A perfect storm is a meteorological event aggravated by a rare combination of circumstances.[1] The term is used by analogy to an unusually severe storm that results from a rare combination of meteorological phenomena.
Before the early 1990s, the phrases "storm of the century" or "perfect storm" were generally used to describe unusually large or destructive storms.[2] The term superstorm was employed in 1993 by the National Weather Service to describe a Nor'easter in March of that year.[3] The term is most frequently used to describe a weather pattern that is as destructive as a hurricane, but which exhibits the cold-weather patterns of a winter storm.[4]
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Rts20080101was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Chameides, Bill. "What makes a storm 'super'". Duke’s Nicholas School blog. Archived from the original on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ National Weather Service, U.S. Department of Commerce. National Disaster Survey Report: Superstorm of March 1993 (PDF) (Report). Retrieved 27 April 2017.
- ^ Conklin, Al (2013). "What's in a name? Sandy: Hurricane or Superstorm?". WSFA. Retrieved 27 April 2017.