CW3E Precipitation Update: 12 March 2020 Outlook

March 12, 2020

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A slow moving cutoff low pressure system is forecast to impact California for an extended period

  • A Cutoff low is forecast to form off the Pacific Northwest Coast around 00 UTC 15 March (5 PM PDT 14 March 2020)
  • The cutoff low is forecast to propagate slowly down the U.S. West Coast, bringing an extended period of precipitation to CA
  • Portions of the Northern Sierra could receive as much as 5 inches of precipitation, potentially resulting in multiple feet of snow
  • Due to an extended dry period in the previous several weeks, this forecast precipitation could bring some much needed relief to drought conditions across much of the state

Click IVT or 500-hPa Vorticity image to see loop of GFS forecasts

Valid 1200 UTC 12 March – 1200 UTC 20 March 2020


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary provided by C. Castellano, C. Hecht, and F. M. Ralph; 12 March 2020

*Outlook products are considered experimental