As shown in the previous US post, the Sierra Nevada started April just 6% of normal snow and the least snow pack in recorded history just when it should have been at it’s annual peak depth, the upcoming 10 days according the GFS, has focus of heaviest snowfall right where it’s been extremely sparse.

TOP IMAGE CREDIT: WeatherBug

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As for precipitation in general, while not the heaviest in the country, it should be plentiful for a large part of California.

The below 7-day mean 500mb height anomalies show while this is a wetter pattern for an arid Golden State, milder in the East, very wet as well as stormy in the South.

We have a rise in temp anomalies FINALLY into the Eastern US while it turns cooler in the West but not much below the average. The trouble is, the ‘cool down’ for many in California and the Southwest is a return to nearer normal rather than exceptionally above normal.

This week looks stormy for the mid section of the country as the trough descends into the West and the sub-tropical jet ramps up, acting as a fire hose of energy and significantly increasing shear and CAPE across the Plains where sub-tropical air meets cold Canadian thanks to a storm system coming out of the Rockies Wed-Thu.

GFS surface.

Jet stream chart

 

More tomorrow…

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