1. January 3-4 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone
Very intense cyclone
Had a minimum central pressure of 956 mb.
Characterized by warm advection
Rapid development of system
Criteria met for “meteorological bomb”
Strong winds and heavy precipitation

2. 24-hour precipitation totals ending 12 UTC 5 Jan 2008

3. Synoptic Overview Minimum pressure of 984 mb. 00Z Jan 3
South of Aleutian Islands
Moved eastward and intensified
Pressure of 954 mb. 12Z Jan 4
Warm front moving over CA at this time
Strong negative omega values
Large pressure drops and strong wind speed

4. Note the rapid pressure decrease and corresponding wind increase at KSFO

5. QG Omega Equation and SPDE
LHS: Omega term
RHS: Differential vorticity advection, temperature advection terms
SPDE
LHS: 1000 mb Relative vorticity tendency
RHS: 500 mb vorticity advection, 1000 mb horizontal temperature advection terms