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U.S. ROCKED BY "A TALE OF TWO STORMS"
"We haven't seen a blocked pattern like this in many years," said Dr. Louis Uccellini, director of NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Prediction. In the West, a strong Pacific storm will spread rain into California today and continue well into Tuesday. The heaviest rain is expected to occur along the foothills and mountains in southern Santa Barbara and Ventura counties Sunday evening through Monday morning. During this time, rainfall could exceed one inch per hour for several hours. Snowmelt in the mountains could also compound the flood scenario. In the East, heaviest snowfalls are expected in south-central and northeastern Pennsylvania, northwestern New Jersey, southeast New York, and northwestern Connecticut and central Massachusetts. The challenge for forecasters is pinpointing where the rain-snow line will set up in the Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City areas Sunday night into Monday. Additionally, Uccellini said the potential for coastal flooding from the Virginia coast through the Delmarva Peninsula, New Jersey, Long Island, and into southern New England remains significant with this developing storm. "The marine community should pay special attention to this developing storm system over the weekend. Mariners should be alerted that high winds and waves will exist and persist as this storm develops Sunday evening and Monday. This is a dangerous and rapidly developing weather situation," Uccellini added. Dr. Jim Hoke, director of NOAA's Hydrometeorological
Prediction Center, pointed to recent technology improvements
that have helped forecasters keep pace with this storm. "Previously,
this system would not have been detected so early. Only through
recent advancements in computer technology, advanced observation
and numerical modeling are we now able to see systems develop
like this so far in advance," he said. Uccellini said, "Americans must continue to watch local forecasts for the latest winter advisories and be prepared. This is a developing and dynamic winter storm system that has the potential to explode into a major East Coast winter storm that will disrupt travel Monday through Tuesday." NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center and the Climate Prediction Center are two of nine National Centers for Environmental Prediction. Located in Camp Springs, Md, the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center provides analysis and forecast products, specializing in quantitative precipitation forecasts to five days, weather forecast guidance to seven days, real-time weather model diagnostics discussions, and surface pressure and frontal analyses. The Climate Prediction Center monitors and forecasts short-term climate fluctuations and provides information on the effects climate patterns can have on the nation. Relevant Web Sites Current
winter storm watches, warnings and temperatures across the United
States
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