Английская Википедия:February 1983 North American blizzard

Содержание

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

Текст

A blizzard in February 1983, nicknamed the "Megalopolitan Blizzard", impacted the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, and New England regions of the United States. First developing as a low-pressure area on February 9 while a El Niño event ensued, the low then moved eastward across the Gulf of Mexico and emerged over the Atlantic Ocean near the Georgia–South Carolina border. The low then developed and intensified into a cyclone as it moved parallel along the East Coast of the United States The cyclone then moved northward, while producing blizzard conditions and heavy snowfall across portions of the Mid-Atlantic on February 11, including across Maryland and northern Virginia. Continuing to intensify and moving northward, the cyclone then brought heavy snow and blizzard conditions to parts of the Northeast and New England. Overall, the blizzard caused 46 deaths and set multiple weather records in terms of snowfall.

Meteorological synopsis

In 1982 and 1983, a strong El Niño occurred, including on the dates during the blizzard's occurrence, which led to above-average temperatures across the northern United States and a cooler and wetter weather pattern across the South. On February 9, a low-pressure area formed, which was centered over eastern Texas and along the Texas-Gulf of Mexico coastline. The low then progressed eastward across the Gulf the next day, before moving across the Southeastern United States and emerging in the Atlantic Ocean off the Georgia-Florida coast. The low then intensified and fully developed into a cyclone as it approached Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. As the cyclone moved northward along the East Coast of the United States, snow fell across the Mid-Atlantic beginning on February 11, with some areas experiencing blizzard conditions. The cyclone then produced snow and blizzard conditions across portions of the Northeastern United States and New England regions, continuing to intensify as its pressure dropped to 1003 millibars by February 12. The low's pressure continued to drop on that day while reaching portions of southern New England. The low then tracked offshore northward, off the New England coast. The blizzard was nicknamed the "Megalopolitan Blizzard" after the system hit numerous metropolitan areas along the East Coast of the United States with Шаблон:Convert of snow.

Preparations and impact

Mid-Atlantic

Файл:Marine Electric.jpg

The SS Marine Electric pictured before its sinking. The cyclone caused the merchant ship to submerge on February 12, causing at least 31 deaths.

In preparation of the blizzard in Virginia, Eastern Mennonite University and James Madison University were closed, with the latter cancelling its classes for the first time since the Ash Wednesday Storm of 1962. At Richmond International Airport in Richmond, Шаблон:Convert of snow fell, which is the third-highest snow accumulation in the city. Daily snowfall records were set in Lynchburg and Roanoke, where Шаблон:Convert and Шаблон:Convert of snow fell in 24 hours, respectively. The heaviest snow fell in Woodstock, where Шаблон:Convert of snow accumulated. The cyclone caused the SS Marine Electric, a merchant ship, to capsize, killing at least 31 people.

In Maryland, Шаблон:Convert of snow fell in Baltimore, which was the second-highest snowfall after the Knickerbocker storm in 1922. Some areas in Frederick and Montgomery counties in Maryland had its heaviest snowfall on record. In Washington, D.C., Шаблон:Convert of snow fell, closing Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Dulles International Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and shutting down the Washington Metro. Numerous vehicle accidents occurred in West Virginia, as there were more than 34,000 power outages across Charleston and Pineville. The highest snow accumulation from the blizzard fell in Glen Cary, West Virginia, where Шаблон:Convert of snow accumulated. In Windsor Locks, West Virginia, a record Шаблон:Convert of snow fell in 12 hours.

Northeastern United States

Файл:February 1983 nor'easter NESIS map.jpg

Snowfall totals across the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States from the blizzard

In Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the snow prompted firefighters and emergency management to sleep in the fire department's halls to prepare for emergencies. On February 11, the heavy snowfall also cancelled Ronald and Nancy Reagan's trip to Camp David, in which George Shultz was invited for dinner and marked the beginning of the end of the Cold War. The blizzard also produced Шаблон:Convert in Springfield, Massachusetts, which is the third-highest snowfall total there since 1905 as of 2013. The blizzard also produced the same total at Bradley International Airport in Hartford, Connecticut, which is the fourth-highest snowfall total there as of 2015. Hundreds of vehicles were abandoned on the Staten Island Expressway as heavy snowfall rates occurred and up to Шаблон:Convert of snow fell. In Central Park, Шаблон:Convert of snow fell, which is the thirteenth-highest snowfall accumulation there since 1869 as of 2021. Twenty-four-hour snowfall records were set in Allentown, Harrisburg, and Philadelphia, with all three cities receiving more than Шаблон:Convert of snow. In Allentown and Bethlehem, Шаблон:Convert of snow fell in one hour. At Harrisburg International Airport, Шаблон:Convert of snow fell, which is the second-highest snow accumulation across the Susquehanna Valley. The blizzard also stranded thousands of people at an Aerosmith concert in Springfield, Massachusetts. Lightning also occurred during the blizzard in some areas across the Northeast.

Several airports were closed as a result of near-zero visibility caused by the heavy snowfall, including LaGuardia Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, and John F. Kennedy International Airport across the New York metropolitan area, as well as Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. Multiple departing flights from Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport were cancelled, and the Pennsylvania State Police noted that Interstate 80 "closed itself". Businesses and schools across Pennsylvania were closed, and Interstate 95 in Philadelphia was closed. A snow emergency was declared in New York City, as well as a state of emergency for several areas in New Jersey, including Trenton.

Tornado outbreak

Color/symbol key

Color / symbol	Description
†	Data from Grazulis 1990/1993/2001b
¶	Data from a local National Weather Service office
※	Data from the 1983 Storm Data publication
‡	Data from the NCEI database
♯	Maximum width of tornado
±	Tornado was rated below F2 intensity by Grazulis but a specific rating is unavailable.

Prior to 1990, there is a likely undercount of tornadoes, particularly E/F0–1, with reports of weaker tornadoes becoming more common as population increased. A sharp increase in the annual average E/F0–1 count by approximately 200 tornadoes was noted upon the implementation of NEXRAD Doppler weather radar in 1990–1991.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Efn 1974 marked the first year where significant tornado (E/F2+) counts became homogenous with contemporary values, attributed to the consistent implementation of Fujita scale assessments.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Efn Numerous discrepancies on the details of tornadoes in this outbreak exist between sources. The total count of tornadoes and ratings differs from various agencies accordingly. The list below documents information from the most contemporary official sources alongside assessments from tornado historian Thomas P. Grazulis.

February 9 event

List of confirmed tornadoes — Wednesday, February 9, 1983Шаблон:Efn

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Шаблон:AbbrШаблон:Efn	Time (UTC)	Path length	WidthШаблон:Efn	DamageШаблон:Efn
color|cat1}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F1	New Waverly	Walker	TX	Шаблон:Coord	18:30–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert		Шаблон:Nts
	A hay-filled barn was uplifted, bits of which were thrown Шаблон:Convert.Шаблон:Sfn
color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2±	Southwestern Houston	Harris	TX	Шаблон:Coord	19:30–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	A carport was damaged, along with four warehouses, three of which were unroofed. Three injuries were reported.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
color|cat1}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F1	Pasadena※	Harris	TX	Шаблон:Coord	19:50–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	A few trailers, fencing, roofing, a utility pole, and traffic lights were damaged.Шаблон:Sfn
color|cat1}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F1	Northern Houston※	Harris	TX	Шаблон:Coord	20:10–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	A carport was flattened and a garage damaged.Шаблон:Sfn
color|storm}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F0	Western Huntsville	Walker	TX	Шаблон:Coord	20:15–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Unk
	A tornado developed over agricultural land, doing no known structural damage.Шаблон:Sfn
color|cat1}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F1	Coldspring	San Jacinto	TX	Шаблон:Coord	20:20–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	Fallen utility poles and trees landed on a house. Billboards were shredded as well. The tornado traversed Texas State Highway 156.Шаблон:Sfn
color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2±	N of Manvel to near Pearland※	Brazoria	TX	Шаблон:Coord	20:25–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	Trees and a few carports were torn apart.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
color|cat2}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F2†	SE of Eunice	Acadia	LA	Шаблон:Coord	23:30–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	This tornado affected the Richard–Hundley area, almost leveling a small home.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn
color|cat3}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F3	E of Church Point to NNE of Courtableau	Acadia, St. Landry	LA	Шаблон:Coord	23:45–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts※
	This was a multiple-vortex tornado. A church, a grain elevator, and at least seven homes were demolished. Seven people were injured.Шаблон:SfnШаблон:Sfn

February 10 event

List of confirmed tornadoes — Thursday, February 10, 1983Шаблон:Efn

F#	Location	County / Parish	State	Start Шаблон:AbbrШаблон:Efn	Time (UTC)	Path length	WidthШаблон:Refn	DamageШаблон:Refn
color|storm}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F0	Southwestern Miami	Dade	FL	Шаблон:Coord	21:45–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert		Шаблон:Nts
	Windows were smashed, trees felled, and power lines downed.Шаблон:Sfn
color|storm}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F0	Western Hollywood※	Broward	FL	Шаблон:Coord	22:00–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	Coincident with golfball-sized hail, this tornado damaged roofing and trees.Шаблон:Sfn
color|cat1}}; border-bottom: 1px solid black"| F1	West Palm Beach※	Palm Beach	FL	Шаблон:Coord	22:42–?	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Convert	Шаблон:Nts
	Power lines, fencing, and screened pool enclosures were knocked down. Trees were felled as well.Шаблон:Sfn

Sources

• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite journal
• Шаблон:Cite techreport
  • Шаблон:Cite book
  • Шаблон:Cite book
  • Шаблон:Cite book
  • Шаблон:Cite book
• Шаблон:Cite report
• Шаблон:Cite journal