What is a Nor’easter? This phenomenon occurs when a strong polar jet moves southward and intersects with a developing low-pressure system in the Gulf of Mexico or southwest Atlantic. Typically originating from a frontal boundary draped across the Gulf Coast and Florida, the low moves along the Eastern Seaboard and rapidly intensifies, bringing significant snowfall to the mid-Atlantic and interior Northeast regions. The trajectory of the system often leads to portions of the I-95 corridor missing heavy snow, receiving more rainfall instead, which reduces snow accumulation rates. Illustrated in the graphic are Miller Type A nor’easters, which are more prevalent during La Niña patterns due to the heightened energy of the northern jet compared to the southern subtropical jet. Some of the most powerful non-hurricane storm systems have been Miller Type A events, with the Superstorm of 1993 standing out as the most destructive nor’easter in U.S. history. Dubbed the “Storm of the Century,” this event resulted in hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, flooding, and blizzard conditions, causing over 300 fatalities and an estimated $5 billion in damages.
*What Does Rain Smell Like?*
December 22-24, 1989: Christmas Coastal Snowstorm. A rare snowfall event occurred in the Deep South as a storm system developed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved along the southeastern coastline. Rather than rain or severe weather, cities from Florida to the coastal Carolinas experienced record snowfall due to sufficient cold air in place. Wilmington, North Carolina received 15″ of snow, while Charleston had 3.9″ and Jacksonville around 2″, as per NOAA historical records. The frozen weather led to widespread power outages, significant crop damage, and arctic temperatures persisting for days. Strong winds reaching 60 mph and wave heights of 25-35 feet impacted the near-shore waters from Virginia to the Carolinas, with Virginia and the Delmarva Peninsula being the northernmost areas affected before the system moved out to sea.
March 12-14, 1993: Storm of the Century. Originating along the Gulf Coast on March 12th, the low-pressure system known as the “Storm of the Century” unleashed hurricane-force winds, tornadoes, flooding, and blizzard conditions across the eastern U.S. As it traversed the Eastern Seaboard, the system’s barometric pressure plummeted to 960 mb, equivalent to a Category 3 hurricane. Over 10 million residents lost power, with 120 million impacted by the storm. The most substantial snowfall occurred in the Appalachians, with reports of 1-2 feet from North Carolina through interior Pennsylvania and New York. Gusty winds and heavy precipitation forced the closure of all major East Coast airports during the storm. While the coastal storm of 1989 showcased the limited impact of a Miller Type A nor’easter, the ”
The storm system, as reported by NOAA, tragically resulted in the loss of over 300 lives, with immediate damage assessments exceeding $5 billion. Unfolding between December 18 and 20, 2009, the North American Blizzard of 2009 emerged as a powerful nor’easter originating along the Gulf Coast. Its impact was felt across the Appalachians, stretching into the southern regions of the Northeast and New England. The storm’s trajectory brought substantial snowfall from the Appalachians extending to Long Island, where certain areas saw snow accumulation surpassing 2 feet. Intense wind gusts of 40-50 mph prompted Blizzard Warnings from the nation’s capital all the way to Long Island. Meanwhile, parts of the Southeast, including Georgia and the Carolinas, were gripped by severe icing conditions, disrupting travel activities. Despite its significant consequences, the storm system was categorized as a level 2 event on NOAA’s impact scale, factoring in precipitation volumes and the number of people affected. Following swiftly on the heels of this event was the 2009 North American Christmas blizzard, a more widespread phenomenon that impacted a larger geographic area and was rated as a level 5 event, the highest on the impact scale. This weather occurrence is identified as a Miller Type A nor’easter.
