2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm 1922602 203041482 2008-04-03T13:46:35Z TexasAndroid 271376 Better cat {{Infobox winter storm|name=2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm |image location=2004122515GOES12vis.jpg |image name=December 25, 2004 morning visible satellite image of the cyclone (south of Louisiana) which brought snow to South Texas on Christmas Eve. The whiteness across South Texas is snow cover, not cloudiness<ref>GIBBS satellite archive. [ftp://eclipse.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/isccp/b1/.D2790P/images/2004/360/Img-2004-12-25-15-GOE-12-VS.jpg December 25, 2004, 1500 UTC satellite image, GOES 12.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> |stormtype=[[Winter storm]] |date formed=[[December 24]], [[2004]] |date dissipated=[[December 28]], [[2004]] |maximum amount=18 inches (45.7 cm) |pressure=964 [[mbar]] ([[Hectopascal|hPa]]) |total damages (USD)= Unknown |total fatalities=Unknown |areas affected=Central Gulf coast and East coast of the United States }} The '''2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm''' was a rare [[weather]] event that took place in [[Louisiana]] and [[Texas]] in the [[United States]] on [[December 24]], [[2004]] before the storm moved northeast to affect the coastal sections of the [[Mid-Atlantic states]] and [[New England]] in the succeeding few days. This was a [[Pre-Christmas 2004 snowstorm|different storm]] from the historic event that struck the Midwest and southern Canada around [[December 23]] from another cyclone which preceded this storm. The event involved a thin band of [[snow]]fall with unusually cold temperatures for the middle Texas coast, and caused dozens of varied weather records to be shattered. It was the most significant snow for the [[Texas]] Gulf Coast since February [[1895]]. ==Anticipation of the event== There had been indications for up to a week before the event that a frontal wave in the Gulf of Mexico was expected to track far enough to the south (along roughly the 26th parallel) to lead to snow along the [[Gulf of Mexico]] coastline of the [[United States]]. ==Synoptic history== A surface cyclone formed in the western [[Gulf of Mexico]] on [[December 24]] and [[December 25]] due to a shortwave aloft, and moved eastward through the western Gulf of Mexico, bringing banded snowfall to the middle [[Texas]] coast. The [[extratropical cyclone]] moved east, then northeast, tracking across the northern peninsula of [[Florida]] early on [[December 26]] before moving about <span style="white-space:nowrap">100&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(200&nbsp;km)</span> offshore the Southeast, paralleling the coast. Continuing to deepen, the developing storm moved about <span style="white-space:nowrap">200&nbsp;miles&nbsp;(300&nbsp;km)</span>&nbsp;offshore the Mid-Atlantic states, [[New England]], and [[Atlantic Canada]] on [[December 27]] before moving out to sea. ==Effects== [[Image:South Texas 12-25-04.jpg|thumb|right|254px|Christmas Day in Deep South Texas]] ;Texas and Louisiana :The most noticeable, and unusual, event associated with the storm was the snowfall it produced. Much of the snow fell in southern [[Texas]], along the coast of the [[Gulf of Mexico]], but some snow, albeit less deep, fell across southwestern and southeastern [[Louisiana]]. Any snowfall in these areas is extremely unusual, perhaps occurring once every twenty years, and these events are usually airborne flurries which melt on contact with the ground. The fact that in many places the snow stuck to the ground and accumulated to an appreciable depth was nearly unprecedented. In [[Brownsville, Texas]], snow fell to a depth of 1.5 inches (3.8 cm), the first measurable snowfall at the city in 105 years, since the [[Great Blizzard of 1899]]. [[Image:HoustonTX TrinityChurchInSnow.jpg|thumb|254px|left|[[Trinity Church, Houston|Trinity Church]] in Houston Christmas Eve 2004]] :The fact that the snow accumulated overnight on [[Christmas Eve]] led to a [[White Christmas]] the next morning, something completely foreign to the region. The city of [[Houston, Texas]] recorded the first [[White Christmas]] in its history. Across all of southern Texas and in southwestern Louisiana, snow fell in places where it had not for anywhere from 15 to 120 years. Near the coast, in [[Corpus Christi, Texas]], 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) of snow fell, more snow than in all previous recorded years combined. This was also the case in [[Victoria, Texas]], where a significant 13.0 inches (33.0 cm) fell. In addition to the unusual occurrence of snow inland, moderate to heavy snow was also reported over the open waters of the [[Gulf of Mexico]]. [[Image:Palm Trees and Snow.jpg|thumb|right|254px|An unusual sight: palm trees covered in snow in [[Portland, Texas]]]] Some snow totals:<ref>National Weather Service Forecast Office, Houston/Galveston, Texas. [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04/pns_snowfalltotal.txt Public Information Statement.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 1|12-01]].</ref> * [[Alice, Texas]]: 12 inches (30.48 cm) * [[Brownsville, Texas]]: 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) * [[Corpus Christi, Texas]]: 5.2 inches (13.2 cm) * [[El Campo, Texas]]: 11.0 inches (27.9 cm) * [[Houston, Texas]]: 1.0 inches (2.5 cm) * [[Kingsville, Texas]]:6.0 inches (15.24 cm) * [[Lake Charles, Louisiana]]: 1.2 inches (3.1 cm) * [[New Orleans, Louisiana]]: 0.7 inches (1.8 cm) * [[Victoria, Texas]]: 13.0 inches (33.0 cm) ;Georgia and South Carolina :As the cyclone tracked through [[Florida]] offshore the Southeast. Up to an inch of freezing rain and sleet fell at Augusta and Aiken.<ref>Glenn E. Lader. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/2004/storm1/storm1_5.txt STORM SUMMARY NUMBER 5 FOR MAJOR WINTER STORM.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 1|12-01]].</ref> ;North Carolina :Several inches of snow fell across portions of the state, with the highest amount noted of 9.5&nbsp;inches at Ahoskie.<ref>Glenn E. Lader. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/2004/storm1/storm1_5.txt STORM SUMMARY NUMBER 5 FOR MAJOR WINTER STORM.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> [[Image:Carolinasnow.gif|thumb|right|254px|Visible imagery showing extent of snowfall across the Mid-Atlantic States]] ;Virginia :Several locations across the Tidewater reported over a foot of snow, with the highest amount of 14&nbsp;inches reported at Quinby and Tabb.<ref name="SS7">Pamela J. Szatanek. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/2004/storm1/storm1_7.txt STORM SUMMARY NUMBER 7 FOR MAJOR WINTER STORM.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> Frontogenesis (strengthening temperature gradient) within the comma head of the [[extratropical cyclone]] between the 500&nbsp;hPa and 700&nbsp;hPa layers (or 10-20&nbsp;kft) contributed to the banded snow seen across this region.<ref>Timothy Gingrich and John Billet. [http://ams.confex.com/ams/pdfpapers/93967.pdf Operational Considerations of the December 26, 2004 Snowstorm Across Hampton Roads, Virginia and Northeast North Carolina.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> It led to the snowiest December across the Norfolk area since [[1958]].<ref>The Atlantic Coast Observer Network: Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina. [http://members.cox.net/irises/acon/dec04.htm SUMMARY OF CLIMATOLOGICAL DATA: DECEMBER 2004.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> ;Maryland :Light to moderate snow fell in the Eastern Shore, with the highest amount of 4.5&nbsp;inches measured at Shelltown.<ref name="SS9">Bruce Terry. [http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/2004/storm1/storm1_9.txt STORM SUMMARY NUMBER 9 FOR MAJOR WINTER STORM.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> ;New Jersey :Light to moderate snows fall across portions of the state, with the highest amount of 2&nbsp;inches falling at Mount Holly.<ref name="SS9"/> ;New York :Southeastern sections of the state saw the snowfall. The highest amount reported was 8.7&nbsp;inches at East Hampton.<ref name="SS9"/> ;Connecticut :Moderate to heavy snow fell across much of the state. The highest total reported was 7&nbsp;inches at East Killingly.<ref name="SS9"/> [[Image:2004122715GOES12vis.jpg|thumb|right|254px|Nor'easter at maturity offshore Atlantic Canada on the morning of December 27]] ;Rhode Island :Heavy snow fell statewide. The highest total was 8.2&nbsp;inches at Tiverton.<ref name="SS9"/> ;Massachusetts :The heaviest snowfall from the storm fell across [[Massachusetts]]. Brewster measured 18&nbsp;inches during the event.<ref name="SS9"/> ;New Hampshire :Central and southern sections of the state saw moderate to heavy snow. The highest amount was 9&nbsp;inches at Salem.<ref name="SS9"/> ;Vermont :Snow did fall across portions of the state during this storm, with 6&nbsp;inches falling at a dairy farm in Franklin.<ref>Jonathan Gates. [http://www.stonyfield.com/weblogarchives/BovineBugle/2004_12.html The Bovine Bugle.] Retrieved on 2006-[[December 2|12-02]].</ref> ;Maine :Heavy snow fell across portions of [[Maine]]. The highest amount reported was from Whiting where 13&nbsp;inches was measured.<ref name="SS9"/> ==See also== *[[Cyclogenesis]] *[[Extratropical cyclone]] *[[Pre-Christmas 2004 snowstorm]] that impacted the Midwest *[[Snowstorm]] *[[Surface weather analysis]] ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== * [http://www.srh.noaa.gov/hgx/projects/xmasevesnow04.htm Information about the storm from the Houston / Galveston National Weather Service Office. ] * [http://www.richardsfault.com/White_Christmas_in_Houston/index.html Images from Houston, Upper Gulf Coast, and Corpus Christi] * [http://wintercenter.homestead.com/photodec2004g.html Images from Bay City and Baytown, Texas] * [http://www.flickr.com/photos/threepalmsphoto/sets/72157603357091628/ Images from Galveston, Texas] * [http://wintercenter.homestead.com/photodec2004i.html Images from New York] [[Category:Weather events in the United States|Christmas Eve]] [[Category:History of Corpus Christi, Texas]] [[Category:Nor'easters]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Texas]] [[Category:Natural disasters in North Carolina]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Virginia]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Maryland]] [[Category:Natural disasters in New Jersey]] [[Category:Natural disasters in New York]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Connecticut]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Rhode Island]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Massachusetts]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Vermont]] [[Category:Natural disasters in Maine]] [[Category:2004 natural disasters|Christmas]]