Clipper Train 2014

Series of clippers set to invade the area over the next week or so. Mostly a northern stream dominant pattern without any real NAO blocking but that could change near the end of the month. One clipper has already affected the area with at least 2-3 more possible. Some will get lucky and some wont. Models continue to struggle with all the energy..hard to take anything serious beyond 48 hrs.

Clippers usually favor areas in middle and east TN with teh exceptions of extreme SE TN. Good luck to everyone who hasnt seen an accumulating snow yet

Wrong year but this did happen about this time last year if I remember right.  

Dyersburg Weather wrote:Wrong year but this did happen about this time last year if I remember right.  

Haha..I was stuck in last year apparently  And this happens alot of years around Jan-Feb... primetime clipper season! Looks like Clipper #2 is knocking on your door now..lol

Last year it was Jan 31st - Feb 2nd. I managed to get 4 inches from the last one on the 2nd. Various dustings to 1/2 inch or so from the rest.

This is from approximately 1:45 EST today. Looks like the Blue Ridge may have picked up a little from this (#2?) clipper but the real winners were up in the southern Great Valley/Valley of Virginia just across the VA/TN line. Look how drastic the snowline cutoff is at the Blue Ridge Escarpment, especially just north of the TN/NC line!

Is snow coming to the smokies or is the plateau getting all the snow tonight?

Getting some returns in the valley. Any one seeing anything?

Just an FYI snow from the clippers should go here in this thread

So far no clipper effects for me as far as snow. Some good winds and cold is about it so far. Maybe a little tonight a dusting is forecast. It seems they always slide a little to far east for me.

Ended up with 4 inches in Erwin, some locations near me reported 5 inches. Wasn't expecting that!

I got it!!!!!!! Now I know why I haven't got anything from these clippers. Way to much dry air to overcome
  

Will downsloping be a problem again in the valley tonight? I'd like to atleast see some flakes this time around.

I got a dusting a couple of nights ago but just a few flakes flying last night. Any chance of anything better tonight here in Corryton?

Lol a WWA was just issued for the N Valley. Guess the clipper may spit out some fluff after all.

VFL wrote:Will downsloping be a problem again in the valley tonight? I'd like to atleast see some flakes this time around.

Likley will be some downsloping issues but the NW flow behind this clipper will be alil stronger

AndyP wrote:Ended up with 4 inches in Erwin, some locations near me reported 5 inches. Wasn't expecting that!

Wowzers..congrats Andy!!

Jed33 wrote:Lol a WWA was just issued for the N Valley. Guess the clipper may spit out some fluff after all.

Very odd for them to include Hamblen..they usually cut it off at the borders that surround hamblen county

When is this clipper train suppose to end?

I don't know honestly when it will end. I'm even more unsure of whether or not to get sucked into the latest runs of the models which have increased moisture for our area for tomorrow either. It is a strong cold front that's for sure, but can it produce 1-2 in from knoxville north, I don't know, but the GFS says it will. We went down this road the other night and the dry air beat out the moisture, so I'm cautiously optimistic right now not expecting too much, but whatever falls should stick around that's for sure

Man, it's either gonna be feast or famine in the mid Atlantic on this clipper. According to the NAM and RAP E TN may get into the action as well! I got pulled into the last one though, so I'm not going all in until it starts snowing, if it does. Anyone else have any thoughts on this crazy system

If this deepens quickly enough on the other side of the Apps, it could produce some heavy rates like the January thundersnow from last year in NE Tennessee.

The rest of us will likely have to settle for far less than those of you on the East side of the area.

Good grief, what a trend by the models! Take a look at the 0z suite esp. RAP and GFS! If half of that fell here, it would be over an inch!

The GFS beefed up the QPF by quite a bit. Some will be rain but shows 1-3 inches of snow from Fentress County and East to Johnson county mainly in the border counties with KY and VA. But a little further south as you work east. If it all falls as snow, it'd be even more.

The hi res nam is showing around a foot of snow from a clipper on Leconte  

John1122 wrote:The GFS beefed up the QPF by quite a bit. Some will be rain but shows 1-3 inches of snow from Fentress County and East to Johnson county mainly in the border counties with KY and VA. But a little further south as you work east. If it all falls as snow, it'd be even more.

I don't think any of this is gonna fall as rain. Cold front has moved through and temps have dropped 10' this morning in Knoxville. Returns north and east of Nashville are more than I expected and the ground is already covered in these areas.

Also IMO the position and angle of this clipper should be better for Knoxville north. Instead of west to east movement, it'll be more NW to SE. Not as much downsloping.

Was surprised at the Special Weather Statement that NWS issued at 8:43am.  Up to an inch in "portions of the central valley."  Hard to believe we will see anything here in Oak Ridge (ETN Central valley) with such blue sky showing.