![]() Average temperature departure for the United States in February 2015, showcasing the well-below average temperatures in the eastern half of the country | |
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | Early February 2015 |
Dissipated | Mid-March 2015 |
Cold wave | |
Lowest temperature | −39 °F (−39 °C) in Roscommon,Michigan on February 20 [1] |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | 38 [2] [3] [4] |
Damage | >$1.4 million |
Areas affected | Canada,East Coast of the United States |
Part of the 2014–15 North American winter |
The February 2015 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that affected most of Canada and the eastern half of the United States. Following an earlier cold wave in the winter,the period of below-average temperatures contributed to an already unusually cold winter for the Eastern U.S. Several places broke their records for their coldest February on record,while some areas came very close. The cause of the cold wave was due to the polar vortex advancing southward into the eastern parts of the U.S,and even making it as far south as the Southeast,where large snow falls are rare. By the beginning of March,although the pattern did continue for the first week,it abated and retreated near the official end of the winter.
In addition to the extremely cold weather,multiple winter storms affected nearly the entire United States,especially in the snow-weary Northeast,which had already seen nearly 3 feet (0.91 m) of snow in the latter part of January;this was added to by roughly 3–4 feet (0.91–1.22 m) more snow,leading to Boston having its highest seasonal snowfall on record.
Like most American cold waves,this was caused by the southward movement of the polar vortex into the United States due to changes in the jet stream in early February 2015. However,unlike most which last for a few days,this one remained for much of the entire month. This was partly due to the Ridiculously Resilient Ridge,which persisted over parts of Alaska for much of the month,essentially keeping the jet stream pattern "locked" for several weeks. This allowed for bitterly cold air masses to migrate southward into the eastern part of the country,leading to well-below average temperatures. [5]
The average temperature in Boston for January was 2.9 °F (1.6 °C) below the 1981–2010 normal,and the average temperature in February was 19.0 °F (−7.2 °C),which was 12.7 °F (7.1 °C) below the 1981–2010 normal,making it the second-coldest month of any month all-time,behind February 1934. March was 5.2 °F (2.9 °C) below average. By the end of a period spanning from the beginning of February to the end of December,Worcester,Massachusetts,saw a record 101.4 inches (258 cm) of snowfall,breaking the 86.7 inches (220 cm) record set in 2004–05,which was 54.3 inches (138 cm) over the average. Hartford,Connecticut,and Providence,Rhode Island,saw similar below-average temperatures for the two months,with Hartford's February finish of 16.1 °F (−8.8 °C) besting February 1934 to become the coldest month of any month all-time in record keeping. [6] [7]
The average temperature in Bangor,Maine,for February was 6.2 °F (−14.3 °C),about 15 °F (8.3 °C) below normal,breaking the old record of 8.4 °F (−13.1 °C) set in January 1994. Portland,Maine,also saw a record coldest average monthly temperature of 13.8 °F (−10.1 °C) in February. On February 24,2015,the temperature at Dulles International Airport in Northern Virginia dipped to −4 °F (−20 °C),breaking the previous daily record of 14 °F (−10 °C) set in 1967 (but not the all-time low at the airport of -18 °F or -28 °C set on January 22,1984). [8]
Rutland,Vermont,saw a record averaged cold for February of 5.2 °F (−14.9 °C),breaking its previous record of 7.4 °F (−13.7 °C) set in 1934. Montpelier,Vermont,realized its coldest February with an average temperature of 5.1 °F (−14.9 °C),3.0 °F (1.7 °C) below the 1979 record of 8.1 °F (−13.3 °C). [9]
The average February temperature in Syracuse,New York,was 16.7 °F (9.3 °C) degrees below normal at 9.1 °F (−12.7 °C),breaking by 3 degrees the record set in February 1934. [10] They saw a record 25 days below 0 °F (−18 °C). [11] Ithaca,New York also had its coldest month in record keeping with an average temperature of 10.6 °F (−11.9 °C). [12] While New York City didn't have its coldest February on record,the average temperature of 23.9 °F (−4.5 °C) was still its 3rd coldest. [13] Only one day,February 20,set daily records for cold,at 2 °F (−17 °C). [14] However,one of the NWS New York reporting sites,Islip,did see their coldest month on record,with a mean temperature of 21.4 °F (−5.9 °C). [15] JFK International Airport realized its coldest February and second coldest month on record as well,with a temperature of 24.6 °F (−4.1 °C). However,records don't go back as far as they do in Central Park. [16]
The average temperature in Buffalo,New York,set a record in February for its all-time coldest month with an average temperature of 10.9 °F (−11.7 °C). breaking the prior record set in 1934 of 11.6 °F (−11.3 °C). Before that,the previous coldest February was in 1875 with an average temperature of 13.4 °F (−10.3 °C). It was also the second time in history that the entire month of February was below freezing. [17] Other cities that broke cold weather records for February included Cleveland,at 14.3 °F (−9.8 °C),while Chicago tied its February 1875 record at 14.6 °F (−9.7 °C). [18] Rochester,New York,also set a record for coldest month overall. [19]
In February 2015,nine states (Connecticut,Maine,Massachusetts,New Hampshire,New York,Ohio,Pennsylvania and Vermont) had their second coldest February. [20] New York and Vermont had its coldest first quarter on record in 2015. [21] New Jersey also had one of the coldest February's in 2015,and the coldest month since January 1994.
During the cold wave,several intense bursts of Arctic air intruded down the Eastern United States. February 15 became the coldest day in Buffalo in over two decades,with a high of 2 °F (−17 °C) at 12:20 a.m. and a low of −10 °F (−23 °C),leading to a mean temperature of −4 °F (−20 °C). On February 16,Erie,Pennsylvania tied their all time record low of −18 °F (−28 °C). Flint,Michigan set a daily record low and saw the coldest temperature of −21 °F (−29 °C). [22] On February 18,Mount LeConte hit a record low of −23 °F (−31 °C),although unofficial records dictate a colder temperature in 1985. [23] An arctic blast on February 20 was even more intense. Lynchburg,Virginia set an all time record low of −11 °F (−24 °C),Flint,Michigan tied a record low of −25 °F (−32 °C),and Jamestown,New York set an all time record low of −31 °F (−35 °C). Several cities in Ohio,such as Toledo,Youngstown and Cleveland set or tie monthly record lows. A temperature of −31 °F (−35 °C) in Kentucky tied the states monthly record low. Even Key West,Florida reached 49 °F (9 °C),setting a daily record low. Crestview,further north in the state,reached 19 °F (−7 °C). [24] Parts of Michigan,at −39 °F (−39 °C),were only 5°F (3°C) warmer then the North Pole. [1] In the second cold snap,a man was found dead in Coney Island. [25] In addition,ice on the Hudson River forced several Circle Line boat tours to be cancelled. [26]
Toronto recorded its coldest month on record in February with −12.6 °C (9.3 °F) at Pearson Airport,tying with February 1875 (recorded in downtown) and beating the previous record of −12.4 °C (9.7 °F) set in January 1994. [27] In Ottawa,the average temperature was even lower,at −16.8 °C (1.8 °F),which also set a February record. [28] Sarnia set a record for their coldest month ever,at −12.0 °C (10.4 °F). [29] Further west,Thunder Bay recorded their coldest February on record,with a mean temperature of −19.6 °C (−3.3 °F). [30]
In Quebec,Montreal experienced its coldest February on record with an extended cold spell and an average temperature of −15.0 °C (5.0 °F). [31] The province of Quebec as a whole averaged −15.3 °C (4.5 °F),making it the coldest February in provincial history. [32] Some cities fared especially poorly,such as Quebec City,which realized an average temperature of only −17.8 °C (0.0 °F). [33]
Most of the northern half of the United States and most of Canada saw several winter storms impact them;each of them had somewhat unique traits. At the start of the month,a major snowstorm was moving across the country,having previously brought blizzard conditions to the Midwest,especially in Chicago,Illinois,where more than a foot of snow was recorded. This storm continued to dump large amounts of snow as it progressed into the Northeast and New England,before finally exiting offshore. [34]
Less than a week later,another winter storm struck New England,with up to nearly 2 feet (24 in) of snow recorded in Boston,Massachusetts over a period of two days. [35] This was the beginning of a three-week streak of winter storms that would progress into the Northeast (with the expectation of one system which went further south).[ citation needed ] These winter storms caused $1 billion in losses to Massachusetts alone. The 110 inch season was Boston's highest on record. The snowmelt pile in the Seaport district didn't finish melting until July 14. [36] [37]
Around the middle of the month,near Valentine's Day,a powerful blizzard struck the Northeast again,bringing strong winds and more heavy snowfall. After,as the storm exited,it ushered in the coldest air to impact the Northeast in decades,with temperatures dipping as far as 30–40 °F (17–22 °C) below average. Several places broke record lows for February,and temperatures even dipped below 0 °F (−18 °C) in a good part of the Northeast. [38] [39]
Several more winter storms followed afterward,but one of the more notable ones was the one that occurred from February 25–26. This particular storm took an unusual track into the Southeastern United States as the jet stream along with the polar vortex pushed even further southward,resulting in heavy snowfall in states that rarely see it at all,this included Mississippi,Alabama,Georgia,and the Carolinas. Up to 18 inches (46 cm) fell in the hardest hit areas,which was in North Carolina and Virginia. [40]
Due to the cold wave,February 2015 saw only two tornadoes. [41] In addition,Great Lakes ice extent reached its 3rd highest on record. [42]
The Great Blizzard of 1899, also known as the Great Arctic Outbreak of 1899 and the St. Valentine's Day Blizzard, was an exceptionally severe winter weather event that affected most of the United States, particularly east of the Rocky Mountains. On February 11, Swift Current in present-day Saskatchewan reported a record-high barometric pressure of 31.42 inches of mercury (1,064 mb). While there was heavy snow during this event, the 1899 storm was most noted for the record cold it brought to several areas of the USA, including the first below 0 °F (−17.8 °C) temperature ever recorded in Florida, when the state capital Tallahassee in the extreme northern Panhandle recorded −2 °F or −18.9 °C.
A cold wave is a weather phenomenon that is distinguished by a cooling of the air. Specifically, as used by the U.S. National Weather Service, a cold wave is a rapid fall in temperature within a 24-hour period requiring substantially increased protection to agriculture, industry, commerce, and social activities. The precise criteria for a cold wave are the rate at which the temperature falls, and the minimum to which it falls. This minimum temperature is dependent on the geographical region and time of year.
The cold wave of 1978 was a weather event that occurred in the Eastern United States. Beginning in December 1977 and lasting until March, it produced one of the coldest winters on record in all states east of the Rocky Mountains, except Maine.
North Dakota's climate is typical of a continental climate with cold winters and warm-hot summers. The state's location in the Upper Midwest allows it to experience some of the widest variety of weather in the United States, and each of the four seasons has its own distinct characteristics. The eastern half of the state has a humid continental climate with warm to hot, somewhat humid summers and cold, windy winters, while the western half has a semi-arid climate with less precipitation and less humidity but similar temperature profiles. The areas east of the Missouri River get slightly colder winters, while those west of the stream get higher summer daytime temperatures. In general, the diurnal temperature difference is prone to be more significant in the west due to higher elevation and less humidity.
The 2013 extreme weather events included several all-time temperature records in Northern and Southern Hemisphere. The February extent of snow cover in Eurasia and North America was above average, while the extent of Arctic ice in the same month was 4.5% below the 1981–2010 average. The Northern Hemisphere weather extremes have been linked to the melting of Arctic sea ice, which alters atmospheric circulation in a way that leads to more snow and ice.
The 1994 North American cold wave occurred over the midwestern and eastern regions of the United States and southern Canada in January 1994. The cold wave caused over 100 deaths in the United States. Two notable cold air events took place from January 18–19 and January 21–22. There were 67 minimum temperature records set on January 19. During this time, much of the United States experienced its coldest temperatures since a major storm on February 20, 1934.
The January–March 2014 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that extended through the late winter months of the 2013–2014 winter season, and was also part of an unusually cold winter affecting parts of Canada and parts of the north-central and northeastern United States. The event occurred in early 2014 and was caused by a southward shift of the North Polar Vortex. Record-low temperatures also extended well into March.
The 2013–14 North American winter was one of the most significant for the United States, due in part to the breakdown of the polar vortex in November 2013, which allowed very cold air to travel down into the United States, leading to an extended period of very cold temperatures. The pattern continued mostly uninterrupted throughout the winter and numerous significant winter storms affected the Eastern United States, with the most notable one being a powerful winter storm that dumped ice and snow in the Southeastern United States and the Northeastern United States in mid-February. Most of the cold weather abated by the end of March, though a few winter storms did affect the Western United States towards the end of the winter.
The November 2014 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that occurred across most of Canada and the contiguous United States, including parts of the Western United States up to western California. One of the first events of the winter, the cold wave was caused by the northward movement of an extremely powerful bomb cyclone associated with Typhoon Nuri's remnant, which shifted the jet stream far northward, creating an omega block pattern. This allowed a piece of the polar vortex to advance southward into the Central and Eastern United States, bringing record-cold temperatures to much of the region. In contrast, Alaska experienced above-average temperatures.
The 2014–15 North American winter was frigid and prolifically wintry, especially across the eastern half of North America in the months of January–March. The season began early, with many places in North America experiencing their first wintry weather during mid-November. A period of below-average temperatures affected much of the contiguous United States, and several records were broken. An early trace of snowfall was recorded in Arkansas. There were greater accumulations of snow across parts of Oklahoma as well. A quasi-permanent phenomenon referred to as the polar vortex may have been partly responsible for the cold weather. Temperatures in much of the United States dropped 15 to 35 °F below average by November 19, following a southward "dip" of the polar vortex into the eastern two-thirds of the country. The effects of this dip were widespread, bringing about temperatures as low as 28 °F (−2 °C) in Pensacola, Florida. Following a significant snowstorm there, Buffalo, New York received several feet of snow from November 17–21. In addition, significant winter weather occurred throughout the season, including a major blizzard that struck the Northeastern United States at the end of January, another blizzard that affected much of the Northern United States days later in early February, and several significant snow events paired with very frigid temperatures for much of February.
The 2015–16 North American winter was not as frigid across North America and the United States as compared to the 2013–14 and 2014–15 winters. This was mainly due to a strong El Niño, which caused generally warmer-than-average conditions. However, despite the warmth, significant weather systems still occurred, including a snowstorm and flash flooding in Texas at the end of December and a large tornado outbreak at the end of February. The main event of the winter season, by far and large, was when a crippling and historic blizzard struck the Northeastern United States in late January, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in and around the metropolitan areas. Several other smaller snow events affected the Northeast as well, but for the most part the heaviest snowstorms and ice stayed out further west, such as a severe blizzard in western Texas in late December, and a major late-season snowstorm in Colorado in mid-April.
The January 2–4, 2014 North American blizzard was a major winter storm that affected much of the East Coast with snow, and frigid temperatures following the storm. The storm had dumped up to 2 ft (0.61 m) of snow in some areas, especially around Boston, Massachusetts.
The 2017–18 North American winter saw weather patterns across North America that were very active, erratic, and protracted, especially near the end of the season, resulting in widespread snow and cold across the continent during the winter. Significant events included rare snowfall in the South, an outbreak of frigid temperatures that affected the United States during the final week of 2017 and early weeks of January, and a series of strong nor'easters that affected the Northeastern United States during the month of March. In addition, flooding also took place during the month of February in the Central United States. Finally the winter came to a conclusion with a powerful storm system that caused a tornado outbreak and blizzard in mid-April. The most intense event, however, was an extremely powerful cyclonic blizzard that impacted the Northeastern United States in the first week of 2018. Similar to the previous winter, a La Niña was expected to influence the winter weather across North America.
The December 2017–January 2018 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event in North America in which record low temperatures gripped much of the Central, Eastern United States, and parts of Central and Eastern Canada. Starting in late December as a result of the southward shift of the polar vortex, extremely cold conditions froze the eastern United States in the last few days of 2017 as well as into the new year. Following a brief respite in mid-January, cold temperatures swung back into the eastern U.S. shortly afterwards. The cold wave finally dissolved by around January 19, as near-average temperatures returned.
The 2018–19 North American winter was unusually cold within the Northern 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 United States 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, the West Coast, and most of the southern Plains. Overall, the meteorological winter of 2018-19 became the wettest on record for the United States.
The 2019–20 North American winter was unusually warm for many parts of the United States; in many areas, neutral ENSO conditions controlled the weather patterns, resulting in strong El Niño like conditions and the sixth-warmest winter on record, and many areas in the Northeastern United States saw one of the least snowy winters in years. In fact, Baltimore and Islip saw no snow in February for the first time. Some notable events still occurred, such as a powerful blizzard that impacted the Western United States in late November, a series of cold shots in January and February, a snowstorm within the Texas Panhandle and a late-season blizzard in the High Plains.
The 2020–21 North American winter was the most significant winter season to affect North America in several years, and the costliest on record, with a damage total of at least $33.35 billion. The season featured 6 storms ranking on the Regional Snowfall Index scale (RSI), with 4 storms ranking as at least a Category 3. Most of the winter's damage and fatalities occurred due to a historic and major cold wave in mid-February. Several other significant events occurred, including a crippling early-season ice storm in the Southern Plains, a powerful nor'easter in mid-December, another major nor'easter in early February, two major and widespread winter storms in mid-February, and a major blizzard in the Rocky Mountains in mid-March. The winter-related events were responsible for at least 358 fatalities, making it the deadliest season since 1992–93. A La Niña pattern influenced much of the winter in North America.
The February 2021 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that brought record low temperatures to a significant portion of Canada, the United States and parts of northern Mexico during the first two-thirds of February 2021. The cold was caused by a southern migration of the polar vortex, likely caused by a sudden stratospheric warming event that occurred the prior month. Temperatures fell as much as 25–50 °F below average as far south as the Gulf Coast. Severe winter storms also were associated with the bitter cold, which allowed for heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to places as far south as Houston, Texas, and contributing to one of the snowiest winters ever in some areas in the Deep South.
The 2021–22 North American winter was not as significant and record-breaking as the previous winter season. Despite this, several notable and significant events still occurred, including two separate record-breaking tornado outbreaks in mid-December, a significant winter storm in the South in mid-January, a powerful blizzard that impacted the Northeast coast at the end of January and a wide-ranging, significant winter storm that affected most of the eastern half of the country in early February. Additional significant events included a late-season winter storm in March that affected the Appalachian Mountains, and a major blizzard that affected North and South Dakota in mid-April. Additionally, a very late out-of-season snowstorm struck the Rocky Mountains in late May. During the season, four storms have been ranked on the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI), although none attained the “Major” category. Similar to the previous winter, a developing La Niña was expected to influence weather patterns across the continent.
The 2022–23 North American winter was an unusually warm winter for the east and an unusually cold winter for the west in North America, as it occurred across the continent from late 2022 to early 2023. The winter season in North America began at the winter solstice, which occurred on December 21, 2022, and it ended at the March equinox, which occurred on March 20, 2023. The first day of meteorological winter began on December 1 and unofficially ended on February 28; winter storms may still occur outside of these limits.