The current cold pattern across the eastern states is reminiscent of January 1986 when an Arctic air outbreak played a key role in the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster that took place 40 years ago from Wednesday on January 28th, 1986. NASA’s Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger (mission STS-51-L) broke apart 73 seconds into its flight leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. STS-51-L was the 25th American Space Shuttle Program flight since the program began in 1981. It was also the first mission to have a civilian on board, American teacher Christa McAuliffe. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of Cape Canaveral, Florida at 11:39 EST (16:39 UTC). According to the Report of the Presidential Commission on the Space Shuttle Challenger Accident, weather conditions were likely one of the factors that contributed to the incident. Tests conducted during the subsequent investigation showed that O-rings were much less resilient at lower temperatures, but the extreme cold at the Kennedy Space Center was not the only weather factor involved with this tragedy. Wind shear aloft may have been a contributing factor as well with two different airstreams in the vicinity of the launch site of the Space Shuttle Challenger.
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In the wake of the major weekend winter storm, a very cold weather pattern is setting up in the Mid-Atlantic region, and it looks like it’ll be quite a memorable stretch both in terms of magnitude and duration. There may be record low temperatures in coming days as well as record low high temperatures; especially, in the period of the 29th to the 31st. In addition to the cold, there are signals for a powerful storm this weekend over the western Atlantic and it certainly can become a big-time snow producer for portions of the northeastern states.
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In the wake of the major winter storm, this week will be one of the coldest ever seen in these parts with overnight lows flirting with the 0-degree mark on multiple occasions. This will be quite a memorable stretch of cold weather both in terms of magnitude and duration. Note - the last time NYC recorded a temperature below zero was in February 2016…the winter full of ice storms. A long wave trough of low pressure has settled across the eastern US and this will allow several reinforcing shots of Arctic air. Looking ahead, there is the chance for another big weekend storm…something to monitor in coming days.
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In the wake of the major winter storm, this week will be one of the coldest ever seen in these parts with overnight lows flirting with the 0-degree mark on multiple occasions. This will be quite a memorable stretch of cold weather both in terms of magnitude and duration. Note - the last time Philly recorded a temperature below zero was in January 1994…the winter full of ice storms. A long wave trough of low pressure has settled across the eastern US and this will allow several reinforcing shots of Arctic air. Looking ahead, there is the chance for another big weekend storm…something to monitor in coming days.
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In the wake of the major winter storm, this week will be one of the coldest ever seen in these parts with overnight lows flirting with the 0-degree mark on multiple occasions. This will be quite a memorable stretch of cold weather both in terms of magnitude and duration. Note - the last time DC recorded a temperature below zero was in January 1994…the winter full of ice storms. A long wave trough of low pressure has settled across the eastern US and this will allow several reinforcing shots of Arctic air. Looking ahead, there is the chance for another big weekend storm…something to monitor in coming days.
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Temperatures plunged in the overnight hours as the latest in a series of Arctic air outbreaks spread eastward to the Mid-Atlantic region setting the stage for a major winter storm with big-time disruptions. This storm will bring significant snowfall to the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor and a changeover to sleet and freezing rain will exacerbate problems with an ice buildup in some areas, unfortunately, raising the chance of power outages. The precipitation lasts into early Monday, suggesting there will be travel impacts as the new work week begins. Bitter cold air will follow the storm with low temperatures likely flirting with the zero-degree mark in many spots along the I-95 corridor.
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A major winter storm is headed to the Mid-Atlantic region, and it will bring significant snowfall to the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor and there will be some icing as well. The stage will be set for the winter storm with the arrival of Arctic air into the Mid-Atlantic region in the overnight hours and it’ll remain below freezing throughout the weekend weather event. The icing would be predominately in the form of sleet; however, freezing rain can get involved in some areas which always raises a red flag for the potential of power outages due to an ice buildup. Bitter cold air will follow the storm with low temperatures likely flirting with the zero-degree mark next week even in the big cities.
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A major winter storm will affect the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend with significant snowfall and some icing is likely to take place as well. The stage will be set as the latest in a series of Arctic blasts swallows up much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation by later tonight. Despite the likelihood of some icing, this should turn out to be one of the biggest snowstorms in many years for the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor with estimates of 8-14 inches in most areas. The higher amounts in the snowfall accumulation range will be to the north and west (less icing) and the lower amounts will be to the south and east (more icing). Isolated higher amounts are possible in the far northern and western suburbs where icing is minimal or never develops at all.
In terms of the icing, sleet is likely to be the predominate form thankfully; however, there can be freezing rain in some areas which always raises the red flag for potential power outages due to an ice buildup. Snow should begin around midnight on Saturday night and precipitation can continue into early Monday morning meaning there can be impacts on travel conditions to start the new work week. Brutally cold air will follow the weekend storm and there is a possibility for another storm to deal with next weekend. (Note- the last time DC recorded a temperature below zero was in January 1994).
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A major winter storm will affect the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend with significant snowfall and some icing is likely to take place as well. The stage will be set as the latest in a series of Arctic blasts swallows up much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation by later tonight. Despite the likelihood of some icing, this should turn out to be one of the biggest snowstorms in many years for the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor with estimates of 8-14 inches in most areas. The higher amounts in the snowfall accumulation range will be to the north and west (less icing) and the lower amounts will be to the south and east (more icing). Isolated higher amounts are possible in the far northern and western suburbs where icing is minimal or never develops at all.
In terms of the icing, sleet is likely to be the predominate form thankfully; however, freezing rain cannot be ruled out which always raises the red flag for potential power outages due to an ice buildup. Snow should begin just after midnight on Saturday night and precipitation can continue into Monday morning meaning there can be impacts on travel conditions to start the new work week. Brutally cold air will follow the weekend storm and there is a possibility for another storm to deal with next weekend. (Note- the last time NYC recorded a temperature below zero was in February 2016).
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A major winter storm will affect the Mid-Atlantic region this weekend with significant snowfall and some icing is likely to take place as well. The stage will be set as the latest in a series of Arctic blasts swallows up much of the eastern two-thirds of the nation by later tonight. Despite the likelihood of some icing, this should turn out to be one of the biggest snowstorms in many years for the DC-to-Philly-to-NYC corridor with estimates of 8-14 inches in most areas. The higher amounts in the snowfall accumulation range will be to the north and west (less icing) and the lower amounts will be to the south and east (more icing). Isolated higher amounts are possible in the far northern and western suburbs where icing is minimal or never develops at all.
In terms of the icing, sleet is likely to be the predominate form thankfully; however, there can be freezing rain in some areas which always raises the red flag for potential power outages due to an ice build-up. Snow should begin around midnight on Saturday night and precipitation can continue into Monday morning meaning there can be impacts on travel conditions to start the new work week. Brutally cold air will follow the weekend storm and there is a possibility for another storm to deal with next weekend. (Note- the last time Philly recorded a temperature below zero was in January 1994).
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