The snowstorm of November 18 to 21, 2000

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

263

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$50 million

Episodes

48

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 Montana, November 16 to 17, 20001 event10 inches Neihart 8NNW.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, November 17 to 18, 2000$65,000 · 3 eventsWest to northwest flow behind a cold front caused lake effect snow showers to develop downwind of Lake Erie. The heaviest snow fell in northern sections of Geauga County where up to 9 inches of snow was measured.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 17 to 18, 2000$25,000 · 1 eventWest to northwest flow behind a cold front caused lake effect snow showers to develop downwind of Lake Erie. Six inches of snow fell over portions of southern Erie County with a maximum of 6.5 inches reported at Waterford.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 17, 20001 eventOn the evening of the 16th, northwest winds brought cold air across the Great Lakes. This triggered lake effect snow across much of northwest Lower Michigan.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, November 17, 20001 eventFlurries caused icy traveling conditions on untreated roadways in the Poconos. Several accidents occurred on Pennsylvania State Route 115 especially around Blakeslee.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 18 to 19, 20002 eventsWest to southwest winds ahead of a weak low pressure system triggered lake effect snow across portions of northern Michigan during the early morning hours through the late afternoon hours on the 18th.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, November 18 to 19, 20001 eventReports received late Saturday and early Sunday indicated an area of heavy snow north and northwest of Chulitna along the Parks Highway. Additionally, freezing rain was reported near Willow.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, November 18 to 19, 200011 eventsA cold front brought very strong winds to the region along with some scattered snow showers. The region started out with snow depths of 2 to 8 inches from a previous storm, and the high winds caused ground blizzard conditions.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 19, 2000$70,000 · 3 eventsCold air crossing the relatively warm waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario resulted in lake effect snows to the east of the lakes. Off Lake Erie, the snowbands did extend too far inland due to the lighter winds however the snow was very intense fueled by the 51 degree lake.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, November 19 to 20, 20004 eventsHeavy lake effect snow developed along the south shore of Lake Superior in the wake of a fast-moving low pressure system. Ten to twelve inches was common across Douglas, Bayfield, and Ashland Counties, with over two feet reported in northern Iron County.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, November 19, 200029 eventsLight to moderate snow started in the mountains and spread southeast, lasting through the day. Generally 1 to 3 inches of snow fell, but some higher elevations of the central and southern mountains reported more than 4 inches.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, November 19, 200015 eventsLight to moderate snow started in the mountains and spread southeast, lasting through the day. Generally 1 to 3 inches of snow fell with the heaviest amounts falling north of Interstate 85.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, November 19, 20006 eventsLight to moderate snow started in the mountains and spread southeast, lasting throughout the day. Generally 1 to 3 inches of snow were reported, but some isolated areas in the mountains of Rabun county may have had a little more.
• Winter Storm in Georgia, November 19, 20007 eventsAn unusually early winter storm brought sleet and snow to much of north Georgia, particularly the northeast mountains. Snowfall from 1 to 3 inches was common in the northeast Georgia mountains, particularly north and east of a line from Blue Ridge to Cleveland.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, November 19 to 20, 20002 eventsA winter storm system, followed by lake effect snow showers resulted in new snowfall of 5 to 7 inches over parts of north central Wisconsin. The greatest snowfall total was 7.0 inches 5 miles southwest of Boulder Junction (Vilas co.).
• Blizzard in North Dakota, November 19, 2000$10,000 · 4 eventsAfter an Alberta clipper dropped about an inch of new snow, wind speeds rose quickly in its wake. Both the Fargo and Moorhead airports reported gusts to 43 mph. Visibilities dipped below a quarter mile in open country due to blowing snow.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, November 19, 20004 eventsAn Alberta clipper dropped quickly across the area, depositing around an inch of new snow. Wind speeds increased behind the low, causing visibilities to dip below a quarter mile due to blowing snow, especially in open country right along the Red River Valley.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, November 19, 200025 eventsAn early season snowfall affected portions of central North Carolina on Sunday, November 19. It was the second earliest date that snow has been measured at Raleigh-Durham Aiport and at the Piedmont Triad Airport.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 19 to 22, 20006 eventsLow pressure tracked from Iowa to the Straits of Mackinac. Snow began falling on the 19th as the low approached Michigan's Upper Peninsula, mixing with rain across the southern counties.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, November 19 to 21, 200011 eventsThe first snow storm of the season for lower Michigan was a combination event, featuring snow with the storm itself, followed by lake effect snow as much colder air moved in behind the system.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 20 to 21, 20005 events
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 20 to 22, 2000$47 million · 15 eventsCold air crossing the warm waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario resulted in lake effect squalls that dropped over two feet downwind of the lakes.Off Lake Erie, the squall developed around midday on the 20th in a southwest flow ahead of a cold front.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, November 20 to 21, 20005 eventsSnow showers deposited generally 2 to 4 inches of snow in the wake of a strong cold front. Some of the mountain ridges had around 6 inches of snow.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, November 20 to 21, 20001 eventA cold front brought periods of light snow to the western half of Maryland between late morning on the 20th through sunrise on the 21st. The highest snowfall totals were confined to the highest elevations of western Allegany County.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 20 to 21, 20001 eventA cold front brought periods of light snow to the eastern panhandle from late morning on the 20th through sunrise on the 21st. The highest snowfall totals were confined to the highest elevations of western Grant County. A total of 4.1 inches of snow was reported in Bayard.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 20 to 21, 20003 events
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, November 20 to 21, 2000$1.3 million · 5 eventsStrong west winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow bands and squalls to develop. Heavy snow first fell along the lakeshore then spread inland as winds gradually shifted to the northwest.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 20 to 21, 2000$500,000 · 3 eventsStrong west winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow and squalls to develop. Heavy snow first fell along the lakeshore then spread inland as winds gradually shifted to the northwest. Occasional thunder was reported from early morning through midday on the 21st.
• Winter Weather in New York, November 20 to 21, 20004 eventsA storm system moved through the upper Great Lakes region Monday, November 20th and into Canada. The associated cold front moved across northern New York and Vermont Tuesday morning, the 21st of November.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 20 to 21, 20003 events...Synoptic and mesoscale conditions for November 20th and 21st...The first blast of arctic air across Lake Michigan herald the start of first lake effect snow event of the season across southwest Michigan by late afternoon on the 20th.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, November 20 to 21, 20001 event...Synoptic and mesoscale conditions for November 20th and 21st...The first blast of arctic air across Lake Michigan herald the start of first lake effect snow event of the season across northwest Indiana by late afternoon on the 20th.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 20 to 21, 2000$10,000 · 2 eventsA storm system moved through the upper Great Lakes region Monday, November 20th and into Canada. The associated cold front moved across northern New York and Vermont Tuesday morning, the 21st of November.
• Extreme Cold in West Virginia, November 21 to 24, 200034 eventsDaytime high temperatures were in the 20s and 30s. Morning low readings were in the teens, with some single digits in the mountains. Preliminary data indicated 2 above zero at Snowshoe and 5 above zero at Glady. Ice formed on many small streams.
• Extreme Cold in Ohio, November 21 to 24, 20009 eventsA cold spell, around Thanksgiving, kept daytime high temperatures in the 30s. Overnight low readings of 10 to 15 degrees were common.
• Extreme Cold in Kentucky, November 21 to 24, 20004 eventsDaytime highs were in the 30s, with overnight low readings in the teens. This made for a cold, but dry Thanksgiving.
• Extreme Cold in Virginia, November 21 to 24, 20002 eventsDaytime high temperatures were in the 30s, with overnight low readings of 10 to 15 degrees. Patchy ice formed on the small streams, which is rare for Thanksgiving.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 21, 20002 eventsA northwest flow of cold air across Lake Erie produced bands of lake effect snow across the area. Snowfall totals ranged from about 4 to 7 inches across the area.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 21, 20002 eventsA cold front moved east across the area, dropping several inches of snow. Northwest winds behind the front added moisture from the Great Lakes. Snowfall totals ranged from 4 to 7 inches across the higher elevations.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 21 to 22, 20003 eventsA cold arctic airmass crossing the warm Lake Ontario waters created lake effect snow. With low level west winds, a wide plume of snow started in Northern Oneida County early on the 21st.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 21 to 22, 20004 events
• Heavy Snow in Maryland, November 21 to 23, 20001 eventRelatively moist, northwest flow riding up along the front ridges of the mountains of western Maryland produced the first significant orographically enhanced snowfall of the season.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, November 21 to 23, 20001 eventRelatively moist, northwest flow riding up along the front ridges of the mountains of northern West Virginia produced the first significant orographically enhanced snowfall of the season.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 21 to 22, 2000$900,000 · 3 eventsAfter a brief break, lake effect snow bands redeveloped during the late evening hours. A heavy period of snow began shortly before daybreak on 22nd and continued through the late morning hours. Accumulations of 8 to 12 inches were reported in Crawford and northern Erie Counties.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, November 21 to 22, 2000$850,000 · 4 eventsAfter a brief break, lake effect snow bands redeveloped during the late evening hours. A heavy period of snow began before daybreak on the 22nd and continued through the late morning hours.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 22, 20002 eventsA low pressure system slowly moved across the northern Great Lakes region during the evening of the 19th. Southwest winds off of Lake Michigan caused lake enhanced snow to develop across northwest Lower Michigan. These snows persisted through the night.
• Extreme Cold in Alabama, November 22, 20001 eventThe morning low temperature recorded at Dannelly Field was 21 degrees. This measurement established a new record low temperature.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 22 to 23, 20003 eventsRelatively moist, northwest flow riding up along the front ridges of the Laurel Highlands produced the first significant orographically enhanced snowfall of the season.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 22 to 23, 20003 eventsA prolonged period of cold northwest flow across the relatively warm waters of Lake Erie produced the first significant lake-effect snowfall of the season across portions of western Pennsylvania.

The snowstorm of November 8 to 15, 2000The snowstorm of December 9 to 12, 2000Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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