The snowstorm of November 17 to 22, 2016

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

240

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$771,000

Episodes

43

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 Washington, November 15 to 16, 20161 eventA post-frontal Puget Sound convergence zone brought heavy snow to Stampede Pass.
• Winter Storm in Montana, November 16, 20162 eventsA band of heavy snow developed over far Southwest Montana, putting down several inches of snow in a short amount of time. Impacts were greatest in the West Yellowstone area.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, November 16 to 17, 20162 eventsA cold front moved across northern Wyoming during the late afternoon into the evening hours on the 16th. This resulted in a cold, moist easterly upslope flow over the Big Horn Mountains and adjacent foothills.
• Winter Weather in Wyoming, November 17, 20165 eventsA quick-moving storm system brought accumulating snow to all of northeastern Wyoming. The heaviest snow generally fell over the Bear Lodge Mountains area, where three to six inches were reported.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 17 to 18, 201613 eventsA strong storm system moved quickly across the region, producing accumulating snow across all of western and south central South Dakota. The heaviest snow fell across the northern Black Hills area, where four to eight inches of snow was reported.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, November 17, 20166 eventsA low pressure system brought the season's first snowfall to much of the western Nebraska panhandle. Snow totals ranged from two to five inches.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, November 17, 20162 eventsThe season's first winter storm brought moderate snowfall and gusty northwest winds of 25 to 35 mph across the northern Nebraska panhandle. Snow totals ranged from three to six inches. Low visibilities and snow-covered roadways created hazardous travel conditions.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, November 17 to 18, 20169 eventsA winter storm produced heavy snowfall beginning in the afternoon hours on November 17th continuing into the morning hours on November 18th across portions of western and north central Nebraska. Snowfall amounts ranged from 4 to 7 inches across much of the area.
• Winter Weather in Colorado, November 17 to 18, 20162 eventsAn area of light snow moved across east Colorado and along the Colorado border in northwest Kansas and extreme southwest Colorado. Snowfall accumulations ranged from a light dusting to two inches. Icy roads led to accidents in east Colorado.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, November 17 to 18, 201624 eventsRain changed to snow late on November 17th, and wet snow accumulated up to 9.5 inches through November 18th.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Minnesota, November 17 to 19, 201614 eventsAn area of low pressure developed near Colorado and moved to the Upper Midwest Thursday and Friday, November 18th and 19th, bringing northeast Minnesota's first winter storm of the season after record warmth in November.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, November 18, 20166 eventsA Colorado Low moved into the Central Plains during the evening of November 17th, eventually tracking through central Iowa and into western Wisconsin on the 18th.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, November 18, 20164 eventsA Colorado Low moved into the Central Plains during the evening of November 17th, eventually tracking through central Iowa and into western Wisconsin on the 18th.
• Blizzard in North Dakota, November 18, 20162 eventsA Colorado Low moved into the Central Plains during the evening of November 17th, eventually tracking through central Iowa and into western Wisconsin on the 18th.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, November 18, 20161 eventAn intense cyclone moved from the high Plains through the central Plains and into the upper Mississippi River Valley. This brought strong winds and the first snow of the season to parts of northeast Nebraska.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, November 18, 20168 eventsA strong surface low pressure area moved northeast across the region and brought snowfall from 2 to 7 inches to northeast South Dakota.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, November 18, 201617 eventsA large synoptic scale storm system that originated across Colorado, moved northeast across the Plains and Upper Midwest from late Thursday November 17th, through early Saturday, November 19th.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, November 18, 20168 eventsWet snow accumulated up to 7 inches in southwest Minnesota on November 18th. Northwest winds gusting as high as 57 mph combined with the falling snow to lower visibilities to below a quarter mile at times, making travel difficult.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, November 18, 20162 eventsWet snow accumulated 1 to 4 inches in far northwest Iowa. Northwest winds gusting as high as 50 mph combined with the falling snow to lower visibilities to around a half mile at times.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, November 18, 20161 eventWet snow accumulated 1 to 3 inches in Dixon County of far northeast Nebraska. Northwest winds gusting as high as 50 mph combined with the falling snow to lower visibilities to around a half mile at times.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, November 18, 20162 eventsA strong surface low pressure area moved northeast across the region and brought snowfall from 2 to 9 inches to west central Minnesota.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Michigan, November 18 to 20, 2016$1,000 · 51 kt wind · 12 eventsA strong low pressure system tracking through the Upper Great Lakes produced damaging wind and moderate snow over portions of Upper Michigan from the evening of 18th into the 20th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, November 18 to 19, 20161 eventParts of northern Iron County received heavy lake effect snow. An observer in Gile reported of 7.3 of snowfall.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 19 to 21, 20161 eventThe first significant lake-effect snowfall of the year brought several inches of accumulation to northern and western parts of Warren County from November 19-21, 2016.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, November 19 to 20, 201614 eventsStrong low pressure moved from Minnesota to Lake Superior late on the 18th, then continued east. Persistent warm weather would give way to by far the coldest air of the season thus far. Lake enhanced snow and very gusty winds resulted.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, November 19 to 21, 20161 eventCold northwest flow behind the passage of a strong front brought a period of upslope/lake enhanced snow to the counties north of interstate 80 and in the high terrain of West Virginia and Maryland.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 19 to 22, 201615 eventsA strong cold front crossed central New York on Saturday afternoon the 19th. Much colder air followed this front and was accompanied by several inches of snow, especially over the higher terrain.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 19 to 20, 20162 eventsSnow developed due to cold and moist air flowing over the mountains.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, November 19 to 20, 20161 eventSnow developed due to cold and moist air flowing over the mountains.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 19 to 22, 2016$400,000 · 13 eventsA strong cold front crossed the Lower Great Lakes from west to east during the day of the 19th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 19 to 20, 2016$300,000 · 2 eventsUnusually cold northwest winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the evening of the 19th. The snow showers picked up in intensity during the early morning hours of the 20th. Snowfall rates were in excess of an inch per hour at times.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 19 to 22, 20162 eventsA strong cold front crossed Pennsylvania on Saturday afternoon the 19th. Much colder air poured into the Commonwealth behind this front, which was accompanied by several inches of snow, especially over the higher terrain areas.
• Heavy Snow and Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 20 to 21, 201616 eventsA strong frontal boundary crossed the region during the early morning hours on Sunday, November 20th. Precipitation initially begin as rain or a mix of rain and snow, but quickly transitioned over to just snow as colder air quickly worked its way into the region.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 20 to 21, 20161 eventCold northwest flow behind the passage of a strong front brought a period of upslope/lake enhanced snow to the counties north of interstate 80 and in the high terrain of West Virginia and Maryland.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, November 20 to 21, 20162 eventsA strong frontal boundary crossed the region during the early morning hours on Sunday, November 20th. Precipitation initially begin as rain or a mix of rain and snow, but quickly transitioned over to just snow as colder air quickly worked its way into the region.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Connecticut, November 20 to 21, 20162 eventsA strong frontal boundary crossed the region during the early morning hours on Sunday, November 20th. Precipitation initially begin as rain or a mix of rain and snow, but quickly transitioned over to just snow as colder air quickly worked its way into the region.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Vermont, November 20 to 21, 20162 eventsA strong frontal boundary crossed the region during the early morning hours on Sunday, November 20th. Precipitation initially begin as rain or a mix of rain and snow, but quickly transitioned over to just snow as colder air quickly worked its way into the region.
• Winter Storm in New York, November 20 to 21, 2016$70,000 · 7 eventsLow pressure across the Great Lakes on November 19th moved across Ontario province while a secondary area of low pressure developed and moved across New England on the 20th and 21st.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, November 20, 20161 eventAn area of low pressure near James Bay Canada lead to a strong cold frontal passage across the middle Atlantic Saturday evening November 19.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 20, 20161 eventAn area of low pressure near James Bay Canada lead to a strong cold frontal passage across the middle Atlantic Saturday evening November 19.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 20 to 21, 20167 eventsLow pressure across the Great Lakes on November 19th moved across Ontario province while a secondary area of low pressure developed and moved across New England on the 20th and 21st.
• Winter Weather in California, November 22 to 23, 20161 eventA storm brought snow which caused chain controls and travel problems, particularly on Highway 50 and I80, which were heavily traveled due to the Thanksgiving holiday.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, November 23 to 24, 20165 eventsA low pressure system tracking through the Lower Great Lakes brought moderate snow to portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 23rd into the morning of the 24th.

The snowstorm of February 2 to 4, 2016The snowstorm of January 4 to 8, 2017Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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