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(U) BOLD ALLIGATOR 13 EXERCISE DIRECTIVE
PART II, Section D: ENVIRONMENTAL OVERVIEW
05 Oct 2012
Environmental Overview:
Amber/Amberland Coast
Monthly Climatology
March, April, May
This brief is intended for METOC personnel. It is not designed as a one-size fits all for every echelon.
Each unit must tailor this brief to their own specific requirements.
II-D-1
UNCLASSIFIED
Seasonal Discussion for March
•The Coral High shows considerable development and spreads slightly northward of its February
position. Consequently, the outbreaks of polar air along the Treasure Coast are less frequent, with
about 1/3 less Polar Fronts reaching Coral. The increase of moist air overriding polar air over this
area is conducive to waves developing on the Polar Front lying offshore.
•Intense highs and lows are common in March. When a high is centered over northeastern
Sapphire, the local area is dominated by clear skies, cool temperatures, and northeasterly winds for
several days at a time. On the other hand, this area may be characterized by strong, fast-moving
cold fronts, with waves still developing in the Western Gulf of Garnet.
•The center of waves developing on the Polar Front in the Western Gulf of Garnet move to the
northeast along the coast, passing out to sea near the central Amberland coast. These waves reach
this area in 36-48 hours. As they approach from the southwest, the rain shield will extend 300-500
miles ahead of the center, with strong northeasterly winds. The result of an approaching wave may
cause rain to fall at this station for at least 24-48 hours without stopping.
•Thunderstorms occasionally will occur with these waves, or the passage of a front. Thunderstorms
are considered to be few in number in March, and air mass thunderstorms seldom occur. Yet, just
off shore, thunderstorm activity is on the increase due to the Eastern Gulf of Garnet Stream’s effect
on fronts moving offshore.
•Any snowfall that occurs is usually associated with frontal waves that move across the southern
Treasure Coast countries, approaching this area from the west-southwest, moving offshore just
south of the area.
•Fog and ground fog occur often, but less than February.
•Flying conditions are generally good.
II-D-2
UNCLASSIFIED
Amber/Amberland Coast - March
Worldwide Surface Climate Summaries Version 1.0
PRECIPITATION
Monthly Mean
SKY CONDITION
8
7
BKN/OVC
55 %
6
5
4
3
2
1
STATISTICS
RAIN
SNOW
BS/BD
TSTM
FOG
14
1
0
3
17
DAYS
DAY
DAYS
DAYS
DAYS
RH 79% (0700L)
RH 52% (1600L)
N
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE
Avg
MAX Avg
MIN
MAX
MIN
100°F
W
E
90°F
S
SW 8 kts
80°F
70°F
Potential Impacts:
60°F
-Winds less than 11 kts occur 72% of the time
-Winds 22-33 kts occur < .5% of the time
-Visibility less than 5 NM occurs 11% of the time
-Ceilings less than 1,000 ft and/or visibility less than 5
NM occur 15% of the time
-Ceilings less than 300 ft and/or visibility less than 1 NM
occur 3% of the time
50°F
40°F
30°F
20°F
65°F
Mean: 4.0”
EXTREME HIGH:
EXTREME LOW:
WINDS
8.0”
0.8”
43°F
EXTREME HIGH: 92°F
EXTREME LOW: 12°F
II-D-3
UNCLASSIFIED
1000 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - March
NCEP
II-D-4
UNCLASSIFIED
850 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - March
NCEP
II-D-5
UNCLASSIFIED
700 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - March
NCEP
II-D-6
UNCLASSIFIED
500 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - March
NCEP
II-D-7
UNCLASSIFIED
250 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - March
NCEP
II-D-8
UNCLASSIFIED
Seasonal Discussion for April
•The Coral High is displaced a few degrees north of its March position. It is well on
its journey northward for the summer. The Eastern Sapphirian Low, in the same
turn, starts to weaken and move northward.
•Cold frontal passages are about the same as in March, except the outbreaks of
cold air from Sapphire grow less frequent toward the end of the month.
•At least one wave will develop on the Polar Front in the Western Gulf of Garnet
area and move northeastward along the front.
•During the first part of the month, the winds are still gusty from the north-northwest,
however, the frequency of winds flowing from a southerly direction is increasing.
April boasts the lowest mean humidity for the year.
•Air mass thunderstorms are on the increase, and occur almost three times as often
as in March. Thunderstorms are often associated with frontal passages and
intensify out over the Eastern Gulf of Garnet Stream, but on the whole, stormy
weather offshore is not as great as in March, and does not last long.
•Fog is still common with a light northeasterly wind.
outstanding.
II-D-9
UNCLASSIFIED
Flying conditions are
Amber/Amberland Coast - April
Worldwide Surface Climate Summaries Version 1.0
PRECIPITATION
Monthly Mean
SKY CONDITION
8
7
BKN/OVC
51 %
6
5
4
3
2
1
STATISTICS
RAIN
SNOW
BS/BD
TSTM
FOG
11
< .5
0
7
15
DAYS
DAY
DAYS
DAYS
DAYS
RH 79% (0700L)
RH 49% (1600L)
N
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE
Avg
MAX Avg
MIN
MAX
MIN
100°F
W
E
90°F
S
SSW 8 kts
80°F
70°F
Potential Impacts:
60°F
-Winds less than 11 kts occur 74% of the time
-Winds 22-33 kts occur < .5% of the time
-Visibility less than 5 NM occurs 6% of the time
-Ceilings less than 1,000 ft and/or visibility less than 5
NM occur 8% of the time
-Ceilings less than 300 ft and/or visibility less than 1 NM
occur 1% of the time
50°F
40°F
30°F
20°F
74°F
Mean: 2.9”
EXTREME HIGH:
EXTREME LOW:
WINDS
8.8”
0.1”
51°F
EXTREME HIGH: 95°F
EXTREME LOW: 26°F
II-D-10
UNCLASSIFIED
1000 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - April
NCEP
II-D-11
UNCLASSIFIED
850 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - April
NCEP
II-D-12
UNCLASSIFIED
700 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - April
NCEP
II-D-13
UNCLASSIFIED
500 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - April
NCEP
II-D-14
UNCLASSIFIED
250 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - April
NCEP
II-D-15
UNCLASSIFIED
Seasonal Discussion for May
•The Coral High continues to build northward, as the Eastern Sapphirian Low
weakens. Otherwise, the pressure pattern remains the same as in April.
•Offshore weather is generally good as a whole, but thunderstorms and showers
increase as fronts pass through, and out over the Eastern Gulf of Garnet Stream.
•Fronts tend to be oriented more east-west and often seem to remain stationary just
to the north, with warm tropical air flowing over the region for several days. The
frequency of cold frontal passage is less than in April.
•Thunderstorm activity is still on an increase occurring with frontal activity and air
masses, the reason being that, any wedge of cold air moving into this area will lift
the tropical air causing convective type weather. Precipitation is greater than in
April; it has increased to a monthly mean of 4.0 inches.
•Fog is also on the increase, occurring with a well defined gradient flow from the
northeast after the passage of a frontal system. Fog and ground fog also occur with
a very light southerly flow because of warmer air flowing from the Eastern Gulf of
Garnet Stream across cooler water, and inland over the area.
•Flying weather is very good.
II-D-16
UNCLASSIFIED
Amber/Amberland Coast - May
Worldwide Surface Climate Summaries Version 1.0
PRECIPITATION
Monthly Mean
SKY CONDITION
8
7
BKN/OVC
58 %
6
5
4
3
2
1
STATISTICS
RAIN
SNOW
BS/BD
TSTM
FOG
15
0
0
10
22
DAYS
DAYS
DAYS
DAYS
DAYS
RH 82% (0700L)
RH 56% (1600L)
N
TEMPERATURE
TEMPERATURE
Avg
MAX Avg
MIN
MAX
MIN
100°F
W
E
90°F
S
S 7 kts
80°F
70°F
Potential Impacts:
60°F
-Winds less than 11 kts occur 80% of the time
-Winds 22-33 kts occur < .5% of the time
-Visibility less than 5 NM occurs 9% of the time
-Ceilings less than 1,000 ft and/or visibility less than 5
NM occur 11% of the time
-Ceilings less than 300 ft and/or visibility less than 1 NM
occur 1% of the time
50°F
40°F
30°F
20°F
80°F
Mean: 3.9”
EXTREME HIGH:
EXTREME LOW:
WINDS
8.4”
0.6”
60°F
EXTREME HIGH: 98°F
EXTREME LOW: 33°F
II-D-17
UNCLASSIFIED
1000 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - May
NCEP
II-D-18
UNCLASSIFIED
850 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - May
NCEP
II-D-19
UNCLASSIFIED
700 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - May
NCEP
II-D-20
UNCLASSIFIED
500 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - May
NCEP
II-D-21
UNCLASSIFIED
250 mb Heights (m)/Winds (kts) - May
NCEP
II-D-22
UNCLASSIFIED