The January 13–16,2024 North American winter storm brought wide-ranging and significant impacts across much of the continental United States,particularly in the Southern regions of the country. Originating as an extratropical cyclone over the northeastern Pacific Ocean on January 12,the system,unofficially named Winter Storm Heather by The Weather Channel,moved ashore the following day,bringing heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to areas closer to the coastline than usual. The winter storm then weakened over the Rocky Mountains,and leftover energy combined with an arctic front settling in near the Gulf Coast resulted in wintry precipitation in states that rarely receive it such as Texas,Louisiana,and Florida. The system then consolidated and intensified slightly as it began to move northwards towards the Mid-Atlantic states. It then moved just offshore and brought accumulating snowfall to most of the region as well as New England on January 16–17 before it moved into Canada soon after.
Widespread,significant and deadly impacts were observed from coast to coast in the U.S. due to the winter storm,as areas that normally did not receive frozen precipitation were affected adversely. In the Northwest,ice accumulations and high wind gusts knocked out power to many as the system moved ashore,in addition to later triggering avalanches in the mountainous regions of the states of Colorado and Utah the following day. Further east,bitter cold combined with the winter storm resulted in at least 30 deaths in the South,in addition to wintry weather resulting in closures and traffic delays across a large portion of the Southern United States. In the mid-Atlantic and New England,cities like New York City,Washington D.C. and Philadelphia saw their first accumulating snowfall over 1 inch (2.5cm) in nearly two years,ending a record 700-plus-day streak with no such accumulation.
Meteorological history
The winter storm entered the Pacific Northwest on January 12,bringing heavy snow,ice,and high winds to Northern Oregon. The storm also triggered avalanches in Utah and Colorado. The storm then dove southeast,bringing heavy snow in Texas and Tennessee. The storm then brought the first significant snow in years to the Northeastern United States before exiting.[2]
Preparations and impact
335,000 flights were delayed from January 13 to 16th,with 8,600 cancellations,largely due to weather.[3]
Northwestern United States
Oregon
In the Columbia River Gorge,hurricane-force wind gusts were reported.[4] Winds in the Columbia River Gorge reached 80mph (130km/h),with gusts over 50mph (80km/h) in Portland.[5] Cold air exiting the Columbia Basin produced the strong winds through the Gorge and into the Portland metropolitan area and Willamette Valley kept temperatures at the surface below freezing while warm onshore flow aloft created a temperature inversion. Freezing rain caused significant ice accumulations with some areas experiencing up to nearly 1.5 inches (38mm).[6]
Steel ruler stabbed into ice over pavement,western Eugene.
The strong wind and ice accumulation in the Portland area resulted in widespread trees being blown down.[4] Over 200,000 customers lost power throughout the state. Eleven people were reportedly killed with victims being crushed by fallen trees,experiencing hypothermia,or being electrocuted by fallen power lines.[8][9] Colleges across the area closed due to the hazardous weather,[10] as did Crater Lake National Park.[11]
Southern United States
Heavy snow fell in the Southeastern United States,with 7.6in (19cm) of snow in Nashville and 3.4in (8.6cm) of snow in Memphis.[12] The heavy snow in Tennessee shut down Great Smoky Mountains National Park.[13] 30 dogs had to be rescued in Nashville at an impound location due to the winter weather and bitter temperatures.[14]
Prior to the arrival of the winter storm and associated cold in Texas,officials assured residents that the power grid was ready to handle the weather,after the crippling of the state's power grid during a previous winter storm in February 2021.[15] They advised citizens to conserve power and that the cold weather would not last as long as the 2021 event. In the city of Houston,an 18 wheeler overturned on I-10,shutting down the highway.[16] An injury also occurred due to a car pileup on Texas State Highway 121.[17] Lake effect snow occurred in North Texas,with 2.3in (5.8cm) of snow in Coppell and 2in (5.1cm) of snow in Forney.[18]
Most of Massachusetts received around 2in (5.1cm) of snow,though some locations in the state picked up 4in (10cm).[37] The snow resulted in 100 flight cancellations and 290 delays at Boston Logan International Airport.[38]
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