A winter storm,unofficially named Winter Storm Benji by The Weather Channel and Storm Zubin by the Free University of Berlin,impacted parts of the Southern,Mid-Atlantic,and Northeastern United States,and later across parts of Europe in December 2017. First developing as a low-pressure area in the Gulf of Mexico,the storm system impacted the Southern United States on December 8,producing rare snowfalls and causing travel impacts across the South. The low then moved northeastward,reaching the Big Bend and western Florida,while continuing to produce snowfall north of the low,across a narrow band stretching from Alabama to North Carolina. A second low-pressure area formed on December 9,producing snow across the East Coast of the United States,including parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States,before the low moved inland over Nova Scotia and the Maritimes the day after. After moving offshore,the low-pressure area strengthened,progressing over the northern Atlantic Ocean before moving over Sweden and Finland and dissipating.
The storm in the Southern United States set numerous snowfall records across Texas,Louisiana,and Mississippi,while also causing extensive damage to power infrastructure and property. Snow accumulated across parts of the Florida panhandle,with flurries being reported as far south as Miramar Beach,Destin,and Pensacola. In southern Florida,severe weather also occurred after a squall line developed along a cold front,which produced wind damage across western and southern parts of the state. In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States,hundreds of vehicle accidents occurred from the heavy snowfall and also resulted in New York City receiving its first major snowfall of the 2017–18 winter season. The low-pressure area associated with the storm also caused high winds across Germany and severe weather in Switzerland. Overall,the storm killed eight people and injured at least 37[a] others.
Meteorological synopsis
A map of snowfall accumulations from the winter storm
On December 5,2017,a cold front moved through southern Texas,bringing rainfall and cold air behind it.[3] The front then intensified,which caused temperatures across the region to further decrease into the 4–10°C (39–50°F) range and resulted in the cooling of the atmosphere by December 7.[3][4] On the same day,a separate cold front progressed across the southern Great Plains and the Southeastern United States.[5] The combination of the cooled atmosphere,cold temperatures,and the cold front resulted in a wintry mix developing across southern Texas on December 7 and 8.[3] As the cold front progressed eastward,a broad area of southwesterly wind above the atmosphere developed in the Gulf of Mexico along an upper-level trough located across the southern Plains,as moisture began to be pulled into the trough.[5][6] A low-pressure area developed in the Gulf of Mexico along a frontal boundary,and moved northeastward towards the Big Bend region in Florida.[5][7] A zone of intense frontogenesis also formed north of the low-pressure area near the Texas coast,and moved northeast parallel to the low,producing heavy snowfall across a narrow area extending from east-central Alabama to northern Georgia to western North Carolina.[5]
The winter storm left more than 185,000 power outages across businesses and homes while producing record snowfall across several areas across the region.[16] A study from the Regional Science Policy and Practice found tweets on then-Twitter (now X) increased four-fold from the week prior to the winter storm to during it.[16] Additionally,it also concluded that at-risk persons among the housing and transportation industries were most affected by the winter storm,while persons based on socioeconomic status were not;this was dependent on the acknowledgement of the winter storm by individuals.[16]
Icy conditions led to a 26-car collision on an Interstate 410 ramp near San Antonio on December 8,which injured one person and forced the closure of the ramp.[17][18] Vehicle accidents also contributed to closures on Interstate 10 and Interstate 610.[19] Numerous highways and roads were covered in ice,including Interstate 10,Interstate 45,and Interstate 69,which created hazardous travel conditions.[20] There were several vehicle crashes across the Houston area.[21][22] Snow fell across several major cities in the state,including Austin,Houston,and San Antonio,and on December 8 a trace of snow fell in Brownsville,the second-ever measurable snowfall there.[23][24]Corpus Christi received its first measurable snow since 2004,and San Antonio received snowfall in December for the second time on record,and the second-earliest snowfall there.[25][26] Measurable snow fell in Houston in December for the first time since 2009,[27] and daily snowfall records were broken on December 7 and 8.[28] The Beaumont-Port Arthur area received its first December snowfall ever,where 7.6cm (3.0in) of snow fell,and also tied for the second-highest snowfall total ever.[29] In Laredo,4.3cm (1.7in) of snow accumulated,which set a snowfall record on December 8.[24] Flights were delayed at Austin–Bergstrom International Airport,[30] where 3.3cm (1.3in) of snow fell,the first snowfall in December since 1948,[29] and nearly 63,000 power outages occurred across Texas.[31] Several people contracted hypothermia from the low temperatures and wind chills caused by the storm,which killed three people and hospitalized two others.[32] Across the state,the weather impacts caused $85,000 in property damage.[32]
As a winter weather advisory was in effect for central Louisiana,[33]Lafayette and Lake Charles recorded their snowiest December days on record,with 5.3cm (2.1in) and 4.3cm (1.7in) of snow respectively.[14][25] Snow fell across the Baton Rouge area as well,covering vehicles with snow as 8.9cm (3.5in) of snow fell,the third-highest total recorded there.[25][34] A trace of snow fell in New Orleans,[14][35] as the state experienced freezing temperatures,causing ice to form,and resulted in seven casualties.[36] In Kentwood,17cm (6.7in) of snow fell,the highest snowfall in the state,while 13cm (5.1in) of snow fell in Catahoula Parish southwest of Jonesville.[37][38][39] There were 63 vehicle crashes across St. Helena,St. Tammany,Tangipahoa,and Washington parishes,[40] and nearly 100,000 power outages across the state.[41] Icy conditions on overpasses closed parts of Interstate 10,[42] and a curfew was set in Tangipahoa Parish as more than 29,000 power outages occurred across the parish.[41][43] Several shelters were opened in New Orleans,and a warming shelter opened in St. Tammany Parish.[44] A motorcycle restriction was implemented on the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge,[45] and in Catahoula Parish,property damage amounted to $10,000.[46][47]
Mississippi and Alabama
Winter storm warnings were issued for numerous counties in Mississippi as more than 15cm (5.9in) fell across southwestern parts of the state.[48] Numerous school districts across the state were closed in preparation for the winter storm.[41]Jackson received 13cm (5.1in) of snow,the sixth-highest snowfall recorded there,while two locations separately in Jones and Lamar counties received 20cm (7.9in) of snow.[14][38] In Meridian,13cm (5.1in) of snow fell,the third-highest snowfall there.[25][38] Across the state,there were nearly 80,000 power outages,[49] and property damages amounted to $820,000.[50]
Across Alabama,the heaviest snow fell across the east of the state,mainly across Clay,Cleburne,and Randolph counties.[51] The heaviest snow in the state fell in Delta,where 38cm (15in) fell,the seventh-highest snowfall in the state's history and the second-highest in December.[51][52] In St. Clair County,15cm (5.9in) of snow fell in Ragland,a county record for the highest snowfall accumulation in a day.[52] Prior to the storm,more than thirty-six school systems were closed.[41] There were several vehicle accidents on Interstate 65,including one which closed all southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in Shelby County,in Calera.[53][54] Nearly 45,000 power outages occurred across the state,including nearly 10,000 across the Birmingham area.[55][56] In Mobile,2.5cm (0.98in) of snow fell,the earliest measurable snow there,[57] while 10cm (3.9in) of snow fell at Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport,the third-highest snowfall in December there.[57] As of December 2023,Birmingham has not seen more than 2.5cm (0.98in) of snowfall.[58]
Georgia
Before the storm impacted Georgia,winter storm warnings and advisories were in effect for numerous counties.[59] The heaviest snow fell in the north of the state,causing extensive damage to power infrastructure.[60] A seven-vehicle crash closed all lanes of the Langford Parkway in Atlanta on December 8,[61] and many schools across the state,including Metro Atlanta,were closed or dismissed early.[62][63] Nearly 1,600 flights were cancelled and another 930 delayed at Atlanta International Airport,[64][65] including the cancellation of more than 600 Delta Air Lines flights on December 8.[66] There were more than 325,000 power outages across northern Georgia,[67] including over 30,000 in the Atlanta metropolitan area.[63] One person was killed after being electrocuted by a downed power line.[68] During the storm,an emergency warming shelter was opened in Atlanta.[56][69]
The heaviest snow fell across western areas of North Carolina,causing 54 vehicle accidents.[75] One crash injured two people and briefly closed all eastbound lanes of Interstate 40,[75] and another crash near Sylva injured one person.[76] A crash at a shopping center in Burke County injured one person,[77] and several crashes occurred on the Triangle Expressway and on Interstate 540.[73] Delays occurred across several highways,including on Interstate 26 and Interstate 40,[75] and the heaviest snow for the storm and in the state fell on Mount Mitchell,where 64cm (25in) was recorded.[78] Several flights were cancelled at Asheville Regional Airport,[79] and more than 39,000 power outages occurred across North Carolina.[80] A warming center was opened in the Asheville area by the American Red Cross.[70]
The storm caused 660 power outages across the Greenville,South Carolina area,[87] and the highest snow fell in the state near Cedar Mountain,where 23cm (9.1in) of snow was reported.[14]
Public school activities were cancelled in Virginia,including in Fairfax and Alexandria,[98] the latter of which also cancelled an ACT test across the city's school district.[95] The heaviest snow across the state fell in Henrico County,where Laurel received 13cm (5.1in) of snow.[99] Two people were killed after a car crash,[78] and there were more than 200 vehicle crashes across the state,including one which shut down all lanes of Georgetown Pike after power lines were downed.[100][101] About 18,000 power outages occurred across Virginia,[102] including 3,500 across the north of the state.[100] The storm caused $95,000 in property damage.[103]
Flights were disrupted at Munich Airport in Germany,including one being cancelled and two which were delayed.[118] Severe weather and high winds in Switzerland uprooted trees,some of which obstructed roads,and caused property damage in Baselland.[118] A woman was killed when a tree fell on her tent.[118] High winds also overturned barriers at multiple construction sites,and felled a tree onto a moving vehicle.[118] Fallen trees blocked transit lines in Bruderholz[de],and many calls were made to Baselland public safety for assistance.[118]
↑ This includes 31 injury crashes across Connecticut;[1] it is unknown exactly how many injuries occurred. Not included are crashes resulting in hospitalizations in Massachusetts, as there is no exact total of the numbers of crashes or injuries.[2]
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