Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS State College, PA
Issued by NWS State College, PA
Versions:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
762 FXUS61 KCTP 100549 AFDCTP Area Forecast Discussion National Weather Service State College PA 1249 AM EST Mon Nov 10 2025 .SYNOPSIS... * Low pressure overhead will slide east this evening and wrap cold air into PA tonight, with precipitation gradually changing over to snow showers across the northern and western highlands. * Lake-effect and upslope snow showers continue Mon into Tues, along with the coldest temperatures of the season thus far. * Temperatures should begin to moderate by late week. && .NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/... Quite a complicated sfc map early this evening for the Mid Atlantic/Lower Glakes region as at least 4, distinct approx 1005 mb sfc lows extend from near KBGM, south to KDCA and just SE of KISP. A narrow wedge of weak sfc-based CAPE (associated with TDs in the mid to upper 50s F) nosed into far SE PA (to near KLNS) where residents to the south likely heard some rumbles of thunder from the northern edge of a line of storms that recently rolled across far southern Lancaster County. Lower dewpoint air will push into the Susq Valley overnight in the wake of the Lee Trough, and later on across the entire CWA after the passage of a southward mvg cold front as the several aforementioned sfc lows consolidate near KLGA as the larger scale uvvel associated with a 130+ KT upper level jet across the Alleghenies of PA/WVA shifts east to the Mid Atl Coast. Previous Disc with some augmented/updated details... The air temps in swrn NY are already down into the 30-32F range with the SFC cold front (trailing WSW from one sfc low near KBGM) pushing south to near I-80 in wrn PA at 0030Z Mon. Thus, the expected turn to snow showers from rain showers looks on track for sometime through this evening across the far NW and around midnight over the Laurels. No significant snowfall is expected overnight. Some melting may take place at first as the ground (esp the roads) are warm. However, air temps dip to the 20s around midnight in Warren Co. That could make already- wet roads icy, if not treated, tonight. Accums could be 1-2" for Warren and western McKean Co overnight and less than an inch along the rest of the western highlands. A relative min in precip will occur between the I-99 corridor and RT 15 in the Lower and Middle Susq Valley. The valleys will stay milder, and most places SE of a AOO-UNV- IPT line will likely not hit freezing before sunrise. But, the higher elevations in the central mtns probably will. So, there could be a dusting there above ~1700ft. The flow around the departing low will kick up with gusts into the 20s, bringing wind chills into the teens in the NW and 20s elsewhere. && .SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT/... The cloud-layer flow moving across the lakes on Monday will be light and directionally-sheared at first, then settle into a more-stacked NW direction. Lake induced CAPE (51F lake water at ERI) could reach into the 1000J range with clouds tops in the 5-10kft range. However, the cross-fetch is short at that angle and would likely keep all but NWrn Warren Co from getting much accum, esp as temps get close to freezing (and the sun makes the ground/sfc slightly warmer). However, it`s still wise to keep a half inch or so in for the NW mtns with this flow. The rest of the Alleghenies and Laurels will lack snow on the whole as clouds lose their moisture moving too far away from the lake, and the deeper plume of moisture from OH (what used to be connected to/from LM) slide south into WV. That should keep even the Laurels mainly dry (just a dusting) thru the daylight hrs. As the sun lowers, the flow will back to west a little and get an significant addition of LH moisture. This two-lake fetch and a llJet of 40-45KT will be pointed right into Warren/McKean Cos for much of Mon night (and into Tues). The SLRs thru the period will lower to about 17:1 in the nrn mtns. So, it`s not out of the question for the healthy band/bands to drop >6" in Warren Co as the moisture rolls uphill. Not so sure about McKean and Potter Cos, as they are farther from the lakes and the moisture might not last that long/far into the CWA. At the same time, the upslope flow into the highest hills of Somerset CO (and all of PA, really) moistens up again as the flow backs there, too, and brings the best moisture back N from WV/MD. The residence time of the (combined) best moisture and uplift over the Laurels looks short, though. Thus, additional snowfall Mon night and early Tues is very much in question. Also, the lower 2/3rds (elevation-wise) of the county will likely get (way) less than 3" for the whole stretch. So, we`ll hold off on any WWA flags (advy) for Somerset Co at this point in time. We`d like to see another cycle or two of guidance for that area. A watch has been posted for Warren Co, and McKean Co (maybe Potter/Elk) might also need an advy for late Mon into Tues. But, certainty in 3+" accums are much lower there than in Warren Co. Will hold off on that, too. && .LONG TERM /WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/... Upper-level troughing will remain in place through the end of the week, keeping the chance for rain and snow showers in the forecast each day through Friday, especially over northwest PA. A tight pressure gradient will allow for winds gusts in the 30 to 35 mph range Wednesday, with some guidance suggesting the potential for gusts over the Laurel Highlands to approach 40 to 45 mph. The December- like cold airmass is forecast to retreat later in the week, with temperatures returning closer to seasonal averages. High pressure attempts to briefly build in from the west which should keep us mainly dry into the beginning of the weekend, but uncertainty increases by Sunday regarding the timing of an approaching frontal system. && .AVIATION /06Z MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/... A chilly northwesterly flow will maintain IFR cigs across the northern and western highlands (BFD/JST) through daybreak, with occasional -SHSN. Southeast of the Allegheny Front, predominantly MVFR cigs are expected for the central mtns (AOO/UNV/IPT) overnight. Light rain across the Lower Susq Valley (MDT/LNS) will taper off overnight, with cigs dipping to borderline MVFR/VFR by daybreak. A continued northwesterly flow of chilly air will maintain low clouds across the northern and western highlands today, along with occasional -SHSN. Cigs should improve to low-end MVFR for JST and BFD this afternoon. The central mtns should see cigs improve to low-end VFR this aftn, with borderline MVFR/VFR cigs over the Lower Susq Valley improving to VFR. Northwesterly winds will occasionally gust 20+ kts areawide today. Expect more of the same into Tuesday, with wind gusts increasing to ~30 kts. Outlook... Wed-Thu...-SHSN and occasional restrictions continue across NW PA; becoming VFR elsewhere. Breezy W/NW winds continue areawide. Fri...Continued improvement, with winds diminishing and lingering -SHSN across NW PA tapering off. && .CTP WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES... Winter Storm Watch from this evening through Tuesday afternoon for PAZ004. && $$ SYNOPSIS...Lambert/Dangelo/Evanego NEAR TERM...Lambert/Dangelo SHORT TERM...Lambert/Dangelo LONG TERM...Bauco AVIATION...Evanego