Daily update- Friday, January 8, 2016

NWPAC outlook, 08 JAN

As we wrap up the first work week of 2016, we see that winter has gotten a firm foothold over northern one-third of eastern Asia, and the central one-third is seeing the effects of the season as well. The southern one-third is still very hot and relatively dry. The tropics remain quiet for now, but plenty of showers are served up in a few spots to help remind us that it IS the tropics.

NORTH

The deep freeze continues to affect the more northerly portions of the north region, with Mongolia, northern China, and eastern Russia never reaching the freezing mark. Beijing and Seoul will both just barely crack freezing, while more southerly locations are just a bit warmer. Tokyo will cool down from recent highs, but will still be the warm spot in the region. Most of the region will see sunny skies, except portions of Japan, who will see residual cloudiness drifting behind a storm system moving away to the east.

CENTRAL

Hints of the winter season are evident in the central region as well, as most locations will see afternoon highs at, or below, 20C (68F). Most of the rainfall has cleared out of the eastern sections of the region, save a few showers lingering near Taiwan. To the southwest, moisture being pulled in ahead of a developing storm system in south-central China is bringing clouds and moisture into portions of northern Indochina. Where the rain isn’t falling, skies will be partly cloudy across the region, with a nice day served up to kick off the weekend.

 SOUTH

Intense heat continues to affect locations in the southern region, with most of the hottest air being located west of the 110E longitude line. The southern Philippines will heat up considerably today under sunny skies, as will portions of central and southern Indochina. To the south and west, ample moisture will fire up some thunderstorms at the peak of afternoon heating across Indonesia, Brunei, and Malaysia.

TROPICS

Although another strange low-latitude system is affecting the central Pacific in the form of tropical depression 01C, here in the western pacific, the tropics are very quiet. Numerous intrusions of continental air have dried out the air mass overall, helping to quell any potential activity in the region in the near-term. The I.T.C.Z. (Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone) is silent between 100E and 130E longitude. A “hybrid” trough is affecting the southern Marianas and eastern Micronesia, and is teaming up with moisture from 01C to bring some clouds and showers to the Marshall Islands. A weak pulse of energy is also moving through western Micronesia bringing a few thunderstorms to those locations.

Have a happy Friday!!

Courtesy: CIMSS, HKO, Tropical Tidbits, Intellicast, Weather.com, MeteoEarth