Storm of February 6-7, 1980

The offshore explosive deepener of Feb. 6-7, 1980, is examined. Occurring on the second anniversary of the great northeast blizzard of 1978, the 1980 storm ironically was similar in several respects to the record blizzard. The 1980 storm dumped 20 in. of snow over portions of the mid-Atlantic region, but unlike the big blizzard, spared all but extreme southeastern New England. The storm was poorly forecast by the LFM. Probable reasons are discussed, and possible ways to remedy the problem are suggested.