Date: 2/11/2013

Title: Weather Blog: Wild weekend of storms and busy stretch of weather ahead

Two major storm systems dominated the weather landscape across the nation over the past weekend. Of course, the big headline grabber was the big “Nor’easter” that hammered New England with over three feet of snow in many areas and near hurricane force winds (see snow totals list below). With this just one storm, many areas in the northeast states now have above snowfall for the season (with more on the way).

NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TAUNTON MA
249 PM EST SUN FEB 10 2013

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL SNOW FALL OBSERVATIONS AND WIND GUSTS
FOR THE FEB 8-9TH 2013 SNOW STORM THAT HIT SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. ********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

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

CONNECTICUT

...HARTFORD COUNTY...
   GLASTONBURY           33.5   326 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC
   MANCHESTER            32.0  1044 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO
   WEATOGUE              31.0  1012 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO
   NEWINGTON             30.0   724 PM  2/09  NONE
   SO GLASTONBURY        29.0  1255 PM  2/09  NONE
   FARMINGTON            29.0   918 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO

...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...
   CROMWELL              20.0  1100 PM  2/08  GENERAL PUBLIC

...TOLLAND COUNTY...
   COVENTRY              32.5  1143 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
   STAFFORDVILLE         31.4   100 PM  2/09  NWS COOP
...WINDHAM COUNTY...
   EAST KILLINGLY        26.0  1105 AM  2/09  NONE
   WOODSTOCK             26.0  1024 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
  
MASSACHUSETTS

...BARNSTABLE COUNTY...
   EAST SANDWICH         17.0   447 PM  2/09  NWS EMPLOYEE
  
...BRISTOL COUNTY...
   FALL RIVER            24.0  1122 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO
   SOUTH EASTON          23.0   240 PM  2/09  HAM RADIO
...ESSEX COUNTY...
   SAUGUS                28.2  1243 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC
   LYNN                  27.0  1152 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO
   SALEM                 25.0   405 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER

...FRANKLIN COUNTY...
   LEVERETT              23.0  1205 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC
  
...HAMPDEN COUNTY...
   SOUTHWICK             28.3   910 AM  2/09  NONE
   AGAWAM                24.0  1120 AM  2/09  TRAINRD SPOTTER

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   WESTHAMPTON           25.0   913 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
   NORTHAMPTON           24.0   700 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER

...MIDDLESEX COUNTY...
   FRAMINGHAM            30.5   910 AM  2/09  HAM RADIO
   WINCHESTER            30.2   319 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC

...NORFOLK COUNTY...
   FOXBORO               29.0   406 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
  

...PLYMOUTH COUNTY...
   HANOVER               20.0   407 PM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC
  
...SUFFOLK COUNTY...
   SOUTH BOSTON          28.0   328 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
  
...WORCESTER COUNTY...
   SPENCER               31.0  1030 AM  2/09  NONE
   FITCHBURG             30.2   304 PM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
NEW HAMPSHIRE

...HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY...
   NEW BOSTON            30.4   959 AM  2/09  GENERAL PUBLIC
   MOUNT VERNON          30.0   313 PM  2/09  HAM RADIO

RHODE ISLAND

...KENT COUNTY...
   WEST WARWICK          21.5   921 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER
  
...PROVIDENCE COUNTY...
   WEST GLOCESTER        27.6  1046 AM  2/09  TRAINED SPOTTER

Rockies/High Plains storm

 While not grabbing as many headlines, a potent winter storm it many areas of the central Rockies and some portions of the High Plains. While the storm did not produce as much rain/snow as we had hoped, it was nonetheless, one of the more productive storms of the season, especially for Wyoming, portions of Nebraska, South and North Dakota and portions of Minnesota. See snowfall total map below.

Blizzard conditions were noted at times, especially over central and northcentral areas of Nebraska where wind gusts of over 50 mph were recorded. Some very dry areas of Wyoming got a nice swath of snow with water equivalents of 0.50 to 0.75”.  The bulls eye of the storm hit central and northeast South Dakota, southeast North Dakota and west central Minnesota.
 Unfortunately, the storm did not produce much needed rain/snow over many areas of eastern Colorado and western Kansas. 

Big rains (and some severe weather) brought beneficial rains to many areas of the southeast, including some of the drought areas of Georgia. See rainfall map below.

Active weather pattern ahead

Although February started off rather slow, the recent spell of stormy weather may very well be followed up with more stormy weather through the rest of the month. Most of the nation should see several storm systems traverse the lower 48 states over the next two to three weeks. New England and the Mid Atlantic states should be prepared for more rain/snow chances in the week ahead and more the week after.

Several storm systems will move across the North Pacific and across the Rockies and High Plains late this week and into the following two weeks. Snow packs in the west are in line for a bit of a boost and rain/snow chances will improve for some of the parched southern and central plains.