The January 13–16, 2024 North American winter storm brought wide-ranging and significant impacts across much of the continental United States, particularly in the Southern regions of the country. Originating as an extratropical cyclone over the northeastern Pacific Ocean on January 12, the system, unofficially named Winter Storm Heather by The Weather Channel, moved ashore the following day, bringing heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to areas closer to the coastline than usual. The winter storm then weakened over the Rocky Mountains, and leftover energy combined with an arctic front settling in near the Gulf Coast resulted in wintry precipitation in states that rarely receive it such as Texas and Louisiana. The system then consolidated and intensified slightly as it began to move northwards towards the Mid-Atlantic states. It then moved just offshore and brought accumulating snowfall to most of the region as well as New England on January 16–17 before it moved into Canada soon after.
 Satellite image of the winter storm affecting the Mid-Atlantic states on January 16, 2024 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 12, 2024 |
| Dissipated | January 18, 2024 |
| Category 1 "Notable" winter storm | |
| Regional Snowfall Index: 1.44 (NOAA) | |
| Highest gusts | 118 mph (190 km/h) near Copper Mountain, Colorado |
| Lowest pressure | 983 mbar (hPa); 29.03 inHg |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 49.5 in (126 cm) in Green Mountain Reservoir, Colorado |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 30 |
| Damage | $3.0 billion (2024 USD)[1] |
| Areas affected | Northwestern, Southern and Northeastern United States, Atlantic Canada |
| Power outages | >200,000 |
Part of the 2023–24 North American winter | |
Widespread, significant and deadly impacts were observed from coast to coast in the U.S. due to the winter storm, as areas that normally did not receive frozen precipitation were affected adversely. In the Northwest, ice accumulations and high wind gusts knocked out power to many as the system moved ashore, in addition to later triggering avalanches in the mountainous regions of the states of Colorado and Utah the following day. Further east, bitter cold combined with the winter storm resulted in at least 30 deaths in the South, in addition to wintry weather resulting in closures and traffic delays across a large portion of the Southern United States. In the mid-Atlantic and New England, cities like New York City, Washington D.C. and Philadelphia saw their first accumulating snowfall over 1 inch (2.5 cm) in nearly two years, ending a record 700-plus-day streak with no such accumulation.
Meteorological history
The winter storm entered the Pacific Northwest on January 12, bringing heavy snow, ice, and high winds to Northern Oregon. The storm also triggered avalanches in Utah and Colorado. The storm then dove southeast, bringing heavy snow in Texas and Tennessee. The storm then brought the first significant snow in years to the Northeastern United States before exiting.[2]
Preparations and impact
335,000 flights were delayed from January 13 to 16th, with 8,600 cancellations, largely due to weather.[3]
Northwestern United States
Oregon
In the Columbia River Gorge, hurricane-force wind gusts were reported.[4] Winds in the Columbia River Gorge reached 80 mph (130 km/h), with gusts over 50 mph (80 km/h) in Portland.[5] Cold air exiting the Columbia Basin produced the strong winds through the Gorge and into the Portland metropolitan area and Willamette Valley kept temperatures at the surface below freezing while warm onshore flow aloft created a temperature inversion. Freezing rain caused significant ice accumulations with some areas experiencing up to 1 inch (25 mm).[6] Several vehicle crashes occurred in the Willamette Valley.[7]
The strong wind and ice accumulation in the Portland area resulted in widespread trees being blown down.[4] Over 200,000 customers lost power throughout the state. Eleven people were reportedly killed with victims being crushed by fallen trees, experiencing hypothermia, or being electrocuted by fallen power lines.[8][9] Colleges across the area closed due to the hazardous weather,[10] as did Crater Lake National Park.[11]
Southern United States
Heavy snow fell in the Southeastern United States, with 7.6 in (19 cm) of snow in Nashville and 3.4 in (8.6 cm) of snow in Memphis.[12] The heavy snow in Tennessee shut down Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[13] 30 dogs had to be rescued in Nashville at an impound location due to the winter weather and bitter temperatures.[14]
Prior to the arrival of the winter storm and associated cold in Texas, officials assured residents that the power grid was ready to handle the weather, after the crippling of the state's power grid during a previous winter storm in February 2021.[15] They advised citizens to conserve power and that the cold weather would not last as long as the 2021 event. In the city of Houston, an 18 wheeler overturned on I-10, shutting down the highway.[16] An injury also occurred due to a car pileup on Texas State Highway 121.[17] Lake effect snow occurred in North Texas, with 2.3 in (5.8 cm) of snow in Coppell and 2 in (5.1 cm) of snow in Forney.[18]
Schools across several states, including Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama closed as a result of the storm.[19][20] In St. Martin Parish, portions of Interstate 10 and Interstate 210 closed due to the winter weather.[21] In Cullman County, Alabama, many motorists were stranded on Interstate 65 after a series of car crashes shut down the highway.[22] In Louisiana, parts of Highway 23 were also closed. The storm also spawned a tornado in Florida.[23]
Northeastern United States
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In the Northeastern United States, the storm snapped record long streaks without 1 in (2.5 cm) of snow in several cities.[24]
Mid-Atlantic
In Pennsylvania, 3.3 in (8.4 cm) of snow fell in Philadelphia.[25] The winter storm lead to a brief ground stop at Philadelphia International Airport.[26] Further south, 4.9 in (12 cm) of snow fell in Baltimore, with Washington D.C. recording 4.1 in (10 cm) of snow.[2] Heavy snow resulted in federal offices shutting down on January 16.[27] A parade in Baltimore celebrating Martin Luther King Day was cancelled due to snow.[28] Five fatalities occurred on a car crash on Interstate 81 in northeastern Pennsylvania.[29]
Central Park reported 1.2 in (3.0 cm) of snow on January 16, their first inch of snow in a single day since February 13, 2022.[a] The storm total there was 1.6 in (4.1 cm).[31] The winter storm led to ground stops at John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport, where snow totals were slightly higher than Central Park.[32][33] Schools were closed on January 16 in Jersey City, New Jersey.[34]
In Western New York, lake effect snow led to 3 fatalities, with snow totals in Copenhagen, New York being 40 in (100 cm) in just 27 hours and 15 minutes.[35] The lake effect snow prompted a Buffalo Sabres game against the Chicago Blackhawks to be postponed.[36]
New England
Most of Massachusetts received around 2 in (5.1 cm) of snow, though some locations in the state picked up 4 in (10 cm).[37] The snow resulted in 100 flight cancellations and 290 delays at Boston Logan International Airport.[38]
See also
References
- ^ National Centers for Environmental Information (April 2024). "U.S. Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters" (Press release). Events. Asheville, North Carolina, United States: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Archived from the original on 15 April 2024. Retrieved 15 April 2024.
- ^ a b Winter Storm Heather Snaps 'Inchless' Snow Streaks In The Northeast, The Weather Channel, January 16, 2024
- ^ "Here's How Winter Storm Heather And Arctic Cold Affected Communities Across The U.S." Weather Underground. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ a b "Winter Storm Heather Recap | Weather.com". The Weather Channel.
- ^ "Cold weather, power failures continue in aftermath of Oregon storm". OPB. January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ Nelsen, Mark (2024-01-16). "Freezing rain is here; slow thaw Wednesday but ice/snow remain in Gorge". FOX 12 Oregon. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Staff, News (January 13, 2024). "UPDATE: Winter weather leads to multiple closures and crashes in Willamette Valley". KVAL.
{{cite web}}:|first=has generic name (help) - ^ Foden-Vencil, Kristian; Kaur, Gurjit (January 17, 2024). "Winter storms in Oregon have cut power for thousands and killed several". National Public Radio. Retrieved February 13, 2024.
- ^ "A baby lived because an Oregon teen couldn't stand by after she saw 3 people get electrocuted". AP News. 2024-01-19. Retrieved 2024-02-13.
- ^ Woodworth, Whitney; Urness, Zach (January 13, 2024). "Live updates: Saturday closures, how to prepare for freezing rain, snow in Salem". Statesmen Journal. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Crater Lake National Park facilities closed after communication system failure, KDRV, January 12, 2024
- ^ "New storm to unload more snow for both Midwest and Northeast". AccuWeather. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 17, 2024.
- ^ "Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed due to hazardous weather conditions". WATE. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "The Tennessean Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts". subscribe.tennessean.com.
- ^ Bohra, Alejandro Serrano, Emily Foxhall and Neelam (January 12, 2024). "Texans asked to conserve energy as demand was expected to put strain on electric grid". The Texas Tribune.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Schools closed as arctic blast slams South with snow, over 2,600 flights canceled". ABC News. January 15, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ "Texas 121 reopens in Grapevine after a multi-vehicle crash involving a fire truck". NBC 4 Dallas. January 15, 2024. Retrieved February 2, 2024.
- ^ Texas Gets Entire Year's Worth of Snow in 15 Hours, Newsweek, January 18, 2024
- ^ "School closings: Middle Tennessee schools closing Tuesday, Wednesday due to winter storm". The Tennessean.
- ^ "Live Updates: Winter Storm Heather Plunges South | Weather.com". The Weather Channel.
- ^ Multiple wrecks in winter weather close parts of I-10 across LA, strand drivers for hours, The Advocate, January 15, 2024
- ^ Roads in Cullman County start to clear up after winter storm, ABC3340, January 18, 2024
- ^ "Winter storm turns deadly in Arkansas, Mississippi as Nashville picks up entire season's worth of snow". Fox Weather. January 16, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ The Daily Weather Update from FOX Weather: Northeast snow threatens commutes on I-95 in New York, Philadelphia, Fox Weather, January 16, 2024
- ^ Philly will be bitterly cold following winter storm; more snow in the forecast later this week, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 16, 2024
- ^ "Snow made worse by sub-freezing temps across Delaware Valley". WHYY. January 17, 2024. Retrieved January 18, 2024.
- ^ Schools and federal offices closed in DC, Maryland and Virginia on Tuesday due to snowstorm, NBC Washington, January 16, 2024
- ^ Baltimore cancels MLK Day parade due to snow, Baltimore Banner, January 15, 2024
- ^ Five people killed by tractor trailer on snowy interstate in Pennsylvania, The Guardian, January 17, 2024
- ^ Central Park Goes 653 Days Without an Inch of Snow, New York Times, November 29, 2023
- ^ New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore end record snowless streaks of more than 700 days, Fox Weather, January 16, 2024
- ^ Thousands of Flights Canceled As Widespread Winter Weather Sweeps U.S. — What to Know, Travel and Leisure, January 16, 2024
- ^ How much snow fell Tuesday? Totals for NY, NJ, CT, Fox 5 NY, January 16, 2024
- ^ Snow Day In Jersey City: Schools Are Closed Tuesday, Patch, January 16, 2024
- ^ Additional feet of snow pile up in Buffalo area after western New York buried by prior snowstorm, Fox Weather, January 18, 2024
- ^ Blackhawks-Sabres postponed due to snow-related travel ban, ESPN, January 17, 2024
- ^ Snow totals for Massachusetts on Tuesday, Jan. 16, MassLive, January 16, 2024
- ^ Boston Logan Airport has more than 100 canceled flights as snow covers Mass., MassLive, January 16, 2024
Notes
- ^ While 1.8 in (4.6 cm) of snow fell in Central Park during the February 2023 North American storm complex, since the storm was across two days, neither day had an inch of snow.[30]