On the nature of rapidly deepening Canadian East Coast winter storms

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Abstract
During the Canadian Atlantic Storms Program (CASP) field project from 15 January to 15 March 1986, seven storms underwent rapid deepening either within or adjacent to the observational network. The most rapid deepening phase of these storms was associated with the surface low‐pressure centre being located close to to the rain‐snow boundary and the end of this phase was associated with the low centre eventually moving to sub‐freezing surface temperatures. Precipitation bands of both rain and snow occurred during maximum deepening. Observations are consistent with divergence and subsidence occurring near the centre itself. It is suggested that a mesoscale circulation initiated by melting snow significantly affects the deepening process.