Throwback: Storm of the Century

For your first Throwback, I thought that I would go big with the March 1993 Storm.

Eleven tornadoes, center of low pressure of 966mb, winds measured over one hundred miles per hour, and a storm surge of twelve feet; are usually numbers associated with a hurricane. However, a strong March storm had all of these statistics and dropped over four feet of snow, as this 1993 storm made its place in the record books. 

The “Storm of the Century” is what most people call it. This incredible storm formed over Mexico and moved into the Gulf of Mexico in the second week of March in 1993. While turmoil was churning up in the Gulf of Mexico, a strong High pressure built into Mid-West during the same time bring brutal cold temperatures with it, spreading as far south as Alabama. Making for some prime conditions for a winter storm on the main land. 

As the storm strengthened in Gulf of Mexico it moved toward the Gulf Coast. It made land fall near New Orleans, LA. The storm then skirted across the southeast providing them with a mix of rain, sleet, and snow.

As the storm started to turn more northward the cold front associated with the low blasted the Florida peninsula. From this cold from the Florida peninsula experienced storm surges of twelve feet along the coast and a strong line of thunderstorms that produced some tornadoes. As the storm made an even strong pull to the north it began to wreak havoc on the southeast and had its sight set for the northeast, this can be seen in the low track below.

 

A strong upper-level jet kept this storm very strong as it progressed through its track. The entirety of the storm lasted about 48 hours. But the amount of snow it provided shut down most of the south and eastern seaboard for a couple of days. I posted a picture from the National Weather Service of the storm snow totals.

 

I actually did a case study on this storm in college. From a meteorological stand point this storm had all of the right things going for it to make it an epic strong storm. If you want more detail on the storm I have boat loads of information. Happy Thursday! 

Resources:

noaa.gov