February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard
Category 4 "Crippling" ( NOAA: 10.15) | |
on February 5. | |
Type | Extratropical cyclone Winter storm Nor'easter Blizzard |
---|---|
Formed | February 1, 2010 |
Dissipated | February 11, 2010 |
Lowest pressure | 978 mb (28.88 inHg) |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 38.3 inches (97 cm) at Elkridge, Maryland |
Fatalities | At least 41 fatalities (including at least 28 in Mexico and 13 in the US) |
Areas affected | Midwest and East Coast of the United States (from Illinois to Georgia to Vermont) New Mexico, Mexico, Eastern Canada, California, Arizona |
Part of the 2009–10 North American winter |
The February 5–6, 2010 North American blizzard, commonly referred to as
Most crippling was the widespread 20 to 35 in (50 to 90 cm) of snow accumulated across southern
This event was the second of four
Meteorological history
The main storm system originated in the Pacific Ocean, bringing heavy rain and mountain snow to
.On February 5, the two systems phased together, resulting in a band of heavy snow across
An antecedent and nearly-stationary upper-level ridge over the Maritime Provinces of Canada served to block the storm system from following the traditional northeast track into New England. Instead, during the AM hours of February 6th, the storm center slowed its northeasterly movement as it continued to deepen east of Virginia Beach, before it eventually was forced eastward. The blocking pattern was reflected on the storm's snowfall map by a sharp northern gradient in northern New Jersey and by the axis of heaviest snow running WNW-ESE through Maryland and Delaware (opposed to the SW-NE pattern found from most Nor'Easters). Only moderate accumulations reached the southern suburbs of New York City, with no more than light snow falling in the city itself.
According to the blog of
Nicknames
Media reports emphasized the magnitude of the storm, giving rise to many nicknames for it including Snowmageddon[8][9] and Snowpocalypse.[10]
The Capital Weather Gang blog on The Washington Post website ran an online poll on February 4, 2010, asking for reader feedback prior to the blizzard,[11] and several blogs, including the paper's own blog, followed that up by using either "Snowmageddon" and/or "Snowpocalypse" during the following days, before, during, and after the storm hit.[12]
The Washington Post also popularized other
During the evening preceding the first blizzard hitting Washington, D.C., most of the
Snowfall
State | Greatest Measurement By State | County | Amount (in) |
---|---|---|---|
MD | 2 miles WSW of Elkridge | Howard | 38.3 |
VA | 1 mile ENE of Howellsville | Warren | 37 |
WV | 2 miles WNW of Lehew | Hampshire | 34 |
PA | Upper Strasburg | Franklin | 31 |
NJ | National Park | Gloucester | 28.5 |
DC | Dalecarlia Reservoir | [Northwest] | 28.0 |
DE | Wilmington | New Castle | 26.5 |
An unofficial storm total snowfall observation of 39.0" was made from Riverwood, MD (in Frederick County) on
State | Official Observation Sites | County | Amount (in) |
---|---|---|---|
MD | Frostburg | Allegany | 36.0 |
VA | Washington Dulles International Airport |
Loudoun | 32.9 |
PA | Somerset | Somerset | 30 |
MD | 2 miles W of Rockville | Montgomery | 29.2 |
PA | Philadelphia International Airport | Philadelphia | 28.5 |
VA | Vienna | Fairfax | 26 |
DE | New Castle Airport |
New Castle | 25.8 |
MD | Baltimore/Washington International Airport | Anne Arundel | 25 |
NJ | Cape May | Cape May | 21.8 |
PA | Pittsburgh International Airport | Allegheny | 21.1 |
NJ | Hammonton | Atlantic | 21 |
NJ | Atlantic City International Airport | Atlantic | 18.2 |
PA | Harrisburg International Airport | Dauphin | 18 |
VA | Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport | Arlington | 17.8 |
PA | State College | Centre | 14 |
PA | Lehigh Valley International Airport | Lehigh | 7.7 |
NY | [Throughout Staten Island] | Richmond | 1–5 |
NY | Central Park | New York | Trace |
Pittsburgh with 21.1", was the first major city to experience the storm's heavier snowfall, separating sub-20" amounts over Indiana and Ohio from 20 to 35" readings found in the Laurel Highlands and east. This was Pittsburgh's 4th greatest snow event since records began in 1871. Areas south of Pittsburgh received up to 26" of snowfall. Although initially forecast to bring only 4–8" of snow to the area, the storm's track farther to the north lead to the explosive accumulations. The National Weather Service in Pittsburgh office recorded 7" of snow over 700P-1159P February 5 and 5.3" over 300A-600A on February 6.
The swath of heaviest snowfall then crossed the
International Airport's 32.9" set all-time records (since 1962) for most 2-day and 3-day snowfall, shattering the old records from the
Additional local reports from Maryland include: Edgemere, 35.4"; Clarksville, 34.9"; Crofton, 34.0"; Columbia, 33.8"; Laurel, 32.9"; Pasadena, 31.0"; Dundalk, 30.5";
State | County/City Averaging > 24" | Range | Greatest Report | (in) |
---|---|---|---|---|
VA | Clarke | 31–33" | Berryville | 32 |
MD | Allegany | 26–36" | Frostburg | 36 |
MD | Howard | 25–38" | 2 miles WSW of Elkridge | 38.3 |
VA | Frederick/Winchester | 25–32" | 3 miles WSW of Armel | 31.5 |
VA | Loudoun | 22–35" | Leesburg | 34 |
MD | Frederick | 24–34" | Riverwood? | 37–39? |
MD | Montgomery | 21–34" | West Laurel | 33.5 |
MD | Baltimore County | 22–32" | Randallstown | 32 |
VA | Fauquier | 16–33" | Marshall | 32 |
MD | Anne Arundel | 18–34" | Crofton | 34 |
MD | Carroll | 22–29" | Eldersburg | 29.1 |
MD | Baltimore City | 21–28" | Pimlico | 28 |
MD | Harford | 23–29" | Norrisville | 29 |
MD | Washington | 22–32" | 3 miles ENE of Hancock | 31.5 |
VA | Prince William/Manassas | 22–32" | 5 miles NNE of Antioch | 32 |
Many counties, including the rural areas across the Appalachian mountains and Delmarva averaged over two feet of snow.
The storm was well spotted by the winter storm reconnaissance (WSR) program at National Center of Environmental Predictions (NCEP). Two aircraft missions were deployed over the Pacific regions on February 1, 2010. Accurate measurement in the cloudy regions were taken, the data were assimilated by the global forecast models in different numerical forecast prediction centers.
The WSR program is led by Dr. Yucheng Song from the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP).
Source: CoCoRaHS
Source: NWS Washington/Baltimore Public Information Statement & Maps
Source: NWS Philadelphia/Mt. Holly Public Information Statement & Map
Source: NWS State College, PA Public Information Statement & Maps
Impact
Mexico
Freak winter rains across Mexico collapsed hillsides, sent rivers over their banks and left at least 15 people dead, officials said on Friday, February 5. The rain, which began early in the week and peaked on Thursday, February 4, had relented by Friday morning, providing officials with their first good look at the damage. More than half of the country was affected. The hardest area hit by the storm was the western state of
United States
Southwest
The storm affected Arizona and New Mexico from February 1 to 4. Up to 1 foot (0.30 m) of snow fell in the mountains east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, while snow accumulations in the city varied from less than 1 inch (2.5 cm) near downtown to 5 inches (13 cm) on the West Mesa and in the far northeast foothills. Ice-covered roadways caused numerous accidents – including one fatal crash near Gallup – shutting down Interstate 40 through Tijeras Canyon and between Grants and Gallup for several hours on February 3.[23]
Deep south
Prolonged rains from Thursday morning through Thursday evening (February 4), produced widespread rainfall totals of 1 inch (2.5 cm) – 4 inches (10 cm) statewide with flooding reported in portions of Central and Southern Mississippi. The capital city of Jackson broke a daily rainfall record with 2.51 inches (6.4 cm) of rainfall.[24] Power outages were reported in North Carolina's mountain counties as the winter storm brought a mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain to much of the state and rain to the rest, with about 40,000 outages late Friday afternoon (5 February). A drenching rain fell early Friday in the Charlotte and Atlanta area and then transitioned to a few inches of snow later in the day, while several inches of snow accumulated farther north. Parts of central and eastern North Carolina were under flood watches in advance of significant rainfall of up to 2 inches (5.1 cm).[25]
Midwest
Heavy snowfall occurred in Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio February 4–6. Snowfall totals ranged from 6 inches (15 cm) to over 1 foot (0.30 m) across the region. Drifts of up to 4 feet (1.2 m) were reported in central Indiana.[26]
The heavy snow,
In the Dakotas a number of Indian Reservations were left without power or running water.
"There's been winters this bad before, but not with rain so bad it freezes the power lines and snaps the poles", said Joseph Brings Plenty, the 38-year-old chairman of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe.[28]
Power outages began with a storm in December knocking down around 5,000 power poles, and was accelerated by an ice storm Jan. 22 knocking down another 3,000 power lines on the reservation.
Among the tribes of South Dakota who suffered from the multiple storms were
The Episcopal Church stepped in to help the reservations residents survive the winter.[30][31][32]
On February 1, utility crews worked overtime to get power back to the 14,000 residents of
Power outages in both the Dakotas power covered only 100 rural electric customers and minimal numbers in Bismarck, North Dakota by February, 5.[34]
Mid-Atlantic
The
As of shortly after midnight on February 6, more than 50,000 homes and businesses in the
In Maryland, the
The weight of the snow caused several roof collapses throughout the Washington area. Most notably, the roof of a
In
Notable events
Washington, D.C.
Many cross-country skiers were spotted throughout Washington, D.C., during the blizzard. Photographs of two skiers were shown in several regional newspapers, making them an iconic image of the storm and local celebrities.[47]
Casualties
Mexico
Three children died when their home in Angangueo was overwhelmed by a flooded river, and two other people died under a landslide in Zitácuaro. A sixth victim was crushed beneath a collapsed wall of a home in Ocampo. Two children drowned trying to cross the swollen Chapulin River in the central state of Guanajuato.[20] In total, twenty eight deaths in the states of Michoacán, Mexico State and the Distrito Federal (Mexico City) have been attributed to the storm.[48]
United States
New Mexico
On February 3, 2010, a family from California was traveling east on snow-covered Interstate 40 near Gallup, New Mexico, when the driver hit a patch of ice, sending their pickup truck across the median into the westbound lanes, striking an oncoming vehicle, killing the adult passenger, and leaving the driver, the child, and the driver of the westbound vehicle critically injured.[49]
Indiana
On February 5, 2010, Brendan Burke, son of Toronto Maple Leafs General Manager Brian Burke, was killed while driving in Economy, Indiana, near the Ohio border. While driving in heavy snow, his 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee slid sideways into the path of an oncoming Ford truck, killing him and his passenger, Mark Reedy (18) of Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.[50]
Virginia
On February 6, 2010, a father and son were rendering aid to the occupants of a disabled vehicle on Interstate 81 in Virginia. A tractor trailer that was approaching the scene jackknifed and killed the men.[51]
Maryland
In Maryland, a family was traveling north of Aberdeen on Route 462 when they ran into the back of a snow plow. Maryland State Police said that the accident was serious.[52] In Bladensburg, two men were found dead in a running car whose tailpipe was blocked by snow; they died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Delaware
In Delaware, officials investigated 8 deaths in New Castle County related to the storm. Two men were found under snow piles and a third suffered from dementia and wandered outside only to be found an hour later by a family member half buried in snow.[53]
Pennsylvania
A father and daughter in McKeesport were killed by carbon monoxide poisoning, as a result of improper usage of a generator after a power outage.[54][55] A Canonsburg man was found dead at the bottom of a snow-covered staircase.[56] Twenty five vehicles were involved in two separate pileups on Interstate 80, killing one and injuring eighteen.[57] Two were killed in Lancaster when their snowmobile was struck at an intersection.[58]
Visualization
See also
- List of Regional Snowfall Index Category 4 winter storms
- February 25–27, 2010 North American blizzard
- February 9–10, 2010 North American blizzard
- March 2010 North American winter storm
- December 2009 North American blizzard
- January 2016 United States blizzard
- Winter storms of 2009–2010
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- ^ "Latest winter storm brings a little of everything to North Carolina: snow, ice, sleet and rain By Associated Press 4:44 pm EST, February 5, 2010".
- ^ Service, US Department of Commerce, NOAA, National Weather. "Indianapolis, IN". www.crh.noaa.gov.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c d staff, Andrea J. Cook, Journal. "Power and water shortages cripple reservation".
{{cite web}}
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- ^ California Woman Killed in New Mexico Car Crash, Fresno Bee, Accessed Feb 6, 2010[permanent dead link]
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External links
- "Washington gets hit with a winter wallop", photo gallery by The Washington Post
- "Snowstorm Slams the East Coast", photo gallery by The New York Times
- "'Snowmageddon' in D.C.", video report by CBS News
- "Dupont Circle Snowball Fight" video report by The Washington Post
- "Timelaps NEXRAD Radar Animation", Atmospheric Physics group at UMBC
- Snowmageddon, five years later: The first of two Mid-Atlantic blizzards in February 2010