Winter storm structure and melting‐induced circulations

Abstract Extensive observations were made of a winter storm that crossed eastern Canada on 10–12 March 1986 during the Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP) field project. A kinematic description of the storm is established by using isentropic analyses and this description is compared with storm observations in other regions as well as with other CASP storms. The occurrence and role of snow and freezing precipitation in this storm are highlighted. It is suggested that the evolution and organization of the storm was greatly influenced by mesoscale circulations driven by melting snow.

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