5:00PM Update 1-14-2020

The  CPC  report was very encouraging for the MJO moving into phase 7/8.  I keep blogging about this because this is the area associated with blocking over Alaska. This is critical for the shunting of the EAJ into the west coast. (AR) If this does not happen it may be dry for quite awhile after the upcoming Thursday winter storm. Speaking of that storm, it is now tapping subtropical moisture, so will most likely have to bump up the QPF (Snowfall) tomorrow on Mammoth Mt  for Thursday.

I will post part of the discussion below and highlight where it is significant to phase 8. This is still as wishful thinking but keeping good thoughts….

 

From CPC;

The MJO signal has seen a significant uptick in activity on the RMM index, close to 3 standard deviations above normal, over the past week. It moved out of the unit circle into Phase 4, quickly strengthening and traversing into Phase 5. With the decay of the +IOD, the convective signal of the MJO is clear in the OLR field over the Maritime Continent. This strong MJO is likely to be the dominant forcing in the tropics over the next few weeks, with impacts emanating outward to the mid-latitudes. Dynamical models forecast a maintained high amplitude event propagating eastward a fairly fast phase speed through all of week-1 (phases 5/6/7) and part of week-2 (phases 7/8). Models do indicate a drop in the strength of the signal as it moves toward the Western Hemisphere toward the middle of week-2. With the impact of the anomalously strong +IOD over the past few months dissipating, the RMM index may be biasing toward Phase 3/4, thus impacting the eastward propagation in RMM space.

 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Tuesday 9 AM

Conditions are windy as forecasted this morning with gusts over 40 mph in Town and 60 + across highway 395. Gusts over 80mph over the crest. A few hundreds has fallen of precip.

 

Winds should begin to weaken a bit this afternoon but still remain moderate. Higs today in the low 30s.

 

This update is primarily to discuss the Winter Storm for Thursday. As mentioned in my post last week, I have had concerns about this storm for the eastern sierra since last week because the MJO was going to be in phase 6, (The Western Pacific ). This is not the best place for a west coast storm and lots of snow. The pattern is in retrogression and the best thing going for it is the cold upper long wave trof over the great basin that is moving west wards, so that the next short wave will have over water trajectory. This is the wave that will come through Thursday night with snowfall preceding the wave Thursday afternoon.  I look at this as a storm with moderate intensity and snowfall with some 6 to 18 inches possible over all. The long wave trof will be too far off shore to fire another meaning full short wave into California. That wave is headed for the pacific NW and BC.

The long wave is still headed NW toward the Bearing Sea next week.  To get a general idea of the weather next week, the MJO in phase 6/7, usually means higher heights for our area. (Polar Jet to our north). However, The models are are hinting at some blocking in the EPO region and a more positive PNA teleconnection.  around the 25th and 26th. Looking at the the pattern next week, (500mb) GFS 12z today, there are a few AR channels backing to the tropical central pacific. Some approach the west coast. There is some weak blocking in the GOA later in the month according to the ECMWF.  So there is something going on worth watching for a possible AR for CA .  There will be a discussion today from the CPC today.

The key here I think will be how far and strong the MJO is/gets. the CFS still shows it into phase space 8 which is supportive of a CA AR later in the month.

CA needs an AR as it is becoming deficit in rainfall now.

More tomorrow……

 

Dr Howard and the Dweebs…..

 

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

High Wind Warnings are hoisted beginning at 10 PM tonight into early Tuesday afternoon. A few snow showers are possible between 4:00am and 10:00am Tuesday.  It will be milder today and cooler Tuesday. Winds will be moderate on Mammoth Mt this afternoon.

Expect a high of 40 today in the Town of the Mammoth. Tomorrow back down to the mid 30s with lows in the teens. Moderate winds will continue Wednesday with the next weather system,  As per discussion below, the long wave retrogrades and gives Mammoth a 20 hour period of WSW from ahead of the Trof axis passage, Thursday evening at (03Z Friday)  The storm looks to be gone by Friday mid morning. Snowfall expected  18+ inches on Mammoth Mt. and about 12+ inches in town.

The weekend looks partly cloudy, breezy over the upper elevations but dry.

As per the last discussion, I was concerned about the MJO in phase 6 (DRY) and what it would do to our winter storm for this Thursday. Make no mistake about it, it is having an effect on our pattern. Retrogression is very evident in the 5 and 7 day means of both GFS and EC models. However, this time, it is simply retrograding the upper long wave Trof westward off shore so we will have one decent storm Thursday before it heads up into the Bering Sea to its demise next week. There is another storm approaching next Tuesday, but it will be fighting higher heights so that it may split. Well see…..

The tropical forcing is definitely causing a change to our pattern to one eventually of ridging over the far west.

Looking down the road, the MJO is forecasted by most models to move through phase 7 then into the circle of death. Dry for us…..

However, the CFS (climate forecast system and GEFS show it strong into Phase 8. Phase 7/8 is where typically we get strong amplification and an extended East Asian Jet to the west coast sorta like a pseudo El Nino for a week… That would mean the possibility of an AR type storm during week 2/3.   Most models to not agree with that scenario. The Dweebs will keep a eye on that and report here on the Dweeb Report later this week….

 

In the mean time, get ready for a more than welcome snow storm Thursday….!!!   :-)C