The snowstorm of December 14 to 18, 2020

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.

Events

512

Deaths

1

Injuries

0

Damage

$170,000

Episodes

62

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.

• Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 12 to 13, 20209 eventsAn upper level system moved through the region, providing a favorable setup for widespread snow across southern Colorado. Highest snowfall totals were across the higher terrain, and parts of the far eastern plains.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, December 12 to 13, 202023 eventsAn upper level low again tracked across the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles, allowing for several inches of snow across much of the southern half of the CWA with highest reports near the Oklahoma state line.
• Winter Weather in California, December 13, 20201 eventWintry precipitation spread east across northwest California during mid December. Modestly impactful snowfall occurred across portions of Trinity County as a result.
• Winter Weather in Texas, December 13, 20206 eventsA potent, but moisture starved, upper level storm system traversed the South Plains region on the morning of the 13th. As the system passed it carried in colder air on gusty northerly winds.
• Winter Storm in Oklahoma, December 13, 202013 eventsPrecipitation spread into northeastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 13th, ahead of an approaching upper level storm system. The precipitation began as a light mix of rain, snow, and sleet, but quickly transitioned to snow as it expanded across eastern Oklahoma.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, December 13, 202012 eventsA closed low brought heavy snow to much of northern into central Oklahoma, with the heaviest snow falling during the morning hours of the 13th.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, December 13, 20207 eventsA storm system brought accumulating snow to far southern Missouri. The heaviest snow fell across southwest Missouri where 3 to 5 inches fell across southern McDonald and southern Barry counties, with lesser amounts further north towards highway 60.
• Winter Storm in California, December 13 to 14, 20202 eventsA winter storm brought bountiful Valley rain and mountain snow to interior northern California. Valley and foothill rain amounts generally ranged from 0.5 to 1.75 inches of rain.
• Winter Storm in Arkansas, December 13, 20204 eventsPrecipitation spread into northeastern Oklahoma during the early morning hours of the 13th, ahead of an approaching upper level storm system.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Arkansas, December 13 to 15, 202017 eventsSnow fell in the north and west mainly in the higher elevations.
• Winter Weather in Montana, December 13 to 14, 20203 eventsA weak upper level trough moved through, bringing some light snowfall and fog to SW MT.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, December 13 to 15, 20207 eventsAn Arctic cold front moving across the area generated moderate lake effect snow showers over the northwest wind snow belts of west and north central Upper Michigan from the evening of the 13th into the morning of the 15th.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, December 13 to 14, 20202 eventsLow pressure passed by to the south while high pressure was located to the north. There was enough cold air for some snow near the Mason-Dixon Line.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, December 13 to 14, 20201 eventLow pressure passed by to the south while high pressure was located to the north. Snow developed, and it was enhanced by an upslope component to the low-level flow.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 13 to 14, 20201 eventLow pressure passed by to the south while high pressure was located to the north. Snow developed, and it was enhanced by an upslope component to the low-level flow.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 14, 20202 eventsLow pressure passing south of the area drove in cold air, which prompted snow showers across the West Virginia mountains. Snowfall accumulations ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the higher terrain.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 14, 20201 eventA low pressure system in the ArkLaMS region tracked through the Ohio River Valley. With strong upper-level forcing centered over the ridges of West Virginia, 6 inches of snow fell in Tucker County.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 14, 20201 eventA closed low pressure system over the pacific moved into Southeast Alaska, bringing widespread precipitation ranging from rain in the south to snow further north.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, December 14 to 15, 20203 eventsDuring the evening, and through following morning, multiple bands of moderate to heavy snowfall rates moved north over parts of Northwest Kansas. Up to eight inches of snow was reported from these bands, with the highest amounts over Rawlins County.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, December 14 to 15, 20205 eventsBetween the later evening of Monday the 14th and the early evening of Tuesday the 15th, most of South Central Nebraska received at least a shallow coating of snow, although only a handful of counties in the western half of the area reported amounts as high as 3-5 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, December 14 to 15, 20203 eventsA strong upper level system moved across the region during this time, and provided another favorable setup for snow across southern Colorado. Only a few heavy snow reports were observed with this system.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, December 14 to 15, 20201 eventDuring the evening, and through following morning, multiple bands of moderate to heavy snowfall rates moved north over parts of Southwest Nebraska.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, December 15, 20207 eventsHeavy snow fell on the 15th across many of the same areas in northern and central Oklahoma from a few days prior as a closed low took a very similar track to the previous system.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, December 16, 20204 eventsLow pressure tracked northeast along the east coast of the U.S. Moisture from this system fell as a wintry mix across parts of North Carolina.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 16, 202018 eventsLight freezing rain developed over portions of western North Carolina, primarily areas along the eastern Blue Ridge escarpment, the northern foothills, and northwest Piedmont as areas of low pressure moved along the Gulf and southeast Atlantic coast.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 16 to 17, 202018 eventsA developing low pressure system brought a wintry mix of precipitation to the Central Appalachians during the day on the 16th and into the overnight hours.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, December 16, 20205 eventsUpper level energy tracked northeast through the Ohio Valley ahead of an upper low pressure center tracking east through the Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, December 16, 202014 eventsLow pressure tracked northeast along the east coast of the U.S. Moisture from this system fell as a wintry mix across parts of southwest Virginia.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 16, 20204 eventsLow pressure tracked northeast along the east coast of the U.S. Moisture from this system fell as a wintry mix across parts of southeast West Virginia. Snowfall from the system totaled up to two inches in places. Ice accretion totaled up to one-quarter inch in some locations.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 16 to 17, 20201 eventUpper level energy tracked northeast through the Ohio Valley ahead of an upper low pressure center tracking east through the Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 202017 eventsAn upper trough combined with a coupled jet structure resulted in an impressive snow storm across the region. The resulting divergence aloft generated strong frontogenetically forced snow bands across the region.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, December 16 to 17, 202016 eventsUpper level energy tracked northeast through the Ohio Valley ahead of an upper low pressure center tracking east through the Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, December 16 to 17, 202011 eventsAn upper trough combined with a coupled jet structure resulted in an impressive snow storm across the region. The resulting divergence aloft generated strong frontogenetically forced snow bands across the region.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, December 16 to 17, 202011 eventsAn upper trough combined with a coupled jet structure resulted in an impressive snow storm across the region. The resulting divergence aloft generated strong frontogenetically forced snow bands across the region.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 16, 20204 eventsAn area of light freezing rain overspread the northwest Piedmont of central North Carolina during he morning of the 16th. Light freezing rain continued into the late morning and early afternoon, before changing over to all rain.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, December 16 to 17, 202024 eventsLow pressure tracked into the Ohio Valley before transferring its energy to a coastal low along the Mid-Atlantic Coast. The coastal low intensified as it moved to the northeast. At the same time, high pressure was located to the north.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, December 16 to 17, 202015 eventsLow pressure tracked into the Ohio Valley before transferring its energy to a coastal low along the Mid-Atlantic Coast. The coastal low intensified as it moved to the northeast. At the same time, high pressure was located to the north.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 16 to 17, 202011 eventsLow pressure tracked into the Ohio Valley before transferring its energy to a coastal low along the Mid-Atlantic Coast. The coastal low intensified as it moved to the northeast. At the same time, high pressure was located to the north.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, December 16, 20203 eventsLow pressure tracking into and across the Middle Atlantic region produced minor snow and ice accumulations across portions of Central Virginia.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 202035 eventsAn early-season Nor'Easter produced anywhere from 6 inches of snow and sleet in the Lower Susquehanna Valley up to 30 inches of snow in parts of Tioga County.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, December 16 to 17, 20201 eventLow pressure began to develop just off the coast of the Carolinas early on December 16, and steadily moved up the coast through the 16th and into the 17th. The low steadily, but not rapidly, intensified as it moved north.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in New Jersey, December 16 to 17, 202054 kt wind · 14 eventsLow pressure began to develop just off the coast of the Carolinas early on December 16, and steadily moved up the coast through the 16th and into the 17th. The low steadily, but not rapidly, intensified as it moved north.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 202013 eventsLow pressure began to develop just off the coast of the Carolinas early on December 16, and steadily moved up the coast through the 16th and into the 17th. The low steadily, but not rapidly, intensified as it moved north.
• Heavy Snow in New York, December 16 to 17, 2020$100,000 · 14 eventsA Nor'easter moved slowly up the US eastern coastline on the afternoon of the 16th through the 17th. The storm system produced very heavy snowfall across parts of Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania, particularly during the very early morning hours of the 17th.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 16 to 17, 20208 eventsA Nor'easter moved slowly up the US eastern coastline on the afternoon of the 16th through the 17th. The storm system produced very heavy snowfall across parts of Central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania, particularly during the very early morning hours of the 17th.
• Winter Storm in New York, December 16 to 17, 20201 eventA coastal low pressure system brought widespread accumulating snow to our region. The area was mostly just clipped by very heavy snow that fell primarily to our east and southeast Pennsylvania and central New York.
• Winter Storm in New York, December 16 to 17, 202017 eventsLow pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday December 16, 2020. The low deepened as it tracked northward towards Long Island, NY through the night on December 16, 2020.
• Winter Storm in New Jersey, December 16 to 17, 20209 eventsLow pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday December 16, 2020. The low deepened as it tracked northward towards Long Island, NY through the night on December 16, 2020.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, December 16 to 17, 20201 death · 27 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked northward off the East Coast toward New York City on Wednesday, December 16, then eastward to just off Cape Cod on Thursday, December 17.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 16 to 17, 20202 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked northward off the East Coast toward New York City on Wednesday, December 16, then eastward to just off Cape Cod on Thursday, December 17.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, December 16 to 17, 20202 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked northward off the East Coast toward New York City on Wednesday, December 16, then eastward to just off Cape Cod on Thursday, December 17.
• Winter Storm in Connecticut, December 16 to 17, 20208 eventsLow pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday December 16, 2020. The low deepened as it tracked northward towards Long Island, NY through the night on December 16, 2020.
• Heavy Snow in Vermont, December 16 to 17, 20203 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked northward off the East Coast toward New York City on Wednesday, December 16, then eastward to just off Cape Cod on Thursday, December 17.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 16 to 17, 20203 eventsA storm system produced heavy snow, strong winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Vermont, December 16 to 17, 2020$70,000 · 7 eventsA Nor'easter developed right along the Carolina coast during the afternoon of December 16th and slowly moved north along the New Jersey coast by the morning of December 17th before shifting east out to sea.
• Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, December 16 to 17, 20207 eventsA storm system produced heavy snow, strong to damaging winds, and minor coastal flooding in southern New England. This was a tough storm to forecast.
• Winter Storm in New Hampshire, December 17, 202013 eventsA modest low pressure system developed along the Gulf Coast on the 16th, with secondary development occurring off the Carolinas by the afternoon. An Arctic air mass was in place over New England as a strong high pressure anchored itself in the Saint Lawrence River Valley.
• Winter Weather in California, December 16 to 17, 20204 eventsA quick moving upper level trough dug into the Pacific Northwest and far northern portion of California. Brought light Valley rain to the region in addition to some mountain snow.
• Winter Storm in Maine, December 17, 202011 eventsA modest low pressure system developed along the Gulf Coast on the 16th, with secondary development occurring off the Carolinas by the afternoon. An Arctic air mass was in place over New England as a strong high pressure anchored itself in the Saint Lawrence River Valley.
• Winter Weather in Maine, December 17, 20202 eventsThe northern edge of the precipitation shield from a major winter storm impacting the Mid-Atlantic region clipped the Downeast coast during the 17th.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 17 to 19, 20203 eventsA strong gale force low impacted Southeast Alaska producing widespread precipitation. Colder temperatures in the northern section of the panhandle allowed for heavy snowfall amounts to accumulate.
• Blizzard in Alaska, December 17 to 18, 20201 eventOn December 17-18 2020, a 972 mb low in the Northern Gulf of Alaska brought heavy snowfall, winds gusting in excess of 60 mph, and wind chills approaching 30 below zero to the Richardson Highway through Thompson Pass.

The snowstorm of November 29 to December 3, 2019The snowstorm of December 30, 2020 to January 3, 2021Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.