DOCSLIB.ORG

The Winter Season December 1, 1982-February 28, 1983

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
The Winter Season December 1, 1982-February 28, 1983 CONTINENTAL SURVEY The Winter Season December 1, 1982--February 28, 1983 Abbreviations frequently used in Regional Reports ad.: adult, Am.: American, c.: central, C: Celsius, CBC: Reservoir, not Reservation,R.: River, S.P.: State Park, sp.: Christmas Bird Count, Cr.: Creek, Com.: Common, Co.: species,spp.: speciesplural, ssp.: subspecies,Twp.: Town- County, Cos.: Counties,et al.: and others,E.: Eastern(bird ship, W.: Western(bird name), W.M.A.: Wildlife Manage- name),Eur.: European,Eurasian, F: Fahrenheit,fide:reported ment Area, v.o.: various observers, N,S,W,E,: direction of by, F.&W.S.: Fish& Wildlife Service,Ft.: Fort, imm.: imma- motion, n., s., w., e.,: direction of location, >: more than, <: ture, 1.: lsland,Is.: Islands,Isles, Jct.: Junction,juv.: juvenile, fewerthan, +: approximately,or estimatednumber, c•: male, L.: Lake, m.ob.: manyobservers, Mt.: Mountain, Mts.: Moun- q?:female, 0: imm.or female,*: specimen,ph.: photographed, tains, N.F.: National Forest, N.M.: National Monument, ?: documented,ft: feet, mi: miles, m: meters,kin: kilometers, N.P.: National Park, N.W.R.: Nat'l Wildlife Refuge, N.: date with a + (e.g., Mar. 4+): recordedbeyond that date. Northern(bird name), Par.: Parish,Pen.: Peninsula,P.P.: Pro- Editorsmay also abbreviateoften-cited locations or organiza- vincial Park, Pt.: Point, not Port, Ref.: Refuge, Res.: tions. NORTHEASTERN MARITIME REGION /Richard S. Heil This wasthe year that winter largely passed us by in the Northeast. Decemberand early Januaryaveraged exceptionally mild and bare groundand open water were the rolerather than the exceptions.As a result,waterfowl and gullslingered in the northand inlandin good numbers,while passerinesapparently remained widely dispersed throughoutthe Region, rotbet than concentrating at feeders or in shel- teredthickets. It would be an understatementto say that mostboreal irruptiveswere scarce--many were virtually nonexistent. Threemajor storms did passthrough. The firsttwo, on January15- 16, andFebruary 6-7, resultedin snowin the northand interior, but precipitatedmostly as rain on the southeastern coastal plain. The big- geststorm of thewinter was a Nor'easter,accompanied by galeforce winds,February 11-12, that trekked up the coastdumping up to two feet of snowin somecoastal areas of southernNew England,and a foot of snow in Nova Scotia. Twoperiods of strongS-SW airflow in advanceof approachingcold fronts December 1-7, and December 24-25 resulted in a number of reversemigrants being discovered during or immediatelyfollowing theseweather patterns: The first brought Newfoundland its first provin- cialrecord for HouseWren, a Blue-grayGnatcatcher, and a Black-and- white Warbler;a TennesseeWarbler in Nova Scotia;a Black-throated for the innerBay of Fundy. At Plum I., Mass., calm seasallowed for Blue Warbler and an American Redstart in Massachusetts;and a Nash- the carefulobservation of an Eared Grebe Jan.28 (RSH, JS). While a ville Warbler in Connecticut. The second incursion of mild air was Pied-billedGrebe on the St. Johns,Nfld. CBC, Dec. 26 wassurprising, followedclosely by observationsof Ash-throatedFlycatcher, Say's one (same?)there Feb. 10 was totallyunexpected and at leasta month Phoebe,and WesternTanager in Massachusetts. beyondany other provincialrecord (PL, BM). The universalcomplaint heard throughout most of theRegion, how- ever,was of thelack of interestingrarities this winter. Further attesting GANNET, CORMORANTS -- Unusual numbersof Gannetswere to a generallylow speciesdiversity was a New EnglandCBC totalof apparentalong the Maine coastthrough December, and 15 on 5 New only 195 species,the poorestsince 1976-77. BrunswickCBCs was unprecedented, there being only oneprior CBC occurrence there. The increase of Double-crested Cormorant as a LOONS, GREBES-- Two W. Grebes,both first reported during the breederin the Region, in conjunctionwith the mild winter, no doubt fall, wintered,including the now annualindividual at Indian Pt., contributedto the remarkableNew EnglandCBC total of 114, with a Georgetown,Me., andanother at Duxbury,Mass. A Corn.Loon and high of 58 at the traditionalThames R. siteon the New London,Conn. four Red-neckedGrebes lingering at QuabbinRes., as late asJan. 22 CBC. Two were at Brier I., as late asJan. 15 (SIT), for one of few Nova (SS) wereindicative of the availabilityof openwater this winter. A Scotia mid-winter records, and at least three survived the entire winter HornedGrebe off Pt. Wolfe, FundyN.P., N.B., wastermed unusual at Newburyport. Vol. 37, Number3 279 HERONS-- Not surprisingly,more Great Blue Herons were found was recordedon the L'Anse-aux-Meadowsand St AnthonyCBCs, inland than usual while the best coastal count this w•nter was of 50 at while Gyrsfarther s. •ncludedthree •n New Brunswick,three •n Ver- NantucketI., Jan. 1. Lingeringherons well beyondnormal departure mont,and a light-phasebird at Milford Pt., Conn.,Feb. 23-Mar. 2 (fide datesincluded a GreenHeron on the S. Kingston,R.I. CBC, Dec. 26; a HFC). In Massachusetts,a Peregrine Falcon at SouthwickJan. 12 (PT) L•ttle Blue at Marshfield throughDecember; a Cattle Egret observed wasa goodfind inlandat thatseason, as was a Merlin at HatfieldFeb feedingon worms at Nashawena I., Mass.,Dec. 31 (fideJ. Hatch)and 26 (DS). a Great Egret at Pawtucket,R.I., Dec. 30-Jan. 8 (fide DLE). Six SHOREBIRDS-- A very late SemipalmatedPlover at Marble- SnowyEgrets were presentin Connecticutand RhodeIsland during head,Mass., Jam t 6-18 (JS,RSH) wascritically separated from possi- December,with a singlebird holdingon at Galileeto Jan. t (RAC). ble C. hiaticulaby toe-webbingand voice. Three Com. Snipe still Not all herons faired well this winter, however; in New Brunswick a presentat St. Johns, Nfld., Feb. 19 were expectedto survive the weakenedAm. Bitternpicked up at SackvilleJan. 20, expiredshortly remainderof the winter(BM). Of evengreater fortitude was a Spotted thereafter.If the numberof Black-crownedNight Heronsattempting to Sandpiperobserved at Congamond,Mass., Dec. 29 (SK), providinga w•nterin New Englandjs at all relativeto thebreeding population, then first-winterrecord for w. Massachusetts.Twenty-three Greater Yel- the speciesis clearlyhaving difficulties. only 16 individualswere lowlegswere recorded on 6 s. NewEngland CBCs, but only tWO b•rds foundon the New EnglandCBCs this year, and the recordsshow an lingeredinto February, at Orleans,Mass. (BN). A LesserYellowlegs almoststeady decline over at leastthe last 8 years(from 188in 1974- wasidentified in directcomparison with severalGreaters on theWest- 75). port,Conn. CBC, Dec. t 9 (FM). A RedKnot at Cape Tormenfine Dec 24 wasbelieved to havefurnished the latest record for New Brunswick, WATERFOWL-- Whistling Swans this winter included three at while a flock of 76 still at Marshfield,Mass., Dec. 26 wasmore than P•ttsfield,Mass., Nov. i4-Dec. 2 (fideSK); a flockof sixat Martha's usual.A verytardy Least Sandpiper identified by voiceat w. Harw•ch VineyardJan. t; two at Nantucketthroughout January; and singles at Dec. 4 (BN) providedonly the secondDecember record for Massachu- New HavenDec. 18, andIpswich, Mass., Dec. 30-Jan.5, whenfound setts. Single, calling Long-billed Dowitchers,not quite,the w•nter dead(fide JS). With muchfresh-water open during the greater portion rarityit oncewas, weredescribed on theMid CapeCod CBC, Dec 26 of thewinter, many species of waterfowlfelt no particularinducement (BN) and on the Stratford-MilfordCBC, Jan. 1. to migrateS, anda numberof extralimitalwinter records occurred. In w Massachusetts,ten Gadwallin Decemberand January •vas consid- GULLS,TERNS -- Twogulls suspected ofbeing Glaucous x Her- eredhighly unusual (fide SK). SeventeenBlue-winged Teal on 7 re- ring hybridswere a first-winterbird at Gloucester,Mass., Dec 1 gmnalCBCs, with two birdsas far n. as GlaceBay, N.S., Dec. 29 (RSH),and a second-winterbird at St. Johns,Nfld., Feb.15 (PL, BM) (CBC),was perhaps a record high. Six Eur. Wigeon at asmany sepa- Daily estimatesof the numberof IcelandGulls in St. JohnsHarbour rate localities from Nova Scotia to Connecticut was more than usual. rangedfrom 500-2200, adults outnumbering immatures, two or threeto Scarcevagrants to Newfoundland,single Am. Wigeonwere present at one and includingno definiteglaucoides individuals (PL, BM) St JohnsNov. 30-Dec. 7, and on the CapeRace CBC, Dec. 22 (fide S.A. BM). A Canvasbackw!ntering at Auburn,Me., untilat leastDec. 30 Muchconfusion still existsconcerning the distributionand wasnoteworthy (fide WCT). In RhodeIsland, 19 HarlequinDucks at identificationof the IcelandGull subspeciesin theRegion; L. g SachuestPt., Dec. 10 (fideDLE) wasone more than last year, while at glaucoidesof Greenlandand L. g. kumlieni of Baffin I., and least20 werepresent along the Massachusetts coast in Decembe[.The adjacentareas. We here in the Northeastsee ad. IcelandGulls traditionalwintering locality at then. endof Isleau Haut, Me., hosteda with primaries varying from seeminglywhite, through all remarkable150 + Mar. 6 (PDV). Raremigrants in theinterior of New shadesof gray (vastmajority) to black or nearly so. Becauseof England,a few lingeringOldsquaws and Red-breastedMergansers frequentimpressions by many observersthat kumlieni is the werefound inland in December.Coastally, the concentration atOld- rarerof the 2 forms, it mustbe re-emphasizedthat this is defi- squawsat Nantucketwas estimatedat 81,525 on the CBC, Jan. t nitelynot thecase; L. g. kumlieniis thepredominant form in the (easilya NorthAmerican CBC high);the 33,315 Com. Eider in those Northeast.If the nominateform occursat
Load more

Recommended publications
  • February 2021: Extreme Cold, Snow, and Ice in the South Central U.S
    NASA/NOAA NASA/NOAA FEBRUARY 2021: EXTREME COLD,SNOW, AND ICE IN THE SOUTH CENTRAL U.S. APRIL 2021 | DARRIAN BERTRAND AND SIMONE SPEIZER SUGGESTED CITATION Bertrand, D. and S. Speizer, 2021: February 2021: Extreme Cold, Snow, and Ice in the South Central U.S. Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program, 30 pp. http://www.southernclimate.org/documents/Feb2021ExtremeCold.pdf. TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 2 6 INTRODUCTION WEATHER RECORDS & PATTERN CLIMATOLOGY 15 19 ENERGY WATER 10 15 19 20 HEALTH INFRASTRUCTURE COMPARISON IMPACTS TO HISTORIC 21 22 EVENTS ECONOMY ENVIRONMENT 23 SOCIETY 24 25 26 LOCAL HAZARD SUMMARY REFERENCES MITIGATION SUCCESSES PAGE | 01 INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION February 2021’s weather was a wild ride for many across the U.S. Many records were broken from a strong arctic blast of cold air that extended south of the Mexico border, and wintry precipitation covered much of the country. While the extent of the winter storm traversed coast to coast, this summary will cover the Southern Climate Impacts Planning Program (SCIPP) region of Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana (Fig. 1). We'll be diving into the weather pattern, records, the Figure 1. SCIPP Region context of this event relative to climatology, past historic events, impacts, and hazard mitigation successes. EVENTHIGHLIGHTS Extreme Cold Temperature and Snow: Nearly 3,000 long-term temperature records were broken/tied in February in the SCIPP region. All 120 OK Mesonet stations were below 0°F at the same time for the first time. Some areas were below freezing for nearly 2 weeks. This was the coldest event in the region in over 30 years.
    [Show full text]
  • Coastal Hazards Primers
    Coastal Hazards Primers Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Flooding .................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Background ......................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Flood Mapping .................................................................................................................................................................... 2 Flood Management ........................................................................................................................................................... 2 Flood Mitigation .................................................................................................................................................................. 2 Flood Response and Recovery ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Wind ........................................................................................................................................................................................... 3 Background ........................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • February 2021 Historical Winter Storm Event South-Central Texas
    Austin/San Antonio Weather Forecast Office WEATHER EVENT SUMMARY February 2021 Historical Winter Storm Event South-Central Texas 10-18 February 2021 A Snow-Covered Texas. GeoColor satellite image from the morning of 15 February, 2021. February 2021 South Central Texas Historical Winter Storm Event South-Central Texas Winter Storm Event February 10-18, 2021 Event Summary Overview An unprecedented and historical eight-day period of winter weather occurred between 10 February and 18 February across South-Central Texas. The first push of arctic air arrived in the area on 10 February, with the cold air dropping temperatures into the 20s and 30s across most of the area. The first of several frozen precipitation events occurred on the morning of 11 February where up to 0.75 inches of freezing rain accumulated on surfaces in Llano and Burnet Counties and 0.25-0.50 inches of freezing rain accumulated across the Austin metropolitan area with lesser amounts in portions of the Hill Country and New Braunfels area. For several days, the cold air mass remained in place across South-Central Texas, but a much colder air mass remained stationary across the Northern Plains. This record-breaking arctic air was able to finally move south into the region late on 14 February and into 15 February as a strong upper level low-pressure system moved through the Southern Plains. As this system moved through the region, snow began to fall and temperatures quickly fell into the single digits and teens. Most areas of South-Central Texas picked up at least an inch of snow with the highest amounts seen from Del Rio and Eagle Pass extending to the northeast into the Austin and San Antonio areas.
    [Show full text]
  • How to Prepare for a Winter Storm
    Hurricane Safety Tips The 2015 hurricane season will be one of the quietest seasons since the mid 20th century, according to Dr. Phillip J. Klotzbach, leader of tropical forecasting, from Colorado State University. The numbers: 7 named storms, 3 hurricanes, and 1 major hurricane (category 3 or higher). It appears quite likely that an El Nino of at least moderate strength will develop this summer and fall. The tropical and subtropical Atlantic is quite cool at present. He anticipates a below-average probability for major hurricanes making landfall along the United States coastline and in the Caribbean. Despite the forecast for below- average activity, coastal residents are reminded that it only takes one hurricane making landfall to make it an active season for them. People should prepare the same for every season, regardless of how much activity is predicted. Even though a below-average season is expected, it is worth noting that Hurricane Andrew, a category 5 storm that devastated Florida in 1992, occurred in an inconsequential year with only 7 storms for the season. For your information, a tropical storm has sustained winds of 39 mph; it becomes a hurricane when its winds reach 74 mph. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1and lasts until November 30. The following names will be used for named storms that form in the Atlantic Ocean in 2015. The first name to be used this season is Ana, followed by Bill, Claudette, Erika, Fred, Grace, Henri, Ida, Joaquin, Kate, Larry, Mindy, Nicholas, Odette, Peter, Rose, Sam, Teresa, Victor, and Wanda. What is a hurricane? A hurricane is a type of tropical cyclone, the general term for all circulating weather systems over tropical waters.
    [Show full text]
  • ESSENTIALS of METEOROLOGY (7Th Ed.) GLOSSARY
    ESSENTIALS OF METEOROLOGY (7th ed.) GLOSSARY Chapter 1 Aerosols Tiny suspended solid particles (dust, smoke, etc.) or liquid droplets that enter the atmosphere from either natural or human (anthropogenic) sources, such as the burning of fossil fuels. Sulfur-containing fossil fuels, such as coal, produce sulfate aerosols. Air density The ratio of the mass of a substance to the volume occupied by it. Air density is usually expressed as g/cm3 or kg/m3. Also See Density. Air pressure The pressure exerted by the mass of air above a given point, usually expressed in millibars (mb), inches of (atmospheric mercury (Hg) or in hectopascals (hPa). pressure) Atmosphere The envelope of gases that surround a planet and are held to it by the planet's gravitational attraction. The earth's atmosphere is mainly nitrogen and oxygen. Carbon dioxide (CO2) A colorless, odorless gas whose concentration is about 0.039 percent (390 ppm) in a volume of air near sea level. It is a selective absorber of infrared radiation and, consequently, it is important in the earth's atmospheric greenhouse effect. Solid CO2 is called dry ice. Climate The accumulation of daily and seasonal weather events over a long period of time. Front The transition zone between two distinct air masses. Hurricane A tropical cyclone having winds in excess of 64 knots (74 mi/hr). Ionosphere An electrified region of the upper atmosphere where fairly large concentrations of ions and free electrons exist. Lapse rate The rate at which an atmospheric variable (usually temperature) decreases with height. (See Environmental lapse rate.) Mesosphere The atmospheric layer between the stratosphere and the thermosphere.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Weather Terminology
    Winter Weather Terminology Watch is issued when the risk of a hazardous winter weather event has increased, but its occurrence, location, and/or timing is still uncertain. Warning or Advisory is issued when a hazardous winter weather event is occurring, is imminent, or has a high probability of occurrence. A warning is used when there is a threat to life or property. An advisory is for less serious conditions that cause inconvenience, and, if caution is not used, could lead to situations that may threaten life or property. Snow criteria for a warning is 6 inches or more in 12 hours or less, OR, 8 inches or more in 24 hours or less. Snow criteria for an advisory is 3 to 5 inches. Winter Storm Warnings and Winter Weather Advisories may be issued for a combination of elements like snow coupled with wind and blowing snow, or snow coupled with sleet and freezing rain. Sleet is pellets of ice. Sleet bounces when it hits the ground. Freezing Rain is rain that freezes when it hits the ground or objects on the ground. It forms a sheet or glaze of ice. Ice Storm is used to describe occasions when the ice from freezing rain is significant enough (1/4 inch thick or more) to cause damage. Blizzard is a storm with winds of 35 mph or higher AND visibility frequently below 1/4 mile in snow and/or blowing snow AND these conditions last three (3) hours or longer. There is no set temperature requirement for a blizzard. Wind Chill is that part of the cooling of a human body caused by moving air.
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Weather Definitions and Terms
    Definitions of Winter Weather Terms used by the National Weather Service As winter approaches, you should understand winter weather terms and be aware of winter weather hazards. The National Weather Service uses several terms to tell you exactly what kind of weather to expect, please review the terms below to familiarize yourself with them. 1) WINTER STORM OUTLOOK This is a statement issued when there is a chance of a major winter storms from 3 to 5 days in the future. This is meant to assist people with their long range plans. However, since the outlook is issued so far in advance, the accuracy of the prediction may be limited. 2) WINTER STORM WATCH This means there may be hazardous winter weather due to various elements such as heavy snow, sleet, or ice accumulation from freezing rain. In our region, heavy snow means 7 inches or more of accumulation in 24 hours or less. A "WATCH" is a long range prediction. They are issued at least 12 hours before the hazardous winter weather is expected to begin. When the storm becomes imminent, or has a high probability of occurring, the watch will be upgraded to a "WARNING". 3) WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW Seven inches or more of snow will fall within a 24 hour period. 4) WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SEVERE ICING Heavy accumulation of ice due to freezing rain will down trees and power lines. Electricity, or telephone communications, may be out for a long period of time. Roads may become impassable for most vehicles. 5) BLIZZARD WARNING This is issued for a combination of strong winds averaging or frequently gusting to, or above, 35 miles an hour and very low visibility due to blowing or falling snow.
    [Show full text]
  • Year in Crisis Review Infographic RH 120417V9
    Home Moments Notifications Messages #AYearInCrisis2017 #AYearInCrisis2017 @FirestormSol 2017 Top Photos Videos News Broadcast Violent Crises > > 2017 – A Recap Fort Lauderdale Shooting|January 6, 2017 Firestorm Solutions Location: Hollywood International Airport in Broward, Florida @FirestormSol Crises appeared in every I am concerned about form during 2017, including: my ability to respond acts of terrorism, workplace effectively in an Active and school violence, natural Shooter situation: disasters and cybersecurity. The question is notif a crisis will strike your organization in the future, but rather when. How your organiza- 50% responded they were tion prepares for disaster will very concerned determine the financial, human and operational impacts. A year has passed; > what has your organization Firestorm Solutions learned in the last 365 days? @FirestormSol The people in our organization would never do anything unethical Trends for you > that might jeopardize the survival United Airlines of the company: #Firestorm April 9, 2017 #CrisisCoach United Airlines passenger on a 39% unsure Kentucky-bound flight at Chicago #Crisis O’Hare International Airport was Firestorm Solutions 33% dragged off overbooked flight... false #Risk @FirestormSol Learn More: https://goo.gl/Dfcrcs Firestorm believes that a culture of 28% #CrisisManagement preparedness is the foundation of true success. Such a culture centers your #PR organization on... #CrisisCommunication > Laclede Gas Employees Shot|April 20, 2017 > Firestorm Solutions Plans at Work Location: Hamilton Heights Neighborhood in St. Louis, Missouri @FirestormSol Florida sheriff's department foil Does your organization alleged mass shooting plot at have a documented and middle school in Orlando, trained program to identify Florida. behaviors of concern Two teenagers were arrested for before violence? allegedly planning an orchestrat- ed mass shooting..
    [Show full text]
  • Severe Storms and Winter Storms
    Severe Storms and Winter Storms The WSU All-Hazards Mitigation Plan has identified severe storms as the number one threat to the Pullman campus. Local weather events that could happen consists of: Wind storms happen often in the Northwest, with local wind speeds recorded into the 80 mph range causing widespread damage. Thunderstorms are common in Eastern Washington and in the Palouse. These can be accompanied by brief, heavy rains that can cause flash flooding, lightning and localized microburst winds that can be very damaging. Lightning-caused wildfires occur regularly in the area, notably recent wildfires across the state. Tornadoes are rare events in the Northwest, but they can happen anywhere. A tornado actually damaged buildings on campus in 1928. Hail is produced by many strong thunderstorms. Hail sizes can range from pea to softball size, becoming very dangerous and destructive to vegetation and property. Hail storms happen frequently in this area. Winter storms may be the most common severe weather Pullman encounters. Even during mild years, Pullman can be struck with extreme cold, wind and snow. While a severe storm can strike anytime of the year, severe storms during winter months are a common occurrence in the inland northwest. WSU plans and prepares for these weather events and strives to remain open during severe storms to maintain operations and academic continuity. Occasionally, conditions are severe enough that normal functioning of the university will be impacted and can grind the whole city to a halt, shutting down roads and public transportation. Please consider the following when preparing for severe storms: Before A Storm Be Aware.
    [Show full text]
  • Witchcraft: the Formation of Belief – Part Two
    TMM6 8/30/03 5:37 PM Page 122 6 Witchcraft: the formation of belief – part two In the previous chapter we examined how motifs drawn from traditional beliefs about spectral night-traveling women informed the construction of learned witch categories in the late Middle Ages.Although the precise manner in which these motifs were utilized differed between authorities, two general mental habits set off fifteenth-century witch-theorists from earlier writers. First, they elided the distinctions between previously discrete sets of beliefs to create a substantially new category (“witch,” variously defined), with which to carry out subsequent analysis. Second, they increasingly insisted upon the objective reality of their conceptions of witchcraft. In this chapter we take up a rather different set of ideas, all of which, from the clerical perspective, revolved around the idea of direct or indirect commerce with the devil: heresy, black magic, and superstition. Nonetheless, here again the processes of assimilation and reification strongly influenced how these concepts impinged upon cate- gories of witchcraft. Heresy and the diabolic cult Informed opinion in the late Middle Ages was in unusual agreement that witches, no matter how they were defined, were heretics, and that their activ- ities were the legitimate subjects of inquisitorial inquiry.1 The history of this consensus has been thoroughly examined, and need not long concern us here.2 Instead, let us examine how the witch-theorists of the fifteenth century used ideas associated with heresy and heretics to construct their image of witches. This is a problem of several dimensions, involving both the legal and theolog- ical approaches to heresy and to magic, and the related but broader question of why heretics were conflated with magicians, malefici, and night-travelers in the first place.
    [Show full text]
  • 4.3.12 Winter Storm
    Schuylkill County Hazard Mitigation Plan March 2019 4.3.12 WINTER STORM PROFILE Winter storms occur, on average, approximately five times each year in Pennsylvania. From November through March, Pennsylvania is exposed to winter storms that move up the Atlantic coast or sweep in from the west. Every county in the Commonwealth is vulnerable to severe winter storms; however, the northern tier, western counties, and mountainous regions tend to experience winter weather more frequently and with greater severity. Winter storms can produce more damage than any other severe weather event, including tornadoes. Complications caused by winter storms can lead to road closures (especially secondary and farm roads); business losses to commercial centers built in outlying areas because of supply interruption and loss of customers; property losses and roof damages from snow and ice loading and fallen trees; utility interruptions; and loss of water supplies. Flooding can result from winter storm events as well. Most severe winter storm hazards include heavy snow (snowstorms), blizzards, sleet or freezing rain, ice storms, and mid-Atlantic cyclones locally known as Northeasters or Nor’easters. Because most Nor’easters generally occur during winter weather months, these hazards have also been grouped as a type of severe winter weather storm. Types of severe winter weather events or conditions are further defined as follows: . Heavy Snow: According to the NWS, heavy snow is generally considered snowfall accumulating to depth of 4 inches or more within 12 hours or less or snowfall accumulating to depth of 6 inches or more within 24 hours or less. A snow squall is an intense but limited-duration period of moderate to heavy snowfall, also known as a snowstorm, accompanied by strong, gusty surface winds and possibly lightning (generally moderate to heavy snow showers) (NWS 2009).
    [Show full text]
  • September Storms Bring Heavy Rain and Large Hail to Amarillo by Justyn Jackson, Meteorologist Intern
    September Storms Bring Heavy Rain and Large Hail to Amarillo By Justyn Jackson, Meteorologist Intern On the morning of September 16th, showers and thunderstorms moved across the eastern Oklahoma Panhandle and the northern Texas Panhandle. These storms produced an outflow boundary that moved slowly southward during the daytime hours. Also present was a nearly stationary front that was draped across the southern Texas Panhandle. An unseasonably warm and moist air mass was in place south of the front with temperatures in the upper 80s to lower 90s and dew points in the 60s. As an upper level trough of low pressure approached the region, temperatures aloft began to cool, which created an unstable air mass. The combination of an outflow boundary, a nearly stationary front, an upper level trough of low pressure, and an unstable air mass resulted in an environment primed for thunderstorm development. Indeed, thunderstorms developed during the early to middle afternoon hours across Deaf Smith, Oldham, Potter, and Randall, Carson, and Armstrong Counties. Due to the unstable air mass, the thunderstorms quickly strengthened and first became severe just before 3 p.m. near Amarillo. These storms initially produced quarter size (1.00 inch) hail across southwest Amarillo but then Flooding on Soncy Road in Amarillo. Image courtesy of Brynn Rains. In This Issue… Page quickly increased to golf ball size (1.75 inches). La Niña and Its Effects ...…....…….. 3 Training of storms occurred as new thunderstorms Winter Weather Safety……………….. 4 formed behind the initial storms, which led to flooding Weather Review / Outlook …………... 6 across Amarillo. The hardest hit areas were generally How to Measure Snow………..........… 7 south of Interstate 40 and west of Interstate 27, Cooperative Observer News…....…….
    [Show full text]