Greatest weather event ever

[e pluribus unum]

The December 1983 freeze up deserves a mention. Probably the most widespread cold snap in the country's history.

[nwohweather]

Superstorm of '93 for the amazing size and impact it had. That is one storm I really don't think I will see again in my lifetime

[Justin]

For sheer size and scope of impact I voted for the Superstorm of 1993. That thing was just amazing and hard to imagine seeing something of that scope for a long time. Snow recorded with it as far South as the Florida panhandle and record snows in so many places. The severe weather side was impressive as well.

[Stebo]

For sheer size and scope of impact I voted for the Superstorm of 1993. That thing was just amazing and hard to imagine seeing something of that scope for a long time. Snow recorded with it as far South as the Florida panhandle and record snows in so many places. The severe weather side was impressive as well.

Yeah I have it listed 2nd on my list, I just think the sheer power and expanse of the Super Outbreak of 1974 might never be matched again.

[WinterWxLuvr]

The superstorm of 93 for the weather it produced, the cold outbreak of 85 as the event I don't think I'll ever see again.

[Juliancolton]

Here's my top 20 (For the U.S.)

19. Hurricane Andrew

Andrew goes 11 places below the Octobomb?

[Juliancolton]

For me, the greatest weather event is the Perfect Storm of 1991. Its genesis probably represents the most unprecedented and seamless combination of disturbances in modern meteorological history, and to top it off, the manner in which it spawned a tropical hurricane had only been observed once before as far as I'm aware.

[Quixotic1]

Where's Katrina?

1974/2011 Super Outbreaks are up there. I went with the 1974 outbreak due the insane amount of violent tornadoes and the huge geographical area (The 2011 outbreak could have easily covered a similar area, if that MCS didn't come through those states to the north during the morning and instead left them convective junk-free)

Around IMBY, the 2006 Hanukkah Eve Blowdown would probably be my most impressive.

This.

Not only an extreme weather event, but one that had a tremendous effect on physical, humanitarian and political landscapes.

[ArtRosen]

Katrina was only a big event because of poor infrastructure/location. Most of these weather events are locally based. As far as the sheer magnitude, i would rank superstorm '93 as #1 and put the perfect storm right behind it with october2011 as #3. All 3 events were far reaching and are so rare w may never see them again in our lifetimes.

[Mallow]

My bad, that was a complete disaster, I knew I was forgetting something.

Other storms that I forgot are Hurricane Camille, 1935 labor day hurricane, Hurricane Donna, 1978 Midwest Snowstorm, Columbus Day storm of 1950 for those in the pacific, Hurricane Charley, Hurricane Wilma, Hurricane Frances, Hurricane Jeanne, Hurricane Isabel, Hurricane Fran, Christmas Supercold outbreak of 1980, Christmas eve storm of 1994, 1962 ash Wednesday storm, 1991 Perfect storm, Hurricane Bob, 1953 Worcester tornado, Tri State tornado of 1925, 1994 Northridge Earthquake, 1989 World Series Earthquake, Tropical Storm Allison 2001, Andover KS f5 tornado of 1991, 1985 Pennsylvania F5 tornado, Hurricane Carol, Hurricane Edna, January 2011 Midwest snowstorm , Hurricane Betsy, Hurricane Frederic and many more that I probably just cant remember right now

It was actually 1962, but ya, that was a biggie... as was the 1880 "storm king" (winds almost as strong plus a huge blizzard on the north side of it). (EDIT: I see icebreaker already covered this )

The poll's responses are going to be heavily biased towards IMBYism, and if you could classify such a thing, it would be highly likely that the "true" answer would be a non-US event.

[Mallow]

Here's my top 20 (For the U.S.)

1. Hurricane Katrina

2. Tri-State Tornado

3. 1974 Super Outbreak

4. 2011 Super Outbreak

5. Blizzard of 1888

6. 1993 Superstorm

7. 1978 GL/OV Blizzard

8. Octobomb 2010

9. Labour Day Hurricane

10. Galveston Hurricane

11. 1996 Blizzard

12. 1962 Columbus Day Storm

13. Worcester Tornado

14. Joplin Tornado

15. Hurricane Camille

16. 1928 Okeechobee Hurricane

17. Hurricane Donna

18. 1884 Enigma Tornado Outbreak

19. Hurricane Andrew

20. Hurricane Charley

I think this is a pretty fair list for the US in general.

[Srain]

The poll's responses are going to be heavily biased towards IMBYism, and if you could classify such a thing, it would be highly likely that the "true" answer would be a non-US event.

Yep.

[Ed Lizard]

Got to be February 1978. 5 straight days, no Catholic school in Amityville, NY, and the wind, and the Great South Bay backing up and turning our giant mounds of snow greenish, c'mon!

If I had been in Southhampton in 1938 or Galveston 1900, I might feel differently...

[isohume]

5. Blizzard of 1888

I was going to mention this. Not sure if it was the greatest or not, but probably the saddest.

[Ed Lizard]

Earthquakes shouldn't be on the list...

[Organizing Low]

Top 10 events

1. Super Outbreak in 1974

2.. Superstorm of 1993

3. Blizzard of 1978 (MW) version

4. Blizzard of 1996

5. Super Outbreak of 2011

6. Blizzard of 1978 (EC) version

7. GHD Blizzard

8. Octobomb of 2010

9. Hurricane Katrina

10. Ice Storm of 1998 (I know this was mostly Canada but it was a prolific event none the less)

interestingly, the highest accmulations were actually in upstate NY where a mind boggling nearly 5 inches of ice was reported!

[BlizzardWx]

I really don't think I could make a fair list although this seems to be a moslty US based discussion. For the west coast I know its been mentioned but the columbus day storm of 1962 and the storm king of 1880 were huge. Lots of other deep pacific bombs have caused lots of damage locally for example in Nov 2007 there was a two day storm that caused lots of damage. Many placed passed 100mph (140mph was the peak) on the oregon/washington coast. I found this on wolf reids website, "Evidence from still-working anemometers seems to suggest at least a 24-hour-long duration for 60 mph and higher gusts" Whole forests were blown down, and not just from blowing over but from being snapped off at the middle. And thats at a place that gets hurricane force winds multiple times a winter. That just doesn't really happen elsewhere beyond like mountain tops. But nobody knows about it and a lot of other events out here.

Some extra details about the western storms a lot of you may not know about,

The columbus day storm is reported to in one place had 150mph sustained winds and gusts to 179mph. Even inland though Corvallis hit 127mph and Portland 116 before the windgauge broke.

The storm king of 1880 had massive winds on the south side and dropped two feet of snow behind it. Lots of roof cave ins, etc.

EDIT - The website cut out part of this so I re-edited it so it actually makes sense now.

[BethesdaWX]

If I had to pick one that did not involve my backyard it'd be either the New England hurricane or the (not listed) "big snow" documented sometime in the 1700s. No winter in the northeast really compares well with that one I don't think, makes these recent winters look puny.

If the 186mph gust measured in the New England 'cane was legitimate that is just mind boggling, and perhaps gusts could have topped out a bit higher elsewhere in the storm. Surge over 25 feet as well.

[ArtRosen]

It was actually 1962, but ya, that was a biggie... as was the 1880 "storm king" (winds almost as strong plus a huge blizzard on the north side of it). (EDIT: I see icebreaker already covered this <img src='http://208.71.34.143/public/style_emoticons/default/tongue.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> )The poll's responses are going to be heavily biased towards IMBYism, and if you could classify such a thing, it would be highly likely that the "true" answer would be a non-US event.

I really wasn't effected by the super-storm of '93 nor the "perfect storm." I just think both were incredible meteorological improbabilities that were spectacular upon exhibit.

[Ed Lizard]

Tri-State tornado seems to be missing, or I have bads eyesight.

[RodneyS]

As for as others go...cold outbreak and blizzard of Feb 1899.

This gets my vote for the combination of blizzard conditions and stunning temperature departures throughout a large portion of the United States and possessions; for example: "There are even Cuban reports (made by the U.S Weather Bureau, as Cuba was a U.S. territory at the time) that the country experienced hard frost which killed or damaged many crops;" see http://en.wikipedia....lizzard_of_1899. As another example, in Washington, DC during the five days between February 9-13, 1899 inclusive, the temperature range was 15 below zero to 12 above zero, with an average daily departure of about 30 degrees. The 15 below on February 11th remains the all-time DC low temperature, and 4 above on February 10th remains the all-time DC low maximum. Further, the blizzard that ended early on Valentine's Day dropped 20.5 inches of snow on DC, second only to the Knickerbocker Storm of January 1922.

[tamarack]

interestingly, the highest accmulations were actually in upstate NY where a mind boggling nearly 5 inches of ice was reported!

I think the crumpled towers outside Montreal had a similar amount. The most I saw in Maine was a bit under 3", but there were whole stands of mature trees which suffered essentially 100% crown loss - "asparagus trees" in the words of one forester; nothing left but the stalk.

[icebreaker5221]

One thing to really take home from this is that there are legitimate arguments to be made for literally dozens of events just during the last 200 years. Some are snow storms, some are ice storms, some are hurricanes, some are tornado outbreaks, but they are all so unique and varied. This is what makes love of meteorology so great!

[Sickman]

If we're talking greatest, as in most extreme atmospheric event, probably Nov. 1950.

Honorable mentions to the Tri-State Tornado, Superstorm '93, and Wilma.

[snowNH]

The icestorm was in 08 not 09

[snowNH]

I don't even know why Irene is on the list. It's obvious Gloria was better and if were going.by hurricanes, Andrew was better than both.

[EasternUSWX]

Hurricane Isabel for me.

[okie333]

Personally I would say the Southern Plains blizzard of 2011 due to the sheer amount of snow involved... although honestly the blizzard of 12/24/09 had much more positive impact on my life; it was literally what got me interested in advanced meteorology... before then I would have likely thought the European Weather Model was a very pretty-looking female meteorologist for a TV station in Europe.

(slightly unrelated) I still remember the first time I ever visited Accuweather Forums, right before the snowstorm in January 2010, and the very first post I saw said "Congratulations Tulsa!" and showed a clown map with about 22" of snow... it ended up being 7" with some ice before it though

[aslkahuna]

I went with Columbus Day 1962 since that's arguably the most intense (wind-wise) ET low on record in the US. Besides the incredible winds in OR and NoCA, hurricane force gusts were recorded in the SFO Bay Area along with flooding rains.

Steve

[Organizing Low]

I think the crumpled towers outside Montreal had a similar amount. The most I saw in Maine was a bit under 3", but there were whole stands of mature trees which suffered essentially 100% crown loss - "asparagus trees" in the words of one forester; nothing left but the stalk.

got about 3.25 where i was at the time, as per env canada and local reports best estimate.

i lived in between montreal and ottawa near the border, with pockets of the region getting 4.5 inches of ice. some towns about 30 mins outside both cities were without power for up to 2 months in jan-feb as the grid was rebuilt.

there was a fair bit of structural damage also. trees as you said were wiped out 90%, except evergreens which were hardier. you can still see the tree damage today.

amazing event.