STORMS CONTINUE TO HAMMER BOTH COASTS

March 5, 2001 — After taunting residents in the Northeast over the weekend, a strong Nor'easter was just beginning to take shape off the upper Atlantic coast Monday afternoon, dropping heavy snow across inland sections of Connecticut, Massachusetts and eastern New York. NOAA's National Weather Service forecasters said the storm will prompt coastal flood warnings as dangerously high winds and waves threaten the New England shorelines, extending south to New York and New Jersey. (Click March 5, 2001 NOAA satellite image of winter storm for larger view.)

(Click here to see latest NOAA satellite image of East Coast storm. Click here to see latest view of West Coast storm.)

Meanwhile on the West Coast, torrential rains from a major Pacific winter storm has dumped up to 13 inches of rain along the foothills and mountains of Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. The band of heavy rains will inch slowly south and impact the Los Angeles Basin and San Diego by Tuesday, but not before dumping another 5-10 inches of rain.

"Southern California doesn't get this type of rain," said Todd Morris, meteorologist in charge of the Los Angeles-area Weather Forecast Office in Oxnard. Tuesday through Wednesday, the Los Angeles area could pick up between five to 10 inches of rain in the mountain areas, and between two-to-five inches in the low-lying regions.

"When the heavy rain comes to Los Angeles, we will watch carefully for widespread urban flooding," Morris said, adding that the melting snow in mountains will heighten the flood potential.

Inland portions of Connecticut, Massachusetts, and eastern New York are receiving the heaviest snow. By early afternoon Monday, Albany, N.Y., had 11 inches on the ground and Binghamton reported 13 inches.

"We are expecting another six inches by morning, for a total of 18 to 24 inches when the storm ends," said Peter Ahnert, meteorologist in charge of the Binghamton Weather Forecast Office. "Our big concern now will be the winds, which on Tuesday morning, are likely to kick up to 30 mph and blow the snow into drifts."

By Tuesday evening, the Nor'easter is expected to move off the New York coast and trek south toward New Jersey. Forecasters are trying to pinpoint if the precipitation by then will be snow, sleet or a mixture of both.

"These are two potentially dangerous storm systems hitting the country at the same time," said Dave Reynolds, a National Weather Service senior forecaster. Reynolds, who works at NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center, also said the East Coast storm was a challenge to forecasters because of its unusual ingredients.

"There were two separate systems—one with a northern stream, with cold air, the other with a southern stream, driving in the bulk of the moisture—and they had to `phase' just right to develop into the major storm we thought was possible," Reynolds said.

"The southern part of the [storm] system brought in more warm air, and the northern system went further west," Reynolds said, adding when that maneuver occurred, the heavy snow eluded major metropolitan areas in the Mid-Atlantic region, including Washington, D.C., Philadelphia and New York City.

Dr. Jim Hoke, director of the HPC, pointed to recent technology improvements that have helped forecasters keep pace with this storm. "Previously, this system would not have been detected so early. Only through recent advancements in computer technology, advanced observation and numerical modeling are we now able to see systems develop like this so far in advance," he said.

As Nor'easters go, Reynolds said, they are tricky to forecast, and the current system is no exception. "By no means is this over. People should continue monitoring the forecasts to keep up with the storms."

Relevant Web Sites
NOAA's National Weather Service

NOAA's Hydrometeorological Prediction Center

NOAA's Marine Prediction Center

NOAA's Storm Prediction Center

What is a Nor'easter or Northeast Winter Storm?

The following National Weather Service Web sites are available to provide up-to-the-minute winter weather information.

Current winter storm watches, warnings and temperatures across the United States

NOAA's Climate Prediction Center — Winter Outlook 2000-2001

National forecasts that extend from three to 14 days in advance

Winter weather safety and preparedness tips to handle snow, ice, wind and bitter cold temperatures

Map showing the latest conditions over the United States

NOAA's Weather Page — includes latest satellite images and weather maps

NOAA's National Weather Service Office of Climate, Water, and Weather Services

NOAA Weather Radio

Media Contacts:
Carmeyia Gillis, NOAA's Climate Prediction Center, (301) 763-8000, ext. 7163 or John Leslie, NOAA's National Weather Service, (301) 713-0622

 

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