Short Range Public Discussion (Latest Discussion - Issued 20:32Z Jul 13, 2011) Version Selection Versions back from latest: 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Abbreviations and acronyms used in this product Geographic Boundaries - Map 1: Black/White Geographic Boundaries - Map 1: Color Black/White Map 2: Color SHORT RANGE FORECAST DISCUSSION NWS HYDROMETEOROLOGICAL PREDICTION CENTER CAMP SPRINGS MD 432 PM EDT WED JUL 13 2011 VALID 00Z THU JUL 14 2011 - 00Z SAT JUL 16 2011 ...DANGEROUSLY HOT AND HUMID CONDITIONS EXPECTED ACROSS THE SOUTHEASTERN U.S... ...DAILY CHANCES FOR SEVERE WEATHER FORECAST OVER THE NORTHERN ROCKIES/NORTHERN PLAINS... A HIGHLY AMPLIFIED PATTERN IS IN PLACE ALOFT WITH AN EXPANSIVE UPPER RIDGE STRETCHING FROM THE FOUR CORNERS REGION EASTWARD TO THE SOUTHEASTERN QUADRANT OF THE U.S. OFF TO THE WEST OF THIS RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE...AN ELONGATED TROUGH IS FORECAST ALONG THE WEST COAST WITH THIS FEATURE EXTENDING DOWN TOWARD SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. FOR THE MIDDLE OF THE SUMMER...THIS IS QUITE THE SOUTHWARD EXTENT OF TROUGHING AS IT APPROACHES THE 30 DEGREE LATITUDE. MEANWHILE...AN UPPER TROUGH ACROSS THE NORTHEASTERN STATES WILL BRING A FRONTAL PASSAGE THROUGH THE REGION TODAY WITH THE SYSTEM ALOFT EVENTUALLY SLOWING IN PROGRESSION OFFSHORE OF NOVA SCOTIA. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A POWERFUL RIDGE DOWNSTREAM ACROSS THE NORTH-CENTRAL ATLANTIC WATERS WHICH WILL BLOCK THE DISTURBANCES FORWARD PROGRESSION. WHILE A DOMINANT UPPER RIDGE WILL CONTINUE TO BE A MAINSTAY FEATURE THIS SUMMER ACROSS THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY...A SURFACE BOUNDARY SINKING SOUTHWARD WILL AT LEAST BRING SOME RELIEF FROM THE EXCESSIVE HEAT AND HUMIDITY. MOST RECENTLY...AREAS OF SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHERN KENTUCKY SAW HEAT INDICES IN THE 115 TO 120 DEGREE RANGE. FORTUNATELY...SOMEWHAT COOLER AND DRIER CONDITIONS WILL TAKE OVER NORTH OF THE SURFACE FRONT FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE WORK WEEK. HOWEVER...SOUTH OF THIS BOUNDARY...HEAT AND HUMIDITY WILL BE THE RULE WITH DEW POINTS WELL INTO THE 70S ACROSS MANY AREAS. ADDING THE NEAR 100 DEGREE TEMPERATURES WILL MAKE IT FEEL CLOSER TO 110 DEGREES...ESPECIALLY OVER THE COASTAL SOUTHEASTERN U.S. WITHIN THIS MOIST AND UNSTABLE AIR MASS...DAILY CHANCES FOR THUNDERSTORMS ARE EXPECTED WITH BETTER COVERAGE ALONG THE STALLED BOUNDARY AND ALONG THE GULF COAST WHERE SEA-BREEZE CONVERGENCE WILL AID IN FURTHER VERTICAL LIFT. AS AN UPPER LOW SPINS ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST...PIECES OF ENERGY ASSOCIATED WITH IT WILL SHEAR OFF AND PUSH ACROSS THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST. SUCH DISTURBANCES CROSSING A WAVY FRONTAL BOUNDARY ACROSS THE REGION WILL INCREASE THE CHANCES FOR PRECIPITATION. AS THE ENTIRE TROUGH EDGES EASTWARD...THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM THE NORTHERN ROCKIES OUT INTO THE NORTHERN PLAINS. SOME OF THESE STORMS MAY BECOME LOCALLY SEVERE AS ADVERTISED BY THE LATEST STORM PREDICTION CENTER OUTLOOK. RELIEF FROM THE SUMMER HEAT IS FORECAST ACROSS MUCH OF THE NORTHEASTERN QUARTER OF THE NATION. THIS IS IN RESPONSE TO A COOL SURFACE RIDGE OF HIGH PRESSURE SETTLING OVER THE REGION. HIGHS IN THE 80S WILL BECOME MORE COMMONPLACE WITH MUCH LOWER HUMIDITY LEVELS. RUBIN-OSTER GRAPHICS AVAILABLE AT www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/basicwx/basicwx_wbg.php
FAA Seal
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced on Sunday that a  airspace upgrade for the Washington, D.C. metro area would be in place in time for the holiday travel week. The FAA said this will improve the efficiency of air travel in this area.

 Secretary  said this upgrade highlights the difference the federal government is making in air travel. He also said this upgrade will improve on-time performance and reduce fuel consumption and emissions.

FAA administrator Michael Huerta said with the busy holiday  season approaching, it is important to get travelers to their destination safely and on time.

The D.C. metroplex now includes three  (OPDs) that allow aircraft to descend smoothly to the airport, as opposed to a staircase-style decent. This reduces fuel burn during decent because every time an aircraft levels off, it needs to burn more fuel for each step in the descent. The FAA said it will benefit three major airports in the area:  (DCA),  (IAD), and  (BWI). 

In a video describing the OPDs in D.C., Brian Townsend, a tech pilot and captain for American Airlines, said this gliding down approach will be more environmentally friendly than the traditional approach.

This initiative at the D.C. metroplex involves collaboration by , , and  and some labor unions, and is also an effort to improve efficiency for aircraft arriving and taking off from surrounding airports such as , , and other small airports in this region. 

The agency announced yesterday it has finished the work for the NextGen system in D.C.  NextGen is a replacement for the ground-radar-based system that has been in operation since . They also completed a NextGen metroplex project in North  last week. The NextGen system is expected to cost billions of dollars to implement and the FAA funding is expected to expire in late 2015. Lawmakers, however, are holding hearings to possibly extend the funding window next year.

NASA is also conducting studies of the NextGen System. Researchers are using a brand new laboratory to test NextGen's operations with simulated flights. They plan also to put  into the .

According to the , a storm system originating over the  flowing to the Northeast region of the U.S. may affect travel this week, bringing heavy snow, rain, and winds.