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1994 North American cold wave
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1994 North American cold wave
The 1994 North American cold wave occurred over the midwestern and eastern regions of the United States and southern Canada in January 1994. The cold wave caused over 100 deaths in the United States. Two notable cold air events took place from January 18–19 and January 21–22. There were 67 minimum temperature records set on January 19. During this time, much of the United States experienced its coldest temperatures since a major storm on February 20, 1934.[not verified in body]
Cold air outbreaks are characterized by strong upper-level troughs in the atmosphere, with ridges usually located up and downstream. On January 17, 1994, the 500 millibar (mb) height contours showed the low-pressure center was situated near the border of Ontario and Manitoba, just north of Minnesota, with the trough axis stretching down into the Upper Midwest. The 500 mb height contours on January 18 showed the strong trough over the Great Lakes region extending southward that brought cold air down from the North Pole. MERRA-2 reanalysis detailed the cold air funneling into the Upper Midwest from Canada on January 18, with strong winds out of the northwest. The surface analysis map on January 18 showed a low-level ridge over the Upper Midwest and surface winds blowing out of the northwest. The surface anticyclones on January 18 and 21 both exceeded 1,040 mbar (104 kPa) and moved to the southeast, bringing cold air to much of the eastern half of the United States. By January 19, the upper levels showed a retreat of the low-pressure center, however, shortwave troughs were still located near the United States, and surface temperature effects with the strong anticyclone were felt for days to come.
Snow was associated with this cold weather in many regions. From January 17–18, a snowstorm affected areas from the Ozarks to New England. Ice affected most of the Mid-Atlantic region. Accumulations of sleet and freezing rain in New York City were in excess of an inch.
January 1994 was a month of extremes in Canada. Temperatures in the Yukon approached −50 °C (−58 °F). In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the temperature did not exceed −40 °C (−40 °F) for many days. In Windsor, Ontario, the coldest temperature since 1885 was recorded on January 19 at −29 °C (−20 °F). On January 16, Scarborough, Ontario, recorded an all-time record low temperature of −35.2 °C (−31.4 °F), several degrees colder than the official coldest record for Toronto, which now includes Scarborough. Toronto recorded its coldest January on record with −12.4 °C (9.7 °F) at the airport.
The cold air was also accompanied by large snowfalls. The western side of Lake Ontario saw 50 centimeters (20 inches). Rapid melting and freezing near the end of January caused Toronto Pearson International Airport to close for the first time in 60 years. Water shortages were also common in Goose Bay, Labrador, due to extreme temperatures.
On January 16, the Watertown, New York, International Airport set an all-time record low of −43 °F (−42 °C), while Watertown observed its coldest January on record, with a mean temperature of 5.39 °F (−14.78 °C). The Syracuse, New York, Hancock International Airport recorded a monthly mean temperature of 12.6 °F (−10.8 °C), a record low for January.
The lowest temperature seen in Sussex County, New Jersey, was −26 °F (−32.2 °C) on January 21, 1994.
Washington National Airport (later renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) had a new record-low maximum temperature for the 20th century of 8 °F (−13.3 °C).
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1994 North American cold wave
The 1994 North American cold wave occurred over the midwestern and eastern regions of the United States and southern Canada in January 1994. The cold wave caused over 100 deaths in the United States. Two notable cold air events took place from January 18–19 and January 21–22. There were 67 minimum temperature records set on January 19. During this time, much of the United States experienced its coldest temperatures since a major storm on February 20, 1934.[not verified in body]
Cold air outbreaks are characterized by strong upper-level troughs in the atmosphere, with ridges usually located up and downstream. On January 17, 1994, the 500 millibar (mb) height contours showed the low-pressure center was situated near the border of Ontario and Manitoba, just north of Minnesota, with the trough axis stretching down into the Upper Midwest. The 500 mb height contours on January 18 showed the strong trough over the Great Lakes region extending southward that brought cold air down from the North Pole. MERRA-2 reanalysis detailed the cold air funneling into the Upper Midwest from Canada on January 18, with strong winds out of the northwest. The surface analysis map on January 18 showed a low-level ridge over the Upper Midwest and surface winds blowing out of the northwest. The surface anticyclones on January 18 and 21 both exceeded 1,040 mbar (104 kPa) and moved to the southeast, bringing cold air to much of the eastern half of the United States. By January 19, the upper levels showed a retreat of the low-pressure center, however, shortwave troughs were still located near the United States, and surface temperature effects with the strong anticyclone were felt for days to come.
Snow was associated with this cold weather in many regions. From January 17–18, a snowstorm affected areas from the Ozarks to New England. Ice affected most of the Mid-Atlantic region. Accumulations of sleet and freezing rain in New York City were in excess of an inch.
January 1994 was a month of extremes in Canada. Temperatures in the Yukon approached −50 °C (−58 °F). In Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, the temperature did not exceed −40 °C (−40 °F) for many days. In Windsor, Ontario, the coldest temperature since 1885 was recorded on January 19 at −29 °C (−20 °F). On January 16, Scarborough, Ontario, recorded an all-time record low temperature of −35.2 °C (−31.4 °F), several degrees colder than the official coldest record for Toronto, which now includes Scarborough. Toronto recorded its coldest January on record with −12.4 °C (9.7 °F) at the airport.
The cold air was also accompanied by large snowfalls. The western side of Lake Ontario saw 50 centimeters (20 inches). Rapid melting and freezing near the end of January caused Toronto Pearson International Airport to close for the first time in 60 years. Water shortages were also common in Goose Bay, Labrador, due to extreme temperatures.
On January 16, the Watertown, New York, International Airport set an all-time record low of −43 °F (−42 °C), while Watertown observed its coldest January on record, with a mean temperature of 5.39 °F (−14.78 °C). The Syracuse, New York, Hancock International Airport recorded a monthly mean temperature of 12.6 °F (−10.8 °C), a record low for January.
The lowest temperature seen in Sussex County, New Jersey, was −26 °F (−32.2 °C) on January 21, 1994.
Washington National Airport (later renamed Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport) had a new record-low maximum temperature for the 20th century of 8 °F (−13.3 °C).
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