April 2007 Nor'easter

Infobox winter storm|name=Spring Nor'easter of 2007
image location=0704161533G12I01mod2.jpg


stormtype=Nor'easter
date formed=April 14 2007
date dissipated=April 17 2007
maximum amount=23.0 inches (58.42 centimeters)
pressure=969 mbar (hPa)cite web|author=NWC|title=Spring 2007 Nor'easter|year=2007|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-01-21|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/Past/2007/Apr_15-16_2007/Apr_15-16_2007.htm]
total damages (USD)= over 2 million [ [http://governor.vermont.gov/tools/index.php?topic=GovPressReleases&id=2424&v=Article FEMA Approves Federal Disaster Declaration for Vermont] ; May 4 2007, State of Vermont; Retrieved March 14 2008]
total fatalities=at least 18
areas affected=East Coast of the United States, eastern Canada

The April or Spring Nor’easter of 2007 was a nor'easter that affected mainly the eastern parts of North America during its four day course April 14 to April 17 2007. The combined effects of high winds, heavy rainfall, and high tides led to flooding, storm damages, power outages, and evacuations, and disrupted traffic and commerce. In the north, heavy wet snow caused the loss of power for several thousands of homes in Ontario and Quebec. The storm caused at least 18 fatalities.

Meteorological synopsis

The storm that would become the April 2007 Nor'easter started in the southwestern United States as an upper-level disturbance in the jetstream, on April 13.cite web|author=NWC|title=Spring 2007 Nor'easter|year=2007|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-01-21|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/Past/2007/Apr_15-16_2007/Apr_15-16_2007.htm] It brought high wind and fire danger to California, Nevada, New Mexico and Arizona. The storm then moved out into the southern Plains States, bringing heavy snow to Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas. Heavy rain and severe thunderstorms, with hail, wind, and tornadoes, affected parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, and the Carolinas. The storm then moved across the Mid-Atlantic States, and into the Atlantic Ocean, following the East Coast. The storm then rapidly intensified into a major nor'easter, with the warm waters of the Gulf Stream. The storm stalled just offshore from New York City and continued to strengthen. The lowest barometric pressure recorded was 968 millibars (28.58 in Hg), equivalent to that of a moderate category 2 hurricane.cite web|author=NWC|title=Spring 2007 Nor'easter|year=2007|publisher=NOAA|accessdate=2008-01-21|url=http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/Past/2007/Apr_15-16_2007/Apr_15-16_2007.htm]

Impact

The National Weather Service reported 7.57 inches (192 mm) of rain in Central Park by midnight of April 15, the second heaviest rainfall in 24 hours on record, and indicated that this storm caused the worst flooding since Hurricane Floyd in 1999.cite web| url= http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/16/nyregion/16storm.html?_r=1&oref=slogin| title=East Coast Storm Breaks Rainfall Records| author=Robert McFadden | publisher = New York Times | date=2007-04-16 | accessdate = 2007-04-26] Major airports in the New York area resumed flights on April 16, after having had to cancel over 500 flights before. Local rail and transit lines reported delays and cancellations affecting the MTA, NJ Transit, LIRR, Metro-North Railroad. Power failures affected several thousand people.

On April 16 2007, the storm caused sustained winds of nearly 100 mph (87 knots) on, and near New Hampshire's Mount Washington, with gusts topping out at 156 mph (136 knots). [ [http://www.mountwashington.org/news/release.php?id=17 Patriot's Day Storm Packs a 156-mph Punch.] Mount Washington Observatory. Retrieved on 2007-04-26]

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thumb|left|NorApril 16 2007 ] While areas closer to the shore received heavy rainfall, higher regions inland received unseasonal snow. [ [http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070417/OPINION01/70416007/1018/OPINION A spring to remember] Rutland Herald (April 17 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-30] Several towns suffered from flooding including Mamaroneck in New York, and Bound Brook and Manville in New Jersey, while coastal towns had to deal with damage from high tides. Most major highways in Westchester County, New York were closed on April 15 and April 16 due to extreme flooding. In Quebec, several regions including the Laurentians and the Charlevoix regions received in excess of 6 inches (15 cm) of snow with areas exceeding well above 1 foot (30 cm) of snow. In the city of Ottawa, 17 cm (5 in) of heavy wet snow fell in just a few hours causing power lines and trees to fall down causing scattered blackouts in several parts of the city. [ [http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=46334f84-3568-4ec3-bd79-fd1832fea92b&k=65206 Heavy snow brings cancellations, frustration.] Ottawa Citizen (April 16 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-26] Similar damage was reported in the higher elevations north of Montreal and Ottawa. In total, more than 175,000 homes in Canada suffered a power outage, including 160,000 Hydro-Québec customers mainly in areas from Gatineau towards Quebec City including Montreal, Lanaudière and the Laurentians with an additional 15,000 Hydro One and Hydro Ottawa customers. [ [http://www.cbc.ca/canada/story/2007/04/16/spring-storm-mon.html More than 100,000 without power as storm hits Ontario, Quebec.] CBC News (April 16 2007). Retrieved on 2007-04-26] In the US over a quarter million homes lost power with New York and Pennsylvania being the hardest hit states due to the strong winds. Governor Eliot Spitzer of New York activated 3,200 members of the National Guard on alert. Richard Codey, acting governor of New Jersey, declared a state of emergency. [cite web |url= http://www.thnt.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070416/NEWS/70416009 |title=Storm brings evacuations, road closings in New Jersey
publisher= Home News Tribune |work = Associated Press | date = 2007-04-16 | accessdate = 2007-04-26] The storm was blamed for several fatalities, including one person in a tornado in South Carolina, two people in storm-related traffic accidents in New York and Connecticut,cite web |url= http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=3044325 | title= 3 Deaths blamed on East Coast Storm| publisher = abcnews.go.com | author= Karen Matthews |date=2007-04-16 | accessdate = 2007-04-26] two people in West Virginia, three people in New Jersey,cite news |title=Storm damage pegged at $180M |author= Lorin, Janet Frankston (AP writer)| publisher= Home News Tribune | date=2007-04-26] and prior to its arrival in the East, five deaths in Kansas and Texas. In Quebec, an accident between a van and a tractor trailer killed five occupants of the van in a highway north of Montreal. [ [http://lcn.canoe.com/infos/faitsdivers/archives/2007/04/20070417-082752.html Le tragique accident a fait cinq victimes.] LCN Quebecor media, April 17 2007. fr_icon Retrieved on 2007-04-27.] Numerous other accidents were reported by OPP and the Sûreté du Québec during the storm.The Boston Marathon took place in what many considered to be the worst weather in its 110 year history. Race officials held serious talks about whether or not to cancel the race. [ [http://www.boston.com/sports/other_sports/running/articles/2008/04/13/the_marathon_they_almost_canceled/?page=1 The Marathon They Almost Canceled - The Boston Globe ] ] The men's race had the slowest winning time in thirty years (1977). In the women's race, " [t] he rainy and windy conditions led to the slowest winning time since 1985". [ [http://www.bostonmarathon.org/2007/cf/Public/Commentary.htm 111th Boston Marathon Race Day Commentary.] Boston Athletic Association. Retrieved on 2007-05-02]

High winds during the storm prevented emergency medical services from using helicopters for evacuation of the injured at the Virginia Tech massacre.cite news | author = Holley, Joe | url = http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/16/AR2007041600826.html?hpid=topnews | title = Students Recount Shootings | publisher = Washington Post | date = 2007-04-16 | accessdate = 2007-05-02]

The Internal Revenue Service delayed by two days the deadline for tax filing for victims of the nor'easter. [cite press release | url= http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=169523,00.html | title = IRS Gives April 16 Storm Victims Additional 48 Hours to File Income Tax Returns | publisher = Internal Revenue Service | date = 2007-04-16 |accessdate = 2007-04-26]

While filing for federal disaster relief, acting governor Codey of New Jersey indicated that the storm caused $180 million in property damage in New Jersey, making it the second-worst rain storm in its history, after Hurricane Floyd.

Tornado table

Confirmed tornadoes

April 13 event

ee also

* Winter storms of 2006-07
* Tornadoes of 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/aly/Past/2007/Apr_15-16_2007/Apr_15-16_2007.htm Albany, NY National Weather Service Station Storm Summary]
* [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/okx/pns/04162007.txt Upton, NY National Weather Service Storm Summary]
* [http://www.erh.noaa.gov/er/bgm/WeatherEvents/Snow/april162007/april162007.shtml Binghamton, NY National Weather Service Storm Summary ]
* [http://journals.aol.com/monponsett/HighAboveCourtside/entries/2007/04/17/april-noreaster-the-beast-of-the-east/1741 Duxbury, Massachusetts storm photos ]