Upper level aspects of major east coast snowstorms (storms that produce a significant sized area of 10” or greater snowfall
large increases in amplitudes between trough and downstream ridge accompanied cyclogenesis
all cases exhibited decrease in half-wavelength indicative of self-development process (increasing vorticity)
diffluence and negative tilt seen in nearly all cases
phasing of multiple vorticity maxima observed in about half the cases
heavy snow usually falls as a vorticity max moves east-northeast. heaviest snows fell north of the vorticity track
trough or upper-level cyclone was usually located over eastern Canada
- this provides confluence over Northeast allowing high pressure to build
From Kocin and Uccellini, 1990