Dr. Jeff Masters' WunderBlog

Major cold blast, epic lake effect snows hit North America

Posted by: Dr. Jeff Masters, 4:36 PM GMT on January 22, 2013

+32

A classic January North American cold wave has plunged much of the continent into the deep freeze and brought epic lake effect snows to the shores of the Great Lakes. The intense cold was centered over central Ontario this Tuesday morning, where a remarkable low temperature of -49°F (-45.0°C) was observed at Lansdowne House, Ontario. This was the coldest temperature measured at a major observing station in all of North America today. In the U.S., below-zero temperatures were recorded Tuesday morning in eleven states east of the Rockies. The coldest air was centered over Northern Minnesota, where the temperature plummeted to -35°F (-37°C) at Crane Lake at 7 am CST, with calm winds. The coldest wind chills were observed in Southern Manitoba, Northern Wisconsin, and Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where the clockwise flow of air around a high pressure system centered over Iowa brought bitter cold winds. The wind chill at Ironwood, Michigan hit -42°F at 7 am this morning, thanks to a temperature of -17°F combined with a wind of 17 mph. The wind chill hit -40° F (-40°C) at Rhinelander, Wisconsin.

Figure 1. Visible satellite image from 10:45 am EST January 22, 2013 shows multiple bands of lake effect snow streaming off of Lake Erie (lower left), and one very concentrated band of snow affecting the east shore of Lake Ontario over Oswego, New York (center right of image.) Image credit: NOAA.

Figure 2. Radar image of the band of very heavy lake effect snow affecting Oswego, NY (circle with a "+" symbol in it) at 11:08 EST January 22, 2013. The echo intensity of 25 dBZ (light blue colors) is very intense for a snow storm, and snowfall rates of up to 5" per hour may be occurring in this band.

The frigid Arctic air blasting over the unusually warm Great Lakes have created very heavy lake effect snows, and snowfall amounts in excess of a foot have hit the snow belts in the lee of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. The heaviest snows on Tuesday morning were falling along the eastern shore of Lake Ontario in New York, where the National Weather Service is warning that snowfall amounts of 2 - 4" per hour, possibly up to 5" per hour, will occur today. More than a foot of snow is also expected in along the shores of Lake Superior near Munising over the next day. As of 7 am EST Tuesday, here were the top snow amounts so far from this epic lake effect snow event:

18" Ripley, NY
13" Perrysburg, NY
12.7" Lacona, NY
12" Sinclairville, NY
12" Collins, NY

17" Fairview, PA
15" Colt Station, PA
14" Erie, PA (6 miles SW)
13" Girard, PA
12" Millcreek TWP, PA

13" Geauga, OH
13" Montville, OH
12" Thompson, OH
12" Montville, OH

Snow in southern Ohio on Monday created whiteout conditions near Cincinnati, causing a 79-car pile-up on I-275, and a 50-car pile-up on I-75. The CIMSS Satellite Blog shows the conditions during the event nicely.

Although the current Arctic air outbreak is severe, it has broken very few records. Only 11 daily minimum low temperature records were tied or broken in the U.S. on Monday; none of these records were set at stations east of the Rockies. In fact, there were more daily high temperature records set in the U.S. yesterday--fifteen in all, including new high temperature records at Los Angeles, Burbank, and Shasta in California.

Jeff Masters

Deep Freeze (novembergale)

River flowing (Fieldofflowers)

Still flowing even at -5 degrees. "I wish I could have focused my attention on getting better photos than trying to keep my nose from freezing off."

Ice shove's (mike47)

Ice shove's out on the bay, not what the ice Fishermen likes to see, the icy build up Makes it very hard to get there ice shanties out to where the fish are.

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401. LargoFl 3:40 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
I imagine there are going to be quite alot of frost bite injuries in the northern states,its been awhile since its been this cold,years in fact and people forget..its funny, your nose and face gets cold but you keep going,then the burning starts...glad im FAR away from all that now..i sure remember it Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

402. LargoFl 3:42 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
warning for Vermont.............WIND CHILL WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING... THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BURLINGTON CONTINUES THE WIND CHILL WARNING...UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING. * LOCATIONS...NORTH CENTRAL AND NORTHEAST VERMONT. * HAZARD TYPES...DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL READINGS. * WIND CHILL READINGS...VALUES WILL RANGE FROM 30 TO 35 BELOW WITH WEST TO NORTHWEST WINDS AT 6 TO 12 MPH TODAY. * IMPACTS...EXPOSURE TO THE VERY COLD TEMPERATURES COULD LEAD TO FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA. PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS... A WIND CHILL WARNING MEANS THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD AIR AND WIND WILL CREATE DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILL VALUES. THERE IS AN ENHANCED THREAT OF FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA TODAY. TAKE THE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO BEST PREPARE YOURSELF AND YOUR PROPERTY FOR THE VERY COLD CONDITIONS THAT WILL EXIST TODAY. && $$ Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

404. LargoFl 3:45 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
for Maine and New Hampshire..43 below?..geez...........WIND CHILL READINGS...AS LOW AS 43 BELOW. Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

405. VR46L 3:47 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Could be interesting in a few days in the North East Atlantic.... Rainbow Image Member Since: March 1, 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 2794

406. LargoFl 3:47 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
warming up in cleveland ohio..only feels like 15 below..a heat wave lol...............WIND CHILL ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 11 AM EST THIS MORNING... * TIMING...THROUGH THIS MORNING * WIND CHILL READINGS...AS LOW AS 15 BELOW. * WINDS...WEST 10 TO 15 MPH. * TEMPERATURES...1 TO 10 ABOVE. * IMPACTS...POTENTIAL FROSTBITE AND HYPOTHERMIA. Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

407. AussieStorm 3:49 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting LargoFl: I imagine there are going to be quite alot of frost bite injuries in the northern states,its been awhile since its been this cold,years in fact and people forget..its funny, your nose and face gets cold but you keep going,then the burning starts...glad im FAR away from all that now..i sure remember it I stepped outside for 2mins last Friday when it was 46.6C(115.88F) and got sunburnt. Only noticed it Saturday morning. 2mins, just 2mins and I got sunburnt. Just shows how hot it really was. Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13355

408. LargoFl 3:49 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST INDIANA...NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...NORTHERN KENTUCKY AND SOUTHWEST OHIO. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. SCATTERED SNOW SHOWERS WILL DEVELOP THIS AFTERNOON INTO THIS EVENING. ALTHOUGH LITTLE SNOW ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED WITH THE TIMING AFFECTING THE EVENING RUSH...SLICK SPOTS MAY DEVELOP ON AREA ROADWAYS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. AN AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL MOVE ACROSS THE OHIO VALLEY LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. COLD TEMPERATURES COMBINING WITH MOISTURE WILL YIELD SNOW FOR THIS EVENT. THOUGH IT IS TOO EARLY TO PINPOINT EXACT SNOWFALL AMOUNTS...HAZARDOUS TRAVEL IS EXPECTED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT AND FRIDAY DUE TO ACCUMULATING SNOW. Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

409. LargoFl 3:50 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting AussieStorm: I stepped outside for 2mins last Friday when it was 46.6C(115.88F) and got sunburnt. Only noticed it Saturday morning. 2mins, just 2mins and I got sunburnt. Just shows how hot it really was. yes aussie you have to be really careful down there, amazing temps for sure.. Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

410. LargoFl 3:54 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

411. AussieStorm 3:55 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting LargoFl: yes aussie you have to be really careful down there, amazing temps for sure.. Funny though, there wasn't any real radiant heat from it coming through the windows like it was back on Jan 1 2006. I couldn't sit on the heavy leather lounge back then cause it was so hot to the touch. It almost felt like it was going to burst into flames it was that hot but nothing felt hot this time. Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13355

412. LargoFl 3:56 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Wednesday Another cold day to come across all parts of the UK and most of Ireland. There will be an area of mainly light snow affecting central and southern England, although falling as sleet and rain on coasts. This snow area is most likely across the western and southern Midlands and parts of central southern England, edging north through the day. Additional accumulations of 1 or 2cm of snow are expected. A few snow flurries affecting eastern coasts of England and Scotland too. Snow showers could trouble western copasts of Scotland and the hills of Northern Ireland, but most of northwest England and western Scotland should be drier and possibly brighter too. Highs at 0 to 2C for most, 4C in Cornwall and western Ireland. Member Since: August 6, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 22426

413. nrtiwlnvragn 3:59 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Elimination of EYE and Addition of CENTER as Possible Remarks in the Temp Drop Message for Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Central Pacific and Western Pacific Hurricane Basins Effective May 15, 2013 Excerpt: Currently, the Remarks Section (Data Identifer 62626) of the TDM allows use of the word EYE. Dropsonde (sonde) operators have been using the word EYE in the Remarks for all sondes released in the center of all tropical cyclones; however, use of the word EYE might suggest there is a partial or complete eyewall, when this may not be the case. Therefore, effective May 15, 2013, the EYE remark in the Remarks section will no longer be used. The word CENTER may be used in the Remarks section. The use of the word CENTER will indicate the sonde was released in the center of a tropical cyclone, regardless of whether an actual eye exists. Also: Changes to the Wind Information in the Remarks Section of the Vortex Data Message for Tropical Cyclones in the Atlantic, Eastern Pacific, Central Pacific and Western Pacific Hurricane Basins Effective May 15, 2013 Member Since: September 23, 2005 Posts: 11 Comments: 8937

414. VR46L 4:04 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting LargoFl: Wednesday Another cold day to come across all parts of the UK and most of Ireland. There will be an area of mainly light snow affecting central and southern England, although falling as sleet and rain on coasts. This snow area is most likely across the western and southern Midlands and parts of central southern England, edging north through the day. Additional accumulations of 1 or 2cm of snow are expected. A few snow flurries affecting eastern coasts of England and Scotland too. Snow showers could trouble western copasts of Scotland and the hills of Northern Ireland, but most of northwest England and western Scotland should be drier and possibly brighter too. Highs at 0 to 2C for most, 4C in Cornwall and western Ireland. Thanks Largo .. Yep its a cold one ... not as cold as the Northern US but 35ºF is cold enough for me but its a few days down the line that is concerning me ..Hurricane strength winds ,Tight Isobars ... models modeling the winds to be strong for days Member Since: March 1, 2012 Posts: 0 Comments: 2794

415. MontanaZephyr 4:05 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting AussieStorm: I stepped outside for 2mins last Friday when it was 46.6C(115.88F) and got sunburnt. Only noticed it Saturday morning. 2mins, just 2mins and I got sunburnt. Just shows how hot it really was. Sunburn comes from UV radiation, not IR. If there were some real-time UV measuring instrumentation available, you might find it very interesting. I trust that UV insolation varies dramatically at higher latitudes. There are times, at my latitude (about 45 N) and altitude (anywhere from 3500 ft to 6000 ft, depending on whee I am), that the light of the sun literally has a biting or stinging feel to it. This was especially pronounced back in '99 and '00, but still occurs. It is a very different sensation from the (to me) delicious feel of the intense Florida sun on and August afternoon. The only 'home-spun' way I know of to get a even a crude sense of ambient UV is to have items with day-glow colors (such as are made for hazard signalling items, beach toys, and to glow under black lights) out doors in areas of deep shade. They can take on more of a glow, it seems, but it takes some practice getting a sense of it. It is much like the glow they acquire when, just after sunset, there is a lot of UV light out there still, and these objects seems almost to be lighted from with in. At any rate, probably a good idea to keep some good dark sunglasses at hand. Member Since: May 21, 2007 Posts: 0 Comments: 427

416. RitaEvac 4:08 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
If you are in Brazoria and Galveston counties in TX, beware of what is scheduled Maps There will be 11 pound explosives detonated under ground and under water searching for black gold Member Since: July 14, 2008 Posts: 1 Comments: 8912

417. FLWaterFront 4:09 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
I am just wondering when a real arctic outbreak is going to push due south through the CONUS this winter. So far, we have seen one giant arctic high pressure dome plunge due south, but that was only in the far western US. Record lows were recorded in parts of the intermountain west and Southern California recorded the coldest temps they have seen there in over two decades. That was a couple of weeks ago now. All of the other arctic high pressure systems have plunged south from the polar region through Canada but have turned left either in Southern Canada or just above the Ohio Valley region in the US. As a result, only the far NE US and areas just below the border in the Central US and the Northern Great Lakes region have experienced a genuine blasting of arctic air. The Southern US and especially Florida have been left out this year, so far. Last year was a near-record warm winter over most of North America and yet, we saw at least one reasonably cold arctic outbreak as far south as Florida then, it came along right around January 1st, as I recall. Then it warmed back up and we only saw occasional bursts of coolish periods, such as what has happened so far this winter. I was in the Naples/Ft. Myers area of Florida yesterday and the day before. I noticed that the local TV mets there were describing the forecasted 73 degree high temps for today as "cool but sunny..." Cool but sunny? In years past, when we were used to much colder periods they would not have described a 73F day in the middle of winter as being "cool" under any circumstances. Just goes to show how the mentality shifts or evolves with the circumstances. Does anyone here know if the long, long range forecasting models are showing any hints of the possibility of a deep dip in the jet stream and an accompanying arctic outbreak for the whole of the eastern two thirds of the US and not just the northern 1/3 of it? I would be curious to find this out, even if it is obviously a very iffy consideration due to the long term variables. One or two of the models were forecasting that possibility for the upcoming weekend a few days ago, led by the normally-reliable ECMWF. But naturally, all the models forecasting a deep eastern trough and a major arctic outbreak quickly shifted back to the usual routine and the previously-projected arctic high pressure dome basically just disappeared. I guess for those of you in the mid-South region who are complaining about the "boring cold" will have to hope for a major shift in the upper air patterns or else this whole winter might shape up like what we have seen so far, which is all the real cold air staying far to the north. Member Since: October 15, 2010 Posts: 0 Comments: 495

418. AussieStorm 4:17 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
Quoting MontanaZephyr: Sunburn comes from UV radiation, not IR. If there were some real-time UV measuring instrumentation available, you might find it very interesting. I trust that UV insolation varies dramatically at higher latitudes. There are times, at my latitude (about 45 N) and altitude (anywhere from 3500 ft to 6000 ft, depending on whee I am), that the light of the sun literally has a biting or stinging feel to it. This was especially pronounced back in '99 and '00, but still occurs. It is a very different sensation from the (to me) delicious feel of the intense Florida sun on and August afternoon. The only 'home-spun' way I know of to get a even a crude sense of ambient UV is to have items with day-glow colors (such as are made for hazard signalling items, beach toys, and to glow under black lights) out doors in areas of deep shade. They can take on more of a glow, it seems, but it takes some practice getting a sense of it. It is much like the glow they acquire when, just after sunset, there is a lot of UV light out there still, and these objects seems almost to be lighted from with in. At any rate, probably a good idea to keep some good dark sunglasses at hand. Yes, very true. Anyways, I'm going to bed, way past my bedtime. I'll leave you with this. One of my favourite songs. Enjoy and Goodnight, Stay warm. Stay safe if driving. Member Since: September 30, 2007 Posts: 5 Comments: 13355

419. WunderAlertBot (Admin) 4:18 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
JeffMasters has created a new entry.

420. wxmod 4:24 PM GMT on January 23, 2013
This is the last 24 hours of readings of air quality at the US embassy in Beijing, China. DO NOT BUY CHINESE GOODS! no matter what! China's air pollution is melting Arctic ice. Their behavior will eventually cost the USA all of our low lying land. When you buy a TV or tires or a car, make sure it is not made in China. Please. BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-24-2013 00:00; PM2.5; 255.0; 305; Hazardous 1h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 23:00; PM2.5; 398.0; 432; Hazardous 2h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 22:00; PM2.5; 378.0; 419; Hazardous 3h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 21:00; PM2.5; 399.0; 433; Hazardous 4h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 20:00; PM2.5; 336.0; 386; Hazardous 5h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 19:00; PM2.5; 321.0; 371; Hazardous 6h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 18:00; PM2.5; 297.0; 347; Hazardous 7h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 17:00; PM2.5; 273.0; 323; Hazardous 8h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 16:00; PM2.5; 301.0; 351; Hazardous 9h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 15:00; PM2.5; 359.0; 407; Hazardous 10h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 14:00; PM2.5; 392.0; 428; Hazardous 11h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 13:00; PM2.5; 395.0; 430; Hazardous 11h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-22-2013 12:00 to 01-23-2013 11:59; PM2.5 24hr avg; 379.3; 420; Hazardous 12h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 12:00; PM2.5; 396.0; 431; Hazardous 13h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 11:00; PM2.5; 402.0; 435; Hazardous 14h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 10:00; PM2.5; 401.0; 434; Hazardous 15h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 09:00; PM2.5; 388.0; 426; Hazardous 16h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 08:00; PM2.5; 394.0; 430; Hazardous 17h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 07:00; PM2.5; 422.0; 448; Hazardous 18h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 06:00; PM2.5; 417.0; 445; Hazardous 19h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 05:00; PM2.5; 424.0; 450; Hazardous 20h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 04:00; PM2.5; 411.0; 441; Hazardous 21h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 03:00; PM2.5; 437.0; 458; Hazardous 22h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 02:00; PM2.5; 439.0; 459; Hazardous 23h BeijingAir BeijingAir ‏@BeijingAir 01-23-2013 01:00; PM2.5; 439.0; 459; Hazardous Member Since: October 4, 2011 Posts: 0 Comments: 1234

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