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MESO: Heavy rainfall
From
Weather Alert@21:1/175 to
All on Saturday, January 02, 2021 15:54:00
AWUS01 KWNH 021810
FFGMPD
ORZ000-WAZ000-030600-
Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0003
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
109 PM EST Sat Jan 02 2021
Areas affected...Pacific Northwest
Concerning...Heavy rainfall
Valid 021800Z - 030600Z
SUMMARY... A prolonged period of moderate-to-heavy rainfall will
persist this afternoon and into the evening hours as deep moisture
associated with an atmospheric river is aimed at the Pacific
Northwest. Localized areas of flooding are possible.
DISCUSSION... GOES-17 water vapor imagery shows an impressive
fetch of subtropical moisture originating as far west as the
north-central Pacific. An expansive North Pacific jet streak with
wind speeds at the nose of the jet approaching ~150 kts is aimed
at the region. Meanwhile, an impressive low 960s mb cyclone is
co-located beneath the jet's left exit region. As of 17Z, the warm
front associated with this system was not far from the west
Washington coastline with RAP analysis indicating WSW flow of
50-60 kts within the warm sector.
Latest 12Z model guidance indicates a tongue of high 850mb theta-e
values embedded within the strong low level flow begins to come
ashore late morning. Along with rich theta-e advection, an IVT
plume of ~700 kg/ms also supports the parade of rich atmospheric
moisture directed at the Pacific Northwest this afternoon and
evening. PWs up to 1" are embedded within the mean southwesterly
flow aloft thus giving credence to an environment becoming more
favorable for heavier rainfall rates. The highest content of the
aforementioned 850mb theta-e tongue reaches western Washington
between 21Z-03Z. As that tongue atmospheric moisture pushes
through the region, hourly rainfall rates may climb up to ~0.5"
per hour with locally excessive rates in the southwest facing
slopes pf the Olympics due to more pronounced orographic lifting.
The 12Z HREF shows high probabilities (over 70%) of 3-hour
rainfall totals surpassing 1" in the highlighted area between
21-00Z and 00-03Z. Antecedent conditions have been quite wet,
especially along the windward side of the Olympics where 7-day
percent of normal precipitation is over 200% in spots. Some
locations in and around the Puget Sound, including along the I-5
corridor have also witnessed abnormally wet conditions in recent
weeks. Localized flooding, especially near rivers and streams, is
possible this afternoon and into the evening hours. The cold front
associated with the northeast Pacific storm system swings through
the Olympics around 03Z and heads south and east, pushing the rich
850mb theta-e axis towards southwestern Washington and northwest
Oregon overnight. This may result in additional heavy rainfall in
the southern periphery of the highlighted area beyond 06Z tonight.
Mullinax
ATTN...WFO...PQR...SEW...
ATTN...RFC...NWRFC...NWC...
LAT...LON 49042244 48492214 47752186 46822192 46082277
45442312 45262386 45572418 46902429 48362479
48292365 48412314 48632296 49022276
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From
Weather Alert@21:1/175 to
All on Sunday, January 03, 2021 08:46:00
AWUS01 KWNH 030724
FFGMPD
CAZ000-ORZ000-031900-
Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0005
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
223 AM EST Sun Jan 03 2021
Areas affected...western Oregon into northwestern California
Concerning...Heavy rainfall
Valid 030719Z - 031900Z
SUMMARY...Despite weakening moisture transport, heavy rain will
affect western OR into northwestern CA through morning. Rainfall
rates will briefly eclipse 0.5 in/hr and rainfall totals near the
OR/CA border will likely peak in the 2-4 inch range through 19Z.
The greatest impacts will be urban flooding and excess runoff near
burn scar locations.
DISCUSSION...07Z water vapor imagery showed a shortwave trough
west of the Pacific Northwest coast with an inflection/vorticity
max noted near 44N 128W. Precipitable water values were just shy
of 1 inch along the Washington/Oregon coastline via 00Z RAOBs and
GPS data. The associated cold front was analyzed from the northern
WA Cascades to just south of Astoria, OR into the eastern Pacific
at 07Z. There could be a weak wave along the front ahead of the
inflection on water vapor imagery, just offshore of the OR coast,
as a frontal band of heavy rain stalled near the mouth of the
Columbia River with observed rainfall rates between 0.6 and 0.8
in/hr ending 0530Z. 850 mb winds were 50-55 kt at KRTX (via VAD
wind profile) and RAP analysis data indicated 70+ kt just
offshore, reaching the coast within the next hour. Temporary
stalling of a frontal rain band will continue to support the
threat for heavy rainfall rates in excess of 0.6 in/hr in the
short term for northwestern OR. The greatest concern for excess
runoff will be near recent burn scar locations downstream into the
Cascades.
The shortwave just west of the Pacific Northwest coast is expected
to move inland, sending the front progressively southward over the
next 6 hours, before the fronts stalls near the OR/CA coast in
advance of another shortwave observed between 155 and 160W. Strong
low level moisture transport will continue the threat for
occasional rainfall rates in excess of 0.5 in/hr from the OR
Coastal Ranges into the Cascade Mountains but the threat should be
short lived lasting an hour or two at most for any given location.
Around 12Z and beyond, the front is forecast to stall near the
OR/CA coast, and while moisture transport should weaken
substantially given projected 850 mb winds only in the 30-40 kt
range, precipitable water values are expected to remain near 1
inch. Several hours of rainfall rates in the 0.3 to 0.6 in/hr
range will be possible near the OR/CA border from about 12Z
through 18Z. While the heaviest rates should focus closer to the
coast and west of the Slater Burn Scar, the prolonged period of
heavy rain may lead to 2-4 inches of additional rainfall through
19Z with localized flooding along roadways and other impervious
surfaces from Curry County to Del Norte County.
Otto
ATTN...WFO...EKA...MFR...PDT...PQR...
ATTN...RFC...CNRFC...NWRFC...NWC...
LAT...LON 45942387 45912339 45482263 45332198 45032176
44542175 43982192 43332218 43092224 42712219
42492239 42482279 42962335 42502363 42012351
41812340 41372355 41032385 41142429 42212456
42972460 44002459 45102440 45762404
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From
Weather Alert@21:1/175 to
All on Monday, January 11, 2021 19:39:00
AWUS01 KWNH 112117
FFGMPD
ORZ000-WAZ000-120845-
Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0006
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
416 PM EST Mon Jan 11 2021
Areas affected...northwestern OR into western WA
Concerning...Heavy rainfall
Valid 112113Z - 120845Z
SUMMARY...The likelihood of rainfall rates in excess of 0.5 in/hr
will increase after 03Z across western WA into northwestern OR.
Through 09Z, maximum rainfall totals in the Olympics are expected
to be between 3 and 4 inches, while 2-3 inch max totals are
anticipated from southwestern WA into northwestern OR. This will
be the beginning of a prolonged atmospheric river event for the
Pacific Northwest.
DISCUSSION...A 72 hour loop of Blended TPW imagery showed a
continuous axis of 1+ inch precipitable water values extending
offshore of the West Coast, back into the tropical western
Pacific. Embedded higher values of precipitable water existed
within the plume with over 1.5 inches centered near 35N 150W at
14Z, or about 1500 miles offshore of the OR coastline. The eastern
end of this moisture axis is located south of a slow moving closed
mid to upper-level low centered near Kodiak Island. At the
surface, two fronts were analyzed at 20Z, the lead boundary
extending southwestward from a surface low located near 44N 134W,
and a second (stronger) surface low and associated cold front near
47N 139W.
As the shortwave tied to the western surface low near 139W
advances toward the British Columbia coast tonight, a corridor of
strong southwesterly to south-southwesterly 850 mb flow between
60-70 kt (occassionally higher) is forecast to arrive along the WA
and OR coasts near 03Z according to a consensus of the latest
model guidance. The strengthening low level flow along the coast,
combined with precipitable water values between 1.0 and 1.1
inches, is expected to support IVT values over 750 kg/m/s by
roughly 06Z over northwestern OR into far southwestern WA.
The orientation of the low level flow will favor southwest facing
slopes of the Olympic Peninsula and Coastal Ranges into
northwestern OR with rainfall rates occasionally climbing above
0.5 in/hr. While peak rainfall rates are expected to be below 0.75
in/hr through 09Z, the transition from fairly light rainfall to
heavy rainfall rates is expected to occur somewhat quickly, and
high rainfall rates should persist for hours, continuing into the
day on Tuesday.
Given above average rainfall across the region over the past two
weeks (150 to 300 percent of average from northwest OR into
western WA), locations may be more susceptible to flooding
concerns. Peak 12 hour rainfall totals of over 3 inches are
expected into the favored terrain.
Otto
ATTN...WFO...PQR...SEW...
ATTN...RFC...NWRFC...NWC...
LAT...LON 48072474 48032425 47772392 47622322 47392318
46972338 46752343 46422324 46182328 45602343
44892365 44842416 45302434 46032441 46592449
47632484 47982494
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From
Weather Alert@21:1/175 to
All on Tuesday, January 26, 2021 18:03:00
AWUS01 KWNH 261911
FFGMPD
CAZ000-270610-
Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0014
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
210 PM EST Tue Jan 26 2021
Areas affected...Central California Coast
Concerning...Heavy rainfall
Valid 261910Z - 270610Z
Summary...A strong atmospheric river event will bring widespread
rainfall to the central California coast later today into tonight.
Hourly totals between 0.5-0.75 inches and amounts through 06Z of
2-3" are likely. This heavy rainfall could cause flash flooding,
especially over burn scars and other sensitive areas.
Discussion...Water vapor imagery and the latest blended PW product
shows an anomalously strong plume of moisture off the western U.S.
coast. As the system approaches this evening, showers associated
with the warm front are expected to move onshore the coast between
00-03Z then quickly followed by the more intense rain associated
with the cold front after 03Z as it drops south along the coast.
Precipitable water values associated with the atmospheric river
are forecast to be between 1-2 standard deviations above normal
while IVT values by this evening are forecast to be near 4
standard deviations above normal (approaching 5 std later on
Wednesday). 850 mb flow increases to 50-60 kts by 04Z and is
aligned nearly orthogonal to the terrain across the North Bay
areas, which should enhance rain rates.
The 12Z HREF supports hourly totals between 0.50 and 0.75" between
03-06Z across the North Bay then advancing southward later in the
night. The various hi-res models depict some higher-end potential
for 1" hourly totals, though that risk is greater beyond the
current MPD time frame. Through 06Z, 2-3" will be common across
the North Bay areas, some locally higher amounts 3-4" will be
possible.
These rainfall rates and totals over the burn scars and other
sensitive areas could lead to flash flooding, possible
mudslides/debris flows. Even outside burn scar areas, rapid onset
runoff and flooding will be possible.
Taylor
ATTN...WFO...EKA...MTR...STO...
ATTN...RFC...CNRFC...NWC...
LAT...LON 39192309 39032255 38772217 38492199 38272203
38192242 37972260 37942286 38252308 38552326
38802353 39172384
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From
Weather Alert@21:1/175 to
All on Monday, February 01, 2021 16:52:00
AWUS01 KWNH 011727
FFGMPD
CAZ000-ORZ000-020000-
Mesoscale Precipitation Discussion 0021
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1227 PM EST Mon Feb 01 2021
Areas affected...Northwest CA...Southwest OR
Concerning...Heavy rainfall
Valid 011720Z - 020000Z
SUMMARY...Periods of moderate-to-heavy rain are expected late this
morning and into the afternoon as Pacific moisture moves ashore
ahead of an approaching frontal boundary.
DISCUSSION...GOES-17 satellite imagery depicted a stream of
Pacific moisture out ahead of a deep -2 to -2.5 STD longwave
trough. 15Z surface analysis indicated an elongated frontal
boundary was located just off the Pacific Northwest coastline. PVA
and WAA surging out of the base of the upper trough is advancing
the core of rich Pacific moisture east towards the Pacific
Northwest coastline. PWs topping out as high as 1.00", just shy of
~2 STDs above normal, are being transported within a strong
southwesterly mean 850-300mb flow. These atmospheric factors
support the likelihood for ongoing periods of rain, potentially
heavy at times, as the axis of Pacific moisture reaches the coast.
Latest CAM guidance show the heaviest period of rainfall occurring
between late morning and early afternoon. Hourly rainfall rates
will be maximized along the more orthogonally favored upslope
regions of northwest California and southwest Oregon. Rates in
these areas could range between 0.25-0.50" with several hours
worth of these rates possible. Total rainfall estimates during
this MPD suggests up to 1.5" of precipitation is likely along the
coastal range of northern California and southwest Oregon with
locally higher amounts possible. While totals and rates are not
overly impressive, antecedent conditions show these same areas
have received between 150-300% of normal rainfall over the last 7
days. FLASH guidance also highlights some areas with over 85% soil
saturation. These factors along with some additional snow melt
could result in rising streams and rivers with very localized
flooding possible.
Mullinax
ATTN...WFO...EKA...MFR...
ATTN...RFC...CNRFC...NWRFC...NWC...
LAT...LON 43162426 42762391 42002354 41142352 39962336
39452331 39262397 39852460 40922481 41582470
42042470 42482470 42882468 43122462
#
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