The Blizzard of 2018 will go down as one of the strongest East Coast storms on record. Remembered for it’s size bringing rain to Central America while snow 2,200 miles north in Canada, large wind field of tropical-storm force wind, rare snows along coastal Georgia and South Carolina as well as bringing Tallahassee it’s first measurable snow in 28 years. Snow totals in the Big Cities from DC north weren’t particularly noteworthy but the drifting and cold helped bring the region to it’s knees and make for an extreme event.
The reason? It’s astonishing 59mb drop within 24 hours was aided by bitterly cold air merging with warm sub-tropical air and interaction with the Gulf Stream. This explosive deepening generated an enormous wind field of 50+ mph winds stretching from North Carolina to Canada and hurricane-like conditions along coastal New England with storm surge flooding even reaching metro Boston.
HIGHEST SNOW TOTALS BY STATE:
#blizzard2018
Holden, ME: 24.0″
Sharon, MA: 19.0″
Brick & Bayville, NJ: 18.0″
Hancock, NH: 17.9″
Warren, RI: 16.9″
Staffordville, CT: 16.6″
Terryville, NY: 16.4″
Hallwood, VA: 14.8″
Morgan, VT: 14.0″
Pittsville, MD: 13.0″
Rockyhock, NC: 12.0″
Stockley, DE: 11.4″
Andrews, SC: 8.0″
Ellabell, GA: 6.0″
Killearn Lakes, FL: 0.1″
Credit Jesse Ferrell
TOP GUSTS
Here are some notable gusts recorded from the storm:
Grand Etanq, Nova Scotia: 106 mph
Nantucket: 76 mph
Halifax, Nova Scotia: 73 mph
Block Island, R.I.: 71 mph
Long Island (Calverton): 64 mph
Dewey Beach, Del.: 61 mph
Cape May, N.J.: 59 mph
Providence, R.I.: 55 mph
New York JFK: 52 mph
Boston: 51 mph
Washington, D.C. (Reagan National): 49 mph
From Capital Weather Gang
56 feet significant wave heights (avg. of highest 1/3) measured at buoy southeast of Nova Scotia https://t.co/EbzIXZR9Qd
— Stu Ostro (@StuOstro) January 5, 2018
It was a cold one all the way to South Florida this morning in the storm’s wake.
Not every day snow cover snow survive the morning after along the coastal plains never mind the beaches of South Carolina.
As a result, it was downright frigid over the snow cover of the coastal plain.
CHS has set 7 cold records to start the year including 4 low max, 3 low min and the 3rd highest snowfall total on record. Safe to say, it's the coldest start to a year ever in the low country. Who says Charleston doesn't experience winter? @RobStormTeam2 @NWSCharlestonSC @chswx pic.twitter.com/nX1dyZ3THu
— Eric Faulkner (@SpeedwellWx_EF) January 5, 2018
Charlotte, NC has just observed it’s coldest 5 night stretch since 1994 with lows in the teens and down to a record 8 degrees.
The chill reached South Florida.
Temperatures this morning in the 30s all the way down to the southern tip of Florida & Bahamas. Only one official station reading in 30s – Miami/Kendall was 39. KMIA was 46; record for today was 39. pic.twitter.com/CvoIa1RHHX
— Jesse Ferrell (@Accu_Jesse) January 5, 2018
So, will the arctic blast match the storm?
The last time New York City officially hit 0 was Valentines Day 2015, before that it was 1996. For Philadelphia it was 1996. The last time Boston hit -10 was 1957. These 3 cities have a shot at these thresholds Sunday morning as a frigid high builds over fresh snow cover.
weather channel forecast
It’s a top 5 coldest past week for the time of year on record.
Coldest Dec. 22 – Jan. 4 stretch on record: Bangor, ME…Worcester, MA…Flint, MI…Green Bay, WI…Duluth, MN…Lincoln, NE. (HT @SERCC)
Time for a January thaw! https://t.co/YBnSo6KbNq pic.twitter.com/Rq86Chboa8
— Jonathan Erdman (@wxjerdman) January 5, 2018
It’s sure been an impressive past week for the Northeast.
Most of the eastern half of the U.S. had a Top 5 coldest week centered on New Years Eve (Dec 28 – Jan 3). Large swath from the Great Lakes into the Northeast corridor with the coldest such stretch. pic.twitter.com/dQ91PABx8i
— Alex Lamers (@AlexJLamers) January 5, 2018
FEATURED IMAGE CREDIT: Ray White @RayWhite2
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