The snowstorm of November 22 to 28, 2013

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

508

Deaths

14

Injuries

12

Damage

$2.8 million

Episodes

71

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.

• Blizzard and Ice Storm in Alaska, November 20 to 23, 2013$60,000 · 5 eventsA strong North Pacific storm moved into the Gulf of Alaska November 21st pushing copious moisture and warm air aloft over the southern mainland of Alaska.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in New Mexico, November 21 to 25, 20131 death · 2 injured · $25,000 · 61 kt wind · 31 eventsAn arctic cold front pushed south across the eastern plains and through the central mountain chain and Rio Grande Valley late on the 21st through the 22nd. Record to near record cold temperatures moved into the area with this arctic air mass.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, November 21 to 22, 20136 eventsUpslope surface and boundary layer flow in advance of an upper level short wave trough along with a brief period of frontogenesis set up for a snow event that reached warning criteria at a few locatoins.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 21 to 23, 20133 deaths · $330,000 · 13 eventsA very strong cold front dove through the Texas Panhandle during the day of the 21st. The cold airmass behind the front was fairly shallow with the lowest five to six thousand feet reaching temperatures below freezing.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, November 21 to 23, 20133 eventsA very strong cold front dove through the Oklahoma Panhandle during the day of the 21st. The cold airmass behind the front was fairly shallow with the lowest five to six thousand feet reaching temperatures below freezing.
• Winter Storm in Utah, November 22 to 24, 20133 eventsThe same storm system that brought strong winds to northern Utah also brought heavy snowfall to the southern half of the state. This storm was unusually cold and snowy for southern Utah, particularly this early in the season.
• Ice Storm in Texas, November 22 to 24, 2013$1.0 million · 27 eventsAn arctic airmass moved into the region with well below normal temperatures in it's wake. An upper trough was situated over the western Conus, and stayed there for several days. An extended period of wintry precipitation resulted over West Texas.
• Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, November 22 to 24, 20136 eventsAn arctic airmass moved into the region with well below normal temperatures in it's wake. An upper trough was situated over the western Conus, and stayed there for several days. An extended period of wintry precipitation resulted over southeast New Mexico.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Texas, November 22 to 24, 201323 eventsFollowing a period of balmy late Fall temperatures, a significant arctic front plunged through the South Plains during the afternoon of November 21st.
• Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, November 22 to 24, 20132 deaths · 11 eventsPeriods of freezing rain and sleet fell across West Central Texas from the morning of November 22 through the early morning hours of November 25. Periods of freezing rain and sleet, made parts of U.S.
• Sleet in Texas, November 22, 2013$10,000 · 3 eventsCold fronts moved through northern and central Texas during the late part of November. Temperatures were in the critical range where most of the region received rain, but some locations saw accumulating sleet.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 22 to 26, 201318 eventsAn arctic airmass settled over South Central Texas and then south to southeasterly low level flow developed setting up on overrunning pattern. A series of upper level shortwave troughs moved across the region producing winter precipitation over several days.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, November 22 to 24, 20138 eventsA surge of Arctic air in the wake of a strong cold front generated moderate lake effect snow showers downwind of Lake Superior from the 22nd into the 24th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 23 to 24, 20134 eventsThe coldest air of the season thus far surged into the region on north-northwest winds. Substantial lake effect snow resulting in northwest Lower Michigan, during the daylight and evening hours of the 23rd.
• Winter Storm in California, November 23, 20131 eventA cold early season storm brought some heavy snow and gusty winds to parts of Southwestern California. In the mountains of Los Angeles county, winter storm conditions developed due to the combination of 8 to 12 inches of snowfall and northeast wind gusts in excess of 60 MPH.
• Cold in Illinois, November 23, 20132 deaths · 2 eventsHigh temperatures were in the mid 20s with lows in the low to mid teens during the weekend of 23-24 November, when two people died with causes related to cold exposure.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 23 to 24, 20132 deaths · 3 injured · 14 eventsA slow moving upper level low brought several inches of snow to the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandle from the 23rd to the 24th of November.
• Winter Storm in Texas, November 23 to 24, 20136 eventsA slow moving upper level low brought several inches of snow to the Texas Panhandle from the 23rd to the 24th of November.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 23 to 24, 2013$150,000 · 2 eventsVery cold northwest winds blowing across Lake Erie caused lake effect snow showers to develop during the afternoon of November 23rd. The snow showers continued for about 24 hours and then tapered to flurries during the late afternoon hours of the 24th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 23 to 24, 20134 eventsAn arctic cold front moved through central New York Saturday afternoon, November 23rd. This front brought a very cold northwest flow of air to central New York.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, November 23 to 24, 2013$75,000 · 4 eventsVery cold air crossing the Great Lakes in northwest flow produced widespread snow across western Pennsylvania, and the higher elevations of northern West Virginia and Garrett county Maryland from the evening of the 23rd into early afternoon of the 24th.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 23 to 24, 20132 eventsVery cold air crossing the Great Lakes in northwest flow produced widespread snow across western Pennsylvania, and the higher elevations of northern West Virginia and Garrett county Maryland from the evening of the 23rd into early afternoon of the 24th.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, November 23 to 24, 20131 eventVery cold air crossing the Great Lakes in northwest flow produced widespread snow across western Pennsylvania, and the higher elevations of northern West Virginia and Garrett county Maryland from the evening of the 23rd into early afternoon of the 24th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Oklahoma, November 23 to 24, 201310 eventsAn unusually cold Arctic airmass moved into the Southern Plains in late November. As an upper level storm system lifted across Texas and Oklahoma, a mix of sleet and snow occurred.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 24, 20131 eventAn early season storm brought heavy sleet and snow to portions of western north Texas during the day on the 24th.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, November 24, 20134 eventsA slow moving upper level low brought one to two inches of snow to the Oklahoma Panhandle on the 24th of November.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 24 to 25, 201313 eventsA shallow cold layer of air moved out of the Southern Plains and into the Lower Mississippi Valley on the 24th of November. The flow aloft across the southern portion of the country was from the southwest.
• Winter Weather in Arkansas, November 24 to 25, 20139 eventsA shallow cold layer of air moved out of the Southern Plains and into the Lower Mississippi Valley on the 24th of November. The flow aloft across the southern portion of the country was from the southwest.
• Winter Weather in Louisiana, November 24 to 25, 20135 eventsA shallow cold layer of air moved out of the Southern Plains and into the Lower Mississippi Valley on the 24th of November. The flow aloft across the southern portion of the country was from the southwest.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, November 24 to 25, 20131 eventA shallow cold layer of air moved out of the Southern Plains and into the Lower Mississippi Valley on the 24th of November. The flow aloft across the southern portion of the country was from the southwest.
• Winter Storm and Sleet in Texas, November 24 to 25, 20132 injured · $18,000 · 5 eventsAnother cold front moved through northern and central Texas during the late part of November. Temperatures again were in the critical range where most of the region received rain, but some locations saw accumulating sleet.
• Winter Weather in Arkansas, November 25, 20131 death · 1 injured · 42 eventsA light mix of wintry precipitation spread into western and southwestern sections of Arkansas before dawn on the 25th, then spread to other sections during the morning and early afternoon.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, November 25, 20132 deaths · 13 eventsA surge of relatively warm and moist air aloft led to the development of light to moderate snow during the morning rush hour with 1-3 inches accumulating.
• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, November 25 to 27, 201310 eventsMore cold air crossing Lake Superior produced moderate to heavy lake effect snow for the west to northwest snow belts from the 25th into the 27th.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, November 25 to 26, 20139 eventsLight freezing rain, mixing occasionally with sleet, developed over the North Carolina mountains during the late evening and continued off and on through the overnight.
• Winter Weather in Texas, November 25, 20133 eventsLocalized wintry precipitation moved across portions of the southern Texas Panhandle during the evening hours of the 25th. Low level moisture curved around a southeastward traveling surface low as an upper level low dove southward across the Panhandle.
• Ice Storm in North Carolina, November 25 to 26, 20132 eventsLight rain changed to freezing rain around midnight across southeast Blue Ridge areas, with freezing rain continuing off and on through the overnight. Precipitation became heavy at times just prior to sunrise and lasted through mid-morning before changing over to rain.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, November 25, 20131 eventA wintry mix of rain and wet snow occurred across southeast Kentucky during the evening hours of November 25th.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, November 25 to 27, 20131 eventA developing low pressure system along the Gulf of Mexico coast spread its precipitation north into the mid Ohio Valley during the overnight hours of the 25th into the 26th. Southeast Ohio was located on the northwestern fringe of the precipitation shield.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, November 26, 201311 eventsLight to moderate freezing rain developed across the Piedmont and foothills of the Carolinas, mainly north of I-85 and east of I-26, during the pre-dawn hours. Warm roads and temperatures right at freezing prevented much in the way of travel problems.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, November 26, 20132 eventsLight freezing rain developed across the northern South Carolina Upstate during the predawn hours. Areas affected were mainly north of I-85 and east of I-26. Freezing rain changed over to rain shortly after sunrise.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, November 26 to 27, 201315 eventsThe first significant winter storm of the 2013-2014 winter season brought a mixed bag of snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain to central Pennsylvania, just in time to adversely impact the pre-Thanksgiving travel.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, November 26, 20138 eventsA low pressure system emerging from the Gulf of Mexico combining with a cold air mass in place produced a wintry mix of precipitation at the onset of the event across the far northwest Philadelphia suburbs, Berks County, the Lehigh Valley and the Poconos on the 26th.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, November 26, 20135 eventsA low pressure system over the Gulf of Mexico tracked northeast along the Carolina and Mid-Atlantic coast. Precipitation overspread the area from the south, reaching western and northern portions of the North Carolina Piedmont prior to daybreak.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, November 26, 20134 eventsA low pressure system emerging from the Gulf of Mexico combining with a cold air mass in place produced a wintry mix of precipitation at the onset of the event across northwest New Jersey on the 26th.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, November 26, 201316 eventsHigh pressure was wedged southward in the Mid Atlantic while low pressure deepened off the gulf coast. Below freezing surface temperatures and warm and moist air aloft produced freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 26, 201311 eventsHigh pressure was wedged southward in the Mid Atlantic while low pressure deepened off the gulf coast. Below freezing surface temperatures and warm and moist air aloft produced freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, November 26, 20139 eventsHigh pressure was wedged southward in the Mid Atlantic while low pressure deepened off the gulf coast. Below freezing surface temperatures and warm and moist air aloft produced freezing rain.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, November 26 to 27, 20132 eventsCold northerly flow over western Lake Superior brought heavy lake effect snow to parts of northwest Wisconsin near Lake Superior. Snowfall amounts included 12.5 in Gile, WI (Iron County) and 6 to 7 in Mellen, WI (Ashland County).
• Winter Storm in Ohio, November 26 to 27, 2013$600,000 · 3 eventsLow pressure originating along the Gulf Coast on November 26th tracked northeast up the east side of the Appalachians during the early hours of November 27th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, November 26 to 27, 20135 eventsA complex storm system moved northeast across the region the morning of November 26th into the morning of the 27th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, November 26 to 27, 20132 eventsA complex storm system moved northeast across the region the morning of November 26th into the morning of the 27th.
• Ice Storm in Maryland, November 26 to 27, 20131 eventA complex storm system moved northeast across the region the morning of November 26th into the morning of the 27th.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, November 26 to 27, 2013$300,000 · 2 eventsLow pressure originating along the Gulf Coast on November 26th tracked northeast up the east side of the Appalachians during the early hours of November 27th.
• Winter Storm in New York, November 26 to 27, 2013$245,000 · 17 eventsA strengthening area of low pressure moved north along the U.S. East Coast. The storm brought accumulating now across western New York. Across parts of the North Country, the snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain.
• Winter Storm in New York, November 26 to 27, 2013$20,000 · 2 eventsA coupled area of low pressure traveled north along a stationary front across eastern New York during the night of November 26th and continuing through the 27th. The atmosphere was marginally cold enough for 6 to 10 inches of a heavy, wet snow across the St.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 26 to 27, 20133 eventsAnother bout of lake effect snow, thanks to cold north-northwest winds. Lake effect snow was heavy at times in Grand Traverse, western Kalkaska, and western Antrim Counties, especially on the night of the 26th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, November 26 to 27, 201316 eventsA surface low tracked east of the Appalachians during the afternoon of November 26th. At the same time, a mid-level trough crossed the great lakes and helped squeeze out rain and snow showers over portions of the Ohio Valley, which quickly changed to snow showers in the evening.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, November 26 to 27, 20134 eventsA surface low tracked east of the Appalachians during the afternoon of November 26th. At the same time, a mid-level trough crossed the great lakes and helped squeeze out rain and snow showers over portions of the Ohio Valley, which quickly changed to snow showers in the evening.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, November 26 to 27, 20135 eventsAn upper level trough and associated cold front moved across the Eastern U.S. bringing a modified Arctic air mass to the region.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, November 26 to 27, 20132 eventsAn upper level trough and associated cold front moved across the Eastern U.S. bringing a modified Arctic air mass to the region.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, November 26 to 28, 20131 death · 4 injured · 6 eventsA rare November winter storm moved through the coal fields on November 26 and 27. Rain chanced to snow during the evening of November 26th and the snow continued through the day on the 27th before tapering off during the evening.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, November 26 to 28, 20132 eventsAs cold air spilled into the North Carolina mountains in the wake of an arctic cold front, rain quickly changed to snow after midnight. Periods of moderate and briefly heavy snow were reported.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, November 26 to 28, 201313 eventsAs cold air spilled into the North Carolina mountains in the wake of an arctic cold front, rain quickly changed to snow during the pre-dawn hours. Periods of moderate and briefly heavy snow were reported at times. Precipitation ended in most areas by late morning.
• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, November 26 to 27, 20133 eventsA band of heavy lake effect snow affected portions of north-central Indiana on November 27th. Snowfall totals of 5 to 10 inches occurred in a narrow band across St. Joseph County into northern Marshall County, with lighter snows on the periphery of this band.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, November 26 to 27, 20132 eventsA band of heavy lake effect snow impacted portions of southwest Lower Michigan on November 27th. Snowfall totals of 8 to 16 inches occurred in a narrow band across eastern Berrien County and far western Cass County.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 27, 2013$15,000 · 1 eventA departing storm system along the east coast brought northwest flow snows across southeast West Virginia ranging from less than 1 inch up to 6 inches in the highest elevations. County-wide averages were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range and did not meet winter storm criteria.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 27, 20131 eventLow pressure moved across the Mid Atlantic and wrap around moisture led to snow accumulation along the western slopes of the Allegheny Front.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, November 27 to 28, 20131 eventA terrain and lake induced mesoscale low pressure system developed over western Lake Superior on November 27th and brought heavy snow to parts of the North Shore in the Minnesota Arrowhead. Snowfall reports included 7 in Finland, MN (southern Lake County).
• Winter Storm in Alaska, November 27 to 28, 20132 eventsA series of weak low pressure systems persisted just off the coast in the Eastern Gulf while the wind aloft became south over the northern part of Lynn Canal.
• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, November 28 to 29, 20136 eventsMesoscale low pressure systems generated moderate to heavy lake enhanced snow over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 28th into the morning of the 29th.

The snowstorm of October 2 to 7, 2013The snowstorm of December 1 to 7, 2013Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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