The computer weather models are struggling with the January outlook

The day-to-day runs are all over the place. The GFS has a tornado outbreak on January 3rd and then back to a cold and snowy pattern.



The Canadian model has the same except the the tornado outbreak to our west; Iowa and Illinois.



The European model shows it being warm and rainy with one small cold front.




Here is what the National Weather Service thinks:

.Long Term...(Friday night through Thursday)
Issued at 247 PM EST Thu Dec 29 2022

* Periods of rain Friday night. Limited Flood Risk
* Potential for moderate-heavy rainfall, embedded thunder Mon night
* Breezy and Warm Tuesday

Friday night into Saturday...

As an upper trough approaches central Indiana from the southwest, a
surface low will develop and move along the front in the area Friday
night.

Plentiful moisture will remain in place from the low level
jet from during the day Friday. Some moisture transport will
continue Friday night as well, but not as strong as previously.
Precipitable water values will be around an inch in the southeast
Friday night.

The broad forcing with the upper trough/surface low combined with
the plentiful moisture will continue rain across central Indiana, so
will go with likely category or higher PoPs all areas, with the
highest PoPs southeast closer to the front.

Rain amounts may be enough for some minor flooding, mainly southwest
where higher amounts are expected. Shallow ground temperatures are
warming thanks to the warm air temperatures, so some of the rain
will able to soak in.

As the system exits on Saturday, some rain will linger in the
morning, mainly east. Most areas will be dry Saturday afternoon.

Temperatures will vary from cooler northwest to warmer southeast
with the front in the area, but readings will remain above normal.

Saturday night through Sunday night...

Quiet weather will rule during this period with quasi-zonal flow
aloft in between systems. Surface high pressure will briefly build
in, but a warm front will approach the area from the southwest
Sunday night. Forcing from this will be weak enough at this time to
continue a dry forecast.

Above normal temperatures will continue with the colder air bottled
up to the north.

Monday through Tuesday...

A large upper trough across the western half of the country will
develop a strong surface low that will move into the upper
Mississippi Valley. There are some uncertainties on the track of
this low, but central Indiana will remain on the warm side of the
system.

A 60kt low level jet will pump in moisture straight from the Gulf of
Mexico into the area (this is near the 99th climatological
percentile). Ensemble guidance indicates that precipitable water
values will be near climatological maximum by Monday night as well.

Strong forcing will accompany an initial upper wave that will
move through on Monday night. Will have chance PoPs Monday as the
the system approaches, and then categorical PoPs Monday night as the
it moves through. PoPs will diminish on Tuesday as the initial upper
energy exits.

Rainfall amounts could cause some localized flooding issues. Will
continue to monitor.

Enough instability will work north to mention thunder Monday night.
Potential for severe weather looks to remain south of the area.

Gradient winds will increase as the surface low deepens and the
surface front approaches. 40mph gusts are possible Monday night and
Tuesday.

Above normal temperatures will continue, with highs in the 60s
ahead of the cold front on Tuesday.

Tuesday night onward...

Some low PoPs will linger into Wednesday as the surface front moves
through and perhaps a surface trough will rotate in behind the low
pressure system. The upper trough will linger on Thursday, but
forcing may be weak enough to go with a dry forecast then.

Temperatures will cool to closer to normal by Thursday as the upper
trough moves in.


Winter is on hold until January 7 and January 23.

Temperatures will be in the 60's by January 3rd. The January pattern looks ripe for an ice storm before it gets cold again during the last week of the month.



1-2 inches snow coming overnight into tomorrow then warmer.

#BOTS fans, there will be a 1-2 inch fluffy snow fall tonight into tomorrow. After that, it warms up. Things will quiet down for a while until the second half of January where we repeat the same pattern. 

I like big #BOTS blizzard rap song!

I like big #BOTS and I can not lie

You other brothers can’t deny

That when a snowstorm comes in with a twist

And a snowflake is in your face

You get sprung, wanna pull up tough

‘Cause you notice that snowstorm was rough

Deep is the jet stream & it's tearing

I’m hooked and I can’t stop staring

Oh baby, I wanna get with you

And take your picture

My homeboys tried to warn me

But that snowstorm you got makes me so horny

Ooh, Rump-o’-smooth is my GFS

You say you wanna get in my Euro?

Well, use me, use me

‘Cause you ain’t that average ensemble

I’ve seen them dancin’

To hell with romancin’

I'm frozen & melting til I turn wet.


The we can focus on that northern jet - Stream

I’m tired of weather channel – it seems

Sayin’ #BOTS is not a thing

Take the average black man and ask him that

And then you know baby got #BOTS

So, fellas! (Yeah!) Fellas! (Yeah!)

Has your girlfriend got the #Bots! (Hell yeah!)

Tell ’em to shake it! (Shake it!) Shake it! (Shake it!)

Shake that healthy #Bots

Baby got #Bots.

The cold front is entering Bloomington Indiana right now! @ 3:20pm

If you look at a radar image it doesn't look like it but those images are slightly delayed. For example, it is raining in Bloomington and the radar shows snow in Linton, Indiana and Greencastle Indiana, both of which are about 58 miles away. 


When you look at wind maps, the wind fields in Bloomington have already changed from blowing out of the southwest to blowing out of the northwest.






The cold front is arriving a lot faster than predicted!

The cold front is already at the Illinois-Indiana border and marching eastwards. You have exactly 1 hour to get to your safe place. 



Funny weather stuff.







 

The Blizzard of 2022 compared to the Blizzard of 1978

In terms of barometric low pressure, the Blizzard of '78 got down to 955.5mb. This one (it is already a blizzard in Iowa and Michigan per NWS weather warning) will bottom out at 960.0mb.





How fast will the temperature drop in 30 minutes?

The answer is 40 degrees. That can happen waiting in line at the grocery store or while sitting in traffic. Please just stay home. Don't get caught out and about.

This reportedly happened in Cheyenne Wyoming. The temperature went from 43 degrees to 3 degrees in half in hour.



Bad news and blues for #BOTS fans.

This winter stretch will last exactly one week. By next Thursday, December 29th, high temperatures will be back in the 50's. The next really cold arctic blast looks like it will arrive during the last week of January and the first week of February.



The latest discussion from the National Weather Service out of Indianapolis about the winter storm.

(As you might expect, this is a very long read)

Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Indianapolis, IN

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000
FXUS63 KIND 212004
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
304 PM EST Wed Dec 21 2022

.Short Term...(This evening through Thursday)
Issued at 302 PM EST Wed Dec 21 2022

.This Evening - Thursday Daytime...

Current satellite imagery shows high clouds streaming in from the
southwest ahead of the developing system in the Plains. Light winds
have turned easterly this afternoon as isallobaric response to
strong upstream mid-latitude system begins. Weak warm advection is
bringing temperatures again up to similar levels as yesterday into
the upper 30s and low 40s.

Latest guidance continues to show the 285-K isentropic surface
moistening quickly after midnight tonight with ascent indicated by
pressure advection on that surface, and low-level streamline
analysis. Forecast soundings become saturated to a sufficient depth
for drizzle, though a thin near-surface layer may lag with
saturation delaying onset some. Meanwhile, warm advection should
push temperatures above freezing right around or shortly after onset
of light drizzle. In a reasonable worst case scenario a brief period
of freezing drizzle at precipitation onset may occur but this is
unlikely to be impactful due to (1) brief duration, and (2) minimal
amounts.

=====================================================================
SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM EXPECTED THURSDAY AFTERNOON - FRIDAY
=====================================================================


*************
 Highlights:
*************

WINTER STORM WARNING for counties along and north of I-70 from 3PM
Thursday through 7PM Friday for:
- Dangerous wind chills to -20F to -30F late Thursday into Friday
- Period of high winds (40-55 mph) Thursday night through Friday
- Confidence is increasing in the snow threat of 3 to 5 inches
- Transition from rain to snow continues to trend earlier in evening
beginning around 3 PM in western Indiana.

WINTER STORM WARNING for counties in South Central Indiana south of
I-70 and south of Indy Metro area 4PM Thursday through 1PM Friday
for:
- Dangerous wind chills to -15F to -25F late Thursday into Friday AM
- Period of high winds (40-50 mph) Thursday night through Friday
- Confidence is increasing in the snow threat of 1 to 3 inches
- Transition from rain to snow continues to trend earlier in evening
beginning around 4 PM in Southwestern Indiana

*****************
Synoptic Pattern:
*****************

Confidence continues to increase in a rapidly deepening low pressure
system with a surface low pressure system tracking from northern
Texas into the Midwest with rapid cyclogenesis as it crosses into
Indiana and moves to the northeast.  Model ensembles are getting a
better handle on the timing and strength of this cyclogenesis with a
deepening rate of 1-2mb/hr as it passes over central/northern
Indiana. There is still some uncertainty as to the exact timing of
rapid depletion, of which will impact where the heaviest bands of
snowfall will form.

A well developed cold front will pass through Thursday evening into
Thursday night. There has been a trend in the higher res models to
quicken the progression of the cold front, of which seems plausible.
The sheer density gradient of the cold to warm air should allow for
an efficient progression. Prior to frontal passage, an influx of
surface moisture within weak southerly flow should all for extensive
low level cloud cover. Precipitation will be likely, but a mid level
dry layer will likely inhibit droplet growth. This should result in
a more drizzle-like precip vs large rain drops.

Temperatures will rapidly decrease following the passage of the cold
front with precipitation continuing in an anafrontal region. A warm
nose will wrap around the low, producing a TROWAL-like feature. This
should become even more enhanced as the low deepens. Mesobands are
likely to form in this region producing higher QPF. This warm nose
will also prolong the depth of DGZ saturation allowing for high
SLRs. This should lead to 1-2"/hr rates at times Thursday night
into very early Friday morning.

As the low moves off to the NE, central Indiana will be encompassed
within an arctic air mass. The extreme cold temperatures in
combination with some low level saturation and steep lapse rates
between 1-3km could lead to snow squalls throughout Friday,
especially over north central Indiana.Weak isentropic lift along the
280 K isentropic surface is evident Friday as the TROWAL remains
over much of the Great Lakes region. This combined with
frontogenetical forcing near the surface within a saturated layer
should further promote the development of snow showers and snow
squalls. This could add additional amounts to increase total snow
accumulation. Any snow that does fall is likely to have lower SLRs
due to the lack of dendrites and mechanical fractures of any snow
flakes that due form.

As mentioned, the low will rapidly deepen Friday into Friday night
creating a very tight pressure gradient over the Great Lakes and
Ohio Valley. This should result in high winds; sustained at 20-30MPH
with gusts up to 55MPH. High winds are expected to stay elevated
until Saturday, when high pressure begins to build, weakening the
pressure gradient

***********
Impacts:
***********

Snow/Precipitation:

Timing of the arrival of the arctic air looks to be between 3 PM and
7 PM Thursday with rapidly crashing temperatures.  We expect a quick
transition from rain to snow immediately after the frontal passage.
Confidence in the exact timing is increasing as latest guidance
speeds up the arrival of the front. Confidence is also high that
temperatures will drop 20-30 degrees in a matter of hours. A flash
freeze is likely for whatever residual precipitation is on the
ground after the arrival of the colder air. This in combination with
a quick transition to fairly high snow rates will lead to a fast
degradation in road conditions. Exact timing of heaviest snow looks
to be the few hours following the frontal passage Thursday evening.
Snow rates Thursday night could reach 1-2" leading to vary hazardous
conditions for anyone on the roads.

Current thoughts are that snow totals will be around 3-5 inches in
areas north and west of Indianapolis with a gradual gradient towards
1-3 inches across south central Indiana.  The additional snow on
Friday will be focused across north central Indiana mainly along and
north of the I-70 corridor. While additional accumulations are
possible Friday, it will be very hard to measure exact snowfall
amounts as snow will likely be blowing and drifting significantly.

Cold:

As mentioned, temperatures will quickly drop 25-35 degrees following
frontal passage Thursday night. Winds then will also pick up through
the night with wind chills of 20 to 25 below zero by daybreak
Friday. Temperatures will remain near steady state through the day
Friday with increasing winds and wind chills approaching 30 below
zero.

Near zero to below zero temperatures are then expected Friday night
and Saturday night with wind chills staying below -10 through
Christmas.  The length and severity of this cold will have
compounding impacts with a 72 hour period of continual subzero wind
chills.  With the combination of ground snow and CAA, daytime highs
will struggle to rise out of single digits this weekend.

Wind:

Wind speeds will begin to pick up immediately after the frontal
passage with gusts of 35-55 mph through the overnight hours.
Strengthening near surface level lapse rates combined with the
increasing pressure gradients will then allow for even stronger
winds going into the afternoon hours with occasional 50-60 mph
gusts. Those stronger gusts will relax after sunset, but remain in
the 30-45 mph range through the overnight hours, especially north of
Indianapolis. Winds of 25-35 mph will then continue into Saturday.


***********
Conclusion:
***********

A deep low pressure system is expected to progress through the Great
Lakes region Thursday through Saturday. This will provide widespread
precipitation over central Indiana late Thursday through Friday
night. Initially, p-type will be rain/drizzle, but by late Thursday
it will transition to snow. The transition will be quick with the
heaviest snow falling shortly after the transition.

Dangerously cold wind chills, damaging winds, and blowing snow will
lead to treacherous travel conditions Friday with lesser impacts
going into Saturday.  If planning to travel Thursday night or
Friday, it is time to find an alternative plan.

Regarding headlines; continuing the watch for all of central
Indiana. While snow amounts may not reach the standard criteria,
especially towards Vincennes and southern Indiana, the overall
impacts of the winds, snow, and cold warrant the upgrade to a Winter
Storm Warning. The warning also covers the full period of high
weather impacts with a period where the snow is the primary impact
before the period where the wind and cold becomes more impactful.

&&

.Long Term...(Thursday night through Wednesday)
Issued at 302 PM EST Wed Dec 21 2022

* Dangerous wind chills to -15F to -25F Friday night - Sunday Morning
* Strong wind gusts as high as 25-45 mph through Saturday Evening

The very intense, stacked winter storm system, with central pressure
as low as 964mb Friday night along the Ontario-Quebec border...will
slowly wobble northward through Quebec while filling...while the
corresponding very broad, amplified upper trough surrounding this
system envelops the eastern two-thirds of the CONUS...through early
next week.  The associated, amplified arctic surface high`s axis
will remain positioned from interior Canada into the Gulf of
Mexico...until a de-amplification of the upper pattern during
Christmas Day/Night allows the surface ridge to transition eastward
to the Ohio Valley.  The next baroclinic system, crossing the north-
central CONUS towards the end of the long term, should promote
increasing southerly flow into the middle of next week.  Lingering
snow showers/flurries...and more importantly dangerously cold/
blustery conditions promoting blowing snow through Christmas
Eve...will then transition to a generally dry and moderating pattern
through the last week of 2022.

Friday night - Saturday...

The long term will begin with the VERY COLD temperatures as the axis
of west-to-east, arctic cold-air advection holds the CONUS` lowest
H850 temperatures, near -25 Celsius over the CWA and southeast
across the Ohio Valley.  Temperatures are expected to hold near zero
Friday night.  Saturday`s combination of slightly less CAA and
clouds likely scattering out through the afternoon should allow
temperatures to rebound closer to 10F...although at least a slight
north-south gradient in temperatures should exist following greater
snow and cloud cover over northern zones.  12/23 Record lows at
Indianapolis are -15 (1989) and 1 (1983).

Strong westerly flow will also continue as the weekend begins across
central Indiana, although there will also be a slow decrease in
intensity here as the deep cyclone nudges northward over through
Quebec and the broad surface high continues to slowly advance into
the Midwest.  Sustained winds are expected to trend from around 20-
25 mph Friday evening to 15 mph by late Saturday...while strongest
gusts trend from 35-45 mph to 20-35 mph, with these ranges including
lighter winds towards the Ohio Valley and the noticeably stronger
gradient towards northern Indiana.  The snow pack will continue to
contribute to blowing snow, especially near/north of the I-70
corridor where both greater overall snowfall and wind speeds are
expected...as well as especially Friday evening when winds will
overall be stronger.

Wind chill values, while perhaps having rebounded slightly from what
should be their minimum values Friday morning...are still expected
to be dangerously low Friday night through at least Saturday.
Confidence is increasing in the aforementioned anomalously low
temperatures and strong winds...with resultant wind chill values
Friday night as low as -20F to -25F...and only rebounding to -10F or
so during the day Saturday. Wind Chill headlines are possible in
upcoming updates as this secondary threat to the main winter storm
gets closer in time.

Lingering flurries are certainly possible after the sun sets Friday,
especially along the region`s northern tier...yet confidence is
increasing in no additional measurable snowfall for most locations as
the broad head of moisture aloft continues to recede northward with
the overall departing system.  Blowing snow, however, will be a
continued concern, especially Friday evening when the long term`s
winds will be strongest...blowing snow may lower visibility and be
hazardous to travel at times...with impacts to road conditions
likely greatest on north-south roadways.  The blowing snow threat
should diminish through the day Saturday between decreasing winds
and the hopes that at least partial sun promotes a modest crust atop
the snow pack.

Saturday night through Wednesday...

A progression into a slow and steady moderation will then take shape
from Christmas Day and into the middle of next week...as the center
of the very broad arctic high finally slides over the region Sunday,
and continues to drift to our southeast next week, bringing at least
modest southwesterly return flow.  The broad subsidence under this
ridge will promote generally dry conditions.  Although the less-
amplified, yet persistent eastern-US troughiness should include a
weak short wave heading southward over the central US...which could
bring low/no impact snow/snow showers around the Sunday night-Monday
timeframe.

Very cold conditions will continue through the holiday weekend, with
morning lows expected to trend from near zero Christmas morning...to
the 20s by the midweek.  Afternoon highs in the teens on Christmas
Day should yield to better southerly flow into the midweek should
finally bring temperatures near to above the 32F mark.

&&

.Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 1246 PM EST Wed Dec 21 2022

Impacts:

* Lingering HZ and MVFR ceilings at LAF

* Deteriorating ceilings with drizzle developing overnight, reduced
  visibilities at times

* East-southeasterly winds gradually becoming southerly

* Arrival of strong cold front with a quick change to snow towards
  the end of the IND TAF period

Discussion:

Low clouds have been diminishing through the morning so far, having
cleared at all terminals except for LAF where some haze and MVFR
ceilings remain.

High clouds have increased today, and east-southeasterly winds are
expected to gradually become southerly ahead of an approaching cold
front. Eventually, MVFR ceilings will arrive as rich low-level
moisture streams in from the south. Some patchy drizzle may develop
as soon as 06z which may reduce visibility overnight.

As moisture increases, scattered rain showers are likely at all
terminals by 12z tomorrow. IFR conditions may develop as rain and
drizzle become more widespread, along with lowering ceilings. These
conditions are expected to persist until the arrival of a strong
cold front late in the TAF period. The intense front will see a
rapid transition to snow, and abrupt wind shift to northwesterly,
along with a sharp drop in temperatures.


&&

.IND WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
Winter Storm Warning from 3 PM Thursday to 7 PM EST Friday for
INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057.

Winter Storm Warning from 4 PM Thursday to 1 PM EST Friday for
INZ060>065-067>072.


For the weather nerds out there.

If you are a wx computer model watcher then you probably would like to know what time the new models are released. Someone produced a picture of this and I wanted to share it.



I'm predicting a 100% chance of a White Christmas in Bloomington Indiana.

 BOTS!

National Weather Service - Indianapolis Office Discussion of Snowstorm

For all the weather nerds and #BOTS fans:

Area Forecast Discussion
Issued by NWS Indianapolis, IN

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000
FXUS63 KIND 182140
AFDIND

Area Forecast Discussion
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
440 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

...Updated Aviation Discussion...

.Short Term...(This evening through Monday)
Issued at 237 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

- Clear and Cold Tonight
- Increasing clouds on Monday

Surface analysis early this afternoon shows a large area of high
pressure stretching through the Mississippi River Valley, nudging
eastward toward Indiana and the Ohio Valley. Westerly surface flow
remains in place across Indiana and temps were climbing through the
20s. GOES16 shows the last of the departing clouds over far eastern
and northeast Indiana while sunshine was found across the western
half of the state. Water vapor imagery shows NW flow in place across
Central Indiana, with subsidence in place. The water vapor imagery
showed Indiana caught between two large low pressure systems, one
over NE Ontario and the other over the American southwest.

Tonight...

Clear skies and cold conditions are expected tonight. Weak ridging
aloft is expected to continue to provide subsidence tonight as the
surface high pressure system builds east across Indiana. Forecast
soundings and time heights continue the trend of a dry column with
subsidence. This will lead to clear skies and light winds, ideal for
radiational cooling. Given this along with the low dew points in the
teens will trend toward lows in the middle teens.

Monday...

Models suggest the surface high will be centered over Indiana as we
start on a cold Monday morning. Aloft the models push some of the
forcing dynamics over the American Southwest toward the Tennessee
River Valley by late Monday, but the best forcing looks to remain
well south of Indiana. The ridging aloft is shown to begin to exit
to the east of Indiana along with the associated surface high
pressure system by aftrenoon. At that point the 290K GFS Isentropic
surface begins to show the beginning of lift arriving on the
backside of the departing ridge amid warm air advection, however
moisture is very limited. Thus will just lead to invading high
clouds as the afternoon progresses. Forecast soundings and time
heights both indicate the beginning of a top down type saturation,
indicative of the arrival of high clouds. Thus we will trend toward
clear in the morning but increasing clouds in the afternoon. Given
the expected warm air advection will trend highs to the lower and
middle 30s.

&&

.Long Term...(Monday night through Sunday)
Issued at 237 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

Tuesday through Wednesday...

The beginning of the long term features a quasi-zonal pattern in the
wake the deep low departing to the northeast. Strong 1030mb surface
high pressure builds over the region Monday night, then becomes
centered over the Northeast by midweek maintaining influence over
the region and keeping conditions mainly dry. Quiet yet cold
conditions persist Tuesday as a weak system passes just north of
Indiana. Weak low pressure in the Plains falls apart considerably as
it interacts with the aforementioned strong high, with marginal if
any support aloft. With such a disorganized system and such strong
surface high pressure maintaining influence near the surface, no
impacts are expected other than increased cloud cover.

Wednesday looks to be another quiet day with a weaker upper level
ridging regime behind the trough passage. Moisture levels in the low
to mid levels look to remain without a strong advective push,
leaving cloudy weather over central Indiana. This continued cloud
cover will likely lead to more seasonable temperatures with highs in
the mid 30s and lows in the upper 20s both Tuesday and Wednesday.

*********************************************************************
*********************************************************************

Thursday through Saturday(Potential Winter System)...

Confidence remains high in the potential for an impactful low
pressure system to pass through the Ohio Valley sometime between
Thursday morning and Friday. With that said, there is still
significant variability amongst both ensemble members and various
deterministic runs regarding details for exact track and timing of
the system.

***************************************
Differences in Deterministic Solutions:
***************************************

First, lets discuss the deterministic runs. The last few GFS runs
have done a better job of representing the expected very anomalous
cold sector within this system. This along with a gradual shift
westward of the upper level ridge axis over the western CONUS has
allowed for solutions closer to the expected conceptual model
discussed in previously (see below). This leads to increased
confidence that a deep low pressure system will develop over the
Great Lake or Ohio Valley late next week. There will still be a
significant spread in the snowfall maxima over the next several runs
amongst all deterministic models, of which leads to plenty of
uncertainty on snowfall expectations Thursday and Friday. Current
trends in deterministic guidance point to a track further north and
west, possibly tracking right through Indiana... making the forecast
even more challenging with large gradients in temperature, wind, and
P-type possible through the state.

One trend of note is a slight delay in pressure depletion as the low
tracks west to east. This is likely due to the lack of true lee
cyclogenesis, and with organization of dynamic forcings becoming more
aligned later in its life cycle. This will be something to watch
over the next several days to see if this trend continues.

Previous discussion...

The GFS has continued to be an outlier, mainly due to the position
of the ridge axis over the Western CONUS. The American model has had
the ridge axis over the intermountain west, leading to a shorter
wavelength and therefore a neutrally tilted amplified trough over
the Midwest.This solution would result in more impacts over the
eastern US versus the Midwest. Of note is a slightly weaker
thickness gradient prior to cyclogenesis. With the high likelihood
of a rather anomalous cold sector within this system this leads to
the belief that this solution may be misleading.

On the other hand is the remainder of the deterministic suite
(Canadian, ECMWF, UKMET). These three are much more aligned on the
ridge axis placement further west over the Pacific Coast. In return,
the wave length is larger, allowing for a more negatively tilted
upper trough and less subtropical jet influence. The polar jet in
this instance in piece-wise with a strong jet streak upstream of the
trough and a supergeostrophic jet streak near the ridge over the
Northeast. A coupled jet streak provides an efficient environment
for surface cyclogenesis, as seen near the surface of these various
solutions. All three of these solutions also seem to better
represent the anomalous Arctic air expected in the cold sector,
increasing baroclinicity and the rate of surface pressure depletion.
Another point which increases confidence in these solutions is the
better run to run consistency (especially with the ECMWF) regarding
track of the both surface and upper level features. While the latest
run have trended a few hours slower with the arrival of the storm
system, the track has been consistent showing a track right through
the state.

**********************************
Ensemble and Probabilistic Output:
**********************************

These deterministic solutions can help dissect the probabilistic output
given through various ensemble members of each parent model. With
the conceptual model chosen (longer wave length, negatively tiled
trough, coupled polar jet), we can narrow the expected solutions to
those that align. While there is still a wide range of solutions
even through this process, trends are indicating a deep surface
cyclone over the Midwest or Ohio Valley Thursday into Friday. This
leads to a greater likelihood of an impactful winter storm within
the vicinity of central Indiana. The track of the surface low will
still have a significant influence on the severity and type of
impact central Indiana will witness. Any track south of central
Indiana will lead to a greater chance of significant snow fall,
whereas north or through central Indiana will limit snow, but
increase rain and even thunderstorm chances.

This process also shows a wide array of temperature outcomes for
Thursday into Friday, ranging from low 50s in the warm sector, to
mid 20s in the cold sector. For now, temperature forecasts are more
aligned with the ensemble mean, but the result with much more likely
be on the lower or higher extremes (10th or 90th percentile).

No matter the track of the low, there does look to be very efficient
surface pressure depletion within a highly baroclinic system. This
will allow for a large pressure gradient over the region, pushing
very cold air into central Indiana Friday, and continuing through
the weekend. There is still some disagreement on the extent of this
cold air mass, with an ensemble from -10F to 5F degrees on Saturday
morning. Probabilistic output shows temperatures 3 standard
deviations below normal, with a large shift of tails, indicating a
potentially very anomalous cold outbreak. Snow pack will also have
an influence on low temperature potential, of which would be
impacted by low track as discussed previously. No matter the track,
confidence is increasing in a period of high winds around the time
of the wind shift to W/NW flow as very cold air aloft is advected in
with a strengthening sting jet on the south of the low. High winds
Friday night through Sunday along with the cold temperatures could
lead to very dangerous wind chills.

**********************************************
Winter Storm and Arctic Outbreak Conclusion:
**********************************************

Through a diagnostic synoptic process, discussed above, trends are
leaning towards an impactful low pressure system with a low track
ranging from Chicago to the Ohio Valley. Many potential solutions
and outcomes remain in play including the potential for significant
snowfall sometime between Thursday morning and Friday evening. There
are still many factors that will influence the forecast in the
coming days ans this system will continued to be monitored very
closely.

Despite uncertainties regarding the potential winter storm Thursday
into Friday, there are a few areas where forecast confidence is very
high. No matter the track of the upcoming storm system, confidence
remains very high that some of the coldest air of the year will
arrive by the holiday weekend with temperatures potentially falling
below zero! Any snowpack will further allow temperatures to plummet
into the negatives and possibly into record territory. Along with
the cold air will likely be dangerously cold wind chill with values
possibly below -20F. High winds and/or snow could also lead to power
outages further enhancing the potential risks. Take precautions now
to prepare for the upcoming cold weather this holiday weekend.

Areas of higher confidence:
* Period of high winds with a wind shift to the NW Thurs into Fri
* Extremely cold arctic air this weekend with temperatures falling
  below zero
* Dangerous wind chills possibly down to -20F to -30F this weekend
* Periods of snow showers on the backside of the system Fri into Sat

Areas of lower confidence:
* Exact storm track and where areas of heavy snowfall could set up
* Snowfall amounts remain very uncertain at the moment, higher
  confidence in accumulating snow further north and west
* Temperatures Thursday into Friday, could vary significantly across
  short distances through the state depending on track of the system

&&

.Aviation...(18Z TAF Issuance)
Issued at 439 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

Impacts:

- VFR Conditions are expected through the TAF Period.

Discussion:

High pressure and a mostly dry column will provide clear skies
tonight. Then, VFR flying conditions will continue but cirrus will
be increasing as the upper flow flattens.

Weak surface pressure gradient will keeps winds under 10 knots.
Direction will start off WSW but back to S and then SE late Monday.

&&

The National Weather Service in Indianapolis has issued an Alert for the winter storm next week.

Special Weather Statement


Special Weather Statement
National Weather Service Indianapolis IN
251 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

INZ021-028>031-035>049-051>057-060>065-067>072-191000-
Carroll-Warren-Tippecanoe-Clinton-Howard-Fountain-Montgomery-
Boone-Tipton-Hamilton-Madison-Delaware-Randolph-Vermillion-Parke-
Putnam-Hendricks-Marion-Hancock-Henry-Vigo-Clay-Owen-Morgan-
Johnson-Shelby-Rush-Sullivan-Greene-Monroe-Brown-Bartholomew-
Decatur-Knox-Daviess-Martin-Lawrence-Jackson-Jennings-
Including the cities of Delphi, Flora, Williamsport,
West Lebanon, Lafayette, West Lafayette, Frankfort, Kokomo,
Attica, Covington, Veedersburg, Crawfordsville, Lebanon,
Zionsville, Tipton, Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Anderson,
Muncie, Winchester, Union City, Farmland, Parker City, Clinton,
Fairview Park, Rockville, Montezuma, Rosedale, Greencastle,
Plainfield, Brownsburg, Danville, Indianapolis, Greenfield,
New Castle, Terre Haute, Brazil, Spencer, Gosport, Martinsville,
Mooresville, Greenwood, Franklin, Shelbyville, Rushville,
Sullivan, Carlisle, Shelburn, Farmersburg, Linton, Bloomfield,
Jasonville, Worthington, Bloomington, Nashville, Columbus,
Greensburg, Vincennes, Washington, Loogootee, Shoals, Bedford,
Mitchell, Seymour, and North Vernon
251 PM EST Sun Dec 18 2022

...SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM TO IMPACT THE STATE THURSDAY THROUGH
THE HOLIDAY WEEKEND...

A significant storm system is expected to move through the area
Thursday through the weekend with heavy rain, accumulating snow,
high winds, sub zero temperatures, and dangerously low wind chill
all possible across Indiana during that time frame. While
confidence remains low on exact details of timing and track of the
system and areas where heavy snow could fall, confidence remains
high in the dangerously cold air threat and high wind potential.

Early look at confidence for potential winter storm:

Areas of higher confidence:
* Period of high winds with a wind shift to the northwest Thursday
  into Friday
* Extremely cold arctic air this weekend with temperatures falling
  below zero
* Dangerous wind chills possibly down to -20F to -30F this weekend
* Periods of snow showers on the backside of the system Friday
  into Saturday

Areas of lower confidence:
* Exact storm track and where areas of heavy snowfall could set up
* Snowfall amounts remain very uncertain at the moment, higher
  confidence in accumulating snow further north and west
* Temperatures Thursday into Friday, could vary significantly
  across short distances through the state depending on track of
  the system

People need to stay alert to the forecast and the possible changing
weather conditions through the week. Be prepared for potential
travel impacts.

Don't trust the snow maps you see on Tweeter.

There are snow maps on Twitter showing well over a foot of snow in Indiana for next weekend. It's too early for that. Don't believe those.

Snow or now snow; that is the question.

This is precisely why you don't trust computer weather models this far in advance. Wait until Monday people.



The Miller Classification System for Winter Storms.

There is chatter about this on twitter. If you are interested in knowing about it, here are two useful links:

https://weatherworksinc.com/news/Miller-A-vs-Miller-B

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miller_Classification#cite_note-Weatherworks-1

I still think it's too early to know anything this far out but in short, people are suggesting these two scenarios: