Some Historic Snowstorm/Nor'easter Obs/Statements

[vortex95]

Here is some obs strings in the pre-METAR format (SAO) that I saved in real-time back in the day. I'll post more separately on the same thread w/ time.

The SAO format is more concise than METAR, and some differences.  The key ones I will note here:

X means sky obscured.   -X mean sky partially obscured.   W is vertical visibility.

Since these are pre-ASOS/AWOS, they are manually-taken obs which i kind of miss b/c you could better quantify what was going on, esp. in snowstorms b/c of the sky obscuration and viability.  ASOS/AWOS do not report anything less than 1/4 mi and does odd things w/ sky obscurations at times.  It seem less impressive than manual obs.

Visibility for manually-taken obs would go lower than 1/4 mi and get reported in 1/8 and 1/16 incitements when below a mi.  And you could get zero visibility reported, so you really knew when it absolutely  pounding S+!

SNINCR was reported as SNOINCR x/y/z - x means the last hr, y is the amount since the last synoptic hr, and z is SOG.

SOG is reported 904xx.  24 hr pcpn is a 2xxxx group.

Obs start w/ the earlier at the bottom, and latest at the
top.

Any questions, please ask.  BANTER time for CoastalWx!

NORLUN for PWM Mar 1992

21-MAR-92
PWM RS 1153 29 SCT M55 OVC 7 132/27/25/0208/992/SE46/ 21271 15//
 90411 25 20079 RADAT ZERO
PWM SP 1129 -X M8 BKN 20 OVC 11/2S- 0507/991/S4
PWM SP 1116 -X M3 OVC 1/2S 0209/991/S7
PWM RS 1052 W1 X 3/8S 127/27/25/0309/990
PWM SP 1037 -X M1 OVC 1/2S 0308/990/S5
PWM SP 1008 M14 BKN 27 OVC 1S- 0307/989
PWM SP 0953 -X M1 OVC 5/16S 0310/989/S8 SNOINCR 4/10/11
PWM SP 0858 W0 X 1/16S+ 0112/988
PWM SA 0851 W0 X 1/8S+ 120/28/27/0109/988/SNOINCR 3/7/7 WND SHFT
 0757/ 20749 90407
PWM SP 0834 W1 X 1/8S+ 0505/988
PWM SP 0812 -X M2 OVC 1/8S+ 0707/987/S8
PWM SP 0758 W0 X 1/16S+ 0406/987/WND SHFT 57
PWM SA 0752 W0 X 1/8S+ 117/28/27/3412/987/SNOINCR 3/4/4/ 98661
PWM SP 0702 -X M2 OVC 13/4S- 3208/987/S3
PWM RS 0650 M7 BKN 20 OVC 21/2S- 113/30/27/3204/986/GRDL WND SHFT
PWM RS 0550 10 SCT M21 OVC 3S- 113/30/27/1308/986/ 60308 15// 90401
35
PWM SP 0529 10 SCT M17 OVC 2S- 1309/986
PWM SP 0504 -X 7 SCT M19 OVC 11/2S- 1410/986/S2
PWM RS 0451 -X M7 BKN 20 OVC 11/2S- 113/30/28/1408/986/S2
PWM SP 0438 7 SCT M19 OVC 3S- 1510/986
PWM SP 0415 5 SCT M13 OVC 4S- 1408/986
PWM SP 0404 -X M5 BKN 8 OVC 4S- 1406/986/S1
PWM RS 0352 -X M7 BKN 21 OVC 3S- 113/30/28/1506/986/S1 SNOINCR 1/1/1
PWM SP 0336 -X M8 BKN 27 OVC 2S- 1607/986/S2
PWM SP 0329 -X 8 SCT M27 OVC 1S- 1607/987/S2
PWM SP 0312 -X M7 OVC 1/2S 1706/987/S6
PWM SP 0306 -X M17 OVC 2S- 1706/987/S2
PWM SA 0252 M27 BKN 31 OVC 8S- 117/30/26/1807/987/SB0148E03B14/
00300 15//
PWM SP 0229 21 SCT M27 OVC 10SW- 1707/988/PCPN VRY LGT
PWM RS 0153 M30 BKN 40 OVC 15SW- 118/31/22/1708/988/SB48
PWM SA 0051 M28 OVC 15 115/31/21/1508/987
PWM SA 2350 M29 BKN 60 OVC 15 113/31/20/1609/986/BINOVC OVHD/ 217
15// 35 RADAT ZERO

 

NORLUN for CHH Feb 1993

19-FEB-93
CHH SA 2045 OVC 2SW- 21/M/0214G20/997
CHH SA 1955 OVC 1SW-BS 22/M/3415G20/996/ 90418
CHH SA 1855 OVC 1BS 22/M/3415G22/995/ 90418
CHH SA 1755 X 1/16SW+BS 22/21/3415G26/995/ SNOINCR 2/9/18
CHH SA 1655 X 1/4S-BS 25/M/0118G26/994/ 90416
CHH SA 1550 X 1/2SBS 24/M/0318G25/994/ SNOINCR 1/3/16
CHH SA 1450 X 3/4S- 25/M/0115/993
CHH SA 1345 W0X 0S+ 24/M/3415G22/992/ SNOINCR 2/2/15
CHH SA 1245 X 1/8S+BS 23/M/3515G25/991/1/4/13 SNOW
CHH SA 1145 X 1/16S+ 24/M/3513/985/9 INCHES -4 INCHES LAST HR.
CHH SA 1045 X 1/4S+ 24/M/3215G25/985
CHH SA 0945 OVC 1/2S- 24/M/3213G26/985
CHH SA 0845 OVC 1S- 24/M/3513/985
CHH SA 0745 OVC 3S- 26/M/3513/985
CHH SA 0545 BKN 7 26/M/0205/984

[vortex95]

Here is the complete obs string for BOS for the Bliz of 93.  I highlighted the "best winter ob EV-A" for BOS!  I can hear CoastalWx pining already.

14-MAR-93
BOS SA 2351 40 SCT 160 SCT 220 -OVC 15 036/21/3/2822G31/964/PK WND
2837/13 PRESRR/ 278 1128 90409 33 CHH RADAT ZERO
BOS SA 2252 160 SCT E220 OVC 15 012/21/2/2821G32/957/FEW CUFRA AC
OVC PTLY THN PRESRR
BOS SA 2153 120 SCT E220 OVC 15 983/22/1/2726G37/948/FEW CUFRA OVC
PTLY THN PK WND 2737/51 PRESRR SUN VSB
BOS SA 2052 42 SCT 120 SCT E220 OVC 15 958/22/2/2830G38/941/OVC
PTLY THN PK WND 2846/02 PRESRR SUN VSB/ 290 1178
BOS SA 1953 42 SCT E120 OVC 15 927/23/3/2828G42/932/PK WND 2842/51
PRESRR
BOS SA 1850 42 SCT M120 OVC 15 898/22/5/2629G38/923/PK WND 2942/29
PRESRR
BOS SA 1750 42 SCT M120 OVC 15 868/22/6/2724G43/914/PK WND 2944/08
PRESRR/ 28108 177/ 90205 90409 22
BOS SA 1651 M42 BKN 95 BKN 120 OVC 12 844/24/10/2630G36/907/SB01E46
WND 23V31 PK WND 2737/44 PRESRR
BOS SA 1552 45 SCT E80 OVC 12 819/26/10/2726G31/900/SE02 PK WND
2938/22 PRESRR
BOS SA 1451 25 SCT M70 OVC 8S- 787/24/12/2729G36/890/PK WND 2938/33
PRESRR/ 39907 99117 177/ 90409
BOS SP 1428 25 SCT E80 BKN 5S-BS 2823G33/886
BOS SA 1354 -X E25 BKN 80 OVC 2S-FBS 749/25/19/2723G35/879/S3
WND 23V33 PRESRR
BOS SA 1255 -X M8 BKN 25 OVC 2S-FBS 707/29/25/3015G28/867/S3 PRESRR
BOS SP 1200 -X M11 OVC 11/2S- 2117G24/857/R04RVR16V18 S4
BOS SA 1150 -X 11 SCT E15 OVC 11/2S- 670/33/29/2119G27/856/R04RVR16V24
S4/ 31404 15// 90409 32 20187 CHH RADAT DLAD
BOS SP 1140 -X E19 OVC 11/2S- 2022G27/854/R04RVR24V60+
BOS SP 1133 M19 OVC 2S- 2020/854
BOS SP 1109 M19 OVC 5S- 2024G31/852
BOS SP 1059 M19 OVC 21/2S- 1929G35/851/VSBY SW-W 11/2
BOS SA 1050 M19 OVC 8S- 653/36/29/1932G41/851/IPE15 PK WND 1951/25
BOS SP 1017 M17 OVC 4S- 1929G38/849/IPE15
BOS SA 0950 E20 BKN 38 OVC 5S-IP- 653/37/34/1928G37/850/RESIPB38 PK
WND 2038/27
BOS SP 0939 E20 BKN 38 OVC 5S-IP- 2028G35/850/IPB38
BOS SP 0933 E20 BKN 38 OVC 7R- 2028G38/850
BOS SA 0854 20 SCT E38 OVC 7R- 656/38/35/2021/851/ 64602 15// 90409
BOS SA 0750 20 SCT E38 OVC 7R- 665/41/37/2026G33/854/RB35/ 98000
BOS SP 0732 20 SCT M38 OVC 8 1915/855
BOS SP 0719 E20 BKN 40 OVC 8 1814/856/WSHFT 17 FEW STFRA 8 HND
BOS SP 0704 E20 BKN 40 OVC 8 1213G18/857/WSHFT 03 FEW STFRA 8 HND
PRESFR
BOS SA 0650 E20 BKN 40 OVC 8 683/36/32/0612/859/FEW STFRA 8 HND
BOS SP 0624 8 SCT E20 BKN 40 OVC 8 0310/862
BOS SA 0550 8 SCT 28 SCT E40 OVC 8 702/33/30/0410G17/865/CIG RGD
ZRE31 PRES UNSTDY/ 72972 15// 90410 36
BOS SP 0532 8 SCT 28 SCT E40 OVC 7 0414G22/865/ZRE31 CIG RGD
BOS SP 0515 28 SCT E40 OVC 5ZR-F 0414G24/866/FEW STFRA 8 HND CIG RGD
 PCPN VRY LGT
BOS SA 0450 8 SCT M28 OVC 3ZR-F 709/32/30/0212G25/867/CIG RGD
REZRB38
BOS SP 0433 8 SCT M28 OVC 4R-F 0219G32/868/CIG RGD
BOS SA 0350 M8 BKN 17 BKN 70 OVC 5R-F 714/35/32/0118G26/869/CIG RGD
PCPN VRY LGT
BOS SA 0254 M8 BKN 17 OVC 5R-F 731/36/32/0123G36/874/CIG RGD WND
 31V06/ 79968 99102 17// 90410
BOS SP 0223 M8 BKN 16 OVC 6R-F 0318G30/874/CIG RGD PCPN VRY LGT
PRESFR
BOS SA 0154 M7 BKN 15 OVC 21/2R-F 746/36/33/0328G38/878/R04RVR35 SFC
 VSBY 3 CIG RGD R- OCNLY R PK WND 0338/53 PRESFR
BOS SP 0133 M7 BKN 15 OVC 2RF 0123G34/882/R04RVR28V35 CIG RGD R
OCNLY R- WND 35V06
BOS SA 0051 -X M5 OVC 1R-F 802/35/33/0428G36/894/R04RVR08V10 F5
TE18 MOVD N RB22IPSE34 PK WND 0551/2356 PRESFR SNOINCR 1/1/12
BOS SP 0038 -X M5 OVC 1R-F 0527G40/893/R04RVR06V08 F5 IPE34 PRESFR
BOS SP 0024 W5 X 1/2R-IPS-BS 0528G44/894/R04RVR16V24 DRFTG SNW
PRESFR
BOS SP 0019 W5 X 1/4IP+S-BS 0530G44/896/R04RVR12V24 TE18 MOVD N
DRFTG SNW PRESFR
BOS SP 2359 W5 X 1/4T+IP+S-BS 0537G51/905/R04RVR12V22 TB57 W MOVG N
OCNL LTGIC DRFTG SNW PRES UNSTDY
BOS SA 2350 W5 X 1/4IPS-BS 832/33/32/0638G49/903/R04RVR12V16 TE20
MOVD N IPB03 DRFTG SNW PK WND 0654/2253 PRESFR SNOINCR 1/11/12/
79907 ONE 99163 90412
BOS SP 2323 W5 X 1/4SIPBS 0632G49/912/R04RVR12 TE22 MOVD N DRFTG SNW
 PRESFR
BOS SP COR 2304 W1 X 1/4T+SIPBS 0641G50/914/R04RVR06-V12 T OVHD-NW
MOVG N OCNL LTGIC IPB03 DRFTG SNOW PRESFR
BOS SP 2304 W1 X 1/4TSIPBS 0641G50/914/R04RVR06-V12 T OVHD-NW MOVG N
 OCNL LTGIC IPB03 DRFTG SNW PRESFR
BOS RS 2250 W0 X 0TS+BS 875/31/31/0647G62/916/R04RVR06-V06 TB50 SW MOVG N OCNL LTGIC DRFTG SNW PK WND 0670/33 PRESFR SNOINCR 3/11/12
BOS SA 2150 W1 X 0S+BS 942/30/30/0643G52/936/R04RVR08V10 DRFTG SNW
PK WND 0661/06 PRESFR SNOINCR 3/8/9
BOS SP 2113 W1 X 0S+BS 0646G61/946/R04RVR08V10 PRESFR
BOS SA 2054 W5 X 1/16S+BS 995/30/29/0737G50/951/R04RVR10V14
DRFTG SNW PK WND 0752/16 PRESFR SNOINCR 2/5/6/ 79940 99146 90406
BOS SA 1950 W5 X 1/16S+BS 044/31/29/0733G41/966/R04RVR08V12 DRFTG
SNW PK WND 0743/17 PRESFR SNOINCR 2/3/4
BOS SP 1941 W5 X 1/8S+BS 0733G39/968/R04RVR08V14 DRFTG SNW PRESFR
BOS SP 1926 W6 X 1/4S+BS 0730G43/971/R04RVR12V22 DRFTG SNW PRESFR
BOS SA 1852 W5 X 1/8S+BS 095/31/29/0830G42/981/R04RVR18V24 DRFTG SNW
 PK WND 0842/43 PRESFR SNOINCR 1/1/2
BOS SP 1839 W5 X 1/4S+BS 0830G39/983/R04RVR14V20 DRFTG SNW PRESFR
BOS SP 1823 -X E5 OVC 1/2SBS 0828G34/987/R04RVR18V22 S8 PRESFR
BOS SP 1804 -X M5 OVC 1/2SBS 0829G36/992/R04RVR16V26 S8 PRESFR
BOS RS 1750 -X M5 OVC 3/4S-BS 141/32/29/0824G29/995/R04RVR30V35 S8
PRESFR/ 77304 15// 90401 27
BOS SP 1717 -X E9 OVC 3/4S- 0924/998/R04RVR30V40 S7 PRESFR
BOS SA 1650 -X M15 OVC 1VS- 161/32/27/0821/001/R04RVR40V55 VSBY
3/4V11/2 S5 PRESFR
BOS SP 1611 -X E15 OVC 1S- 1019G25/007/R04RVR35V60+ S5
BOS SA 1550 E32 BKN 90 OVC 3S- 188/33/22/1018/009/PRESFR
BOS SA 1450 M38 BKN 90 OVC 12S- 213/33/18/1017/016/SB28/ 83000 157/
BOS SA 1350 E55 OVC 15 227/33/17/1112/020/VIRGA OVHD
BOS SA 1250 70 SCT E120 OVC 15 235/32/14/1207/023/VIRGA SW-OVHD CHH
RADAT ZERO
BOS SA 1150 70 SCT E120 OVC 15 244/31/14/1407/025/VIRGA S-SW/ 610
107/ 90401 27 CHH RADAT DLAD

[Ginx snewx]

[vortex95]

I always liked this SPS from NYC for the Dec 11-.12, 1992 blockbuster.  They added in the bulletin text at the top "one of the worst coastal storms ever.'  This was a time when strong wording was used, you *knew* it was big!  Now almost everything is labeled "catastrophic!"

Don't remind CoastalWx of this storm.  He was SO mad living in Brockton at the time.  He was just in a heavy mix of RASN while not less than 10 mi to the NW, buired!

This is the one that started the epic period that lasted through 2015-16.  18" in Woburn.  I have never seen seen *so* much rain in a first part of a storm, and then *so* much snow a second half of the storm .  The total LEQ QPF for the storm was very high for a Nor'easter in a winter month..  Woonsocket RI had 7.14" (20" of that snow)!
 

WWUS35 KNYC 111752
NYZ014>017-023-024-NJZ001-005-007-015-112030-

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT - ONE OF THE WORST COASTAL STORMS EVER
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY
1250 PM EST FRI DEC 11 1992

...HIGH WIND WARNING FOR THIS AFTERNOON...
...COASTAL FLOOD WARNING THROUGH TONIGHT...
...WINTER STORM WARNING THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHWESTERN NEW JERSEY AND
INTERIOR SOUTHEASTERN NEW YORK...
...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FOR THIS AFTERNOON OVER NEARBY NORTHERN
AND WESTERN SUBURBS...
...FLOOD WARNING UNTIL 3:15 PM THIS AFTERNOON FOR NORTHEAST AND
CENTRAL NEW JERSEY...SOUTHERN WESTCHESTER COUNTY...NEW YORK CITY...
AND LONG ISLAND...
...STORM WARNING FOR THE COASTAL WATERS THIS AFTERNOON...

AN INTENSE STORM CENTER OVER DELAWARE BAY AT NOON TIME HAS BASHED
THE METROPOLITAN AREA WITH WIND GUSTS TO HURRICANE FORCE AND SOME OF
THE WORST COASTAL FLOODING EVER ASSOCIATED WITH A NOREASTER.

TIDES WERE REPORTED BETWEEN 3 AND 5 FEET ABOVE NORMAL AT TIMES OF HIGH
TIDE THIS MORNING.  THIS PUSHED TIDE LEVELS CLOSE TO IF NOT EXCEEDING
THE ALL-TIME RECORD TIDES ASSOCIATED WITH THE NOREASTERS IN 1950.

WIDESPREAD TIDAL FLOODING AND DAMAGE WERE REPORTED AT ALL COASTAL
LOCATIONS AT TIMES OF HIGH TIDE.  LAGUARDIA AIRPORT WAS CLOSED DUE
TO FLOODING.  THE FDR AND HARLEM RIVER DRIVES HAVE BEEN CLOSED DUE TO
FLOODING.  ALL THE MAJOR HIGHWAYS HAVE BEEN CLOSED NEAR THE SOUTH SHORE OF LONG ISLAND.  WATER REACHED AS FAR INLAND AS MONTAUK HIGHWAY
ON LONG ISLAND.  SEVERE FLOODING HAS OCCURRED IN MONMOUTH COUNTY
WITH MAIN ROADWAYS AND THE GARDEN STATE PARKWAY CLOSED DUE TO FLOODING.

SEVERAL TOWNS ALONG THE COAST HAVE DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY.
THE SEA WALL COLLAPSED AT CEDAR GROVE BEACH...A CONDO COMPLEX COLLAPSED AT HIGHLAND.

FLOODING HAS EXTENDED AS FAR NORTH UP THE HUDSON RIVER AS PEEKSKILL
AND STONY POINT WHERE A TRAILER PARK HAD TO BE EVACUATED.

TIDES ARE EXPECTED TO BE THREE TO FOUR FEET ABOVE NORMAL AT TIMES OF
HIGH TIDE THIS EVENING...WHICH WILL RESULT IN ANOTHER ROUND OF
MAJOR FLOODING AND BEACH EROSION THIS EVENING...ALTHOUGH THE
ACTUAL STORM TIDE SHOULD BE SLIGHTLY BELOW THIS MORNING/S RECORD
LEVEL.

WIND GUSTS UP TO HURRICANE FORCE HAVE OCCURRED ACROSS THE AREA.
NUMEROUS TREES AND POWER OUTAGES HAVE OCCURRED THROUGHOUT THE
REGION WITH THE STRONGEST WINDS IN PROGRESS ACROSS LONG ISLAND AT
THIS TIME.  WINDS SHOULD BEGIN TO DIMINISH AS THE AFTERNOON WEARS
ON...BUT GUSTS UP TO 60 MPH CAN STILL BE EXPECTED THROUGH SUNSET...
ESPECIALLY ON LONG ISLAND.

WIDESPREAD RAINFALL OF BETWEEN 2 AND 3 INCHES IN NEW YORK CITY...
LONG ISLAND AND NEARBY NEW JERSEY AND LOWER WESTCHESTER COUNTY HAS
CAUSED WIDESPREAD URBAN FLOODING AND SOME STREAMS IF NOT ALREADY...
SHOULD BE OVERFLOWING THEIR BANKS.

MEANWHILE HEAVY SNOW IS IN PROGRESS THROUGHOUT HIGHER TERRAIN IN
NORTHWEST NEW JERSEY AND MOST OF ORANGE COUNTY.  THE HEAVY WET
SNOW HAS DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES THROUGHOUT THESE AREAS WITH
UP TO 14 INCHES REPORTED.  AN ADDITIONAL THREE TO FIVE INCHES
CAN ACCUMULATE BEFORE THE HEAVY SNOW TAPERS OFF.

THE STORM SYSTEM RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CATASTROPHIC WEATHER WILL
SLOWLY DRIFT OFFSHORE TONIGHT AND SATURDAY.

IF YOUR AREA IS BEING EVACUATED...LISTEN TO EMERGENCY MANAGERS.
IF NOT...THE SAFEST PLACE TO BE IS IN DOORS AWAY FROM WINDOWS.
WINDOWS HAVE BEEN BLOWN IN THROUGHOUT OUR AREA.  DO NOT DRIVE
UNLESS ITS ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.  DON/T BE A FOOL DO NOT DRIVE
THROUGH FLOODED ROADWAYS.  THE LIFE YOU SAVE TODAY WILL BE
YOUR OWN.

THE NEXT STATEMENT WILL BE OUT BY 5 PM.

GIGI

 

[vortex95]

20 minutes ago, Ginx snewx said:

Here's a decoded hourly obs string from the above storm for KFMH.  Dendrite nirvana!