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New England snowstorm memories.


CoastalWx
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On 10/5/2020 at 3:11 PM, ORH_wxman said:

Yeah the forecast from most TV outlets over ORH county was in the 5-8" range with some lower in the 2-4" range. NWS was a little more bullish with like 8-12" and I was hammering it even harder, but I still busted pretty heavily. I went 10-15" I think.

I had no idea why everyone was so skittish on that one. I wonder if they were all worried about a bust like DC had in that one (they had a WSW for like 6-10" and got basically zilch in DC with a few sloppy inches in the suburbs....you had to go well west into the foothills to get big totals there. But the temp profile was totally different here...we had these -4C to -5C 950mb temps funneling down the Maine coast right into the CCB/Firehose.

Yeah, I believe this was the 2nd part of the first part that busted down in DC. Think the low slowed down and got captured. I know because my dumbass storm chased to VA instead of waiting a day or 2 and storm chasing up SNE, one of my major life regrets lol.

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1 hour ago, The 4 Seasons said:

17-18. The "B+" Winter.

 

11.25.20_17_18_season_totals.jpg

Best snowfall season I have ever experienced in my lifetime of 37 years(I measured 73 inches where I lived in Newtown)...hoping to someday top that year without having to move north.... Any ideas on the record snowfall for a season is for the Southbury/Newtown region is?

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24 minutes ago, Spanks45 said:

Best snowfall season I have ever experienced in my lifetime of 37 years(I measured 73 inches where I lived in Newtown)...hoping to someday top that year without having to move north.... Any ideas on the record snowfall for a season is for the Southbury/Newtown region is?

I’d have to think 2010-2011 there definitely exceeded 80”. 1995-1996 did too...and prob approached (if not exceeded) 100” that year. 

‘02-03 would have probably beaten ‘17-18 as well if we’re just discussing in the past 30 years or so. 

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14 minutes ago, ORH_wxman said:

I’d have to think 2010-2011 there definitely exceeded 80”. 1995-1996 did too...and prob approached (if not exceeded) 100” that year. 

‘02-03 would have probably beaten ‘17-18 as well if we’re just discussing in the past 30 years or so. 

I moved to CT in December of 2014, my previous "record" year was 72" during the 95/96 season living in Millersville, PA. 

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On 11/29/2020 at 9:44 AM, ORH_wxman said:

I’d have to think 2010-2011 there definitely exceeded 80”. 1995-1996 did too...and prob approached (if not exceeded) 100” that year. 

‘02-03 would have probably beaten ‘17-18 as well if we’re just discussing in the past 30 years or so. 

02-03 was a better retention season, but I would take that March event over any storm from 02-03. PD II was huge disappointment in Wilmington.

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Just now, WxWatcher007 said:

Yeah comparing that with 18-19 there’s not a ton of difference imby. Of course, I don’t really have a sense of the winter progression in 15-16.

A 16-17 would be an easy A for me after the last six seasons of garbage for me personally. 

December 2015 was warmest on record and nearly snowless. Jan/Feb 2016 had a few fleeting moments (if you were far enough south in CT you got a decent piece of the Jan ‘16 mid-Atlantic KU)

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7 minutes ago, WxWatcher007 said:

I was in DC then. That blizzard and a commuter nightmare right before was the only winter highlight there. Big highlight lol but the rest of that winter was terrible there.

Best event by far where I am was 2/5/16. I had about a foot of mashed potatoes. The snow was even wetter down in SE MA where I think they had some legit power issues from 7-8” of cement. 

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24 minutes ago, Baroclinic Zone said:

Annual anniversary coming up on this beaut.

http://cms.met.psu.edu/sref/severe/2003/5-6Dec2003.pdf

imageproxy.php?img=&key=4c6452e0fc83486c50B0ACD8-282B-4BF4-9A62-8057D63A5970.thumb.jpeg.b9d50c3eb7a81f044f9d4a8d833b7b9b.jpeg

Oh, I remember this one well. Playing in the snow late at night with the girl I was in love with and was soon to date for three years. We went sledding on dining hall trays as the snow piled up. Can't believe it was so long ago. On a related note, it was good timing to find someone to shack up with, because January '04 was bitter freaking cold in VT.

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5 hours ago, CoastalWx said:

C is generous for that winter. Maybe for some areas if you purely rate snowfall. 

 

3 hours ago, ORH_wxman said:

December 2015 was warmest on record and nearly snowless. Jan/Feb 2016 had a few fleeting moments (if you were far enough south in CT you got a decent piece of the Jan ‘16 mid-Atlantic KU)

 

I figured there would be some comments on that grade. Let me explain why i gave it a C. Hopefully this makes sense and jusitfies a C grade. 

First and most importantly, the gradings i gave for this winter and all the other ones i posted are for North Haven, Connecticut. NOT for the entire state. If i was grading the entire state it would be very different for not only this winter, but every other one as well.

Second, the grades are completely subjective and based way more on purely snowfall. I actually gave it a C NOT because of purely snowfall but for many other reasons. The snowfall did help as an "average" or C winter would based on just snowfall would be 30" for here. So 39.3 would put it into the B range if that were the case. But along with the positives the help boost the grade there are many negatives as well. Ill list them here.

PROS:

  • Two double digit storms in one season. It's not an annual occurance that we get one, let alone two
  • Every storm performed as expected or was a large positive bust, no negative busts
  • 3/4 storms were daytime (mostly) storms
  • Historic KU. 14.4" blizzard conditions, heavy snow, cold - the perfect storm
  • Most storms occured within MET winter and low sun angle
  • Above average snowfall

CONS:

  • Putrid December +11.6 at BDL +11.3 BDR, no snow during the holidays, almost snowless. 69F Xmas eve.
  • First snowfall didn't occur until late Jan
  • Lack of any meaningful snow pack or retention
  • 3 weeks of winter, rest of the winter was pretty warm and rain
  • Only 4 significant storms to track, 2 adv level, 2 warning level

The 4 significant storms of 15-16:

658803867_Snowstorm2016Forecast2.thumb.jpg.9e696829aa31a8473ce3260eb6e48b5c.jpg1952865735_Snowstorm2016TOTALS.thumb.jpg.3b9b9f976ae70ea3441d9b2fe13567cd.jpg

14.4" Significantly positive trends in modeling leading right up to the storm. Possibility of whiff was very real even 24hrs in advance. End result was just outside the highest range of forecast. Daytime storm, blizzard conditions 2-3"/hr rates, 20s.

1271623011_forecastFINAL.thumb.jpg.b579654aff2a807c88d7801ffb81ad2c.jpg942288067_storm2totalsFINAL.thumb.jpg.7983e99bce445c79a77217c6d946dc75.jpg

10.4" Significantly positive trends in modeling leading right up to the storm. End result was just outside the highest range of forecast. Heavy wet snow. Half at night half in the morning hours. 

427756171_forecast3FINAL.thumb.jpg.c88f7502431566cc3ea3dc11bd58548e.jpg1439953444_storm3totals.thumb.jpg.006a042bc7b0a85e28d7e752c866725f.jpg

4.1" Daytime ocean storm. End result was just outside the highest range of forecast. Performed about as expected.

winterstorm5.thumb.jpg.d923f23a3849290f3bddd8cd3cfd8839.jpgMar212016totals.thumb.jpg.f39f485a5a52c98d82ac95481b7c7f18.jpg

4.8" Late season storm. Performed about as expected except for eastern CT. Max snowfall along 91. Night storm not much if anything on the roads, evaporated in hours.

So, for those reasons, im out. 

Haha, but seriously thats it. I think a C is completely justified, in fact, i gave it a C+ at the time the season ended and even considered at one point upgrading it to a B-. Now lets compare it to 18-19 which was significantly less snow, about 15" less, pretty much zero snow in met winter, one in Nov and one in March. Thats why that winter got a D+. And 19-20 was obviously lower because of the terrible snowfall 10.2". No 6"+ events. Two advisory events and that was it. About as bad as it gets here. F.

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3 hours ago, Baroclinic Zone said:

Annual anniversary coming up on this beaut.

http://cms.met.psu.edu/sref/severe/2003/5-6Dec2003.pdf

imageproxy.php?img=&key=4c6452e0fc83486c50B0ACD8-282B-4BF4-9A62-8057D63A5970.thumb.jpeg.b9d50c3eb7a81f044f9d4a8d833b7b9b.jpeg

 

2 hours ago, DavisStraight said:

Don't remember that one but looking at totals must have been elevation dependent.

 

3 hours ago, Hoth said:

Oh, I remember this one well. Playing in the snow late at night with the girl I was in love with and was soon to date for three years. We went sledding on dining hall trays as the snow piled up. Can't believe it was so long ago. On a related note, it was good timing to find someone to shack up with, because January '04 was bitter freaking cold in VT.

Oh, god don't remind me of that nightmare. That was like a mini Jan 2015. One of my most hated and biggest busts i can remember. The forecasts from the National Weather Service were 12-18" for here. We ended up with around 6" of wind whipped snow that resulted in a few mounds of 12" and snow in the woods and lots of bare ground. Heres the NWS ZFP i still remember the wording:

.SATURDAY NIGHT...WINDY WITH SNOW...GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF TO SNOW 
SHOWERS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT TIMES IN THE EVENING. 
ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW 
ACCUMULATION 12 TO 18 INCHES. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTH WINDS 25 
TO 30 MPH.

At first they said something like "expected to be around a foot" then changed it to a number range of 12-18.

Snow began during the late evening and it was a good start with heavy snow and we recieved 4-5" very quickly. Then all of a sudden got slotted and then experienced light barely accumulating S- snow or overcast for the next 24hrs with an additional 1-2". Painful.

You can see what i mean by the radar:

NortheastRadar-00Z-06Dec03.gif.9b6a3db1715adb82b38be38bdf16fbdb.gifNortheastRadar-03Z-06Dec03.gif.8741f6ed2d7e4c91c7665110e115864d.gifNortheastRadar-06Z-06Dec03.gif.ee3763086e859e8f6968f80b665bb040.gifNortheastRadar-09Z-06Dec03.gif.df980a286f9c849b87774934ca180f36.gifNortheastRadar-12Z-06Dec03.gif.afb1254cb4940f41c06a1fc540afee15.gifNortheastRadar-15Z-06Dec03.gif.8ec1284d61f6b6e4308452367eadc8a3.gifNortheastRadar-18Z-06Dec03.gif.f6bc1a9ea2a3125ccbd950f4cf144e0e.gifNortheastRadar-21Z-06Dec03.gif.ed8b12d1e4f065538069af6ded2e2e11.gifNortheastRadar-00Z-07Dec03.gif.afc653153ded34373cad1a2c65d3f105.gif

 

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5 hours ago, The 4 Seasons said:

 

 

Oh, god don't remind me of that nightmare. That was like a mini Jan 2015. One of my most hated and biggest busts i can remember. The forecasts from the National Weather Service were 12-18" for here. We ended up with around 6" of wind whipped snow that resulted in a few mounds of 12" and snow in the woods and lots of bare ground. Heres the NWS ZFP i still remember the wording:


.SATURDAY NIGHT...WINDY WITH SNOW...GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF TO SNOW 
SHOWERS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT TIMES IN THE EVENING. 
ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW 
ACCUMULATION 12 TO 18 INCHES. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTH WINDS 25 
TO 30 MPH.

At first they said something like "expected to be around a foot" then changed it to a number range of 12-18.

Snow began during the late evening and it was a good start with heavy snow and we recieved 4-5" very quickly. Then all of a sudden got slotted and then experienced light barely accumulating S- snow or overcast for the next 24hrs with an additional 1-2". Painful.

You can see what i mean by the radar:

NortheastRadar-00Z-06Dec03.gif.9b6a3db1715adb82b38be38bdf16fbdb.gifNortheastRadar-03Z-06Dec03.gif.8741f6ed2d7e4c91c7665110e115864d.gifNortheastRadar-06Z-06Dec03.gif.ee3763086e859e8f6968f80b665bb040.gifNortheastRadar-09Z-06Dec03.gif.df980a286f9c849b87774934ca180f36.gifNortheastRadar-12Z-06Dec03.gif.afb1254cb4940f41c06a1fc540afee15.gifNortheastRadar-15Z-06Dec03.gif.8ec1284d61f6b6e4308452367eadc8a3.gifNortheastRadar-18Z-06Dec03.gif.f6bc1a9ea2a3125ccbd950f4cf144e0e.gifNortheastRadar-21Z-06Dec03.gif.ed8b12d1e4f065538069af6ded2e2e11.gifNortheastRadar-00Z-07Dec03.gif.afc653153ded34373cad1a2c65d3f105.gif

 

Oof, that is hideous. Glad I wasn't in CT for that. I'd jump off the Q Bridge.

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6 hours ago, The 4 Seasons said:

 

 

Oh, god don't remind me of that nightmare. That was like a mini Jan 2015. One of my most hated and biggest busts i can remember. The forecasts from the National Weather Service were 12-18" for here. We ended up with around 6" of wind whipped snow that resulted in a few mounds of 12" and snow in the woods and lots of bare ground. Heres the NWS ZFP i still remember the wording:


.SATURDAY NIGHT...WINDY WITH SNOW...GRADUALLY TAPERING OFF TO SNOW 
SHOWERS. BLIZZARD CONDITIONS EXPECTED AT TIMES IN THE EVENING. 
ADDITIONAL SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 1 TO 2 INCHES. TOTAL SNOW 
ACCUMULATION 12 TO 18 INCHES. LOWS IN THE LOWER 20S. NORTH WINDS 25 
TO 30 MPH.

At first they said something like "expected to be around a foot" then changed it to a number range of 12-18.

Snow began during the late evening and it was a good start with heavy snow and we recieved 4-5" very quickly. Then all of a sudden got slotted and then experienced light barely accumulating S- snow or overcast for the next 24hrs with an additional 1-2". Painful.

You can see what i mean by the radar:

NortheastRadar-00Z-06Dec03.gif.9b6a3db1715adb82b38be38bdf16fbdb.gifNortheastRadar-03Z-06Dec03.gif.8741f6ed2d7e4c91c7665110e115864d.gifNortheastRadar-06Z-06Dec03.gif.ee3763086e859e8f6968f80b665bb040.gifNortheastRadar-09Z-06Dec03.gif.df980a286f9c849b87774934ca180f36.gifNortheastRadar-12Z-06Dec03.gif.afb1254cb4940f41c06a1fc540afee15.gifNortheastRadar-15Z-06Dec03.gif.8ec1284d61f6b6e4308452367eadc8a3.gifNortheastRadar-18Z-06Dec03.gif.f6bc1a9ea2a3125ccbd950f4cf144e0e.gifNortheastRadar-21Z-06Dec03.gif.ed8b12d1e4f065538069af6ded2e2e11.gifNortheastRadar-00Z-07Dec03.gif.afc653153ded34373cad1a2c65d3f105.gif

 

Ended up with 12 in SW CT. Eastern CT got slotted.

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12 hours ago, DavisStraight said:

Don't remember that one but looking at totals must have been elevation dependent.

Maybe for orographics, as seen near MWN (which had surprisingly little - 11.7" while Pinkham recorded 43") but not for temps/p-type, except in SE-most New England.  NYC had 14" of 15:1 pow at mid-upper 20s.  BOX and PVD each had 17" from 2.1" LE and temps 20s to low 30s, so probably some mixing there.  BDL got 18.5" of 11:1 at low-mid 20s.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Going to try something new this season. Will be doing a running season totals periodically as the winter progresses.

Reports are from AMWX, CLI (BDR,BDL), and a couple fellow mets.

Accumulating storms include:

10/30

12/05

12/16-17

12/20

If anyone has any additional reports (I pulled from New England Snow website that had all 4 events) please let me know.

 

12.21.20_running_season_totals_20_21.jpg

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