Blizzard Threatens Texas All-Time Snowfall Records

8 PM CST February 26 Update: Map updated with final totals.

8 PM CST Update: The Amarillo snow total of 19" is the third heaviest for any storm on record:

19 inches of snow at NWS #Amarillo. 2nd most snow in a calendar day and 3rd most for any event. #phwx #amablizzard

— NWS Amarillo (@NWSAmarillo) February 26, 2013

4 PM CST Update: Here are some unofficial snowfall reports from the National Weather Service for the Texas panhandle:

Location              Snowfall  Source
7 ENE Amarillo  TX      17      nws office
Fritch          TX      16      trained spotter
Pampa           TX      15      co-op observer
6 SE Booker     TX      14      trained spotter
Fritch          TX      14      trained spotter
White Deer      TX      14      public
Booker          TX      14      emergency mngr
Fritch          TX      13      public
3 S Darrouzett  TX      12.5    trained spotter
Dumas           TX      12      law enforcement
Bushland        TX      12      public
6 SW Amarillo   TX      12      trained spotter 

Original Post:
The ongoing blizzard in the Texas panhandle is threatening to break some all-time Texas snowfall records. These are the current snowfall records at Amarillo, from the National Weather Service:

Max for 24 hours: 20.6 inches on March 25-26, 1934
Max for a single storm: 20.6 inches on March 25-26, 1934
Max for one month: 28.7 inches in February 1903
Max measured snow depth: 17.0 inches on February 26, 1903
Max for a season: 50.9 inches in 1918-19

The NWS at Amarillo reports:

GOING FORECAST STILL ON TRACK. THE NWS OFFICE NOW HAS OVER 13 INCHES
ON THE GROUND WITH 3-4 FOOT DRIFTS AND A MAX GUST TO 58 MPH. THE SE
TX PANHANDLE HAS BEEN SLOW TO FILL IN WITH SNOW AFTER THE
THUNDERSTORMS THAT DROPPED HEAVY RAIN LAST NIGHT AND THESE AREAS
MIGHT END UP WITH AMOUNTS CLOSER TO THE 8 INCH SIDE THAN THE 14 INCH
SIDE OF THEIR RANGE. AT THE END OF THE DAY...THE HEAVIEST TOTALS
WILL ALMOST CERTAINLY BE ALONG A PALO DURO CANYON TO AMARILLO TO
STINNETT TO PERRYTON LINE.

SOME RECORDS SEEM TO BE IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION TODAY. THE FIRST IS
AN ALL-TIME 24 HOUR SNOWFALL RECORD AT AMARILLO OF 20.6 INCHES FROM
MARCH 25-26 1934. WE WILL LIKELY GET VERY CLOSE OR SURPASS THIS
NUMBER BY THIS AFTERNOON.

THE OTHER IS THE ALL-TIME STATE OF TEXAS 24 HOUR SNOWFALL RECORD OF
25 INCHES IN FOLLETT SET MARCH 28 2009. SOMEWHERE IN THE
PERRYTON/STINNETT/BORGER/AMARILLO AREA COULD APPROACH THIS VALUE BY
THIS AFTERNOON.  

Next Storm Threatens Wichita All-Time Monthly Snow Record [Update: Record Broken]

February 26, 9 AM CST Update: The Wichita daily record snowfall of 4.8" yesterday, plus 2" so far today, brings the monthly total to 21", which breaks the record.

February 25, 8 PM CST Update: The heaviest snow appears to be passing south of Wichita. The National Weather Service reports just 1.9" so far today.

4 PM CST Update: The latest National Weather Service updated forecast calls for over 14" of snow at Wichita. This could exceed the old monthly record by an incredible 8":



Original Post:
It's still getting itself organized over the Rockies, but the next Midwest storm is threatening to bring heavy snow to Kansas for the second time within a week. The current forecast is calling for 6-12" of new snow for Wichita. If this verifies even slightly above the low end of the range, it could push the current monthly total of 14.2" above the all-time monthly record of 20.5" set exactly 100 years ago.

Second Biggest Snowstorm on Record at Wichita

8 PM CST Update: Unofficial reports of 12" or more of snow in Kansas have been added below.

Original post:
The latest National Weather Service storm total report from Wichita, Kansas indicates that the 14.2" so far is the second biggest snowstorm since records began in 1888. According to the latest hourly report, snow has now ended. Elsewhere in Kansas, unofficial reports were as high as 18". From the NWS:

.TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON   
.DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE.    
            ..REMARKS..  
  
0440 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WICHITA MID CONTINENT A 37.66N 97.44W   
02/21/2013  M14.2 INCH       SEDGWICK           KS   OFFICIAL NWS OBS  
  
            OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA THROUGH 440 PM.  

0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       NASHVILLE               37.44N 98.42W   
02/21/2013  M18.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   LAW ENFORCEMENT   
  
0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       SPIVEY                  37.45N 98.17W   
02/21/2013  M14.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   TRAINED SPOTTER   
  
0448 PM     HEAVY SNOW       KINGMAN                 37.65N 98.11W   
02/21/2013  M14.0 INCH       KINGMAN            KS   EMERGENCY MNGR   

The NWS chart shows the previous top 20 snowstorms at Wichita:



This storm will also make February 2013 a top-20 snowiest month and the 5th snowiest February at Wichita:



[Update] Here are some unofficial reports of 12" or more:

THE TOTALS BELOW ARE SEPARATED INTO SNOW...AND ICE AND SLEET  
CATEGORIES...THEN BY AMOUNT...AND ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE  
FINAL AMOUNT FOR EACH LOCATION.  
  
SNOW REPORTS LISTED BY AMOUNT  
  
 INCHES  LOCATION                 ST  COUNTY           TIME  
 ------  -----------------------  --  --------------   -------  
 18.00   NASHVILLE                KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.20   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0440 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA  
                 THROUGH 440 PM.  
 14.00   NORWICH                  KS  KINGMAN          0503 PM  
                 7 INCHES OF NEW SNOWFALL SINCE EARLY THIS  
                 MORNING WITH TOTAL OF 14 INCHES ON GROUND.  
 14.00   SPIVEY                   KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.00   KINGMAN                  KS  KINGMAN          0448 PM  
 14.00   CLEARWATER               KS  SEDGWICK         0348 PM  
 14.00   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0346 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL FOR WICHITA.  
 14.00   CLEARWATER               KS  SEDGWICK         0245 PM  
 13.50   HUTCHINSON               KS  RENO             0554 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL RANGED FROM 12 TO 15  
                 INCHES IN THE HUTCHINSON AREA.  
 13.10   HUTCHINSON               KS  RENO             1142 AM  
 13.00   8 E KINGMAN              KS  KINGMAN          0644 PM  
 13.00   ELLSWORTH                KS  ELLSWORTH        0429 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL.  
 13.00   N LYONS                  KS  RICE             0404 PM  
                 SNOWFALL REPORTS ACROSS THE COUNTY RANGE FROM  
                 12 TO 14 INCHES.  
 13.00   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        1203 PM  
 12.80   1 E HAYSVILLE            KS  SEDGWICK         0457 PM  
 12.50   WICHITA MID CONTINENT A  KS  SEDGWICK         0246 PM  
                 OFFICIAL STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL SO FAR FOR  
                 WICHITA.  
 12.00   4 ESE MARQUETTE          KS  MCPHERSON        0535 PM  
 12.00   MCPHERSON                KS  MCPHERSON        0534 PM  
                 STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL WAS 11.8 INCHES WITH  
                 DEPTH AT 11.0 INCHES.  
 12.00   SALINA                   KS  SALINE           0438 PM  
                 SNOW TOTAL WAS REPORTED TO BE 11.7 INCHES  
 12.00   LYONS                    KS  RICE             1016 AM  
                 DRIFTS OF UNSPECIFIED DEPTH ALSO REPORTED.  
 12.00   5 N EL DORADO            KS  BUTLER           0930 AM  
                 RURAL REPORTS OF 12 INCHES OF SNOW NORTH OF  
                 EL DORADO.  

Snowiest Christmas on Record at Little Rock, Second Highest All-Time December Amount

Image (click to enlarge) from National Weather Service: "Heavy snow falling at the National Weather Service here in North Little Rock. This image was taken just before 10 pm...looking north towards the rain gauges and upper air shelter (where weather balloons are released) in the background."

December 26, 10 AM Update: The final storm total is 10.3" at both Little Rock and North Little Rock. This is a new all-time December single storm and monthly snowfall record (see list below).

Original post:
The National Weather Service reports 9" of snow on Christmas at Little Rock as of midnight:

Official snowfall measurements:8.9 at Adams Field, 8.5 at North Little Rock. #arwx

— NWS Little Rock (@NWSLittleRock) December 26, 2012

(These amounts were later updated by 0.1" each from amounts recorded before 6 pm.)

The 9.0" at Adams Field is more than double the old record of 4.2" for December 25. It is also the second highest for any day in December since Little Rock snowfall records began in 1875.

Through December 24, the month to date average temperature at Little Rock is 53.0°, which is 9.4° above normal. At this rate, this would be the second warmest December on record.

The Little Rock record monthly and daily snowfall amounts for December from the National Weather Service:

TOP 10 SNOWIEST DEC
BY MONTHLY SNOWFALL
1. 1963 - 9.8”
2. 1880 – 7.8”
3. 1932 – 7.1”
4. 1917 - 6.6”
5. 1960 - 6.0”
6. 1914 - 6.0”
7. 1876 – 6.0”
8. 1958 - 5.0”
9. 1926 – 4.2”
10.1898 - 4.0”
NORMAL – 0.2”

TOP 10 SNOWIEST DAYS IN DEC
BY DAILY SNOWFALL
1. 22 DEC 1963 - 9.8" 6. 25 DEC 1926 – 4.2"
2. 31 DEC 1960 – 6.0" 7. 04 DEC 1898 – 4.0"
3. 12 DEC 1914 – 6.0" 8. 28 DEC 1876 – 4.0"
4. 19 DEC 1880 – 5.8" 9. 08 DEC 1917 – 3.5"
5. 16 DEC 1932 - 5.5" 10. 22 DEC 2004 – 3.3" 

Oklahoma City Christmas Snowfall 2nd Highest on Record

The 0.6" of snow which fell at Oklahoma City on December 25 was the second highest amount ever recorded there on Christmas. It was, however, only 10% of the 6.5" nearly a century ago in 1914. The monthly average temperature for December to date at Oklahoma City is 46.7°, which is 5.6° above normal.

The list of Christmas snowfalls and amounts on the ground at Oklahoma City, from the National Weather Service:

Years with Snowfall   Snow on Ground
on Christmas Day      on Christmas Morning    
1913 Trace            1913  Trace
1914 6.5 inches       1914  6 inches
1937 Trace            1918  5 inches
1938 Trace            1939  Trace
1939 0.3 inches       1943  1 inch
1948 Trace            1962  Trace
1952 Trace            1975  1 inch
1962 Trace            1983  Trace
1975 0.5 inches       1987  Trace
1987 Trace            1990  Trace
2000 Trace            2002  2 inches
                 2009  14 inches 

Early Mid-Atlantic Snow: Seasonal Harbinger or Freak Event?

Today's remarkably early snowfall "battered" (seriously, the term used by a major media outlet) the Washington, DC metro area with widespread traces of snow. Here at the climate capitalist capitol, at least 100 meters higher than the official reporting location, there are white areas on grass and car tops. The official daily totals through 5 pm (and likely final amounts as the storm moves off to the northeast) are:

Washington National  Trace
Washington Dulles    0.6"
Baltimore BWI        Trace 

The National and BWI amounts tied daily records from 1925 and 1952, respectively. The Dulles amount was a record for the date. However, all 3 totals fell short, in both amount and timing, of the records set for earliest measurable snow on October 10, 1979.

If March snow is rare in Washington, October snow is even rarer. Prior to today, a trace or more of snow had been observed in only 10 Octobers since official snowfall records began in 1888. Only 3 of those had measurable amounts:

1925 2.2"
1940 1.5"
1979 0.3"  

Does such early snowfall have any significance for the remainder of the season? The record says a resounding "No". The chart shows the October snowfall totals (dark blue) along with the entire seasonal amounts for each of the 10 seasons (lighter blue). Three of the snow seasons (1892-93, 1917-18 and 1957-58) had substantially above-average amounts of 30" or more. On the other hand, 3 other seasons had single-digit totals of under 7", including 1972-73, which had the lowest seasonal total on record of 0.1" (tied with 1997-98). Overall, the average of the 10 seasons with October snow was 18.9", just barely above the historical average of 18.2" for all seasons from 1888 through 2011 (green bars on the right).

Image (click to enlarge): October snowfall vs. full-season totals for Washington, DC, 1888-2011; CapitalClimate chart from National Weather Service data, background image © Kevin Ambrose (www.weatherbook.com)

Northeast Blizzard Snow Totals Top 20" [Over 50 cm], Winds Reach Hurricane Force; Near-Record Low Pressure

2 PM Update: At 7 am EST this morning, as the center of the Northeast blizzard was passing close by, Nantucket reported a barometric pressure of 28.46" and falling. This was just slightly above the all-time mainland U.S. pressure record set just a few months ago in Minnesota.

Noon Update: The images below (click to enlarge) from the National Weather Service show forecast storm total snowfalls from Delaware through New Jersey, Long Island, and southern New York and Connecticut.


Here are some of the highest updated snowfall reports from the blizzard pounding the Northeast. The data have been compiled from National Weather Service offices from Philadelphia through Portland, Maine, as of noon, Monday, December 27:

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************  
  
LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS                     
                     SNOWFALL           OF   
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT  
MASSACHUSETTS  
   
..BERKSHIRE COUNTY  
   WILLIAMSTOWN          22.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   OTIS                  20.0  1002 AM 12/27                            
   ADAMS                 19.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   NORTH OTIS            17.0   645 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER  

..BRISTOL COUNTY  
   TAUNTON               16.7  1004 AM 12/27  NWS OFFICE                
   MANSFIELD             16.5   810 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO            

..ESSEX COUNTY  
   SAUGUS                17.0   447 AM 12/27  GENERAL PUBLIC            
   SALEM                 17.0  1059 AM 12/27  SALEM STATE               

..NORFOLK COUNTY  
   FOXBORO               16.5   955 AM 12/27                

..PLYMOUTH COUNTY  
   BROCKTON              16.0   956 AM 12/27  HAM RADIO       

..SUFFOLK COUNTY  
   SOUTH BOSTON          17.0  1039 AM 12/27                            
   EAST BOSTON           16.5   709 AM 12/27  NWS EMPLOYEE          

NEW HAMPSHIRE

..COOS COUNTY  
   RANDOLPH              25.0  1148 AM 12/27  COCORAHS       

..GRAFTON COUNTY  
   GRAFTON               24.0  1126 AM 12/27                            
   5 S PIERMONT          22.0  1150 AM 12/27              

NEW YORK

..COLUMBIA COUNTY  
   KINDERHOOK            21.0   834 AM 12/27  2 TO 3 FOOT DRIFTS        
   NORTH CHATHAM         20.3   802 AM 12/27  DRIFTS TO 4 FEET          
   CLAVERACK             20.0  1129 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6               
   NORTH HILLSDALE       20.0   714 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   GHENT                 20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   HILLSDALE             20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   TAGHKANIC             19.0   800 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6               
   LEBANON SPRINGS       18.0   830 AM 12/27                            
   ANCRAMDALE            17.5  1125 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6 

..DUTCHESS COUNTY  
   PINE PLAINS           25.0   758 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6               
   RHINEBECK             17.0   938 AM 12/27                   

..GREENE COUNTY  
   MAPLECREST            17.0   856 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6      

..RENSSELAER COUNTY  
   EAST POESTENKILL      24.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   GRAFTON               24.0  1128 AM 12/27                            
   STEPHENTOWN           20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   AVERILL PARK          20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   SCHODACK CENTER       19.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN           

..ULSTER COUNTY  
   NEW PALTZ             16.0   700 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER            
   ROSENDALE             14.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                    

..BRONX COUNTY  
   SOUNDVIEW PARK HOMES  22.5   800 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   BEDFORD PARK          22.0   600 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    

..KINGS (BROOKLYN) COUNTY  
   SHEEPSHEAD BAY        24.0   700 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   BROOKLYN              17.5   130 AM 12/27  PUBLIC         
   
..NASSAU COUNTY  
   OLD BETHPAGE          20.5   907 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   CARLE PLACE           18.1   800 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER       

..NEW YORK COUNTY  
   CENTRAL PARK          20.0   700 AM 12/27  ASOS             

..ORANGE COUNTY  
   TUXEDO PARK           26.0   255 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   HARRIMAN              26.0   630 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   MONROE                24.0   900 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   NEW WINDSOR           17.5   745 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                 

..QUEENS COUNTY  
   ASTORIA               16.1   801 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   NYC/JFK AIRPORT       15.5   700 AM 12/27  ASOS                 

..RICHMOND COUNTY  
   GREAT KILLS           29.0   900 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   ELTINGVILLE           22.0   800 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   STATEN ISLAND         17.8   800 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER    

..SUFFOLK COUNTY  
   NORTH BABYLON         18.5   845 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   UPTON                 17.6   700 AM 12/27  NWS OFFICE        
   CENTEREACH            17.0   930 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER          

..WESTCHESTER COUNTY  
   YONKERS               19.5   800 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   MOUNT VERNON          17.0  1115 PM 12/26  BROADCAST MEDIA           
   BRONXVILLE            17.0  1140 PM 12/26  PUBLIC                    

VERMONT  
   
..BENNINGTON COUNTY  
   WOODFORD              20.0   743 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6               
   BENNINGTON            20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   POWNAL                20.0   730 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER            
   NORTH BENNINGTON      20.0   830 AM 12/27  WTEN                      
   20  SUNDERLAND        19.0   700 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER            
   LANDGROVE             18.0   753 AM 12/27  WEATHERNET6       

..WINDHAM COUNTY  
   BALL MOUNTAIN LAKE    18.0   700 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER      

CONNECTICUT  
   
..FAIRFIELD COUNTY  
   WILTON                18.0   830 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   GREENWICH             17.0   700 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   NORWALK               16.0   910 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   DANBURY               14.1   800 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER            
   BRIDGEPORT            12.0   900 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER

NEW JERSEY  
   
..BERGEN COUNTY  
   LYNDHURST             29.0   230 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   LODI                  27.1   700 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   RUTHERFORD            23.0   800 AM 12/27  NJ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS       
   OAKLAND               22.0   730 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   GARFIELD              21.8   331 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER   
   1 W TENAFLY           20.0   700 AM 12/27  COCORAHS             
   MAHWAH                17.5  1000 PM 12/26  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   RIDGEWOOD             17.5   622 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   PARAMUS               17.0   800 AM 12/27  NJ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS       

..ESSEX COUNTY  
   NEWARK AIRPORT        24.2   700 AM 12/27  ASOS                      
   VERONA                23.0   500 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   MILLBURN              22.5   800 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   CEDAR GROVE           21.1   700 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   BELLEVILLE            19.4  1130 PM 12/26  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   WEST ORANGE           17.0  1200 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   
..HUDSON COUNTY  
   SECAUCUS              25.0   800 AM 12/27  NJ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS                         
   HARRISON              25.0   800 AM 12/27  CO-OP OBSERVER            
   JERSEY CITY           23.0   800 AM 12/27  NJ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS       
   HOBOKEN               19.9   800 AM 12/27  SKYWARN SPOTTER                   
   
..PASSAIC COUNTY  
   CLIFTON               25.0   800 AM 12/27  NJ DEPT OF HIGHWAYS       
   HASKELL               24.5   200 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   WAYNE                 22.0   915 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   RINGWOOD              22.0   810 AM 12/27  PUBLIC                    
   WEST MILFORD          22.0   415 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER                 
   
..UNION COUNTY  
   ELIZABETH             31.8   700 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   ROSELLE               28.7   710 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   UNION                 27.0   745 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER           
   CLARK                 27.0   745 AM 12/27  TRAINED SPOTTER
   FANWOOD               26.0   100 AM 12/27  PUBLIC 
  
..ATLANTIC COUNTY  
   PLEASANTVILLE         19.0   820 AM 12/27                            
   ATLANTIC CITY         19.0   808 AM 12/27                            
   NORTHFIELD            17.5  1148 PM 12/26                  

..BURLINGTON COUNTY  
   WRIGHTSTOWN           19.2  1036 AM 12/27  CO-OP                     
   CHESTERFIELD          19.0  1056 AM 12/27                            
   SOUTHAMPTON TWP       18.0   951 AM 12/27                  

..CAPE MAY COUNTY  
   DENNISVILLE           26.5   947 AM 12/27                            
   ELDORA                25.0   946 AM 12/27                            
   ERMA                  22.0   945 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH CAPE MAY        21.0   945 AM 12/27                            
   GREEN CREEK           18.5   944 AM 12/27                            
   CAPE MAY              18.0   748 PM 12/26  HARBOR                    
   SCOTCH BONNET         17.0   946 AM 12/27                 

..MIDDLESEX COUNTY  
   EDISON                25.0   935 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH EDISON          23.3   916 AM 12/27                            
   CHEESEQUAKE           23.2   837 AM 12/27                            
   SAYREVILLE            21.0  1236 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH BRUNSWICK TWP   20.2  1029 PM 12/26                            
   NEW BRUNSWICK         19.5  1032 AM 12/27  CO-OP                     
   METUCHEN              19.1   151 AM 12/27                            
   HOPELAWN              18.5   839 AM 12/27            

..MONMOUTH COUNTY  
   COLTS NECK            25.0   956 AM 12/27                            
   MIDDLETOWN            24.0  1059 AM 12/27  DRIFTS TO THREE FEET      
   CREAM RIDGE           22.7   922 AM 12/27                            
   MIDDLETOWN TWP        21.0  1215 AM 12/27                            
   HOLMDEL               20.0   917 AM 12/27                            
   LAKE COMO             19.0  1107 PM 12/26          

..MORRIS COUNTY  
   LINCOLN PARK          29.0   800 AM 12/27  DRIFTS OVER THREE FEET.   
   BUTLER                22.0   935 AM 12/27  DRIFTS TO FOUR FEET       
   MONROE                18.0   824 PM 12/26                         

..OCEAN COUNTY  
   TOMS RIVER            28.0   941 AM 12/27                            
   BRICKTOWN             27.0   917 AM 12/27                            
   BAYVILLE              26.0   920 AM 12/27                            
   MANAHAWKIN            21.0   916 AM 12/27                            
   FORKED RIVER          21.0   919 AM 12/27                            
   JACKSON TWP           20.1   921 AM 12/27                            
   HERBERTSVILLE         20.0   924 AM 12/27                            
   MANCHESTER TWP        19.2   919 AM 12/27                            
   LAKEWOOD              18.0   917 AM 12/27                            
   BAMBER LAKE           17.0   917 AM 12/27                            
   WHITING               17.0   919 AM 12/27          

..SOMERSET COUNTY  
   SOMERSET              22.5   100 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH PLAINFIELD      18.0  1100 PM 12/26       

Original post:

Image (click to enlarge): Surface weather map for 10 pm EST, December 26, 2010, shows a low with minimum pressure of 972 mb (a drop of 19 mb in 12 hours) centered south of Cape Cod. By 1 am Monday, pressure at Martha's Vineyard MA was down to 974.4 mb and at Montauk NY was 974.2 mb.

As the blizzard off the Northeast coast continues to strengthen, storm total reports exceeding 18" have already been reported. As of midnight Sunday, snowfall amounts near or above one and a half feet include:

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS                     
                     SNOWFALL           OF   
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT  
NEW JERSEY  
   
..BERGEN COUNTY  
   MAHWAH                17.0   930 PM 12/26  TRAINED SPOTTER  

..UNION COUNTY  
   ELIZABETH             19.0   850 PM 12/26  TRAINED SPOTTER         

..ATLANTIC COUNTY  
   NORTHFIELD            17.5  1148 PM 12/26   

..CAPE MAY COUNTY  
   CAPE MAY              18.0   748 PM 12/26  HARBOR   

..MIDDLESEX COUNTY  
   SAYREVILLE            21.0  1236 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH BRUNSWICK TWP   20.2  1029 PM 12/26                            
   EDISON                20.1  1117 PM 12/26                            
   HOPELAWN              18.5  1000 PM 12/26   

..MONMOUTH COUNTY  
   MIDDLETOWN TWP        21.0  1215 AM 12/27                            
   LAKE COMO             19.0  1107 PM 12/26      

..MORRIS COUNTY  
   LINCOLN PARK          18.0   958 PM 12/26                            
   MONROE                18.0   824 PM 12/26            

..SOMERSET COUNTY  
   SOMERSET              19.5  1209 AM 12/27                            
   NORTH PLAINFIELD      18.0  1100 PM 12/26      

Meanwhile, wind gusts over 50 mph have been reported over a wide area, including Bridgeport CT (60 mph), Madison CT (56 mph), New Haven CT (51 mph), Groton CT (52 mph), Newark NJ (51 mph), Farmingdale NY (51 mph), Islip NY (64 mph), Wellfleet MA (80 mph), Orleans MA (79 mph), Harwich MA (58 mph), Chatham MA (53 mph), E. Falmouth MA (52 mph), Yarmouth MA (50 mph), Edgartown MA (56 mph), Nantucket (59 mph)

California Rainfall Smashes Records By Wide Margin

The torrential rainfall of the past week set numerous records in California and the southwestern U.S. For the 7 days ending December 23, the precipitation totals were off the chart---over 600% of normal for at least half of California and Nevada, nearly all of Utah, most of Arizona, and eastward into southern Wyoming and western Colorado.

The National Weather Service has reported that the monthly totals so far are now the wettest on record for December at the airports in Los Angeles, Long Beach, Camarillo, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria. In some of the higher elevations of interior southern California, storm totals ranged as high as 28". The printed amounts on the map to the right are a little hard to read, but note that the yellow areas represent 24-28", and the orange pixels are over 28".

Several daily rainfall records were broken by spectacular margins. In the San Joaquin Valley, at Bakersfield, California, the 1.37" on the 18th was over 4.5 times the previous record, which dated back to 1921. The 1.53" on the next day was more than triple the old record and easily beat the all-time daily record for December of 1.02" on the 27th in 1936. Bakersfield climate records go back to 1889. The 24-hour total of 2.31" on the 18th-19th was double the old December record of 1.15" on December 3-4, 1914. It was also the 3rd highest all-time 24-hour amount at Bakersfield, just behind the 2.32" on January 24-25, 1999. The monthly total of 4.95" so far has exceeded by nearly 2" the old December record of 2.98" set in 1931. This is now within striking distance of the all-time wettest month for Bakersfield, 5.36" in February 1998.

At the higher elevations of central California, snowfall was measured not in feet, but in tens of feet. Here are some of the more amazing estimated amounts:

Location                County   Snowfall
PASCOES SNOTEL          TULARE    204"
WEST WOODCHUCK MEADOW   FRESNO    192"
CHAGOOPA PLATEAU SNOTEL TULARE    120"
WET MEADOWS SNOTEL      TULARE    191"
BISHOP PASS SNOTEL      FRESNO    195"
CRABTREE MEADOW SNOTEL  TULARE    143"
KAISER POINT SNOTEL     FRESNO    168"   

Over 1900 daily rainfall records have been set through December 24 in the U.S., nearly 50% more than the total low temperature and high temperature records combined. Of these, 262 were set in California alone, with 58 on the 19th, 44 on the 20th, and 40 on the 22nd.

Meanwhile, despite the excess earlier in the month, daily low temperature records are less than 100 ahead of the daily high temperature records for December. The year-to-date ratio of heat records to cold records remains well in favor of the heat records at 2.4 to 1.

Images (click to enlarge): California, Nevada, Utah, and Arizona 7-day precipitation percentage of normal ending 7 am EDT, December 23 from National Weather Service (NWS); Storm total precipitation for southern California, December 17-23, from NWS; Monthly total of daily low temperature, high temperature, and precipitation records through December 24, CapitalClimate chart from National Climatic Data Center records

Syracuse Snowless String Snapped Sharply

The National Weather Service reports that the 1" of snow which fell at Syracuse, NY on December 3 ended a string of 280 days with less than an inch of snow which began on February 26. This was 7 days less than the record of 287 days from February 26 to December 8 last year.

Since that first snowfall of the season, Syracuse has set 3 consecutive daily snowfall records:

Date    Amount  Old Record Year
Dec. 6   12.2"   8.8"      2000
Dec. 7    9.3"   7.0"      1958
Dec. 8   14.9"   8.9"      1961 

Through Dec. 9, measurable snow has now fallen at Syracuse every day this month except for the 2nd. The monthly total so far of 47.7" is over 50% above the average December total of 28.6". On the other hand, this is still well below the top 5 snowiest Decembers since 1950:

1. 70.3  2000
2. 64.6  1989
3. 52.9  2005
4. 52.5  1969
5. 51.9  1970 

The December daily snowfall record at Syracuse is 18.6", set on the 30th in 1997. The annual average snowfall is 121.1".

Another extended bout of lake-effect snow is likely next week.

As of last evening, NWS reports show 5-day storm totals approaching 5 feet in a few places:

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL 12/4-12/9/2010****************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT


NEW YORK

...BROOME COUNTY...
   BINGHAMTON REG        21.7   700 AM  12/9 BINGHAMTON AIRPORT
   WHITNEY POINT         16.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.7 SSE
   WINDSOR               13.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 8 SE
   CHENANGO FORKS        11.1   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3 SE
   BINGHAMTON             8.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.8 SW
   VESTAL                 7.9   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2.8 SSE

...CAYUGA COUNTY...
   AUBURN                20.3  1023 AM  12/9 COOP
   CAYUGA                16.0   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3.2 ESE
   AUBURN                15.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 8.3 SSE
   LOCKE                 13.3  1029 AM  12/9 COOP

...CHEMUNG COUNTY...
   VAN ETTEN              1.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.3 ENE

...CHENANGO COUNTY...
   SHERBURNE             28.3   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3.6 NNE
   SHERBURNE             16.2  1030 AM  12/9 COOP
   NORWICH                8.1   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 5.4 W

...CORTLAND COUNTY...
   FREETOWN              15.0  1001 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   MCGRAW                15.0   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 5.2 SE
   WILLET                14.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.8 E
   MARATHON              13.1   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1 NW
   MARATHON               8.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.7 WSW

...DELAWARE COUNTY...
   HAMDEN                12.3  1005 AM  12/9 COCORAHS

...MADISON COUNTY...
   FENNER                50.6   827 AM  12/9 SPOTTER
   CAZENOVIA             48.7   838 AM  12/9 SPOTTER
   MORRISVILLE           35.2  1040 AM  12/9 COOP MRRN6
   MUNNSVILLE            32.0   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2 SW
   LAKEPORT              26.5   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   CAZENOVIA             25.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2.9 SE
   EARLVILLE             19.7   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.4 W
   CANASTOTA             16.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.9 S
   ONEIDA                15.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.7 NNE

...ONEIDA COUNTY...
   DURHAMVILLE           17.9   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3.5 NNW
   VERNON                17.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.4 NNW
   POINT ROCK            15.5   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.6 SE
   NEW HARTFORD          10.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.8 S
   STOKES CORNER         10.2   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.4 NE
   LAKE DELTA            10.1  1031 AM  12/9 COOP
   WHITESBORO             8.9   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3.9 NE
   ROME                   7.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 4.8 SSE
   WESTERNVILLE           7.7   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2 NW
   WESTMORELAND           7.6  1030 AM  12/9 SPOTTER
   HOLLAND PATENT         7.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.5 WSW
   BOONVILLE              3.5  1032 AM  12/9 COOP
   BOONVILLE              3.3   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 8 E
   MARCY                  2.0   804 AM  12/9 COCORAHS

...ONONDAGA COUNTY...
   DE WITT               58.2   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.4 WSW
   SYRACUSE              58.2  1009 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   LIVERPOOL             54.7   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 3.1 N
   CLAY                  52.1   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 4.6 NW
   VILLAGE GREEN         49.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2.6 ESE
   SYRACUSE              46.1   500 PM  12/9 SYRACUSE AIRPORT
   CAMILLUS              45.2   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1 W
   CLAY                  44.2  1010 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   FAYETTEVILLE          40.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.6 W
   MARCELLUS             36.1   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.6 E
   BREWERTON             34.4   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.5 ESE
   SYRACUSE              33.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.4 SE
   BREWERTON             23.5  1032 AM  12/9 COOP BWTN6
   JAMESVILLE            22.3  1012 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   POMPEY                22.3   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 2 NNW
   TULLY                 17.0   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 1.7 WSW

...OTSEGO COUNTY...
   HARTWICK              18.8   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   WORCESTER             18.5   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 4 SSW
   COOPERSTOWN           17.6   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.3 S
   UNADILLA FORKS        16.8  1014 AM  12/9 COCORAHS
   RICHFIELD SPRINGS     13.5   700 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 0.5 ESE
   MARYLAND              10.9  1033 AM  12/9 COOP
   NEW BERLIN             6.0   900 AM  12/9 COCORAHS 

Image (click to enlarge): Clinton Square in downtown Syracuse, Wednesday morning (Dec. 8), from Syracuse Post-Standard.

Shovel Off to Buffalo: Lake Effect Snow on Steroids Reaches Over 3 Feet, Strands Motorists

The National Weather Service (NWS) reports that huge lake effect snowfalls have been observed over a narrow band south of Buffalo, NY in the last 2 days. The prodigious precipitation results from a perfect alignment of Arctic air flow over the relatively warmer waters of Lake Erie.

In the 48 hours ending 8 am today (Dec. 3), as much as 42" of snow was measured by a NWS employee in the town of Depew. The Associated Press, via The Weather Channel, reports that amounts varied widely over small distances, however:

Within the City of Buffalo itself, totals ranged from a dusting in the northern half of the city to an inch or two downtown to over 2 feet in south Buffalo!

Associated Press, via USA Today, reports that motorists were stranded as long as 20 hours on the New York State Thruway:

Emergency procedures will be reviewed after a lake-effect snowstorm and a flawed response left hundreds of motorists stranded for hours on a highway, the head of the New York State Thruway Authority said Friday.

Executive Director Michael Fleischer said the agency should have closed nearly two dozen non-toll entrance ramps to Interstate 90 much sooner after jackknifed tractor-trailers blocked traffic just east of Buffalo. He also said officials should have done a better job alerting drivers that delays loomed ahead and shouldn't have waited so long to get help to the stranded motorists, some stuck for 20 hours or more.

Here are some of the more outrageous amounts reported by the NWS from Erie County:

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL    TIME/DATE    COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL       OF
                     (INCHES)   MEASUREMENT

...ERIE COUNTY...
   DEPEW                 42.0   800 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   BUFFALO               39.0  1000 AM  12/3 SE CORNER BUFFALO
   ELMA                  30.0   800 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   WEST SENECA           30.0   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   LANCASTER             29.5  1059 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   LANCASTER             29.0   800 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   WEST SENECA           24.7   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   MARILLA               23.0   800 AM  12/3 SOUTHERN PORTION
   LANCASTER             22.0   800 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   BLASDELL              20.3   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   BUFFALO               20.0   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS - FIRST WARD
   WALES                 16.0   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   AKRON                 14.0   900 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   ELMA CENTER           13.0   800 AM  12/3 NWS EMPLOYEE
   EAST AURORA           10.7   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   BUFFALO                9.2   800 AM  12/3 AIRPORT
   BOSTON                 7.0   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   GLENWOOD               6.5   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   WILLIAMSVILLE          5.8   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   CLARENCE CENTER        4.5   800 AM  12/3 SPOTTER
   WILLIAMSVILLE          2.8   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   TONAWANDA              1.2   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS
   KENMORE                1.0   800 AM  12/3 COCORAHS 

Images (click to enlarge): Traffic blocked by heavy snow on the New York State Thruway near Buffalo, NY, Dec. 2, 2010, AP photo via The Weather Channel; Total snowfall, Dec. 1-3, 2010, from NWS; Surface weather map at 8 am EDT, Dec. 2, 2010