Winter '10 / '11 - Snow Storm #1 - Countdown to Blizzard Conditions

Common usage of the term 'blizzard' has come to mean excessive snowfall when in fact...a blizzard is a high-wind event (sustained wind or frequent gusts > 29 kts) that causes a reduction in surface visibility to less than 1/4 SM for at least three hours.

Blizzards are truely rare birds in the eastern CONUS where winter storms usually fail the visibility duration criterion.  One such event may be in the offing tonight...as evidenced by these early observations.

SPECI KTEB 262326Z 36020G30KT 1/16SM R06/1200V1800FT +TSSN BLSN FZFG OVC001 M05/M07 A2943 RMK AO2 PK WND 35031/2258 TSB20 OCNL LTGICCC P0001 $

METAR KJFK 270151Z 34034G42KT 0SM R04R/1600V2200FT SN FZFG BLSN VV001 M06/M07 A2921 RMK AO2 PK WND 35048/0140 SFC VIS 1/8 PRESFR SLP891 SNINCR 1/6 P0003 T10561072 $

METAR KEWR 270251Z 34025G35KT 1/8SM +SN BLSN VV001 M04/M06 A2926 RMK AO2 PK WND 35039/0221 TWR VIS 1/4 SLP909 SNINCR 3/14 P0018 60046 T10441056 58047 RVRNO $

METAR KHPN 270256Z 33028G45KT 0SM +SN BLSN VV001 M08/M11 A2918 RMK AO2 PK WND 34045/0250 SLP891 P0005 60013 T10831106 56058 $

Thunder snow (TSSN) reported at Tetterboro (KTEB)!