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Southern New England Weather Trivia Quiz

This quiz focuses on the erratic and entertaining weather conditions that impact Southern New England, including specific famous examples of severe weather events, as well as important weather offices located in the region.

A multiple-choice quiz by occludedfront. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
occludedfront

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
340,211

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
353

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What term is given to strong ocean-enhanced storms which can paralyze coastal New England cities with heavy snow and high winds during winter? They are named after the direction of the wind that is associated with them. Hint

Northern Blowers

Nor'easters

Eastern Storms

South-Westers

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Question 2 of 10

2. The Atlantic Ocean plays a huge role in the climate of Southern New England. What effect does this body of water have on the region? Hint

It moderates the climate by making temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer

It makes temperatures colder in the winter by absorbing most of the sun's rays

It makes temperatures warmer in the summer because of the sunlight reflected by the ocean

It makes the region drier in the winter and wetter in the summer

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Question 3 of 10

3. While uncommon, southern New England has also seen its fair share of tropical weather. Which 1991 hurricane made landfall twice in Rhode Island (in Block Island and then Newport) and caused extensive damage throughout Southern New England? Hint

Hurricane Gloria

Hurricane Benjamin

Hurricane Bob

Hurricane Bill

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Question 4 of 10

4. The main National Weather Service office for southern New England, which provides information for southern New Hampshire, most of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and eastern Connecticut is located in which city in what Massachusetts city? Hint

Lowell

Boston

Taunton

Worcester

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Question 5 of 10

5. What famous event in 1953 caused tens of millions of dollars worth of damage and killed almost 100 people in the city of Worcester, MA? Hint

Strong tropical storm

Fire caused by a lightning strike

Tornado

Blizzard

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Question 6 of 10

6. The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in eastern Massachusetts is a famous weather station in southern New England. What is so interesting about this observatory? Hint

It is the largest weather observatory in the country

It was built by the Pilgrims in the 1600s

It is the oldest continuous record-keeping weather observatory in North America

It has survived six different fires

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Question 7 of 10

7. What was the first hurricane of the 21st century that came close enough to the southern New England coastline to warrant the National Weather Service issuing a hurricane warning for the storm? Hint

Hurricane Isabel (2003)

Hurricane Kyle (2008)

Hurricane Earl (2010)

Hurricane Noel (2007)

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Question 8 of 10

8. What legendary late 20th century snowstorm resulted in both Boston and Providence achieving new records for highest storm-total snowfall amounts, sustained winds of hurricane-force, hundreds of people stranded on the highways, and 100+ fatalities in southern New England? Hint

The Blizzard of '78

The North American Blizzard of '96

The April Fool's Day Blizzard of '97

The Superstorm of '93

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Question 9 of 10

9. Which of these New England states had the highest record temperature in the 20th century? Hint

New Hampshire

Rhode Island

Massachusetts

Connecticut

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following climate characteristics is NOT true about southern New England? Hint

It can be described as a humid, continental climate

It is usually cloudy and humid in the spring

Winters are usually dry, on average

Average annual rainfall is typically between 40 inches and 60 inches

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Nor'easters

Nor'easters can bury cities such as Boston under feet of snow and the howling wind can create blizzard conditions, making travel impossible at times. These storms usually intensify rapidly as they move along the coastline of the Northeast in the winter.

2. The Atlantic Ocean plays a huge role in the climate of Southern New England. What effect does this body of water have on the region?

Answer: It moderates the climate by making temperatures warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer

The Atlantic Ocean regulates the climate for most of Southern New England by cooling the region in the summer and warming it in the winter. This is because the ocean is warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer due to the fact that it takes the ocean much longer to heat up or cool down. This property is known as "specific heat," and water's specific heat is very high.

Answer: Hurricane Bob

Hurricane Bob made landfall on August 19, 1991 as a strong Category 2 hurricane. Wind gusts of over 100 miles per hour were reported in Block Island, Rhode Island, while gusts reported reached over 125 miles per hour in many communities in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Roughly 3 to 6 inches of rain fell in the region to the west of the eye.

The damage caused by Hurricane Bob reached well over $1 billion in New England and, sadly, 17 people lost their lives as a result of this storm. Hurricane Gloria was another hurricane that made landfall in the Northeast, in 1985.

Answer: Taunton

Some other New England National Weather Service offices are located in Montpelier, VT, Gray, ME, and Caribou, ME.

5. What famous event in 1953 caused tens of millions of dollars worth of damage and killed almost 100 people in the city of Worcester, MA?

Answer: Tornado

The deadly, F-4 funnel stayed on the ground for well over an hour and left a path of destruction almost 50 miles long and 1 mile wide through central Massachusetts.

6. The Blue Hill Meteorological Observatory in eastern Massachusetts is a famous weather station in southern New England. What is so interesting about this observatory?

Answer: It is the oldest continuous record-keeping weather observatory in North America

The observatory was founded in 1885, however some temperature records date back to 1831 thanks to data adjustments performed by other local weather stations. The observatory tracks data such as: annual snowfall totals, annual precipitation amounts, mean temperature and wind speed, and even amount of sunshine.

7. What was the first hurricane of the 21st century that came close enough to the southern New England coastline to warrant the National Weather Service issuing a hurricane warning for the storm?

Answer: Hurricane Earl (2010)

While Hurricane Earl never made landfall in the United States, the storm moved close enough (within 90 miles of Nantucket, Massachusetts) for the National Weather Service to issue Hurricane Warnings for almost all of eastern Massachusetts, including Hull, Plymouth, Cape Cod, and the islands.

The storm caused only trivial amounts of damage and the advisories were quickly discontinued as the storm weakened before making landfall as a Tropical Storm in Nova Scotia.

Answer: The Blizzard of '78

While all of these blizzards crippled southern New England, the one which stands out as being the most significant is the Blizzard of 1978. Boston, MA recorded a snowfall total of 27.1 inches and Providence, RI received 27.6 inches of snow from the system.

These records were not broken until the Blizzard of 2003 dumped 27.5 inches of snow in Boston. During the Blizzard of '78, hurricane-force winds slammed the coastline, with sustained winds over 85 mph (gusts reached 110+ mph) reported during the height of the event. Extensive coastal flooding and beach erosion also occurred with this storm and many houses along the beach were washed away.

There were approximately 100 fatalities and thousands injured with this monster storm, and people stranded on the highway literally froze to death as their cars were quickly buried under feet of snow.

9. Which of these New England states had the highest record temperature in the 20th century?

Answer: Massachusetts

The record high temperature for Massachusetts was 107 degrees Fahrenheit (reported on August 2, 1975), which is one degree higher than the record temperatures of both Connecticut and New Hampshire. Rhode Island had a record high temperature of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

10. Which of the following climate characteristics is NOT true about southern New England?

Answer: Winters are usually dry, on average

Southern New England usually experiences warm, humid summers and cold, snowy winters. Closer to the coast, temperatures are more moderate in summer and winter due to the Atlantic influence. The average winter is wet and snowy, and some inland locations measure yearly snowfalls in feet.

Source: Author occludedfront

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Exit10 before going online.
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