WINTER STORM PACKS A MIGHTY PUNCH TO EASTERN USA

Jan 23, 2005 — Snow piled up throughout many regions in the Northeast as a powerful winter storm finally made its way into the Atlantic Ocean. The snow that began in the northern Plains and upper Mississippi Valley on Friday and crossed the Ohio Valley late Friday and early Saturday also left in its wake shattered weather records and bone-chilling temperatures. (Click NOAA image for larger view of NOAA satellite snow cover analysis of the United States for Jan. 23, 2005. Click here for latest view. Please credit “NOAA.”)

Preliminary snow accumulations from the NOAA National Weather Service for some cities across Massachusetts alone soared passed the three-foot mark by mid-afternoon Sunday. Salem had 38 inches; Melrose, 36 inches, Boston, 26 inches. Total snow accumulations in some parts of the state may exceed six feet in height due to blowing and drifting snow.

Damaging hurricane-force winds of 74 mph and higher were reported Sunday along the coast of eastern Massachusetts, including Nantucket. A storm spotter in Sandwich, Mass., reported a wind gust of 83 mph on Sunday.

Saturday’s snowfall in the Northeast set a record for the date in the following cities (previous record and year of occurrence): New York, N.Y., 8.5 inches (8.1 inches in 1987); Bridgeport, Conn., 7.0 inches (5.6 inches in 1987); Providence, R.I., 7.0 inches (5.5 inches in 1987); Boston, Mass., 9.1 inches (5.3 inches in 1987). With additional snow on Sunday, these substantial accumulations will not only surpass the average snowfall for the entire month of January but will also equal a great percentage of the annual average. For southern New England, this will be a historic snowstorm that ranks among the storms with the highest total accumulations.

Winds gusting up to 60 mph on Saturday whipped the snow that piled up to 15 inches in the upper Midwest. Saturday’s snowfall was heavy enough to set a record for the date in the following cities: Detroit, Mich., 12.2 inches ( 4.2 inches in 1966); Milwaukee, Wis., 9.0 inches (4.8 inches in 1965); South Bend, Ind., 6.8 inches (6.7 inches in 1957); Houghton Lake, Mich., 3.0 inches (2.9 inches in 1974); Alpena, Mich., 7.8 inches (3.5 inches in 1980); Grand Rapids, Mich., 12.3 inches (4.6 inches in 1952); Lansing, Mich., 12.6 inches (5.5 inches in 1907).

Sunshine is forecast to return to the Northeast on Monday as winds calm, though snow showers and flurries could occur around inland locations. Daytime temperatures will likely rise above the freezing mark on Tuesday from Washington D.C., to New York and in southern New England on Wednesday.

NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of the nation’s coastal and marine resources. NOAA is part of the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Relevant Web Sites
Today's National Weather

NOAA National Winter Weather Forecasts

NOAA Weather Service

NOAA Operational Daily Snow Cover Analysis (Satellite Imagery)

NOAA Snow Water Equivalent

NOAA U.S. Snow Monitoring

NOAA National Climatic Data Center (Archived Weather Data)

NOAA Weather Service Suite of Official Weather Products

NOAA Winter Weather Safety/Wind Chill

NOAA Storm Watch

Media Contacts:
Chris Vaccaro, NOAA National Weather Service, (301) 928-8852
National Media: Carmeyia Gillis, NOAA Climate Prediction Center, (301) 763-8000 ext. 7163
NOAA Weather Service Eastern Region: Greg Romano, (301) 713-0622 ext. 169
NOAA Weather Service Southern Region: Ron Trumbla, (817) 978-1111 ext. 140
NOAA Weather Service Central Region: Pat Slattery, (816) 891-7734 ext. 621
NOAA Weather Service Western Region: Greg Romano, (301) 713-0622 ext. 169