Blizzard — Southeast Suffolk, New York

2013-02-08 to 2013-02-09 · Southeast Suffolk, New York

Event narrative

ASOS observations at Westhamphon Beach (KFOK) indicate that blizzard conditions were met for at least 3 consecutive hours. Snow began at 1:45 pm on February 8. Spotters reported an average snowfall of 6 inches by 10:00 pm. Total snowfall ranged from 10.3 inches in Shirley near the south shore of Long Island to 27.5 inches in Mastic, reflecting a very sharp increase in totals from the south shore to only a few miles inland.

Precipitation changed from rain to very heavy snow from north to south in the afternoon. The snow accumulated at rates up to 6 inches per hour at the height of the blizzard, accompanied by lightning, thunder, and even small hail.

Winds gusted up to 57 mph near Montauk Point.

Wider weather episode

Low pressure that formed along the northern Gulf coast by the morning of Thursday, February 7, 2013 moved northeast to near Cape Hatteras by the morning of Friday, February 8, 2013 . The low then rapidly intensified while moving northeast to a position east of Cape Cod by the morning of Saturday, February 9, 2013, producing very heavy snowfall and blizzard conditions across central and eastern Long Island on February 8th and 9th, and winter storm conditions across the rest of southeast New York.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 436910. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.