 |
A nor'easter occured in the East Coast of the United States, bringing heavy rain to Florida, Georgia, and other states in the Southeastern United States, as well as the Northeastern United States, during of December 2023.
Meteorological synopsis
editA stationary front was draped over the Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys, connected to a cold front extending from the northwestern Bahamas to the area southeast of Bermuda, around December 15. A surface trough was also formed in the southwestern Gulf.[1] By 1205 UTC on December 16, a 1013 millibar low-pressure system had developed in the western Gulf. The low was forecast to deepen in the Gulf as it developed gale-force winds, eventually to a maximum of 45 knots, before moving into Florida by December 17, while a cold front connected to the low would exit the Gulf by early December 17.[2] Two high-pressure systems, one a 1033 mb system over the mid-Atlantic states, and the other being the 1029 mb Bermuda High, would form a gradient with the low-pressure system, which had deepened in intensity to 1009 mb by 1805 UTC, that'd result in high, often gale-force, winds over the seas near Florida.[3] The low deepened further, at 1004 mb by 0605 UTC on December 17th, and being 999 mb by 1205 UTC.[4] The areas north of the system's warm front were the sites of intense convection, and thus hours of heavy rainfall, at times reaching rates of 0.75 inches per hour, resulting in flash flooding in some areas and rain accumulations of anywhere from two to four inches.[5]
The system had moved ashore Florida by 1805 UTC, then over Jacksonville, Florida, as a 996 mb low, with its warm front running from the low to around the southeastern Bahamas.[6]
Impact
editThe storm resulted in 5200 flight delays and 115 cancellations just on December 17.[7] Damage from the storm totaled $1.3 billion.[8]
Southeastern United States
editOn December 16, heavy rainfall affected Central Florida, with all 7 climate sites breaking daily rainfall records.[9] Powerful winds also affected Florida, with a peak gust of 61 mph (98 km/h) in West Palm Beach.[10] Flooding resulted in 11,000 power outages in Florida.[11] The next day, record rain struck the Charleston metropolitan area, South Carolina, with over 3 in (76 mm) of rain. Further north around Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a flash flood emergency was issued with some areas receiving over 13 in (330 mm) of rain. The storm also brought the 4th highest tide to Charleston Harbor.[12] The storm also resulted in 31,000 power outages in South Carolina, with 14,000 people losing power in North Carolina.[11]
Northeastern United States
editThe storm moved up the coast from December 17 into the 18th, causing major flooding in the Northeastern United States. In the Northeast, over 400 flights were canceled and 1400 delayed, with a ground stop imposed at Boston Logan International Airport.[13] Over 600,000 customers lost power in the Northeast, and a travel advisory issued in New York City.[14] 300,000 power outages were in Maine alone.[15] The Salisbury Zoo closed due to flooding.[16] The Port Washington Branch of the Long Island Rail Road had a partial suspension, with delays on the New Jersey Transit as well.[17] High winds also resulted in the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge closing down.[18] In the state of West Virginia, snowfall up to 5 in (13 cm) fell.[19] The storm resulted in two fatalities.[20]
References
edit- ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2023/TWDAT.202312150539.txt
- ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2023/TWDAT.202312161126.txt
- ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2023/TWDAT.202312161818.txt
- ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2023/TWDAT.202312171138.txt
- ^ https://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/metwatch/metwatch_mpd_multi.php?md=1201&yr=2023
- ^ https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/text/TWDAT/2023/TWDAT.202312171814.txt
- ^ Intense storm hits East Coast with damaging winds and heavy rain, CNN, December 17, 2023
- ^ U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters (2024), NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
- ^ After pummeling Florida, a strengthening storm system is drenching the Atlantic coast, WNYC, December 17, 2023
- ^ Powerful Northeast storm knocks out power to tens of thousands and forces water rescues, CNN, December 17, 2023
- ^ a b Charleston and S.C. coast see major flooding caused by late year storm, Fox Carolina, December 17, 2023
- ^ Charleston swamped by historic coastal flooding Sunday while Flash Flood Emergency issued near Myrtle Beach, Fox Weather, December 17, 2023
- ^ Powerful Northeast storm knocks out power to tens of thousands and forces water rescues, CNN, December 18, 2023
- ^ Blockbuster coastal storm to make for a tricky morning commute, AccuWeather, December 18, 2023
- ^ Outages surge past 300,000 as high winds pummel the Pine Tree State, News Center Maine, December 18, 2023
- ^ Multiple venues, locations closed due to flooding, WRDE, December 18, 2023
- ^ Major delays, suspensions on LIRR, Metro-North and NJ TRANSIT amid flooding, Pix11, December 18, 2023
- ^ Storm batters Northeastern US, knocking out power, grounding flights and flooding roads, WABI, December 18, 2023
- ^ December 18-19, 2023 Higher Terrain Snowfall, NWS Charleston WV
- ^ https://www.necn.com/news/local/body-of-2nd-woman-killed-in-maine-floodwaters-found-both-ided/3120038/?amp=1