6 Storm of 4-5 January 1992, 

 Synoptic Analysis 



The meteorological characteristics of the 4-5 January 1992 storm contrast 

 significantly with those of the Halloween Stonn. Whereas the Halloween 

 Storm was a large, long-duration, and fairiy well-forecast maritime winter 

 cyclone, the 4-5 January storm was a small, rapidly developing, fast-moving 

 event (Jensen and Garcia 1993). Because of the small size and rapid develop- 

 ment, it was not well-depicted by the synoptic analysis products and therefore 

 not well-forecasL* Based upon radar imagery data, the center of the storm 

 made landfall about 40 km (25 miles) south of Ocean City, MD. 



Because of the small size of the storm, coastal effects did not extend much 

 beyond the Delaware Bay to the north. Based upon Doppler radar data, the 

 Ocean City area probably was within the highest coastal wind zone. Unfortu- 

 nately, no wind data are known to have been acquired at Ocean City. How- 

 ever, an anemometer operated by the National Park Service on Assateague 

 Island was located approximately 30 km south of Ocean City. Figure 29 

 shows the wind speed, direction, and barometric pressure data acquired at 

 Assateague Island during the storm. The sudden drop in barometric pressure 

 to 95 1 mb at about 2000 hr EST is a spurious data point. Note that the wind 

 direction at the storm peak was about 90 deg or directly from the east. 



Infrared imagery obtained by the GOES satellite was examined for the 

 24-hr period prior to the stonn 's landfall on the Delmarva Peninsula at approx- 

 imately 1200 hr UTC, 4 January 1992. Visual signs of incipient storm forma- 

 tion are not apparent until 0000 hr UTC, 4 January 1992. By 0600 hr UTC, 

 4 January, the system was well-formed with a visual center located about 

 150 miles due east of Cape Hatteras. At 1200 hr UTC, 4 January the storm 

 appeared better developed than at 0600 hr and the visual center was very near 

 the Debnarva Peninsula coastline. Based upon satellite imagery, it appears the 

 system did not become well-organized until between 0(XX) hr UTC and 0600 hr 

 UTC, 4 January 1992. Surface wind data (Figures 30 and 31) obtained at 

 National Data Buoy Center (NDBC) buoys 44009 and 44012 tend to support 

 this conclusion. 



36 



^ Personal Communication. (1992). J. Belville, National Weather Service, Sterling, VA. 



Chapter 6 Storm of 4-5 January 1992, Synoptic Analysis 



