Drew Pectol
Meteorology 1010
Severe Weather
The National Weather Service is of great value to citizens and visitors to the United
States. This service provides precise weather updates for current weather and contributes severe
weather forecast warnings to specific regions enduring complex weather systems. Throughout
the last two months there have only been a few severe weather warnings issued by the national
weather service. Unfortunately there are no severe weather warnings currently in affect,
however, there are still weather patterns occurring on the west coast of the state of California that
are causing concern for residents.
Drew Pectol
Meteorology 1010
Short Range Forecast Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
247 PM EST Thu Dec 11 2014
Valid 00Z Fri Dec 12 2014 - 00Z Sun Dec 14 2014
***Strong Pacific storm system affecting West Coast***
Although an official Weather Watch has not been issued, a Pacific low pressure system
along the West Coast has developed and is forecasted to bring in heavy rainfall and high speed
winds. Heavy rainfall, blizzard conditions in the mountains, and strong winds will hammer the
State of California and the coast of Washington through Friday as an atmospheric river of
moisture from the tropics accompanies the cold front. A swath of heavy rainfall
with amounts of 2 to 4 inches by Friday night is likely, with the greatest amounts expected for
central and northern parts of California. This is badly needed rainfall for a region suffering from
prolonging extreme drought. Some of this moisture is expected to make it to the Intermountain
West in the form of rain showers and mountain snow showers.
Drew Pectol
Meteorology 1010
The above Doppler radar image shows the coast of California as the cold front moves
across northern part of the state. The projected rainfall for the area is anywhere from 10-55%
chance of rain throughout Friday night. The image above was taken in precipitation mode to
monitor the amount of rainfall.
This assignment has helped me reflect on the advanced weather technologies
implemented here in the United States. These images and forecasts provide precise and perhaps
lifesaving information that could warn people who could potentially be in the path of a
destructive storm. The National Weather Service website has taught me how to monitor
upcoming storms and how to better prepare for potential disasters. It was completely fascination
to me how readily available the information from the satellite images were. With just a few
simple clicks of the mouse I was able to view weather patterns currently happening all over the
country. This course has taught me how to recognize developing weather cycles and how to
determine the severity of such storms. Using the internet and tools provided has brought me to
the conclusion that weather, no matter how severe, can be monitored and can be predicted. These
such predictions and consequential warnings are what save lives when severe weather is a threat.