Rainshadow Posted January 2, 2021 Report Share Posted January 2, 2021 The National Weather Service is doing a commemorative look back at the Blizzard. I worked the five midnight shifts (always my joy shift) leading up to it and went in the day after when everyone at the office was stranded. So here is my perspective I sent in to Valerie along with the two afds (back then sfds) I wrote when I was on the public desk back then. 14 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SalemCountyNJ Posted January 2, 2021 Report Share Posted January 2, 2021 My wife's employer was throwing a late holiday party that Friday evening. I just wanted to talk about the pending storm, but know one else had a clue of what was coming. I remember forecasts mentioning a foot of snow. Woke up Saturday morning to a beautiful explosive snowstorm. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbs Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 Down in the basement, wife and kids asleep, waiting for the ETA to come in on the dial-up internet. The old 4-panel charts. For some reason only remember the 48-hour 700mb chart. Our area was bright yellow with upward motion. That's when I knew. 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ACwx Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 I was about a year and a half old when this happened lol, but I love hearing people's stories about it (and any extreme weather stories) all the same. Heartwarming to hear that bit involving the intern, I like to think there are plenty of people who would do something similar today no matter how crazy and negative things may seem in the world. Looking over the AFD's it popped out at me just how many more abbreviations there were, like "Getg back to tdy" I feel wouldn't be shortened at all in the present. Curious if this was just how AFD's were written back in the 90s, or if this was just your personal style of writing them. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 As a teen on Long Island, this was finally “THE ONE”. No screw job like the 1993 Superstorm with sleet and rain. Just a long duration (24+ hours) snow and wind event. While totals weren’t as high as places further west it was the event I waited my whole childhood for living along the coast. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
greg ralls Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 Having grown up and lived in the western suburbs my entire life, I'm lucky (and old) enough to have enjoyed many of our historical snowstorms. The first one I really remember is the "surprise" Presidents' Day snow storm of 1979 when I was a kid, but the one that really hooked me was the megalopolitan storm of 1983 when I was a teenager. That was the first one I really followed as a weather fan (had my NOAA weather radio on nonstop!) and was Philadelphia's all-time biggest snowfall until 1996 rolled around. I remember being disappointed by the Storm of the Century in 1993 thanks to the sleet, but 1996 made up for it in a big way. I've enjoyed all of the big ones that have come since, particularly the two in February 2010, but 1996 will always be my favorite. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rainshadow Posted January 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 9 hours ago, ACwx said: I was about a year and a half old when this happened lol, but I love hearing people's stories about it (and any extreme weather stories) all the same. Heartwarming to hear that bit involving the intern, I like to think there are plenty of people who would do something similar today no matter how crazy and negative things may seem in the world. Looking over the AFD's it popped out at me just how many more abbreviations there were, like "Getg back to tdy" I feel wouldn't be shortened at all in the present. Curious if this was just how AFD's were written back in the 90s, or if this was just your personal style of writing them. AFD(s) are still hand typed today. But back then you had to hand type every product: zones, marine forecasts, etc. So in an effort to save some time there was a table of approved abbreviations. But, I would say I made up some as I went along. Not as much as the master: I use to joke we needed a Walt Drag decoder book to figure out some of his abbreviations. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaffer526 Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 Tony, that recap was a blast to read! Love the insight into the inner workings of NWS field offices. Thank you for sharing. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdtown2 Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Birdtown2 Posted January 3, 2021 Report Share Posted January 3, 2021 My 1990 Ford ranger with 7ft bed & cap blizzard of 96 west pottsgrove township Montco 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chescowx Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Great read - thanks Tony! I was living in Exton at the time with my future wife who I would marry in October of 1996. She was scheduled to go the Paris for a meeting on Saturday night before the blizzard. I drove her to the airport....back then they let you get all the way to the gate. The US Air gate agent announced an overbook situation and offered a passenger a voucher and a flight that would leave the next day. My wife asked me if I thought the flight get out tomorrow (Sunday) I told her no - the airport would be closed by then. The gate agent laughed at me and she said we never close this airport....there might be a delay but only long enough to clean the runways. My wife really did not want to miss the meeting or the chance to go to Paris so....she got on the plane. Of course the airport did close for a quite a while on Sunday... 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rojojojo Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 I was six years old living in Southeast Virginia and even I remember Jan 1996. We were "blessed" with living in the northwestern exurbs of the Norfolk metro area, which--much like Western Chesco or Montco here--typically had double or more the annual snowfall of the coastal cities. Of course... there, that meant 10 inches annually versus 5. But anyways, we got a healthy snowfall. I think between 6 and 12 inches, which for a six year old certainly felt like a lot. Two days after the storm we drove 10 miles towards the coast to go to the store, and there was nothing. Tony that write up was hella cool. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankdp23 Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 I was 17 for this storm. I had about 25" at my location in Piscataway. The snow piles were epic after shoveling. It took me forever to clear the driveway since my sister was married and my brother was in an apartment (I wasn't going to let my mom help and my dad had passed). The thing that still haunts me is that all the pics I took didn't come out when I went to develop the film. Same thing happened with my film during one of those epic ice storms in 93-94. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susqushawn Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Grade school field trip to Hunter Mtn NY for skiing. My brother @EvanLoweryWx and I were watching TWC in the hotel and I recall the feeling maybe a day before when they updated their snowfall forecast to 12"+. I had so rarely ever seen that aside from '93. I was pumped. The school bus full of 30 kids and chaperones didn't depart until the AM of the storm, when phone calls from nervous parents poured in that heavy snow was already falling. So we departed early that morning, drove through the blizzard, across the Turnpike bridge before it was closed, and somehow made it home in one piece. Something tells me a school bus wouldn't drive in that weather today. I always loved snow, but this put me over the top into weeniedom. Back then I still had a weather radio, and relied on TWC and local news forecasts. I had no idea AFD's existed (sorry Tony!) but refreshed my computer every 5 seconds awaiting Gary Gray's update which I share most years here: http://wow.americanwx.com/gg/ 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baseball0618 Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 I was 19 for this storm and myself and 3 of my college buddies had a trip planned to Mexico for our Winter break. We left a day early b/c of this pending storm as our plans were non-refundable and I remember actually being bummed that I was going to miss it!. I was at the Univ of Del and living at home during break in Bear DE were my parents got 24" of snow. I distinctly remember flying back home and the last 3rd of the flight all you saw was white snowpack everywhere. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 The one thing that stood out to me front that storm were the drifts. Somethings I’d never seen before. 4’+ easily. I know it made measuring tough by the time the storm was done. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubbs Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 26 minutes ago, Parsley said: The one thing that stood out to me front that storm were the drifts. Somethings I’d never seen before. 4’+ easily. I know it made measuring tough by the time the storm was done. Yes one of a kind for this area; driving along the state highway afterwards was very impressive particularly in areas with open fields. Was lucky that a snow plowing contractor had moved in across the street. He tried to get out and plow on Monday but didn't get far on local roads. A nice guy he started on the neighborhood driveways, but even that was tough going and he got stuck several times and had to be pushed out. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel_kurtz Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Family & friends threw my a surprise 30th b-day party the SAT evening just before the storm. Instead of devoting my full attention to the festivities I'm frequently ducking up to the bedroom to check out TWC & watch the radar for any sign precip moving up from the south. Once I saw that green around DC latter in the evening I was able to relax & really enjoy the gig. After a long night & substantial alcoholic intake I got up just before 7:00 & it was already snowing steadily with a temp of only 11 degrees. The only time I can remember it colder during a snowstorm was FEB 2003 when it was 10 degrees. Nothing better than when every flake counts on rock solid frozen ground. Snow really poured down late morning into the afternoon. During dinner time there was lightning with a really loud clap of thunder accompanied by what I guess was sleet but it looked more like pea sized hail. Snow was more intermittent overnight & we dry slotted in the morning for awhile before the backside wrapped in with few more inches. At that time not many events could bump an Eagles / Cowboys playoff from the lead story and that was one of them. Unfortunately the Eagles themselves rendered the game meaningless one play began. Obviously in my lifetime the gold standard when it comes to snow storms and for that matter an entire season. Above average snowfall during every month from NOV to APR. Pics from my parents house in Churchville Bucks 11 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 You know you are getting old when pics from the mid-90s look like they are from the 60s or 70s. Sadly I have no pics, but I wouldn't be surprised if some are floating around my parents house. They had pics from the blizzard of 78 (before I was born) and I thought I'd never see that on Long Island. Well, I did in 1996. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 Anyone have snow totals (like public statements) for this event? For both OKX and PHI? Not a map. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel_kurtz Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 35 minutes ago, Parsley said: Anyone have snow totals (like public statements) for this event? For both OKX and PHI? Not a map. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA, PA 445 PM EST MON JAN 8 1996 ...STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS AS OF 300 PM... THIS WILL BE THE FINAL SNOWFALL ACCUMLATION STATEMENT FOR THIS RECORD-BREAKING STORM. MANY THANKS TO THE SPOTTERS AND OTHER SOURCES WHO PROVIDED THESE SNOWFALL TOTALS. ...........IN PENNSYLVANIA.......... BUCKS COUNTY SOUDERTON 30 INCHES QUAKERTOWN 22 INCHES SPRINGTOWN 19.5 INCHES DOYLESTOWN 19 INCHES PERKASIE 30 INCHES SOUTHAMPTON 25 INCHES CARBON COUNTY LEHIGHTON 20 INCHES CHESTER COUNTY VALLEY FORGE 20 INCHES GLENMOORE 26 INCHES DELAWARE COUNTY SECANE 20 INCHES NESHAMINY FALLS 23 INCHES LEHIGH COUNTY ALLENTOWN 26 INCHES MONTGOMERY COUNTY PALM 30 INCHES NORTHAMPTON COUNTY WILLIAMS TWP. 37 INCHES PHILADELPHIA COUNTY PHILADELPHIA 30.7 INCHES ..........IN NEW JERSEY.......... ATLANTIC COUNTY ESTELLE MANOR 15.7 INCHES HAMMONTON 18 INCHES ATLANTIC CITY 12 INCHES PLEASANTVILLE 12 INCHES PAMONA (ARPT) 14.6 INCHES BURLINGTON COUNTY MCGUIRE AFB 27 INCHES MT. HOLLY 19.5 INCHES MARLTON 18 INCHES WILLINGBORO 18 INCHES CAMDEN COUNTY PENNSAUKEN 18-24 INCHES MERCHANTVILLE 13 INCHES HADENFIELD 12 INCHES GLOUCESTER CITY 18-20 INCHES CHERRY HILL 33 INCHES CUMBERLAND COUNTY VINELAND 9 INCHES MILLVILLE 15 INCHES NEWPORT 25 INCHES GLOUCESTER COUNTY SEWELL 15.5 INCHES DEPTFORD 24 INCHES PITMAN 20 INCHES HUNTERDON COUNTY FLEMINGTON 19 INCHES CALIFON 26 INCHES WHITE HOUSE 35 INCHES MERCER COUNTY PRINCETON 16 INCHES WASHINGTON XING 13 INCHES MIDDLESEX COUNTY EDISON 32 INCHES NEW BRUNSWICK 21.6 INCHES MONMOUTH COUNTY HOWELL TOWNSHIP 17 INCHES MORRIS COUNTY LONG VALLEY 28 INCHES SOMERSET COUNTY POTTERSVILLE 22 INCHES SUSSEX COUNTY WANTAGE 15 INCHES WARREN COUNTY HACKETTSTOWN 21 INCHES BELVIDERE 20 INCHES STEWARTSVILLE 25.5 INCHES ..........IN DELAWARE.......... KENT COUNTY DOVER 17 INCHES HARRINGTON 25 INCHES NEW CASTLE COUNTY WILMINGTON 22 INCHES NEWARK 16 INCHES PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PHILADELPHIA PA/MOUNT HOLLY NJ 1030 PM EST MON JAN 8 1996 ...ADDITIONAL FINAL ACCUMULATIONS... IN PENNSYLVANIA... IN PHILADELPHIA COUNTY NORTHEAST PHL 35 INCHES IN BERKS COUNTY READING 30 INCHES 4 SW READING EST 37 INCHES IN CHESTER COUNTY EXTON 21.5 INCHES IN NEW JERSEY... IN MONMOUTH COUNTY HOWELL TOWNSHIP 20 INCHES IN SUSSEX COUNTY HIGH POINT 25 INCHES WANTAGE 24 INCHES HAINESVILLE 25 INCHES IN WARREN COUNTY HACKETTSTOWN 27 INCHES STEWARTSVILLE 25.5 INCHES IN MORRIS COUNTY CHATHAM 24 INCHES IN MONMOUTH COUNTY HAZLET 29.8 INCHES IN SOMERSET COUNTY BELLE MEAD 21.5 INCHES I wasn't aware of a Neshaminy Falls in Delco, thinking that's a typo & should be Bucks 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
colonel_kurtz Posted January 5, 2021 Report Share Posted January 5, 2021 42 minutes ago, Parsley said: Anyone have snow totals (like public statements) for this event? For both OKX and PHI? Not a map. PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...RETRANSMITTED... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 1100 AM EST TUE JAN 9 1996 THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA RECEIVED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN BROOKHAVEN NY FOR THE SNOW EVENT OF JANUARY 7 AND JANUARY 8. ...NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA... SNOWFALL (INCHES) CENTRAL PARK 20.2 LA GUARDIA ARPT 24.0 KENNEDY ARPT 21.2 BRONX 25.0 BROOKLYN 23.7 STATEN ISLAND 27.5 QUEENS 24.5 ...LOWER HUDSON VALLEY... PLEASANTVILLE 19.0 OSSINING 20.0 WEST NYACK 19.4 MT. VERNON 28.0 TARRYTOWN 22.0 CORTLAND MANOR 21.0 CROTON ON THE HUDSON 22.5 WHITE PLAINS 24.0 HARTSDALE 22.5 SPRING VALLEY 24.0 PATTERSON 24.5 YONKERS 26.5 HAWTHORNE 25.0 N. TARRYTOWN 24.0 GREENBURG 24.0 CHESTER 24.0 MAHOPAC 22.0 SUFFERN 20.5 VALLEY COTTAGE 21.5 POMONA 24.0 PORT JEFFERSON 19.0 ...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY... NEWARK ARPT 28.0 JERSEY CITY 29.4 SADDLE BROOK 25.0 ELIZABETH 28.8 LINDEN 22.0 KARNEY 18.5 HARRISON 27.0 ALL TIME SNOWFALL RECORD ...LONG ISLAND... NWSFO BROOKHAVEN(UPTON) 21.0 BRIDGEHAMPTON 26.0 MIDDLE ISLAND 20.5 RIDGE 20.0 BABYLON 27.0 SEA CLIFF 18.0 OCEANSIDE 20.2 MASSAPEQUA 17.5 MINEOLA 18.0 LAKE RONKONKOMA 22.0 WADING RIVER 15.0 PATCHOGUE 18.0 ISLIP 18.0 BAYSHORE 30.5 PATCHOGUE 18.0 ...SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... BRIDGEPORT 15.0 MERIDEN 17.8 WETHERSFIELD 15.5 HADDAM 18.5 NORWICH 16.5 OLD SAYBROOK 14.0 NEW HAVEN 17.5 DARIEN 25.5 MILFORD 26.0 NEW CANAAN 23.5 BEACON FALLS 25.0 DANBURY 21.0 WATERBURY 22.0 NEW MILFORD 18.0 WINCHESTER 21.0 THOMASTON 18.0 THIS WILL BE THE LAST SNOWFALL TOTAL REPORT UNLESS CONDITIONS WARRANT AN UPDATE. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO GREATLY THANK ALL OF OUR SPOTTERS FOR THEIR TIMELY REPORTS. YOUR EFFORTS WERE GREATLY APPRECIATED. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 6, 2021 Report Share Posted January 6, 2021 31 minutes ago, colonel_kurtz said: PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT...RETRANSMITTED... NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE NEW YORK NY 1100 AM EST TUE JAN 9 1996 THE FOLLOWING IS A LIST OF SNOWFALL AMOUNTS FROM THE TRI-STATE AREA RECEIVED AT THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECAST OFFICE IN BROOKHAVEN NY FOR THE SNOW EVENT OF JANUARY 7 AND JANUARY 8. ...NEW YORK CITY METROPOLITAN AREA... SNOWFALL (INCHES) CENTRAL PARK 20.2 LA GUARDIA ARPT 24.0 KENNEDY ARPT 21.2 BRONX 25.0 BROOKLYN 23.7 STATEN ISLAND 27.5 QUEENS 24.5 ...LOWER HUDSON VALLEY... PLEASANTVILLE 19.0 OSSINING 20.0 WEST NYACK 19.4 MT. VERNON 28.0 TARRYTOWN 22.0 CORTLAND MANOR 21.0 CROTON ON THE HUDSON 22.5 WHITE PLAINS 24.0 HARTSDALE 22.5 SPRING VALLEY 24.0 PATTERSON 24.5 YONKERS 26.5 HAWTHORNE 25.0 N. TARRYTOWN 24.0 GREENBURG 24.0 CHESTER 24.0 MAHOPAC 22.0 SUFFERN 20.5 VALLEY COTTAGE 21.5 POMONA 24.0 PORT JEFFERSON 19.0 ...NORTHEAST NEW JERSEY... NEWARK ARPT 28.0 JERSEY CITY 29.4 SADDLE BROOK 25.0 ELIZABETH 28.8 LINDEN 22.0 KARNEY 18.5 HARRISON 27.0 ALL TIME SNOWFALL RECORD ...LONG ISLAND... NWSFO BROOKHAVEN(UPTON) 21.0 BRIDGEHAMPTON 26.0 MIDDLE ISLAND 20.5 RIDGE 20.0 BABYLON 27.0 SEA CLIFF 18.0 OCEANSIDE 20.2 MASSAPEQUA 17.5 MINEOLA 18.0 LAKE RONKONKOMA 22.0 WADING RIVER 15.0 PATCHOGUE 18.0 ISLIP 18.0 BAYSHORE 30.5 PATCHOGUE 18.0 ...SOUTHERN CONNECTICUT... BRIDGEPORT 15.0 MERIDEN 17.8 WETHERSFIELD 15.5 HADDAM 18.5 NORWICH 16.5 OLD SAYBROOK 14.0 NEW HAVEN 17.5 DARIEN 25.5 MILFORD 26.0 NEW CANAAN 23.5 BEACON FALLS 25.0 DANBURY 21.0 WATERBURY 22.0 NEW MILFORD 18.0 WINCHESTER 21.0 THOMASTON 18.0 THIS WILL BE THE LAST SNOWFALL TOTAL REPORT UNLESS CONDITIONS WARRANT AN UPDATE. THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WOULD LIKE TO GREATLY THANK ALL OF OUR SPOTTERS FOR THEIR TIMELY REPORTS. YOUR EFFORTS WERE GREATLY APPRECIATED. Thank you sir! And as crazy as I remember ISLIP with 18” while the next down over (Bayshore) coming in at 30.5”. I can remember to this day my dad saying “somebody was measuring in snow piles!” I think I measured about 20” or so between those 2 towns. Which back then felt like 40”! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Parsley Posted January 6, 2021 Report Share Posted January 6, 2021 Link to Ray's page on 96' Take a look at some of those upper level maps....http://www.raymondcmartinjr.com/weather/1996/07-Jan-96.html 😍 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mshaffer526 Posted January 6, 2021 Report Share Posted January 6, 2021 What's the deal with the heavy stripe of snow in SNJ? Seems strange to have such an outlier against the gradient. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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