Thanksgiving Snowstorm-1989

We’re going to take a trip into the storm time machine, let’s go way back, oh yeah, to 1989!

I was a year old, and already this was my second snowstorm(my first, was when I was three months old.) This storm was truly one for the 80’s.  For the most part, this snowstorm was one that not many remember. It took some prodding of die hard weather lovers to get some details.

It began in earnest early on Thanksgiving Morning, and it took off like a rocket from Cape Canaveral. The snow stuck to the ground instantly, and didn’t switch to rain once. The snow fell from 2 AM to a little bit after 6 PM. After all was said and done, Nantucket received over a foot of snow. Places as far away as Washington DC and Baltimore received a white holiday. Flights were canceled up and down the coast, stranding passengers.

The storm was a spectacular close out to the 1980’s, and it was good timing too. The rest of the winter was pretty bland and bleak. Damage was extensive on Nantucket, with branches and poles down. At Chicken Hill, we had just sat down to dinner, when the power was cut. Lucky for us, we were able to eat(not me though, I had to eat that nasty Gerber crap.)

The start of the storm

The peak

Stats:

Accumulation: 14″  Forecast: none

Wind: 45 MPH  Unofficial: 66 mph

Damage: moderate

My dad has video footage of this storm somewhere, although it was on VHS, so I do not know if the quality is still good.

March 14-15, 1999 snowstorm

The last real redeeming chance of the 1998/1999 winter. This storm delivered 6″ of clean, white snow to Nantucket. The storm as Nantucket experienced it, was formed off of Delaware. After forming, the low head out to sea, but not before dropping snow across the region. Snow initiated well after dark on the island. Leading up to that, had been an overcast day, which was the first sign that a storm was to come.

The snow fell well into the early morning hours on the 15th, and then it got warmer, however, for just a moment. It switched to rain after 6:30 AM. After which it switched over to heavy snow. The snow fell in heavy intervals, followed by some cloudy periods. Wind was a large factor in this storm ,and it caused power poles to fall on Eel Point Road, causing power outages. Many areas along the harbor experienced coastal flooding.

Peak

Satellite image

Weather Channel Snow map

Stats:

Accumulation: 6″  Forecast-1″

Wind: 45 mph  Unofficial-55 mph

Damage: Heavy

March 11-12, 1999 snowfall

It had been a very horrible winter for the far away island of Nantucket. Not much snow had fallen, save for a few storms here and there, you know: nickel and dime events. The storm in question was a small low pressure system that scooted off to our south. Most coastal regions of southern New England were affected by this low pressure system, including Cape Cod and the Islands.

The 11th of March, 1999 dawned overcast on Nantucket, but that was typical for the winter. As the day progressed, the clouds thickened, and it looked like there was going to be some snow. Around this time, the snow was still off to the west, about to enter Providence. During the late evening hours, the snow began to fall.

It came down heavy at times. At midnight, the snow became increasingly heavy, almost to near white out conditions. The snow also fell all day on friday. At times, it looked as though the snow would leave heavier accumulation on the island. The snow mixed and changed to rain in the evening on the 12th, but the rain did not last long. It switched back to snow after dark.

This storm paved the way for the more intense 13-15 snowstorm. Most islanders don’t even remember this storm. Kids of all ages appreciated the snow and used it to their advantage for sledding, however the snow was not of a good quality for building.

The low south of New England

 

Stats:

Accumulation: 3″ Forecast: 1″- Positive bust

Winds: 30 mph Unofficial: 35 mph

Damage: if any, it was slight.

January 14-15th, 1999 snowstorm

On the heels of the previous let down, came salvation. This low developed over Tennessee, and moved eastward across the Delmarva on the 14th.  A cold front pushed southeastward on the 14th, causing the temperature to drop like a stone. In response to this,  cloud cover increased throughout the early afternoon hours on the 13th. On nantucket, people watched and waited. Finally, around midnight the precipitation initiated. At first, it was light rain and then as quick as it had come, it switched over to snow.

The snow fell all morning, and all afternoon. The temperature spiked to above freezing after dark, causing the snow to switch to rain, then to freezing rain. During the next day, the freezing rain continued, and caused a sheet of ice to form. This unfortunately, was not to be. The temperature spiked up towards 50 degrees on the 15th. This caused all the ice and the remnants of the snow pack to melt, and melt rapidly.

The kids of Nantucket Schools were more than likely disappointed by the spike in temperature. The DPW got a big break by not having to plow anything, but they did have to clean up broken limbs.  On the mainland, this storm was a blockbuster. Places like Weymouth and hingham receiving over a foot. Nantucket was caught in a warm slot of the storm, thus skimped out on the snow.

Widely contoured map

The storm complex at its peak

Storm over NE

Stats:

Accumulation: 1″  Forecast: 2-3″-Bust

Winds: 30 mph Unofficial: 45 mph

Damage: light

January 8-9,1999 snow and rain storm

The winter of 1998/1999 was still going badly for Nantucket, and we were in a snowfall rut.  The two previous events were well forecast for the area, however the totals were off, but not by much. As with the Dec. 23-24 storm, there was a bit of mixing with rain, however it was more catastrophic with this storm. This could have been much more of a snowstorm had it not changed over.

The storm was from the southern great plains. The storm didn’t get its act together until it was over Pennsylvania. Another center developed off of Long Island, and moved east. The conditions on Nantucket Island on January 8th, were typical for a winters day. The day dawned clear, but by early afternoon, the clouds were completely socked in. Precipitation initiated just before 4 PM. The snow began to pick up in intensity.

An inch of snow was on the ground before it switched to rain. The rain became very heavy and washed whatever snow pack we had away. Heavy rain continued throughout the night, and into the next morning.  The rain stopped for a few hours on the 9th,  and it even cleared up, but before nightfall, the rain moved back in. This was another bust. Places like Albany,Rutland, and Brattleboro received measurable snowfall.  For the kids of the area, heartbreak was common, as they could not go sledding. There was some hope. On Sunday, the 10th, light snow fell, but it didn’t amount to much.

The snow portion

Snow changing over to rain

Peak of storm

Stats:

Accumulation: 1.5″  Forecast: 2″-Bust

Wind: 25 mph  Unofficial: 36 mph

Damage: none

December 31-January 1 Snowstorm

This was perhaps the most intense ocean effect snow to impact the island. The weather on New Years Eve was cold, and partly cloudy. By late evening, it was apparent that something was coming.

By sunset, a look on the radar revealed an area of snow showers to the south, and they were steadily moving northward. First flakes fell after 8 PM, and steadily increased. After midnight, things really got cranking.

1999 opened with heavy snow. Plowing the roads? Forget it the roads were too covered with snow, so sand was employed. Nantucket saw the snow end by 6 AM on New Years Day. Temps on the 1st were very cold, with 4 being the high.

This was the other highlight of a very bleak winter, that made for some interesting weather. The snow stayed on the ground for two days after the event. The snow was of a light and powdery composition, not good for snow building.

Stats:

Accumulation: 6″ Forecast: none
Wind: 10 mph
Damage: none

December 23-24, 1998 snowstorm

Up until this storm, the winter was going badly. This storm wasn’t even supposed to happen. An area of low pressure developed over the Ohio valley and moved eastward; on the 22nd, the low moved over the Delmarva.

Early on the 23rd, the low crossed over the shore and out to sea. The weather for the 23rd was unremarkable, save for the fact that it became overcast in the early afternoon hours. Snow began after dusk across most of the area, with little wind.

On the island itself, the snow in two characteristics: heavy and then flurry type snowfall; the latter had to do with the dry air. Also to add insult to injury was the fact that my grandparents were staying at a different house, since chicken Hill was damaged by a fire that previous September.

The snow ended before noon on Christmas Eve. The official report states that 5″ fell on Nantucket, while the most snow that fell was 9″ over southern Plymouth. The snow, as much as I would have wanted it to last, didn’t. On The 27th, temperatures rose to 40 and melted most of the snow.

Stats:

Accumulation: 5″ Forecast: 1-2″
Wind: 30 mph. Unofficially: 35 mph
Damage: none

December 27-28, 1997 snowstorm

Mother nature would prove to be fickle, sending her boy child El nino to play with Nantucket. The winter of 1997-1998 was perhaps one of the worst winters that Nantucket had experienced. Leading up to this storm, was an early season fluke that developed off of the Delmarva on the 22nd, and raced northward, giving places like Waltham and Wakefield up to 2′ of snow. That storm was a pitiful rainstorm here on the island.

But it got even better. On the 26th, an area of low pressure developed off of South Carolina, and moved eastward at an extremely rapid pace, coming into our backyard in the middle part of the 27th. At first light rain fell. I had been off island with my now late grandparents(RIP), for Christmas. On the way back, we stopped at the Black Cat restaurant in Hyannis waiting for the ferry to arrive, when I overheard the television.

Initially it was reported that the Cape and Islands would receive upwards to 10″ of snow, but that was at 1 PM. Outside, the sky looked slate gray. We boarded the ferry and departed Hyannis. From the get go, I knew something was wrong. Towards the middle of Nantucket Sound, rain began to fall. We arrived sometime around 5:15 pm, and it was POURING. We met up with my dad, and I went with him. He updated me, by saying that any snow that would fall, was going to be at the end, and we would probably receive 1 or if we were lucky, 2 inches.

So, throughout the night, it continued to rain, and it really came down in the early morning hours of the 28th. It was sometime during the early morning hours when the rain stopped, and switched over to snow. I awoke to find a measly dusting on the ground. Other places around SE Massachusetts were lucky, they received up to 3″. So  all in all the storm was perhaps the first snow bust I’d experience, but I will forever remember it.

Snow map

The storm at its peak

Stats

Accumulation: T Forecast: 4-8″

Wind: 40 mph Unofficially: 45 mph

Damage: none

Review: March 4-6,2001 snow “Bust”

Often times, we all have painful memories, like when a loved one has died, or even when we move. In the meteorological community, we all have a painful memory: March 2001. From a Nantucket perspective, the storm was decent. On the 4th, which could be considered the first day of the storm; snow began to fall after dark. Winds at this point, still had not picked up. After Midnight, the snow which had been falling ,switched over to a light freezing rain.

Something was not right: The temperature, which had been rising steadily from freezing to the low 40’s throughout the day. Another factor, the wind had been increasing out of the East-northeast. The rain continued throughout the day on the 5th. Meanwhile on the mainland, places such as Durham,NH were receiving a screaming blizzard.  The rain, had backed off leaving a nasty raw day in place.

The rain was not done however. It picked up just before 10 AM on the 6th. Any hope for snow, had been dashed with the falling of rain. The wind had now become a factor. The low pressure itself was offshore by about 100 miles, and this caused wind gusts to be in the 40’s. Sustained, the winds were in the low 20’s. The next day, the low pressure system kicked out of the area, and became the offshore fishing grounds’ problem.

The problem with this storm, was that it was overforecast. Originally amounts of up to 3 feet were predicted for the region, this was not going t0 verify, because the storm moved too fast.

map depicting snowfall totals

Stats:

Accumulation: 0″  Forecast: 5″-Bust

Winds: 40 mph  Unofficial: 42 mph

Damage: only pride

Review: January 19-20, 2002 snowstorm

For the most part, the winter of 2001/2002 was a bit of a dry winter. It had been mild just after Christmas and the New Year, and fears that Nantucket might not get any snow were beginning to come together. A low pressure area was in the Appalachians on the 19th, and steadily moved eastward. The 19th on Nantucket began as a clear day, it wasn’t until 2 PM that any clouds began to filter in. Gradually the sky went from a milky haze to all out overcast.

Snow began after dark, and grew in intensity. At this time, the wind also switched; until now, the wind was out of the east-southeast.  Most areas near and around Nantucket saw their snow end by 4:30 AM on the 20th.  5.5″ fell on the island. Wind was not a problem with this storm, however there was a peak wind gust of 26 mph, however unofficially there was a wind gust of 30 mph and this was recorded at Chicken Hill.

There was also a brief, and I mean brief period of rainfall. This rainfall did not melt the snow cover at all. By 10 AM, the sky was clear, and the storm was all but a distant memory.

snow contour map for SNE

radar image from the snowstorm

Stats:

Accumulation: 5.5″  Forecast: rain

Wind: 20 mph  Unofficial: 30