March 1993 brought one of the most extraordinary and devastating winter storms the United States has ever experienced. Known as the “Storm of the Century,” this massive weather system impacted nearly the entire eastern seaboard and remains a benchmark in meteorological history.
The Storm’s Formation and Path
The storm began on March 12, 1993, over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. Almost immediately, it displayed its immense power, spawning multiple tornadoes across Florida, including in areas such as Jacksonville and Ocala. As the storm’s area of low pressure intensified, it marched northeast, spreading chaos along its path on March 13th and 14th.
What set this storm apart was its size and the strength of its low-pressure center. The central pressure of the system dropped to an astonishing 960 millibars, a level typically seen in Category 3 hurricanes. This rare combination of winter and tropical storm characteristics ensured that its impact would be both widespread and catastrophic.