2023–24 North American winter
Seasonal snowfall in the contiguous United States as of January 15
Seasonal boundaries
Meteorological winterDecember 1 – February 29
Astronomical winterDecember 21 – March 20
First event startedNovember 21, 2023
Seasonal statistics
Total fatalities14
Total damageUnknown
Related articles
Asian winter, European windstorm season

The 2023–24 North American winter refers to winter in North America as it is occurring across the continent from late 2023 to early 2024. The season began at the winter solstice, which occurred on December 21, 2023, and will end at the spring equinox on March 19, 2024.[1] Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter started on December 1 and the last day will be February 29.[2] However, winter storms may occur outside of these limits.

Seasonal forecasts

Temperature outlook
Precipitation outlook

On October 4, 2023, AccuWeather released their winter prediction. They called for a El Niño; their forecast called for the Southeastern United States and California to be wetter than average, some of which could form severe weather outbreaks. The Midwestern United States was predicted to have higher temperatures and drier conditions than average. AccuWeather notes that cities like Boston, New York City, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh are expected to have more snowfall than last year. The predictions for the West Coast were that storms will occur commonly in the winter.[3]

Seasonal summary

Regional Snowfall Index

Events

Pre-Thanksgiving storm complex

A winter storm affected Northern New England shortly before U.S. Thanksgiving. Up to 6 in (15 cm) of snow fell in the state of Vermont, with New Hampshire and Maine also recording over 4 in (10 cm) of snow.[4] The snowstorm resulted in 53 car crashes in New Hampshire,[5] with one crash resulting in Interstate 93 shutting down near Littleton. Normal pre-Thanksgiving traffic was expected to be worsened due to the storm.[6] The storm also resulted in 55 flight cancellations.[7] Further south, heavy rain fell in the New York Metropolitan area, with some areas reporting over 3 in (76 mm).[8] Daily rainfall records were broken on November 22 in Islip, Bridgeport and LaGuardia Airport.[9]

Late November winter storm

A winter storm affected much of the Great Plains shortly after U.S. Thanksgiving. Three people were killed in fatal car crashes along Interstate 80 in Nebraska, where 14 crashes occurred and portions of the highway were shut down.[10] The state of Wyoming also responded to 125 car crashes within a 48 hour period.[11] Lander, Wyoming received their snowiest day since 1999 when 19 in (48 cm) of snow piled up.[12] The second snowiest November day was realized in Topeka and Wichita.[13] Further east, the city of Chicago recorded 1.8 in (4.6 cm) of snow on November 26.[14] Further east, lake effect snow fell around Lake Erie, which resulted in a fatal car crash in Pennsylvania, a 20-vehicle pileup near Cleveland and Ontario Highway 403 shutting down. The highest snowfall total was 42.7 in (108 cm) in Highmarket, New York.[15]

Christmas Day blizzard

On Christmas Day, an intensifying low pressure system developing into a blizzard struck the Upper Midwest, dropping more then 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) of snow. Spearfish, South Dakota recorded 14.6 inches (37 cm) of snow.[16] Whiteout conditions and strong gusty winds were reported in states like Nebraska and North and South Dakota due to the storm.[17] Blizzard warnings were issued for a large part of Nebraska and South Dakota as well as parts of northern Kansas. The system caused many accidents as a result, including jackknifed tractor trailers on eastbound Interstate 80 in Nebraska, forcing a portion of that road to close for several hours.[17] Significant closures also occurred on Interstate 90 in South Dakota and Interstate 70 in Colorado.[18][19] Around 3,000 flights within the U.S. were affected, with 170 being cancelled as a result. Badlands National Park was closed due to the blizzard. The storm also caused one fatality on icy roads in Kansas.[20]

Early January nor'easter

A winter storm, unofficially named Winter Storm Ember by The Weather Channel, that later became a nor'easter, affected the Northeastern United States from January 6-7, 2024. Multiple locations in several states, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut recorded 1 foot (30 cm) of snow. 13,000 customers also lost power in Massachusetts.[21] The storm also ended the longest stretch without measurable snow in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and the longest stretch without 1 in (2.5 cm) of snow in State College, Pennsylvania.[22] Portions of the Massachusetts Turnpike closed due to snow.[23] In addition, planned construction along the New York Thruway between Orange County and Ulster County was postponed by a week.[24] Despite over 1 ft (30 cm) of snow in Port Jervis, New York, the record snow drought in New York City continued, as Central Park only picked up 0.2 in (0.51 cm) of snow.[25] Boston measured 3.8 in (9.7 cm) during the snow event, with 5.6 in (14 cm) of snow in Providence, Rhode Island and 10.4 in (26 cm) of snow in Hartford, Connecticut.[26]

Early-mid January storm complexes

First storm (January 8–10)

The first winter storm hit the Midwest, Southeast, and East Coast on January 8-10, 2024.[27] Interstate 70 was closed from Watkins, Colorado to the Kansas state line due to the storm.[28] Winds in Colorado gusted up to 80 mph (130 km/h), while winds in New Mexico reached 76 mph (122 km/h). Snow drifts in the Oklahoma Panhandle reached 4–5 feet (1.2–1.5 m) due to wind and heavy snowfall.[29] In the Eastern United States, many states had over 40,000 customers lose power, with 130,000 power outages in New York and 90,000 power outages in Pennsylvania.[30] Western New York was hit hard, with winds gusting to 74 mph (119 km/h) in Dunkirk and 78 mph (126 km/h) in Watertown;[31] the National Weather Service's Buffalo office warned in an Area Forecast Discussion that gusts from the southeast descending from Tug Hill could reach "potentially generational" levels.[32] In total, about 1,350 flights were canceled, more than 8,700 more flights were delayed, about two dozen tornadoes were reported, and at least 6 people died because of the storm.[30]

Second storm (January 10–13)

The second system, which brought blizzard conditions to some areas, hit most of the U.S. starting on January 10, 2024, sweeping from the Northwest into the Midwest, Great Lakes area, and the East Coast.[33][34] Almost every U.S. state became under some form of weather alert.[35] The storm resulted in blizzard warnings for Oregon and Washington's mountain areas for the first time since 2012.[36] Crater Lake National Park closed due to the winter storm.[37] Following the storm, record cold conditions were observed in Washington, with Seattle observing a low of 13 °F (−11 °C), their coldest temperature since 1990. Ski resorts in on Mount Baker closed due to the cold as well.[38] More than 443,000 customers lost power from Oregon to Michigan, with 111,000 outages in Oregon alone.[39] Portions of Interstate 70 in Kansas were closed due to the winter weather. Moline, Illinois recorded their second snowiest day on record on January 12, with 15.4 in (39 cm) of snow.[40] Nationwide, over 2000 flights were canceled on January 12 and over another 1000 were canceled on January 13. A state of emergency and travel ban was declared in Western New York, forcing the playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills to be postponed from January 14 at 1pm to January 15 at 4:30pm.[35] Five people died due to the storm: three in Oregon,[41] one person in California,[40] and one in Wisconsin.[42]

Mid-January cold wave

Freezing temperatures affected campaign events leading up to the Iowa Caucuses on January 15, and could affect turnout in the first contest in the 2024 presidential primaries and caucuses.[43] In addition, the cold temperatures resulted in the 4th coldest NFL game on record between the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, with kickoff temperature being −4 °F (−20 °C).[44] Wind chills following the storm reached as low as −60 °F (−51 °C) in Montana, and wind chills were still −9 °F (−23 °C) as far south as Dallas on January 14.[45] Dickinson, North Dakota reached a −70 °F (−57 °C) wind chill, their coldest since the wind chill formula was updated in 2001, and a −33 °F (−36 °C) air temperature, a daily record and their coldest temperature since 1990.[46]

Mid-January winter storm

The winter storm in Oregon resulted in two fatalities, 161,000 customers losing power, and MAX Light Rail being suspended.[47] Many cities in the Southeastern United States, cities such as Little Rock, Arkansas and Nashville, Tennessee closed school.[48] In the Northeastern United States, the storm snapped record long streaks without 1 in (2.5 cm) of snow in several cities, with 3.3 in (8.4 cm) of snow in Philadelphia[49] and 4.9 in (12 cm) of snow in Baltimore, with Washington D.C. recording 4.1 in (10 cm) of snow.[50] 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. The storm total there was 1.6 in (4.1 cm).[51]

Season effects

Regional Snowfall Index scale
C0 C1 C2 C3 C4 C5
2023–24 North American winter season statistics
Event
name		 Dates active RSI category RSI value Highest
gust
mph (km/h)		 Minimum
pressure
(mbar)		 Maximum
snow
in (cm)		 Maximum
ice
in (mm)		 Areas affected Damage
(2023 USD)		 Deaths
Pre-Thanksgiving storm complex November 21–22 N/A N/A Unknown Unknown 6 (15) Unknown New England Unknown None
Christmas day blizzard December 24–26 N/A N/A Unknown Unknown 9 (23) 1 (25.4) Great Plains Unknown 1
Season aggregates
0 RSI storms November 23 – TBD 987 29 (73) 1(25.4) ≥ $0 5

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Earth's Seasons" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 2017-09-08. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  2. ↑ "Meteorological Versus Astronomical Seasons". Archived from the original on 2017-01-18. Retrieved 2023-10-09.
  3. ↑ AccuWeather's 2023-2024 US winter forecast, AccuWeather, October 4, 2023
  4. ↑ How much did you get? Snowfall totals from Wednesday's storm, NBC 10 Boston, November 22, 2023
  5. ↑ Snow, wintry mix make for messy road conditions in parts of New Hampshire, WMUR, November 22, 2023
  6. ↑ Crashes reported across Mass., NH as weather disrupts Thanksgiving travel, NECN, November 22, 2023
  7. ↑ Winds, rain and snow hit Northeast amid Thanksgiving travel rush, The Hill, November 22, 2023
  8. ↑ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "pns112223". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  9. ↑ "Here are wind & rain reports across the local region regarding the storm system that moved across earlier today, Climate note with rain, LaGuardia NY (1.78"), Islip NY (1.25"), and Bridgeport CT (2.37") all set daily rainfall records for November 22nd". Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  10. ↑ NSP INVESTIGATING MULTIPLE FATALITY CRASHES, Nebraska State Patrol, November 25, 2023
  11. ↑ Deadly Winter Storm Treks East On Busy Thanksgiving Travel Weekend, The Weather Channel, November 26, 2023
  12. ↑ Winter Storm Cait leaves more than 2million people stranded as it pummels the Great Plains, Daily Express, November 24, 2023
  13. ↑ Deadly winter storm slows post-Thanksgiving travel in Midwest, Great Lakes, Fox Weather, November 26, 2023
  14. ↑ Sunday’s Snowfall Total in Chicago, All 1.8 Inches of It, Beat the Odds, WTTW News, November 27, 2023
  15. ↑ Lake-effect snowstorm turns deadly in Pennsylvania after dumping more than 3.5 feet of snow in New York, Fox News, November 28, 2023
  16. ↑ "Post-holiday storms will create travel troubles for millions with rain, snow and icy mix". NBC News. 2023-12-27. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  17. 1 2 Carballo, Rebecca; Yoon, John; Diaz, Johnny (2023-12-25). "Blizzard Conditions Disrupt Travel Across Northern and Central Plains". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-01-05.
  18. ↑ I-90 in South Dakota closed due to blizzard conditions, Fox 9 South Dakota, December 26, 2023
  19. ↑ Interstate 70 eastbound closes Tuesday afternoon on Colorado's Eastern Plains amid blizzard conditions, CBS Colorado, December 26, 2023
  20. ↑ Ice storms and blizzards pummel the central US a day after Christmas, ABC News, December 26, 2023
  21. ↑ Winter Weather Live Updates: Airport Delays Hit Boston; NY Drivers Told To Stay Home, Weather Underground, January 7, 2024
  22. ↑ It has been 346 days since the last widespread snowfall in Central PA (January 25, 2023). Today's snowfall should end the following record-breaking snow droughts:📍State College: longest stretch without 1"📍Harrisburg: longest stretch without 0.1" #PAwx, NWS State College, Twitter, January 7, 2024
  23. ↑ Nor'easter slams Northeast with a foot of snow, flash freeze could lead to dangerous travel in New England, Fox Weather, January 7, 2024
  24. ↑ TRAVEL ALERT: NORTHBOUND THRUWAY (I-87) BETWEEN ORANGE AND ULSTER COUNTIES TO FULLY CLOSE TO ALL TRAFFIC SATURDAY NIGHT, JAN. 13, 2024, FOR AT LEAST 12 HOURS TO FACILITATE OVERPASS REMOVAL, New York Thruway Authority, January 10, 2024
  25. ↑ HOW MUCH SNOW FELL IN NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK, NEW JERSEY, AND CONNECTICUT, ABC7NY, January 7, 2024
  26. ↑ Winter Storm Ember Brought Snow, Rain, Gusty Winds From West To Northeast (RECAP), The Weather Channel, January 8, 2024
  27. ↑ Childs, Jan Wesner; Breslin, Sean (January 8, 2024). "Finn: At Least Three Dead, 7,000+ Flight Delays, 600,000+ Power Outages". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  28. ↑ McRae, Jennifer (January 8, 2024). "I-70 east of Denver closed, Colorado State Patrol: "SE Colorado is closed" as winter storm stifles travel". CBS Colorado. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  29. ↑ "Winter Storm Finn Spreading Snow, Strong Winds Into The Midwest, Northeast". Weather Underground. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  30. 1 2 Adams, Abigail (January 10, 2024). "At Least 6 Dead After Winter Storm Finn Slams Midwest, East Coast with Snow, Rain and Tornadoes". People. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  31. ↑ Howe, Steve (January 10, 2024). "See the top wind gust speeds from NY storm". Democrat and Chronicle. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  32. ↑ "Area Forecast Discussion". National Weather Service Buffalo, New York. January 9, 2024. Archived from the original on January 14, 2024. Retrieved January 14, 2024.
  33. ↑ Winter Storm Gerri A Second Late-Week Strike Of Snow, Severe Weather, Winds, Rain, Then Coldest Air Of Season, The Weather Channel, January 8, 2024
  34. ↑ Winter Storm Gerri Wraps Up In Great Lakes After Bringing Blizzard To Midwest, Northwest, Weather Underground, January 13, 2024
  35. 1 2 Almost every US state is under a weather alert as storms sweep across the country, ABC News, January 13, 2024
  36. ↑ Winter storm Gerri blasts much of the U.S., United Press International, January 12, 2024
  37. ↑ CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK CLOSED DUE TO STORMY CONDITIONS, KQEN News Radio 1240, January 12, 2024
  38. ↑ Seattle area could see coldest temps in 33 years as brutal chill sweeps through region, KIRO7, January 13, 2024
  39. ↑ Brutal arctic blast blanketing much of the US is set to deliver record cold temperatures as the South braces for snow and ice, CNN, January 15, 2023
  40. 1 2 Winter Storm Gerri Wraps Up In Great Lakes After Bringing Blizzard To Midwest, Northwest (RECAP), The Weather Channel, January 13, 2024
  41. ↑ Portland area winter storm: 3 dead; hundreds of thousands lose power, KGW8, January 13, 2024
  42. ↑ Winter Storm Gerri: Dangerous Cold Moves In; Travel Remains Hazardous, Weather Underground, January 14, 2024
  43. ↑ Iowa campaign events are falling as fast as the snow as the state readies for record-cold caucuses, Associated Press, January 12, 2024
  44. ↑ Chiefs and Dolphins play fourth-coldest game in NFL history at minus-4 degrees, ABC News, January 13, 2024
  45. ↑ Dangerous Subzero Wind Chills Blanket Much of the U.S., New York Times, January 14, 2024
  46. ↑ Records set over the weekend; recapping the coldest part of our Arctic blast, KFYRTV, January 14, 2024
  47. ↑ “Cold, Cold, Cold”: Thousands Lose Power as Wind and Snow Lash Portland, WWeek, January 16, 2024
  48. ↑ Schools closed as arctic blast slams South with snow, over 2,600 flights canceled, ABC News, January 16, 2024
  49. ↑ Philly will be bitterly cold following winter storm; more snow in the forecast later this week, Philadelphia Inquirer, January 16, 2024
  50. ↑ Winter Storm Heather Snaps 'Inchless' Snow Streaks In The Northeast, The Weather Channel, January 16, 2024
  51. ↑ New York City, Philadelphia, Baltimore end record snowless streaks of more than 700 days, Fox Weather, January 16, 2024
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