Christmas 1994 nor'easter

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Christmas 1994 Nor'easter
EST
(08:00 UTC) on December 23, 1994
TypeNor'easter
FormedDecember 22, 1994
DissipatedDecember 26, 1994
Lowest pressure970
hPa
)
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		No snow or ice reported
Fatalities2
Damage> $21 million 1994 USD
Areas affectedEast Coast of the United States

The Christmas 1994 nor'easter was an intense cyclone along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada. It developed from an area of low pressure in the southeast Gulf of Mexico near the Florida Keys, and moved across the state of Florida. As it entered the warm waters of the Gulf Stream in the Atlantic Ocean, it began to rapidly intensify, exhibiting traits of a tropical system, including the formation of an eye. It attained a pressure of 970 millibars on December 23 and 24, and after moving northward, it came ashore near New York City on Christmas Eve. Because of the uncertain nature of the storm, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) did not classify it as a tropical cyclone.

Heavy rain from the developing storm contributed to significant flooding in

beach erosion. New York State and New England bore the brunt of the storm; damage was extensive on Long Island, and in Connecticut, 130,000 households lost electric power during the storm. Widespread damage and power outages also occurred throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts
, where the storm generated 30-foot (9.1 m) waves along the coast. Because of the warm weather pattern that contributed to the storm's development, precipitation was limited to rain. Two people were killed, and damage amounted to at least $21 million.

Meteorological history

Map plotting the storm's track and intensity, according to the Saffir–Simpson scale
Map key
Saffir–Simpson scale
  Tropical depression (≤38 mph, ≤62 km/h)
  Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
  Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
  Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
  Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
  Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
  Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
  Unknown
Storm type
triangle Extratropical cyclone, remnant low, tropical disturbance, or monsoon depression

The storm originated in an upper-level low pressure system that moved southeastward from the central Great Plains into the Deep South of the United States. After reaching the southeast Gulf of Mexico, the disturbance underwent cyclogenesis, and the resultant system moved through Florida on December 22 in response to an approaching trough.[1] Forecasters lacked sufficient data to fully assess the cyclone for potential tropical characteristics, and as such, it could not be classified. The same trough that pushed the storm across Florida had moved to the north, allowing for high pressure to develop in the upper levels of the atmosphere.[2]

Deemed a "hybrid storm", the cyclone rapidly intensified in warm waters of up to 80 °F (27 °C) from the Gulf Stream combined with a cold air mass over the United States.

New York State.[5] On December 25, the system began to rapidly weaken as it moved towards Nova Scotia, before the pair of low pressure systems moved out to sea in tandem in the early hours of December 26.[1]

Effects

Southeast United States

In South Carolina, flooding associated with the cyclone was considered to be the worst since 1943.

hydroplaned and struck a tree, and another person drowned after her car was struck by another vehicle.[12] Total damage in South Carolina amounted to at least $4 million.[11]

A map depicting two large storms near the United States
Weather map of the interacting pair of cyclones during the morning of December 24, 1994

Strong winds occurred along the North Carolina coast. Diamond Shoals reported sustained winds of 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), and offshore, winds gusted to 65 miles per hour (105 km/h). On

Carolina Beach, dunes were breached and some roads, including portions of North Carolina Highway 12, were closed.[13]

Mid-Atlantic

As the primary storm entered New England, the secondary low produced minor coastal flooding in the

brush fire on December 24. The fire, quickly spread by the wind, burned a field. The winds brought down several trees.[15]

Damage was light in

sand dunes and wooden structures were damaged, and above-normal tides occurred.[16] In New Jersey, high winds caused power outages and knocked down trees and power lines.[17] Minor coastal flooding of streets and houses was reported. Otherwise, damage in the state was minor.[18]

The storm brought heavy rainfall and high winds to New York State and New York City on December 23 and 24.

North Fork of Long Island, in Southold, a seaside home partially collapsed into the water.[20]

New England

In

Northeast Utilities, reported that "We've had outages in virtually every community."[18] In New Haven, the nor'easter ripped three barges from their moorings. One of the barges traveled across the Long Island Sound[18] and ran aground near Port Jefferson, New York.[24] A man in Milford was killed indirectly when a tree that was partially downed by the storm fell on him during an attempt to remove it from a relative's yard. Northeast Utilities, which reported the majority of the power outages, estimated storm damage in the state to be about $6–$8 million (1994 USD; $8.8–$11.8 million 2008 USD).[23]

Effects were less severe in New Hampshire and Vermont. In southern New Hampshire, a line of thunderstorms produced torrential rainfall, causing flooding on parts of New Hampshire Route 13. Flash flooding of several tributaries feeding into the Piscataquog River was reported.[25] In Maine, the storm brought high winds and heavy rain.[26] Along the coast of southern Maine and New Hampshire, beach erosion was reported. Additionally, minor flooding was reported across the region, as a result of heavy surface runoff and small ice jams.[19] In Rhode Island, the power outages were the worst since Hurricane Bob of the 1991 Atlantic hurricane season.[27] Throughout the state, approximately 40,000 customers were without electric power. As with Massachusetts, downed trees and property damage were widespread. There were many reports of roof shingles being blown off roofs and of damage to gutters. In Warwick, several small boats were damaged after being knocked into other boats. The highest reported wind gust in the state was 74 miles per hour (119 km/h) at Ashaway, Rhode Island. Statewide damage totaled about $5 million.[28]

Massachusetts, particularly

Boston, the storm toppled a 50-foot (15 m) Christmas tree.[31] Rainfall of 2 to 3.5 inches (51 to 89 mm) was recorded throughout the eastern part of the state, contributing to heavy runoff that washed away a 400-foot (120 m) section of a highway. Total damage in Massachusetts was estimated at about $5 million.[30]

See also

References

  1. ^
    U.S. Department of Commerce
    . Retrieved 2006-11-19.
  2. ^ a b c Robert Henson (1995). "Weatherwise, December 1995 vol. 48 # 6" (PDF). Hurricanes in disguise. Weatheranswer.com. Retrieved 2008-10-18.
  3. ^ a b Chris Cappella (2005-05-17). "1991's 'perfect storm' a hybrid hurricane". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  4. ^ a b "High Wind Event Record Details for New York". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  5. ^ a b "High Wind Event Record Details for New York (2)". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  6. ^ a b "Heavy rains/flooding Event Report Details for South Carolina". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  7. ^ "Thunderstorm Winds Event Report Details for South Carolina". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  8. ^ "Winds hit Carolinas". A. The Atlanta Constitution. December 24, 1994. p. 10.
  9. ^ "Heavy rains/flooding Event Report Details for South Carolina (2)". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  10. ^ "Heavy rains/flooding Event Report Details for South Carolina (3)". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  11. ^ a b "Heavy rains/flooding Event Report Details for South Carolina (4)". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  12. ^ Staff Writer (1994). "Rainstorm Clobbers East Coast; 2 Reported Dead, Electricity Out". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  13. ^ "Flooding Event Record Details for North Carolina". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  14. ^ "Coastal Flooding Event Record Details for Virginia". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  15. ^ "High Wind Event Record Details for Virginia". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  16. ^ "Coastal Flooding Event Record Details for Maryland". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-19.
  17. ^ Steve Marlowe. "Storm Causes Power Outages for Thousands in N.J". The Record. Archived from the original on 2012-10-22. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  18. ^ a b c Dennis Hevesi (1994-12-25). "Storms Darken Holiday In Connecticut and on L.I." The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  19. ^ a b "Mild Weather Continues". Cornell University. Archived from the original on June 11, 2007. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  20. ^ "Coastal Flooding Event Record Details for New York". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  21. ^ "Storm on East Coast Batters New England". Victoria Advocate. Associated Press. December 25, 1994. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  22. ^ "Storm Pounds East Coast". The Sacramento Bee. Associated Press. 1994. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  23. ^ a b "High Winds Event Record Details for Connecticut". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  24. ^ Staff Writer (1994). "Storm Batters New York, Connecticut". Daily News of Los Angeles. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  25. ^ "Flash Flood Event Record Details for New Hampshire". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  26. ^ Dave Hanson (1994). "Rain, Wind to Fade Away by Holiday Southern Maine is Warm but Wet as a Weakening Storm Moves in". Portland Press Herald. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  27. ^ "R.I. Power Outage Harder to Fix Than in '91". Boston Globe. Associated Press. 1994. Retrieved 2008-10-22.
  28. ^ "High Winds Event Record Details for Rhode Island". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  29. ^ Hart, Jordana; Lynda Gorov (1994-12-25). "7 killed in fire fed by winds in North Attleborough - Metro - The Boston Globe". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2014-12-10.
  30. ^ a b "High Winds Event Record Details for Massachusetts". National Climatic Data Center. Archived from the original on 2011-05-20. Retrieved 2008-10-21.
  31. ^ Staff Writer (1994-12-25). "Christmas Eve Storm Batters East". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2008-10-22.

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