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Tag: Northeast

  • Winter Storm PAX Knocks Out Power Lines in Georgia, Heads for Northeast

    A winter storm that The Weather Channel has now named PAX is currently hitting a number of states located in the Southeast.

    Rain and sleet came down hard in Georgia Wednesday, resulting in cities being forced to go without power–but hopefully for not too long.

    Previously, the Atlanta area endured one of the worst cases of this year’s snowstorms, which left stranded motorists in traffic for at least 22 hours. Some were forced to leave vehicles and try to find somewhere warm to stay for the night.

    However, it seems that most of Atlanta has taken the necessary precautions to avoid yet another devastating winter storm episode.

    The National Weather Service sent out warnings of power outages around the cities of Augusta and Marietta. A half an inch of rain has reportedly already fallen in those areas, which caused power lines to fail due to freezing.

    To add to safety precautions, Atlanta sent out take-shelter alerts Wednesday, but the city’s Mayor Kasim Reed made sure to encourage local residents ahead of time to say indoors.

    “The message I really want to share is, as of midnight tonight, wherever you are, you need to plan on staying there for a while,” she said Tuesday night, according to the Washington Post.

    What started as sleet on Wednesday, soon turned into snowfall on Thursday. Georgia meteorologists have now informed that the snow will freeze over until Friday.

    “Make sure you have the supplies you need to stay put for a while,” said meteorologist Matt Sena.

    Additionally, PAX made its way to North Carolina but mainly to the cities of Charlotte and Raleigh.

    According to a Thursday report, The Weather Channel stated:

    In much of the South on Wednesday, travelers heeded warnings to stay off roads, but drivers in and around Raleigh and Charlotte, N.C., became snarled Wednesday in huge traffic jams and abandoned cars in scenes reminiscent of motorist woes in Atlanta during a storm two weeks earlier.

    Commuters have reportedly become stranded on some of the major highways due to the icy roads. Emergency crews have responded to multiple accidents since Wednesday.

    The winter storm is currently making its way through Washington D.C., and soon all other northern states will succumb to its wintry path. (image)

    Public transportation has taken a toll too due to the winter storm PAX. Approximately 4,000 flights are canceled across the east coast, and Amtrak has modified or canceled most of its scheduled runs.

    What The Weather Channel has already called “paralyzing” and “treacherous” icy conditions, PAX’s next stops include: Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York, and then Maine.

    Nearly 22 states have come in contact with this merciless storm. There are 13 confirmed deaths in the south, but mainly stemming from vehicle accidents.

    Located below is a thorough report by The Weather Channel:

    Image via Youtube

  • Bombogenesis – The Latest Storm Wreaking Havoc

    First was the Polar Vortex, and now Bombogenesis – the names are getting stranger, most likely to match the crazy storms that have been pounding the northeast.

    The post by Philadelphia meteorologist John Bolaris announced “Old Man Winter to Drop, Bombogenesis” is what some think got this newest storm term started.

    Bombogenesis also derived its name from another weather term, cyclogenesis, which is just a fancy word for the origin of a cyclone.

    Might be a strange word for a storm, but it’s a term meteorologists use to describe an area of low pressure that creates a rapidly intensifying storm, or cyclone, and gets stronger as it moves over the ocean, said Bob Oravec, a National Weather Service forecaster.

    In order to have a bombogenesis effect, it takes a cold air mass meeting a warmer air mass. That can happen over water or land, and the East Coast is a prime spot during the winter months when the cold arctic air clashes with the warmer Gulf Stream waters, Oravec said.

    The barometric pressure drops, driving the winds into overdrive and then the condensation clouds bring the snow or rain.

    “Genesis refers to the generating (of the storm), while bomb means it’s an explosive growth,” Oravec added.

    The storm, dropping about a foot of snow on some parts of the Northeast, will see winds intensify Tuesday evening into Wednesday, creating this bombogenesis event.

    Oravec said there’s potential for a bombogenesis to occur every winter. In fact, he said, one hit over the waters off the East Coast when the polar vortex struck earlier this month.

    So bundle up and get ready for the bombogenesis heading toward the northeast at the early part of the week, bringing with it some very cold weather as well.

    Image via Wikimedia Commons

  • Winter Storm Hercules Heads to the Northeast

    Before Winter Storm Hercules is finished with the US, roughly 1 in 3 Americans will have seen snow in the early days of 2014.

    The massive storm dumped more than a foot of snow on parts of the Midwest on New Years Day, and is now slamming the Northeast.

    According to meteorologist Chris Dolce, Hercules could reach blizzard proportions in some areas: “The Northeast I-95 corridor will feel the worst impacts from Hercules Thursday evening into Friday morning. Gusty winds will combine with the snow to produce poor visibility and dangerous travel conditions. Localized blizzard conditions are possible on Long Island and in coastal parts of southeast Massachusetts.”

    Illinois saw at least six inches of snow on Wednesday, with some areas reporting up to a foot. The storm caused delays into and out of Chicago airports.

    According to the Chicago Tribune, it’s the most snow the city has had since the blizzard of 2011 – and it’s still snowing. Thanks to lake-effect snow, totals could reach two feet before the snow stops overnight.

    The Indianapolis area has received more than five inches of snow since this morning, according to the Indianapolis Star. Weather conditions are responsible for multiple traffic accidents throughout the state.

    As Hercules moves out of the Midwest, the Northeast is buttoning down in preparation.

    “This will be a full-blown Nor’easter,” said winter weather expert Tom Niziol.

    Image via Twitter