Tag Archives: winter

Groundhog Day 2014

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Today is Groundhog Day, the midway point of the winter season.

On this day, according to legend, the weather conditions for the second half of winter can be predicted by the behavior of a prognosticating groundhog.  If the groundhog sees its shadow after emerging from its burrow, there will be six more weeks of winter.  If it does not see its shadow, then spring will arrive early.

In New York City, our local weather-groundhog is Charles G. Hogg – more popularly known as “Staten Island Chuck”.  Earlier this morning, he saw his shadow and is predicting  another six weeks of wintry conditions for the Big Apple.

On the job since 1981, Staten Island Chuck’s “forecasts” have been correct about 82% of the time.

Staten Island Chuck, the resident weather groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo. Image Credit: SILive

Charles G.Hogg, VII – the resident weather groundhog at the Staten Island Zoo in New York City.    Image Credit: SILive

NYC Monthly Summary: January 2014

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January is typically the coldest month on the calendar for New York City and this year it was brutal.  We experienced several arctic outbreaks and saw ice form on the Hudson River.  Overall, we had twelve days where our high temperature did not get above freezing.  While there were also a few unseasonably warm days, the multiple bouts of extreme cold brought the city’s average monthly temperature down to 28.6°F.  That is 4.4°F below normal.

In terms of precipitation, the Big Apple was very snowy with 19.7 inches of accumulation recorded in Central Park. On average, January usually brings the city a total of 7 inches of snowfall.  According to the NWS, January 2014 is now ranked as NYC’s 8th snowiest January on record.  Rainfall, however, was lacking.  The city only recieved 2.57 inches, which is 1.08 inches below normal for the month.

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Graph Credit: The Weather Gamut

Eighth Snowiest January for NYC

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Snow was abundant in New York City this month.  In fact, it was one of our top ten snowiest Januarys ever.

In Central Park, the city received 19.7 inches of snow this month.  That is 12.7 inches above average.  According to the NWS, that makes January 2014 the Big Apple’s 8th snowiest January on record.  It is also a significant departure from last January when the city only accumulated 1.5 inches for the month.

Data Source: NOAA

Data Source: NOAA

More Snow for a Winter Weary NYC

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The weather system that clobbered the Deep South yesterday also delivered a glancing blow of wintry precipitation to New York City. The NWS reported a dusting of 0.8 inches of snow in Central Park.

Courtesy of a prolonged cold snap, this modest accumulation fell on top of the snow cover still in place from our last major storm. For some winter weary New Yorkers, it was too much.

MoreSnow

Message written on a snow covered car in mid-town Manhattan.                                                   Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Winter Storm in the Deep South

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A rare winter storm paralyzed large sections of the southeastern United States yesterday.  Serious impacts from snow, sleet, and freezing rain were felt from the Gulf Coast to Virginia.

According to the NWS, 2.6 inches of snow fell in Atlanta, GA – a new daily record for the region’s largest city. As a whole, the Deep South is not accustomed to wintry precipitation and most cities and towns are not equipped to deal it.  Salt spreaders and snowplows are in short supply across the region.  As a result, major roads turned into sheets of ice creating very hazardous travel conditions.

The timing of the storm made the situation even worse.  Arriving in the afternoon, many people were caught on the roads trying to make their way home. Officials have reported hundreds of traffic accidents and stranded vehicles.  Many people were even forced to shelter in place overnight in cars, schools, and stores.

Snow and ice bring travel to a stand still near Atlanta, GA. Image Credit: Guardian LV

Snow and ice bring travel to a stand still near Atlanta, GA.  Image Credit: GuardianLV.com

Weather and Health: Extreme Cold

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Persistent frigid temperatures have been gripping a large part of the United States recently.  In these conditions it is important to remember that, like extreme heat, extreme cold can be very dangerous.

Extreme cold causes the body to lose heat faster than it can be generated.  Prolonged exposure, according to the CDC, can cause serious health problems, including hypothermia and frostbite.

Hypothermia is a condition of unusually low body temperature – generally below 95°F.  It impairs brain functions, limiting a victim’s ability to think and move.  Symptoms include severe shivering, drowsiness, confusion, slurred speech, and fumbling.  If left untreated, it can be fatal.

Frostbite is a localized injury to the skin and underlying tissues caused by freezing.  It can cause permanent damage and extreme cases often require amputation.  Areas of the body most often affected include the nose, ears, cheeks, fingers and toes. Signs of frostbite include, numbness, skin discoloration (white or greyish-yellow), and unusually firm or waxy feeling skin.

While the symptoms of both hypothermia and frostbite can range in severity, victims generally require immediate re-warming and professional medical attention.

To stay safe in cold weather, the American Red Cross recommends:

  • Avoiding prolonged exposure to extremely low temperatures
  • Wearing layers of clothing to keep warm
  • Using hats and gloves to minimize the loss of body heat

Ice on the Hudson River

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The New York City section of the Hudson River almost never freezes completely.  But, with high temperatures only in the teens the past few days, the river is currently churning with ice.

Near the city, the Hudson is an estuary. Fresh water flows down from the north and salt water moves in from the Atlantic Ocean to the south.  Since salt water has a lower freezing point than fresh water, it is usually only the fresh water, floating on top of the denser salt water, which freezes. This process forms ice floes – sheets of floating ice that oscillate with the tide.

The last time the Hudson River froze completely, according to historical records, was January 25, 1821.  The temperature in the city that day was a frigid -14°F.

NY Waterways Ferry on Icy Hudson River

Looking west, toward NJ, a NY Waterway Ferry navigates the Icy Hudson River.                                                                         Image sent in by David M, a Weather Gamut reader.

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Detail of ice floes on Hudson River, January 23, 2014.                                                                        Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Major Snowstorm in NYC

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A major winter storm dumped heavy snow from the Mid-Atlantic states to New England yesterday.  With some areas getting more than a foot of accumulation, records fell across the region.

Here in New York City, we received 11 inches of powdery snow in Central Park.  That is a new snowfall record for the date, according to the NWS.  The previous record of 6 inches was set in 2001.  The city’s snow total for the month is now 17.4 inches.  On average, we normally get 7 inches for the entire month of January.

Moving in from the mid-west, this storm started out as an Alberta Clipper. This type of system does not typically produce much snow, as it originates over land. This one, however, intensified when it reached the eastern seaboard and morphed into a nor’easter with heavy precipitation.

NYC taxi making its way through heavy snowfall.

NYC taxi making its way through heavy snowfall.  Image Credit: The Weather Gamut.

Snow and Another Blast of Arctic Air

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Heavy snow is forecast to blanket the east coast from Virginia to Maine later today.  As the storm passes, temperatures are expected to plummet.

A weakened polar vortex has allowed frigid arctic air to push southward for the second time this month. Temperatures are likely to drop below freezing as far south as northern Florida. The core of the cold, however, will be centered in the mid-west and northeast.  Here in NYC, daily high temperatures are forecast to be 15°F to 20°F below average for the remainder of the week.

While conditions are not expected to be as brutal as they were during the last arctic outbreak, the frigid weather will linger this time.  Today’s snow will likely stick around for awhile.

The Dead of Winter

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The deep freeze that gripped much of the U.S. this week has begun to thaw.  The “Dead of Winter”, however, is just beginning.

While actual daily weather varies, this old saying refers to what is statistically the coldest part of the winter season.  Between January 10th and February 10th, average temperatures reach their lowest point of the year in the northern hemisphere.

These few weeks are the climatological opposite of the “Dog Days of Summer“.