The snowstorm of December 18 to 21, 2009

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

488

Deaths

5

Injuries

3

Damage

$11 million

Episodes

58

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.

• Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, December 17 to 18, 200958 kt wind · 2 eventsA storm force low developed off the Queen Charlotte Islands down to 972 MB on Thursday afternoon 12/17 and moved rapidly northward under a southerly jet stream, making landfall around Icy Cape on the morning of 12/18.
• Blizzard in Alaska, December 17, 20091 eventA storm in Prince William Sound produced heavy snow and strong wind in Thompson Pass that resulted in a blizzard through the pass.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 17 to 18, 20091 eventA low pressure center and the associated weather front over the Yukon Territory of Canada produced a local setup for heavy snow over the Upper Koyukuk Valley as moisture overran the cold air in place.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, December 18 to 19, 200918 eventsA strengthening area of low pressure moved out of the Gulf of Mexico, across southern Georgia, and then up the southeast coast.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, December 18 to 19, 200912 eventsA strengthening area of low pressure moved out of the Gulf of Mexico, across southern Georgia, and then up the southeast coast.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, December 18, 20091 eventA strengthening area of low pressure moved out of the Gulf of Mexico, across southern Georgia, and then up the southeast coast. As the low passed south of the region, light snow became heavier across the mountains of extreme northern Greenville County.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, December 18, 20091 eventA mix of rain, sleet, and snow developed across the Georgia mountains around sunrise. Light accumulations of sleet occurred.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, December 18, 20096 eventsA mix of rain, sleet, and snow developed across the extreme northern part of South Carolina around sunrise, and gradually spread east along the I-85 corridor throughout the morning.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 20091 death · $65,000 · 27 eventsLow pressure tracked from the northeast Gulf coast early on December 18th reaching a position near Alma, Georgia as a 997 mb low by Friday the 18th at 5 PM EST. The storm continued moving northeast and deepened to a 986 mb low near Cape Hatteras by 10 AM December 19th.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 18 to 19, 20099 eventsLow pressure tracked from the northeast Gulf coast early on December 18th reaching a position near Alma, Georgia as a 997 mb low by Friday the 18th at 5 PM EST. The storm continued moving northeast and deepened to a 986 mb low near Cape Hatteras by 10 AM December 19th.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 18, 20093 eventsA mix of rain, sleet, and snow developed across the I-85 corridor throughout the morning. Up to 3 inches of snow fell before precipitation changed over to sleet and then rain.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in North Carolina, December 18 to 19, 200914 eventsA strong coastal low pressure sytem tracking from the Gulf of Mexico northeast along the Carolina coast collided with cold air resulting in a a major winter storm.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 18 to 19, 2009$5.8 million · 32 eventsThe mountain and the southern coal field counties were hit hard by heavy wet snow associated with a storm that moved out of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and across southern Georgia late Friday, the 18th. The storm then moved off the North Carolina coast early on the 19th.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 2009$2.8 million · 2 eventsDickenson and Buchanan Counties were hit hard by heavy wet snow associated with a storm that moved out of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and across southern Georgia late Friday, the 18th. The storm then moved off the North Carolina coast early on the 19th.
• Blizzard in West Virginia, December 18 to 19, 20094 eventsLow pressure tracked from the northeast Gulf coast early on December 18th reaching a position near Alma, Georgia as a 997 mb low by Friday the 18th at 5 PM EST. The storm continued moving northeast and deepened to a 986 mb low near Cape Hatteras by 10 AM December 19th.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Kentucky, December 18 to 20, 2009$763,000 · 64 eventsA large and intense area of low pressure moved across the Tennessee valley and eventually up the east coast on December 18th and 19th. The initial precipitation began as a heavy wet snow on Friday afternoon December 18th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, December 18 to 19, 20091 eventA coop weather observer measured 16 inches of snow on Black Mountain on December 22nd. The observer was not on site during the storm that dumped the snow, but did measure a snow depth of 18 inches of snow on Sunday, December 20th.
• Extreme Cold in Alaska, December 18, 20091 eventA 979 mb low in the eastern Yukon Territory on the morning of the 18th weakened and moved east during the day. The low produced a period of stronger wind along the Steese Highway summits.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 200926 eventsCoastal low pressure produced between four and nineteen inches of snow across central and eastern Virginia from Friday afternoon, December 18th, into Saturday evening December 19th.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 200923 eventsA disturbance in the northern branch of the jet stream was able to phase with low pressure in the southern branch of the jet stream over the Southeast Coast on the night of the 18th.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, December 18 to 19, 200915 eventsA disturbance in the northern branch of the jet stream was able to phase with low pressure in the southern branch of the jet stream over the Southeast Coast on the night of the 18th.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 18 to 19, 200910 eventsA disturbance in the northern branch of the jet stream was able to phase with low pressure in the southern branch of the jet stream over the Southeast Coast on the night of the 18th.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 20092 eventsCoastal low pressure produced between one and four inches of snow across portions of south central Virginia from Friday afternoon, December 18th, into Saturday evening December 19th.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 18 to 19, 2009$871,000 · 5 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked into the region from the south combined with cold air resulting in heavy snow across the area. This heavy snow event was the largest snowfall that has occurred across southwest Virginia since 1996.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, December 18 to 19, 200911 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked into the region from the south combined with cold air resulting in heavy snow across the area. The heaviest snow fell over the higher elevations where 10-12 inches was reported. The valley locations received up to 4 inches of snow.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, December 18 to 20, 20092 eventsCoastal low pressure produced between four and fourteen inches of snow across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore from Friday evening, December 18th, into early Sunday morning December 20th.
• Winter Storm in District of Columbia, December 18 to 19, 20091 eventA disturbance in the northern branch of the jet stream was able to phase with low pressure in the southern branch of the jet stream over the Southeast Coast on the night of the 18th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, December 18 to 19, 2009$20,000 · 1 eventNortheast Kentucky was on the northwestern fringe of the heavy snow associated with a storm that moved out of the eastern Gulf of Mexico and across southern Georgia late Friday, the 18th. The storm then moved off the North Carolina coast early on the 19th.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, December 18 to 19, 20091 death · 1 injured · $10,000 · 3 eventsA cold airmass was in place across Middle Tennessee as moisture associated with a strong surface low off the South Carolina coast, which moved north into Virgina during the early morning hours on December 19th, ushered in snowfall across the northern Cumberland Plateau region.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 18 to 19, 20095 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved from the gulf coast to offshore the Carolinas and up the east coast from the 18th to the 19th.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, December 18 to 19, 200914 eventsA major winter storm brought heavy snow to the region from the early morning through the late evening hours. Storm total snow accumulations ranged from six to twelve inches across the Laurel Highlands and south-central mountains.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 18 to 19, 20093 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved from the gulf coast to offshore the Carolinas and up the east coast from the 18th to the 19th.
• Heavy Snow in Maryland, December 18 to 19, 20091 eventA strong area of low pressure moved from the gulf coast to offshore the Carolinas and up the east coast from the 18th to the 19th.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Delaware, December 18 to 20, 20094 eventsA major winter storm affected Delaware on the 19th and 20th. Heavy snow fell across New Castle and Kent Counties and a wintry mix of heavy snow, sleet and rain fell across Sussex County.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Maryland, December 19 to 20, 20095 eventsA major winter storm affected the Eastern Shore on the 19th and 20th. Heavy snow fell across Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's Counties and heavy snow and sleet fell across Caroline and Talbot Counties. Snowfall averaged 15 to 22 inches.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, December 19 to 20, 20092 deaths · 10 eventsA major winter storm affected central and southeast Pennsylvania on the 19th and 20th. A lighter accumulating snow affected the Poconos.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, December 19, 20091 death · 1 eventA fast-moving upper-level disturbance tracked through central Illinois on December 19, 2009, bringing a period of light snow to the area. Total snowfall was generally around 1 inch...with higher amounts northwest of the Illinois River.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Jersey, December 19 to 20, 20092 injured · $150,000 · 21 eventsA major winter storm dropped heavy snow across all of New Jersey except for Sussex County. The heaviest snow fell along and east of the Interstate 95 corridor.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, December 19, 200921 eventsAn upper level disturbance crossed the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 18th. Low pressure tracked up the east coast, with the westward extent of its moisture reaching into Ohio.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, December 19, 20094 eventsAn upper level disturbance crossed the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 18th. Low pressure tracked up the east coast, with the westward extent of its moisture reaching into Ohio.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, December 19, 20093 eventsAn upper level disturbance crossed the Ohio Valley on the evening of the 18th. Low pressure tracked up the east coast, with the westward extent of its moisture reaching into Ohio and northern Kentucky.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New York, December 19 to 20, 200914 eventsCoastal low pressure rapidly intensified Saturday night as it tracked northeast from off the Delmarva Coast...just southeast of the 40N/70W benchmark and to southeast of Cape Cod by Sunday morning.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, December 19 to 20, 20096 eventsCoastal low pressure rapidly intensified Saturday night as it tracked northeast from off the Delmarva Coast...just southeast of the 40N/70W benchmark and to southeast of Cape Cod by Sunday morning.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 19 to 20, 20098 eventsCoastal low pressure rapidly intensified Saturday night as it tracked northeast from off the Delmarva Coast...just southeast of the 40N/70W benchmark and to southeast of Cape Cod by Sunday morning.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, December 19 to 20, 20099 eventsLow pressure off the mid-Atlantic coast intensified dramatically resulting in widespread snowfall along the northeast corridor of the U.S.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 19 to 20, 20092 eventsLow pressure off the mid-Atlantic coast intensified dramatically resulting in widespread snowfall along the northeast corridor of the U.S.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Massachusetts, December 19 to 20, 2009$125,000 · 17 eventsLow pressure off the mid-Atlantic coast intensified dramatically resulting in widespread snowfall along the northeast corridor of the U.S.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, December 19 to 20, 20093 eventsWith a strong surface low moving up into the northern Atlantic just off New England and strong northwesterly flow associated with the base of an upper level trough moving into Middle Tennessee, enough moisture was present, with upper level disturbances rotating around upper…
• Blizzard in Alaska, December 20 to 21, 20092 eventsA 968 mb low near Adak at 900 am AKST on the 19th deepened to 960 mb between the Pribilof Islands and Saint Matthew Island by 3 am AKST on the 20th.
• Ice Storm in Montana, December 20 to 21, 20096 eventsFreezing rain developed over portions of North Central Montana. Ice accumulations of one-quarter inch were reported.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, December 21, 20091 eventModerate lake effect snow developed over portions of Ontonagon County on the 21st in the wake of an Alberta clipper low pressure system.
• Winter Storm in Utah, December 21 to 23, 20092 eventsAnother Pacific storm system brought widespread rain and snow to Utah, but only isolated pockets of far southern and far northern Utah received heavy snowfall.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, December 21 to 22, 20096 eventsAn upper air disturbance, combined with a warm front lifting across the region, produced a band of light snow over northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois on December 21-22, 2009.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, December 21 to 22, 20096 eventsAn upper air disturbance, combined with a warm front lifting across the region, produced a band of light snow over northeast Iowa and northwest Illinois on December 21-22, 2009.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, December 21 to 22, 20092 eventsA foot of snow fell at Galena Summit.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, December 22 to 23, 20098 eventsA persistent trof focused an extended interval of heavy snow across northern and portions of eastern Maine. Snow began during the afternoon of the 22nd and continued into the evening of the 23rd.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Arizona, December 22 to 23, 2009$3,000 · 51 kt wind · 3 eventsA fast moving trough resulted in strong winds across Southeast Arizona with blowing dust on December 22nd along with heavy snow in the higher elevations of Northern Greenlee County.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, December 22 to 24, 20093 eventsA 1036 MB arctic High pressure system was over the Yukon on 12/22 with cold air in gap flow for northern SE Alaska. Warm moist air began to overrun this cold outflow resulting in heavy snow for several areas in the Northern Panhandle.

The snowstorm of December 12 to 16, 2009The snowstorm of December 22 to 29, 2009Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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