Observed Microphysical Evolution for Two East Coast Winter Storms and the Associated Snow Bands

Abstract

AbstractThis paper presents the observed microphysical evolution of two coastal extratropical cyclones (19–20 December 2009 and 12 January 2011) and the associated passage of heavy snowbands in the cyclone comma head. The observations were made approximately 93 km east of New York City at Stony Brook, New York. Surface microphysical measurements of snow habit and degree of riming were taken every 15–30 min using a stereo microscope and camera, and snow depth and snow density were also recorded. A vertically pointing Ku-band radar observed the vertical evolution of reflectivity and Doppler vertical velocities. There were rapid variations in the snow habits and densities related to the changes in vertical motion and depth of saturation. At any one time, a mixture of different ice habits was observed. Certain ice habits were dominant at the surface when the maximum vertical motion aloft occurred at their favored temperature for depositional growth. Convective seeder cells above 4 km MSL resulted in relatively cold (less than −15°C) ice crystal habits (side planes, bullets, and dendrites). Needlelike crystals were prevalent during the preband period when the maximum vertical motion was in the layer from −5° to −10°C. Moderately rimed dendritic crystals were observed at snowband maturity associated with the strongest frontogenetical ascent on the warm (east) side of the bands. Riming rapidly decreased and more platelike crystals became more numerous as the strongest ascent moved east of Stony Brook. Snow-to-liquid density ratios ranged from 8:1 to 13:1 in both events, except during the period of graupel, when the ratio was as low as 4:1.