The record
Everything the slot carries, as measured. Series arrays are drawn above and listed here in full.
| event_type | Blizzard |
|---|---|
| ncei_event_id | 5,541,355 |
| episode_id | 1,001,799 |
| begin_utc | 1996-01-07T08:00:00+00:00 |
| end_utc | 1996-01-08T17:00:00+00:00 |
| state | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
| cz_type | Z |
| cz_name | DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA |
| deaths_direct | 0 |
| deaths_indirect | 0 |
| injuries_direct | 0 |
| injuries_indirect | 0 |
| episode_narrative | An historic winter storm, known as the "Blizzard of '96", crippled the Greater Washington, DC metropolitan region during the first full weekend of January. In general, snow totals ranged from 17.1 inches at Washington/National airport (DCA) to 21 inches in Northwest Washington. Gusty winds produced drifts to 5 feet in some places. The storm produced the largest storm total since the "Megalopolitan Storm" of February 11th, 1983. Numerous 24-hour accumulation records were shattered at airports from southwest Virginia through New England. For the city as a whole, the storm ranked 4th all-time; for modern records (taken at DCA), the storm ranked 2nd, with only the "Presidents Day" storm of February 18th-19th, 1979, dumping more (18.7 inches).The storm was induced by a digging upper level trough over the eastern Great Plains. At the surface, an inverted trough extended from the Gulf of Mexico through the Deep South. Surface pressures began falling as the upper trough approached on the afternoon of the 7th. Meanwhile, confluent flow, behind an upper-level arctic vortex over the Canadian Maritimes, maintained strong (1034 mb) surface high pressure over northern New York state. As the upper-level trough approached the southeast U.S. on the 8th, a new surface low developed along the Georgia coast. The low deepened explosively while the arctic high remained in place. Copious Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic moisture was entrained into the system, producing heavy snow; the increasing gradient between the intensifying low and the arctic high caused winds to strengthen to 25 mph with gusts to 35 mph.The system moved slowly from South Carolina to the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay overnight on the 7th. The slow movement prolonged near-blizzard conditions into the 8th. The storm finally moved towards New England later on the 8th, ending the snow but maintaining gusty north winds (and substantial blowing and drifting snow) until evening.All major highways were effectively closed through the 7th, as snow removal equipment fought a losing battle with the considerable blowing and drifting snow. However, residential areas remained unplowed for up to one week following the storm; FEMA provided funding for additional snow removal equipment to clear the streets by the weekend of the 13th/14th. Subway transit was impacted as well, as the Washington subway system was effectively shut down through Tuesday, and above-ground stations opened sporadically throughout the following work week. The combination of warming temperatures and concerted snow removal efforts opened all roads by the 17th.All federal, state, and local governments, as well as public schools, wer closed Monday (the 8th) and Tuesday (the 9th). Road damage - especially from potholes and related pavement failures - was excessive. Estimated commercial losses to the northeastern U.S. for the week of January 7-13 were between $7 and $10 billion - this on top of a sluggish holiday season and federal government shutdowns. |
| year | 1,996 |
Provenance
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Storage: spine