Different type of winterstorm types and tracks/paths
Multiple variations for snow and ice for different parts of the country
Where the snow fell for this winters first system January 2/3 of 2022
By Kirk Mellish
In this blog I show various storm types.
Keep in mind no two storms are ever EXACTLY alike.
This is an excellent general review from meteorologist Larry Cosgrove of Hockley Texas.
I share it with you now since January-March are key months for these, and as I mentioned in my last 3 blogs dating back to before Christmas to recent days, numerical prediction models are projecting a favorable pattern shift for active snow and ice in many parts of the nation East of the Rockies before this month is done, but nothing to hang your hat on for Metro Atlanta, yet.
Blocking patterns From Larry Cosgrove
Border track From Larry Cosgrove
Clippers
Great Lakes
Pacific NW to Great Basin
Southern rim
Panhandle hooker or hook My favorite growing up in Chicago
Panhandle type B hook
Southern tier types Can happen in La Nina, too
Galveston spin-up
Gulf coast hugger/Miller A Can happen in La Nina, too
Colorado A-B
Colorado-Limon cyclones
Great Plains North
FL Peninsula
Piedmon tracker
Choo-choo
Hatteras Miller A-B
Old school method for rain v snow line Especially useful as a first guess and for long-range first look
EXAMPLE (not a current forecast map, just an illustration, just an example):
Just an example NOT NOT a current forecast for any timeframe NOTE: no 2 storms are ever exactly alike, the thickness and precip type will not align perfectly in every storm as all systems are unique unto themselves. Thus "rule of thumb"
Here is a link to another look at storm tracks, but focused on the Mid-Atlantic NOT Georgia:
I always go for a walk when snow is falling I love it so much AND because it’s a kind of real life real world miracle for it to occur, for the microphysics required are so difficult to occur it’s a living miracle to experience it, everything has to be just right.
Since predicting it is so easy everyone should give it a shot themselves and post their results on Facebook etc. Here’s a basic snow forecast formula and forecast decision tree for your use at home and some additional equations used in numerical weather prediction:
One Snow amount formula, there are many others
Decision tree
weather forecasting equations
equations for forecasting
forecast equations
weather is complex
Butterfly effect Lorenz "Making predictions is difficult, especially about the future"
cyclone low development
The past, the now, the future Sometimes the past is hard, the future? Forget about it.
Predicting the future is so easy almost nobody even tries publicly