What does TS Andrea and a Winter Storm have in common?

The neat thing about TS Andrea is that there is nothing I can tell you about the track, expected rainfall, ...etc... that has not been consistently forecast.  However, take a look at this evening's  satellite image courtesy of the University of Wisconsin SSEC.

There are many reasons to be awed by the weather. Take a look at the overall size of TS Andrea (1) and the involvement of the other two non-tropical systems.   The hybrid/baroclinically enhanced nature of Andrea is apparent as she maintains a banded structure in her NW and NE quadrants yet has an impressive warm front, a dry slot and a trailing frontal system still drawing heat and moisture from the deep tropics.

The trailing storm system (2). is being drawn into Andrea's structure much like a typical upper low that shadows major winter storms.  System #3 is a typical leading system that provides a trailing front that paves the way for heavier system.

There is no doubt that we are in for several inches of rain along and near the track.