Category Archives: Snowstorm Profile

Historical Weather Events, Snowstorm Profile, Winter Weather

Snowstorm Profile: January 30th Storm of 2010

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Snowstorm Profile

Name: January 30th Storm of 2010

Date: January 30, 2010

Precipitation Observed: 12.25” (Church Hill)

RIC Airport Total Snowfall Observation: 9.5”

Precipitation Type: Snow

 

NWS Radar for 1/30/2010
NWS Radar for 1/30/2010

The January 30th, 2010 snowstorm will mark the fourth winter storm to be profiled in a series of articles to be posted on our blog. We hope you find these weather event musings entertaining and factual. These articles will portray some of the most memorable snow events that Russ and I have lived through while residing in Richmond, Virginia.

 

Snowstorm Profiles:

Blizzard of 1996

March 1st Storm of 2009

December 18-19th Storm of 2009 (Peacock Day Storm)

Before the Storm: The winter of 2009-2010 was already off to significant start with the December 18/19th snowstorm. Considering ourselves lucky with the storm in December, there was an element of disbelief that another large storm was set to hit the area in late January. By Thursday, January 28th, the NWS had issued a winter storm watch for Metro Richmond warning of a snow event that could drop 5 to 10 inches of snow. As Saturday approached, signs of the storms power and potency became apparent.

 

Synoptic Overview of Storm System: A low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast spawned a widespread snow event from Tennessee to the Delmarva peninsula. The first reference link below provides a much more detailed and analytical write-up of the system’s dynamics.

Heavy snowfall and low visibility from the house.
Heavy snowfall and low visibility from the house.

The Main Event: This event started just before sunrise on Saturday morning, lasting until late in the evening in Metro Richmond. One of the most notable things about this storm is how cold the event turned out to be. From the onset, tempreatures were in the low 20’s and never got above 29 degrees the entire day. There were no mixing issues in this storm, everything that fell was pure snow. Since it was the weekend, I didn’t have to work so I enjoyed the snowfall all day long. Russ and I ventured down to Libby Hill Park around 11 AM to do some sledding. Around 5-6″ of snow had fallen by then. This time period also had the peak snowfall rates for this storm. Visibility was incredibly low and the wind was constantly gusting in the 10-15 MPH range out of the north. The walk home from the park that afternoon was a painful one since the snow was driving in on a north wind, we were walking northbound.

Small drifts of snow along North 29th Street.
Small drifts of snow along North 29th Street.

The snowfall rate easily approached 1-1.5″ an hour at times that morning. There were points in the morning that near whiteout conditions occurred. It was some of the most incredible heavy day snowfall I’ve ever seen. Overall, snowfall rates coupled with the wind made it feel miserable outside.

Wakefield CWA Snowfall Totals
Wakefield CWA Snowfall Totals

Snow quickly tapered off the night after the storm. When all was said and done, we had a remarkable 12.25″ of snow in Church Hill! Since owning a home here (Nov. 2007), this is the largest single snow event I’ve witnessed at this location.

Snowfall RSI Map for Event
Snowfall RSI Map for Event

 

My official measurement did not coincide with the official measurement at the airport. Snow measurements were taken in several open spots around the block.

 

Video of Event (in Church Hill):

Other Resources/Links:

 

1)      http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/winter/Jan32010.pdf

2)     http://richmondcitywatch.com/612/modules/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=991 (Link to my personal photo gallery)

Historical Weather Events, Snowstorm Profile, Winter Weather

Snowstorm Profile: December 18-19th Storm of 2009 (Peacock Day Storm)

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Snowstorm Profile

Name: December 18-19th Storm of 2009 (Peacock Day Storm)

Date: December 18-19, 2009

Precipitation Observed: 7.5” (Church Hill)

RIC Airport Total Snowfall Observation: 7.4”

Precipitation Type: Primarily Snow, followed by Sleet & Freezing Rain/Drizzle

 

Radar of the event from 12/19/2009, 1Z

The December 18-19th, 2009 snowstorm will mark the third winter storm to be profiled in a series of articles to be posted on our blog. We hope you find these weather event musings entertaining and factual. These articles will portray some of the most memorable snow events that Russ and I have lived through while residing in Richmond, Virginia.

 

Snowstorm Profiles:

 

Blizzard of 1996

March 1st Storm of 2009

 

Before the Storm: With the early March storm of 2009, expectations were running high for the start of the winter season of 2009-2010. By Thursday, December 17th, the NWS had issued a winter storm watch for Metro Richmond warning of a snow event that could drop 6 to 12 inches of snow. The anticipation of experiencing a major winter storm before the actual start of the astronomical winter season was rare. To put how rare December snowstorms are in Richmond, the NWS compiled a nice graphic ranking this storm to other December snowfalls:

 

 

Synoptic Overview of Storm System: A low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast spawned a widespread snow event from north Georgia to the coastal sections of Maine. The first reference link below provides a much more detailed and analytical write-up of the system’s dynamics. 

 

 

Video of Event from Church Hill (My Home):

 

The Main Event: This event started just after sunset on Friday, December 18th, lasting until the early morning hours of December 19th in Metro Richmond. Russ & I were anticipating this event several days before the first flake fell from the sky.  I still have a fond memory of looking for the first flakes to fall while sitting at work. Just as it was time to leave work, snow began falling. The snow rate intensified at quick clip from 5 to 8 PM. Snow continued to fall at a high rate with little in the way of wind being observed through most of the evening hours. Prior to 11 PM on the 18th, the most intense part of the storm hit. The wind picked up slightly and the snowfall rate accelerated to over an inch an hour. Near midnight, Russ and I found measurements of snow in a nearby field on M Street between 8-9”. Shortly thereafter, the precipitation began to slowly wind down and changed from snow to sleet, freezing rain and even drizzle for the remainder of the night. By 6 AM on the 19th, the temperature rose to 33.6 degrees.

 

Snow intermittently fell the next day as the storm cranked up the coast towards New England. Between 4-6 PM on the 19th, we had a small batch of snow showers move in, giving us a light dusting of snow. 

 

Again, Russ took some excellent video footage of the event that showed the intensity of the snowfall.

 

My official measurement coincided with the official measurement at the airport. Had the snow not changed over to sleet, freezing rain and drizzle, there is no doubt that we could have seen 8-10” from this storm in Church Hill. Areas to the north and west of town saw substantially more snow than Downtown Richmond.

 

Video of Event, Part 2 (in Church Hill):

 

Other Resources/Links:

 

1)      http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/winter/20091218/2009Dec18_19_Winter_Storm.pdf

http://www.612.richmondcitywatch.com/modules/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=917(Link to my personal photo gallery)

Historical Weather Archives, Historical Weather Events, Snowstorm Profile, Winter Weather

Snowstorm Profile: March 1st Storm of 2009

Snowstorm Profile

Name: March 1st Storm of 2009

Date: March 1-2, 2009

Precipitation Observed: No Official Measurement* (Church Hill), Western Chesterfield – 10″ (unofficially)

RIC Airport Total Snowfall Observation: 6.3”

Precipitation Type: Snow

The March 1st, 2009 snowstorm will mark the second winter storm to be profiled in a series of articles to be posted on our blog. We hope you find these weather event musings entertaining and factual. These articles will portray some of the most memorable snow events that Russ and I have lived through while residing in Richmond, Virginia.

Snowstorm Profiles:

Before the Storm: As a snow lover living in Richmond, you are used to either 1) being bypassed by large snow events to the north and west of town or 2) a victim of overforecastation by the local media and sometimes the National Weather Service (NWS). Overforecastation is a term I define as “the over prediction of snow, even in small amounts.” Russ and I can recount several potential snow events in the past where the forecast ended up busting with either mixed-bag or starry-night surprise. Richmond’s placement in the coastal plain adjacent to the Appalachian Mountains creates unique forecasting challenges when it comes down to snow and ice events. Forecasting snow in Richmond will likely always be a tricky proposition, no matter which way you look at it.

Adding to what Ryan said, forecasting any winter storm in Richmond is always very difficult. It is often not known what the storm should produce until about 36-24 hours prior to the arrival, or less. Richmond is often plagued by snow/mix/rain line location problems (the rain/snow line is often right on top of Richmond, setting up right along I-95). A 10-20 mile shift of this could mean all snow or snow/sleet mix, or snow to rain changeover. It is very frustrating. I’ve lived in the Richmond metro area all my life (since 1982) and this creates extremely frustrating outcomes more often than not.

I’ve lived in Richmond since the summer of 2005. Between 2005 and 2009, Richmond was in a bona fide snow drought. I have a vague memory of a few minor snow events occurring during this time period, nothing really exceeding much more than an inch or two of snow. A check of the climate data from the Richmond Airport verifies a few years of below-average seasonal snowfall totals:

2005-06

8.50”

2006-07

1.30”

2007-08

0.80”

2008-09

6.60”

 

Synoptic Overview of Storm System: A low pressure system swinging from the lower Tennessee Valley up the eastern seaboard spawned a widespread snow event from the Southeast all the way up into northern New England. The first reference link below provides a much more detailed and analytical write-up of the system’s dynamics.

Video of Event from Church Hill (My Home):

The Main Event: This event started in the late evening hours of February 28th, lasting until the early morning hours of March 1st in Metro Richmond. The snow came down at quick clip for several hours. I remember being a little surprised by the intensity and seasonal lateness of this storm. March snowstorms typically don’t occur in Metro Richmond. Late in the winter season, shots of cold air and moisture rarely combine to create a pure snow event. We are much more likely to see a mixed precipitation event or a snow to rain event. In this instance, cold air held on strong and we were able to pick up all snow from this event.

*Western Chesterfield: The only differences in the effects of this storm for the northwestern part of Chesterfield was that slightly heavier banding set up leading to an unofficial measurement of 10″ of snow. Also, a secondary, wrap-around band of snow set up late overnight into the early morning of the 2nd. This, mainly light snow, formed around 12AM and remained stationary until it dissipated around 8-9AM on the 2nd. As Ryan stated, this storm was unusual for several reasons. First, it was a late season snow storm. Second, for Richmond, we rarely see ALL snow from any major winter storm. We had no mixing from what I recall. Third, the amount of snow was, for Richmond, a fairly large amount. The NESIS ranked this as 42nd on the list.

Notice the blue patch over Richmond

See the radar loop of the event over at the link below

Radar Loop of the Event

The video that Russ took during the event does a nice job showing the intensity of the snowfall.

The snowfall total at the airport was the largest snowfall measurement since the January 2002 snowstorm. The storm officially ended the “unofficial” snow drought Richmond had been stuck in since 2002**.

 

 

 

 

 

Video of Event, Sledding in Church Hill:

 

* No official measurements were taken at my home in Church Hill. However, my memory and storm photos place the snowfall total in the range of 6-8 inches. (I, Russ, recall about 9.5″ at this location)

** The last time a total of more than 6” was reported at the RIC Airport prior to the March 1, 2009 storm occurred on January 3, 2002 with 7.7” (a daily record as well).

 

Other Resources/Links:

1)      http://nws.met.psu.edu/severe/2009/01Mar2009FC.pdf

2)     http://www.612.richmondcitywatch.com/modules/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=790 (Link to my personal photo gallery)

3)     http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/winter/20090301/WBCPNSAKQ_20090301.txt (NWS Storm Reports)

4)    http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/winter/20090301/ (NWS Map/Snow Totals)

5)    http://www.erh.noaa.gov/akq/wx_events/winter/20090302/snow20090302.htm (NWS Map)

Historical Weather Events, Snowstorm Profile, Winter Weather

Snowstorm Profile: January 6-8th Storm of 1996 (Blizzard of 96′)

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Weather Event: Blizzard of 1996

Location of Observation: Midlothian, Virginia

Precipitation Type:  Heavy Snow

Dates of Observation: January 6-7, 1996

Official Observation/Storm Total from RIC: 11.5″

Synoptic Overview of Storm System: The storm formed in the Gulf of Mexico the morning of the 6th, moved south of Alabama the evening of the 6th, reached Savannah, Georgia the morning of the 7th, Cape Hattaras the evening of the 7th, just east of the Delaware Bay the morning of the 8th, and the southern New England coastal waters the evening of the 8th.  This was a classic storm track for heavy snow.

Personal Observations & Memories: Besides the January 2000 snowstorm, some of my best snow memories were created by this storm. I still remember when the first flakes began to fall with this storm system. The air was cold from the onset so all of the snow stuck right away to the grass and pavement. Snowfall intensity remained fairly light through the early afternoon until about nightfall. By the evening, the brunt of the storm was moving into the area. Incredibly heavy snow began falling from sunset until almost 4 AM in the morning. I ventured out with friends in the heavy snowfall, amazed at how quickly the snow piled up. It come as a disappointment later on in the evening when the snow fall began to taper off and change to sleet. If my memory serves me correctly, the sleet lasted for a few hours, compacting the 10-12 inches that had fallen already. Wrap around snow came to the rescue later on the 7th, adding another shot of 6-10 inches on what had already fallen. Unofficial measurements taken by me at the time easily pegged this storm between 18-19″ of snow in Central Chesterfield. it would be a couple days later where a second system left Central Virginia with 3-6″ of more snow on top of what had already fallen.

At the time of this storm, I was 13 years old and in 8th grade. This storm hit metropolitan Richmond not long after school resumed from Winter Break. Schools ended up closing for nearly 2 weeks (8.5 days total, eight full days off with 2 school days with delayed openings) and most of the midterm exams canceled due to the snowfall. As a student, I was elated to have all of my exams cancelled!

Images:

Links: