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  Deep Thunder

Current Deep Thunder Forecast for the Baltimore and Washington Metropolitan Areas

Products for Weather-Sensitive Operations


Click on any of the fifteen images below to see and/or interact with these model forecast products.  The first thirteen show forecasted information in the Baltimore and Washington areas.  The first focuses on temperature and winds, the second focuses on winds only, and the third focuses on clouds and precipitation.   The fourth through the fifteenth illustrate clouds and surface conditions for Washington National Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Dulles International Airport, the center of Washington, DC, the center of Baltimore, MD, Chevy Chase, MD, Pikesville, MD, Oriole Park, Nationals Park, FedEx Field, Annapolis, MD and Frederick, MD, respectively, via a set of four-panel plots.  
 




There are a number of forecasted weather variables shown in the four panels for each of the plots below as determined from the model using the highest resolution data computed (2 km) for Washington National Airport, Baltimore-Washington International Airport, Dulles International Airport, the center of Washington, DC, the center of Baltimore, MD, Chevy Chase, MD, Pikesville, MD, Oriole Park, Nationals Park, FedEx Field, Annapolis, MD and Frederick, MD, respectively, as a function of time for the forecast period.  The plots on the left each show two variables while the plots on the right each show one.  The top left plot presents temperature (blue) and pressure (red).  If the temperature range includes the freezing point of water, the plot will be marked with a horizontal black line at 32 degrees Fahrenheit.   The bottom left panel shows humidity (blue) and precipitation (red).  Since the precipitation is accumulated through the model run, the slope of the curve will be indicative of the predicted rate of precipitation.  Therefore, when the slope is zero, it is not raining (or snowing).  In addition, the model calculations require some time to "spin-up" the microphysics to enable precipitation.  Therefore, there will typically be no precipitation in the first couple of hours of model results.

The top right plot illustrates forecasted winds -- speed (blue) and direction (red).  The wind direction is shown via the arrows that are attached to the wind speed plot.  The arrows indicate the predicted (compass) direction to which the wind is going.  The bottom right plot is a colored contour map of forecasted total (water and ice) cloud water density as a function of elevation and time.  This "cross-sectional" slice can provide information related to storms, fog, visibility, etc. predicted at this location.  Portions of the plot in white imply time or elevations where there are little or no clouds.  Areas in yellow, orange and red imply when and where the relatively densest clouds are forecasted, following the color legend on the top of the panel.

Click on any of the plots to display a full-size version.














You can learn more about this technology, relevant data and weather forecasting, at the following sites:

Learn More about Deep Thunder
 

Learn More about how Deep Thunder Visualizes the Data Generated by the Weather Model
 

Current Weather Information and Predictions for Baltimore and Washington (from the National Weather Service)
 

Current Model Results from the National Weather Service
 


This web site provides visual representations of these forecasts on an experimental near-real-time basis.  These visualizations are provided as-is with no guarantee as to their quality or reliability.  IBM bears no responsibility or liability concerning the accuracy or availability of these visualizations as their production depends on many external factors.  Although they are provided without direct interpretation, the underlying forecasts and the visualizations will continue to evolve in an effort to refine the technology, usability and the science as well as to understand their potential value for both businesses and consumers.

lloydt@us.ibm.com



  
 
  

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