The snowstorm of January 1 to 3, 2022

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

746

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$2.1 million

Episodes

77

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 Alaska, December 31, 202111 eventsLow pressure system associated with a plume of warm moisture moved into the gulf late on the 30th and lingered south of the panhandle through the weekend. As the low moved southwards, precipitation changed from snow to rain.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in South Dakota, December 31, 202127 eventsStrong high pressure built southward out of Canada, led by a weak wave of low pressure which increased the surface pressure gradient, and dropped a swath of light snowfall across southeast South Dakota and parts of southwest Minnesota.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, December 31, 202116 eventsA surge of relatively mild and moist air brought widespread freezing drizzle to much of southern WI. A glaze of ice accumulated on untreated roads and sidewalks. Some vehicle slide-offs and accidents occurred.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, December 31, 202114 eventsThe first Arctic airmass arrived before the end of the year with temperatures falling into the teens and 20s below zero.
• Cold in Minnesota, December 31, 202124 eventsAnother Arctic outbreak brought wind chills down into the 40s and 50s below zero. Winds were relatively light; however, air temperatures were frigid.
• Cold in North Dakota, December 31, 202118 eventsAnother Arctic outbreak brought wind chills down into the 40s and 50s below zero. Winds were relatively light; however, air temperatures were frigid.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Minnesota, December 31, 20218 eventsStrong high pressure built southward out of Canada, led by a weak wave of low pressure which increased the surface pressure gradient, and dropped a swath of light snowfall across southeast South Dakota and parts of southwest Minnesota.
• Extreme Cold in Montana, December 31, 20216 eventsA cold upper level low centered over Canada and its associated upper level trough extending into the Northwestern US brought multiple embedded shortwave disturbances into the Northern Rockies.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, December 31, 20211 eventCold high pressure moved into the Northland to begin 2022. Overnight lows the morning of the 1st settled into the 20s to 30s below zero across much of northeastern Minnesota.
• Cold in Iowa, December 31, 20216 eventsStrong high pressure built southward out of Canada, led by a weak wave of low pressure which increased the surface pressure gradient, and dropped a swath of light snowfall across southeast South Dakota and parts of southwest Minnesota.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in South Dakota, January 1, 202224 eventsA bitterly cold air mass with strong northerly winds resulted in a continuation from New Years Eve of dangerous wind chills from -35F to -45F across east central South Dakota into southwest Minnesota, with other areas reaching from -25F to -35F.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 1 to 2, 202223 eventsAn Arctic airmass remained in place during the first two days of 2022. Temperatures managed to rise slowly, but gusty winds continue to produce wind chill values in the -35F degree range for several hours in the morning, and into the early afternoon for a few counties across…
• Extreme Cold in South Dakota, January 1 to 2, 202219 eventsAn Arctic high pressure brought bitterly cold temperatures from the morning of the 1st through the morning of the 2nd, having started in late December the previous calendar year (see the December 2021 Storm Data entry for additional information).
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 1, 202215 eventsCold high pressure moved into the Northland to begin 2022. Overnight lows the morning of the 1st settled into the 20s to 30s below zero across much of northeastern Minnesota.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, January 1, 202211 eventsA mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain moved across the region during the early morning hours of the start of the new year, 2022. A band of snowfall moved across portions of central Kansas, with 3 to 5 inches, while a mix of sleet and snow fell across south central Kansas.
• Cold in Iowa, January 1, 20229 eventsA bitterly cold air mass with strong northerly winds resulted in a continuation from New Years Eve of dangerous wind chills from -35F to -45F across east central South Dakota into southwest Minnesota, with other areas reaching from -25F to -35F.
• Extreme Cold and Cold in Minnesota, January 1, 20228 eventsA bitterly cold air mass with strong northerly winds resulted in a continuation from New Years Eve of dangerous wind chills from -35F to -45F across east central South Dakota into southwest Minnesota, with other areas reaching from -25F to -35F.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, January 1, 20226 eventsAn Arctic front pushed through during the afternoon setting the stage for the development of widespread snow.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 1 to 2, 20222 eventsAn Arctic airmass persisted across the Northern Plains from the morning of the 1st through the morning of the 2nd, having started in late December the previous calendar year (see the December 2021 Storm Data entry for additional details).
• Blizzard and Extreme Cold in Montana, January 1 to 3, 202268 kt wind · 13 eventsThe new year began with an Arctic Air mass over the region, powered by a 1028 mb surface high. Temperatures plunged below zero as northerly winds were just strong enough to produce dangerous wind chills down to 40 below zero along the Hi-Line.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, January 1, 20229 eventsA Winter storm that impacted Southeast Alaska at the end of 2021 continued into 2022. Winter storm warnings continued through this timeframe.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 1, 20227 eventsA winter storm pushed through the area from the southwest. Light snow picked up early New Year's Day, and lasted through the afternoon and evening. Along and south of HWY 36 sleet fell, which cut into the snow amounts south of HWY 36.
• Extreme Cold in Alaska, January 1 to 4, 20221 eventThe combination of cold temperatures and winds from 15 to 25 mph produced dangerous wind chills around 65 below zero in the Eastern Interior January 1st to the 3rd 2022.
• Extreme Cold in Alaska, January 1 to 2, 20221 eventThe combination of cold temperatures and winds from 15 to 25 mph produced dangerous wind chills around 65 below zero in the Arctic slope on the 1st through the 3rd |of January 2022.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 1, 202210 eventsA winter storm and frigid cold affected south central Nebraska on New Year’s Day. Light to moderate snow developed during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day over western Kansas and Nebraska, then shifted into the local area between 5-6 AM CST.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, January 1, 20226 eventsA winter storm and frigid cold affected north central Kansas on New Year’s Day. Light to moderate snow developed during the early morning hours of New Year’s Day over western Kansas, then shifted into the local area between 5-6 AM CST.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, January 1 to 2, 202219 eventsA strong winter storm impacted much of southeast Iowa, western Illinois, and northeast Missouri. Widespread snowfall ranging between 5 and 10 inches of snow was reported in the hardest hit areas, with 1 to 4 inches surrounding and gusty winds to follow.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, January 1 to 2, 202213 eventsA strong winter storm impacted much of southeast Iowa, western Illinois, and northeast Missouri. Widespread snowfall ranging between 5 and 10 inches of snow was reported in the hardest hit areas, with 1 to 4 inches surrounding and gusty winds to follow.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 1 to 2, 20222 eventsA strong winter storm impacted much of southeast Iowa, western Illinois, and northeast Missouri. Widespread snowfall ranging between 5 and 10 inches of snow was reported in the hardest hit areas, with 1 to 4 inches surrounding and gusty winds to follow.
• Winter Storm and Extreme Cold in Iowa, January 1 to 2, 202219 eventsA surface low lifted out of the four corners region and into the central US, tracking across Missouri.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, January 1, 20222 eventsAn impactful winter storm moved through the Midwest on New Year's Day, which brought snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the region. Serious travel impacts occurred across portions of northeast Missouri and west central Illinois.
• Sleet in Illinois, January 1 to 2, 20221 eventAn impactful winter storm moved through the Midwest on New Year's Day, which brought snow, sleet, and freezing rain to the region. Serious travel impacts occurred across portions of northeast Missouri and west central Illinois.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Illinois, January 1, 20226 eventsA strong frontal boundary extending from the Ohio River Valley into the southern Plains separated an unseasonably warm airmass characterized by temperatures in the 60s and 70s from Kentucky southward to the Gulf Coast from bitterly cold air with readings well below zero across…
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, January 1 to 2, 202218 eventsA winter storm moved across northern Illinois during the afternoon of January 1st through the early morning of January 2nd. Snowfall totals were generally in the 3 to 5 inch range, with some higher totals across far northeast Illinois.
• Cold in Minnesota, January 1 to 2, 20227 eventsLesser wind but very cold temperatures from -8 to -18F led to another period of dangerous wind chills in parts of southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, January 1 to 4, 2022$2.0 million · 79 kt wind · 3 eventsA ridge of high pressure aloft shifted northeast out of the western Bering Sea on December 31, 2021, strengthening over northern Alaska January 1-3, 2022.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wisconsin, January 1 to 2, 202212 eventsAn upper level disturbance and front brought snow to southeast WI and far southern WI. Lake enhanced snow brought heavy snow totals, including blowing and drifting snow via onshore wind gusts of 30-35 mph near the lake.
• Cold in South Dakota, January 1 to 2, 202210 eventsLesser wind but very cold temperatures from -8 to -18F led to another period of dangerous wind chills in parts of southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa.
• Cold in Iowa, January 1 to 2, 20225 eventsLesser wind but very cold temperatures from -8 to -18F led to another period of dangerous wind chills in parts of southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 1 to 2, 20224 eventsAn arctic air mass with temperatures in the teens below zero spread across southeast Minnesota at the start of January.
• Extreme Cold in Minnesota, January 2, 20228 eventsThe cold air to begin the new year lingered over the Northland for a second night. The area of high pressure was more overhead this night, so temperatures were a bit colder with widespread -30F readings.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, January 2 to 3, 20221 eventWest wind lake effect snow bands brought moderate snow accumulation to portions of the Keweenaw Peninsula from the 2nd into the 3rd.
• Winter Storm and Coastal Flood in Washington, January 2 to 3, 202260 kt wind · 7 eventsThe first of two strong Pacific fronts brought high winds to the coast as well as gusty winds to the Willamette Valley and interior lowlands of southwest Washington.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 2 to 3, 202232 eventsAfter severe storms affected Middle Tennessee on January 1, light rain moved back across Middle Tennessee during the late morning hours on January 2. This rain changed to snow during the afternoon and evening hours, before ending in the early morning on January 3.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, January 2 to 4, 20223 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow to the Cascades shortly after the start of the New Year.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 2, 202211 eventsA cold front pushed through the Mid-South early on January 2, 2022. Cold air filtered into the region throughout the day. A strong upper low moved into the area later in the day and interacted with a surface low forming along the Gulf coast.
• Winter Weather in Mississippi, January 2, 20222 eventsA cold front pushed through the Mid-South early on January 2, 2022. Cold air filtered into the region throughout the day. A strong upper low moved into the area later in the day and interacted with a surface low forming along the Gulf coast.
• Winter Weather in Mississippi, January 2, 20227 eventsLight snowfall occurred across portions of the area on the afternoon and evening of Sunday January 2nd. This event happened in the wake of a anomalously warm stretch of weather including the warmest December on record for much of the area.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, January 2 to 3, 202211 eventsDuring the late afternoon into the evening hours on 1/2/2022, an area of low pressure over southern Mississippi moved northeast along a stalled front extending northeast into central Alabama.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 2 to 3, 20223 eventsDuring the late afternoon into the evening hours on 1/2/2022, an area of low pressure over southern Mississippi moved northeast along a stalled front extending northeast into central Alabama.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, January 2 to 3, 2022$31,000 · 27 eventsA frontal boundary stalled in the Mid-Atlantic, stretching from the Tidewater Region of Virginia southwest to Georgia. On January 3rd, a surface low formed along the front and traveled northeast along it, going over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 2 to 3, 2022$15,000 · 1 eventA quick moving upper level low pressure system brought a small dusting of snow through the area during the overnight hours of January 2nd-3rd.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, January 2 to 3, 202222 eventsA rapidly intensifying low pressure system over the Southeast states ushered in cold air into East Tennessee, changing rain to snow through the evening and overnight hours. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were reported in some locations.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, January 2 to 3, 20224 eventsSnow levels fell quickly during the evening across the North Carolina mountains as a strong cold front crossed the area.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 2 to 3, 20222 eventsSnow levels fell quickly during the evening across the North Carolina mountains as a strong cold front crossed the area.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 2 to 3, 20222 eventsA potent winter storm began to take shape along the Gulf Coast on January 2nd and then lifted into the Carolinas early on the morning of the 3rd.
• Heavy Snow in Alabama, January 2 to 3, 20223 eventsCold air lurking behind the amplifying trough approached Alabama on January 2nd as the upper trough acquired a negative tilt. Temperatures in the 50s and 60s during the afternoon dropped into the 30s through the course of the evening.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 3, 20222 eventsA rapidly intensifying low pressure system over the Southeast states ushered in cold air into southwest Virginia, changing rain to snow through the evening and overnight hours. Snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour were reported in some locations.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, January 3, 20223 eventsA frontal boundary stalled in the Mid-Atlantic, stretching from the Tidewater Region of Virginia southwest to Georgia. On January 3rd a surface low formed along the front and traveled northeast along it, going over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, January 3, 202228 eventsLow pressure tracked along a cold front and intensified while doing so, bringing a period of snow to most of northern and central Virginia. The heaviest snow fell across the Virginia Piedmont around the Fredericksburg Metropolitan area.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, January 3, 202214 eventsLow pressure tracked along a cold front and intensified while doing so, bringing a period of snow to portions of Maryland. The heaviest snow fell across the southern portion of the state, closer to the low. However, accumulating snow occurred across central Maryland as well.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 3, 20223 eventsLow pressure tracking along a cold front triggered a period of snow across portions of eastern West Virginia. Snowfall accumulations around 2 to 4 inches occurred across portions of the Potomac Highlands in West Virginia as well as Jefferson County.
• Winter Storm in District of Columbia, January 3, 20221 eventLow pressure tracked along a cold front and intensified while doing so, bringing a period of snow to Washington DC. Snowfall was locally heavy, and it totaled up to around 6 to 10 inches.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 3, 2022$16,000 · 24 eventsLow pressure tracking from the Southeast United States northeast off the North Carolina coast and out to sea produced snowfall totals between four inches and thirteen inches across much of central Virginia and the Virginia northern neck.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, January 3, 202220 eventsLow pressure tracking from the Southeast United States northeast off the North Carolina coast and out to sea produced snowfall totals between one inch and three inches across portions of south central and southeast Virginia, and the Virginia Eastern Shore.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, January 3, 20223 eventsLow pressure tracking from the Southeast United States northeast off the North Carolina coast and out to sea produced snowfall totals between four inches and twelve inches across much of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, January 3, 20222 eventsLow pressure tracking from the Southeast United States northeast off the North Carolina coast and out to sea produced snowfall totals between two inches and four inches across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Winter Storm and Strong Wind in North Carolina, January 3, 2022$50,000 · 4 eventsA frontal boundary stalled in the Mid-Atlantic, stretching from the Tidewater Region of Virginia southwest to Georgia. On January 3rd a surface low formed along the front and traveled northeast along it, going over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 3, 202211 eventsA winter storm impacted most of Delmarva and southern New Jersey on January 3, 2022. A strengthening area of low pressure developed over the Southeast US late on January 2 and move northeast, tracking offshore of the mid-Atlantic in a typical Nor'easter-type setup.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, January 3, 20224 eventsA winter storm impacted most of Delmarva and southern New Jersey on January 3, 2022. A strengthening area of low pressure developed over the Southeast US late on January 2 and move northeast, tracking offshore of the mid-Atlantic in a typical Nor'easter-type setup.
• Winter Storm in Delaware, January 3, 20224 eventsA winter storm impacted most of Delmarva and southern New Jersey on January 3, 2022. A strengthening area of low pressure developed over the Southeast US late on January 2 and move northeast, tracking offshore of the mid-Atlantic in a typical Nor'easter-type setup.
• Winter Storm in California, January 3 to 4, 20221 eventA winter storm brought snow to the mountains of interior Northern California in early January. Lighter-end snowfall accumulations were recorded over the Southern Cascades and Northern Sierra Nevada.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Montana, January 4 to 7, 202270 kt wind · 20 eventsAnother cold trough moved into the state for more sub-zero temperatures and wind chills. Warning criteria wind chill values (-40F) were more common with this surge than the previous one as a 1044 mb surface high moved southward from the Canadian Prairies.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, January 4 to 5, 20224 eventsAn area of low pressure moved from the Central Plains to northern Lower Michigan on the 4th into the 5th. This storm track brought an area of heavy snowfall to parts of northeastern Minnesota starting the evening of the 4th before lingering into the afternoon hours of the 5th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, January 4 to 6, 202216 eventsA strong northwesterly flow with enhanced bands of moderate to heavy snow developed across the northern mountains and northeast plains of Colorado.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, January 4 to 5, 20225 eventsA strengthening area of low pressure over Minnesota brought light snow and strong northwest winds to northeastern South Dakota from the evening of the 4th through the morning hours of the 5th.
• Blizzard in North Dakota, January 4 to 5, 202215 eventsA blizzard developed in the afternoon hours on January 4th across eastern ND towards the Red River Valley, and adjacent counties in northwest through westcentral MN.

The snowstorm of March 13 to 17, 2021The snowstorm of January 4 to 7, 2022Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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