A storm of this magnitude was not a common occurrence and if anything, they fizzled or became rainier closer to occurrence time. In earlier days, the temperature had to be in the teens, but no longer. In March of 1993 a deadly blizzard wreaked havoc on the Tri-State Area. The Coast Guard rescued more than 160 people at sea in the Atlantic and in the Gulf of Mexico, where at least one freighter sank. Some particularly notable snowfall totals included: Overall, the storm ranked as Extreme, or a Category 5, on the Regional Snowfall Index for the Northeast, Southeast, and Ohio Valley regions. Dry Tortugas, west of Key West, Florida, recorded a wind gust of 109 miles per hour. The 2010 storm was unlike the blizzard of 1993, because the snow was heavy and wet, which caused more damage to trees and power lines. From The Patriot, March 14, 1993: A late-winter blizzard packing high winds and snow … The two-day blizzard started on Jan. 7 and dumped up to 3 feet of snow in York County, Pa. Was it the winter storm of the century? Most residents heeded warnings to stay off the roadways, but many who ventured out found themselves stranded in snow or involved in minor accidents. The National Weather Service's NOAA weather radio station was knocked off the air for a short time yesterday afternoon, possibly due to a lightning strike. Causing approximately $5.5 billion in damages ($9.9 billion in 2020 dollars), America’s “Storm of the Century,” as it would become known, swept from the Deep South all the way up the East Coast. PA Blizzard: Historic Snow Totals, Travel Resumes, One Death - Levittown, PA - The latest Patch updates on the Pennsylvania blizzard of 2016. The storm dumped more than 20 inches of snow across southeastern New York State and central Pennsylvania. The snow actually began to fall the night of Friday, Mar. m_gallery = "march_1993_snowstorm"; The storm forced cancellation of today's church services throughout the midstate as well as state high school wrestling tournaments and basketball playoffs. This storm was a classic example of a nor'easter, but the storm would not have been as historically significant without the presence of the arctic high pressure system located to the north of New York. Gusty winds and snow knocked out electricity to about 2,000 Pennsylvania Power & Light Co. customers in the Harrisburg Division, John B. Wilt, a PP&L spokesman said. Figure 12.11: Snowcover from sea-effect snows in Lithuania Figure 12.18: Squall line associated with the Blizzard of '93 Figure 12.20: Surface weather maps for the Blizzard of '93 Figure 12.22: Satellite images of the Blizzard of '93: (a) 14Z on 3-13-93, (b) 1430Z on 3-14-93 Color Plate 47: Snow totals from lake-effect snows of Nov.10-13, 1996 The 1993 Storm of the Century (also known as the 93 Superstorm, The No Name Storm, or the Great Blizzard of '93/1993) was a large cyclonic storm that formed over the Gulf of Mexico on March 12, 1993. The Blizzard of 1996 was a severe nor'easter that paralyzed the United States East Coast with up to 4 feet (1.2 m) of wind-driven snow from January 6 to January 8, 1996. "Nothing is coming in or going out," said HIA Police Officer Craig Berrier. "In the consideration of safety, to assure we leave nobody stranded on those interstates after dark, we're asking people to get off the interstates," he said. An estimated 1,700 homes and businesses throughout the 14-county Metropolitan Edison Co. service area were without power as of 5 p.m. yesterday, said Jane Miller, Met-Ed spokeswoman. Harrisburg International Airport closed at noon. The 2010 storm was unlike the blizzard of 1993, because the snow was heavy and wet, which caused more damage to trees and power lines. One of the most amazing measurements occurred at the Morgantown, PA exchange of the PA Turnpike (elevation of 750 feet) where an astonishing 50 inches of snow accumulated during the entire March blizzard - still the highest ever for a single snowstorm in southeastern PA. The National Weather Service says a blizzard is characterized by low temperatures, winds greater than 35 mph, and snow heavy enough to restrict visibility to less than a quarter-mile. The storm’s snowfall isolated thousands of people, especially in the Georgia, North Carolina, and Virginia mountains. It was called the Storm of the Century by many, and anyone who lived through it will never forget the Blizzard of 1993--- the biggest snowfall most people can ever remember in our area. The March 1993 "Storm of the Century" snowstorm ranks as the sixth largest in the Harrisburg area in terms of snowfall. Here, then, is a new look at local snowstorm history, based on the highest snowfall totals reported anywhere in the eight-county area, according to several sets of National Weather Service records. 36 inches at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with 10-foot drifts Overall, the storm ranked as Extreme, or a Category 5, on the Regional Snowfall Index for the Northeast, Southeast, and Ohio Valley regions. m_gallery_type = "photo"; At the same time, Casey authorized the Pennsylvania State Police to close all interstate highways. 30.7 inches (78 cm) of ... notably the Blizzard of 1978 and the March 1993 Superstorm. And, Mount Washington, New Hampshire, recorded a gust of 144 miles per hour. If blowing snow restricts visibility to below a quarter-mile, even after the snow stops falling, that's called a ground blizzard. Vehicles being driven on snow emergency routes were required to have chains and or snow tires. One of the strongest storms of the century and a rare true blizzard for eastern Kentucky, brought 6 to 30 inches of snow to eastern and southeastern Kentucky from March 12-14, 1993. Hurricane force winds battered cities along the Atlantic Coast. m_gallery_permalink = "http://photos.pennlive.com/4503/gallery/march_1993_snowstorm/index.html"; The 'Blizzard of '96' already surpasses many snowfall totals from 1993's 'Storm of the Century' ... Philadelphia handily beat the previous storm record of 12 inches by getting 30 inches of snow as of 10 a.m. today (Jan. 8). The storm was unique and notable for its intensity, massive size, and wide-reaching effects; at its height, the storm stretched from Canada to Honduras. Contoured Snowfall Totals from March 13-14, 1993 STORM DESCRIPTION The "Blizzard of '93", also known as the "Superstorm '93" and the first coined "Storm of the Century" during the 1990's, was an extremely intense nor'easter which impacted New Jersey with a wide variety of hazardous weather. Robert Straw, York County Emergency Management director, said drifts of up to 5 feet on some roads were reported. New York’s Catskill Mountains along with most of the central and southern Appalachians received at least 2 feet of snow. Jim Traynor, Amtrak station supervisor at Harrisburg Transportation Center, said trains were running on a delayed basis. Very powerful storms, like the 1993 Storm of the Century, can strike at any time, making it extremely important to analyze them to better prepare for the future. Blizzard status. You can see the total amount of snow accumulated in the past days or use the animation to see each 6 hour interval separately. The storm also damaged about 200 homes along North Carolina’s Outer Banks, making them uninhabitable. The heavy, wet flakes quickly accumulated, with Knoxville officially recording 15 inches. Severe Weather Team 11 Meteorologist Kevin Benson covered it … Covering more than 550,000 square miles and impacting nearly 120 million people in these three regions, the Storm of the Century still ranks as the second worst snowstorm to impact the Northeast, Southeast, and Ohio Valley. On March 12–14, 1993, a massive storm system bore down on nearly half of the U.S. population. 1 p.m. The Blizzard of 1993 ranks as the second worst snowstorm to impact the Southeast, Ohio Valley, and the Northeast. Synoptic Discussion The Blizzard of ’93 dumped a foot of snow in Philadelphia — then the largest March snowfall in a 24-hour period in the city’s recorded history. Robert P. Casey in Scranton declared a state of emergency about 3 p.m., after conferring by telephone with Lt. Gov. There’s usually not enough wind (35 mph sustained over three hours, with ¼-mile or less visibility) to support that definition. Snowfall totals from the storm topped out near 42 inches in West Virginia and at least 14 states in total received more than a foot of snow from the storm. superstorm of 1993 "storm of the century" march 12-14, 1993. Strong winds accompanied the snow, resulting in blizzard conditions and snow drifts of 6 to 10 feet. A fair criticism would be that these high marks might be outliers or flukes that might mislead about overall immensity, especially since unofficial spotter reports have been included in some cases. That’s comparable to 40 days’ flow on the Mississippi River at New Orleans—enough water to flood nearly the entire state of Missouri 1 foot deep. Harrisburg Mayor Stephen R. Reed said the Pennsylvania Capital Region Chapter of the American Red Cross was prepared to open three mass-care shelters in the event of prolonged, widespread power outages. Double-digit snowfall totals were measured in 20 states from Alabama to Maine. Guard units were placed on standby around Pennsylvania. The all-time record snowfall for New Jersey — 34 inches in coastal Cape May, in February 1899 — was beaten by 1 inch at White House Station in northeastern Hunterdon County, N.J., which received 35 inches of snow through Jan. 9. The weather service forecast up to 3 feet of snow by today in some parts of the state with sustained winds of up to 50 mph. During the height of the storm, snowfall rates of 2–3 inches per hour occurred. Meanwhile, Harrisburg got just over 20 inches from March 13-15, 1993. Gov. And it is the costliest winter storm to date. PITTSBURGH — March 13, 1993 is a day Pittsburghers won’t forget, as 23.6 inches of snow piled up before their eyes. March 12-14 marks the anniversary of the “Storm of the Century,” the Blizzard of 1993. "We're having difficulty getting our own patrols out." As of the 8 p.m. deadline of the Sunday Patriot-News, Philadelphia had received 13 inches of snow and most of the rest of the state had more than 15. A total of 31.9 inches of snow dropped in Allentown, a record for the city, while 22.4 inches dropped in Philadelphia, making it the 4th biggest snowstorm of all time for the city of Brotherly Love. During June 2018, the average contiguous U.S. temperature was 71.5°F, 3.0°F above the 20th century average. Note to readers: if you purchase something through one of our affiliate links we may earn a commission. Philadelphia International Airport also closed. m_gallery_creation_date = "Friday, March 18, 2016, 1:21 PM"; It came only three years after the Blizzard of 1993, but many described the 1996 storm as much worse. The city of Greenville, S. C., all but shut down, its puny force of 14 plows unable to handle the monster snowfall. 12 but became much more intense on Saturday. Snow totals from this storm in the D.C. area ranged from around 24 … According to the National Weather Service, 20.4 inches of snow fell March 13-15, 1993. Chapter 12. Burlington set a 24-hour snowfall record with 25.3 inches. The Blizzard of 1993 ranks as the second worst snowstorm to impact the Southeast, Ohio Valley, and the Northeast. Was it the winter storm of the century? Anyone that was in the High Country during that time, or the East Coast for the matter, has a story to tell. This was the first state weather emergency declared since a major ice storm struck the state in the mid- to-late 1970s, Singel said. Crews were trying to keep the major roadways open, but "they just can't get ahead of it," said Bruce Donley, a PennDOT radio operator in Dauphin County. m_gallery_id = "19973480"; "I have no idea where they were heading," a Northern York County Regional police officer said. Although snow quickly melted following the storm, many Eastern residents will not soon forget the impact of the Blizzard of 1993.---Image caption: Snowfall accumulation map for the Storm of the Century (NOAA, Climate.gov, NCEI) The storm will be remembered for its tremendous snowfall totals from Alabama through Maine, high winds all along the East coast, extreme coastal flooding along the Florida west coast, incredibly low barometric pressures across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic, and for the unseasonably cold air that followed behind the storm. It was mid-March in 1993 when the Storm of the Century hit. Of the more than 250 weather and climate events with damages exceeding $1 billion since 1980, this storm remains the country’s most costly winter storm to date. 1993 storm shares anniversary with 1888 New York City blizzard, 125 years ago Just 105 years before the great Blizzard of 1993, another great cold-season storm raked the Eastern United States. Although snow quickly melted following the storm, many Eastern residents will not soon forget the impact of the Blizzard of 1993.---Image caption: Snowfall accumulation map for the Storm of the Century (NOAA, Climate.gov, NCEI) Casey cited the danger to travelers and to Pennsylvania Department of Transportation crews who, he said, were fighting a losing battle to keep roads open. The storm closed nearly all interstate highways from Atlanta northeastward as well as every major airport on the East coast at one time or another—unprecedented at the time. Wind-driven sleet also fell on parts of the East Coast, with central New Jersey reporting 2.5 inches of sleet on top of 12 inches of snow—creating somewhat of an “ice-cream sandwich” effect. Power was restored to most by yesterday afternoon. On the Pennsylvania Turnpike, members of the National Guard rode with plowing crews and helped disabled motorists off the roadway, said Phil Catalano, turnpike duty officer. The December 2009 North American blizzard was a powerful nor'easter that formed over the Gulf of Mexico in December 2009, and became a major snowstorm that affected the East Coast of the United States and Canadian Atlantic provinces.The snowstorm brought record-breaking December snowfall totals to Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Philadelphia.. Tuesday's snowfall also breaks a … Heavy snow and blizzard conditions extended from the Gulf States to New England and from the Ohio Valley to the East Coast. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. This week's blizzard exceeded the 12 inches of snow left during 1993's so-called "Storm of the Century." The Blizzard of March 1993 March 12-14, 1993 (AKA, The March Superstorm) Described as one of the largest and most intense storms in a century, the March 12-14,1993 blizzard paralyzed the eastern seaboard with record cold, snow, and wind. Mark Singel and Joseph LaFleur, Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency director. "It could be days until we clear out" the trouble spots, Miller said. Workers rescued over 200 hikers from the North Carolina and Tennessee mountains. According to the January 9 U.S. Drought Monitor, moderate to extreme drought covers 32.1% of the contiguous U.S. On This Day: The 1993 Storm of the Century, this storm remains the country’s most costly winter storm to date, the Storm of the Century still ranks as the second worst snowstorm to impact the Northeast, Southeast, and Ohio Valley, more than 270 people in 13 different states died because of the storm, Updated dates of storm and included information about Texas damage; added 2019, weather and climate events with damages exceeding $1 billion, Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters, Satellite Animation of the Storm of the Century, More on the Storm of the Century from NOAA’s National Weather Service, U.S. Drought Monitor Update for October 24, 2017, September 2018 Regional Climate Impacts and Outlooks, U.S. Drought Monitor Update for January 9, 2018, 50 inches at Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, with 14-foot drifts, 36 inches at Latrobe, Pennsylvania, with 10-foot drifts. The second highest one day snowfall in Chattanooga was on December 4, 1886 when 12 inches blanketed the city. According to the National Weather Service, 20.4 inches of snow fell March 13-15, 1993. The Blizzard of '93 is EPB's third most expensive storm in company history. Although snow quickly melted following the storm, many Eastern residents will not soon forget the impact of the Blizzard of 1993.---Image caption: Snowfall accumulation map for the Storm of the Century (NOAA, Climate.gov, NCEI) From Florida northward, the storm battered the entire eastern coastline, and at least 18 homes fell into the sea on Long Island due to the pounding surf. Philadelphia saw a record-breaking, at the time, foot of snow in only 24 hours while 23.6 inches fell during that same time period in Pittsburgh. Burlington set a 24-hour snowfall record with 25.3 inches. Before the monster storm system developed over the East, it spun up over Texas, bringing damaging winds and hail to southeastern areas of the Lone Star State the evening of March 11. From a climate and forecast perspective the city of Philadelphia had only one double digit snow storm between the February 1983 storm and this blizzard: The Storm Of The Century in March of 1993. m_gallery_title = "March 1993 snowstorm"; Specifically, according to NOAA’s National Climatic Data Center, Morgantown, PA reported 6 inches of snow on the … A 12-foot storm surge also occurred in Taylor County, Florida, resulting in at least seven deaths. The "Super Storm" of March 13, 1993 will go down in history as one of the largest winter storms on record. A storm of this magnitude was not a common occurrence and if anything, they fizzled or became rainier closer to occurrence time. The two-day blizzard started on Jan. 7 and dumped up to 3 feet of snow in York County, Pa. Philadelphia and Pennsylvania. It was part of a fierce system that spawned killer tornadoes and heavy snow from Florida through New England, leaving at least 18 people dead, cutting off electricity to more than 3 million customers and stranding thousands of travelers. At around 9 pm, the roof of the Knickerbocker Theater collapsed under the weight of the snow crushing and killing around 100 of the 300 movie goers. Scranton, Pa., and Chattanooga, Tenn., certainly have reason to think so. Known as the “Superstorm of 1993”, “The Blizzard of ‘93” and “Storm of the Century”, it is ranked as an “extreme” category 5 storm on NOAA’s Regional Snowfall Index (RSI) scale. The storm caused the most weather-related flight cancellations in U.S. history. Primary and secondary roads were not included, but people were encouraged to stay home unless there was an emergency. Shore residents were evacuated from Delaware to Maine. NCEI’s severe weather data and accompanying analyses provide decision makers and constituents with the needed tools to ensure the public is well prepared for future devastating storms. Weather-Speak. The snow started falling on March 12, 1993, and continued most of the next day. The blizzard pummeled the region with feet of snow, hitting areas in Lehigh and Northampton counties -- where snow totals peaked above 30 inches -- the hardest. A total of 31.9 inches of snow dropped in Allentown, a record for the city, while 22.4 inches dropped in Philadelphia, making it the 4th biggest snowstorm of all time for the city of Brotherly Love. Registration on or use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your California Privacy Rights (each updated 1/1/21). March 12-15th marks the 20 year anniversary of the “Storm of the Century”, the “’93 Superstorm”, or the “Blizzard of 1993”. For more information on how you can prepare yourself, your family, and your friends for severe weather, visit Ready.gov. Totals exceeded 76 cm at Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, establishing a new single-storm record, and reached 87.5 cm in west-central New Jersey and 120 cm in Pocahantas County, West Virginia. Unlike that storm, however, this one brought 30 mph winds, gusting to 60 mph, that whipped the snow into drifts and created "whiteout" conditions. The blizzard of 1993 was the 'Storm of the Century', Pennsylvania Department of Transportation. Snow emergencies were declared in many municipalities. Not every large dump of snow we get is a blizzard. The National Guard was deployed in many areas, and several counties and cities enforced curfews and declared states of emergency. Scranton, Pa., and Chattanooga, Tenn., certainly have reason to think so. But people were reported outlooks are available for 10 regions and subregions of the U.S. population to WNEP John! 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