According to the Weather Doctor on the website about "cyclonic entities" at
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/storm/neaster.htm
"...only along the North American Atlantic coast, from Cape Hatteras northward to the Canadian Maritimes, can a storm truly be called a Nor'easter. By accepted definition, a Nor'easter should have gale force or stronger winds initially blowing from the northeast. These storms often bring heavy precipitation, falling as rain, snow, or at times, freezing rain. Along the coastline, heavy surf generated by offshore storm winds may cause extensive damage to the shoreline. Nor'easters are the most common, widespread severe weather events to worry New Englanders and Maritimers.
"The term Nor'easter arose in the colonial days before the concept of wind circulation around a low pressure center was established. Storms were then considered to travel from the direction of the wind. If a storm came with southwesterly winds, it originated from the southwest. A Nor'easter, therefore, originated, and arrived, from the northeast of those feeling its fury. Those beliefs began to change in the mid-eighteenth century, in part through the insights of Benjamin Franklin."
~*~You'll have to go to the website to learn more about Ben Franklin as a weatherman. It's pretty fascinating.
At the same Weather Doctor site but on a different webpage, you can read about blizzards:
http://www.islandnet.com/~see/weather/almanac/arc2000/alm00jan.htm
"Technically, blizzards are more than just a heavy snowstorm. The snow that fell last night drowned the city in a sea of snow, but the mild temperatures and gentle breezes did not qualify the storm for blizzard status.
"True blizzard conditions occur, according to the US National Weather Service, when winter storm wind speeds exceed 35 mph (56 km/h) and visibility is reduced by falling or blowing snow to a quarter mile (400 m) or less. In addition, these conditions must last for at least three hours. A severe blizzard boasts winds in excess of 45 mph (72 km/h). There is no specific temperature criterion in the US definition, but blizzards commonly have air temperatures below 20 oF (–6.7 oC) and severe blizzards below 10 oF (–12.2 oC).
"The official Environment Canada definition for a blizzard is similar but there are also regional specifics."
All that being said, I guess we had a Nor'Easter, but the predicted blizzard didn't happen. At no time did we see horizontal snow driving by the house, nor did we have reduced visibility.
But we did have a lot of snow and I was glad to be a part of it--The Valentine's Day Nor 'Easter. And I was in New York for the Blizzard of 2006! I wonder if I'll be a part of weather history for 2008?
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