Monday, February 19, 2024

Day 1 of Watertown, NY (KART)

While skies are clear now, there is enough low-level moisture to create a challenging sky cover and therefore low temperature forecast tonight. Low clouds are already approaching from southern Ontario and are somewhat more expansive than most models show. Winds will be light (though out of the south), and there is fresh snow cover after yesterday’s heavy lake effect snow, so temperatures will fall rapidly during any period of clear skies. KART experiences very pronounced radiational cooling, much more than model guidance, in these conditions. (As an example, it reached -7F last night!) However, if the clouds are persistent, it will stay much warmer all night. I am betting on at least some breaks in the clouds to cause brief quick temperature dips, especially at the beginning (Tuesday 06z) or perhaps more likely around sunrise, but not enough to cool down to its full potential. There is a wide range of possible low temperatures. The high is somewhat less uncertain, with clouds dissipating and almost full sunshine with a bit of southerly winds starting to come in leading to a rapid warmup, though the snow cover could prevent it from racing past model guidance.
 
Source: College of DuPage
 
 
Source: PivotalWeather
 

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