A numerical investigation of east coast cyclogenesis during the cold- air damming event of 27-28 February 1982. Part II: importance of physical mechanisms

Abstract

On 27-28 February 1982 cyclogenesis occurred along a Carolina coastal front. Despite the relatively weak low pressure center typical of many coastal storms, this case produced widespread hazardous conditions - within 12 h up to 30 cm of snow fell in the mountains of western Virginia and moderate icing persisted throughout 27 February in the Carolinas. A nested version of the PSU-NCAR three-dimensional mesoscale model with 35-km resolution successfully reproduced most principal synoptic and mesoscale features associated with the event. Of the three mechanisms investigated, the diabatic heating associated with precipitation is found to have the most significant impact on storm development. Without latent heating, cyclogenesis does not occur along the Carolina coastal front despite the presence of strong low-level baroclinicity and cyclonic vorticity. -from Authors