November 2012 nor'easter
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{infobox storm
|name=November 2012 nor'easter
|type=Extratropical cyclone
Nor'easter
Winter storm
|formed=November 6, 2012
|dissipated=November 10, 2012
|RSI=
|maximum snow={{convert|13.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} in Monroe and Clintonville, Connecticut{{cite web |work=National Weather Service Office in Upton, New York |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |date=November 8, 2012 |access-date=November 8, 2012 |title=Public Information Statement: Spotter Reports |url=http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120812212023/http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/validProds.php?prod=PNS&node=KOKX |archive-date=August 12, 2012 }}
|1-min winds=65
|lowest pressure=984
|damages=
|power outages = >43,000
|areas affected=Southeastern United States, Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada, Bermuda
|image=WS_Athena_Nov_7_2012.jpg
|caption=The nor'easter on November 7, 2012 (UTC)
|partof = the 2012–13 North American winter
}}
The November 2012 nor'easter was a powerful nor'easter that brought significant early season snow to the Northeastern United States. Many of the areas hit by the storm had been affected by Hurricane Sandy days before, which further complicated recovery efforts.
Meteorological history
A mid-level shortwave over the Midwestern United States was moving eastward on November 6, just four days after Hurricane Sandy dissipated, toward a trough over the Southeastern United States, and into an area with abundant moisture and favorable conditions from the jet stream. The combination was favorable for a nor'easter to form,{{cite report |author=Krekeler |publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center |date=November 6, 2012 |title=Short Range Forecast Discussion |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216070418/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd&version=3&fmt=reg |archive-date=February 16, 2013 }} and on November 7, a strong low pressure area developed along the coast of North Carolina.{{cite report|author=Kong |publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Short Range Forecast Discussion |access-date=November 2, 2016 |url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108214051/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd |archive-date=November 8, 2012 }} At the time, there was an area of cold air inland the Mid-Atlantic States and New England that would allow the precipitation to fall as snow.{{cite report |author=Otto |publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Short Range Forecast Discussion |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url=http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130216070416/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/hpcdiscussions.php?disc=pmdspd&version=2&fmt=reg |archive-date=February 16, 2013 }} By November 8, the system drifting to the northeast, located about {{convert|90|mi|km|abbr=on}} south-southeast of Boston, Massachusetts, with a front extending northeastward to Nova Scotia. Its large circulation dropped rain and snow across the northeastern United States.{{cite report|author=Krekeler |date=November 8, 2012 |title=Storm Summary Number 1 for Early Season Nor'easter |publisher=Hydrometeorological Prediction Center |access-date=November 8, 2012 |url=http://www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/storm7/stormsum_1.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227001808/http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/discussions/nfdscc1.html |archive-date=December 27, 2012 |url-status=dead }}
Some areas within NYC, got close to a foot of snow across Western Long Island, including Eastern Queens County in a narrow snow band that set up because of the coastal front.{{cite web |publisher=NYC Area Weather |date=November 8, 2012 |title=November 7, 2012 storm summary |url=http://www.nycareaweather.com/2012/11/nov-7-2012-storm-summary/ |access-date=November 2, 2016}}
Preparation and Impact
Immediately after Hurricane Sandy made landfall, forecasters were already discussing the possibility of a nor'easter directly impacting New Jersey during the following week.{{cite news|title=NOR'EASTER THREATENS WEATHER-WEARY NJ, NY|url=http://bigstory.ap.org/article/noreaster-threatens-weather-weary-nj-ny#overlay-context=article/danger-increases-still-water-calls|agency=Associated Press|access-date=5 November 2012}} In preparation for the storm, coastal areas of New Jersey, New York, and Connecticut were advised to evacuate, with parts of Islip, New York, were under a mandatory evacuation.{{cite web|title=Nor'easter Evacuations for Some New York, New Jersey Residents|url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/noreaster-evacuations-york-jersey-residents/story?id=17662588#.UJp2zG_WIm9|work=ABC News|access-date=7 November 2012}} Before the nor'easter struck, officials recommended residents in low-lying areas of New York City to evacuate,{{cite news|author=Stephen Singer|date=November 7, 2012|title=Nor'easter brings new snow, wind to Conn.|newspaper=Boston Globe|access-date=November 7, 2012|url=http://www.boston.com/news/weather/2012/11/07/nor-easter-brings-new-snow-wind-conn/aG6OGdqwDCcnsaXMOc2PjL/story.html}} A portion of the Long Island Expressway was closed during the storm, and the Long Island Rail Road shut down, with Penn Station not allowing people to enter.[https://www.businessinsider.com/penn-station-closed-after-storm-2012-11?amp The Nor'easter Is Hitting NYC And Causing All Kinds Of Commuter Chaos], Business Insider, November 7, 2012 All state parks on Long Island were closed on November 7 and 8th, with some remaining closed afterwards due to damage from Hurricane Sandy.[https://woodallscm.com/new-york-state-parks-close-for-winter-storm/ New York State Parks Close for Winter Storm], Woodall Camping Magazine, November 8, 2012 Airlines canceled over 1,300 flights in or out of New York airports. Parks in New York City were closed, and construction was halted.{{cite news|agency=Associated Press |publisher=Fox News |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Nor'easter bears down on Sandy-battered NYC and New Jersey |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url=https://www.foxnews.com/us/noreaster-bears-down-on-sandy-battered-nyc-and-new-jersey |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121108153825/http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/07/sandy-battered-nyc-and-nj-prepare-for-noreaster/ |archive-date=November 8, 2012 |url-status=live }} In Nassau County, New York, more than 140 trucks put sand and salt on roads.{{cite news|author=William Murphy|author2=Ellen Yan|date=November 7, 2012|title=Nor'easter wreaks havoc on LI roads, rails|publisher=News Day|access-date=November 7, 2012|url=http://www.newsday.com/news/weather/nor-easter-wreaks-havoc-on-li-roads-rails-1.4197141}} Schools were closed in Connecticut. Due to sufficiently cool air and steady snowfall, the National Weather Service issued a winter storm warning.{{cite report |publisher=Mount Holly, New Jersey National Weather Service |date=November 7, 2012 |title=Area Forecast Discussion |access-date=November 7, 2012 |url=http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150223231513/http://forecast.weather.gov/product.php?site=NWS&issuedby=PHI&product=AFD&format=CI&version=9&glossary=0&highlight=off |archive-date=February 23, 2015 }} The New York Red Bulls had to postpone a Major League Soccer tournament game due to the snow.[https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/noreaster-forces-red-bulls-united-to-thursday/ Nor'easter Forces Red Bulls-United To Thursday], CBS New York, November 8, 2012
File:November 2012 nor'easter, Ashford, CT.jpg]]
Across New Jersey and New York, the storm dropped rain and snow in areas that sustained significant damage from Hurricane Sandy about ten days prior. Snowfall spread from New Jersey to Maine, peaking at {{convert|13.5|in|cm|abbr=on}} in Clintonville, Connecticut, and the highest associated rainfall total was {{convert|2.28|in|cm|abbr=on}} near Kingston, Massachusetts. Snowfall in Central Park reached {{convert|4.7|in|cm|abbr=on}}, which broke the daily record and also the record for the earliest date of more than {{convert|4|in|cm|abbr=on}} at the location. A daily snowfall record was also broken in Newark, New Jersey, with a total of {{convert|2|in|cm|abbr=on}},{{cite news |author=Miguel Llanos |author2=Ian Johnston |newspaper=NBC News |date=November 8, 2012 |title=Record snow, new power outages as storm slams Northeast |access-date=November 8, 2012 |url=http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/08/15016190-record-snow-new-power-outages-as-storm-slams-northeast?lite& |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121111053310/http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/08/15016190-record-snow-new-power-outages-as-storm-slams-northeast?lite& |archive-date=November 11, 2012 |url-status=dead }} while Bridgeport, Connecticut set a record for their biggest November snowstorm on record, with {{convert|8|in|cm|abbr=on}}.[https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/snow-leaves-2-12-inches/1919487/ Nor'easter Sets Snow Record], NBC Connecticut, November 8, 2012 The nor'easter also produced strong winds that peaked at {{convert|65|mph|km/h|abbr=on}} in Fairhaven, Massachusetts. High winds downed trees that were weakened by Sandy, some of which fell onto power lines. About 50,000 people lost power in the two states who had previously lost power after the hurricane. Along the coast, the storm produced {{convert|8|ft|m|abbr=on}} waves, and coastal roads were flooded. There were two traffic deaths in Connecticut that were related to the storm.
On November 8 as of 9 a.m. EST, around 715,000 eastern U.S. homes and businesses were without power. This is an increase of nearly 43,000 from 12 hours earlier, due to the effects of the storm.{{cite web|title=Some 715,000 without power Thurs after nor'easter, Sandy: Government|work=Yahoo! News |url=https://news.yahoo.com/715-000-without-power-thurs-noreaster-sandy-government-154706691.html|publisher=Yahoo News|access-date=November 8, 2012}} There were 167,000 power outages in New Jersey alone, and at least 50,000 on Long Island.
At 6 a.m. EST on November 9, about 265,000 New Jersey homes and businesses were without power because of Sandy and the nor'easter.{{cite web|title=Power outages continue to plague N.J. in wake of Sandy, nor'easter|date=9 November 2012 |url=http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2012/11/power_outages_continue_to_plag.html|publisher=NJ1|access-date=November 9, 2012}}
Name
{{See also|Winter storm naming in the United States}}
The Weather Channel dubbed this storm as "Winter Storm Athena," but this name was rejected by the National Weather Service.{{cite news|title=National Weather Service: Just say no to Athena|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/national-weather-service-just-say-no-to-athena/2012/11/07/2eee7154-28e8-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_blog.html|newspaper=Washington Post|access-date=November 7, 2012 |first=Jason|last=Samenow|date=November 7, 2012}} In response to the naming system, the National Weather Service announced on November 7, 2012, that it would not recognize the Weather Channel's names for winter storms, stating in a press release that "it does not use the name of winter storms in its products."{{cite news|title=Weather Channel names nor'easter, National Weather Service says not so fast |url=http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/07/weather-channel-names-noreaster-national-weather-service-says-not-so-fast/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121107233627/http://www.foxnews.com/weather/2012/11/07/weather-channel-names-noreaster-national-weather-service-says-not-so-fast/|url-status=dead|archive-date=November 7, 2012|publisher=FNC|access-date=November 7, 2012|date=November 7, 2012}}{{cite web|title=Winter Storm Athena Forecast Impacts|url=http://www.weather.com/news/weather-winter/noreaster-post-sandy-20121105|publisher=The Weather Channel|access-date=November 7, 2012}}
See also
{{Portal|Weather|United States|Canada}}