The snowstorm of December 28, 2000 to January 1, 2001

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

834

Deaths

3

Injuries

4

Damage

$9.6 million

Episodes

100

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 Michigan, December 26 to 27, 20002 eventsA cold front moved across northern Michigan during the afternoon and evening hours on the 26th. West to northwest winds and cold air associated with this front helped to produce heavy lake effect snow across a portion of northwest Lower Michigan.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, December 26 to 27, 2000$20,000 · 3 eventsA light accumulation of snow contributed to numerous accidents on untreated roadways in the Tri-City area. Snowfall totals were generally around one inch or less.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, December 27 to 28, 2000$295,000 · 5 eventsLake effect snow showers developed during the morning of the 27th. Heavy snow first fell along the lakeshore then spread inland as winds shifted from the west to the northwest.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 27 to 28, 2000$120,000 · 3 eventsLake effect snow showers develop during the morning of the 27th. The snow first fell along the Lake Erie lakeshore then shifted inland as winds switched from the west to the northwest. Accumulations of 6 to 8 inches were reported in Erie and Crawford Counties.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, December 27 to 28, 200018 eventsAn Alberta Clipper tracked from Bismarck, North Dakota, to Watertown, South Dakota. This track brought the most snow along a line from Devils Lake, North Dakota, to Park Rapids, Minnesota, where up to 8.5 inches of snow were reported.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 27 to 28, 200013 eventsAn Alberta Clipper tracked from Bismarck, North Dakota, to Watertown, South Dakota. This track brought the most snow along a line from Devils Lake, North Dakota, to Park Rapids, Minnesota, where up to 8.5 inches of snow were reported.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 28 to 29, 2000$5,000 · 1 eventA moderate front moved into the area Thursday morning, followed by another late Thursday and early Friday. Yet a third front moved into the area, this one stronger than the prior two, Friday afternoon, passing through the area early Friday night.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, December 27 to 28, 20001 eventHeavy snow of up to 8 inches fell across Traverse County. Wheaton and Browns Valley both reported 8 inches.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 28, 200033 eventsA strong low pressure system over central North Dakota early on the 28th, trekked into southwestern Minnesota during the afternoon, and then moved into northern Iowa during the evening hours.
• Ice Storm in Arkansas, December 28, 200011 eventsFollowing the Ice Storm on December 25-27, 2000...a system aloft moved through southern Arkansas during the early morning hours of the 28th. With moisture lingering, freezing rain was produced...with additional icing in southern sections of the state.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, December 28, 20009 eventsA strong low pressure system over Alberta Canada moved rapidly southeast tracking from northwest to southeast North Dakota. The system brought winds and snow across the region.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, December 28, 20004 eventsA strong low pressure system over central North Dakota early on the 28th, trekked into southwestern Minnesota during the afternoon, and then moved into northern Iowa during the evening hours. The storm system then marched into northern Illinois during the morning of the 29th.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 28, 2000$55,000 · 11 eventsA strong upper level low pressure dropped southeast out of the northern Rockies into Iowa. The surface low was very close to the upper low as it moved through eastern South Dakota, southeast into east central Iowa.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, December 28, 200013 eventsNorthwest winds of 30 to 50 mph combined with the newly fallen snow to generate blizzard conditions into the early afternoon hours. Travel was extremely difficult, if not impossible as many motorists went into the ditch. There were also several non-injury accidents.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, December 28, 20008 eventsThe last in a series of winter storms to affect northeast Iowa during December, produced 5 to 8 inches of snow.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, December 28, 20007 eventsThe last in a series of winter storms to hit southeast Minnesota in December, produced 5 to 9 inches of snow.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, December 28, 200012 eventsStrong winds, gusting to over 50 mph at times, combined with existing snow cover and 1 to 2 inches of new snowfall to create blizzard conditions. Visibilities were near zero at times, especially in open areas.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 28 to 29, 200019 eventsAn unusually strong Alberta Clipper storm tracked southeast through Iowa into central Illinois and spread some locally heavy snow over parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, December 28 to 29, 200013 eventsAn unusually strong Alberta Clipper storm tracked southeast through Iowa into central Illinois and spread some locally heavy snow over parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, December 28 to 29, 20002 eventsAn unusually strong Alberta Clipper storm tracked southeast through Iowa into central Illinois and spread some locally heavy snow over parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, December 28 to 29, 20002 eventsAn unusually strong Alberta Clipper storm tracked southeast through Iowa into central Illinois and spread some locally heavy snow over parts of eastern Iowa and western Illinois.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, December 28, 20006 eventsAreas of southwest Wisconsin along the Mississippi River were hit by a winter storm, which produced 5 to 7 inches of snow.
• Blizzard in Iowa, December 28, 20006 eventsStrong winds, gusting to near 50 mph at times, combined with existing snow cover and 1 to 2 inches of new snowfall to create blizzard conditions. Visibilities were near zero at times, especially in open areas.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, December 28, 20001 eventStrong winds, gusting to near 50 mph at times, combined with existing snow cover and 1 to 2 inches of new snowfall to create blizzard conditions. Visibilities were near zero at times, especially in open areas.
• Blizzard in Nebraska, December 28, 20002 eventsStrong winds, gusting to over 50 mph at times, combined with existing snow cover and 1 to 2 inches of new snowfall to create blizzard conditions. Visibilities were near zero at times, especially in open areas.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, December 28 to 31, 200068 kt wind · 6 eventsAn intensifying 966 mb Low in Bristol Bay pushed north against stationary High pressure over the Arctic Ocean, resulting in strong winds and brief blizzard conditions across portions of western Alaska and along the southern slopes of the Brooks Range.Blizzard conditions were…
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, December 29, 20002 eventsA quick burst of lake effect snow resulted in accumulations of 6 inches in Mellen and 12 inches at Saxon.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, December 29, 200015 eventsA weak, dissipating, and fast moving upper-level disturbance accompanied the passage of an Arctic cold front across northwest Georgia late in the afternoon and early evening.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, December 29 to 30, 20001 eventAround 6 inches of snow accumulated at Galesburg in Knox County on Friday, December 29. The snow began around 3 PM on Thursday, December 28, reached 6 inches by 6 PM on Friday, December 29 and ended around 10 PM on Saturday, December 30.
• Cold in South Carolina, December 29 to 30, 20001 death · 1 eventThe cold claimed another victim on the morning of December 30th.The victim this time was a 76-year old female, who became disoriented and died due to exposure to the cold weather. When found, she was clothed only in a thin nightgown.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, December 29 to 30, 20001 event6 inches 10N Bozeman...8 inches Big Sky 2WNW and 10N.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 30, 20005 eventsA strong northwest flow across the higher terrain produced a fresh blanket of 1 to 3 inch snowfall near the Tennessee border.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 30, 20002 eventsA strong northwest flow into the western facing slopes of the North Carolina mountains produced heavy snow in Graham and Madison counties. Accumulations ranged from 3 to 5 inches with most of the heavy snowfall reported in the extreme western halves of both counties.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, December 30, 20003 eventsSnow during the morning of the 30th accumulated 6 to 9 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, December 30, 20003 eventsAbout 3 to 4 inches of snow fell in Jackson, Fentress and White counties.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 30, 20002 eventsSnow during the morning of the 30th accumulated 6 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 30, 20001 eventSnow during the 30th accumulated up to 12 inches in the higher elevations of western Greenbrier County.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, December 30, 200019 eventsThe first widespread major snowstorm of the season blanketed New Jersey, especially the northern half, with heavy snow. In the northern half of the state, it was the heaviest snow since the Blizzard of 1996. The snow began between 3 and 5 a.m.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 30, 20008 eventsThe first widespread major snowstorm of the season blanketed most of Eastern Pennsylvania with 5 to 12 inches on December 30th. Snow began falling during the predawn hours and fell heavy at times into the early afternoon.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 30 to 31, 20004 eventsA major winter storm developed off the DelMarVa Peninsula early on Saturday, December 30th. The storm rapidly spread moderate to heavy snow north and west into extreme eastern Pennsylvania by 8 AM.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, December 30, 20001 eventAn extended period of lake effect snow occurred in the Thumb area, on the back side of a strong East Coast storm system. Around 2 to 4 inches of snow fell every 12 hours for several days.
• Heavy Snow in New York, December 30 to 31, 200010 eventsA major winter storm developed off the DelMarVa Peninsula early on Saturday, December 30th. The storm then intensified as it moved north to be off the New Jersey coast during the day Saturday.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, December 30, 20006 eventsA low pressure system rapidly intensified and moved north along the mid Atlantic coast during Saturday December 30th. This produced a wide swath of heavy snow to the northwest of the storm track.
• Winter Storm in New York, December 30 to 31, 200024 eventsEnergy from a strong upper level disturbance, diving southeast from the northern Plains into the Ohio Valley, developed a coastal area of low pressure off the DelMarVa pennisula by early Saturday December 30.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New York, December 30, 200015 eventsA low pressure system rapidly intensified and moved north along the mid Atlantic coast during Saturday December 30th. This produced a wide swath of heavy snow to the northwest of the storm track.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, December 30 to 31, 200010 eventsDry fluffy snow showers accumulated 2 to 5 inches, with localized higher amounts in the mountains.
• Winter Storm in Connecticut, December 30 to 31, 20001 eventEnergy from a strong upper level disturbance, diving southeast from the northern Plains into the Ohio Valley...developed a coastal area of low pressure off the DelMarVa pennisula by early Saturday December 30.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, December 30, 20001 event5 to 6 inches of new snow at Gardiner.
• Winter Storm in Massachusetts, December 30 to 31, 20001 eventEnergy from a strong upper level disturbance, diving southeast from the northern Plains into the Ohio Valley, developed a coastal area of low pressure off the DelMarVa pennisula by early Saturday December 30.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 30, 20005 eventsA low pressure system rapidly intensified and moved north along the mid Atlantic coast during Saturday December 30th. This produced a wide swath of heavy snow to the northwest of the storm track.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, December 30 to 31, 20002 eventsEnergy from a strong upper level disturbance, diving southeast from the northern Plains into the Ohio Valley, developed a coastal area of low pressure off the DelMarVa pennisula by early Saturday December 30.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, December 30 to 31, 200012 eventsAn area of low pressure developed rapidly in the early morning hours of the 30th off the mid-Atlantic coast, just south of Long Island. The low moved slowly northeastward during the day and brought snow to the state beginning during the afternoon and evening on the 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, December 30, 200011 eventsThe season's first winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow across western and central Massachusetts. Since the storm occurred on a Saturday, no major problems with travel were noted, aside from flight delays at Worcester Regional Airport.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, December 30, 20003 eventsThe season's first winter storm dumped nearly a foot of snow over parts of northern Connecticut. Since the storm occurred on a Saturday, no major travel problems were noted, aside from flight delays at Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, December 30, 20002 eventsThe season's first winter storm dumped up to a foot of snow in southwest New Hampshire. Since the storm occurred on a Saturday, no major travel problems were noted, aside from flight delays at Manchester Airport.
• Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, December 30, 20002 eventsThe season's first winter storm dumped 6 to 9 inches of snow in western Kent and northwest Providence Counties. Since the storm occurred on a Saturday, no major problems with travel were noted.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, December 30 to 31, 200017 eventsAn area of low pressure developed rapidly in the early morning hours of the 30th off the mid-Atlantic coast, just south of Long Island. The low moved slowly northeastward during the day and brought snow to the state beginning during the late afternoon and evening on the 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, December 30, 20001 eventDayton reported 4 inches of new snow.
• Winter Storm in Maine, December 30 to 31, 200011 eventsA rapidly intensifying low tracking along the Maine coast produced heavy snow across the region. Storm snowfall totals generally ranged from 6 to 10 inches...with localized totals of around 12 inches.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, December 30 to 31, 20003 eventsA second round of upslope snow showers into the western facing slopes produced an additional 1 to 2 inch snow accumulation.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 30 to 31, 20001 eventNorthwest winds blowing off of Lake Erie caused late effect snow to fall along the Allegany Front in Western Grant County from the evening of the 30th through midnight on the 31st. A total of 9.2 inches of snow accumulated in Bayard. Snow totals were much less in Mt.
• Winter Storm in Texas, December 31, 200048 eventsSnow fell much of the day across North Central Texas with widespread 1-3 inch amounts. The snow melted on streets and highways then refroze after sunset creating a sheet of ice. In the Dallas/Fort Worth metro area hundreds of accidents occurred.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, December 31, 200014 eventsSummary of winter weather for December 31 2000-January 1 2001.An upper level storm system over the Upper Midwest moved southeast across the Southern Plains on the morning of December 31 2000.
• Winter Storm in New York, December 31, 2000$40,000 · 2 eventsA storm system moved north along the east coast during Saturday (December 30, 2000) and reached eastern Maine Sunday, December 31, 2000. Snow became steady the evening of the 30th and continued overnight into Sunday, before tapering off Sunday night.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, December 31, 2000$30,000 · 3 eventsA storm system moved north along the east coast during Saturday (December 30, 2000) and reached eastern Maine Sunday, December 31, 2000. Snow became steady during the afternoon and evening of the 30th and continued overnight. The snow tapered off Sunday morning.
• Extreme Cold in Florida, December 31, 2000$2.0 million · 5 eventsTemperatures fell into the mid-20s over Glades, Hendry, eastern Collier, and western portions of Palm Beach and Broward counties and fell to 32 degrees in the farming areas of south Miami-Dade County. An 85-year old Belle Glade woman died in a fire caused by a kerosene heater.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, December 31, 2000$85,000 · 3 eventsLake effect snow showers developed before daybreak and continued most of the day. Accumulations of 6 to 7 inches were measured in eastern Cuyahoga , southern Ashtabula and northern Geauga Counties.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, December 31, 2000$50,000 · 1 eventLake effect snow showers developed before daybreak and continued most of the day. Accumulations of 6 to 9 inches occurred across inland sections of Erie County.
• Heavy Snow in New York, December 31, 2000$550,000 · 11 eventsLow pressure developed off the mid Atlantic coast then moved north along the coast bringing a general snowfall to the area. Between six and twelve inches of snow fell across the area with higher amounts downwind from Lakes Erie and Ontario due to lake enhancement.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, December 31, 2000$100,000 · 5 eventsA storm system moved north along the east coast during Saturday (December 30, 2000) and reached eastern Maine Sunday, December 31, 2000. Snow became steady the evening of the 30th and continued overnight...into Sunday, before the snow tapered off late Sunday.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, December 31, 2000$80,000 · 4 eventsA storm system moved north along the east coast during Saturday (December 30, 2000) and reached eastern Maine Sunday, December 31, 2000. Snow became steady the evening of the 30th and continued overnight into Sunday, before tapering off Sunday night.
• Winter Storm in New York, December 31, 2000$120,000 · 6 eventsA storm system moved north along the east coast during Saturday (December 30, 2000) and reached eastern Maine Sunday, December 31, 2000. Snow became steady the evening of the 30th and continued overnight...into Sunday, before the snow tapered off late Sunday.
• Heavy Snow in New York, December 31, 20001 eventA cold arctic airmass moved southeast across the Great Lakes behind a winter storm to create lake effect snow showers and squalls. 6 to 16 inches of snow fell in extreme northern Onondaga County over the entire event.
• Extreme Cold in Alabama, December 31, 20001 death · 1 eventA Birmingham man died Sunday morning from hypothermia after being found outside of the Norwood boarding house where he lived. The coroner reported that the man's body temperature was 77 degrees when he was found. The morning low reported at the Birmingham airport was 16 degrees.
• Winter Storm in Oklahoma, December 31, 200016 eventsSnow fell across most of the Oklahoma during the morning and afternoon of the 31st, with 4 to 6 inches accumulating in 2 narrow bands, one across north central Oklahoma and the other across southeast Oklahoma.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, December 31, 20002 eventsStrong northwest winds brought orographically enhanced snowfall to the highlands of northern West Virginia. Snow accumulations were generally in the 6 to 10 inch range, with the higher amounts found over higher elevations.
• Extreme Cold in Mississippi, December 31, 20001 death · 1 event.
• Heavy Snow in Mississippi, December 31, 20005 eventsWidespread reports of three to four inches of snow were received for this event. Due to the very cold temperatures, the snow was very dry. Therefore, the snow accumulation did not cause any significant damage.
• Heavy Snow in New York, January 1, 20011 eventA cold arctic airmass moved southeast across the Great Lakes behind a winter storm to create lake effect snow showers and squalls. 6 to 16 inches of snow fell in extreme northern Onondaga County over the entire event.
• Winter Storm in Louisiana, January 1, 20014 injured · $55,000 · 2 eventsThe first snow seen in five years resulted in one inch of snow across central Louisiana, from Leesville to Alexandria. Four people were injured in Alexandria when the vehicle they were driving flipped over after hitting a patch of ice.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, January 1 to 5, 200148 eventsThe heavy snow that fell on Dec 31st lingered for several days keeping parts of Interstate 20 near Ranger closed until the morning of the 5th.
• Extreme Cold in Missouri, January 1 to 3, 200134 eventsAbnormally cold temperatures continued from December into early January with readings 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Snow and ice covered fields and highways provided problems to drivers, farmers and ranchers.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, January 1, 200114 eventsA slow-moving upper-level disturbance moved through Iowa during the late evening hours of 12/31/00 through the early morning of January 1st. The system brought light to moderate snow to east central and northeast Iowa, and far northwest Illinois.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, January 1, 20013 eventsA slow-moving upper-level disturbance moved through Iowa during the late evening hours of 12/31/00 through the early morning of January 1st. The system brought light to moderate snow to east central and northeast Iowa, and far northwest Illinois.
• Extreme Cold in Kansas, January 1 to 3, 20013 eventsAbnormally cold temperatures continued from December into early January with readings 10 to 20 degrees below normal. Snow and ice covered fields and highways provided problems to drivers, farmers, and ranchers.
• Extreme Cold in Kansas, January 1 to 2, 200123 eventsThe extreme cold of December continued the first 2 days of January. There were many locations that recorded below zero readings.On the 2nd Abilene recorded a low of -7, Ottawa a low of -12, and Topeka a low of -10.
• Extreme Cold in Kentucky, January 1 to 4, 200122 eventsThe prolonged arctic freeze that began during the second week of December finally ended by January 4. During the first few days of the new year, temperatures averaged 15 to 25 degrees below normal. Overnight lows were in the single digits.
• Extreme Cold in Illinois, January 1 to 4, 200119 eventsThe prolonged arctic freeze that began during the second week of December finally ended by January 4. During the first few days of the new year, temperatures averaged 15 to 25 degrees below normal. Overnight lows were around zero.
• Extreme Cold in Missouri, January 1 to 3, 200111 eventsThe prolonged arctic freeze that began during the second week of December finally ended by January 4. During the first few days of the new year, temperatures averaged 15 to 25 degrees below normal. Overnight lows were in the single digits.
• Extreme Cold in Indiana, January 1 to 4, 20016 eventsThe prolonged arctic freeze that began during the second week of December finally ended by January 4. During the first few days of the new year, temperatures averaged 15 to 25 degrees below normal. Overnight lows were around zero.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 1 to 2, 200140 eventsA strong upper level disturbance swept through the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians bringing a round of light snow to the area. Amounts were generally 1/2 inch to 2 inches. There were a few isolated reports of 3 inches, mainly near the mountains.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 1 to 2, 20015 eventsA strong upper level disturbance swept through the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachains bringing a round of light snow to the area. Amounts were generally 1 to 3 inches.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 1 to 2, 20012 eventsA strong upper level disturbance swept through the Tennessee Valley and southern Appalachians bringing a round of light snow to the area. Amounts were generally 1 inch or less.
• Extreme Cold in Florida, January 1, 2001$6.0 million · 5 eventsThe second and coldest night of a two-night freeze in south Florida saw minimum air temperatures ranging from 25 to 30 degrees over interior sections of the peninsula.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, January 1, 20016 eventsA Winter Storm produced a band of snow across portions of Southwest Alabama. One-half to one inch of snowfall accumulated generally along and north of a Chatom to Camden line. Some locations between Butler and Thomasville reported snowfall accumulations of about one inch.
• Winter Storm in Mississippi, January 1, 20013 eventsA winter storm produced one-half to one inch snowfall accumulations across portions of Southeast Mississippi, generally along and north of a New Augusta to Leakesville line . No injuries or significant impacts to travel were reported.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, January 1 to 3, 20011 eventLocally heavy snow occurred in the inland valleys of the southern Panhandle. Hyder reported a storm total of 18 inches after nearly 2 days of heavy snow.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, January 1, 200125 eventsArctic air was firmly entrenched across the southeastern U.S. on New Year's day. Temperatures in the teens and 20's were common across north and central Georgia during the morning. Temperatures remained below freezing most of the day.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 1 to 2, 200113 eventsA powerful upper level disturbance interacted with left-over cold air and abundant low level moisture to wring out snow showers across the North Carolina mountains from midday New Years Day through the early morning hours on the 2nd.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 2, 20013 eventsA secondary cold front passing over the mountains resulted in light snowfall accumulations.

The snowstorm of December 9 to 12, 2000The snowstorm of January 27 to 31, 2001Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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