CASE STUDIES

The storm of the century, USA, March 1993

In March 1993, and intense pool of cold air moved southeastwards towards the east coast of the USA. When it reached the Gulf of Mexico, it collided with a tropical storm (warm tropical maritime air) heading north from the Gulf of Mexico. The result was hurricane-force winds, torrential rain and mountainous waves.

During the storm:

Winds from Florida to Canada reached gale force 9-11, with gusts of storm force 12 common. A maximum of 232km h−1 was recorded in Nova Scotia.
Snow fell at an average rate of 900 mm h-1. Drifts in many states reaced over 3m. Snow even fell in Florida.
The National Weather Service estimated that the snowfall during this 4-day reiod was equal to 40 days of flow on the lower Mississippi River.
Off Nova Scotia, waves up to 20m high sank the cairrier Gold Bond Conveyor with all hands (33 people).
Inland Nova Scotia was flooded as 520mm of rain, when the warm sector of the storm passed over.
Parts of New England and the barrier islands of Carolina were badly flooded as tidal surges lifted water locally by up to 3m above the normal.
Severe and unseasonal thunderstorms and tornadoes swept across Florida, triggered by the high sea temperatures.
The lowest recorded temperatures, at the cold front, was -12°C.
The lowest air pressure recorded over the 3 days was 962.8 mb.

The human consequences were severe: every major airport on the east coast was closed at some point or another, Amtrak suspended all rail services from Chicago to the east coast, inter-state highways 75, 77 and 81 wereclosed, and over 3 million people were left without electrical power. The storm caused 291 deaths (more than in the earlier Hurricane Andrew) and affected people in 26 states. The total damage was estimated at over $6 million and several states sought disaster relief from federal funds.

The Great Blizzard of 1888

In March 11 – March 14, 1888, there was one of the most severe recorded blizzards in the history of the United States of America. Snowfalls of 20–60 inches (51–152 cm) fell in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, and sustained winds of more than 45 miles per hour (72 km/h) produced snowdrifts in excess of 50 feet (15 m). Railroads were shut down and people were confined to their houses for up to a week. More than 400 people died from the storm and the ensuing cold, including 200 in New York City alone.

1972 Iran blizzard

The 1972 Iran Blizzard, which caused approximately 4,000 deaths, was the deadliest blizzard in recorded history. Dropping as much as 26 feet (7.9 m) of snow, it completely covered 200 villages. After a snowfall lasting nearly a week, an area the size of Wisconsin was entirely buried in snow.