November 13–21, 2014 North American winter storm

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November 13–21, 2014 North American winter storm
North American winter storm 2014-11-17 1445Z.png
Satellite image of the winter storm on November 17
Type Extratropical cyclone
Winter storm
Formed November 13, 2014
Dissipated November 26, 2014
Lowest pressure 961 mb (28.38 inHg)
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion 88 in (223.52 cm)[1]
Areas affected Pacific Northwest
Central United States
Eastern United States
Northern Mexico
Eastern Canada
Southern Greenland
Iceland
Part of the 2014–15 North American winter

From November 13–21, 2014, a potent winter storm and particularly severe lake-effect snowstorm (given the code name Knife by local governments[2][3] and colloquially nicknamed "Snowvember"[4]) affected the United States, originating from the Pacific Northwest on November 13, which brought copious amounts of lake-effect snow to the Central US and New England from November 15 until November 21, when the system departed the East Coast of the United States. The snowstorm elicited an enormous response from emergency crews and the National Guard, requiring more manpower than any other snowstorm in the history of New York state[5] as it buried cars and stranded thousands of people in their homes in Western New York.[6] Eight months after the storm, the snow's remnants still remained in Buffalo, New York.[7]

Meteorology

The winter storm was associated with the November 2014 North American cold wave. On November 13, an extratropical disturbance developed just off the shore of southern Oregon, at the end of an occluded front.[8] Early on November 14, the system fully moved ashore in the Pacific Northwest, and began bringing snowfall to the region.[9] The winter storm quickly moved southeastward and then northeastward, triggering large amounts of lake-effect snow near the Great Lakes beginning on November 16.[9] On November 16, Lake Erie had a water temperature of 48 °F (9 °C).[10] On November 17, the system reached New England, triggering large amounts of lake-effect snow there as well. The air crossing over the lake by the evening of November 17 was −14 °C (7 °F) at 850 hectopascals at the eastern end of the lake[11] and even colder at its western end; this lapse rate was nearly double that of the dry adiabatic lapse rate and resulted in a very unstable atmosphere at the lower levels.[12] The surface and lower-level winds were also well-aligned with the fetch of Lake Erie, favoring the formation of a long, intense band of lake-effect snow, and varied little over the next several days, keeping the band in place over the same areas for an extended period. The event was briefly interrupted by a low-pressure system with general snowfall passing through on November 20,[12] before reverting to the same synoptic setup as before.[13]

High pressure and warmer temperatures moved into the area beginning on November 21, which caused the storm to exit the East Coast, ending the lake-effect snow.[13] The system then quickly began moving northeastward. During the next couple of days, the winter storm eventually intensified,[14] reaching a minimum low pressure of 961 mb (28.38 inHg) on November 23. Later on November 23, the system slowly began to weaken.[citation needed] On November 24, the storm decayed into a disorganized 986 mbar system, after moving just east of southern Greenland.[15] On November 26, 2014, the weakened winter storm was absorbed by another neighboring system to the northwest of Iceland.[16]

Impact

Several counties were heavily impacted, with areas in and around Buffalo, New York, particularly the city's southern suburbs, receiving snowfall totals in the range of 5–7 feet (1.5–2.1 m), killing at least fourteen people; most of the deaths were caused by heart attacks from overexertion trying to remove the snow.[17][18] Under the sheer weight of the snow, roofs began collapsing.[19][20] As the New York State Thruway became impassable, many motorists became trapped, including Niagara University's women's basketball team.[21] With a forecast for warmer temperatures and rain, fears of potentially severe flooding due to the melting snow quickly arose.[20] The maximum snowfall recorded from the storm was 88 inches (220 cm) in Cowlesville.[1]

Radio station WWKB was knocked off the air due to the event, but other radio and television stations were mostly unaffected, as their studios were located outside the snowbelt; those with news bureaus went wall-to-wall with coverage for the entire week and contributed reports to the national networks. WBEN prepared for the event by making sure those of its reporters who lived in the southern suburbs found accommodations north of the city before the event, ensuring they could make it to the station when the storm hit.[22]

Many local school districts in and around Buffalo closed for more than a week in order to remove snow and assess possible damage to property.

Snowfall totals

The following table displays selected U.S. snowfall totals from November 13–21, 2014:[9][23]

Note: Click "Show" to view table

Sporting events

Both the Buffalo Bills and Buffalo Sabres were forced to postpone games due to the event. The Bills' home stadium, Ralph Wilson Stadium, was in the center of the band, and because most of the players' homes and the roads around the stadium were impassable, the National Football League ordered the November 23 game against the New York Jets to be relocated to a neutral site, eventually chosen to be Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan.[24] The Sabres canceled its November 21 game against the New York Rangers but went ahead with its November 18 game against the San Jose Sharks, due to the Sharks already being in town and not coming back east until March 2015; the Sharks-Sabres game was played in front of a crowd of 6,200 fans, a third of the arena's capacity.[25] The game against the Rangers was eventually rescheduled for February 20, displacing another previously scheduled game on that date against the Ottawa Senators to December 15.[26]

The college football game between the University at Buffalo and Kent State University, the penultimate scheduled game for each team, that had originally been scheduled for November 19 was initially postponed until November 21 but was ultimately canceled. The cancellation eliminated Buffalo from bowl contention (the team was 4–6 at the time—it would win their final game to finish 5–6—but needed a win over Kent State to have a chance at being named to a bowl).[27]

Response

Governor Andrew Cuomo declared a State of Emergency for several counties beginning on November 18. By November 22, parts of Interstate 90 had been reopened, albeit mainly to allow snow removal crews to enter; driving bans remained in effect for multiples areas, however, resulting in gasoline shortages at various stations unable to be refueled.[28] Assistance in cleanup efforts came from a myriad of sources, including the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation;[29] the New York City Fire Department;[30] and the New York National Guard.[31]

In general, the region's residents were praised for their ability to withstand the effects of the storm, help others in need, and restore normality.[32]

2015 births

In August 2015, nine months following the November storm, there was a spike in the number of babies born in Buffalo, New York. One hospital reported an increase of six new babies a day to as many as 16, with expectations of a 25 to 30 percent increase in births by the end of the month. Some people in Buffalo had been snowed in for extended periods of time.[33]

Gallery

  • The snow in Buffalo, New York, on November 17

  • A car buried in the snow

  • A partially cleared street

  • A street being cleared

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  4. ↑ http://wyrk.com/tags/snowvember/
  5. ↑ http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/winter/cuomos-unprecedented-overnight-stay-reflected-his-concern-20141121
  6. ↑ http://www.wgrz.com/videos/news/2014/11/19/19296689/
  7. ↑ http://www.wgrz.com/story/weather/2015/07/27/8-months-after-it-was-piled-there-snow-from-monster-storm-can-still-be-found-near-central-terminal/30741259/
  8. ↑ http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/archives/web_pages/sfc/sfc_archive_maps.php?arcdate=11/13/2014&selmap=2014111312&maptype=namussfc
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  11. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 Lake Effect Summary: November 17–19, 2014. National Weather Service Buffalo office (December 1, 2014). Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 Lake Effect Summary: November 20–21, 2014. National Weather Service Buffalo office (December 1, 2014). Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  14. ↑ http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20141123.gif
  15. ↑ http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20141124.gif
  16. ↑ http://www.met.fu-berlin.de/de/wetter/maps/Analyse_20141126.gif
  17. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  18. ↑ Death toll rises to 14 from November storm. WIVB-TV. Retrieved December 8, 2014.
  19. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  21. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  22. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  23. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  24. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  25. ↑ Bonesteel, Matt (November 19, 2014). 6,200 fans brave Buffalo snowstorm to watch Sabres beat Sharks. The Washington Post. Retrieved December 1, 2014.
  26. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  27. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  28. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  29. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  30. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  31. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  32. ↑ Fink, James (November 24, 2014). Officials not concerned about piling on Buffalo's image. Business First. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  33. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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