2018–19 North American winter

2018–19 North American winter
Play media Temperatures plummeting across North America in late January 2019
Seasonal boundaries
Meteorological winter	December 1 – February 28
Astronomical winter	December 21 – March 20
Most notable event
Name	March 2019 North American blizzard
• Duration	March 8–16, 2019
Seasonal statistics
Maximum snowfall accumulation	52 in (130 cm) (Wolf Creek Pass, Colorado)
Total fatalities	Unknown
Total damage	Unknown
North American winters 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20

The 2018–19 North American winter was unusually cold within the northern portions of the United States, with frigid temperatures being recorded within the middle of the season. Several notable events occurred, such as a rare snow in the Southeast in December, a strong cold wave and several major winter storms in the Midwest, and upper Northeast and much of Canada in late January and early February, record snowstorms in the Southwest in late February, deadly tornado outbreaks in the Southeast and a historic mid-April blizzard in the Midwest, but the most notable event of the winter was a record-breaking bomb cyclone that affected much of the central U.S. and Canada in mid March. Unlike previous winters, a developing weak El Niño was expected to influence weather patterns across North America. Overall, however, winter of 2018–19 was mild along the mid- and lower parts of the East Coast, West Coast, and most of the southern Plains.

While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2018 occurred on December 21, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2019 occurred on March 20.^[1] Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28.^[2] Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Since both definitions span the calendar year, it is possible to have a winter storm in two different years.

Seasonal forecasts[]

Temperature outlook

Precipitation outlook

On October 18, 2018, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center released its U.S. Winter Outlook. The outlook noted a 70 to 75% chance of El Niño developing. CPC Deputy Director Mike Halpert specified that development was expected to occur by late fall to early winter. He added that while the El Niño was expected to be weak, it still had the potential to bring drier conditions to the northern United States and wetter conditions to the southern U.S. The outlook also noted the potential for the Arctic oscillation to bring colder-than-average conditions to the eastern U.S. and the possibility of the Madden–Julian oscillation contributing to heavy-precipitation events along the West Coast. The temperature outlook favored warmer-than-normal conditions across the northern and western U.S. with the highest probabilities from the Pacific Northwest to the northern Plains and in Alaska. Such conditions were also favored in Hawaii. The outlook also noted that the Tennessee and Ohio Valleys, the Mid-Atlantic region, and the U.S. Southeast had equal chances of either above-, below-, or near-average temperatures. The outlook did not delineate any areas likely to experience below-average conditions. The precipitation outlook noted an elevated probability of wetter-than-average conditions across the southern tier of the United States and along the eastern U.S. up to the Mid-Atlantic. Drier conditions were favored in parts of the northern Rockies and northern Plains, northern Ohio Valley, and Great Lakes regions. The drought outlook mentioned a high likelihood for drought conditions to persist across parts of the southwestern U.S., southern California, the central Great Basin, the central Rockies, the northern Plains, and parts of the interior Pacific Northwest. Drought conditions were favored to improve in the central Plains, the coastal Pacific Northwest, southern portions of Colorado and Utah, and in various areas in both Arizona and New Mexico.^[3]

Events[]

Mid-November winter storm[]

Autumn leaves fell alongside the snow during the mid-November winter storm in Washington, D.C.'s northern Virginia suburbs

An early season winter storm developed in a deep dive of the jet stream into the mid-south on November 13. In Monroe, Louisiana 0.4 inches of snow accumulated on the morning of November 14, breaking the record for the earliest snowfall by 10 days. In Mississippi light snow was reported in Greenville, sleet in Tupelo and Memphis, Tennessee picked up 0.6 inches (1.5 cm) of snow. Meanwhile, in Ohio, ice accumulations of one-quarter to one-third of an inch were reported in Cincinnati and Dayton metros as well as parts of Northern and Central Kentucky. A general 2 to 5 inches (5 to 12.7 cm) of snow fell in the St. Louis metro with isolated reports of 9 inches/22 cm. November 15, as the storm headed northeastward, an unexpected 6.4 inches (~16.2 cm) of snow fell in Central Park, catching many off guard and resulting in several hour-long commutes that night.^[4] Further north, the Toronto area received 10–15 cm (4-6 inches) of snow, leading to significant delays.

Late November blizzard[]

A winter storm formed over the Pacific Northwest on November 23 and tracked into the interior Northeast by November 27. Snow caused a 20 vehicle pile-up in Colorado on Interstate 70, meanwhile Interstate 80 in Southeastern Wyoming had to be shut down due to heavy snow and strong winds. The storm snarled traffic in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri and parts of Illinois as blizzard conditions were reported in Salina, Kansas towards Independence, Missouri and northwards into Iowa and Illinois. Conditions were so bad that stranded drivers had to be rescued by snowmobile. Nationwide, nearly 3,000 flights were cancelled and 4 have died.^[5] 5.8 inches (14.7 cm) of snow fell in Kansas City and 8.4 inches (21.3 cm) were reported at O'Hare. Additionally, as the storm pushed into Upstate New York and Northern New England, over a foot of snow were recorded in some locations.^[6]

Early December snowstorm[]

A significant winter storm brought snow and ice from Southern plains to the Southeast.^[7][8] Early on December 8, 10.5 inches (27 centimetres) of snow fell in Lubbock, Texas. Snow fell as south and east as Abilene, Texas. This storm caused thousands of people to lose power and 60 car crashes were reported across the Lubbock area. This was the third time Lubbock has had a double digit snowfall. Only 4 inches were predicted across Lubbock; the residents were shocked to wake up to almost a foot of snow. The storm moved east from Texas and Oklahoma to the Carolinas and Virginia. The storm caused icing across Tennessee and Arkansas as well as some snowfall. Late on December 9, 1 foot (30 centimetres) of snow or more had fallen in parts of North Carolina and Virginia;^[9] both states had declared states of emergency. 240,000 Duke Energy customers had lost power in North Carolina, along with 170,000 more in South Carolina. Appalachian Power had 20,000 without power in Virginia.^[10] Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee also had power outages. Charlotte Douglas International Airport had over 1,000 cancellations.^[9] Near Winston-Salem, over 14 inches of snow fell, and part of Greensboro, North Carolina received nearly a foot. Three people died in North Carolina.^[11] Busick, North Carolina received 34 inches of snow.^[12]

Mid-January winter storm[]

A state of emergency was declared in Pennsylvania and New Jersey as a large winter storm made its way to the Northeastern United States. Three people had already been killed in the Midwest.^[13][14] By January 21, over 4,800 flights had been cancelled and 3,000 delayed.^[15] Interstate 55 in Missouri was blocked when snow caused 15 vehicles to crash. Snow totals in New York included 10-15 inches in the Albany area, 18-20 inches in the Adirondacks, and a foot of snow in Buffalo. Connecticut had nearly 28,000 lose power, as well as 3,000 in Ohio.^[16] In Southern Ontario, parts of Hamilton received over 40 cm (16 inches) due to lake-effect snow coming off of Lake Ontario. The Toronto area received around 10 cm (4 inches), with 20 cm (8 inches) in Montreal.

Late January–early February cold wave[]

The storm as seen in Toronto

Radar loop of the Late January storm hitting Michigan

A storm, resulting from a polar vortex from the north, brought blizzard conditions and between 6 and 14 inches (15 to 35 cm) of snow to the Upper Midwest and Great Lakes region starting in the late evening hours of January 27, while a separate storm dropped snow over the Southeast. Accumulations reached 5 inches (13 cm) in Chicago and Minneapolis, 7 inches (18 cm) in Milwaukee, and 13 inches (33 cm) in Toronto (with 4 inches (10 cm) on the day before with a separate system).^[17]

Record-breaking and extreme cold immediately followed the storm as the polar vortex shifted south. Midwestern cities, including Minneapolis, Detroit, Chicago^[18] and Milwaukee^[19] are under wind chill advisories and severe wind chill warnings with wind chills approaching −55 °F (−48 °C) at night.^[18] Chicago area schools, universities, public transportation, and cultural attractions announced closures or reduced schedules during the weather emergency.^[20][21] Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers declared states of emergency due to the record low windchill temperatures.^[22][23] At least 22 people had reportedly died due to the storm as of January 31, 2019.^[24]

Mid-February storm complex[]

Another storm began on February 11, with some areas in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States expected to receive up to 12 inches (30 cm) of snow in the upcoming days, as well as parts of Ontario and Quebec expected to receive 14 inches (35 cm) .^[25] In Toronto, all schools were closed on February 12 in anticipation of the storm.^[26] The city saw up to 15 cm (6 inches) of snow followed by sleet and freezing rain. Ice and snow in Chicago resulted in 70,000 ComEd power outages.^[27] The storm's maximum snowfall accumulation was 26.5 inches (66 cm), which fell near Negaunee, Michigan. Ice secretion peaked at half an inch north of Toledo, Ohio.^[28]

Early March nor'easter[]

The second storm had formed over the Rockies by March 2 and winter storm warnings were already in place there.^[29] In Colorado, 16 inches (40 cm) of snow fell at Estes Park and 3.7 inches (9.2 cm) fell at Denver International Airport. 13 inches (32.5 cm) of snow fell in Squaw Valley, California. As the storm tracked eastward, snow was wreaking havoc on parts of the Four Corner States and the Midwest, closing roads and cancelling over 700 flights.^[30] Shaping up to be much more intense than the first storm for the US Northeast, The National Weather Service issued winter storm warnings from West Virginia to Maine. Closer to the Atlantic coast a mix of rain and snow affected major cities such as Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston and further south, precipitation was rain, with severe thunderstorms along the cold front in the Deep South,^[31] resulting in a deadly early-season tornado outbreak in Dixie Alley.^[32][33] The storm also affected Atlantic Canada, although the track of the low was much closer to the shoreline than the previous storm, resulting in mixed precipitation for Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, with heftier snowfall totals in New Brunswick and Newfoundland.^[34] 24 centimetres (9.6 inches) of snow fell in Moncton and winds gusted to 170 kilometres per hour (110 mph) in Wreckhouse.^[35]

Mid-March blizzard[]

Enhanced satellite image from March 13, 2019

A Colorado low formed in the southwest and began tracking northeastward, undergoing explosive intensification in the process, bottoming out near 968 millibars over Kansas, meeting the criteria for a bomb cyclone and smashing all-time low pressure records at several towns in New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas and Texas.^[36][37] On March 13 the tight pressure gradient produced widespread wind gusts above 60 mph (95 km/h+), with a peak gust of 109 miles per hour (175 km/h) at Grand Prairie,^[38] strong enough to flip airplanes at the municipal airport there. Along the cold front, a line of severe thunderstorms developed, mainly in Texas, dropping several tornadoes, 2 in New Mexico and 1 in Texas, damaging many homes. A combination of severe weather and strong winds cut power to 140,000 in Texas, mostly near Dallas. The storms also produced baseball-sized hail in many parts of the Southwest.^[39] As the storm tracked further north, in Ontario, because of the thick snowpack, forecasters were concerned about flooding.^[40] Meanwhile, the storm brought extreme blizzard conditions to the plains, poor visibility closing many interstates from North Dakota to Colorado and just to the south, severe flooding caused billions of dollars in damage. A few notable snowfall totals from this storm include the more than 50 inches (125 cm+) that fell at Wolf Creek pass in Colorado, 26 inches (65 cm) that fell just south of Casper and 18 inches (45 cm) of snow, falling in Kadoka.^[41][42]

Mid-April blizzard[]

A historic mid-April winter storm produced several feet of snow across the Northern Plains and Midwest, with snowfall rates exceeding 2 inches per hour at times, combined with powerful winds resulted in widespread blizzard conditions. In the previous year, Minneapolis and St Paul had their largest April winter storm on record, although that record may have been challenged.^[43]

See also[]

• 2018–19 European windstorm season

References[]

 This article incorporates public domain material from websites or documents of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

External links[]

• 2018 Storm Summaries from the Weather Prediction Center
• 2019 Storm Summaries from the Weather Prediction Center