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An investigation of thundersnow and deep snow accumulations
Author(s) -
Crowe Christina,
Market Patrick,
Pettegrew Brian,
Melick Chris,
Podzimek Josef
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2006gl028214
Subject(s) - snow , extratropical cyclone , environmental science , climatology , latitude , meteorology , physical geography , geology , geography , geodesy
A comparison of 30 years of hourly surface weather observations (1960–1991) from first‐order stations and 24‐hour snowfall data from climate network stations over the upper Midwestern United States reveals an indirect association between the relatively rare occurrence of thundersnow (<1 event yr −1 in this dataset) and the accumulation of significant 24‐hour snowfall (>15 cm) in 19 of 22 cases identified. Although no direct relationship is found between the location of thundersnow and the deepest 24‐hour snow totals, significant snow accumulations frequently occurred in proximity (<1° latitude) to thundersnow events. The presence of thundersnow tended to indicate a parent extratropical cyclone capable of producing significant snowfall totals; should thundersnow be anticipated, the operational meteorologist can have much greater confidence in forecasting deeper snow totals.