Unusual May Chill Rewrites The History Books
May 19, 2002
Temperatures up to 15-25 degrees below normal have chilled the central USA and East since Saturday as high pressure and jet stream winds drive Canadian air into the nation.
Morning low temperatures in the 20s and 30s in the Midwest and Northeast with 40s in the South set records in 93 cities Sunday. That's in addition to the 41 records set Saturday.
A temperature of 21 degrees in Cadillac, Mich. Sunday was colder than the town of Eagle in eastcentral Alaska which hit 29.
Weather Channel meteorologist Buzz Bernard says below-normal temperatures likely will continue from the Plains to the East Coast through Wednesday morning with record lows possible.
Residents of some Midwest and Northeast counties face frost advisories or freeze warnings and are seeking shelter for their spring vegetation.
Unseasonable cold air Saturday morning turned rain into 2-8 inches of snow in parts of the Northeast, the National Weather Service reported.
In Albany, the snow quickly melted. But it first managed to pile up 2.2 inches deep, setting a new record for the latest spring date that measurable snow has ever fallen there. Records for Albany, which date back to 1795, show that a trace of snow fell on May 28, 1902.
Measurable snow is defined as a tenth of an inch or more.
The State Police reported some property-damage accidents on slick highways Saturday, but nothing unusual as a result of the snow, a spokeswoman said.
Binghamton, N.Y., also received record snowfall of 1.7 inches, which tied 1973 for the latest date in the spring that measurable snow fell. The 1973 total was just 0.7 inches.
Worcester, Mass., also picked up 0.7 inches, setting its latest snow record. The last measurable snow in Worcester was on May 11, 1945.
Temperatures will begin to moderate in the East late Wednesday and Thursday as high pressure shifts off the East Coast and brings a mild south wind. Widespread highs in the 70s and 80s are forecast in the South and East starting Thursday.
By Chris Vaccaro, USATODAY.com
Contributing: The Associated Press
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-05-19-recordmaychill.htm