Winter Weather - Mesoanalysis

SPC Sector:  
Obs
Obs
Sfc T/Td/MSLP
Visible Satellite
Precipitation Type
Precip Type
Near-Freezing Surface Temps
Critical Thickness
Max WetBulb Temp

Moisture/Lift/Instability
925 mb Temp Advection
925 mb Frontogenesis
925-850 mb Frontogenesis
925 mb Moisture Transport
850 mb Temp Advection
850 mb Frontogenesis
850 mb Frontogenesis
800-750 mb EPV
850-700 mb Frontogenesis
850 mb Moisture Transport
700 mb Temp Advection
700 mb Frontogenesis
700 mb Frontogenesis
650-500 mb EPV
700-500 mb Frontogenesis
Mid Level Lapse Rates

Mesoscale bands of heavy snow are favored where frontogenetic circulations are embedded within an unstable thermodynamic enviroment (slantwise or vertical) . 

  • Geostrophic Equivalent Potential Vorticity (EPVg) < 0 suggest parcels will be unstable to slantwise motions within that layer of the atmosphere. EPVg as an ingredient to mesoscale banded precipitation is best evaluated in a 50-100 mb layer directly above where frontogensis is being analyzed.
  •  If EVPg is < 0 in this layer, the ageostrophic frontogenetic circulation will be enhanced. If elevated CAPE or steep lapse rates are also present, the parcels unstable to slantwise motion will become unstable in the vertical, resulting in upright convection. 

Thermodynamics
Sfc T/Td/MSLP
Near Surface Freezing Temp
SFC Wet Bulb
Freezing Level
MSLP
2hr MSLP Change
Sfc Obs
3hr Temp Change
925 mb
850 mb
850 mb - Wind
700 mb
500 mb
500 mb - 12hr Hgt Chg
700-400mb Diff Vort Adv
400-250mb Pot Vort Adv
300 mb

DGZ
DGZ Depth
DGZ RH
DGZ Depth + RH

Lake Effect and Snow Squall
Lake Effect Snow 1
Lake Effect Snow 2
Snow Squall
Low Level Lapse Rates