Snowicane or Not?
Was the Snowicanetm a true hurricane? Certainly not, by the book. The physical structure was completely different. However...
The powerful storm in the Northeast that arrived quietly Thursday roared into action as forecast and feared by AccuWeather.com meteorologists.
Our concern was that the storm might be taken too lightly by the public if we stuck to the norm of calling the system a nor'easter, snowstorm, or even a blizzard.
We were not only worried about immobilizing snow, but many other severe aspects of the storm. These ranged from high winds, downed trees and power lines, torrential rain and coastal flooding.
Gusts at official, low-elevation observation sites well away from the coast in New England reached 68 mph, just shy of hurricane force (74 mph). Gusts of 67 mph were recorded at two official stations over the interior mid-Atlantic states. A gust of 90 mph was recorded at Isle of Shoals Lighthouse just off the coast of New Hampshire.
The central pressure with this storm was as low as 28.64 inches of mercury and was as low as a Category 2 hurricane.
Winds from the storm blew the rain and snow horizontally in some areas.
Onshore winds produced a storm surge of 3 feet along the Massachusetts coast.
The storm tracked northwestward from the Atlantic Ocean and made landfall in the Long Island and Connecticut areas.
So what else would you call a storm that behaves and has impacts like a hurricane in winter? You can decide for yourself if we made the right call or not.
More Weather News
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90-Year Anniversary of Deadly Knickerbocker Blizzard
Jan 28, 2012; 8:32 AM ET
Today marks the 90th anniversary of the deadly roof collapse of the Knickerbocker Theater in Washington, D.C., resulting from a massive blizzard that struck portions of the South and the mid-Atlantic.
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January 2012 Breaks Heat, Cold, Snow and Tornado Records
Jan 28, 2012; 8:24 AM ET
Natrona County, Wash., snowfall of 4.6 inches this January broke a 63 year record of 3 inches that had been standing since 1949.
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Kocet's Corner: Winter Hasn't Taken Hold...Yet
Jan 28, 2012; 8:17 AM ET
What's wrong with this winter you ask?
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Amazing Photo: Ominous Cloud Over Uruguay
Jan 28, 2012; 8:06 AM ET
An ominous-looking cloud was captured passing over Montevideo, Uruguay, late Tuesday evening.
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Wonderful Weekend for Much of the South
Jan 28, 2012; 7:55 AM ET
In the wake of the stormy weather this past week, the South will have a decent weekend for late January.
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First Major Storm of February?
Jan 28, 2012; 7:49 AM ET
AccuWeather.com meteorologists are monitoring weather patterns for next week that could allow a major storm to develop and affect the Northeast.
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Clipper Snow for the Great Lakes and Northeast
Jan 28, 2012; 7:45 AM ET
A weak clipper system will track north of the Great Lakes today, bringing a little snow to portions of the Ohio Valley and Northeast.
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Dry, Cooler Air Sweeping into the Northeast
Jan 28, 2012; 6:12 AM ET
In the wake of drenching rain, thunderstorms and a wintry mix in the Northeast Friday, dry, cooler air is sweeping in from the west.
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Slippery Coating of Snow Marks Midwest Cold Push
Jan 28, 2012; 6:10 AM ET
Just enough snow to make slippery spots on roads and sidewalks is rolling eastward into the Midwest to start the weekend.
Daily U.S. Extremes
past 24 hours
| Extreme | Location | |
|---|---|---|
| High | 89° | Fort Lauderdale, FL |
| Low | -14° | Stanley, ID |
| Precip | 1.53" | Sanford, ME |
WeatherWhys®
The Knickerbocker Storm was a very heavy snowstorm that occurred on January 27-28, 1922. The greatest impact of the storm (snowfall of 20 inches or more) was experienced from Virginia to New Jersey. In Washington, D.C., the snow depth reached 28 inches. The great weight of this massive snowfall was enough to collapse the roof of the Knickerbocker Theatre in Washington, D.C., thus the storm's name. Ninety-eight people were killed in this tragedy.
This Day In Weather History
Washington, D.C. (1922)
Knickerbocker storm's 28-inch snowfall crushed Washington theater of the same name killing more than 100 movie patrons.
Valdez, Alaska (1992)
A storm dumped 22.5 inches of snow, bringing the seasonal total to 275.3 inches, with 5 feet on the ground.
Rough Weather
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