FACT CHECK: We strive for accuracy and fairness. A half million were still without power three days after the storm. Don't tell that to the hundreds of thousands who lost power around the Christmas holiday, due to the combination of high winds and heavy snow downing trees and power lines. Atacama Desert 6. Duluth's 36.9-inch snow total was a Minnesota state record. More than 200 people were killed. Its also a good idea to make sure your phone and internet are ready for a disaster. Winter Storm Riley from March 2018 is the most recent entry on the list. New York and southern New England, hardly strangers to snow, saw their most severe blizzard of record in the late 19th century. In total, around 85 million people were affected by the snowstorm. West Virginia and Ohio set statewide single-storm snowfall records, as did the city of Pittsburgh. Of the more than 310 weather and climate events with damages exceeding $1 billion since 1980, this storm is the country's second-most costly winter storm to date. We recognize our responsibility to use data and technology for good. The Weather Channel reported that the winter storm could make travel "extremely difficult, if not impossible" in Wyoming, South Dakota, southern Minnesota and northern Wisconsin as winds. High winds from a line of thunderstorms that developed from southwest Louisiana to central Mississippi and northern?Alabama combined with the glazing of ice to result in widespread tree and powerline damage. All three major airports in the New York metropolitan area were closed, and New York City became a ghost town. For truly bizarre storms, the November 1950 storm is my personal favorite, topping any other storms in these particular states, according to the RSI. The Category 5 storm also created tornadoes and widespread flooding, affecting 120 million people. The south and central parts of the state were hit with two to four feet of snow. 10. A group pushes an ambulance out of the snow in Boerum Hill, Brooklyn on December 29, 2010, in the wake of a massive snowstorm. In the United States, the new decade came in like a lion with not one, not two, but three blizzardsall within a span of 20 snowy days. Heavy snow caused issues across much of Utah, including Salt Lake City. The Blizzard of 1888 (March 11-14, 1888) The blizzard by which all others are measured. The extensive power outages lasted for days and in some cases weeks. This week, a major snowstorm stretching from Tennessee to Maineis slamming the Northeast, with 12 to 20 inches of snow predicted in parts of New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. This series was originally intended to premiere on June 7, 2020, but due to live coverage of Tropical Storm Cristobal, the premiere was instead set to June 14. We've collected a list of the top 10 worst ice storms in U.S. history, starting with one in northern Idaho. DePodwin said a "swath of ice" is forecasted to hit north of Chicago into lower Michigan and western New York. The Superstorm of 1993 (also called the Storm of the Century) was one of the most intense mid-latitude cyclones ever observed over the Eastern United States.The storm will be remembered for its tremendous snowfall totals from Alabama through Maine, high winds all along the East coast, extreme coastal flooding along the Florida west coast, incredibly low barometric pressures across the . In Massachusetts and Rhode Island, record snowfalls left residents without heat, water or electricity for more than a week; roughly 10,000 took refuge in shelters. On January 27 and 28, 1922, Washington, D.C., was hit with 28 inches of snow, the most the capital has ever received in one blizzard. NWS released a warning that "extreme impacts" from the storm could hit the Twin Cities. Roofs collapsed, ships sank, millions lost power, every major airport on the East Coast shut down, and hundreds of Appalachian hikers were stranded as portions of 15 states saw more than 20 inches of snow. How Winter Fashion Has Changed in 100 Years (PHOTOS), Eerie Vintage Photos of People Battling the Flu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Franais, State of Vatican City (Holy See) | Italiano, the Jersey Shore to southeastern New England, Jan. 5-8, 2014 Midwest, Northeast and Southeast. It was one of the worst ice storms to hit North Carolina. From mudslides to wildfires and devastating. High winds from a line of thunderstorms that developed from southwestern Louisiana to central Mississippi and northernAlabama combined with the ice glaze to result in widespread tree and power line damage. The Feb. 8-13, 1994 ice storm caused extensive damage in the South totaling $5.2 billion. Late on Thursday, Nov. 23, Olive moved through the Northeast with generally lighter snow and ice. A more-than-100-mile-wide swath from Louisiana to West Virginia was affected by a severe ice storm from Jan. 29 through Feb. 2, 1951. were also down. Twenty-five people were killed and about 500 were injured. Powerful and deadly: The most severe blizzards in U.S. history, Roger Goodell, Muriel Bowser discussed future of RFK site in December call, Everything you need to know about the National Cherry Blossom Festival, Kyle Kuzma, Wizards start fast and dont look back in win over Raptors, Heres what causes them and what blizzard warnings mean. More than 2 million lost power. In the days after Thanksgiving 1921, a four-day ice storm with accumulations over 3 inches in spots crippled parts of New England, including the city of Worcester. 5 Storms, Southeast Region (Virginia to Alabama) RSI Cat. In the decade that followed, partly in response to the 1888 storm and the massive gridlock it wrought, New York and Boston broke ground on the countrys first underground subway systems. Total damage from this event was estimated to be $3.2 billion. Snow nears the rooftop of a home in Grand Island, Nebraska, on Dec. 27, 2009. Many meteorologists urged those with travel plans in the area to reschedule. Just opening the door to the outside sounds like a war zone, with the continuous sounds of trees and limbs breaking.". DePodwin told Newsweek that "treacherous" travel conditions and power outages are likely. In the Lower 48 states, blizzard conditions occur most frequently in the central and northern Plains. All of this ice and snow led to more than 900,000 power outages for customers across the Midwest. There have been many ice storms in Texas history. Below we lay out the10 most costly winter storms since 1980, according to NOAA. Days of freezing rain led to heavy ice accumulations of one to locally more than two inches in northern Arkansas and portions of Kentucky in late January of 2009. Locations from Oklahoma to southernMissouri, southern Illinois, Kentucky, northern Tennessee, northeastern Georgia and the Carolinas were impacted byfreezing rain, sleet and snow. Of all the states affected, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama saw the worst impacts. Nearly 80 percent of Maine's population lost electrical service. But when it comes to snowfall, this was a doozy. Jan. 5-9, 1998 Northeast Ice Storm: $2.2 billion, 9. The storm was so damaging that the National Weather Service in both Paducah, Ky. and Louisville, Ky. rated it as the worst weather event of the decade for their respective areas. Superstorm 1993 laid down a massive swath of 10-inch-plus snowfall from parts ofAlabama to Maine. AccuWeather Director of Forecast Operations Dan DePodwin told Newsweek that the worst conditions in Minnesota will be experienced Wednesday afternoon to Thursday morning. Among the incredible totals were Pickens, West Virginia (57 inches), Steubenville, Ohio (44 inches) and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (30.5 inches). A band of strong winds caused blowing dust in Albuquerque, which turned into a snow squall that swept through the city during the daylight hours. That goes to show just how epic this week really could be. Winter Weather's Worst Storms 1. The flat landscape, just east of the Rockies, is ideal for powdery, windswept snow north of developing storms and along powerful cold fronts; a small handful of blizzards occur in this part of the country each year. The worst destruction was a major mudslide at La Conchita in Ventura County, which destroyed 15 homes and killed 10 people. Hurricane-force winds created 35-foot waves on November 7-10, 1913. The Category 5 storm caused at least 160 deaths. Much of northern Upstate New York and central and northern New England picked up 5-10 inches of snow, including up to 10 inches near Conway, New Hampshire and Ripogenus, Maine. The White Hurricane 1913 The first storm on our list is the "White Hurricane" of 1913 and was the worst storm to ever hit the Great Lakes region. More than 145 miles of high-voltage transmission lines were downed in southeast Missouri. Each extreme storm is ranked in order by the highest NESIS or RSI value, which is listed after each storm. Ten winter storms since 1980 have caused $2 billion or more in damage in the United States. Between February 1 and 6, a severe winter storm swept the country from coast to coast, piling record amounts of snow in the Mid-Atlantic states. The National Weather Service defines a blizzard as an event in which strong winds, exceeding 35 miles per hour, coincide with blowing or falling snow to reduce visibility below a quarter mile. Some residents in Mississippi were without power a month after the storm. Whether youre a lifelong resident of D.C. or you just moved here, weve got you covered. Light snow began around 3 PM on Sunday the 11th, accumulating to near 3 inches by midnight. NWS also advised Americans in the Plains states about the storm's anticipated impacts. 10 YEARS LATER: Many Superstorm Sandy victims in New Jersey are still paying for the storm. to Ohio to Tennessee). You don't often see snow from the Gulf of Mexico to New England, so by sheer aerial coverage, Superstorm 1993 pops to the top. Parts of the Charlotte and Raleigh-Durham metro areas were paralyzed for days. How Winter Fashion Has Changed in 100 Years (PHOTOS), Eerie Vintage Photos of People Battling the Flu, Democratic Republic of the Congo | Franais, State of Vatican City (Holy See) | Italiano. Since 1980, NOAA has documented 16 winter storms with a damage cost of a billion dollars or more. Over 200,000 customers lost power in Louisville and it took as long as 10 days to get all customers back online. Total damage was $1.4 billion in the U.S. plus another $3 billion in Canada. More than 200 people died and eight ships sunk as a result of the storm. The storm system wrapped up and wind intensified across the Rockies and the northern Plains on Feb. 22. The storm, which had the third lowest pressure recorded in the United States outside of a hurricane, pulled exceptionally cold air into the Midwest and the Ohio Valley with winds that gusted above 80 mph. Clean up of debris from the storm lasted into the summer. The most destructive ice storms bring heavy ice accumulation, sometimes on the order of several inches. That is the first time I've seen this. Where the two clash, there is often heavy snowfall, coinciding with bitter cold and howling wind. Atlanta lost a bid to host the 2009 Super Bowl, awarded instead to Tampa, Fla. Take control of your data. The liquid total of rain, melted snow and melted ice (from sleet and freezing rain) will be around 2-3. On February 5, when snowflakes failed to materialize in the pre-dawn hours as meteorologists had predicted, many people chalked it up to faulty forecasting and went about their lives. The storm caused the largest power outage in North Carolina's history. This storm that hit New York City Feb. 11, 2006, covered a smaller area than other major snowstorms and didn't have high winds. Often known as the Storm of the Century, the 1993 blizzard saw a low-pressure system strengthen rapidly while racing up the East Coast. The storm pummeled gridlocked highways, forcing drivers and passengers to abandon their cars or be buried along with them. A powerful cold front roared across the U.S. Plains, accompanied by a brief period of snow that was quickly followed by powerful winds and temperatures as low as minus-30 degrees. At the time, one Arkansas official called it the most destructive ice storm he'd seen to the state's electrical utility infrastructure. Widespread damage to trees and power lines was reported. Packing fierce winds, bitter cold, and often heavy snow, the blizzard has earned a reputation as the most severe type of winter storm. Over 200,000 homes and businesses lost power, according to the Washington Post. A warm-up and moderate to heavy rainfollowed after the storm, triggering snowmelt which caused widespread and deadly flooding. National Weather Service's Top 10 Winter Storms in Kentucky. The second winter storm disrupted practice the Saturday before the Super Bowl. On Christmas Eve 2009, blizzard warnings stretched from northwest Texas to the Canadian border. Rapid ice accumulations from the Jan. 7-9, 1998 downed millions of trees and caused widespread destruction of power lines and power poles. Jan. 19-22, 1985 Winter Storm and Cold Wave in Central and Eastern States: $2 billion. The snow fell for a week straight, with areas from western Pennsylvania southward deep into West Virginia blanketed . Atlanta has not hosted another Super Bowl since 2000. NWS' scale classifies extreme impacts as causing "substantial disruptions" to everyday life. While not technically a blizzard, the Blizzard of 1996 paralyzed an immense swath of the East Coast with three days of heavy, wet snow. Power outages and tree damage was widespread in this area. Two main periods of heavy snow expected are expected: late Tuesday afternoon through Wednesday morning & Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. after the November 1921 ice storm. RSI Cat. 1922: The Knickerbocker Storm. Little Rock, Arkansas, picked up a whopping 13 inches of snow in just 24 hours. A half-million were still without power three days after the storm. Many roads were blocked as well, making travel nearly impossible in some areas. The heavy icing caused widespread damage to trees, power lines and power poles. 25 people were killed and about 500 were injured. Compounding the mess were high winds that turned streets into ice rinks, a challenge to anyone on foot. In total, the entire Atmospheric River event caused between $200-$300 . DePodwin said blizzard conditions could be experienced across much of southern Minnesota, parts of South Dakota and Nebraska. Visit Insider's homepage for more stories. NESIS snowfall map of the Mar. Another 100 people died in the Northeast, and 100 more aboard offshore boats, making the storm probably the deadliest blizzard in American history. Heavy snow impacted the interior Northeast and parts of New England. Snowfall was deepest in Rahway, New Jersey, which received a whopping 32 inches. Drifts were over the tops of some homes. Barbara Alper/Getty Images. Affecting what would have been 49 million people according to current population, the Great Appalachian Storm was so intense and wound up it turned basic meteorology in the northern hemisphere on its head. Over 500,000 in northern New England lost power. Parts of southern Minnesota picked up over 18 inches, including 20.5 inches near Glencoe, Minnesota. Vehicles are seen during a heavy snowstorm on a highway in St. Paul, Minnesota, on February 22, 2022. 2,000 residents treated for injuries from vehicle accidents, falls on ice and frostbite. The Blizzard of 1888 hammered parts of New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey with 40-50 inches of snow.