Marine Conditions and Automated Forecasts for the Atlantic Coastal Storm of February 18–20, 1972

Abstract

The storm surge and ocean waves associated with the Atlantic coastal storm of Feb. 18?20, 1972, caused extensive damage along beaches of Long Island and New England. Meteorological conditions of the storm, along with resulting tides, surges, and waves, are described. Comparison is made with forecasts of the storm produced by the primitive-equation model of the National Meteorological Center, as well as with automated forecasts of storm surge and wave height. It is concluded that the meteorological forecasts and the resulting storm surge and wave forecasts were quite good.