Rachael Coons 9 December 2016 Motivation Widespread areas of greater than 15cm snowfall in Upstate NY and New England with areas of greater than 30 cm snowfall within this region Third of fourth major snowstorm of the season Boston would go on to break seasonal snowfall record ID: 635890
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Slide1
Northeast snowstorm of 8—10 February 2015
Rachael Coons
9 December 2016Slide2
Motivation
Widespread areas of greater than 15cm snowfall in Upstate NY and New England with areas of greater than 30 cm snowfall within this region.
Third of fourth major snowstorm of the season. Boston would go on to break seasonal snowfall record.
Impacts enhanced by snow still present from previous storms.
https://cbsboston.files.wordpress.com/2015/02/boston-snow-pile.jpg
http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/event_reviews/2015/Northeast_US_WinterStorm_Feb2015.pdfSlide3
Data and Methodology
8—10 February 2015 Northeast Snowstorm
NCEP-NCAR reanalysis
WPC surface analysis
Synoptic analysis of case using maps made in GEMPAKSlide4
Synoptic Overview
Divergence in right entrance region of jet over Northeast and left exit region of jet over Southeast
Warm air advection in Upstate New York and New England
Cold air damming with High Pressure centered over Hudson Bay helping to promote easterly flow onshore in New England promoting development of a coastal front.
Persistent moisture convergence throughout eventSurface temperatures 15o-25o
F inland, around freezing on coast.Slide5
00z 8 February 2015
10z 9 February 2015
18:30z 9 February 2015
http://www2.mmm.ucar.edu/imagearchive/Slide6
Conclusions
Forcing at upper and lower levels to support ascent and persistent precipitation.
High
precipitable
water values and persistent moisture convergence supported large snowfall totals. Local maxima where coastal front developed and in higher terrain in southern Vermont.