80 cm of snow in a day made possible by the Gulf Stream
As the developing system tracked north, robust amounts of lightning indicated the rapid intensification. The kicker was the Gulf Stream, a current of warm sea surface temperatures that winds itself off the coast.
Seventy-eight cm of snow to be exact. That's the final total in Stoughton, a small town south of Boston, Mass. What made this such a prolific snowmaker?
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The dip in the jet stream is clue number 1. It's a classic tale when it comes to winter storms. The cold trough can interact with ample tropical moisture off the southeastern United States. It's the staple recipe to produce a 'bomb cyclone,' with a 24-millibar reduction in barometric pressure in 24 hours. This storm did 35 millibars in 18 hours.
As the developing system tracked north, robust amounts of lightning indicated the rapid intensification. The kicker was the Gulf Stream, a current of warm sea surface temperatures that winds itself off the coast.
It's not a tiny feature, either. It's capable of transporting 30 million cubic metres of water, and it's the perfect fuel for a developing storm -- providing abundant moisture and heat energy.
It's running a fever, so the already warm current is up to five degrees above normal in spots. With each degree of warming, the atmosphere can hold seven per cent more moisture, evident by the sheer volumes of snow encapsulating eastern North America.
