Gravelle, Chad M.

Niziol, Thomas A.

Rochette, Scott M.

English

The College at Brockport, State University of New York: Digital Commons @Brockport

The College at Brockport: State University of New York
Digital Commons @Brockport
Earth Sciences Faculty Publications Department of the Earth Sciences
2005
Examination of forcing mechanisms leading to a
surprise heavy snow event
Scott M. Rochette
The College at Brockport, rochette@esc.brockport.edu
Thomas A. Niziol
NOAA/NWS Forecast Office
Chad M. Gravelle
The College at Brockport
Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/esc_facpub
Part of the Meteorology Commons
This Conference Proceeding is brought to you for free and open access by the Department of the Earth Sciences at Digital Commons @Brockport. It
has been accepted for inclusion in Earth Sciences Faculty Publications by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @Brockport. For more
information, please contact kmyers@brockport.edu.
Repository Citation
Rochette, Scott M.; Niziol, Thomas A.; and Gravelle, Chad M., "Examination of forcing mechanisms leading to a surprise heavy snow
event" (2005). Earth Sciences Faculty Publications. 9.
https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/esc_facpub/9
Poster Presentation Abstract 
Examination of Forcing Mechanisms Leading to a Surprise Heavy 
Snow Event 
Scott M. Rochette 1, Thomas A. Nizioe, and ChadM. Gravelle 1 
I Department of the Earth Sciences 
State University of New York, College at Brockport 
Brockport, New York 
2 NOANNWS Forecast Office 
Buffalo, New York 
ABSTRACT 
On 12 January 2004 a relatively brief but heavy snow event occurred across western New 
York. As much as 28 em (11 in.) of snow fell during a 12-h period, accompanied by reports 
of lightning and thunder. While thundersnow is not uncommon in the eastern Great Lakes 
region (most notably during lake-effect snow events), it was an Alberta clipper that produced 
the heavy snow. Such systems are known mainly for their high forward speed and origins 
over relatively dry source regions. As such, most clipper systems do not yield impressive 
snowfall totals, usually on the order of a few inches of light, powdery snow. Forecasters are 
generally concerned with the system's surface winds, which can be significant as a result of 
their tight, compact pressure centers, resulting in blizzard conditions along the storm's track. 
The transport of very cold air in the wakes of clippers often produces lake-effect snowbands 
as it flows over the relatively warm waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario. 
This study focuses on the potential causes of this clipper's heavy convective snowfall. Upon 
close post-analysis it becomes evident that as the clipper approached the eastern Great Lakes 
area it came under the influence of coupled upper-level jet streaks. Plan-view and cross­
sectional analyses illustrate the presence of an enhanced transverse circulation the vicinity 
of the clipper, resulting in strong upward vertical motion and subsequent + TSSl'� over western 
New York. The information provided in this study should alert operational meteorologists 
that not all weather systen1s are created equally, and that a careful four-dimensional 
evaluation of the atmosphere should be an integral part of the daily operational forecast 
regIme. 
30th Northeastern Storm Conference 


Examination of forcing mechanisms leading to a surprise heavy snow event

https://digitalcommons.brockport.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1011&amp;context=esc_facpub

Examination of forcing mechanisms leading to a surprise heavy snow event

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

The College at Brockport, State University of New York: Digital Commons @Brockport