The snowstorm of November 22 to 27, 1996

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

419

Deaths

2

Injuries

0

Damage

$5.2 million

Episodes

90

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.

• Ice Storm in Oregon, November 21 to 22, 19962 eventsWarm moist air from an approaching Pacific storm overran cold air over Northwest Oregon and produced freezing rain in the Columbia Gorge and passes in the Northern Oregon Cascades.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, November 21, 19962 eventsLow pressure moved through northern North Carolina during Thursday, November 21, and spread 2 to 3 inches of snow across northern parts of Caroline and Louisa counties.
• Cold in North Dakota, November 21, 19961 death · 1 eventA 79 yr. old Crosby farmer died of exposure when his pickup got stuck on a gravel road 5.5 miles east of Crosby. Authorities speculate that when the truck ran out of gas, the farmer left the safety of his pickup in search for help. His body was found 2.5 miles west of his truck.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, November 21, 19961 eventA burst of mid-level atmospheric energy produced a narrow band of snow over the lower Potomac Highlands of eastern West Virginia. In Pendleton Co, an average of 4 inches caused a few problems on roadways, especially at higher elevations.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, November 21, 19963 eventsA burst of mid-level atmospheric energy produced a narrow band of snow from eastern West Virginia through central Virginia. East of the mountains, 1 to 2 inches of wet snow accumulated mainly on grassy surfaces, causing few problems.
• Heavy Snow in Utah, November 22, 1996$10,000 · 3 eventsA fast moving cold front left local heavy snowfall in Utah's mountains. Amounts in the mountains ranged from 8-14 inches. The Brighton ski resort measured 14 inches in the north, while Brianhead had 11 inches in southwest Utah.
• Ice Storm in Wyoming, November 22, 19961 eventFreezing drizzle coated highways; the ice caused four car accidents. Three people were seriously injured in one accident on U.S. highway 16.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 22 to 23, 199613 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 8 inches fell across most of northern South Dakota adding to the already significant snow depth. Roads became snowpacked which hampered travel resulting in the postponement of many activities.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, November 22 to 24, 199629 eventsFour to seven inch snowfall. Heavier snowfall occurred during the daylight hours of the 23rd. A few of the heavier amounts included almost six inches in the Twin Cities, 6 inches in Chanhassen, Stewart, St. James and Redwood Falls.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, November 22 to 23, 1996$3,000 · 1 eventA mix of snow, sleet, and freezing rain brought about 4 inches of slush to the county leading to hazardous driving conditions.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, November 22 to 23, 19961 eventEight inches of snow fell at Buffalo.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, November 23, 1996$35,000 · 2 eventsA 4 to 6 inch snowfall led to numerous multi-car accidents.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, November 23 to 24, 19969 eventsFour to eight inch snowfall. Heavier snowfalls included 8 inches at River Falls, 6 inches at Ridgeland and 5 inches at Eau Claire and Weyerhauser. The bulk of the heavier snowfall occurred during the day on the 23rd.
• Ice Storm in Oregon, November 23 to 24, 19962 eventsFreezing drizzle disrupted travel through the Columbia Gorge and the Northern Oregon Cascades. In the Cascades the rain turned to snow on the 24th with moderate accumulations of 3-4 inches.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, November 23 to 24, 199630 eventsFor the 2nd time is less than 1 week, more snow fell on parts of western and central North Dakota. Again, the lack of wind made the storm more bearable than what it could have been.
• Cold in North Dakota, November 23 to 26, 199610 eventsBitter cold arctic air followed the previous storm system, bringing record or near record temperatures to much of northern North Dakota.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, November 23, 19962 eventsA mother and her 1 year old daughter died in a traffic accident on a slick highway 3 miles north of Aurora. South of Doniphan, three people were injured in a two car accident on U.S.
• Ice Storm in Washington, November 23 to 24, 19962 eventsFreezing rain disrupted travel in and near the western end of the Columbia River Gorge. Ice accumulation was reported at Washougal.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, November 24, 1996$400,000 · 8 eventsA vigorous upper level storm system interracted with a cold Canadian airmass to produce snow, sleet, and freezing rain on the 24th.
• Ice Storm in Oklahoma, November 24 to 25, 199622 eventsFreezing rain and sleet fell across much of eastern Oklahoma from the early morning of November 24th until around midday on November 25th. A band of 2 to 4 inches of sleet fell from near McAlester to near Westville.
• Ice Storm in Oklahoma, November 24, 199623 eventsA strong arctic cold front moved through Oklahoma on Sunday November 24th. Temperatures that had been in the 60s and 70s on Saturday fell into the 20s by Sunday evening.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$75,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-half inch. Power lines and trees were downed by the weight of the ice causing some power outages.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across extreme southeast Kansas causing ice accumulations of up to one-quarter inch. Numerous power lines and trees were downed causing power outages, especially in the towns of Galena and Crestline.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-half inch. Power lines and trees were downed by the weight of the ice causing scattered power outages, mainly inrural areas.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, November 24 to 25, 1996$10,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across extreme southeast Kansas causing ice accumulations of up to one-quarter inch thick. Power lines and trees were downed causing scattered power outages, especially in the Pittsburg area.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$75,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Power lines and trees were downed, causing some power outages.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, November 24, 19966 eventsAfter the Saturday evening severe weather event, many of the same counties had snow the next morning. Arctic air had blasted into the region overnight causing the first hard freeze of the season.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$10,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of up to one-quarter inch thick. Power lines and trees were downed. The hardest was Golden City.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$150,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-half inch. Numerous power lines and trees were downed causing power outages.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, November 24, 1996$100,000 · 8 eventsThunderstorms accompanied a very strong arctic cold front as it moved across the Texas Hill Country during the early morning hours of November 24th.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Power lines and trees were downed by the weight of the ice.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$300,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-inch. Numerous power lines and trees were downed by the weight of the ice causing many power outages. The south and east parts of the county were hardest hit.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$200,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter of an inch across the northern parts of the county to more than an inch in the southern part. Numerous power outages resulted due to downed power lines and trees.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$150,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of one-half to one inch. Numerous power lines and trees were downed causing power outages. The southeast part of the county was hardest hit.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$25,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Some power lines and trees were downed causing scattered power outages.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$500,000 · 1 eventThe worst ice storm in 20 years caused widespread damage across the county due to downed power lines and trees. Ice accumulations of around two inches were common. Many locations were without power for a week.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$400,000 · 1 eventThe worst ice storm in 20 years caused widespread damage across the county due to downed power lines and trees. Ice accumulations of up to two inches were common.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$400,000 · 1 eventThe worst ice storm in 20 years caused widespread damage across the county due to downed power lines and trees. Ice accumulations of up to two inches were common. Large sections of the county were without power for several days.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$350,000 · 1 eventThe worst ice storm in 20 years caused widespread damage across the county due to downed power lines and trees. Ice accumulations of up to two inches were common. Numerous power outages occurred, with some rural locations without power for up to a week.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$300,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of one to one and one-half inches. Numerous trees and power lines were downed by the weight of the ice causing power outages.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$250,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one inch. Power lines and trees were downed causing some power outages, mostly in rural areas.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$150,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-half inch. Power lines and trees were downed by the weight of the ice causing scattered power outages.
• Ice Storm in Arkansas, November 24 to 25, 19965 eventsFreezing rain and sleet fell across much of northwest Arkansas from around midday on November 24th through the early afternoon of November 25th. A band of 2 to 4 inches of sleet fell from near Fayetteville to Berryville.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Some power lines and trees were downed causing scattered power outages, mainly in the southern part of the county.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$250,000 · 1 eventFreezing fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one inch, mainly in the northwest part. Numerous trees and power lines were downed by the weight of the ice causing power outages.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$100,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-half inch. Power lines and trees were downed causing some power outages, mostly in rural areas.
• Winter Storm in Texas, November 24 to 25, 199648 eventsBy the late evening hours on the 24th, an arctic cold front had pushed through much of North Texas. Widespread precipitation occurred over the area ahead of an intense upper level low pressure system as warm, moist air was lifted over the shallow arctic air.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Some power lines and trees were downed causing scattered power outages, mostly in rural areas.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$150,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations ranging from less than one-quarter of an inch in the south toaround one inch in the north. Downed power lines and trees caused by the weight of the ice caused numerous power outages in rural areas.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of around one-quarter inch. Some power lines and trees were downed causing scattered power outages, mostly in rural areas.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$50,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations of up to one-half inch. Power lines and trees were downed causing some power outages, mostly in rural areas.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 24 to 25, 1996$100,000 · 1 eventFreezing rain fell across the county causing ice accumulations ranging from less than one-quarter inch in the east to around one inch in the west. Numerous power outages occurred due to downed power lines and trees.
• Cold in Minnesota, November 25 to 26, 199624 eventsTemperatures dropped to record lows across the area for late November.
• Cold in North Dakota, November 25 to 26, 199617 eventsTemperatures dropped to record lows across the area for late November, producing a new record low of 19 below zero in Fargo on the morning of the 26th. The temperature also reached 19 below in Grand Forks.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, November 25, 19961 eventFour inches of snowfall fell in 3 hours at the NWS office in Billings.
• Cold in Oklahoma, November 25, 19961 death · 1 eventA transient took shelter from the cold weather in a parked pickup truck near the intersection of North Santa Fe and NE 50th. He died of hypothermia and was found the next day.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, November 25, 199610 eventsA winter storm brought a mixture of rain, freezing rain, sleet, snow and strong winds to Central Illinois on November 25.
• Ice Storm in Missouri, November 25, 199617 eventsFreezing rain began in central Missouri around midday and spread east into the afternoon and evening hours. Roads quickly became ice covrered resulting in numerous traffic accidents across the region. At least 2 deaths resulted from the accidents.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, November 25, 19966 eventsLight freezing rain developed during the late afternoon and continued into the evening. Numerous accidents occurred on slick roads and downed power lines were scattered throughout the area.
• Ice Storm in Maine, November 25 to 26, 19969 eventsLow pressure moving northeastward from the mid-Atlantic States brought a mixture of precipitation to most of Maine. In interior sections of coastal Maine, heavy accumulations of ice brought down numerous trees and caused widespread power outages.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$30,000 · 2 eventsOn November 26, a low pressure system brought a combination of snow and freezing rain to southern Vermont. Over Bennington and Windham Counties, snow and heavy freezing rain downed trees and power lines and caused numerous accidents.
• Winter Storm in New York, November 26, 1996$25,000 · 2 eventsOn November 26, a low pressure system brought a combination of snow and freezing rain to parts of eastern New York. Over Warren and Washington Counties, snow and heavy freezing rain downed trees and power lines and caused numerous accidents.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$30,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$20,000 · 1 eventA storm system moved from Kentucky late Monday night, November 25, 1996 northeast across southern portions of New England Tuesday afternoon, November 26, 1996.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$20,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$20,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$20,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$20,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$15,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$10,000 · 1 event
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$10,000 · 1 eventA storm system moved from Kentucky late Monday night, November 25, 1996 northeast across southern portions of New England Tuesday afternoon, November 26, 1996.
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$10,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$5,000 · 1 event
• Winter Weather in New York, November 26, 1996$10,000 · 1 event
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, November 26 to 27, 19964 eventsIsolated heavy snow amounts were reported across northern New Mexico. Chama received another 7 inches of new snow. Snows of 4 to 7 inches were also reported across the higher ridges in Taos county.
• Blizzard in Montana, November 26 to 27, 19961 eventGusty west to southwest winds of 40 to 60 mph developed over Glacier county, creating large snow drifts. The Blackfeet indian reservation was hardest hit where drifts of 4 to 6 feet were common with some drifts up to 12 feet.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 26 to 27, 19967 eventsAnother significant snow event affected much of the Finger Lakes and Central Southern Tier regions of New York from the morning of the 26th into the 27th. This snow resulted from the combined factors of an upper air disturbance and lake enhancement.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 26 to 27, 19961 eventLake effect snow accumulated to 6 inches in Meadville and 7 inches at Guys Mills.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 26 to 27, 1996$20,000 · 2 eventsLow pressure moving across the Great Lakes brought snow to the area. The snow became enhanced by the lake producing amounts of eight to twelve inches. The heavy snow resulted in school closings. Numerous traffic accidents were blamed on the whiteout conditions.
• Heavy Snow in New York, November 26 to 27, 1996$20,000 · 2 eventsLow pressure moving across the Great Lakes brought snow to the area. The snow became enhanced by the lake producing amounts of eight to twelve inches. The heavy snow resulted in school closings. Numerous traffic accidents were blamed on the white out conditions.
• Heavy Snow in California, November 26 to 27, 19961 eventA moist Pacific Storm dumped heavy snow overnight in the Sierra Nevada Mountains above the Owens Valley. Aspendell received at least 12 inches of new snow.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, November 28, 199621 eventsLight snow fell Thanksgiving Day, one of the busiest travel days of the year. Although only 1 to 2 inches fell across the region, there were hundreds of traffic accidents and many injuries. Interstate 78 in Lebanon County was closed for hours.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, November 28, 19966 eventsThe combination of some very light snow (for most the first snow of the season), road and air temperatures below freezing and heavy traffic volume because of Thanksgiving Day caused roadways to become extremely slippery and hazardous, especially on bridges and overpasses.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, November 28, 19966 eventsThe combination of some very light snow (for most the first snow of the season), road and air temperatures below freezing and heavy traffic volume because of Thanksgiving Day caused roadways to become extremely slippery and hazardous, especially on bridges and overpasses.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, November 28, 19961 eventThe combination of some very light snow (for most the first snow of the season), road and air temperatures below freezing and heavy traffic volume because of Thanksgiving Day caused roadways to become extremely slippery and hazardous, especially on bridges, ramps and overpasses.

The snowstorm of April 9 to 11, 1996The snowstorm of January 8 to 12, 1997Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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