The meteorological winter consists of the months December, January and February. Here is a summary of how 2011-12 went down in the climatological history book at Central Park.
...Temperature Data...
...2nd Warmest Winter On Record...
...Warmest February On Record...
This winter was the 2nd warmest on record at Central Park with an average temperature of 40.5 degrees. It was only ten years ago in 2001-02 that we set the record for the warmest winter on record with an average temperature of 41.5 degrees. February 2012 was the warmest February on record with an average temperature of 40.9 degrees. This broke the previous record of 40.6 degrees set back in 2002 and two other prior years. This proves again that weather history has a way of repeating itself.
...Precipitation Data...
A total of 8.60 inches fell at Central Park from December 1 - February 29. This was 2.63 inches below the normal of 11.23 inches. However, it did not make the list for the top ten driest winters on record at the Park. February was the driest of the three months with a total of only 1.37 inches. Once again however, we missed making the top ten driest list for February.
...Snowfall Data...
Our seasonal total stands at 7.4 inches at Central Park. This currently ranks as the 6th Least Snowiest Season since records began in 1869. It remains to be seen if any more snow will fall before all is said and done. We should keep in mind that some of our biggest snowstorms have occurred in March...including the famous Blizzard Of 1888. Will weather history repeat itself again? Only time will tell.
Meteoeologist Iggy Camporeale
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
The Winter Of 2011-12...6th Least Snowiest On Record So Far
For those of us who have been suffering from the lack of snow this winter so far, we do have something to show for it. As of February 20th a total of only 7.4 inches of snow has fallen at Central Park this season. This ranks as the 6th Least Snowiest on record. Whether we will remain at this number, or receive an accumulation that knocks us out of that spot...only time will tell. As we know, March can be a wild weather month. Therefore, anything is possible. Here are the other Least Snowiest Seasons at Central Park:
1.) 2.8 inches - 1972-73
2.) 3.5 inches - 2001-02
3.) 3.8 inches - 1918-19
4.) 5.3 inches - 1931-32
5.) 5.5 inches - 1997-98
6.) 7.4 inches - 2011-12
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
1.) 2.8 inches - 1972-73
2.) 3.5 inches - 2001-02
3.) 3.8 inches - 1918-19
4.) 5.3 inches - 1931-32
5.) 5.5 inches - 1997-98
6.) 7.4 inches - 2011-12
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Icy Winter Of 1972-73
While I was recently having lunch with my family at one of our favorite restaurants, a song played over the radio station in the restaurant which brought me back a lot of weather memories. The song was Carly Simon's You're So Vain. It is one of my favorite songs and was a hit during the early months of 1973. I was in kindergarten at that time and I remember hearing it all over the radio. The reason the song brings me back a lot of weather memories is because that winter of 1972-73 turned out to be the least snowiest winter on record at Central Park with a total of only 2.8 inches of snow. Although not much snow fell, it was not an easy winter by no means.
That winter featured several storm systems in our region that turned out to be ice storms. The precipitation would start out as light snow, but then quickly change over to a dangerous mixture of sleet and freezing rain. This happened because a layer of above freezing temperatures moved into our area aloft while temperatures at the surface remained at or below freezing. As the icy mix hit the cold ground, it caused dangerous walking and driving conditions. I remember my mom and I walking very slowly and carefully back and forth from school during those events that winter. As the storms came to an end, the cold temperatures remained and so did the ice. This made it a difficult winter for our area, even though not much snow fell. That winter taught us that at least snow can be shoveled and plowed, while ice is very difficult to remove.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
That winter featured several storm systems in our region that turned out to be ice storms. The precipitation would start out as light snow, but then quickly change over to a dangerous mixture of sleet and freezing rain. This happened because a layer of above freezing temperatures moved into our area aloft while temperatures at the surface remained at or below freezing. As the icy mix hit the cold ground, it caused dangerous walking and driving conditions. I remember my mom and I walking very slowly and carefully back and forth from school during those events that winter. As the storms came to an end, the cold temperatures remained and so did the ice. This made it a difficult winter for our area, even though not much snow fell. That winter taught us that at least snow can be shoveled and plowed, while ice is very difficult to remove.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Monday, January 17, 2011
The Cold And Snowy Winter Of 2010-11 So Far
A few months ago, I posted my prediction for the winter of 2010-11. I predicted that we would not have the same winter we did last year. I thought that when all was said and done, we would end up with near normal temperatures and slightly below normal precipitation. My outlook was for a lot of quick changes from cold temperatures to mild temperatures. I also felt that we would not see the severity of snowstorms that we experienced last winter. Well, so much for that prediction. Instead, it looks as though Mother Nature has sent this meteorologist a slice of humble pie. We have experienced well below normal temperatures so far, and we have already exceeded the normal amount of snowfall for the entire season. The December 26-27 Blizzard alone went down as one of top five biggest snowstorms on record at New York City's Central Park. Why has it been so cold and snowy so far, and what lies ahead for the rest of the winter?
Prior to December, we went through a stretch of nine consecutive months from March thru November of above normal temperatures. The reason for the abnormal warmth was a strong ridge of high pressure both at the surface and upper levels of the atmosphere that covered the eastern two-thirds of the United States. This ridge pushed the jet stream north into Canada, thus preventing cold air from the north from invading the Nation. As we progressed through November, this ridge started to break down. It started first in the Rockies and West Coast and then progressed east across the rest of the country as we went into December. The ridge has been replaced instead by a deep trof, or dip in the jet stream. This has allowed the cold air that was locked up in Canada and the Arctic to pour down into most of the United States, including our area. Since the trof has dipped down into the deep South, it has brought up moisture from the Gulf Coast along with energy an several occasions. This has led to two major snowstorms so far in our region and New England.
So, the sixty four thousand dollar question is, what lies ahead for the rest of the winter? Once these patterns set up, they sometimes last for a long time, as the ridge did for most of 2010. It appears to me that the trof is somewhat locked in place over the U.S. It may change position at some point and move further west. If this occurs, we will go through a period of much milder temperatures. This happened in our region back in February 1984. After a very cold and stormy December and January, we had two weeks of much warmer temperatures during February. I would not be surprised if the same thing happens this year. However, until the trof breaks down or moves further west, I am afraid we will continue to see outbreaks of cold and more chances for snow in our region. Long range weather prediction has many perils to it, just like Mother Nature has a lot of humble pie for all of us meteorologists.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Prior to December, we went through a stretch of nine consecutive months from March thru November of above normal temperatures. The reason for the abnormal warmth was a strong ridge of high pressure both at the surface and upper levels of the atmosphere that covered the eastern two-thirds of the United States. This ridge pushed the jet stream north into Canada, thus preventing cold air from the north from invading the Nation. As we progressed through November, this ridge started to break down. It started first in the Rockies and West Coast and then progressed east across the rest of the country as we went into December. The ridge has been replaced instead by a deep trof, or dip in the jet stream. This has allowed the cold air that was locked up in Canada and the Arctic to pour down into most of the United States, including our area. Since the trof has dipped down into the deep South, it has brought up moisture from the Gulf Coast along with energy an several occasions. This has led to two major snowstorms so far in our region and New England.
So, the sixty four thousand dollar question is, what lies ahead for the rest of the winter? Once these patterns set up, they sometimes last for a long time, as the ridge did for most of 2010. It appears to me that the trof is somewhat locked in place over the U.S. It may change position at some point and move further west. If this occurs, we will go through a period of much milder temperatures. This happened in our region back in February 1984. After a very cold and stormy December and January, we had two weeks of much warmer temperatures during February. I would not be surprised if the same thing happens this year. However, until the trof breaks down or moves further west, I am afraid we will continue to see outbreaks of cold and more chances for snow in our region. Long range weather prediction has many perils to it, just like Mother Nature has a lot of humble pie for all of us meteorologists.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Sunday, October 31, 2010
The Election Day Storm Of November 8, 1977
Each year when Election Day comes around in early November, I remember back to a powerful coastal storm that pounded our Tri-State region back on Election Day in 1977. The storm produced rainfall records across our region that still stand to this day and probably will for many years to come. The storm had two rounds to it. The first round of heavy rain combined with strong east to northeast winds swept through our region during the day on Monday November 7. The rain was heavy enough to produce urban and poor drainage flooding. Driving and walking became difficult as the rain and wind caused a lot of leaves to fall off the trees. The fall foliage was at peak levels throughout the area, so it was no surprise to see them fall in the quantity they did. The rain and wind abated as we went into the evening hours. We went into a lull during the night, but the worst of the storm was yet to come.
As we awoke on Election morning Tuesday November 8, voting was not the only story that dominated the news. It was clear that we were going to be in for a potentially dangerous weather day. The wind and rain we had endured the day before was about to return. The intensity of the rain quickly increased before schools opened. By late morning the rain had become torrential with rates of 1 inch per hour. By the time the rain finally began to taper off late in the afternoon, a record 7.40 inches had fallen for the date at Central Park New York. Not only was it a new record for November 8, but it still stands as the most rain ever for any day in November at the park since records began there in 1869. In addition to that record at the park, the storm also set a 24 hour record rainfall for November 7-8 of 8.09 inches.
These record rains led to damaging floods across the entire region. The urban areas experienced significant street, highway and basement flooding. Some roads were totally impassable. Over inland areas, the torrential rains led to stream and river flooding across the Tri-State region. It took days before the flood waters receded in some areas and a lot of damage was left behind. It is not unusual for the East Coast to get heavy rains during November, but this storm was one for the record books in our area. It is one that I will never forget. I am predicting we will see some rain and wind events this November, but I do not think we will have a repeat of 1977. As I always say however, we'll see what Mother Nature has in store for us.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
As we awoke on Election morning Tuesday November 8, voting was not the only story that dominated the news. It was clear that we were going to be in for a potentially dangerous weather day. The wind and rain we had endured the day before was about to return. The intensity of the rain quickly increased before schools opened. By late morning the rain had become torrential with rates of 1 inch per hour. By the time the rain finally began to taper off late in the afternoon, a record 7.40 inches had fallen for the date at Central Park New York. Not only was it a new record for November 8, but it still stands as the most rain ever for any day in November at the park since records began there in 1869. In addition to that record at the park, the storm also set a 24 hour record rainfall for November 7-8 of 8.09 inches.
These record rains led to damaging floods across the entire region. The urban areas experienced significant street, highway and basement flooding. Some roads were totally impassable. Over inland areas, the torrential rains led to stream and river flooding across the Tri-State region. It took days before the flood waters receded in some areas and a lot of damage was left behind. It is not unusual for the East Coast to get heavy rains during November, but this storm was one for the record books in our area. It is one that I will never forget. I am predicting we will see some rain and wind events this November, but I do not think we will have a repeat of 1977. As I always say however, we'll see what Mother Nature has in store for us.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Sunday, October 3, 2010
The 2010-11 Winter Outlook
Now that we have reached October and the weather pattern has finally changed from summer to one that looks and feels more like autumn, it is time for this meteorologist to share my thoughts about the upcoming winter of 2010-11 in our area. This upcoming winter will be different from last winter. In looking at the long range trends and jet stream patterns, I feel that this upcoming winter will feature near normal temperatures and slightly below normal precipitation in the New York Metropolitan Area. This means that our region and the East Coast will not see the severity and frequency of winter storms we experienced last winter. This does not mean we won't see cold weather outbreaks and winter storms. We will still see outbreaks of Arctic air from time to time as well as chances at snow and other wintry precipitation. The difference is that they won't be as frequent and prolonged as last winter. The jet stream pattern favors quick changes, so the cold outbreaks we receive will not stay in place very long but instead will be quickly followed by milder temperaturs. This pattern is also not favorable for the frequent and significant snowstorms we experienced last winter. We will probably see events that begin as snow, but then change over to rain or a wintry mix.
The reasons behind my prediction is that it appears that the northern branch of the jet stream will be strong, however the southern branch will not be as strong as last winter. This means that the United States will not see as many storms come ashore along southern California from the Pacific Ocean as we did last winter. A good number of these ended up becoming snowstorms along the East Coast when they bumped into the cold air in place. This is the way it looks to this meteorologist at this point in time. I will continue to monitor the long range patterns and provide any updates. As I always say, Mother Nature will have the final say.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
The reasons behind my prediction is that it appears that the northern branch of the jet stream will be strong, however the southern branch will not be as strong as last winter. This means that the United States will not see as many storms come ashore along southern California from the Pacific Ocean as we did last winter. A good number of these ended up becoming snowstorms along the East Coast when they bumped into the cold air in place. This is the way it looks to this meteorologist at this point in time. I will continue to monitor the long range patterns and provide any updates. As I always say, Mother Nature will have the final say.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
Sunday, August 29, 2010
The 1971 Storm Named Doria
The Tropics have become increasingly active over the past week and bear watching to see if any of the systems pose a threat to the East Coast later this week and into the upcoming Labor Day weekend. Back in 1971, Tropical Storm Doria had a significant and damaging impact on the Tri-State Region. It was the 5th tropical storm of the 1971 season. On August 15th, it began as a tropical wave off the coast of Africa. It tracked westward for several days while slowly organizing itself. By August 23rd, the storm had become a tropical depression as it passed through the northern Lesser Antilles. It continued moving north of Puerto Rico, Hispaniola and The Bahamas. At this time, it began to show further signs of organization. The storm finally reached tropical storm status early on August 27th about 230 miles east of Daytona Beach, Florida and was given the name Doria. It reached it's peak of 65 mph winds during the day on the 27th as it made landfall near Morehead City, North Carolina. From there, the storm had eyes for our region as it quickly raced up the eastern seaboard toward our area. During the evening of the 27th into the morning hours of the 28th, Doria paralleled the eastern portion of New Jersey bringing torrential rains and strong gusty winds over 40 mph.
The storm dumped record amounts of rain throughout the Tri-State Region. Newark, New Jersey had a record 7.84 inches in a 24 hour period from the 27th-28th. Central Park, New York had a record 5.78 inches in the same 24 hour period. The winner for the most rainfall went to Little Falls, New Jersey with a whopping 10.29 inches. These record rains led to record-breaking river levels and widespread damaging floods throughout New Jersey. Streets and subways were flooded throughout New York City. The storm caused over 138 million dollars worth of damage in New Jersey alone in 1971 dollar values and 3 deaths. The storm capped off an active summer. The summer of 1971 went down in the top ten wettest summers at Central Park with a total of 18.88 inches of rainfall. Although the summer of 2010 overall has had below normal rainfall in our region, as Doria showed us in 1971, we can make it up in a hurry.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
The storm dumped record amounts of rain throughout the Tri-State Region. Newark, New Jersey had a record 7.84 inches in a 24 hour period from the 27th-28th. Central Park, New York had a record 5.78 inches in the same 24 hour period. The winner for the most rainfall went to Little Falls, New Jersey with a whopping 10.29 inches. These record rains led to record-breaking river levels and widespread damaging floods throughout New Jersey. Streets and subways were flooded throughout New York City. The storm caused over 138 million dollars worth of damage in New Jersey alone in 1971 dollar values and 3 deaths. The storm capped off an active summer. The summer of 1971 went down in the top ten wettest summers at Central Park with a total of 18.88 inches of rainfall. Although the summer of 2010 overall has had below normal rainfall in our region, as Doria showed us in 1971, we can make it up in a hurry.
Meteorologist Iggy Camporeale
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