Friday Daily Weather Summary

ONLINE DAILY WEATHER SUMMARY

Friday, 26 February 1999

NEW ENGLAND GETS HIT BY A NOR'EASTER
FOGGY CONDITIONS BLANKET THE UPPER MIDWEST
A MOMENTARY BREAK IN THE WESTERN WEATHER
A POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER
YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE LOWER 48
ALASKAN WEATHER
HAWAIIAN WEATHER
WINTER'S OVER?
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS

NEW ENGLAND GETS HIT BY A NOR'EASTER -- A storm system that New Englanders call a nor'easter produced locally heavy snow along coastal New England on Thursday. By late night the center of low pressure was situated approximately 200 miles to the east of Massachusetts' Cape Cod. During the previous 24 hours this system had strengthened as it moved northeastward along the coast from near the Delmarva Peninsula. As the system moved, the pressure gradient, or difference in pressure, between the nearly stationary high pressure system over Quebec and the low pressure cell intensified. Increased northeast winds resulted from this more intense pressure gradient. For a time on Thursday much of the coast from Sandy Point, NJ northward to Eastport, ME had either storm or gale warnings. Storm warnings for winds exceeding 54 mph were posted for south-facing shores while gale warnings for winds between 39 and 54 mph were in effect for the east facing shores.

The heaviest snows were along coastal areas, extending from near Providence, RI to near Boston, MA as moisture laden air from the North Atlantic was brought across the region on northeasterly winds. A sufficient amount of cold air from the high pressure system over eastern Canada remained over New England thereby keeping the precipitation even along the coast to fall as snow rather than rain. Some locations near Cape Cod reported more than a foot and a half of snow from this system. Winds gusted to more than 40 mph. At the height of the storm, the high winds generated white-out conditions due to blowing snow.

On Thursday, a band of light snow was associated with a weak trough of low pressure moved eastward from the eastern Lakes. Snowfall accumulations were approximately an inch from Cleveland, OH east to Philadelphia, PA and south to the Baltimore-Washington, DC area.

The nor'easter storm system is expected "wind down" over southern New England as the system moves toward the northeast, reaching Cape Sable, NS in the Maritimes by Friday morning. Winter storm warnings were continued for the Boston area, where several more inches of additional accumulation is expected.

FOGGY CONDITIONS BLANKET THE UPPER MIDWEST -- Extensive areas of fog were reported over eastern Wisconsin near Lake Michigan and along the Missouri and Upper Mississippi Valleys on Thursday night. The foggy areas are near the center of a large high pressure sytem that was situated over Wisconsin. Some of these regions were shrouded in low clouds during the daylight hours of Thursday, as residual moisture was trapped under high pressure. A low level temperature inversion, with cool air near the snow-covered earth's surface and warmer air aloft reduced the mixing of the saturated air with unsaturated air.

A MOMENTARY BREAK IN THE WESTERN WEATHER -- Following the landfall of a storm system along the Pacific coast on Wednesday, precipitation across the Pacific Northwest began to diminish as the approach of the next system appears to be several days distant. Widely scattered areas of precipitation remained over western portions of Washington State, Oregon and northern California. Most of the precipitation associated with this most recent storm system was situated over eastern Washington, the Idaho Panhandle and western Montana. As much as 6 inches of new snow may fall across these mountains by Friday morning.

The storm that came onshore on Wednesday could be traced Thursday night to a series of low pressure systems along a cold front stretched across the Rockies and Great Basin, from southern Alberta to southern California. To the east of this front, record high temperatures were reported at Rapid City, SD with 72 degrees and at Farmington, NM with 65 degrees on Thursday afternoon.

Storm generated ocean swells that were has high as 18 feet reached the California coast late Thursday evening, necessitating the continuance of a heavy surf advisory into Friday for the coast from Point St. George to Point Piedras Blancas, CA.

A POTENTIAL FOR SEVERE WEATHER -- As the storm system becomes organized on the eastern slopes of the Rockies on Friday, increased southerly winds are expected to bring warm, humid Gulf air northward across the Plains. The influx of this warm, humid air near the surface, coupled with cold air aloft, could produce thunderstorms, some of which may become severe by afternoon from central Texas to southern Missouri.

YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE LOWER 48 -- The lowest temperature on Thursday was 9 degrees below zero at Presque Isle, ME. Thursday's high was 88 degrees at Laredo, TX.

ALASKAN WEATHER -- Several weak low pressure systems spread clouds and precipitation across southern Alaska on Thursday. One low pressure system was located over the Kuskokwim Delta with a front that trailed southwestward along the Aleutians. Windy conditions were found along the western flank of this storm system, with winds gusting to 30 mph across the northern Bering Sea, the Bering Strait and coastal portions of the Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta. Wind-chill advisories were posted for Saint Lawrence Island and coastal areas along the Bering Strait through Friday as wind-chill equivalent temperatures were expected to fall to 65 degrees below zero. Another nearly stationary low pressure system was situated over the northern Gulf of Alaska near Prince William Sound, where winds gusted to near 30 mph.

A weak ridge of high pressure was located along the Alcan border. Relatively cloud-free skies were found across the interior and portions of southeast Alaska.

The overnight lowest temperature in Alaska as of Thursday morning was 38 degrees below zero at Umiat, while the midafternoon highest temperature was 43 degrees at Metlakatla.

HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- A ridge of high pressure to the east-northeast of Hawaii maintained relatively cloud-free skies and weak winds across the islands on Thursday. The sunny daytime skies and the weak wind flow continued to maintain distinct diurnal sea-land breeze regimes over the islands. Afternoon clouds and light showers develop over the interior of the islands. This regime should continue through Friday. However, trade winds should return on Saturday as a cold front located approximately 400 miles to the northwest of Kauai on Thursday afternoon reaches that island by Saturday and to Maui by Sunday. One of the features associated with the passage of the front or shear line should be a distinct change in winds, from light winds with a southerly component to stronger winds with a more northerly component following passage. A large high pressure cell should move to the north of the islands by next Monday. Heavy showers should also accompany passage of the shear line.

A large ocean swell generated by storms in the North Pacific and moving toward the southeast is expected to reach Kauai on Friday afternoon and to the Big Island by Saturday morning. This swell could produce surf along the north shores of the islands to at least 20 feet in height.

WINTER'S OVER? -- Regardless of what the thermometer indicates and the amount of snow on the ground, winter will be officially over on Sunday night, at least by how meteorologists define the three month winter season of December, January and February. A detailed discussion of the meteorological seasons was provided in Thursday's Supplemental File. In anticipation of the spring severe weather season, the state of Oklahoma starts its Severe Weather Awareness Week on this Sunday, 28 February.

HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 26 February

From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast

...1910...Parts of Washington State were in the midst of a storm which produced 129 inches of snow at Laconia between the 24th and the 26th, a single storm record for the state. A series of storms, which began on the 23rd, led to a deadly avalanche on the first of March. By late on the 28th, the snow had changed to rain, setting the stage for disaster. (The Weather Channel)
...1969...The "100 hour snowstorm" was in full swing across the Boston area and the rest of New England as well. By the time snow ended on the 28th, Boston recorded 26.3 inches of new snow. Pinkham Notch, NH was buried under an incredible 77 inches and Long Falls Dam, ME reported 56 inches. Both Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME set new single storm snowfall records with 33.8 inches and 26.9 inches, respectively. Rockport, MA measured an impressive 39 inches. (Intellicast)
...1972...The "Buffalo Creek Disaster" occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek burst sending a fifty foot wall of water down a narrow valley killing 125 persons and causing 51 million dollars damage. Three days of rain atop a six inches snow cover prompted the dam break. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
...1987...A slow moving storm in the southwestern U.S. spread heavy snow from the southern and central Rockies into the Central High Plains Region. Totals in Colorado ranged up to 62 inches at Purgatory. Colorado Springs, CO reported a February record of 14.8 inches of snow in 24 hours. Lander, WY received four inches in one hour, 13 inches in seven hours, and a record storm total of 26 inches. High winds created near blizzard conditions at Colorado Springs. Fairplay, CO reported 43 inches of snow, with drifts ten feet high. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1990...Unseasonably cold weather followed in the wake of the winter storm in the northeastern U.S. Ten cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Syracuse, NY with a reading of 10 degrees below zero. Freezing temperatures in southeastern Virginia caused considerable damage to plants and fruit trees. The barometric pressure reading of 30.88 inches at Wilmington, NC was February record for that location. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

27 February

...1717...What was perhaps the greatest snow in New England history commenced on this date. During a ten day period a series of four snowstorms dumped three feet of snow upon Boston, and the city was snowbound for two weeks. Up to six feet of snow was reported farther to the north, and drifts covered many one story homes. (David Ludlum)
...1952...A super intense ocean storm (948.9 millibars or 28.02 inches as reported by a ship) blasted Cape Cod with heavy snow and high winds. 10 to 20 inches of snow fell. 3000 motorists were stranded on the lower Cape when routes 6 and 28 became impassable. Nantucket reported sustained winds of 61 mph with a peak gust of 72 mph. The 120 foot Loran tower at Siasconset was toppled by the high winds. (Intellicast)
...1969...A record snowstorm in Maine came to an end. Two to four feet of snow buried southern and central Maine, with a state record of 57 inches reported at West Forks. Drifts covered many single story homes, and the weight of the snow collapsed many roofs. Two to four feet of snow also buried northeastern Vermont and northeastern Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, Mount Washington, NH reported 97.8 inches of snow, a record storm total for New England. (24th-28th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
...1984...A severe winter storm, which began on the 26th, spread blizzard conditions across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Twenty four inches of snow fell in the Vichy-Rolla area in Missouri and 22 inches were reported in southern Illinois. Winds frequently gusted to 40 and 50 mph. Interstate 65, which connects Indianapolis with Chicago, was impassable for several days due to extensive drifting of the snow. Thunderstorms were reported which added to the heavy snow amounts. (Intellicast)
...1987...A storm spread heavy snow into the Central High Plains Region, and produced severe thunderstorms in the Southern Plains. Snowfall totals in western Nebraska ranged up to 19 inches at Sydney. Severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma produced baseball size hail at Stringtown and Atoka. A storm in the eastern U.S. produced heavy rain over the Carolinas and heavy snow in the southern Appalachians and piedmont region. Five inches of rain left four feet of water in the streets of Greenville, SC. Snowfall totals in southwestern Virginia ranged up to 20 inches. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thunderstorms along a cold front produced heavy rain in southern California, with up to 2.52 inches reported in Ventura County. Strong winds accompanying the rain gusted to 55 mph in the Tehachapi Mountains. Rapid City, SD established a February record with an afternoon high of 75 degrees. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

28 February

...1792...A heavy snowfall at Charleston, SC caused the Ashley River Bridge to collapse. (Intellicast)
...1900...A massive storm spread record snows from Kansas to New York State. Snowfall totals ranged up to 17.5 inches at Springfield, IL, 31 inches were recorded at Northfield, VT and 43 inches at Rochester, NY, with up to 60 inches in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. The 18.7 inches of snow measured at Topeka, KS in 24 hours was the city's greatest 24 hour snowfall on record. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
...1952...An intense ocean storm brought coastal sections of southeastern Massachusetts to a halt, stranding 3000 motorists on Lower Cape Cod, and leaving ten thousand homes on the Cape without electricity. Winds gusting to 72 mph created mountainous snowdrifts of the 18 inches of snow which buried Nantucket and Hyannis. A barometric pressure reading of 29.02 inches was reported at the center of the storm. (948.9 millibars or 28.02 inches as reported by a ship?) (The Weather Channel) (Intellicast)
...1972...Unseasonably mild weather prevailed throughout the central US. Temperatures soared to 83 degrees in Kansas City, MO, setting an all-time high record for the month of February. (Intellicast)
...1987...A powerful storm produced severe thunderstorms in Louisiana and Mississippi early in the day. About mid morning a monstrous tornado touched down near Moselle, MS and grew to a width of two miles as it passed near Laurel, MS. The tornado traveled a distance of 40 miles killing six persons, injuring 350 others, and causing 28.5 million dollars damage. The tornado swept homes right off their foundations, and tossed eighteen wheel trucks about like toys. Strong straight line winds associated with the powerful storm system gusted to 70 mph at Jonesboro, AR and Carbondale, IL. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thunderstorms in California produced severe weather during the early morning hours. Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 74 mph, downed trees in the Sacramento area. Unseasonably mild weather prevailed in the northwestern U.S. The afternoon high of 71 degrees at Portland, OR was a February record. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)