Friday Daily Weather Summary

ONLINE DAILY WEATHER SUMMARY

Friday, 26 February 1999

YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE LOWER 48
ALASKAN WEATHER
HAWAIIAN WEATHER
WINTER'S OVER
WHY ONLY 28 DAYS?
HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS

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YESTERDAY'S TEMPERATURE EXTREMES IN THE LOWER 48 -- The lowest temperature on Thursday was XX degrees below zero at XXX. Thursday's high was XX degrees at XXX.

ALASKAN WEATHER -- ...

The overnight lowest temperature in Alaska as of Thursday morning was XX degrees below zero at XXX, while the midafternoon highest temperature was XX degrees at XXX.

HAWAIIAN WEATHER -- ...

WINTER'S OVER -- Regardless of what the thermometer indicates, winter will be officially over on Sunday night, at least by how meteorologists define the three month winter season of December, January and February. A detailed discussion of the meteorological seasons was provided in Thursday's Supplemental File. Another sure indicator of spring is the first spring training games of major league baseball that are scheduled to be played this weekend in Florida and Arizona. (Check that)

WHY ONLY 28 DAYS? -- If you have wondered why we will not celebrate a 29th day of February this year, see the Friday optional electronic Supplemental Summary Information available on the Online Weather Homepage.

HISTORICAL WEATHER EVENTS - 26 February

From the files of the Aviation Weather Center, Kansas City, MO and Intellicast

...1910...Parts of Washington State were in the midst of a storm which produced 129 inches of snow at Laconia between the 24th and the 26th, a single storm record for the state. A series of storms, which began on the 23rd, led to a deadly avalanche on the first of March. By late on the 28th, the snow had changed to rain, setting the stage for disaster. (The Weather Channel)
...1969...The "100 hour snowstorm" was in full swing across the Boston area and the rest of New England as well. By the time snow ended on the 28th, Boston recorded 26.3 inches of new snow. Pinkham Notch, NH was buried under an incredible 77 inches and Long Falls Dam, ME reported 56 inches. Both Portsmouth, NH and Portland, ME set new single storm snowfall records with 33.8 inches and 26.9 inches, respectively. Rockport, MA measured an impressive 39 inches. (Intellicast)
...1972...The "Buffalo Creek Disaster" occurred in the Buffalo Creek Hollow of Logan County in West Virginia. A coal slag dam on the Middle Fork of Buffalo Creek burst sending a fifty foot wall of water down a narrow valley killing 125 persons and causing 51 million dollars damage. Three days of rain atop a six inches snow cover prompted the dam break. (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
...1987...A slow moving storm in the southwestern U.S. spread heavy snow from the southern and central Rockies into the Central High Plains Region. Totals in Colorado ranged up to 62 inches at Purgatory. Colorado Springs, CO reported a February record of 14.8 inches of snow in 24 hours. Lander, WY received four inches in one hour, 13 inches in seven hours, and a record storm total of 26 inches. High winds created near blizzard conditions at Colorado Springs. Fairplay, CO reported 43 inches of snow, with drifts ten feet high. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1990...Unseasonably cold weather followed in the wake of the winter storm in the northeastern U.S. Ten cities reported record low temperatures for the date, including Syracuse, NY with a reading of 10 degrees below zero. Freezing temperatures in southeastern Virginia caused considerable damage to plants and fruit trees. The barometric pressure reading of 30.88 inches at Wilmington, NC was February record for that location. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

27 February

...1717...What was perhaps the greatest snow in New England history commenced on this date. During a ten day period a series of four snowstorms dumped three feet of snow upon Boston, and the city was snowbound for two weeks. Up to six feet of snow was reported farther to the north, and drifts covered many one story homes. (David Ludlum)
...1952...A super intense ocean storm (948.9 millibars or 28.02 inches as reported by a ship) blasted Cape Cod with heavy snow and high winds. 10 to 20 inches of snow fell. 3000 motorists were stranded on the lower Cape when routes 6 and 28 became impassable. Nantucket reported sustained winds of 61 mph with a peak gust of 72 mph. The 120 foot Loran tower at Siasconset was toppled by the high winds. (Intellicast)
...1969...A record snowstorm in Maine came to an end. Two to four feet of snow buried southern and central Maine, with a state record of 57 inches reported at West Forks. Drifts covered many single story homes, and the weight of the snow collapsed many roofs. Two to four feet of snow also buried northeastern Vermont and northeastern Massachusetts. In New Hampshire, Mount Washington, NH reported 97.8 inches of snow, a record storm total for New England. (24th-28th) (David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
...1984...A severe winter storm, which began on the 26th, spread blizzard conditions across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana. Twenty four inches of snow fell in the Vichy-Rolla area in Missouri and 22 inches were reported in southern Illinois. Winds frequently gusted to 40 and 50 mph. Interstate 65, which connects Indianapolis with Chicago, was impassable for several days due to extensive drifting of the snow. Thunderstorms were reported which added to the heavy snow amounts. (Intellicast)
...1987...A storm spread heavy snow into the Central High Plains Region, and produced severe thunderstorms in the Southern Plains. Snowfall totals in western Nebraska ranged up to 19 inches at Sydney. Severe thunderstorms in Oklahoma produced baseball size hail at Stringtown and Atoka. A storm in the eastern U.S. produced heavy rain over the Carolinas and heavy snow in the southern Appalachians and piedmont region. Five inches of rain left four feet of water in the streets of Greenville, SC. Snowfall totals in southwestern Virginia ranged up to 20 inches. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thunderstorms along a cold front produced heavy rain in southern California, with up to 2.52 inches reported in Ventura County. Strong winds accompanying the rain gusted to 55 mph in the Tehachapi Mountains. Rapid City, SD established a February record with an afternoon high of 75 degrees. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

28 February

...1792...A heavy snowfall at Charleston, SC caused the Ashley River Bridge to collapse. (Intellicast)
...1900...A massive storm spread record snows from Kansas to New York State. Snowfall totals ranged up to 17.5 inches at Springfield, IL, 31 inches were recorded at Northfield, VT and 43 inches at Rochester, NY, with up to 60 inches in the Adirondack Mountains of New York State. The 18.7 inches of snow measured at Topeka, KS in 24 hours was the city's greatest 24 hour snowfall on record. (David Ludlum) (Intellicast)
...1952...An intense ocean storm brought coastal sections of southeastern Massachusetts to a halt, stranding 3000 motorists on Lower Cape Cod, and leaving ten thousand homes on the Cape without electricity. Winds gusting to 72 mph created mountainous snowdrifts of the 18 inches of snow which buried Nantucket and Hyannis. A barometric pressure reading of 29.02 inches was reported at the center of the storm. (948.9 millibars or 28.02 inches as reported by a ship?) (The Weather Channel) (Intellicast)
...1972...Unseasonably mild weather prevailed throughout the central US. Temperatures soared to 83 degrees in Kansas City, MO, setting an all-time high record for the month of February. (Intellicast)
...1987...A powerful storm produced severe thunderstorms in Louisiana and Mississippi early in the day. About mid morning a monstrous tornado touched down near Moselle, MS and grew to a width of two miles as it passed near Laurel, MS. The tornado traveled a distance of 40 miles killing six persons, injuring 350 others, and causing 28.5 million dollars damage. The tornado swept homes right off their foundations, and tossed eighteen wheel trucks about like toys. Strong straight line winds associated with the powerful storm system gusted to 70 mph at Jonesboro, AR and Carbondale, IL. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
...1988...Thunderstorms in California produced severe weather during the early morning hours. Strong thunderstorm winds, gusting to 74 mph, downed trees in the Sacramento area. Unseasonably mild weather prevailed in the northwestern U.S. The afternoon high of 71 degrees at Portland, OR was a February record. (The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)