Using Forecast Analogs as Historical Medium Range Guidance for Winter Storm Events Chad M Gravelle and Charles E Graves Saint Louis University Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences NWSFO St. Louis, MO Winter Weather Workshop 19 November 2008

A blend of knowledge and experience is critical for effective interpretation of model output. Yet, even seasoned forecasters sometimes fail to recognize significant weather events due to (over)reliance on model QPF values and less attention paid to the causative factors. Composite analysis and forecast analogs (“perfect prog” approach) can assist with this problem because weather events have quasi- repeatable atmospheric fields and results. The “perfect prog” approach, which is utilized in this research, has one major weaknesses: the uncertainty that is inherent with deterministic NWP model forecasts (which this methodology depends on for pattern recognition skill). By utilizing forecast analogs in the medium range (HWO phase), a forecaster can gain historical experience and become familiar with the meteorological patterns associated with an event. Motivation

The basis for analog guidance is to search a climatological dataset for maps that resemble the current forecast, and then assume that the atmosphere will evolve similar to the historical analogs (adapted from Wilks 1995). Search the 28-yr North American Regional Reanalysis (NARR) dataset against the model forecast (GFS212-40km) for potential analogs. –6 months over the winter season (OCT - MAR) –6 h temporal resolution –20,160 potential analogs Remove “duplicate” times by choosing the best analog over a 24-h period , , , Refine and rank the resulting analogs to create products that are useful for medium range guidance. Methodology – The Big Picture

Determining what constitutes an analog is done statistically using the following techniques: –Pattern Correlation –Mean Absolute Error –Root-Mean-Square Error –Anomalies Methodology – What is an analog? 300 mb HGHT COR 500 mb HGHT COR 850 mb TMPC MCOR 850 mb TMPC MMAE PMSL MCOR 850 mb HGHT MCOR During the first pass through the NARR dataset, the statistics are computed on the following domains (REGN and MESO). If certain thresholds are not exceeded, the date/time is not considered a potential analog.

But what about the thresholds? How were the values of the thresholds determined? A control run was developed that focused on heavy snowfall (≥6”) in the LSXCWA. Over the past 28 winters (80/81 – 07/08) in the LSXCWA, 30 heavy snow events occurred with snow swaths oriented from southwest to northeast. Methodology – The Control Run These events (members) were composited in a system-relative sense based on when the center of the 850 mb low crossed the 91 st meridian (t=0h). Finally, statistics were generated comparing the composite fields against the 30 member database. COOP snowfall for the 48-h period ending at 1200 UTC

Methodology – The Control Run

To reduce the 20,160 potential analogs, threshold values were determined based on the control run for the following fields: 300 HGHT COR 0.85 REGN 500 HGHT COR 0.83 REGN 850 TMPC MCOR 0.88 MESO 850 TMPC MMAE 3.8 MESO PMSL MCOR 0.83 MESO 850 HGHT MCOR 0.60 MESO* Once the 20,160 analogs are reduced, “duplicate” times are removed from the potential analogs. “Duplicate” times occur due to the variability in system speed (e.g., a slow historical system may exhibit similar patterns to the forecast over a longer period of time). Therefore, the best analog is found over a 24-h period by using the following formula: SUM(COR) - SUM(MAE/3) Methodology – Reducing the Potential Analogs

After the potential analogs are reduced, the program is rerun to find statistics on the following variables: 300 HGHT COR REGN 500 HGHT COR REGN 700 FRNT COR REGN 850 HGHT COR MESO 850 TMPC COR MESO 850 TMPC MAE MESO 850 FRNT COR MESO 850 THTEADV COR MESO 2m TMPC MAE MESO PMSL COR MESO PWTR COR MESO After new statistics are determined, a results score is computed using the following formula: 850HGHTCOR*3 + PMSLCOR*2 + SUM(COR) - SUM(MAE/3) Methodology – Ranking the Analogs

Finally, in order to catch possible system direction, statistics are computed for ± 12 h from the time of the best analog using the matching forecast. -12 h Analog: GFS 084h FCST Analog: GFS 096h FCST +12 h Analog: GFS 108h FCST Using statistics from the ± 12 h times, results scores are also computed. The final analog rank is determined by using the results scores in the following formula: AVERAGE(m12ANALOG, ANALOG, p12ANALOG) Methodology – Ranking the Analogs

Winter storm affected the CONUS east of the Rocky Mountains from 31 January through 2 February Band of >2” snow fell from Kansas/Oklahoma east into the mid- Mississippi Valley and northeast into the Great Lakes region. An axis of >6” snow fell from STL (00Z-12Z 1 February 2008) northeastward into lower Michigan. Results – The Sample Case Event was relatively well forecast 3-5 days out. Deterministic models had both good agreement in mass fields and fairly good run-to- run consistency. COOP snowfall for the 72-h period ending at 1200 UTC

To test the forecast analog approach, the 096h GFS212 forecast was utilized. Results – GFS /0000F096

The GFS /0000F096 was compared against 20,160 potential analogs. After the thresholds were applied: 387 potential analogs 300 HGHT COR 0.85 REGN 500 HGHT COR 0.83 REGN 850 TMPC MCOR 0.88 MESO 850 TMPC MMAE 3.8 MESO PMSL MCOR 0.83 MESO 850 HGHT MCOR 0.60 MESO After “duplicate” times were removed: 187 analogs 25 out of 30 SW/NE oriented STL heavy snow cases were included within the 187 analogs. Results – GFS /0000F096 Analogs

DATEH300corH500corH850corT850corT850maeF850corTA850corF700corT2corT2maePMSLcorPWTRcorf096TOTALf084TOTALf108TOTALAVG / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / / In STL heavy snow climo Heavy snow occursHeavy snow does not occur Results – GFS /0000F096 Analogs

Results – The “Best” Analog (NARR /2100)

Results – The “Best” Analog (GFS /0000F096)

Results – The “Best” Analog (COOP EVENT SNOW ) COOP snowfall for the 96-h period ending at 1200 UTC

Results – The “Best” Analog (COOP EVENT SNOW ) COOP snowfall for the 72-h period ending at 1200 UTC

Results – Potential Products

The goal of the analog forecast approach is NOT to make a forecast; but to provide medium-range guidance for events by using a historical dataset. In addition, a forecaster can quickly gain historical experience and become familiar with the meteorological patterns associated with certain events. The current approach is independent of QPF yet can still provide precipitation results (i.e., we already have the answers). Product possibilities are almost endless, this is only a sampling of what is possible. The analog forecast approach can be applied to any meteorological event as long as a control run can be created. Summary and Future Research

The GFS212 is being run at hour 120. When an event approaches the domain it is tracked from 120 h to 96 h to 72 h. This will potentially show consistency in the analogs and associated products. Coming Soon: 2 mesoscale domains in the Midwest and 2 mesoscale domains on the East Coast. Using the GEFS to find the analogs…analogs of potential solutions may produce better results. Reassess how well the analog system performed at the end of the winter and make changes for next year. What are we doing now and what will we be doing that is different?

CIPS Analog Webpage: CIPS Analog Webpage

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