On Oct. 29, 2011, U.S. weather maps showed a benign-looking 1007-millibar (29.74-in Hg) low pressure area off the coast of North Carolina at 1200 coordinated universal time (0800 local). As the low moved up the East Coast, it began to deepen explosively. With abnormally cold air being pulled in from Canada, rain changed to snow at many locations.
Some reporting stations recorded snowfall rates of 2 to 4 in (5 to 10 cm) per hour and visibilities at local airports dropped to near zero. The town of Peru in extreme western Massachusetts received 32 in (81 cm) of snow, a record for so early in the season. Locations that escaped heavy snow still had to deal with strong winds.
Nantucket, Massachusetts, observations reported sustained winds of 40 kt with gusts to 60 kt. Aviation operations along the entire northeastern corridor were dramatically affected. At Newark (New Jersey) Liberty International Airport (EWR), heavy rain changed to heavy snow during the day and visibilities dropped to 1/…
