ICAP Weather Commentary
Monday February 8, 2010
Prepared by: Andy Weingarten, Meteorologist ICAP Energy
**Another major east coast storm this week, pattern to slowly relax next week.**
After a storm for the record books this weekend, it is hard to imagine another major storm so quickly, but that is what the charts are showing. The DC to Philadelphia corridor measure numerous 2-3 ft totals then sharply cutoff to almost nothing once to NYC. Another ideal interaction between southern and northern streams is developing over the Plains today. Winter storm warnings for heavy snow (6 inches or more) are posted for places like Minneapolis, Chicago and Des Moines. Watches are out for Indianapolis, Detroit east to Philadelphia. The energy will transfer to the east coast late tomorrow and this storm should head further north before heading out. That should bring some heavier snow north to NYC and Boston. It is hard to envision another 30 inch snow, but half of that is possible and still very impressive. The air behind this is not significantly colder, but cold is already in place and a widespread below to much below normal week is anticipated. By the end of the week a significant snow cover is anticipated for most of the northern two thirds of the nation. The only above normal area much like the last few weeks is the PNW. The SW is cool and a little unsettled with more systems expected off the Pacific. Right now they don't look as wet as the one seen in Southern California this weekend.
Day 6-10 discussion:
The interaction between northern and southern jet streams has been ideal for the east the last week or so and hence the huge amount of winter storms. We lose some of that next week and the track of the next one is farther south and likely not as strong. It may be cold enough for some snow though over parts of Texas, the Gulf States and the SE with this one, but the potential of it coming north is lower. The pattern in its extreme for cold and snow should be peaking now, but the recovery to anything warmer looks very slow. Some spreading out of the PNW warmth may occur into the Rockies and Plains (northern areas) otherwise I still see a cold bias just not quite as cold as this week
Andy Weingarten, Meteorologist
502-572-3026
IM: apbwx