Nor'easter Storms in the Burlington Vermont area

A nor'easter (northeaster) is a macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States. A Nor'easter is so named because the winds in a Nor'easter come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada. More specifically, it describes a low pressure area whose center of rotation is just off the East Coast and whose leading winds in the left forward quadrant rotate onto land from the northeast. The precipitation pattern is similar to other extratropical storms. Nor'easters also can cause coastal flooding, coastal erosion, gale force winds, and heavy snow. Nor'easters are characterized by having an association with a warm front, cold front, or occluded fronts. Nor'easters can occur at any time of the year but are mostly known for their presence in the winter season.[1] Nor'easters can be devastating and damaging, especially in the winter months, when most damage and deaths are cold related, as Nor'easters are known for bringing extremely cold air down from the Arctic air mass. Nor'easters thrive on the converging air masses; that is, the polar cold air mass and the warmer ocean water of the Gulf Stream.[2] Nor'easters will usually develop between 30 N. and 35 N.

Nor'easters usually form off of the Carolina coast, in the winter months when Labrador currents and the warm Gulf Stream current meet. The sharp contrast in air temperatures above these currents allows a low pressure system to form. Meanwhile, over Canada, winds move in a clockwise direction around a High pressure system. These winds move far into the northeastern United States, bringing in Arctic air that allows freezing precipitation. The low pressure system begins to move up the coast. At the same time, air rushes counterclockwise around it, bringing winds that blow from the northeast, hence the name, "nor'easter." These winds pick up moisture from the ocean. Lift causes the moisture to rise and form clouds and precipitation. If the clouds are trapped east of the Appalachian Mountains, they drop precipitation on areas along the coast.[3]

Characteristics Nor'easters are usually formed by an area of vorticity associated with an upper-level disturbance or from a kink in a frontal surface that causes a surface low pressure area to develop. Such storms very often are formed from the merging of several weaker storms, a "parent storm" and a polar jet stream mixing with the tropical jet stream.

Until the nor'easter passes, thick, dark, low-level clouds often block out the sun. During a single storm, the precipitation can range from a torrential downpour to a fine mist. Low temperatures and high wind gusts are also associated with a nor'easter. On very rare occasions, such as in the North American blizzard of 2006 and a nor'easter in 1979, the center of the storm can take on the circular shape more typical of a hurricane and have a small eye. All precipitation types can occur in a nor'easter, although they are well-known for their frozen precipitaion.

The weekend Nor'Easter saved its best for last, dumping heavy snow across Vermont and New York late Sunday night into Monday morning. 4-8" of snow has already fallen as of early Monday morning, and an additional 2-6" is on the way before the snow departs the area from west to east as Monday progresses. That means storm totals will range from 6-12", with a few higher totals certainly possible. Several inches of snow fell Saturday night and Sunday, followed by a period of sleet and freezing rain. The heaviest snow developed Sunday night, and will wind down during the day Monday, with the Green Mountains the last place to see the snow shut off. Many area schools are closed or delayed Monday, and travel will remain difficult this morning. Police advise you to reduce your speed on the roads, and increase your following distance between your car and the one in front of you. Click here to read more.

The Burlington area could get between 10 and 16 inches, while southern Vermont can expect 14 to 20 inches when the snow stops falling, said Brooke Taber, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in South Burlington. Northern Vermont is farther from the source of the moisture and is expected to see 6-10 inches, Taber said. Forecasts initially predicted the snow would miss much of northwestern Vermont, but the storm's track Friday was farther north than originally expected, Taber said. Winds could pick up this afternoon, causing blowing and drifting snow. The Vermont snow was part of a powerful storm moving up the East Coast dumped a dangerous mix of freezing rain and snow across much of the Northeast on Friday, snarling traffic and giving thousands of schoolchildren an early start on the weekend. The nor'easter -- characterized by northeast winds of 15 mph to 20 mph -- was expected to bring up to 2 feet of snow....

A major nor'easter blasted much of Vermont late Friday and Saturday, dumping up to 26 inches of snow, forcing the cancellation of some flights and making routine activities such as driving and walking treacherous. ... County felt the full weight of this storm because a low-pressure system moved farther north than other recent snows, which blanketed southern Vermont but left much of northern Vermont with a bad case of snow envy. Snow fell Saturday in heavy bands across much of Chittenden County, said Eric Evenson, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service in South Burlington. ... At Burlington International Airport, nearly 18 inches had fallen before the snow began tapering off at 5 p.m., Evenson said. At one point, he said, 8 inches fell in two hours. Records fell, too. The nor'easter produced Burlington's second-largest one-day snowfall, third-largest January snowfall and a tie for the eighth-largest snowfall on record, Evenson said. ^popular

The first Nor'Easter of 2003 was a memorable one, with many measuring the snow in feet as the storm winds down. 1-2 feet of snow was the rule of thumb for most of us, and much of that fell over the course of 24 hours. Burlington came in just under 18 inches...and the 17.4 inches Saturday was the second snowiest one-day storm total on record. ... Snowfall rates of 2-4 inches per hour were common at the height of the storm, and travel was very difficult through much of Saturday. While conditions are improving tonight, caution is still urged when out on the roads. Both Burlington and Plattsburgh are still efforting to remove today's snow, and therefore both cities continue their parking bans through Sunday morning. All cars not moved by midnight will be towed at the owner's expense. The snow was powdery, so despite the fact that feet fell, removal efforts were easier than if the snow were heavy and wet. Because of the light weight of the snow and the light winds, no major power outages were reported ^popular Click here to read more.

Vermont got two major snow storms in two consecutive weekends. Tires are spinning, cars are moving, but the commute is slow going. Snow starting falling Sunday afternoon and fell for 24 hours straight making for treacherous travel. The second winter storm in just over a week came down fast and furious on Vermont's roads and highways. Plows had a hard time keeping pace and police advised drivers to stay off the streets. Church Street in Burlington looked more like a winter wonderland than a shopping plaza as stores closed up shop early. Those who did brave the weather walked downtown instead of driving. The Nor'easter cancelled virtually all flights at the Burlington International Airport Sunday night through Monday morning. Some travelers hunkered down for long delays but others would not let the snow ruin their spirits. WPTZ reports that the snow fall last night was 18.5", just over last weeks snow storm. ^popular Click here to read more.

Burlington Saw Three Top-10 Snow Storms in 2003 By Brent Hallenbeck Free Press Staff Writer Tuesday, December 16, 2003 Driveway and sidewalk shovelers just recovering from achy-breaky backs suffered the previous weekend had a nice treat waiting for them Monday morning -- an even bigger, snowier storm than the last one. This one, which began Sunday , buried Vermont under one of the state's largest recorded snowfalls. The 18.8 inches measured at Burlington International Airport as of 6 p.m. Monday made the storm the eighth largest, ahead of the ninth-ranked 18.3 inches received Dec. 6 and 7 and the 10th-ranked 17.8 inches from Jan. 4 and 5. Folks who like to reminisce about those old-fashioned Vermont snowstorms should be talking about these new-fashioned ones. Three of the top 10 storms came this year. No other decade has more than two in the top 10. "We're on quite a roll," said Brooke Taber, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at the airport. "This is very unusual to have two heavy snowfalls across northern Vermont basically within a week of each other." The nor'easter delayed flights and shut down stores during the holiday shopping season. Schools closed across Vermont, with many administrators making the call as early as Sunday night. State office workers were told to come in late to work. Car owners scurried for off-street parking to make room for snow plows. Cancellations ranged from recycling pickup in Burlington to the city's adult volleyball and basketball games. Playing in the snow The snow inconvenienced many. Others thought it was a blast. Katie Smith, 7, and Haley Newman, 9, stood before a snowdrift so high they couldn't reach its top on their own Monday afternoon. Katie's father, Russ Smith, had propped a tall wooden ladder against it, angled into the snow to serve as a staircase to the top. They were waiting to launch their carefully calculated snowball attack. "We're gonna nail them!" Katie Smith said with a smile, referring to her brother Brian Smith, 9, and Haley's brother Jeff Newman, 11. Both were inside the Smith home in South Burlington, bundling up in their snow gear. "We made a bunch of snowballs and have them hidden, and we're going to get the boys with them," Katie said. The girls planned the attack as well as the getaway-sliding down the hill on sleds perched at the top. When Brian emerged, the giggling girls sprang into action. "Get him!" Katie shouted. After a quick pummeling, Brian and Jeff retaliated. Although it was hard to determine a victor, all four children's flushed faces had grins by the end. Moving it About 35 senior citizens and disabled residents received aid from Operation Snow Shovel's 15 volunteers. The program, part of the Community and Economic Development Office, brings volunteers with shovels ready to help dig out individuals otherwise unable to do so. "The seniors are really patient," said Trish Tchume, program coordinator for AmeriCorps VISTA First Response and Operation Snow Shovel. "They're just so grateful that someone's willing to help." Few snow-related injuries were reported at Fletcher Allen Health Care in Burlington. The emergency room treated one or two minor injuries from car accidents as well as a few patients who fell on slick pavement or off roofs while shoveling snow, spokesman Mike Noble said. He said one person was treated for chest pains suffered while removing snow. Travelers at Burlington International Airport were met by dreaded words on the arrival/departure boards -- "delayed," "canceled" and the ominous "delay subject to change," with no indication if the change would be for better or worse. A quarter or so of the flights listed on the boards Monday afternoon were labeled "on time." Jim Beach's flight was not among them. His parents, Ken and Lois Beach, drove four hours from their home in Sherbrooke, Quebec -- a drive that normally takes less than three hours -- to meet their son's plane at 1:30 p.m. They were still waiting two hours later. They sat near the entrance to the gates and read books to kill time. Jim Beach is a reverse snowbird. He lives in St. Augustine, Fla., and is heading north to ski. "He said he'd like to come up and see some snow," Ken Beach said. "so he's getting his wish." This month is only half over but already ranks as the fifth snowiest December on record, according to Taber, with more than 38 inches of snow. The snowiest December came in 1970, when 56.7 inches fell. The bad news is it's still fall. Winter starts Monday. The good news is that today should be sunny with temperatures in the low 30s, Taber said. The other bad news is that another storm is moving in for Wednesday and Thursday. That storm is likely to start with rain across Vermont on Wednesday, with some freezing rain possible, followed by snow on Thursday. "It's going to be big, significant, strong, all those adjectives," Taber said, offering no rest for the weather-weary. Staff writer Victoria Welch contributed to this report. Contact Brent Hallenbeck at 660-1844 or bhallenb@bfp.burlingtonfreepress.com Big digs The storm that hit Vermont late Sunday and early Monday joined the list of top 10 snowstorms recorded by the National Weather Service in South Burlington. If that refrain sounds familiar, it's because the previous addition to the list came just over a week ago. 29.8 inches, Dec. 25-28, 1969 24.7 inches, Jan. 13-14, 1934 22.9 inches, March 5-6, 2001 22.4 inches, March 13-14, 1993 20.0 inches, Nov. 25, 1900 19.7 inches, Jan. 25-28, 1986 19.1 inches, March 16-17, 1937 18.8 inches, Dec. 14-15, 2003 (as of 6 p.m. Monday) 18.3 inches, Dec. 6-7, 2003 17.8 inches, Jan. 4-5, 2003 Source: National Weather Service