1

Weather Case Study

Severe weather conditions can be considered extreme events, with the potential to have

far-reaching consequences for human settlements, agricultural systems, and natural habitats.

Examples include freezes, heat waves, torrential downpours, floods, and tropical

cyclones. Typically, scientists use two methods to characterize these extraordinary occurrences.

The first approach looks at the probability of the event happening within a specified time frame

and assumes a certain size of occurrence. The second method is more commonly used by the

weather adaptation group and utilizes impact-related criteria to assess the severity of an

event and suggest adaptive solutions. This paper provides a broader view of the effects of

extreme weather events by studying the historical Fierce Blizzards.

Why this is an Extreme Weather Event

The Blizzard of 1888 was the worst snowfall in U.S. history and has become virtually

mythical (Balabukh et al., 2018). For more than a century, there have been blizzards with greater

snowfall and colder temperatures, but none that equal the blizzard's combination (Balabukh et

al., 2018). It was the most unprecedented one, therefore, the deadliest. Many people in the heart

of Manhattan were buried alive by the snowdrifts that claimed the lives of over 400 people

(Balabukh et al., 2018). Additionally, New York City saw a temperature record of 6 degrees

Fahrenheit on March 13, 1888, the lowest temperature recorded in the season (Hung & Li 2019).

Historical Context of the Event and its Effects

The East Coast experienced temperatures of around 40s and 50s a few days before the

blizzard occurred. The event started with torrential rains, and then on March 12, it started to

snow heavily (Akhtar 2019). The temperature dropped drastically, and a fierce wind started
 2

blowing. The storm was also continuous for the following 36 hours (Akhtar 2019). The National

Weather Service said that Connecticut and Massachusetts received 50 inches of snow, while

New York City and the surrounding area received 40 inches (Akhtar 2019). Snowdrifts 40-50

feet high resulted from the 48 mph winds (Akhtar 2019). To solve the consequent transit

problems, the New York Tunnel was authorized in 1894, and construction began in 1900 (Akhtar

2019).

The Societal Preparedness Plan at the Time

The accuracy of weather forecasts in 1888 was poor (Anduaga 2019). There were several

weather stations around the nation, and the current weather conditions were sent by telegraph to

distant cities. Although some forecasts had been made, the Blizzard of 1888 caught everyone by

surprise (Anduaga 2019). The event began with heavy rain, sleet, and heavy snow. Commuter

trains full of people were stuck on the tracks. Some people, afraid of losing their jobs, braved the

storm and went to the office, while others perished trying to make it home before the

temperatures dropped below zero. As a result, nearly two weeks passed, with residents in some

rural regions being forced to stay inside their houses.

Background on How the Location and Communities Were Affected

In New York, the snowstorm proved devastating. Telegraph wires fell owing to ice

weight. Long-distance connections between Boston and Philadelphia and local communication

were also disrupted (Schmutz 2021). It was hard to find food and gasoline. In the days before

refrigeration, daily deliveries of fresh produce and meat were brought into the city. For many

days following the hurricane, it was not easy to transport essential food supplies. People were
 3

seen wandering the streets, searching for stores that may still sell coal to keep their houses warm.

New York City received snow of about 35 inches with drifts of up to seven feet (Schmutz 2021).

Destroyed Infrastructure, Fatalities, and Complete Change of Landscapes

The whole East Coast from Maine to Chesapeake was rendered immobile by the Great

White Hurricane. The cities of New York, Washington, Boston, and Philadelphia, were cut off

from each other for days when telegraph and telephone cables broke. The hurricane made

policymakers see the value of burying infrastructures like electricity and telegraph cables. At

least 100 sailors lost their lives, and 200 sailboats were stranded. In addition to the $25 million in

damaged property, many fire stations were destroyed (Riley 2018). Over four hundred persons

also died. The magnitude of the blizzard's effects saw survivors continue holding annual

reunions to mark the date of the storm until 1969 (Riley 2018).

Conclusion

Over the last three decades, the worldwide damage from catastrophic weather events has

skyrocketed. This is due to human-caused variables that have led to a general rise in exposure,

susceptibility, and an increase in the frequency and intensity of weather extremes. Some of them

have also been related to human-caused climate change; for example, the frequency with which

heavy precipitation events occur has increased in many locations. Such occurrences have created

an immense change in the general climatic conditions of different parts of the globe, which is a

phenomenon that is highly evident today.

References

Akhtar, R. (2019). Introduction: Extreme weather events and human health: A global

perspective. Extreme Weather Events and Human Health, 3-

11. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23773-8_1

Anduaga, A. (2019). Behind weather forecasting. Politics, Statistics and Weather Forecasting,

1840–1910, 298-341. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780429282553-8

Balabukh, V., Lavrynenko, O., Bilaniuk, V., Mykhnovych, A., & Pylypovych, O. (2018).

Extreme weather events in Ukraine: Occurrence and changes. Extreme

Weather. https://doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77306

Hung, L., & Li, M. (2019). Extreme weather events and health responses in Taiwan. Extreme

Weather Events and Human Health, 197-207. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-23773-

8_14

Riley, P. (2018). Statistics of extreme space weather events. Extreme Events in Geo Space, 115-

138. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-812700-1.00005-4

Schmutz, W. K. (2021). Changes in the total solar irradiance and climatic effects. Journal of

Space Weather and Space Climate, 11, 40. https://doi.org/10.1051/swsc/2021016