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The following is a list of major snow and ice events in the United States that have caused noteworthy damage and destruction in their wake. The categories presented below are not used to measure the strength of a storm, but are rather indicators of how severely the snowfall affected the population in the storm's path. Some information such as snowfall amounts or lowest pressure may be unavailable due to a lack of documentation. Winter storms can produce both ice and snow, but are usually more notable in one of these two categories. The "Maximum accumulation" sections reflect the more notable category which is represented in inches of snow unless otherwise stated. Only category 1 and higher storms as defined by their regional snowfall index are included here.
Category | RSI value | Description | |||
Five | 18.0+ | Extreme | |||
Four | 10–18 | Crippling | |||
Three | 6–10 | Major | |||
Two | 3–6 | Significant | |||
One | 1–3 | Notable | |||
Zero | <1.0 | Nuisance |
The following is a table that shows North American winter season summaries dating back to 2009. 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. The first is astronomical winter, which has the season starting on a date known as the winter solstice, often on or around December 21. The season lasts until the spring equinox, which often occurs on or around March 20. The second has to do with meteorological winter which varies with latitude for a start date. [1] Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Since both definitions span the start of the calendar year, it is possible to have a winter storm occur two different years.
Winter Season | Maximum accumulation | Number of RSI events |
---|---|---|
2009–2010 | 53 inches (130 cm) (February 25–27, 2010) | 7 |
2010–2011 | 50 inches (130 cm) (January 16–20, 2012) | 10 |
2011–2012 | 53 inches (130 cm) (February 25–27, 2010) | 3 |
2012–2013 | 40 inches (100 cm) (February 7–18, 2013) | 9 |
2013–2014 | 58 inches (150 cm) (October 3–7, 2013) | 10 |
2014–2015 | 88 inches (220 cm) (November 13–21, 2014) | 9 |
2015–2016 | 51.3 inches (130 cm) (April 15–23, 2016) | 4 |
2016–2017 | 58 inches (150 cm) (March 11–15, 2017) | 4 |
2017–2018 | 39.3 inches (100 cm) (March 1–3, 2018) | 7 |
2018–2019 | 52 inches (130 cm) (March 8–16, 2019) | 8 |
2019–2020 | 114 inches (290 cm) (Mid-March blizzard) | 1 |
2020–2021 | 107 inches (270 cm) (January 25–February 3, 2021) | 6 |
2021–2022 | 60 inches (150 cm) (December 13–18, 2021) | 4 |
2022–2023 | 81.2 inches (206 cm) (November 16–20, 2022) | 3 |
Year | Date | Maximum accumulation | Lowest pressure | Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1717 [lower-alpha 1] | February 27 – March 7 | — | — | Storm |
1804 | October 4–11 | 48 inches (120 cm) | 977 hPa (28.9 inHg) [lower-alpha 2] | Blizzard |
1886 | January 6–11 | 18.5 inches (47 cm) | — | Blizzard |
1888 | January 12–13 | 6 inches (15 cm) | — | |
March 11–14 | 58 inches (150 cm) | 982 hPa (29.0 inHg) | ||
1899 | February 10–14 [2] | — | — |
Year | Date | Maximum accumulation | Lowest pressure | Type | Category (RSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1905 | November 27–28 [3] | — | 991 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Storm | — |
1913 | November 6–11 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 968.5 hPa (28.60 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
1920 | March 15–18 | — | — | Blizzard | — |
1922 | January 27–29 | — | — | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1940 | November 10–12 | 27 inches (69 cm) | 971 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
1944 | December 10-13 | 36 inches (91 cm) | — | Storm | Category 3 |
1947 | December 25–26 | 26.4 inches (67 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 3 |
1950 | November 24–30 | 57 inches (140 cm) | 978 hPa (28.9 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1952 | February 17–18 | — | — | Storm | — |
1956 | March 18–19 | — | — | Blizzard | — |
1958 | March 18–21 | — | — | Storm | Category 3 |
1960 | December 11–12 | 21.4 inches (54 cm) | 966 hPa (28.5 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
1961 | January 1–3 | 8 inches (20 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | — | Ice storm | — |
1963 | October 25–30 | 48 inches (120 cm) | 948 hPa (28.0 inHg) [lower-alpha 4] | Storm | — |
1966 | January 27–31 | 103 inches (260 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 4 |
1967 | January 26–27 | 23 inches (58 cm) | 997 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1969 | February 8–10 | — | 970 hPa (29 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
March 5–8 | — | — | Storm | — | |
December 25–28 | — | 976 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Storm | — | |
1971 | March 3–5 | — | — | Blizzard | — |
1973 | December 16–17 | 1 inch (2.5 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | 992 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Ice storm | — |
1975 | January 9–12 | 27 inches (69 cm) | 961 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 |
1976 | February 2 | 56 inches (140 cm) | 957 hPa (28.3 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
1977 | January 28 – February 1 | 100 inches (250 cm) | — | Blizzard | — |
1978 | January 25–27 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 955.5 hPa (28.22 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
February 5–7 | 40 inches (100 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 5 | |
1979 | January 13–14 | 21 inches (53 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 4 |
1991 | October 31 – November 3 | 37 inches (94 cm) | 984 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1992 | December 10–12 | 48 inches (120 cm) | 985 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
1993 | March 12–15 | 69 inches (180 cm) | 960 hPa (28 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1995 | February 2–6 | 20 inches (51 cm) | 962 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 |
1996 | January 6–10 | 48 inches (120 cm) | 980 hPa (29 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
1997 | March 31 – April 1 | — | 979 hPa (28.9 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
October 24–26 | — | — | Storm | — | |
1998 | January 4–10 | 5 inches (13 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | — | Ice storm | — |
1999 | January 2–4 | 21.6 inches (55 cm) | — | Storm | Category 4 |
January 14–15 | — | — | Ice storm | — | |
Year | Date | Maximum accumulation | Lowest pressure | Type | Category (RSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | January 18–30 | 30 inches (76 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 3 |
December 27–31 | 30 inches (76 cm) | — | Storm | Category 2 | |
2002 | January 29–31 | 3 inches (7.6 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | — | Ice storm | Category 2 |
February 7 | — | 994 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Storm | — | |
December 4–5 | — | — | Ice storm | — | |
2003 | February 14–19 | 44 inches (110 cm) | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 |
December 5–8 | 35.6 inches (90 cm) | 992 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
2004 | December 21–24 | 39 inches (99 cm) | 984 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Storm | Category 4 |
December 24–28 | 18 inches (46 cm) [lower-alpha 5] | 964 hPa (28.5 inHg) | Storm | — | |
2005 | January 20–23 | 40.5 inches (103 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 4 |
December 14–16 | 0.75 inches (1.9 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | — | Ice storm | — | |
2006 | February 11–13 | 30.2 inches (77 cm) | 971 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
October 11–13 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 980 hPa (29 inHg) | Storm | — | |
November 20–24 | 5 inches (13 cm) [lower-alpha 6] | 944 hPa (27.9 inHg) | Storm | — | |
November 26 – December 1 | — | — | Storm | — | |
December 20–31 | 32 inches (81 cm) [lower-alpha 1] | — | Blizzard | — | |
2007 | January 11–24 | 4 inches (10 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | 961 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Ice storm | Category 2 |
February 12–20 | 48 inches (120 cm) | 970 hPa (29 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
April 13–17 | 23 inches (58 cm) | 969 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Storm | Category 1 | |
November 29 – December 4 | 14 inches (36 cm) [lower-alpha 1] | 952 hPa (28.1 inHg) | Storm | — | |
November 29 – December 5 | 44 inches (110 cm) | 976 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Storm | — | |
December 8–18 | 24 inches (61 cm) [lower-alpha 1] | 974 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Various | — | |
2008 | January 3–11 | — | 956 hPa (28.2 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
March 6–10 | 28.5 inches (72 cm) | 984 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
December 11–12 | — | — | Ice storm | — | |
December 19–25 | — | — | Storm | — | |
2009 | January 25–30 | 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Ice storm | — |
October 13–20 | 23 inches (58 cm) | 966 hPa (28.5 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
December 16–20 | 26.3 inches (67 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 | |
December 22–28 | 40 inches (100 cm) | 985 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
Year | Date | Maximum accumulation | Lowest pressure | Type | Category (RSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2010 | February 5–6 | 38.3 inches (97 cm) | 978 hPa (28.9 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 |
February 9–10 | 27.5 inches (70 cm) | 969 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
February 25–27 | 53 inches (130 cm) | 972 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 | |
March 12–16 | — | 993 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Storm | — | |
October 23–28 | 9 inches (23 cm) | 955.2 hPa (28.21 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
December 5–29 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 960 hPa (28 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
2011 | January 8–13 | 40.5 inches (103 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 2 |
January 25–27 | — | — | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
January 31 – February 2 | 27 inches (69 cm) | 996 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 | |
October 28 – November 1 | 32 inches (81 cm) | 971 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
November 8–10 | 6.4 inches (16 cm) | 943 hPa (27.8 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
2012 | January 16–20 | 50 inches (130 cm) | 992 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
October 29 – November 2 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 940 hPa (28 inHg) [lower-alpha 7] | Storm | — | |
November 7–10 | 13.5 inches (34 cm) | 984 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Storm | Category 1 | |
December 17–22 | 15.2 inches (39 cm) | 971 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
December 25–28 | 27 inches (69 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
2013 | February 7–18 | 40 inches (100 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 |
March 1–10 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 986 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
October 3–5 | 58 inches (150 cm) | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
November 22-27 | 48 inches (120 cm) | N/A | Storm | — | |
December 19–23 | 14 inches (36 cm) | 997 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Storm | — | |
2014 | December 30 – January 6 | 23.8 inches (60 cm) | 936 hPa (27.6 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 |
January 19–24 | 18.3 inches (46 cm) | 962 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
January 27–31 | 10 inches (25 cm) | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
February 11–24 | 27.5 inches (70 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 | |
November 7–13 | — | — | Blizzard | — | |
November 13–21 | 88 inches (220 cm) | 961 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Storm | — | |
2015 | January 23–30 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 970 hPa (29 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 |
January 31 – February 2 | 24.1 inches (61 cm) | 978 hPa (28.9 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
February 12–17 | 27.4 inches (70 cm) | 958 hPa (28.3 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
March 1–6 | 54.6 inches (139 cm) | 993 hPa (29.3 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
November 24–27 | 1.5 inches (3.8 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | 994 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Ice storm | — | |
December 26–30 | 41 inches (100 cm) | 989 hPa (29.2 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
2016 | January 21–24 | 42 inches (110 cm) | 983 hPa (29.0 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 5 |
January 29 – February 7 | 41 inches (100 cm) | — | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
February 7–10 | 11 inches (28 cm) | 976 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
February 23–24 | 17 inches (43 cm) | — | Storm | — | |
March 21–25 | 32.5 inches (83 cm) | 989 hPa (29.2 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
April 15–23 | 51.3 inches (130 cm) | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
2017 | January 4–8 | 56 inches (140 cm) | 987 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
January 7–13, 19–24 February 8–22 | — | — | Storm | — | |
January 10–17 | 1 inch (2.5 cm) [lower-alpha 3] | 999 hPa (29.5 inHg) | Ice storm | — | |
February 6–10 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 969 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
February 12–15 | 40 inches (100 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
March 11–15 | 58 inches (150 cm) | 974 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 | |
October 29-31 | 8.4 inches (21 cm) | 975 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Storm | — | |
December 8-10 | 25 inches (64 cm) | — | Storm | Category 2 | |
2018 | January 2–4 | 22 inches (56 cm) | 949 hPa (28.0 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 |
March 1–3 | 39.3 inches (100 cm) | 974 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
March 6–8 | 36 inches (91 cm) | 986 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
March 20–22 | 20.1 inches (51 cm) | 988 hPa (29.2 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 | |
April 13–15 | 33 inches (84 cm) | 985 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Storm | Category 4 | |
2019 | January 16–21 | 52 inches (130 cm) | — | Storm | Category 1 |
February 11–13 | 26.5 inches (67 cm) | — | Blizzard | — | |
March 8–16 | 52 inches (130 cm) | 968 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
April 10–14 | 30 inches (76 cm) | 982 hPa (29.0 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
November 26 – December 3 | — | 973 hPa (28.7 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 2 |
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: Does not include any 2023-24 events.(April 2024) |
Year | Date | Maximum accumulation | Lowest pressure | Type | Category (RSI) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2020 | January 15–18 | 37 inches (94 cm) | 979 hPa (28.9 inHg) | Blizzard | — |
February 2–5 | 23.5 inches (60 cm) | 943 hPa (27.8 inHg) [lower-alpha 8] | Storm | — | |
February 9–13 | 13 inches (33 cm) | 920 hPa (27 inHg) [lower-alpha 9] | Blizzard | — | |
October 29–30 | 6.5 inches (17 cm) | 970 hPa (29 inHg) [lower-alpha 10] | Storm | — | |
November 29–December 2 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 989 hPa (29.2 inHg) | Storm | — | |
December 4–6 | 18 inches (46 cm) | 976 hPa (28.8 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
December 14–18 | 44 inches (110 cm) | 995 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 | |
December 30–January 2, 2021 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 1,001 hPa (29.6 inHg) | Storm | Category 1 | |
2021 | January 25–February 3 | 36.1 inches (92 cm) | 984 hPa (29.1 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 |
February 6–8 | 14 inches (36 cm) | 960 hPa (28 inHg) | Storm | — | |
February 13–17 | 26 inches (66 cm) | 960 hPa (28 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
February 15–20 | 24 inches (61 cm) | 948 hPa (28.0 inHg) | Storm | Category 3 | |
March 10–16 | 52.5 inches (133 cm) | 980 hPa (29 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 3 | |
March 16–17 | 6.2 inches (16 cm) | 997 hPa (29.4 inHg) | Blizzard | — | |
April 15–17 | 14 inches (36 cm) | 988 hPa (29.2 inHg) | Storm | — | |
2022 | January 3-4 | 15.5 inches (39 cm) | 980 hPa (29 inHg) | Storm | — |
January 14–17 | 27.5 inches (70 cm) | 981 hPa (29.0 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 | |
January 28–30 | 30.4 inches (77 cm) | 969 hPa (28.6 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 1 | |
February 1–5 | 37 inches (94 cm) | 1,004 hPa (29.6 inHg) | Storm | Category 2 | |
February 22-26 | 12.2 inches (31 cm) | N/A | Storm | — | |
April 11-13 | 47 inches (120 cm) | 983 hPa (29.0 inHg) | Storm | — | |
November 16–20 | 81.6 inches (207 cm) | Storm | — | ||
December 21–26 | 56.5 inches (144 cm) | 963 hPa (28.4 inHg) | Blizzard | Category 4 | |
2023 | January 31 - February 2 | N/A | 1,016 hPa (30.0 inHg) | Storm | — |
February 21-28 | N/A | N/A | Blizzard | Category 2 | |
March 9-15 | 42.1 inches (107 cm) | N/A | Storm | Category 2 |
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong sustained winds and low visibility, lasting for a prolonged period of time—typically at least three or four hours. A ground blizzard is a weather condition where snow is not falling but loose snow on the ground is lifted and blown by strong winds. Blizzards can have an immense size and usually stretch to hundreds or thousands of kilometres.
A winter storm is an event in which wind coincides with varieties of precipitation that only occur at freezing temperatures, such as snow, mixed snow and rain, or freezing rain. In temperate continental and subarctic climates, these storms are not necessarily restricted to the winter season, but may occur in the late autumn and early spring as well. A snowstorm with strong winds and other conditions meeting certain criteria is called a blizzard.
The Blizzard of 2003, also known as the Presidents' Day Storm II or simply PDII, was a historic and record-breaking snowstorm on the East Coast of the United States and Canada, which lasted from February 14 to February 19, 2003. It spread heavy snow across the major cities of the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic states, making it the defining snowstorm of the very snowy winter of 2002–2003.
The Northeast snowfall impact scale (NESIS) was created to measure snowstorms in the U.S. Northeast in much the same way the Saffir–Simpson hurricane scale records hurricane intensity and the enhanced Fujita scale with tornadoes. This scale takes into account the very high population of the Northeast, and thus snowfall amounts are often smaller compared to what other areas of the USA would consider significant snowfall amounts.
This article describes severe weather terminology used by the Meteorological Service of Canada, a branch within Environment and Climate Change Canada. The article primarily describes various weather warnings, and their criteria. Related weather scales and general weather terms are also addressed in this article. Some terms are specific to certain regions.
The climate of Houston is classified as a humid subtropical climate, with tropical influences. August normally ranks as the warmest month at an average temperature of 84.6 °F (29.2 °C) and January the coldest month at an average temperature of 53.1 °F (11.7 °C).
The Climate of Beaumont, Texas covers the averages and extremes in past weather seen within the city of Beaumont, Texas. The city is within the humid subtropical climate regime, and is within the Piney Woods region of eastern Texas. The area around Beaumont receives the most rainfall in the state: more than 65 inches (1,700 mm) annually. Summers in the area are usually hot and humid, due to the moisture that flows inland off of the Gulf of Mexico. Winters are usually kept mild by the warm gulf waters. Hurricanes also pose a threat to the area. Hurricane Harvey in 2017, Hurricane Rita in 2005, and Hurricane Ike in 2008 were the most recent significant storms to strike.
The climate of Allentown, Pennsylvania is classified as a humid continental climate. Allentown's warmest month is July with a daily average temperature of 74.7 °F (23.7 °C) and the coldest month being January with a daily average of 29.4 °F (−1.4 °C). The average precipitation of Allentown is 45.35 inches (1,152 mm) per year.
The Geography of Atlanta encompasses 132.4 square miles (342.9 km2), of which 131.7 square miles (341.1 km2) is land and 0.7 square miles (1.8 km2) is water. The city is situated among the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, and at 1,050 feet (320 m) above mean sea level, Atlanta has the highest elevation among major cities east of the Mississippi River. Atlanta straddles the Eastern Continental Divide, such that rainwater that falls on the south and east side of the divide flows into the Atlantic Ocean, while rainwater on the north and west side of the divide flows into the Gulf of Mexico. Atlanta sits atop a ridge south of the Chattahoochee River, which is part of the ACF River Basin. Located at the far northwestern edge of the city, much of the river's natural habitat is preserved, in part by the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area.
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 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 2012–13 North American winter started out somewhat early, as the remnants of Hurricane Sandy brought heavy snow to the mountains of West Virginia in late October. Later, a strong nor'easter affected the weary Northeastern United States, hampering storm recovery efforts and dropping several inches of snow. The rest of the winter featured several other notable events, such as a Christmas winter storm that affected most of the Eastern United States, and the most notable event occurring in early February, when a powerful blizzard struck the Northeast and brought record snow to some areas. During the winter, a weak El Nino was expected to influence weather conditions across the continent.
The 2011–12 North American winter by and large saw above normal average temperatures across North America, with the Contiguous United States encountering its fourth-warmest winter on record, along with an unusually low number of significant winter precipitation events. The primary outlier was Alaska, parts of which experienced their coldest January on record.
The 2009–10 North American winter saw several major blizzards affect the Northeastern United States. It refers to winter as it occurred across the North American continent from late 2009 to early 2010. 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 2009 occurred on December 21, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2010 occurred on March 20. Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28. Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability.
The 2010–11 North American winter was influenced by an ongoing La Niña, seeing winter storms and very cold temperatures affect a large portion of the Continental United States, even as far south as the Texas Panhandle. Notable events included a major blizzard that struck the Northeastern United States in late December with up to 2 feet (24 in) of snowfall and a significant tornado outbreak on New Year's Eve in the Southern United States. By far the most notable event was a historic blizzard that impacted areas from Oklahoma to Michigan in early February. The blizzard broke numerous snowfall records, and was one of the few winter storms to rank as a Category 5 on the Regional Snowfall Index. In addition, Oklahoma set a statewide low temperature record in February.
The 2016–17 North American winter was quite warm across North America in general, due in part to a weak La Niña that was expected to influence weather conditions across the continent. Several notable events occurred during the season, including a potent winter storm that affected the East Coast of the United States in early January, the second-largest winter tornado outbreak on record later that month, and an unusually warm February. In addition, towards the end of the season, a large cyclonic storm system that caused a large tornado outbreak, flooding, and a potent blizzard occurred in the Heartland of the country. However, the most notable event of the winter was a powerful blizzard that impacted the Northeast and New England in mid-March, towards the end of the season.
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 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 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.