Thermodynamic Profiles (RAOBS)

Dulles Airport, VA Radiosonde 0000 UTC December 3, 2000Blacksburg (Roanoke), VA Radiosonde 0000 UTC December 3, 2000Wallops Island, VA Radiosonde 0000 UTC December 3, 2000Morehead City, NC Radiosonde 0000 UTC December 3, 2000

  • IAD and WAL show directional cold advection through 700 Mb and a lack of deep moisture
  • RNK shows deep moisture below 600 MB and light east winds below 850 Mb suggesting potential for moisture advection from eastern areas, but WAL was dry and experiencing deep cold advection, so RNK was experiencing drying at low levels
  • MHX showed deep moisture and warm advection from 850 Mb through 700 Mb
  • All soundings showed strong west to east flow above 600 Mb



    • Surface Plots
    Surface Plot 1200 UTC December 2, 2000Surface Plot 0000 UTC December 3, 2000
  • 1040 Mb surface high builds east and noses down the east side of the Appalachians
  • Surface pressure rises roughly 4 Mb in Virginia and the Carolinas from 1200 UTC 12/02 through 0000 UTC 12/03
  • Very little surface development of the low pressure system off the Carolinas



    • Surface Data Trends
    Salisbury, MD temperature/dew point trendSalisbury, MD surface pressure trend Richmond, VA temperature/dew point trendRichmond, VA surface pressure trend
  • Between 0600 UTC 12/02 and 0000 UTC 12/03, surface dew points at SBY and RIC dropped dramatically, signaling significant low-level cooling and drying
  • Between 0600 UTC 12/02 and 0000 UTC 12/03, Surface pressure rises at SBY and RIC were equally dramatic


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