Long Island Weather Glossary
Understanding the unique meteorological terms affecting our region.
Frost Hollow
A low-lying inland area (like the Pine Barrens) where sandy soils allow heat to escape rapidly at night.
Bombogenesis
A rapidly intensifying winter storm (Bomb Cyclone) where central atmospheric pressure drops at least 24mb in 24h.
Fetch
The distance wind blows across open water without obstruction. A long fetch builds massive swells.
CAPE
Convective Available Potential Energy. A measurement of atmospheric instability.
Sea Breeze Front
A boundary on hot days where cool ocean air pushes inland against hot land air, stalling over the island.
Small Craft Advisory
Issued by the NWS when sustained winds reach 25-33 knots, or wave heights reach 5-7 feet.
Nor'easter
A macro-scale cyclone forming along the East Coast, thriving on cold land air and the Gulf Stream.
Backdoor Cold Front
A cold front moving south or southwest along the Atlantic coast, bringing a sudden drop in temp and fog.
Graupel
Soft, small pellets of ice created when supercooled water droplets coat a snowflake.
Rip Current
A strong, narrow current of water moving directly away from the shore, cutting through breaking waves.
Rex Block
An atmospheric blocking pattern causing weather to stall over our region for days.
Fujiwhara Effect
When two nearby cyclonic storms begin to orbit each other and eventually merge.
Virga
Precipitation that falls from a cloud but evaporates before it reaches the ground.
Subsidence
The downward motion of air in the atmosphere, leading to clear, sunny skies.
Marine Layer
An air mass developing over the ocean bringing low clouds and fog to the coast.
King Tide
An exceptionally high spring tide, occurring when the gravitational pull of the sun and moon align.
Contact Us
Have questions, feedback, or feature requests? Reach out to the LINY Weather command center.
Email the Webmaster Message on FacebookLegal & Disclaimers
Not For Protection of Life or Property
The weather data, forecasts, algorithms, and radar imagery provided on LINY Weather are aggregated from third-party sources and automated APIs. They are provided "as is" for general informational and hobbyist purposes only. This platform inherently experiences latency and should never be used for making life-or-death decisions, emergency evacuations, or protection of property. For official warnings, always rely on the National Weather Service (NWS) and local emergency management authorities.