Winter Storm Weather Formation
Nor’easters Cause Extensive Damage with Freezing Cold, Snow and Wind
Winter storms, or Nor'easters, cause massive amounts of damage and high death tolls. These low pressure storms result from the clashing of cold and warm fronts.
Winter Storm Formation
Winter storms form from three main elements: cold air, moisture and lift. When cold air, moisture and lift meet during winter months, strong storms develop producing heavy snow, freezing rain, high winds and sub-zero conditions. Cold air must be near or below freezing on the ground and in the air for snow and ice to form. Snow and ice also need moisture to develop. Lift is important as it does exactly what its name implies; it lifts the moisture into the air to form a cloud, where precipitation begins.
Cold and Warm Fronts
When cold, dry air moves south from the arctic interacting with a warm, moist air mass from the Gulf of Mexico it creates a front. This front can be considered a cold, warm or stationary front, depending on its characteristics. If the cold air mass proceeds, driving away the warm air, it is a cold front. If the warm air drives over the cold, dense air mass it becomes a warm front. When neither air mass advances, it is considered a stationary front. In North America, winter storms usually develop when the cold and warm air masses encounter, forming from stationary fronts.
Nor’easters Cause Massive Damage
Nor’easters, or winter storms occurring on the eastern coast of the United States, can cause billions of dollars in damage and lead to high death tolls. Heavy snow and high winds produced from these winter storms can cause power outages, road and airport closures and traffic accidents and deaths. Two of the most recent and worst Nor'easter storms were the Perfect Storm of 1991 and the Storm of the Century in 1993. Nor’easters are considered an extratropical cyclone, typically originating near the Gulf of Mexico or Texas.
Nor'easter Storm Formation
Starting as a low pressure disturbance, the Nor'easter storm becomes larger, sucking up moisture from the warm water of the Atlantic as in moves up the Northeastern U.S. coast. As the cold arctic air moves south from Canada, these fronts clash, producing severe weather conditions. According to the National Weather Service, Nor’easters are characterized by four principal attributes:
- Strong low pressure center
- Strong north or northeast wind
- Heavy snow
- Arctic high pressure
The Storm of the Century
In March of 1993, the "Storm of the Century" hit the United States. This Nor’easter “Superstorm” made an impact on 26 states, resulting in a death toll of 270 and 48 missing at sea. The storm produced record snowfall throughout the eastern United States, with snowfall occurring at a rate of 2-3 inches per hour. Syracuse, New York recorded 43 inches during the storm’s duration while further south the storm dumped 4 inches on Atlanta, Georgia. High winds were recorded along the eastern shoreline from 70 to 144 mph. Florida suffered 15 tornadoes and massive flooding. Though meteorologists forecasted this storm days in advance, giving warnings of the storm’s path along the East Coast, people were not prepared for its force. The Storm of the Century lists among the top on NOAA’s (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Top Billion Dollar Weather Disasters, recording $3 billion worth of damage. The storm is also listed on the Weather Channel's Top Ten Storms of the Century.
