Quantitative Precipitation Forecast
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303
FOUS30 KWBC 081552
QPFERD

Excessive Rainfall Discussion
NWS Weather Prediction Center College Park MD
1052 AM EST Fri Nov 8 2024

Day 1
Valid 16Z Fri Nov 08 2024 - 12Z Sat Nov 09 2024

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF THE
SOUTHERN PLAINS...

...16z Update...

Little change needed for the 16z update, as the inherited Slight
Risk was maintained and adjusted a bit based on observational and
CAM trends. Much of the Slight Risk area (particularly the western
half) is on the lower-end of the probability spectrum, owning to
longer duration rainfall resulting in isolated to widely scattered
flash flooding. A good portion of the TX Hill Country has received
impressive 4-10" totals over the past 24 hours, resulting in highly
depressed FFGs with little additional rainfall needed to cause
problems. Even so, localized short-term totals going forward
should be capped around 1.5", greatly limiting the extent of any
additional flash flooding. Farther east into the Heart of TX
(mainly southeast of the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area), the Slight
Risk is considered to be on the higher-end of the probability
spectrum (25%+), as this region has the best chance of realizing
the highest rainfall rates (1-2"/hr) and resultant short-term
totals (20-30% odds of 5" exceedance, per 40-km neighborhood HREF
probabilities through 12z). Drier antecedent conditions in this
region should limit the extent and intensity of flash flooding
(with FFGs generally ranging from 3-4", coverage should remain
scattered and below significant flash flood thresholds).

Churchill


...Previous Discussion...

The upper level low over the Southwest and its attendant surface
low will continue moving northeast across the Plains on Friday.
With a continued influx of Gulf moisture with precipitable water
values of 1.5-2.25" expected near the cyclone`s cold front, the
typical comma shaped precipitation footprint will develop farther
up the warm conveyor belt from Texas to Oklahoma which should occur
with precipitable water values at or above an inch. Out west in
Colorado and New Mexico the precipitation will be mostly in the
form of snow. Where it remains all rain, the heaviest rain will be
from north Texas across Oklahoma and into south-central Kansas.
Instability should be sufficient for heavy rain-related issues.

While somewhat lesser amounts of rain are expected overall for
southern Oklahoma and Texas...greater instability there as high as
1500 J/kg of MU CAPE will favor at least some storms capable of
heavy rainfall in that area, with hourly rain totals to 2.5" and
local amounts as high as 6" where cells train. Meanwhile, north of
Oklahoma City, expect a much longer duration rainfall as the
surface low takes its time getting its act together. So while
hourly rain totals will likely be lower than further south, perhaps
1" where slantwise convection/frontogenesis aloft forces greater
precipitation efficiency, it will be made up for by the longer
duration of the rain.

Roth/Wegman


Day 2
Valid 12Z Sat Nov 09 2024 - 12Z Sun Nov 10 2024

...THERE IS A SLIGHT RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF
THE LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...

An upper level low will move faster towards the northeast. As
Rafael moves west over the central Gulf, a plume of moisture with
precipitable water values of 1.5-2" gets drawn north ahead of the
surface low`s strong cold front. The front will likely be the
dominant forcing for storms in this region. As on Friday, the
southern areas of Louisiana and Mississippi will have the greater
moisture. MU CAPE rises towards 1000 J/kg across parts of LA/MS/TN.
Areas further north have soils which are more saturated/flash
flood guidance is lower. The front should progress slow enough that
training storms tracking north along the front could still cause
flooding problems, especially over portions of LA, MS, and TN.
Hourly rain totals to 2.5" and local amounts of around 6" appear
likely. Lingering disagreement on exactly where the maxima are
expected kept the risk level from being raised to Moderate, though
an upgrade remains possible in future updates should this placement
issue resolve itself and model QPF magnitudes don`t back off.

Roth


Day 3
Valid 12Z Sun Nov 10 2024 - 12Z Mon Nov 11 2024

...THERE IS A MARGINAL RISK OF EXCESSIVE RAINFALL FOR PORTIONS OF THE
PACIFIC NORTHWEST, LOWER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY...TENNESSEE VALLEY...
AND UPPER OHIO VALLEY...

Central Gulf Coast northeast towards southwest Pennsylvania...
Moisture and instability from the Gulf gets advected from the
vicinity of Raphael northeast across portions of the Central Gulf
Coast through the Tennessee and Upper Ohio Valleys. The forward
progress of the front across much of the East should keep any
excessive rainfall concerns minimal -- some of the risk area from
eastern AR to the east-northeast just south of the OH river
accounts for recent rains/some soil saturation. The latest NCEP
and CMC guidance suggests that Raphael gets much closer to the Gulf
Coast than the NHC forecast, which led to avoiding use of the GFS,
NAM, and Canadian guidance explicitly. Since the distance of the
storm from the region at this time frame is unclear, it`s also
unclear how high precipitable water values get, though they should
rise above 1.5", particularly in the southern portion of the area
near the coast, which should be enough for heavy rain concerns. It
appears that enough instability could be available along the
immediate Gulf Coast for convection with heavy rainfall. Hourly
rain totals to 2" with local totals to 5" appear achievable along
or near the immediate Gulf coast. Whenever better agreement
amongst the guidance on the future of Rafael as well as the
placement any rainfall maximum near the coast occurs, a Slight
Risk could prove useful at that later time. To the north, hourly
totals up to ~1" with local totals to 2" appear to be the maximum
potential.


Pacific Northwest...
Precipitable water values rise to 0.75-1" with a front moving into
the area. Inflow from the Pacific rises to 50-60 kts from the
south-southwest near the front. In the wake of the front,
instability moves in due to colder air aloft. Hourly rain totals
exceeding 0.5" appear likely here, which would be most problematic
in burn scars. Left the Marginal Risk area intact though simplified
the area`s appearance.

Roth


Day 1 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/94epoints.txt
Day 2 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/98epoints.txt
Day 3 threat area: https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/qpf/99epoints.txt