Groundhog Day Blizzard 2015 and Punxsutawney Cam
UPDATE: I have updated the list of highest snow amounts by state below. Perhaps even more impressive are the 10-day snow amounts for this week (also spotter reports) from Maine:
Eastport, ME: 76" 1/24-2/3
East Machias, ME: 65" last 4 storms
Ellsworth, ME: 60" 1/24-2/3
Bangor, ME: 43" last 3 storms
The extent of the snow, from the Plains through Canada can be seen on this MODIS satellite image from Feb. 3:
Now, of course that snow would have compacted, but the NOHRSC snow depth map (see above) is showing some areas of Massachusetts and Maine with an estimate of 40-60 inches on the ground! The highest Coop Observer report I could find was 45" depth at Machias, ME.
ORIGINAL BLOG 2/2: A blizzard moved across the Midwest on Sunday, then into the Ohio Valley and Northeast U.S. early this Groundhog Day. It turned out to be the #5 biggest snowstorm in Chicago history; #3 in Detroit. Here's what the coverage of NWS spotter reports looked like:
Some of the heaviest amounts were around Chicago. Here are the highest amounts by state (2 PM Feb. 3rd):
Eastport, ME: 25.0"
Lunenburg, MA: 24.1"
La Porte, IN: 20.5"
Sauk Village, IL: 20.0"
Kalamazoo, MI: 20.0"
Webster, NY: 19.5"
Woodford, VT: 19.0"
Bow, NH: 17.0"
Waterville, OH: 15.5"
Pleasant Prairie, WI: 14.0"
Weston, CT: 14.3"
West Glocester, RI: 13.1"
Cranesville, PA: 13.0"
Pender, NE: 10.0"
Yankton, SD: 8.0"
This was the first Groundhog Day that the Punxsutawney Weather Center AccuCam has been active and the center was flooded with activity this weekend.
This morning, the furry prognosticator declared "six more weeks of winter" when he saw his shadow despite clouds, rain and snow in the area. Three inches of snow had fallen by 10 PM (see tweet below -- snow men were made) last night but no further reports were submitted this morning. There was definitely snow on the ground when Phil made his decision.
Previous List: Highest Snow Amounts by State (2 PM 2/2):
La Porte, IN: 20.5"
Sauk Village, IL: 20.0"
Kalamazoo, MI: 20.0"
Webster, NY: 19.5"
Waterville, OH: 15.5"
Fitchburg, MA: 14.2"
Pleasant Prairie, WI: 14.0"
Cranesville, PA: 13.0"
Guilford Center, VT: 12.0"
Pender, NE: 10.0"
Yankton, SD: 8.0"
Rockingham, NH: 8.0"
Colebrook, CT: 9.3"
N. Cumberland, RI: 8.0"
Phippsburg, ME: 7.0"
