Monday, June 9, 2008

Potential Severe Weather Outbreak Across Northeast US

Hey everyone,
     Its been since April since I have posted, I have been pretty busy, but I have made some time to post a blog, especially with the potential of severe weather tomorrow. We will get more into that in a moment, after we do a quick run over current conditions. Currently across Northern New York, Vermont, and New Hampshire temperatures are still in the mid to upper 70's with isolated 80 degree readings in the Valley Locations, with Low to Mid 70's in the Higher elevations. This is very impressive, especially with it being 11:20 at night. To make things even worse dew points are in the mid to upper 60's with a few areas with 70 degree dew points. This is absolutely oppressive, and will make tonight a very difficult sleeping night, especially for the folks without air conditioners.
     Current radar trends show a weakening MCS (area of numerous thunderstorms) beginning to round the ridge in the Northeast (Currently Across Western New York). At this point it may clip the St. Lawrence Valley, and along the Canadian Border of Northern New York, and Vermont, if it does not weaken completely. Also there is a few pop up showers and thunderstorms across Central, and Northern New York moving east, these shouldn't be severe but of the strongest there could be some cloud to ground lightning, and wind gusts to 35MPH, this activity should actually diminish as the night goes on. Although there are still some pockets of elevated instability across Northern New York, and Northern Vermont, as well as the entire Champlain Valley.
     Now onto the potential Severe Weather Outbreak tomorrow. Indications are that temps will warm in the upper 80's to around 90 in the Valleys and a bit cooler in the mountains, with some sunshine, and high dewpoints. This will help increase the instability in the atmosphere bringing surface based CAPE as high as 3000 J/kg!!! CAPE is Convective Available Potential Energy. This combined with other severe weather parameters and some strong winds aloft will help set the stage for Strong to Severe Thunderstorms. The main line of Severe Thunderstorms should move across Northern New York by 3PM across the Champlain Valley of Vermont by 5PM, and across the remainder of Vermont and New Hampshire by 9PM. Other storms will likely form out ahead of the main line of severe thunderstorms, these discrete cells are the ones which will bring the Large hail, and isolated Tornado potential. When the main line of storms moves through the highest threat will be for damaging wind.
     Below I have posted the Storm Prediction Centers Day 2 Convective outlook and the map below that shows the increased severe weather potential in the red outlined 30% Zone. This is where the highest potential of any isolated Tornado would be. Stay tuned for any further updates!



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