February 22-23 Blizzard

All data in this blog is preliminary.

Storm snowfall totals exceeded 18 inches from Delaware to Massachusetts. Map credit: NOAA. Click to enlarge.

A powerful nor’easter brought significant snowfall to areas close to the coast from February 22 to 23. An area from Delaware to Massachusetts saw at least 18 inches of snow, with the greatest totals of 30 or more inches in southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York’s Long Island, and northeastern New Jersey.

Two-day snowfall totals broke records at Providence, RI; Islip, NY; and Newark, NJ.

Providence, RI’s two-day snow total of 37.9 inches was the site’s largest two-day snowfall total for their entire period of record which started in 1904. Similarly, Islip, NY, also had its all-time greatest two-day snowfall total on record (starting in 1963) with 29.1 inches. Meanwhile, Newark, NJ, tallied 27.2 inches of snow, its greatest two-day total for February and second all-time greatest two-day total, with records back to 1931.

Two-day snowfall totals ranked among the 10 greatest for all months at sites such as LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports, NY; Atlantic City, NJ; and Bridgeport, CT. Meanwhile, the two-day totals at sites like Central Park, NY, and Philadelphia, PA, ranked among the 10 greatest for February.

Providence had its all-time snowiest day, while Islip had its snowiest February day.

Daily snowfall totals for February 23 were also impressive. Providence accumulated 35.5 inches, making it the site’s all-time snowiest day and blowing past its previous record of 19.0 inches from January 8, 1996. That 35.5 inches has the potential to be a state record for Rhode Island but would go through a verification process by a special committee first, so stay tuned! Islip’s 19.6 inches made it the site’s snowiest February day and third all-time snowiest day. Meanwhile, sites like Boston, Newark, Bridgeport, and LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports had one of their 10 all-time snowiest days.

This February became Providence’s all-time snowiest month and the snowiest February for Islip.

This event pushed Providence to have its all-time snowiest month on record with 42.2 inches as of February 23. The site’s previous all-time snowiest month was 36.7 inches in January 2005. Islip will have its snowiest February and second all-time snowiest month on record with 32.1 inches as of the 23rd. This February is already among the 10 all-time snowiest months for sites like Newark and LaGuardia and Kennedy Airports and among the 10 snowiest Februarys for sites like Bridgeport and Atlantic City.

Significantly reduced visibility on Long Island during the storm. Credit: Chris Stachelski

Wind gusts of 35 mph or higher were common in many of these areas, with the highest gusts exceeding 65 mph in parts of southeastern Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New York’s Long Island. Automated weather stations (typically at airports) routinely report weather conditions near the top of the hour (for example, close to 8am, 9am, etc.). A few of these “hourly” wind gusts were among the highest such gusts for February at sites like Providence and Kennedy Airport. Blizzard conditions were reported in several locations including 15 airport sites in Rhode Island and Massachusetts.