Characteristics of upslope snowfall events in northern New York state and northern vermont: Diagnostics and model simulations of several northwest-flow cases

Precipitation patterns, produced by the upslope snowfall events in northern New York state and Northern Vermont occured in 1999, were analyzed. It was observed that low-level moisture profile, strength and orientation of low level wind with respect to the orography and low-level static stability profile are several meterological factors which are significant to the development of heavy precipitation. A conceptual model is used to evaluate these upslope events whcih analyzs the steep low-level lapse rates and strong low-level winds. It was also observed that ice microphysics processes favorable to the production of heavy snowfall also appeared in the upslope regions during the snowfall events.