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Major snow/ice storm in the Northeast! PDF Print E-mail
News - Snow
Written by Reed Patrick Timmer   
Wednesday, 07 January 2009 10:30
A major ice storm is underway across much of the Northeast U.S. just inland from the Atlantic, with very heavy snow falling across the higher elevations of the interior (Upstate NY, VT, NH, and northern ME). As seen below, winter storm warnings and ice storm warnings are in effect for these areas, where over an inch of ice, several inches of sleet, or up to a foot of snow will fall depending on the temperature profile of the lower atmosphere. Behind this system, lake enhancement and orographic lift will contribute to more heavy snows downwind of the Great Lakes and across the aforementioned higher elevations.


Here is the regional radar loop for the Northeast, showing the estimated precipitation types as of late Wednesday morning. What is not shown here in the pink area is the myriad of winter precipitation types there (sleet, freezing rain, snow, and a mix of all three). Depending on the type and duration of mixed precipitation, road conditions and damage can vary SUBSTANTIALLY. For example, in Norman, OK a few years ago, a major freezing rain storm was anticipated with widespread downed trees, impassable roads, and power outages. In the end, the cold air in the lower atmosphere was deeper and stronger than forecast by the models, and we ended up with about 5 inches of sleet. One thing about sleet is that it seems to increase the traction on the roads compared to snow! so the road conditions were totally fine even though OU classes were canceled for two days in advance of the storm. Then, last year, we had 2+ inches of ice and Norman became a war zone (picture shown below from our neighborhood), which shows the impact differences associated with a very minor change in the temperature profile of the lower atmosphere. If anyone captures any good pictures of this winter storm event please email them to reed@tornadovideos.net!


Here are pictures from the ice storm in Norman last December...Hopefully this doesn't happen in the Northeast today! We were without power for 2 weeks...and our house is not a place you want to be trapped without power!




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