Sunday night and Monday's Northeast United States "Blizzard of 2010" left a heavy blanket of snow for much of the Eastern United States - originating as the last shot in a parade of moisture-laden, Pacific, California storms, this storm would gather Gulf of Mexico moisture on its eastward journey, eventually tapping the Atlantic Ocean as it turned northward, interacted with polar energy, and bombed just south of New England, passing directly over the Island of Nantucket early Monday morning. Some impressive stats:
- 80 mph wind gust, Wellfleet, MA; 79 mph gust Orleans, MA; many 65-70 mph gusts along Northeast coast
- Two to three feet of snow in hardest hit locales
- An estimated minimum central pressure of 962 mb (my cursory estimate - may be lower upon complete re-analysis). This is equivalent to the central pressure of some Category 3 hurricanes, and - if correct - will place the Blizzard of 2010 in the top 10 Atlantic coastal storms of the last 50 years for the December through March period.
- A measured 18.2 inches of snow at Logan International Airport in Boston makes this December 26/27, 2010 storm tied for 10th greatest snowstorm in Boston's history...tied with December 20-22, 1975 and January 7-8, 1996, according to the National Weather Service.
- Monday's snowfall at Logan Airport was 8.3 inches, setting a daily snowfall record for the date. The previous record was 5.7 inches set in 1894, according to the National Weather Service.
- Total December snowfall in Boston is 22.0 inches, ranked as 8th snowiest December in Boston.
With the storm departing, cold air will be left in its wake, along with a gusty wind.
Copyright NECNMIGR - NECN
