The snowstorm of December 13 to 16, 1999
A snowstorm NOAA ranked in 3 regions on its Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the Upper Midwest.
What the offices filed during it
Winter weather episodes east of the Rockies from the day before the storm began to the day after it ended, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The storm by region
Each region’s thresholds are its own, so the same depth of snow counts for more in the South than in the Northeast.
| Region | Index | Category | Area with snow (sq mi) | People under snow | Above the top threshold (sq mi) | People above it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Upper Midwest | 0.38 | Below category 1 | 252,003 | 23,896,445 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Rockies and Plains | 0.17 | Below category 1 | 441,504 | 4,753,668 | 0 | 0 |
| South | 0.01 | Below category 1 | 94,120 | 2,410,325 | 0 | 0 |
The Regional Snowfall Index is NOAA’s ranking of snowstorms east of the Rockies by how much snow fell, over how wide an area and on how many people, region by region: the area and the population above four snowfall thresholds set for each region, weighted against that region’s own history. A storm is scored in each region it reached, on a scale from 1, notable, to 5, extreme.
The toll the offices filed
- Events
- 96
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Damage
- $107,000
- Episodes
- 25
Every winter weather episode the Weather Service filed east of the Rockies in these dates. A few may belong to another system on the same days. Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
Episode by episode
- Winter Storm in Idaho, December 12 to 13, 1999A winter storm brought heavy snow to the mountains of Central and Eastern Idaho. Accumulation of 6 to 12 inches were reported from the Sawtooth and Boulder Mountains across the Upper Snake Highlands to the Teton Basin.
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 12 to 14, 1999A surge of cold air following a strong Pacific frontal system brought heavy snow to the Cascade Mtns, Cascade foothils and Coastal Mtns. Timberline reported 33 inches, Mt Hood Meadows 28 inches,and Bennett Pass 23 inches.
- Winter Weather in Maryland, December 13, 1999Light rain fell across Western Maryland from 6:00 AM through Noon on the 13th. However, temperatures at ground level were below freezing in Washington and Allegany Counties between 6:00 AM and 9:00 AM, allowing the rain to freeze on impact.
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 13, 1999Areas of heavy snow over the Souithern Panhandle. Annette Island had 6.3 inches in 12 hours. Klawock had 6 inches in 12 hours.
- Heavy Snow in Utah, December 13 to 14, 1999A vigorous cold front moved through Northern Utah, bringing more snow to the mountains and Wasatch Front. Most valleys picked up another 2-5 inches with 3-6 on the benches. The mountains received 12-18 inches generally.
- Heavy Snow in Washington, December 13 to 14, 1999Heavy snow fell along the eastern slopes of the Washington Cascades overnight and during the early part of today. Cle Elum, at an elevation of 1900 ft, received 12 inches of snow. 9 inches fell at Trout Lake, located in Klickitat Co.
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 14, 1999Numerous heavy snow showers produced 13 inches at Yakutat.
- Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 14, 1999A quickly moving upper level system produced 8 inches of snow in 3 hours in the foothills 15 to 20 miles southwest of Walsenburg in Huerfano county.
- Winter Storm in Nebraska, December 14, 1999A quick moving storm system slid across the area and dumped the seasons first measurable snowfall. Most areas received 1 to 3 inches of snow. However, strong north winds gusting to 40 mph caused significant blowing snow and many roads became ice covered.
- Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 14, 1999A slow moving low pressure system moved northeast from southern Texas the morning of the 12th into southern Mississippi the morning of the 13th and into West Virginia the morning of the 14th.
- Winter Weather in New Jersey, December 14, 1999A slow moving low pressure system moved northeast from southern Texas the morning of the 12th into southern Mississippi the morning of the 13th and into West Virginia the morning of the 14th.
- Winter Weather in New York, December 14 to 15, 1999A complex storm system moved across the region Tuesday night, December 14th and into Quebec on Wednesday, December 15th. A mixture of rain, snow and sleet during the evening of December 14th changed to light snow overnight .
- Winter Weather in Vermont, December 14 to 15, 1999A complex storm system moved across the region Tuesday night, December 14th and into Quebec on Wednesday, December 15th. A mixture of rain, snow and sleet during the evening of December 14th changed to light snow overnight .
- Winter Weather in New York, December 14 to 15, 1999A complex storm system moved across the region Tuesday night, December 14th and into Quebec on Wednesday, December 15th. A mixture of rain, snow and sleet during the evening of December 14th changed to light snow overnight .
- Heavy Snow in Montana, December 15, 199920 inches Hebgen Dam...9 inches Big Sky 2WNW.
- Winter Storm in Iowa, December 15, 1999A storm system over Northern Missouri raced northeast to near Chicago, Illinois by late afternoon. Precipitation began as rain and changed over to snow between 7 and 9 am as north winds ushered in colder air.
- Winter Storm in Illinois, December 15, 1999A storm system over Northern Missouri raced northeast to near Chicago, Illinois by late afternoon. Precipitation began as rain and changed over to snow between 7 and 9 am as north winds ushered in colder air.
- Winter Storm in Missouri, December 15, 1999A storm system over Northern Missouri raced northeast to near Chicago, Illinois by late afternoon. Precipitation began as rain and changed over to snow between 7 and 9 am as north winds ushered in colder air.
- Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, December 15, 1999Heavy snow fell in the snow belt of northern Iron county, with 11 inches reported at both Hurley and Upson and 7 inches at Saxon and Gurney.
- Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 16 to 17, 1999A low pressure system east of James Bay brought northwest winds across the Great Lakes region. This allowed for lake effect snow bands to become established over portions of northwest lower Michigan and eastern upper Michigan.
- Heavy Snow in New York, December 16 to 17, 1999Cold air crossing the Great Lakes produced lake effect snows downwind of Lakes Erie and Ontario.Off Lake Erie the band of precipitation began across the Niagara Peninsula, but settled south quickly across the Buffalo metro area before settling over southern Erie, Wyoming and the…
- Winter Storm in Iowa, December 16 to 17, 1999An alberta clipper system brought snow to Eastern Iowa, Northwest Illinois and Northeast Missouri.Snow blanketed the entire region with amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches in many areas.
- Winter Storm in Illinois, December 16 to 17, 1999An alberta clipper system brought snow to Eastern Iowa, Northwest Illinois and Northeast Missouri.Snow blanketed the entire region with amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches in many areas.
- Winter Storm in Missouri, December 16 to 17, 1999An alberta clipper system brought snow to Eastern Iowa, Northwest Illinois and Northeast Missouri.Snow blanketed the entire region with amounts ranging from 1 to 3 inches. Numerous accidents were reported.
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 17, 1999Yakutat received 10.2 inches of snow in 6 hours.
More
The snowstorm of December 9 to 12, 1999The snowstorm of December 18 to 20, 1999Snow nowEvery winter storm filed
Sources
NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.