December 15–17, 2020 nor'easter
Category 2 "Significant" ( NOAA: 5.58) | |
![]() GOES-16 satellite image of the nor'easter off the New England coast at 15:56 UTC (10:56 a.m. EST) on December 17, with an eye-like feature | |
Type | Extratropical cyclone Nor'easter Winter storm Ice storm |
---|---|
Formed | December 14, 2020 |
Dissipated | December 19, 2020 |
Highest winds |
|
Highest gust | 63 mph (101 km/h) in Mantoloking, New Jersey |
Lowest pressure | 995 mb (29.38 inHg) |
Tornadoes confirmed | 2 on December 16 |
Max. rating1 | EF2 tornado |
Duration of tornado outbreak2 | 1 hour, 26 minutes |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snow – 48 in (120 cm) near Danbury, NH Ice – 0.60 in (1.5 cm) near Pipers Gap, Virginia |
Fatalities | 7 fatalities |
Damage | > $125 million (2021 Southern Plains, Upland South, Southeastern and Northeastern United States (primarily New England and the Mid-Atlantic), Atlantic Canada |
Part of the 2020–21 North American winter 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale 2Time from first tornado to last tornado |
The December 15–17, 2020 nor'easter was a powerful
Multiple states that were expected to be impacted by the nor'easter, including
Meteorological history
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Mid-December_2020_nor%27easter_track.png/275px-Mid-December_2020_nor%27easter_track.png)
Tropical storm (39–73 mph, 63–118 km/h)
Category 1 (74–95 mph, 119–153 km/h)
Category 2 (96–110 mph, 154–177 km/h)
Category 3 (111–129 mph, 178–208 km/h)
Category 4 (130–156 mph, 209–251 km/h)
Category 5 (≥157 mph, ≥252 km/h)
Unknown
![triangle](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/50/ArrowUp.svg/18px-ArrowUp.svg.png)
The nor'easter originated from a disorganized winter storm in the
Preparations
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Winter Storm Warning
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Winter Storm Watch
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Winter Weather Advisory
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Coastal Flood Advisory | |||||
Special Weather Statement
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On December 14,
Mid-Atlantic states
On December 16, Governor Ralph Northam of Virginia declared a state of emergency.[13]
300 snow plows were deployed to apply salt to many major roads and bridges due to expected snowfall.[14]
On December 15, Governor Tom Wolf declared a state of emergency for Pennsylvania.[15] 100 pieces of equipment to treat roads were also deployed at the beginning of the storm. In Philadelphia, classes that were already in virtual learning due to COVID-19 were instructed to continue with classes December 17.[16]
On December 16, the Governor of New Jersey, Phil Murphy, declared a state of emergency.[17] NJ Transit suspended bus and train travel beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST as a result of the degrading conditions.[18] The state also imposed travel restrictions across several interstates, including Interstates 78, 80 and 280.[citation needed]
In New York City, mayor Bill de Blasio announced that schools in the city would transition to online learning for the day of December 17, citing the snow.[19][14] Governor Andrew Cuomo declared states of emergency in 18 counties, all upstate.[20] The New York State Thruway speed limits were reduced to 45 mph (72 km/h) from upstate cities such as Syracuse, to areas to the south such as New York City.[20]
New England
Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont ordered all large trucks off the state's highways beginning at 9:00 PM EST on December 16. The truck ban was lifted at 9:00 AM on December 18. The Connecticut Department of Transportation mobilized hundreds of snowplows to keep the state's roads open during the storm.[citation needed]
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker urged residents in his state to stay at home during the nor'easter. The Massachusetts Department of Transportation fully deployed its resources to clear the roads, including 3,800 pieces of snow-fighting equipment to be used on some 15,000 miles of roads. The Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency's emergency operations center was activated.[21] Boston Mayor Marty Walsh declared a snow emergency in the city ahead of the storm. A parking ban was implemented and all school buildings were closed on December 16. City departments and some COVID-19 testing sites were also closed as a result of the storm.[22]
Impact
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a1/December_16-17_nor%27easter_snowfall_totals_map.png/300px-December_16-17_nor%27easter_snowfall_totals_map.png)
Due to icy conditions on the roadways as well as heavy snow and sleet, the distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine became more difficult.[15]
United States
Southeast
Severe weather from the warm sector of the storm was reported near
Confirmed tornadoes
EF# | Location | County / Parish | State | Start Coord. | Time (UTC) | Path length | Max width | Summary |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
EF2 | NE of Seminole to SSW of Tampa International Airport | Pinellas | FL | 27°51′49″N 82°45′09″W / 27.8637°N 82.7524°W | 20:49-21:11 | 13.1 mi (21.1 km) | 300 yd (270 m) | Two buildings were destroyed, and five had major damage. At a boat storage facility, 2-ton boats were tossed, and the buildings they were housed in had major damage. As the tornado approached US 19, damage became spottier. Insulation from buildings collected along a fence near the St. Pete–Clearwater International Airport. The tornado crossed I-275 on the Howard Frankland Bridge. Video from social media showed the tornado bending a light pole. Damage was $16 million.[24][25] |
EF1 | N of Plant City to Gibsonia | Hillsborough, Polk | FL | 28°03′40″N 82°09′58″W / 28.061°N 82.1662°W | 21:53-22:15 | 12.9 mi (20.8 km) | 250 yd (230 m) | A home was damaged in North Lakeland, just north of Lake Gibson. Two small barns were destroyed. Video posted on social media of this tornado showed the tornado as a "wedge". Most damage was done to trees as the tornado's rotation stayed elevated for most of its path. Damage was $280,000.[24][26] |
Mid-Atlantic states
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d9/SnowNJ_2020-12-17.jpg/220px-SnowNJ_2020-12-17.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d1/Snowfall_Newark_Valley%2C_NY_December_2020.jpg/220px-Snowfall_Newark_Valley%2C_NY_December_2020.jpg)
By late December 16, power outages peaked around 14,000 in New Jersey, before decreasing by the following morning.[31] Strong gusty winds were reported as well, especially close to the Jersey Shore, where a peak gust of 62 mph (100 km/h) in Mantoloking was recorded late on December 16. At times, snowfall rates within the state averaged 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) an hour, particularly in the northern portion.[32] 11.4 inches (29 cm) of snow was recorded at Newark.[33]
In
The
New England
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/86/Snow_eastern_Massachusetts_2020-12-18.jpg/400px-Snow_eastern_Massachusetts_2020-12-18.jpg)
The greatest snow totals in the state of Connecticut were reported in Fairfield and Litchfield Counties in the western part of the state, where up to 15 inches (38 cm) of snow fell. Snow totals ranged between 6 inches along coastal southeastern Connecticut to over a foot over interior sections of central and eastern Connecticut.[50][51]
The greatest snowfall total in Massachusetts was in the town of
Atlantic Canada
Nova Scotia
On December 17–18, as the nor'easter passed to the south of the province, winter weather caused various delays and closures, particularly in the Provincial capital, Halifax, where schools, government offices, recreational programs and public parks had delayed openings after 20 centimetres (7.9 in) of snow fell.[55] In Annapolis county and the South Shore, the snow was disruptive enough to close schools for the day.[56] A bus in Laurencetown drove off the road, although the student aboard and driver weren't injured. Many parents were worried about their children's safety, preferring they stay home for the day. According to local police, traffic was lighter than usual and very few collisions were reported as residents took the storm seriously.[55]
Snowfall totals
State | Town | Amount |
---|---|---|
New York | Newark Valley | 44 inches (110 cm) |
New Hampshire | Croydon | 44 inches (110 cm) |
Pennsylvania | Alba | 43.3 inches (110 cm) |
Vermont | Landgrove | 42 inches (110 cm) |
Maine | Acton | 28 inches (71 cm) |
Massachusetts | Florida | 24 inches (61 cm) |
Connecticut | Winsted | 16.5 inches (42 cm) |
Rhode Island | Glocester | 14 inches (36 cm) |
New Jersey | Highland Lakes | 12.3 inches (31 cm) |
Maryland | Sabillasville | 12 inches (30 cm) |
West Virginia | Hambleton | 12 inches (30 cm) |
Virginia | Basye | 11.5 inches (29 cm) |
Ohio | Bridgeport | 7.5 inches (19 cm) |
Delaware | Talleyville | 5.7 inches (14 cm) |
Indiana | Tipton | 5 inches (13 cm) |
District of Columbia
|
Washington | 2.3 inches (5.8 cm) |
See also
- December 2009 North American blizzard
- December 2010 North American blizzard
- December 17–22, 2012 North American blizzard
- March 2014 nor'easter
- January 2016 United States blizzard
- February 2021 nor'easter
Notes
- ^ All dates are based on the local time zone where the tornado touched down; however, all times are in Coordinated Universal Time for consistency.
References
- ^ a b "Global Catastrophe Recap – December 2020" (PDF). Aon Benfield. January 24, 2021. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2021-02-02. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
- ^ December 2020 National Climate Report, NOAA
- ^ a b c Rick Otto (December 24, 2020). "Mid-Atlantic to Northeast Major Winter Storm: (12/16 - 12/17)". www.wpc.ncep.noaa.gov. Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ a b c d "Winter Storm Gail to Slam Northeast With Heavy Snow, Potentially Including New York City, Philadelphia, Boston". The Weather Company. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ a b c "Winter Storm Gail Maps Tracker: Forecast Snow, Alerts, Timing and More". The Weather Company. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "WPC Surface Analysis for 12/17/20 at 00 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "WPC Surface Analysis for 12/17/20 at 12 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "WPC Surface Analysis for 12/17/20 at 21 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "WPC Surface Analysis for 12/18/20 at 15 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. December 18, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-12-19". Free University of Berlin. December 19, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Europe Weather Analysis on 2020-12-20". Free University of Berlin. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ Klos, Karissa (December 16, 2020). "Nor'Easter to Bring Heavy Snow and Ice". WeatherNation. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Guerry, Colleen (December 16, 2020). "Gov. Northam declares State of Emergency due to winter weather". wric.com. Abc8 News. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ a b Jan Wesner Childs (December 16, 2020). "Winter Storm Gail: Two Killed in Pennsylvania Pileup; Hundreds of Crashes in Virginia, Maryland". The Weather Company. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ a b "Gov. Wolf Signs Winter Weather Emergency Proclamation, Advises State is Prepared for the Storm and Vaccine Distribution" (Press release). Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf. December 15, 2020. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ "Updates and preparations for this week's winter storm – December 15, 2020 | Department of Streets". City of Philadelphia. December 16, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Arco, Matt (December 16, 2020). "N.J. declares a state of emergency ahead of major winter storm". NJ.com. Retrieved December 16, 2020.
- ^ Russ Crespolini (December 16, 2020). "NJ Transit Shuts Down Buses, Trains As Snowstorm Hits". Long Valley, NJ Patch. NJ Patch. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Danielle Valente (December 16, 2020). "Is school open tomorrow? NYC DOE reveals the Thursday plan". Time Out New York Kids. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ a b "Governor Cuomo Declares State of Emergency in Eighteen Counties as Winter Storm Dumps Up to Two Feet of Snow in Much of New York". Governor Andrew M. Cuomo. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "Baker Urges Mass. Residents to Stay Home During Storm, Avoid 'Treacherous' Roads". NBC10 Boston. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Jeff Saperstone; Kathryn Sotnik (December 17, 2020). "Boston Declares Snow Emergency as Mass. Preps for Major Storm, Possible Outages". Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "VIDEO: 25 structures damaged following severe weather in Pinellas Park". wfla.com. WFLA 8. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
- ^ a b NWS Damage Survey for 12/16/2020 Tornado Event (Report). Iowa Environmental Mesonet. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
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ignored (help) - ^ Storm Events Database, NOAA
- ^ "Storm Events Database". NOAA. Retrieved February 13, 2022.
- ^ John Boyer (December 16, 2020). "UPDATE: Winter storm brings rain, ice, snow to Virginia; state police respond to about 200 crashes". Richmond.com. Richmond Times-Dispatch. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Leonard, Ben (December 17, 2020). "Maryland weather: Snow mixes with sleet and freezing rain, causing messy road conditions across Baltimore region". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Nick Boykin (December 17, 2020). "Here's how much snow fell in DC, Maryland and Virginia". wusa9.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ says, William Spears (December 17, 2020). "Spirit Airlines Plane Skids Off The Taxiway At BWI". Baltimore.cbs.local. CBS Baltimore. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ Goldman, Jeff (December 17, 2020). "N.J. weather: When will the snow stop? Major winter storm winds down early as bitter cold lingers. Latest updates". nj.com. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ NWS Mount Holly [@NWS_MountHolly] (December 17, 2020). "We're seeing numerous 2-3 inch per hour rates across SE Pennsylvania and central New Jersey. We haven't seen snow rates like this in quite awhile. ❄️ #PAwx #NJwx" (Tweet). Retrieved December 20, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Snowfall Reports from the Last 24 Hours". www.weather.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Mark (December 17, 2020). "The history of Winter Storm Gail". usa-science-news.my-free.website. USA Science News. Retrieved December 26, 2020.
- ^ "Watch EMS Crew Scatter to Avoid Out-of-Control Truck". The Weather Company. February 9, 2021. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Winter Storm Gail Was a Record Snowstorm for Two Northeast Towns, The Weather Channel, December 21, 2020
- ^ "Nor'easter brings heavy snow, wintry mix to Philadelphia region". 6abc Philadelphia. December 17, 2020. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Julia Musto; Michael Ruiz (December 16, 2020). "Major Northeast snowstorm hits; leads to Pennsylvania, NYC car pileups, 2 deaths". Fox News. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Amanda Woods (December 17, 2020). "Binghamton slammed with more than 3 feet of snow during Winter Storm Gail". New York Post. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ Record-smashing snowstorm drops 40-plus inches on Broome County: Why forecasts were off, PressConnects, December 17, 2020
- ^ "The official total in Albany: 22.9 inches". wnyt.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-06-08. Retrieved 2021-06-08.
- ^ Remembering December 2020's Big Northeast Snowstorm, WeatherWorks, February 9, 2022
- ^ Snowfall, as much as 7 inches per hour, buries parts of the Northeast, PennLive, December 17, 2020
- ^ a b c "Spotter Reports". weather.gov. National Weather Service. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 17, 2020.
- ^ Snow Ends After Biggest December Snowstorm Since 2009, NY1, December 17, 2020
- ^ "NWSChat - NOAA's National Weather Service". nwschat.weather.gov. National Weather Service. December 17, 2020. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ FDNY: 6 injured in 19-car pileup on Henry Hudson Parkway during snowstorm, News 12 The Bronx], December 16, 2020
- ^ Rice, Doyle (December 18, 2020). "Deadly winter storm brings nearly 4 feet of snow to some areas of the Northeast, and there's more to come". USA Today. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
- ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "National Weather Service Public Information Statement". forecast.weather.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "National Weather Service Public Information Statement". forecast.weather.gov. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ a b Dave Copeland (December 18, 2020). "Final Snowfall Totals For Massachusetts Towns: Patch PM". Boston, MA Patch. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Aaron Perry [@AaronPerryWx] (December 17, 2020). "Southern New England reports of #blizzard *conditions* from overnight" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
- ^ Storm brought record snowfall to Concord, Concord Monitor, December 19, 2020
- ^ a b Suzette Belliveau; Allan April (December 18, 2020). "Many Nova Scotians spend the morning digging out after storm". Atlantic.ctvnews.ca. CTV News. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ "Storm closures and cancellations: Dec. 18, 2020". HalifaxToday.ca. HalifaxToday. December 18, 2020. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
- ^ NWS Eastern Region [@NWSEastern] (December 17, 2020). "Snow has finally ended. Updated snowfall reports and top amounts by state" (Tweet). Retrieved December 20, 2020 – via Twitter.
- ^ NWS Eastern Region [@NWSEastern] (December 17, 2020). "I ran out of space, so here are the other states and the District of Columbia" (Tweet). Retrieved December 20, 2020 – via Twitter.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)