(no subject)

[sophiaserpentia]

According to the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale, the Blizzard of 2005 (which disadvantaged the Boston area for a day or two) was "crippling" while the infamous Blizzard of '78 (which completely hobbled the area for a week) was only "major."

The scale rates area affected plus population affected by snowfall amount, to gauge the overall economic and social impact of a storm.

Comments

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Ok, that's ridiculous. Obviously the creators of this scale are missing some pertinent details. For instance, regarding 1978, if you look at that chart again you will see a "crippling" storm in January of that year. There was still a TON of snow on the ground from that first storm when the blizzard of '78 hit.

[sophiaserpentia.livejournal.com]

Interesting that the "crippling" storm of Jan. '78 isn't the one remembered as the blizzard -- but then, i maybe it wasn't a severe nor'easter? I don't know, i wasn't there...

But, yeah, it seems way off to me. Maybe the scale needs to be done more locally, instead of region-wide.

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I was there and don't remember that January storm at all. However I do remember there was a lot of snow already on the ground when the big one hit. So, the fresh 27 inches were falling on an already existing foot or so of snow and there was nowhere to put it.

Oh, and I couldn't find the April Fools Day blizzard (1996 or 1997?) on their chart at all, and that one was so bad MIT closed!