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Weatherwatch: Don't be lulled into thinking spring has arrived Weatherwatch: Don't be lulled into thinking spring has arrived
(7 months later)
March has arrived, the snowdrops are out and it is easy to be lulled into thinking spring is on the way. But winter may still deliver a punch. Twenty years ago today, one of North America's most severe winter storms began to brew.March has arrived, the snowdrops are out and it is easy to be lulled into thinking spring is on the way. But winter may still deliver a punch. Twenty years ago today, one of North America's most severe winter storms began to brew.
The freak combination of an Arctic high pressure system (pulled south by an unusual meandering jet stream) combined with a cluster of powerful thunderstorms and a band of snow in the Gulf of Mexico, was the recipe for the storm of a century. By 11th March 1993 meteorologists were convinced the storm posed a serious threat, but to most ordinary people it seemed unbelievable. In the southern part of the US local TV stations were reluctant to broadcast the extreme numbers that forecast models were predicting.The freak combination of an Arctic high pressure system (pulled south by an unusual meandering jet stream) combined with a cluster of powerful thunderstorms and a band of snow in the Gulf of Mexico, was the recipe for the storm of a century. By 11th March 1993 meteorologists were convinced the storm posed a serious threat, but to most ordinary people it seemed unbelievable. In the southern part of the US local TV stations were reluctant to broadcast the extreme numbers that forecast models were predicting.
The forecasters were right. For three days vast areas of the US and eastern Canada were crippled by blizzards, vast quantities of snow, tornados, high seas and coastal flooding. The storm brought snow as far south as northern Florida, "thundersnow" from Texas to Pennsylvania and snowdrifts of more than 10m in the north. Three hundred and ten people lost their lives, thousands of people lost their homes and 10 million people had no power.The forecasters were right. For three days vast areas of the US and eastern Canada were crippled by blizzards, vast quantities of snow, tornados, high seas and coastal flooding. The storm brought snow as far south as northern Florida, "thundersnow" from Texas to Pennsylvania and snowdrifts of more than 10m in the north. Three hundred and ten people lost their lives, thousands of people lost their homes and 10 million people had no power.
Despite its devastation this storm marked a milestone in weather forecasting – meteorologists were able to give five days advance warning and details about the storm's path. That information saved many lives.Despite its devastation this storm marked a milestone in weather forecasting – meteorologists were able to give five days advance warning and details about the storm's path. That information saved many lives.
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