Could upcoming storm rival the "Blizzard of 78"?

[luvwinter]

Recently I was reading about the blizzard of 78 and learned some thing I hadn't know. One of the things I read was that two lows I believe it was, came together to create a severe blizzard that had in some places 110 mph winds. I also read about alot of people loosing power. I had not known it was that severe. I went through that blizzard as a child. The only thing I could remember was my Mom waking me up to tell me school had been canceled because of the blizzard and that I could go back to sleep. I also remember it took my parents and brother and myself 4 hours to dig out our driveway. We had to go and rescue some friends of my parents as they had no electricity and not enough food. Does anyone have any thoughts on the storm expected to occur within the next few days? Could it be like the blizzard of 78? What do ya think?

[krysof]

Recently I was reading about the blizzard of 78 and learned some thing I hadn't know. One of the things I read was that two lows I believe it was, came together to create a severe blizzard that had in some places 110 mph winds. I also read about alot of people loosing power. I had not known it was that severe. I went through that blizzard as a child. The only thing I could remember was my Mom waking me up to tell me school had been canceled because of the blizzard and that I could go back to sleep. I also remember it took my parents and brother and myself 4 hours to dig out our driveway. We had to go and rescue some friends of my parents as they had no electricity and not enough food. Does anyone have any thoughts on the storm expected to occur within the next few days? Could it be like the blizzard of 78? What do ya think?

lol, yeah right. The 78 was one of the most powerful blizzards of all time. This will have a foot at most in the highest elevations.

[luvwinter]

No need to be so rude. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts not if it was correct which I never said it was. I am learning like everyone else. How about an intelligent response instead of a pomous one. I was thinking it might make an interesting discussion. I don't post on here very often and sometimes this is exactly the reason why.

[Stephanie]

Some people do have a problem with being alittle too sarcastic.

S2K encourages people to ask questions and to learn from one another, especially from the fabulous pros and amateur forecasters that we have as members.

IMHO, I sincerely do not think that this could be like the Blizzard of 1978. That occurred in the dead of winter either January or February (I forget which month), where the cold air has been locked in for a month or two. I don't think that there will be a "collision" of two systems. It's more of the issue of the timing of the cold air reaching the I-95 corridor as the storm progresses up the coast.

[krysof]

No need to be so rude. I was wondering if anyone had any thoughts not if it was correct which I never said it was. I am learning like everyone else. How about an intelligent response instead of a pomous one. I was thinking it might make an interesting discussion. I don't post on here very often and sometimes this is exactly the reason why.

Your right, I apoligize, that was a bit cruel.

[DS]

Recently I was reading about the blizzard of 78 and learned some thing I hadn't know. One of the things I read was that two lows I believe it was, came together to create a severe blizzard that had in some places 110 mph winds. I also read about alot of people loosing power. I had not known it was that severe. I went through that blizzard as a child. The only thing I could remember was my Mom waking me up to tell me school had been canceled because of the blizzard and that I could go back to sleep. I also remember it took my parents and brother and myself 4 hours to dig out our driveway. We had to go and rescue some friends of my parents as they had no electricity and not enough food. Does anyone have any thoughts on the storm expected to occur within the next few days? Could it be like the blizzard of 78? What do ya think?

To give you my opinion, I had to take out Kocin's and Uccelinni's snow book, which had an analysis of the 1978 blizzard (Feb 5-7). Here are some points you might find interesting:

1. The 78 blizzard had such strong winds not exclusively from the low, which was a 'meager' 988 mb, but instead from a ridiculously strong 1052 mb high!! This kind of high would be almost unheard of in November.

2. You make a good point about the dual low structure. This coming storm will have similarities to the 78 blizzard as well as the following outcome of a very chilly airmass coming down from Canada.

3. The 78 blizzard had an extremely block over Northern Canada, not unlike what will happend in the short future.

So, while this coming storm may be similar in structure to the 78 blizzard, the fact that its mid-November will naturally change several factors such as limit heavy snow from warm boundary layer temps and not enough clash of airmasses because its still November.

[luvwinter]

Apology accepted Krysof and thankyou Stephanie and Ds for the great information. All I am hoping for out of this storm is some snow. I am very ready for winter and am eager to see what is in store for all of us. Thanks again.

[Tri-State_1925]

Some people do have a problem with being alittle too sarcastic.

S2K encourages people to ask questions and to learn from one another, especially from the fabulous pros and amateur forecasters that we have as members.

IMHO, I sincerely do not think that this could be like the Blizzard of 1978. That occurred in the dead of winter either January or February (I forget which month), where the cold air has been locked in for a month or two. I don't think that there will be a "collision" of two systems. It's more of the issue of the timing of the cold air reaching the I-95 corridor as the storm progresses up the coast.

I didn't sense any sarcasm in krysof's post.

I don't have a problem with people trying to learn -- hell, I don't know much about the weather from a scientific standpoint -- but the title of this post is quite inflammatory. I mean some storm this week that is hardly getting attention is going to rival one of the top weather phenomena of the 20th century, not to mention the worst storm in Ohio's history? Is every potential Noreaster this winter going to be the next 93 Superstorm or Blizzard of 05?

[carve]

Wow...the blizzard of "78"..that was 1 for the records wasn't it..i was 18 living in ohio and still do.I remember the national guard coming to help out in our town.Snow drifts as high as telephone poles..no school for a week..now that was great!!! Waiting for the next !!

[Miss Mary]

The Blizzard of 78....is a little confusing to me. Cincinnati got slammed with one, but it's not THE Blizzard of 78, everyone always talks about. The dates do not match up, if I recall correctly. Still, Cincinnati did have one, Feb. of 78. 60+ MPH fierce winds, snowdrifts of 4 foot or more, schools, businesses all shut down. Our city was basically at a standstill for 2 or 3 days. Power failures, etc. But again, if someone has a book for stats, look up the dates. I recall the big blizzard that hit New England was not the one that hit the Ohio Valley.

What was significant about the OV one, was it took many by surprise. The day and evening before, temps above freezing. Then close to the 11 p.m. newscasts, local Mets noticed a drastic wx change, alerted viewers who were still up but this was way before the internet, wx band radios is some homes, news-scrolls at the bottom of local stations, etc. Most went to bed, not even knowing a severe winter storm was on the way. I didn't! I hadn't stocked up on groceries, didn't have fresh batteries on hand, nothing. Somehow we learned it was a blizzard, a friend called, but we didn't have a working radio, no power, etc. I was quite young - what can I say, long before I had an interest in wx - age 22! LOL I know better, now.

Mary

[bzukajo]

I was only 12 when that storm hit. I marveled at the sheer amount of snow and the drifts that were literally above the roof of my house. I also remember the awe full stories of children my own age who were lost to the storm when they went outside during the height of the gale, only to be found weeks later buried in drifts just feet from their front door. I also remember all the people who became stranded on the MASS Pike, and how so many of them died in their cars. The radio kept saying that everyone should stay inside at all cost, and it was illegal to be on the roads. My family and neighbors all took that advise and we huddled inside for two days as that storm tore through. When my dad finally opened the front door, we were all stumped. There was a wall of snow where the front yard should have been. We knew there was a drift because the picture window was completely obscured, but we did not know that the drift had buried the entire yard under 6 + feet of snow. We were also at a loss, because we left the shovels near the front door…on the outside. We did find the shovels, which was a relief after having to dig out the front door with a steel rake and some buckets. On the upside, I was 12, school was out for two weeks, and my neighborhood was transformed in to a gigantic snow sculpted playground. We had a lot of kids in the neighborhood. At the front of every driveway were these huge 12-15 foot piles of snow that were all made into forts. Some of the older kids made forts so big that you could stand up in them. It was as if the new standard was that every yard had at least one igloo in it. The average walkway now had six-foot walls on either side that made feel like a mouse in a maze. And soon the great snowball war of 78 began and quickly after it was declared that “Ice balls” were simply not fair. In between the snowball battles we sled off of roofs…with every imaginable version of a sled that could be conceived, including one very large cardboard box. I have seen many snowstorms since then. This is after all New England. But nothing can compare to that snow hurricane. Before and after every big snowstorm in NE, the local mets always bring up comparisons to 78. I will say this, if a storm deserves the comparison I will first feel sad….I know tragedy will be sure to follow. But, on the other hand, I keep the snow shovel INSIDE the house, and my son turns 12 this winter.

[Stephanie]

Some people do have a problem with being alittle too sarcastic.

S2K encourages people to ask questions and to learn from one another, especially from the fabulous pros and amateur forecasters that we have as members.

IMHO, I sincerely do not think that this could be like the Blizzard of 1978. That occurred in the dead of winter either January or February (I forget which month), where the cold air has been locked in for a month or two. I don't think that there will be a "collision" of two systems. It's more of the issue of the timing of the cold air reaching the I-95 corridor as the storm progresses up the coast.

I didn't sense any sarcasm in krysof's post.

I don't have a problem with people trying to learn -- hell, I don't know much about the weather from a scientific standpoint -- but the title of this post is quite inflammatory. I mean some storm this week that is hardly getting attention is going to rival one of the top weather phenomena of the 20th century, not to mention the worst storm in Ohio's history? Is every potential Noreaster this winter going to be the next 93 Superstorm or Blizzard of 05?

Inflammatory? luvwinter admits that he/she was just a small child when that occurred. I doubt that luvwinter was implying that every Nor'easter will be the next "big one". I think that you are the one reading alittle too much into the topic.

luvwinter's question was a valid one and someone to answer back "yeah right", IMHO, is sarcastic.

[luvwinter]

Thankyou Stephanie for coming to my defense. Tri-State_1925 your post was ruder than Krysof's. I never implied it was going to be like the blizzard of 78. Because they mentioned two fronts coming together to create all this weather made me think of the blizzard of 78 because that is what happened in that storm. I asked if anyone had any thoughts. I did not say or imply that it was going to be the storm of the century,or superstorm or anything of the like. Maybe you just like to stir up things. Next time don't read between the lines because there was nothing to it. Enough said. We also had huge drifts and used them as snow forts and walls to hide behind during snow ball fights. It was the best winter we ever had and the most memorable one.

[dougjp]

Well, one place in Newfoundland, Canada has experienced 93 MPH winds. Although I don't think other circumstances will be similiar to '78. I remember it too, how? Because I couldn't get to work for 2 days (bonus!)!