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3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

Analyzing the impact of the 2008 West Coast storm on Northern California, including wind speeds, pressure drop, and heavy precipitation. Discussion on cyclone formation, synoptic history, and quasigeostrophic terms with conclusions drawn.

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3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

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  1. 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone Cameron G. Loughlin San Francisco State University

  2. Main Points • Impact of Storm on Northern California • Synoptic History of Cyclone • Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms • Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Conclusions 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  3. Impact of Storm on Northern California • Strong wind speeds • Rapid Decline in Pressure • Heavy Precipitation 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  4. Sustained Winds 40-55 MPH Peak Wind 68 MPH 14 mb Pressure Drop in 10 hrs

  5. Over 1.5” rainfall in 6 hrs

  6. Main Points • Impact of Storm on Northern California • Synoptic History of Cyclone • Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms • Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Conclusions 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  7. Synoptic Overview • Cyclone formed south of Aleutian Islands on 3 January • Low Developed over North Pacific Ocean • Minimum Central Pressure of 956 mb • Low advanced into Northern California on 4 January bringing heavy rains and strong winds 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  8. Cyclone Forms

  9. Cyclone Impacts Northern California

  10. Main Points • Impact of Storm on Northern California • Synoptic History of Cyclone • Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms • Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Conclusions 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  11. Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms - Quasigeostrophic (QG) Omega Equation LHS: Omega RHS: Vorticity advection, temperature advection • Sutcliffe Petterssen Equation (SPDE) LHS: Relative vorticity tendency at 1000 mb RHS: 500 mb vorticity advection, 1000 mb horizontal temperature advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  12. QG Terms Continued… Quasigeostrophic (QG) Omega Equation Sutcliffe-Petterssen Development Equation (SPDE) 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  13. Main Points • Impact of Storm on Northern California • Synoptic History of Cyclone • Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms • Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Conclusions 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  14. Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Cyclone will be examined at 3 different times at 4 January 00Z, 4 January 12Z and 5 January 00Z • Analyze progression of cyclone using QG Omega Equation Terms and SPDE • Relate R.H.S. of both equations to L.H.S. For QG Omega equation L.H.S. is Omega and SPDE is Relative Vorticity Tendency 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  15. SPDE 4 Jan 00Z • Analysis at Center of Low • Weak warm advection • Positive relative vorticity tendency • Weak absolute vorticity advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  16. 0000 UTC 4 J an 2008

  17. QG Omega: 4 Jan 00Z • Negative Omega • Analyzed at San Francisco • Weak warm advection • Strong Negative Vorticity Advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  18. SPDE: 4 Jan 12Z • Analyzed at Center of Low • Weak absolute vorticity advection • Sustained central pressure of 964 mb • Weak negative relative vorticity tendency • Weak warm advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  19. QG Omega 4 January 12Z • Analysis at San Francisco • Negative omega • Strong warm advection • Weak negative vorticity advection • Dominating Term: Temperature Advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  20. SPDE: 5 Jan 00Z • Analyzed at center of low • Weak negative relative vorticity tendency • Weak absolute vorticity advection • Warm advection • Low remains at 964 mb. 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  21. QG Omega: 5 Jan 00Z • Analyzed at San Francisco • Weak omega both positive and negative • Warm advection • Weak vorticity advection 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  22. Main Points • Impact of Storm on Northern California • Synoptic History of Cyclone • Discussion of Quasigeostrophic Terms • Quasigeostrophic Diagnosis • Conclusions 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

  23. Conclusions • QG-Omega Equation • Dominating term: warm advection • Contributed to overall strong forcing for negative omega • Overall weak positive vorticity advection • SPDE • Relative Vorticity Tendency was mostly positive overall and omega was negative 3-5 January 2008 West Coast Extratropical Cyclone

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