CW3E AR Update: 13 December 2023 Outlook

December 13, 2023

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Cut Off Low Forecast to Bring Atmospheric River to California

  • A mid-level trough currently just south of the Aleutian Islands is forecast to propagate into the Northeast Pacific and continue to deepen, eventually becoming cut off.
  • The cut off low pressure system interacts with elevated moisture in the NE Pacific leading to the formation of an AR.
  • The low pressure system is forecast to progress toward the USWC and bring AR conditions to CA beginning Sun 16 Dec.
  • AR2 conditions (based on Ralph et al. 2019 AR scale) are forecast for this event.
  • There is uncertainty in the AR landfall timing and duration in the GEFS, ECMWF EPS and West-WRF Ensemble.
  • The NWS Weather Prediction Center (WPC) is currently forecasting 7-day precipitation totals ≥ 3” for much of the CA Coasts as well as the Sierras with isolated areas ≥ 6”.
  • The NWS Climate Prediction Center’s Day 8-14 Hazard Outlook shows slight risks of heavy precipitation and high winds for the CA coasts and heavy snow in the Sierras 12/20-12/21 and 12/23-12/26.

Click images to see loops of GFS IVT and IWV forecasts

Valid 0600 UTC 14 December 2023 – 0000 UTC 19 December 2023


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Summary provided by M. Steen, S. Bartlett, C. Castellano and J. Kalansky; 13 December 2023

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*Outlook products are considered experimental