Ocean effect snow

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frigidice77

Ocean effect snow

#1 Postby frigidice77 » Sun Nov 28, 2010 4:59 pm

Is it possible to have ocean effect snow in states like florida, south carolina and north, georgia, washington california, oregon, and virginia, and delaware?
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#2 Postby PTPatrick » Sun Nov 28, 2010 6:36 pm

It is possible and has happened on both sides of Florida. the difficulty north of Florida is that you need cold north wind blowing over the water, and the geography of the coast line north of there prevents that. By definition north winds in those areas come from over land). The pacific northwest has a different problem in that north west winds bring moderated cold air over relatively cool ocean waters. Up there you dont get the contrast of warm water and cold air you get out east b/c the true polar stuff comes down out of canada. So I would say nothing is impossible, by my guess is ocean effect snow is more likely in Cuba than on the washington, oregon or cali coasts.
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#3 Postby RobWESTPACWX » Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:36 am

Happens a lot of time over the Sea of Japan as cold air moves from Russia and Siberia across the warmer waters. 90% of of the snow in Sapporo on in the Northern reaches of Japan account for this effect.

This picture was taken over the SOJ actually near one of these huge storms.

Image
This just a few minutes later.

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Re: Ocean effect snow

#4 Postby Aslkahuna » Mon Nov 29, 2010 5:40 pm

Actually, in order to get snow along the coast of CA/OR/WA at low elevations you either need some mighty cold air moving offshore being overrun by warmer moist air or you need enough of an overwater trajectory to moisten up the dry cold air coming off the land. To get snow into CA below Marin County at low levels requires extremely cold air aloft very low thicknesses and overwater trajectory with some dynamics to trigger convective activity-aka Ocean Effect Snow. In fact, any snow on the beaches of Southern California (rare but happens) will of necessity be Ocean Effect Snow.

Steve
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#5 Postby jasons2k » Mon Nov 29, 2010 9:25 pm

This is from Wikipedia:

In the Great Blizzard of 1899, Tampa suffered its one and only known blizzard, with "bay effect" snow coming off Tampa Bay.[9]
The last officially measurable snow in Tampa fell on January 19, 1977. While the accumulation amounted to less than 0.5 inches (13 mm), the area is quite unaccustomed to and unprepared for frozen precipitation, so various schools, businesses, and roads closed, at least until the snow melted away that afternoon.[10]


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of ... Bay_Region

The source cited in Wikipedia is here with some interesting information:

http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/a ... m02jan.htm
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#6 Postby Stephanie » Tue Nov 30, 2010 8:36 pm

Cool pictures Rob! :)
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#7 Postby frigidice77 » Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:09 pm

So there is lake effect, bay effect and ocean effect snow. Is their river effect, gulf effect, or pond effect? lol
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#8 Postby RobWESTPACWX » Wed Dec 01, 2010 1:06 am

Well I think the overall effect just comes back to Diabatics, (hope I spelled that right) it is the effect of one airmass moving over a colder or warmer surface. In this case warmer and moister. I'm sure if your river was wide enough... LOL
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#9 Postby Gladstone » Thu Dec 02, 2010 5:24 pm

The lower Chesapeake Bay sometimes experiences "bay-effect snow."

Though it rarely amounts to much.
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#10 Postby NC George » Sat Dec 04, 2010 4:51 pm

This type of snow is actually when Eastern NC get's it's largest snows. If the snow comes from the west, then we will typically get an inch or so, but if a nor'easter comes along and picks up moisture from the Atlantic and moves it inland, we can get 6"-12", or more.)
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#11 Postby Dean4Storms » Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:09 pm

I believe the Bahamas got some Ocean effect snow flurries back in the cold outbreak of 77.
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#12 Postby Extremeweatherguy » Sun Dec 05, 2010 5:13 pm

Here is a good write up from the Melbourne NWS talking about the ocean-effect snow flurries experienced along the Florida east coast back in January 2003...

http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mlb/?n=012403

A special weather statement from that day...

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE MELBOURNE FL
1048 AM EST FRI JAN 24 2003

...FLURRIES OCCURRING ALONG THE COAST OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...

THE COMBINATION OF VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AND STRONG NORTH TO
NORTHEAST WINDS ARE PRODUCING OCEAN EFFECT SNOW FLURRIES OFFSHORE
AND ALONG THE COAST OF EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA...ESPECIALLY NEAR CAPE
CANAVERAL. THESE FLURRIES WILL CONTINUE INTO THE EARLY AFTERNOON
HOURS BEFORE TEMPERATURES MODIFY CAUSING THE LIGHT SNOW AND
FLURRIES TO CHANGE OVER TO VERY LIGHT RAIN OR DRIZZLE. NO
ACCUMULATION OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. THE LAST TIME FLURRIES WERE
RECEIVED ACROSS EAST CENTRAL FLORIDA WAS IN DECEMBER OF 1989.

$$

MJG


What is strange is that ever since this event (which was the first of its kind since 1989), there has been a huge uptick in winter weather activity across central Florida in recent years. There was a rain/snow mix in parts of the area on Thanksgiving 2006, another ocean-effect snow flurry event near Daytona Beach in January 2008, a snow flurry event along the Nature Coast in February 2008, and then of course the widespread sleet/freezing rain/snow flurry event this past January.
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#13 Postby frigidice77 » Sun Dec 05, 2010 6:50 pm

I mentioned that in another thread about florida seeing snow every year since 2003. The only year it didnt snow was 2005. I guess their is more technology to report. :D
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#14 Postby frigidice77 » Sun Dec 05, 2010 7:03 pm

Pre-1900
1774: A snowstorm extends across much of the state. The affected residents speak of it as an "extraordinary white rain."[1]
1797: Land surveyor Andrew Ellicott reports 8-inch (203mm) snowdrifts near the source of the St. Marys River in Baker County.[4]
January 11, 1800: Over 5 inches (127mm) of snow is on the ground along the St. Marys River to the north of Jacksonville, the highest recorded snowfall total in Jacksonville history.[2]
January 13, 1852: Several hours of snow accumulates to a total of 0.5 inch (13mm) in Jacksonville.[1]
February 28, 1855: Light snow flurries are reported in Jacksonville.[1]
January 29, 1868: Light sleet falls throughout the night in northeastern Florida.[1]
February 28, 1869: During the morning hours, some snow flurries are reported in Jacksonville.[1]
January 10, 1873: At 7:25 a.m., a few snowflakes fall near Jacksonville.[1]
February 4 & 5, 1875: Light sleet occurs between midnight and sunrise on both dates.[1]
January 4, 1879: For an hour and a half, sleet falls in Jacksonville before turning to rain. The rainfall covers grounds and trees with ice early on January 5, breaking the limbs of many orange trees.[1]
January 5, 1887: An inch (25mm) of snow falls at Pensacola.[5]
January 14, 1892: 0.4 inch (10mm) of snow is reported at Pensacola.[5]
February 14, 1892: Pensacola reports 3 inches (76mm) of snow.[6]
December 27, 1892: Light snow falls in various intervals in the northeastern portion of the state.[1]
January 18, 1893: Falling sleet turns to snow before later changing to rain in Jacksonville.[1]
February 14, 1895: Two short durations of light snow are reported in Jacksonville.[1]
February 12 & 13, 1899: Rain changes to sleet and later turns to snow during the Great Blizzard of 1899, with the snow falling for about 8 hours. With temperatures of about 10°F (−12°C), the snow accumulates to 2 inches (51mm) near Jacksonville[1] and 4 inches (102mm) at Lake Butler[disambiguation needed].[6] In some locations, the snow remains on the ground for several days.[1]
20th century (20 Reported Snow Events)


1900's (2 Snow Events)


December 16, 1901: Light snow is reported in Jacksonville.[1]
February 7, 1907: Downtown Jacksonville receives light snow flurries in the early afternoon.[1]
1910's (1 Snow Event)


November 27, 1912: An overnight period of snow covers the ground and trees with a 0.5-inch (13mm) layer in northern Florida.[7]
1930's (1 Snow Event)


January 22, 1935: Snow falls until the next morning, with Pensacola recording 1 inch (25mm).[5]
1950's (6 Snow Events, 3 Major Snow Events)



February 2, 1951: Snowfall begins and ends the following day, accumulating to about 2 inches (51mm) in Saint Augustine and Crescent City.[6]
December 14, 1952: Sleet and snow falls across the northern portion of the state, though there is very little accumulation.[8]
December 14, 1953: Light sleet occurs in the morning in Marianna.[8]
March 6, 1954: Four inches of snow accumulates at Milton Experimental Station, Santa Rosa County within a 24 hour period; the highest such total for Florida according to official modern records.[9]
March 28, 1955: Snowfall accumulates to about an inch in Marianna along the Florida Panhandle.[10]
February 13, 1958: An overnight rainfall changes to snowfall in Jacksonville and accumulates to about 1.5 inches (38mm).[2] Additionally, Tallahassee reports a record 2.8 inches (71mm).[6]
1960's (1 or 2 Snow Events)


1962 or 1963 A couple snowflakes fell at Disston Junior High School in Gulfport (by St. Petersburg)
1970's (3 Snow Events, 1 Major Snow Event)


February 9, 1973: Snow falls over the northern portion of the state, including a total of two inches (51mm) in Pensacola, with unofficial reports of up to 8 inches (203mm).[6]

January 17, 1977: The pressure gradient between a strong ridge over the Mississippi Valley and a Nor'easter over Atlantic Canada sends very cold temperatures southward into the state. Areas around Pensacola are the first to receive the snow. Then the rest of The Panhandle. Followed by record accumulations for The Nature Coast, the I-4 corridor (both Orlando and Tampa receive light accumulations of about 1-2" with a few isolated spots reportedly receiving 3-6"), and finally South Florida. By early on January 19, West Palm Beach reported snow for the first time on record, with snow flurries reaching as far south as Homestead. The snow causes little impact as it was of the dry variety, though the accompanying cold air results in hundreds of millions of dollars in damage(Orlando tied the 1899 record of over six consecutive nights well-below freezing). On January 20, the Miami Herald reports the event as the front page story, with a headline of a size usually reserved for the declaration of war.[11]
Late January, 1977: Pensacola receives snowfall.[11]
1980's (3 Snow Events, 1 Major Snow Event)

March 2, 1980: A quarter of an inch (6mm) of snow covers car tops and patio furniture in Jacksonville.[2]
March 1, 1986: 0.5 inch (13mm) of snow accumulates overnight in Jacksonville before melting within 30 minutes due to the morning sun.[2]
December 23, 1989: Light rain in Jacksonville turns to freezing rain as temperatures drop, and later changes to snow. The snow totals several inches in some locations, and results in the first White Christmas in the city's history.[2] Orlando was reported to receive wet snow that melted a week later due to a typical temperature rebound.
1990's (3 Snow Events, 1 Major Snow Event)

March 12, 1993: The '93 Superstorm produces up to 4 inches (102mm) of snow along the Florida Panhandle.[12]
January 8, 1996: Snow flurries are reported from Crystal River to New Port Richey with no accumulation.[13]
December 18, 1996: A plume of cold air causes snow to form in the northwestern portion of Escambia County.[14]
21st century (9 Reported Events)

2000's (6 Snow Events)


January 24, 2003: A plume of Arctic air produces widespread record low temperatures and light snow flurries along the eastern coastline. The snow is described as ocean effect snow, identical to lake effect snow in that it occurs due to very cold air passing over relatively warm water temperatures. The snow reaches as far south as Fort Pierce. [15]
December 25, 2004: Locations along the Florida Panhandle receive a dusting of snow.[16]
November 21, 2006: An eastward moving weather system produces a very light dusting and snowflakes in central Florida. It is the first snow in November in the state since 1912.[16]
February 3, 2007: Very light snow flurries are reported in the northeastern panhandle, lasting less than an hour.[17]
January 3, 2008: Light snow flurries are reported near Daytona Beach.[18]
February 2008: Unofficial reports indicated a few snowflakes fell along the Nature Coast once or twice, due to advancing Arctic air quickly descending from the northwest over relatively warm Gulf waters (whether or not it was virga is debatable).
2010's (3 Snow Events, 3 Snow Events in One Year)
January 8-9, 2010: Very light dusting of snow seen in the eastern Jacksonville area. Light snow also fell in parts of central Florida, which briefly accumulated slightly in parts of Marion County. Sleet was widespread and snow was isolated across the Orlando area, Tampa and also in Melbourne.[19] Isolated flurries were even reported as from West Palm Beach to as far south as Kendall and sleet in a few spots in the South Florida metropolitan area for only the second time in record history and first time since 1977.[20]
February 12, 2010: A possibility of up to 4-7 inches of snow were predicted in Northwestern Florida including Pensacola and Crestview. Actual totals ended up around 1 inch in many spots.[21] 2010 is the first year since the mid 1950's to have more than one accumulation of snow in a single year.
February 14, 2010: A half inch of snow fell across the northern halves of Escambia, Santa Rosa, Walton and Okaloosa Counties.[22] Snowfall was associated with an Alberta clipper that sank southward due to Arctic air left by the cold front from the previous snow event.
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Re: Ocean effect snow

#15 Postby vbhoutex » Sun Dec 05, 2010 9:10 pm

That is quite a post!! You/it did miss at least one snow event in Pensacola in the late 1950's. We had 2" that time. I have pictures of me standing in it with an Astronaut helmet on. :cheesy:
Did you compile that list by yourself or copy it from somewhere? If you copied it from somewhere the source needs to be given credit.
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#16 Postby frigidice77 » Sun Dec 05, 2010 10:04 pm

Yeah. One thing with the above snow in florida I noticed was there were a lot of snow periods during the 50 plus the one you said about pensacola. Their was probably like flurries or something extra in some of those years because reporting was not like it is today.
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#17 Postby frigidice77 » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:06 pm

OMG there is ocean effect snow off the coast of long island. lol Twc just mentioned it
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#18 Postby frigidice77 » Mon Dec 06, 2010 9:17 pm

Conditions in the north are just perfect for lake and ocean effect snow in the north. Warm lakes and extreme cold moving right over them. I just wondering what gonna happen next week.
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