4/15-4/15/2007 NOW: PA / NY / CT / RI / VT / NH / MA (WINTER PRECIP)

[HAltschule]

An unprecedented bombing low pressure area has brought some tremendous weather to the Northeast. A conveyor belt of very heavy rainfall under a 140-160 KT upper level jet / 60-80 KT Low lever jet has set up across the Northeast. Widespread rainfall amounts of 4-6" of rain have occurred across many parts of New Jersey, NYC, Long Island and Southeastern NY. Widespread flooding and flood warnings are occurring now. NYC Central Park at last report had received 5.55" of rain!!!!

To make things even more stir crazy, the air is/was cold enough for snow in Upstate New York and New England. Here in Albany, we saw heavy wet snow and sleet for many hours and about 3" of snow of accumulation. The sleet is continuing as I write with a transition now to rain. 5 Miles from here (at an elevation of 800-1000 feet), the Helderburgs so far have received 10" of snow. These areas are now mostly sleet and some rain. In the NW Adirondack Mountains, all snow has fallen and around 15-25" total accumulation is expected.

A wide variety of weather parameters have made the weather in Northeast wild....to say the least. AND IT'S MID-APRIL!!!

 

[HAltschule]

11:30 AM Update:

NYC Metro area into Upstate New York. Widespread 5-10" RAINFALL totals so far. 2nd all time heaviest rainfall in NYC at 7.55". Rivervale, NJ coop came in at 9.20" of rain. Further north, rainfall amounts have been 2-4" but with 2-4" of snow also. Adirondack Mountains have checked in with 1-2 FEET of snow and tree/power lines down. Boonville, NY has received 26" of snow.

Bad news. Many roads flooded out and closed. Resident evacuations underway across many parts of SE New York State and Northern New Jersey.

Here in Albany, our Fire Depts. are getting back to back calls for flooded basements. Dutchess county, NY has reports of several home with foundation collapses. Creeks and rivers continue to rise.

Wild weather!!

 

[B Ozanne]

I've had 5.90" of rain so far with a low pressure of 969mb. 28.63". Mount Washington just had a gust to 157mph. I also just read that Rutland, VT had a major downsloping wind event this morning and much of the city is without power. Many towns along the western slope of the Green Mountain experienced the same winds with widespread damage.

 

[HAltschule]

Very impressive Indeed. It appears one of two things happened:

A) A massive gravity wave occurred over the area; or
B) As the low pressure area moved Westward in the NYC area, Rutland got into the warm sector of the storm (or warmER sector) and allowed the 50 KT jet wind to reach the ground.

Rutland, VT news is confirming widespread damage with trees and powerlines down and the city is without power. The ASOS system was also knocked offline for several hours this morning according to the NWS Albany.

Wow. Good find Bill!!

 

[HAltschule]

As you can see, the wind sensor stopped working at 53mph. Hopefully we will be able to get an accurate wind measurement from the area....

0730 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG RUTLAND 43.61N 72.98W
04/16/2007 RUTLAND VT FIRE DEPT/RESCUE

MUCH OF CITY WITHOUT POWER. MANY EVERGREEN TREES AND POWER LINES DOWN. NUMEROUS REPORTS OF ROOF DAMAGE, SIDING RIPPED OFF, AND CHIMNEYS TOPPLED. TIME ESTIMATED.

0735 AM NON-TSTM WND GST RUTLAND 43.61N 72.98W
04/16/2007 M53.00 MPH RUTLAND VT AWOS

SENSOR STOPPED REPORTING AFTER 53 MPH GUST.

0930 AM NON-TSTM WND DMG WHEELOCK 44.59N 72.09W
04/16/2007 CALEDONIA VT TRAINED SPOTTER
NUMEROUS TREES DOWN.

 

[B Ozanne]

My family has property 5 miles west of Brandon, VT. My weather station hasn't been reporting on the internet for a few weeks but it should have wind data archived.

I just happened to hear about Rutland from some people in the area. The town of Brandon appears to be equally hard hit.

I don't know the exact dynamics but it looks like a rare downslope wind event. Something which is relatively common in the Rockies. Boulder, CO and the Wasatch front in UT for example.

 

[Ericka B. Gray]

Massachusetts North Shore and Boston

The conditions in and around the North Shore of Mass. today were absolutely incredible with the astronomical high tide occurring at 10:52 and east winds of over 40 mph and gusts of over 60 mph. With the winds coming directly off the ocean, we saw flooding, evidence of repeated surges, and witnessed (fortunately got out of the way by a hair) a surge. Many downed power lines, trees, power outages. In Arlington and Lexington, MA, big trees downed by high winds during the night and early morning. We only lost some branches but it was howling through the night.

Ericka

 

[HAltschule]

Wow. Those are among the roughest seas I've ever seen. They're certainly up there with many major hurricanes. Luckily it seems as though the heavy precip is over and that the storm should depart soon. Though the flooding will likely stick around for several days.

I am focussing on the low to mid 60's this coming weekend!!

 

[Dan Robinson]

I encountered some heavy snow squalls last night crossing the mountains on I-64. About an inch on the ground above 2,500 feet, with icy bridges and overpasses everywhere else.

Rivers are running high here in the Charleston area, with backwater flooding problems more significant that I remember seeing them. This spot is along a creek over two miles from the flooded Coal River:

A partial dam failure occurred south of Charleston in Lincoln County. Other than that, an impressive event for us here but nothing record-breaking.

Having been to Gloucester during calm weather and seeing the waves, I can't imagine what that must have been like! A Boston area nor'easter is definately on my list for a chase trip this fall!

 

[Ericka B. Gray]

Gloucester MA

Those photos were taken in Gloucester and I've never seen seas this rough! A New England Nor'easter is something to experience. The photos below include one of Ian taking video of cars that were scrambling to get out of the way of the storm surge that came up to where he is standing. You can see the water receding back to the ocean. The other photo is of a protected cove in Rockport, MA a few hours after high tide. Let me know if you come here to experience a Nor'easter. I know lots of great viewing places.

Ericka