Meteorologist John Davitt on NYC's Big Snowstorm and Extreme Cold

Storm Overview and Snowfall

• ❄️ The recent storm brought dangerously cold temperatures and significant snowfall to the region, with some areas receiving 15-18 inches.
• 🏙️ New York City recorded 11.4 inches of snow in Central Park, the most in four years, with the total snowfall this winter already exceeding the last three winters combined.
• 🧊 The storm featured a unique snow-to-water ratio, with 15 to 20 inches of snow for every inch of water, due to extreme cold.

Storm Mechanics and Challenges

• 🌡️ Temperatures dropped to around 12°F during the storm, with over 40 consecutive hours below 20°F in Central Park, making snow removal chemicals less effective.
• 💧 The precipitation started as rain forming at high altitudes, then froze as it fell through the arctic layer, resulting in freezing rain and sleet at ground level.
• ⏳ The storm lasted over 12 hours, presenting a significant challenge for snow removal and road treatment crews due to the prolonged duration and low temperatures.
• 💨 Strong winds combined with frozen raindrops (sleet) created a painful experience for those exposed, described by one listener as "baby hail."

Climate Change and Weather Patterns

• 🌀 The polar vortex is explained as a jet stream pattern of arctic air that can wander south due to slower global winds caused by climate change.
• 📈 The Arctic is warming four times faster than the rest of the planet, reducing the temperature difference between the poles and the equator, leading to slower jet streams and more erratic weather patterns.
• 🌍 Climate change is characterized by more intense storms, hotter years, and an increase in billion-dollar disasters, with New York City's climate being reclassified as subtropical.

National and Long-Term Weather

• 🗺️ This storm was massive, with winter storm warnings stretching from New Mexico to Washington D.C., impacting many southern states with ice and snow.
• 🥶 New York City is expected to experience below-normal temperatures for at least 3-4 weeks, with no expectation of temperatures rising above freezing for at least 10 days.
• 📈 While weather models predict a potentially larger storm for the upcoming Saturday, these predictions are subject to change.