m ready for spring lol.

As long as it starts to warm up and yard sales start (this is my side husstle while I look for new full time work (laid off due to covid and not hired back), I buy and resell on ebay and FB market, it quite lucrative if you have the experience and time I have) in mid to late march I am good, meanwhile bring on the winter.

heehaw453 wrote:If you are fortunate enough to stay below the baroclinic zone in the next 4/5 days, then you are going to be getting a lot of snow.  It will set up anywhere from LHV to Mason Dixon Line IMO.  Not possible to pinpoint at this range.

Anyone know a place where I can at least place a bet on EXACTLY where that line sets up! lol!!  

amugs wrote:Euro says HI

Whats the 11th look like? Another 2 inches there for NYC metro, this winter is cra cra!! Not including whatever falls rest of day already at 36 inches total!

I'm seeing snow from Wednesday through Friday morning, early calls are saying 6-12.

I updated the SCI - man this is going to be another wild week

Frank_Wx wrote:I updated the SCI - man this is going to be another wild week

Keep it coming we’re on an absolute roll right now. There’s no telling when we might get this favorable pattern again.

18z NAM Tuesday

heehaw453 wrote:

Irish wrote:I'm seeing snow from Wednesday through Friday morning, early calls are saying 6-12.  

It will depend on where the baroclinic zone sets up.  Whoever is in the sweet spot will probably approach 1' of snow.  The moisture will ride that pathway like a train on a rail.  A few years back Boston was in the sweet spot for about 1 month and received 100" of snow.

which storm is gonna give up to a foot? The next one looks to be a few inches maybe 4 at most, or do you mean all combined? This is nuts I haven't seen a scene like this in years.

Frank_Wx wrote:18z NAM Tuesday

LOL I think I can handle a 10th of a inch, sure you want that SCI so high frank? a inch in central park doesn't look to happen on that run.

Holy crap GFS from tues to sunday 14th, shave off 3-4 as GFS still has some from today, so yeah a foot total and 14th looks to have potential for a lot more. G word maybe?