Hazardous Weather Ahead and Outlook for Winter Dave Reynolds -MTR Dan Keeton - STO Meteorologists in Charge weather.gov/SanFrancisco or /Sacramento

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WFO Product Timeline 7-Day Forecast 3-5 Day Outlook Special Weather Statement Hazardous Weather Outlook Marine Weather Statement Hydrologic Outlook potential imminent

This weather pattern, which features strong zonal flow aimed at portions of the west coast, is likely to last up to a week and maybe longer. The pattern may be related to ongoing activity in the tropics associated with the Madden-Julian Oscillation. This weather pattern is likely to be more transient in nature than that typically observed with El Nino. El Nino does favor additional events of this type – but typically they occur later in the winter (January-February timeframe), and are associated with an amplified wave pattern, eastward extension of the Pacific Jetstream, and persistent pattern of storminess somewhat farther to the south. Developing Stormy Pattern for California

MJO Index -- Recent Evolution The MJO has continued to propagate eastward.  The axes (RMM1 and RMM2) represent daily values of the principal components from the two leading modes  The triangular areas indicate the location of the enhanced phase of the MJO  Counter-clockwise motion is indicative of eastward propagation. Large dot most recent observation.  Distance from the origin is proportional to MJO strength  Line colors distinguish different months

Storm track and moisture source often associated with the MJO Setup for Atmospheric River

SSMI shows AR stretching across Pacific to Central California Central CA >15 inches rain Atmospheric River

Series of Storms Starting Sunday Night First Storm: Sunday Night – Monday Night More Storms: Tuesday – Next Week Week Remnants of Typhoon NIDA MJO driven thunderstorms Enhanced Jet Cold arctic air to move south and west Sunday H

(knots) ECMWF 156-hr forecast 250 mb winds valid 12Z Wed 09 Dec

In general there is widespread agreement on strong zonal flow into California next week. Maybe Centered south of Bay Area. Valid 4pm Wednesday Dec 09

Details still to be determined on timing and location of impacts

Drought Relief is Coming

Winter Outlook Expect possible moderate strength El Nino to persist through spring. Could bring recurrence to weather we will see next week. May not see influence until January Impacts still not certain

Sea Surface Temperature Anomalies – El Niño

Thunderstorm Activity Tropics Located over SSTs > 28C

Mass of warm water under surface should maintain or enhance El Nino

Animation of subsurface tropical ocean temperatures

SST Outlook: NCEP CFS Forecast Issued 8 November 2009 The CFS ensemble mean (heavy blue line) predicts El Niño will last at least through Northern Hemisphere spring 2010.

El Niño El Niños feature a strong jet stream and storm track across the southern part of the United States, and less storminess and milder-than-average conditions across the North.

ENSO strength vs SFD WY rainfall and sign of PDO Sept-Nov. Strong El Nino Weak/ Mod El Nino Neutral Weak/ Mod La Nina Strong La Nina

Where are we now? Years with closest fit

U.S. Precipitation Tends Forecast for El Niño 09-10

weather.gov/SanFrancisco Hazard map – clickable Satellite Radar River Forecasts Forecast Discussion

Media Briefing Any Questions??