Wednesday, January 20, 2016

The Blizzard of 1996...Could System #2 Become a Copycat?

In lieu of the impending winter storm coming up in less than 48 hours, I have noticed that the American models have now both highlighted the 'Blizzard of 1996' as their #2 analog. Some of the expectations are eerily similar to the event that occurred nearly 20 years ago.

Here's an excerpt from Central Kentucky in the National Climatic Data Center's Storm Data publication...with apologies on the alignment of the text below.

A major snow storm hit Kentucky on January 6-7, 1996. The snow began around noon est and effected all of the counties in the

Louisville CWA before it stopped Sunday afternoon. The heavy snow began around 1500 est on the 6th and ended around 6 am est

on the 7th. A strong double-barreled low pressure system moved from the Gulf states on the 6th to Georgia and then the South

Carolina coast by the afternoon of the 7th. The snow became light and moved East of the CWA by 0000 est on the 8th. Between 2

and 6 inches of snow fell across the CWA by 2030 est. Meade, Breckinridge, Larue, Bullitt and Hardin Counties all reported up to

6 inches across their respective counties, while Spencer County led the way with 7 inches of accumulation. By 0200 est, between 5

and 12 inch total accumulations were reported. Green and Laurel counties had 12 inches. By 0600 est on the 7th, totals were from

6 inches at several locations to 16 inches in Laurel County. Totals were from 7 to 12 inches across east central Kentucky to 7 to 16

inches across south central Kentucky to 6 to 12 inches across north central Kentucky. Little additional snow was reported after

0600 est. Laurel County still led the way with 16 inches in spots.
 
Also, from Eastern Kentucky....
 
A major winter storm brought heavy snow to all of southeast Kentucky. By noon EST on the 6th, 3 to 5 inches of snow had fallen
across the region. Heavier snow began around 1500 EST on the 6th, when 5 to 6 inches were on the ground. Amateur radio
operators reported 9 inches across much of southeast Kentucky at 2100 EST, and 10 to 11 inches by 2300 EST. By 1100 EST on
the 7th, 14 to 16 inch amounts were common, with 15 to 17 inches covering much of the area by 1300 EST. Total snowfall
reported at 1645 EST on the 7th averaged between 14 and 22 inches, with the heaviest amounts in Pike County. Where rain and
freezing rain initially fell in Bell and Harlan Counties, total amounts averaged between 6 and 14 inches.
 
 
And from Northern Kentucky....

The Blizzard of '96 developed near the Gulf Coast and moved up the East Coast. This massive system brought the greatest

snowfall from one storm to Greater Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky airport, as well as the greatest 24 hour snowfall. Total snowfall

from this storm at the airport was 14.3 inches, while in a typical entire season this location normally receives only 23 inches of

snowfall. Many homes and business experienced partial or total roof collapses due to the weight of the snow. Road conditions

remained hazardous in some locations for many days. Many people believed that this was the worst winter storm since the

Blizzard of '78.
 

Thanks again to the NCDC Storm Data Publication for the January 1996 report.

MS

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