January 2019 North American winter storm
Category 1 "Notable" (RSI/NOAA: 2.83) | |
| Type | Extratropical Winter storm Ice storm Tornado outbreak |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 16, 2019 |
| Dissipated | January 21, 2019 |
| Highest winds |
|
| Highest gust | 164 mph (263 km/h) at Mammoth Mountain, California |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 10 |
| Max. rating1 | EF2 tornado |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 52 inches (130 cm) at Squaw Valley, California |
| Fatalities | 10 |
| Power outages | 100,000+ |
| Areas affected | Southwestern United States, Rocky Mountains, Midwest, Northeastern United States, Eastern Canada |
Part of the 2018–19 North American winter 1Most severe tornado damage; see Enhanced Fujita scale | |
The January 2019 North American winter storm was a long-lived winter storm, forming as a large area of low pressure off the Pacific Northwest shoreline January 16, making its way to the Northeast by January 21. Its effects included heavy rain/high elevation snow and gusty winds in California, severe weather in the south, near-blizzard conditions in Upstate New York, an ice storm in New England and minor coastal flooding in the Mid-Atlantic.[1]
Meteorological history[]
A large area of low pressure formed just off the coast of the Pacific Northwest January 16th, before making landfall in California January 17th. Very heavy, high-elevation snow fell in the Sierra Nevada and Rocky Mountain ranges. The storm tracked across the Great Plains and through the Midwest before delivering heavy snow to the mountains of Upstate New York and Northern New England, eventually moving through Atlantic Canada and drifting out to sea.
Impacts[]
California[]
The storm entered North America via California, as it made landfall January 16th and 17th. Moisture from the storm caused heavy, high elevation snow in the Sierra Nevada mountain range, peaking at 52 inches (130 cm) in Squaw Valley. Winds gusted up to 162 mph (263 km/h) at the top of Mammoth Mountain. The powerful winds knocked out power to 97,000 statewide.
Colorado[]
The Rocky Mountains in Colorado also experienced heavy snow, although lighter than in California.[2]
North Dakota & South Dakota[]
Light to moderate snow and gusty winds affected travel across the states.
Missouri[]
Travel was halted by the storm in Missouri. 575 motorists were stranded, 285 car accidents occurred, 43 people were injured and two suffered fatal injuries.
Indiana[]
Ice accumulation followed a period of freezing rain.
Minnesota[]
In Minnesota, there were five reported collisions with snow plows by cars in 24 hours.[3]
New York[]
A band of heavy snow resulted in the accumulation of 1 to 2 feet (30 to 60 cm) of snow in Upstate New York, primarily in the mountains.
Vermont and New Hampshire[]
Heavy snow fell in much of both states.
Connecticut[]
The storm affected the state as an ice storm. Ice accumulations peaked at 1/6 of an inch. Power outages and tree damage affected the places hit worst.
Massachusetts[]
Springfield, Massachusetts reported a quarter inch of ice accretion. In Cape Cod, mostly rain occurred.[4]
Maine[]
The heaviest snow in the Northeast from the storm fell in Maine, with some localities reporting more than 2 feet (60 cm+) of snow.[5]
Pennsylvania[]
Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf declared a state of emergency ahead of the storm, expecting snowfall rates up to 2 inches (5 cm) per hour. A 24-hour commercial vehicle ban was put in place for all interstates besides the I-95, although speed limits were reduced.
New Jersey[]
A state of emergency was declared days before the storm hit.[6]
Tornado outbreak in the southeast[]
At the southern end of the cold front, multiple states in the southeast and on the Gulf Coast were impacted by a small, early-season tornado outbreak. 10 tornadoes touched down across the affected states.[7]
Louisiana[]
An EF-1, with 105 mph winds, uprooted trees and damaged homes in Washington Parish.
Mississippi[]
Rankin county was hit with an EF-0 earlier in the day before being struck again, this time by an EF-1, a few hours later.
Alabama[]
The town of Wetumpka was impacted by an EF-2 tornado. The town's mayor, Jerry Willis said at a news conference that the town "suffered a tremendous amount of damage." Four injuries were reported. The historic First Presbyterian Church in Wetumpka was destroyed. The state was hit with two other tornadoes, both rated EF-1, touching down in Autauga and Coosa counties.
Florida[]
Tyndall AFB, which had already been devastated by Hurricane Michael 3 months prior, reported EF-1 tornado damage.
See also[]
- March 2019 North American blizzard – another powerful winter storm/blizzard that affected the United States and Eastern Canada less than 2 months after
- January 2019 North American cold wave – the cold wave that followed this winter storm
References[]
- ^ https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2019-01-15-winter-storm-harper-snow-forecast-plains-midwest-northeast
- ^ "Final in a Series of Storms to Pound California Through Thursday". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ District 6, MnDOT (2019-01-19). "At least five snowplows were hit in Minnesota in the past 24-hours, including this crash near Belle Plaine. Please give our drivers room to work. Slow down. Avoid distractions. Keep distance between vehicles. #MnDOThttps://twitter.com/JDLauritsen/status/1086420521233850369 …". @mndotsoutheast. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
{{cite web}}: External link in|title= - ^ "Winter storm harper bringing snow to plains, midwest and northeast".
- ^ "Winter Storm Harper Could Mean Major Snow from Plains to NE". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ "State of emergency declared in Pennsylvania, New Jersey as Midwest, Northeast rush to finalize snowstorm preparations - AccuWeather.com". m.accuweather.com. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- ^ "Tornadoes Tear Through South: Extensive Damage Reported in Wetumpka, Alabama". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 2019-03-27.
- 2019 natural disasters in the United States
- 2018–19 North American winter
- Storms
- January 2019 events in the United States