January 10-13, 2024 North American storm complex
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 10, 2024 |
| Dissipated | January 14, 2024 |
| Winter storm | |
| Highest winds | 103 mph (166 km/h) in Pinnacle, Montana on January 10 |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 41.3 in (105 cm) in Hamburg, New York on January 13-14 |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 5 |
| Areas affected | Northwestern, Midwest and Northeastern United States |
| Power outages | 550,000 |
Part of the 2023–24 North American winter | |
A major winter storm hit the United States from January 10-13, 2024. The storm affected areas from the Pacific Northwest to New England, with considerable impacts in the Midwestern United States as well.
Meteorological history
[edit]The storm system entered the Pacific Northwest on January 10 and brought blizzard conditions there before diving south into the Sierra Nevada. The storm brought blizzard conditions in Arizona and Kansas and intensified over the Midwestern United States. The storm then brought thundersnow and frost quakes into the Chicago metropolitan area before causing coastal flooding in the Mid-Atlantic on January 13 and exiting.[1]
Impact
[edit]550,000 customers lost power due to the storm.[2]
Western United States
[edit]The storm resulted in blizzard warnings for Oregon and Washington's mountain areas for the first time since 2012.[3] Crater Lake National Park closed due to the winter storm.[4] Stevens Pass recorded 29 in (74 cm) of snow in just 30 hours. Wind gusts reached 103 mph (166 km/h) in Pinnacle, Montana and 97 mph (156 km/h) near Mount Hood.[5] Following the storm, record cold conditions were observed in Washington, with Seattle observing a low of 13 °F (−11 °C), their coldest temperature since 1990. Ski resorts in on Mount Baker closed due to the cold as well.[6] 111,000 outages occurred in Oregon alone.[7] Four people died in the Western United States: three in Oregon,[8] and one person in California.[1]
Midwestern United States
[edit]The state of Oklahoma experienced gusts up to 45 mph (72 km/h) during the storm. Following the storm, much of Central Oklahoma experienced sub-freezing conditions for 4.5 days.[9] Portions of Interstate 70 in Kansas were closed due to the winter weather. Moline, Illinois recorded their second snowiest day on record on January 12, with 15.4 in (39 cm) of snow.[1] At Chicago O'Hare International Airport, over 800 flights were cancelled on January 12 as the storm crossed through.[10] One death occurred in Wisconsin,[11] where snowfall totals reached as high as 18 in (46 cm).[12]
Eastern United States
[edit]A state of emergency and travel ban was declared in Western New York, forcing the playoff game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Buffalo Bills to be postponed from January 14 at 1pm to January 15 at 4:30pm.[13] Flooding in Eastern New York resulted in a brief suspension of Amtrak service between New York City and Albany, as well as suspensions on Metro-North Railroad through the Hudson Valley.[14] In New York City, the storm dropped 0.89 in (23 mm) of rain, and several locations saw higher amounts. As a result, the Passaic River crested at 11.3 ft (3.4 m), and widespread coastal flooding occurred, closing down parts of Hudson River Park.[15][16] Severe flooding led to most roads being impassable in Mystic, Connecticut.[17] Almost ten thousand people lost power in the state of Rhode Island.[18] In Boston, the high tide exceeded its expected value and peaked at 14.41 ft (4.39 m), amidst gusts as high as 38 mph (61 km/h).[19] In Portland, Maine, the water levels hit 14.57 ft (4.44 m), resulting in historic flooding in the city.[20] Property damage in Maine totaled to $76.25 million.[21]
Aftermath
[edit]Officials in Oregon warned people to be prepared for lengthy power outages. Following the storms, temperatures dropped significantly, resulting in many burst pipes. The burst pipes caused minor flooding in Portland International Airport. Also, many warming shelters in the state opened, although one was closed due to a burst pipe.[22]
In Omaha, Nebraska, customers were asked to reduce their electricity usage as temperatures dropped and the Missouri River began to freeze.[23]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Winter Storm Gerri Wraps Up In Great Lakes After Bringing Blizzard To Midwest, Northwest (RECAP), The Weather Channel, January 13, 2024
- ^ Vicious storm triggers historic coastal flooding as Arctic chill tees up the South’s first snow, CNN, January 14, 2024
- ^ Winter storm Gerri blasts much of the U.S., United Press International, January 12, 2024
- ^ CRATER LAKE NATIONAL PARK CLOSED DUE TO STORMY CONDITIONS, KQEN News Radio 1240, January 12, 2024
- ^ Winter Storm Gerri A Second Late-Week Strike Of Snow, Severe Weather, Winds, Rain, Then Coldest Air Of Season, The Weather Channel, January 15, 2024
- ^ Seattle area could see coldest temps in 33 years as brutal chill sweeps through region, KIRO7, January 13, 2024
- ^ Brutal arctic blast blanketing much of the US is set to deliver record cold temperatures as the South braces for snow and ice, CNN, January 15, 2023
- ^ Portland area winter storm: 3 dead; hundreds of thousands lose power, KGW8, January 13, 2024
- ^ Arctic Blast of January 2024, ARCGIS, February 28, 2024
- ^ Hundreds of Flights Canceled, Airlines Issue Advisories, As Winter Storm Slams Midwest, Travel and Leisure, January 12, 2024
- ^ Winter Storm Gerri: Dangerous Cold Moves In; Travel Remains Hazardous, Weather Underground, January 14, 2024
- ^ Great Lakes region faces feet of lake-effect snow as Midwest winter storm winds down, Fox Weather, January 13, 2024
- ^ Almost every US state is under a weather alert as storms sweep across the country, ABC News, January 13, 2024
- ^ AMTRAK SERVICE RESUMES FOLLOWING SUSPENSION DUE TO FLOODING; SOME METRO-NORTH SERVICE SUSPENDED, ABC7NY, January 13, 2024
- ^ WEATHER: NYS prepares for winter storm, flooding continues across the Tri-State and a chilly NYC could soon see snow, Audacy, January 13, 2024
- ^ Coastal flooding inundates parts of New York City after storm, Gothamist, January 13, 2024
- ^ Most roads in Mystic and Groton reopen now that water has receded, NBC Connecticut, January 13, 2024
- ^ Storm brings more rain, with power outages, high coastal water, and possible flooding, Boston.com, January 13, 2024
- ^ Field Observations: Real-Time Data from the January 13 Storm & Flooding in Boston, Stone Living Lab, January 16, 2024
- ^ Vicious storm triggers historic coastal flooding as Arctic chill tees up the South’s first snow, CNN, January 14, 2024
- ^ Maine Event Reports: January 13-14, 2024, NCEI
- ^ Cold weather, power failures continue in aftermath of Oregon storm, OPB, January 14, 2024
- ^ ‘All-hands-on-deck’ effort, diverse energy sources aid storm response, The Wire, January 17, 2024