The December 5–6, 2020 nor'easter brought heavy snowfall, hurricane-force wind gusts, blizzard conditions, and coastal flooding to much of New England in the first few days of December 2020. The system originated on the Mid-Atlantic coast late on December 4. It then moved up the East Coast of the United States from December 5–6, bombing out and bringing heavy wet snow to the New England states. It brought up to 18 inches (46 cm) of snow in northern New England, with widespread totals of 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) farther south.
The nor'easter caused over 280,000 power outages, mostly in Maine, in addition to causing several injuries.[3] The system is estimated to have caused at least $25 million (2021 USD) in damage.[2] It was unofficially named Winter Storm Eartha by The Weather Channel.[4]
The nor'easter originated as a weak frontal system over Alabama late on December 4.[5] Several hours later, the system began to grow more organized, transitioning into an extratropical cyclone over North Carolina by 03:00 UTC on December 5.[6] The developing low-pressure exited the coast 6 hours later, with a minimum central pressure of 1,000 millibars (30 inHg).[7] After this point, the nor'easter began to undergo bombogenesis, reaching an initial central pressure of 984 millibars (29.1 inHg) off the coast of Rhode Island at 18:00 UTC that day.[8] After making landfall in Nantucket 3 hours later with a central pressure of 981 millibars (29.0 inHg),[9] the low-pressure strengthened further, reaching its peak intensity of 976 millibars (28.8 inHg) at 06:00 UTC on December 6 off the coast of Maine.[10] After slowly weakening for several hours that, it made landfall in New Brunswick at 18:00 UTC with a central pressure of 984 millibars (29.1 inHg).[11] The system weakened slightly over New Brunswick, but began to weaken faster after emerging into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence.[12] At 21:00 UTC on December 7, the weakening nor'easter made landfall in Newfoundland with a central pressure of 992 millibars (29.3 inHg).[13] After this point, the low-pressure began to rapidly weaken, with the system dissipating inland over Newfoundland the next day.[14]
Whiteout conditions and poor road conditions in Warren, Massachusetts, on the afternoon of December 5
In Connecticut, near-whiteout conditions were reported for prolonged periods on December 5, leading to numerous crashes on interstates. I-84 was closed in both directions from Tolland, Connecticut, to the Massachusetts state line for hours as a result of numerous crashes and a lack of snowplows.[4]
Massachusetts State Police lowered the speed limit to 40 mph on I-90 at noon on December 5 due to ongoing whiteout conditions on the roadways. A crash was reported on I-90 in Millbury a few hours later, prompting the closure of two lanes. Over 1,800 snow removal vehicles were deployed in Massachusetts to clear roads of snow and ice. Over 26,000 power outages resulted in Massachusetts, and several thousand of those were not restored until the next day. Dennis recorded a wind gust of 68 mph (109 km/h) on the afternoon of December 5.[3]
Northern New Englandedit
In New Hampshire, Mount Washington recorded the second-highest snow total during the storm with 17.9 inches (45 cm) falling there and the highest wind gust during the storm, with a peak wind gust of 105 mph (169 km/h). The state recorded over 60,000 power outages, and most were not restored until December 6 or 7.[3]
Carrabassett Valley, Maine, recorded the highest snowfall total during the storm, with a total of 18 in (46 cm). Meanwhile, Cranberry Isles reported sustained winds of 70 mph (110 km/h) during the height of the storm. Maine also had the highest number of power outages, with 210,000 customers being put without power and some outages lasting for days. Much of Maine also faced whiteout and near-blizzard conditions for prolonged periods of time, resulting in numerous crashes on roadways.[3]
^NWS Eastern Region [@NWSEastern] (December 4, 2020). "Latest snowfall & liquid precipitation forecasts for this weekend's nor'easter. Greatest uncertainty along the I-95 corridor from Boston-Portland-Bangor. Small eastward shift in the storm track could cause a band of heavy wet snow to pivot toward the coast Sat afternoon/evening" (Tweet). Retrieved September 9, 2021 – via Twitter.
^ ab(PDF). Aon Benfield. January 24, 2021. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-02. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
^ abcd"First nor'easter of the season blasts New England as bomb cyclone". Accuweather. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
^ ab. The Weather Channel. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/04/2020 at 18 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 4, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/05/2020 at 03 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/05/2020 at 09 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/05/2020 at 18 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/05/2020 at 21 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 5, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/06/2020 at 06 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 6, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/06/2020 at 18 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 6, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/07/2020 at 06 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 7, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/07/2020 at 21 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 7, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
^"WPC surface analysis valid for 12/08/2020 at 06 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 8, 2020. Retrieved April 25, 2021.
december, 2020, easter, brought, heavy, snowfall, hurricane, force, wind, gusts, blizzard, conditions, coastal, flooding, much, england, first, days, december, 2020, system, originated, atlantic, coast, late, december, then, moved, east, coast, united, states,. The December 5 6 2020 nor easter brought heavy snowfall hurricane force wind gusts blizzard conditions and coastal flooding to much of New England in the first few days of December 2020 The system originated on the Mid Atlantic coast late on December 4 It then moved up the East Coast of the United States from December 5 6 bombing out and bringing heavy wet snow to the New England states It brought up to 18 inches 46 cm of snow in northern New England with widespread totals of 6 12 inches 15 30 cm farther south December 5 6 2020 nor easterGOES 16 satellite imagery of the rapidly deepening nor easter impacting New England at 14 19 UTC 9 19 a m EST on December 5TypeExtratropical cycloneWinter stormNor easterBlizzardBomb cycloneFormedDecember 4 2020DissipatedDecember 8 2020Highest winds1 minute sustained 75 mph 120 km h Highest gust105 mph 169 km h at Mount Washington New HampshireLowest pressure976 mb 28 82 inHg Maximum snowfallor ice accretionSnow 18 in 46 cm at Carrabassett Valley MaineMaximum rainfall2 62 in 6 7 cm at Newport Rhode Island 1 FatalitiesNone reportedDamage gt 25 million 2021 USD 2 Power outages gt 280 000Areas affectedSoutheastern United States Northeastern United States Atlantic CanadaPart of the 2020 21 North American winterThe nor easter caused over 280 000 power outages mostly in Maine in addition to causing several injuries 3 The system is estimated to have caused at least 25 million 2021 USD in damage 2 It was unofficially named Winter Storm Eartha by The Weather Channel 4 Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Preparations and impact 2 1 Southern New England 2 2 Northern New England 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksMeteorological history edit nbsp Map plotting the storm s track and intensity according to the Saffir Simpson scaleMap keySaffir Simpson scale Tropical depression 38 mph 62 km h Tropical storm 39 73 mph 63 118 km h Category 1 74 95 mph 119 153 km h Category 2 96 110 mph 154 177 km h Category 3 111 129 mph 178 208 km h Category 4 130 156 mph 209 251 km h Category 5 157 mph 252 km h Unknown Storm type nbsp Tropical cyclone nbsp Subtropical cyclone nbsp Extratropical cyclone remnant low tropical disturbance or monsoon depressionThe nor easter originated as a weak frontal system over Alabama late on December 4 5 Several hours later the system began to grow more organized transitioning into an extratropical cyclone over North Carolina by 03 00 UTC on December 5 6 The developing low pressure exited the coast 6 hours later with a minimum central pressure of 1 000 millibars 30 inHg 7 After this point the nor easter began to undergo bombogenesis reaching an initial central pressure of 984 millibars 29 1 inHg off the coast of Rhode Island at 18 00 UTC that day 8 After making landfall in Nantucket 3 hours later with a central pressure of 981 millibars 29 0 inHg 9 the low pressure strengthened further reaching its peak intensity of 976 millibars 28 8 inHg at 06 00 UTC on December 6 off the coast of Maine 10 After slowly weakening for several hours that it made landfall in New Brunswick at 18 00 UTC with a central pressure of 984 millibars 29 1 inHg 11 The system weakened slightly over New Brunswick but began to weaken faster after emerging into the Gulf of Saint Lawrence 12 At 21 00 UTC on December 7 the weakening nor easter made landfall in Newfoundland with a central pressure of 992 millibars 29 3 inHg 13 After this point the low pressure began to rapidly weaken with the system dissipating inland over Newfoundland the next day 14 Preparations and impact editWinter Storm Warnings were issued on December 4 and 5 in advance of heavy wet snow and possible blizzard conditions across New England including both Boston and Portland Winter Weather Advisories were issued further south and High Wind Warnings were placed into effect on Cape Cod in anticipation of hurricane force wind gusts Southern New England edit nbsp Whiteout conditions and poor road conditions in Warren Massachusetts on the afternoon of December 5In Connecticut near whiteout conditions were reported for prolonged periods on December 5 leading to numerous crashes on interstates I 84 was closed in both directions from Tolland Connecticut to the Massachusetts state line for hours as a result of numerous crashes and a lack of snowplows 4 Massachusetts State Police lowered the speed limit to 40 mph on I 90 at noon on December 5 due to ongoing whiteout conditions on the roadways A crash was reported on I 90 in Millbury a few hours later prompting the closure of two lanes Over 1 800 snow removal vehicles were deployed in Massachusetts to clear roads of snow and ice Over 26 000 power outages resulted in Massachusetts and several thousand of those were not restored until the next day Dennis recorded a wind gust of 68 mph 109 km h on the afternoon of December 5 3 Northern New England edit In New Hampshire Mount Washington recorded the second highest snow total during the storm with 17 9 inches 45 cm falling there and the highest wind gust during the storm with a peak wind gust of 105 mph 169 km h The state recorded over 60 000 power outages and most were not restored until December 6 or 7 3 Carrabassett Valley Maine recorded the highest snowfall total during the storm with a total of 18 in 46 cm Meanwhile Cranberry Isles reported sustained winds of 70 mph 110 km h during the height of the storm Maine also had the highest number of power outages with 210 000 customers being put without power and some outages lasting for days Much of Maine also faced whiteout and near blizzard conditions for prolonged periods of time resulting in numerous crashes on roadways 3 See also edit nbsp Weather portal nbsp North America portalDecember 2009 North American blizzard December 17 22 2012 North American blizzard March 2014 nor easter January 2016 United States blizzard December 15 17 2020 nor easter 2021 Super Bowl Sunday nor easterReferences edit NWS Eastern Region NWSEastern December 4 2020 Latest snowfall amp liquid precipitation forecasts for this weekend s nor easter Greatest uncertainty along the I 95 corridor from Boston Portland Bangor Small eastward shift in the storm track could cause a band of heavy wet snow to pivot toward the coast Sat afternoon evening Tweet Retrieved September 9 2021 via Twitter a b Global Catastrophe Recap December 2020 PDF Aon Benfield January 24 2021 p 4 Archived from the original PDF on 2021 02 02 Retrieved March 6 2021 a b c d First nor easter of the season blasts New England as bomb cyclone Accuweather Retrieved December 8 2020 a b Nor easter Leaves Hundreds of Thousands Without Power in New England Videos from The Weather Channel weather com The Weather Channel Archived from the original on December 8 2020 Retrieved December 8 2020 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 04 2020 at 18 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 4 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 05 2020 at 03 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 5 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 05 2020 at 09 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 5 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 05 2020 at 18 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 5 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 05 2020 at 21 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 5 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 06 2020 at 06 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 6 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 06 2020 at 18 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 6 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 07 2020 at 06 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 7 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 07 2020 at 21 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 7 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 WPC surface analysis valid for 12 08 2020 at 06 UTC Weather Prediction Center December 8 2020 Retrieved April 25 2021 External links edit2020 Storm Summaries from the Weather Prediction Center Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title December 5 6 2020 nor 27easter amp oldid 1198217687, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
