The snowstorm of November 23 to 28, 2018

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

416

Deaths

4

Injuries

7

Damage

$1.1 million

Episodes

56

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.

• Cold in New York, November 22, 20188 eventsA frigid airmass arrived in the wake of an Arctic cold front on the 22nd, resulting in one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record for eastern New York.
• Cold in Vermont, November 22, 20182 eventsA frigid airmass arrived in the wake of an Arctic cold front on the 22nd, resulting in one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record for southern Vermont.
• Cold in Massachusetts, November 22, 20182 eventsA frigid airmass arrived in the wake of an Arctic cold front on the 22nd, resulting in one of the coldest Thanksgivings on record for western Massachusetts.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, November 22 to 24, 20184 eventsHeavy snow fell in the Cascades and Olympics. This was the first event of the season, so warnings were issued even though warning criteria were not necessarily forecast.
• Extreme Cold in Pennsylvania, November 23, 20181 eventAn unusually early Arctic air mass dropped south and covered central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania on the 23rd. All-time monthly record lows for November were set at the Greater Binghamton Airport, Syracuse Airport and at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport.
• Extreme Cold in New York, November 23, 20182 eventsAn unusually early Arctic air mass dropped south and covered central New York and Northeast Pennsylvania on the 23rd. All-time monthly record lows for November were set at the Greater Binghamton Airport, Syracuse Airport and at the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Airport.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Nebraska, November 23 to 25, 201855 kt wind · 5 eventsStrong winds were measured across portions of the Nebraska Panhandle with measured wind gusts measured in the upper 50 mph range with a 60 mph measured gust west of Harrisburg.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Utah, November 23 to 24, 201851 kt wind · 7 eventsA strong storm system moved through Utah on November 23 and 24, bringing snow and gusty winds. The heaviest snow fell over the mountains of northern Utah.
• Winter Weather in Washington, November 23, 20181 eventFour inches of slushy snow accumulation fell at Hyak, just below Snoqualmie pass. This was the first significant snow for the pass this winter and multiple spin-outs resulted in Interstate 90 being closed in both directions for 2 hours.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, November 24, 201814 eventsPrecipitation developed across the mountains, foothills, and far western Piedmont of North Carolina during the overnight, as a wave of low pressure moved along the Gulf Coast.
• Ice Storm in North Carolina, November 24, 20189 eventsFor the second time in 10 days, a freezing rain event developed across portions of the mountains and foothills of North Carolina. Precipitation developed during the overnight, as a wave of low pressure moved along the Gulf Coast.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, November 24, 201819 eventsAn area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast on the night of November 23rd, and tracked northeastward to the North and South Carolina coastlines during the daytime hours on the 24th, strengthening to around 990mb on the night of the 24th as it continued moving…
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 24, 201811 eventsAn area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast on the night of November 23rd, and tracked northeastward to the North and South Carolina coastlines during the daytime hours on the 24th, strengthening to around 990mb on the night of the 24th as it continued moving…
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, November 24, 20184 eventsAn area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast on the night of November 23rd, and tracked northeastward to the North and South Carolina coastlines during the daytime hours on the 24th, strengthening to around 990mb on the night of the 24th as it continued moving…
• Winter Storm in Montana, November 24, 20183 eventsLift induced by an approaching trough aloft from the west combined with abundant Pacific moisture streaming into southwest and central Montana to generate periods of snow during the evening of November 23rd into the 24th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 24, 20183 eventsA storm system moved southeast through the region, bringing snowfall to much of the Black Hills and southwest South Dakota. The heaviest snow fell across the Black Hills, especially the central and southern Black Hills, where three to six inches of snow were reported.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Colorado, November 24 to 25, 201857 kt wind · 3 eventsBlizzard conditions moved in from the north-northeast after midnight as a band of snow developed over the eastern part of the county and gradually moved south. The highest snowfall amounts were along the east edge of the county.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Nebraska, November 24 to 25, 201819 eventsA blizzard occurred south and east of Hastings on this Saturday night and Sunday, and near-blizzard conditions occurred, at times, in many other locations.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Kansas, November 25, 201851 kt wind · 11 eventsA north to south corridor of snow and wind, creating blizzard conditions, developed during the late evening over Northwest Kansas, extending north into Southwest Nebraska. As the night progressed the blizzard conditions expanded across the rest of Northwest Kansas.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Nebraska, November 24 to 25, 20183 eventsA north to south corridor of snow and wind, creating blizzard conditions, developed during the late evening over Southwest Nebraska, extending south into Northwest Kansas. As the night progressed the blizzard conditions expanded across the rest of Southwest Nebraska.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Kansas, November 25, 20181 death · 6 eventsA blizzard occurred across most of north central Kansas on this Saturday night and Sunday. Saturday afternoon, a narrow band of snow developed, in the shape of an arc, across Nebraska to near Denver. This band formed in the deformation zone of developing low pressure.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Kansas, November 25, 2018$3,000 · 61 kt wind · 16 eventsA blizzard swept through most of Central Kansas on the 25th from early in the morning until mid-afternoon. A strong upper-level shortwave that surged from the Central Rockies into the Great Plains induced rapid surface cyclogenesis across Southern Kansas.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Nebraska, November 25, 20181 death · 11 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved out of the central Rockies and produced snowfall of 2 to 11 inches across eastern Nebraska. Blizzard conditions were met in southeast Nebraska with measured wind gusts 40 to 53 mph and widespread whiteout conditions.
• Blizzard in Kansas, November 25, 201819 eventsA intense winter storm brought high winds and heavy snow to parts of Kansas on Sunday November 25th. The snow began to fall as early as 4 am across parts of north central Kansas and overspread the rest of northeast Kansas through the morning.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Kansas, November 25, 201854 kt wind · 14 eventsA strong cold front and weak upper level shortwave moved across parts of the area during the early morning. While there was only 1 to 3 inches of snow, winds were in excess of 60 MPH with gusts to 70 MPH which caused blizzard conditions during the morning hours.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Iowa, November 25, 20184 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved out of the central Rockies and produced snowfall of 2 to 11 inches across southwest Iowa. Blizzard conditions were met in southwest Iowa with measured wind gusts 40 to 62 mph and widespread whiteout conditions.
• Blizzard in Iowa, November 25, 201817 eventsAn amplified upper level trough, cut off at times, swept through Kansas, Missouri and Illinois. The attendant surface low also swept through Kansas and Missouri on a similar path, well south of Iowa.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Iowa, November 25 to 26, 201815 eventsA strong low pressure system moved from Kansas into Central Illinois bringing heavy snows of 4 to 13 inches to the area. Strong north winds gusted to 40 to 50 mph and combined with the heavy snow to produce widespread blizzard conditions.
• Winter Storm and Coastal Flood in Illinois, November 25 to 26, 201812 eventsA winter storm moved across central Illinois during the evening of November 25th and early morning of November 26th producing heavy wet snow across northern Illinois.
• Blizzard in Missouri, November 25, 20183 injured · 37 eventsAn extremely early season blizzard impacted most of northern and central Missouri on November 25, 2018. The snowstorm was more indicative of a storm that would affect the area in the deep winter, as opposed to the middle to late part of autumn.
• Blizzard in Kansas, November 25, 20187 eventsAn extremely early season blizzard impacted eastern Kansas on November 25, 2018. The snowstorm was more indicative of a storm that would affect the area in the deep winter, as opposed to the middle to late part of autumn.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Illinois, November 25 to 26, 201813 eventsA strong low pressure system moved from Kansas into Central Illinois bringing heavy snows of 4 to 13 inches to the area. Strong north winds gusted to 40 to 50 mph and combined with the heavy snow to produce widespread blizzard conditions.
• Blizzard in Illinois, November 25 to 26, 20185 eventsA deepening area of low pressure tracked from southeast Kansas during the early morning of November 25th to northwest Ohio by the morning of November 26th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wisconsin, November 25 to 26, 2018$5,000 · 6 eventsStrong low pressure moving from Missouri to northwest Ohio brought heavy snow and strong winds to far southeast Wisconsin. Winds gusted to 45-53 mph near Lake MI with wind gusts of 30-40 mph inland.
• Blizzard in Illinois, November 25 to 26, 20183 eventsA strong area of low pressure tracked east across Kansas, Missouri, and central Illinois on November 25th, bringing heavy snowfall and gusty winds to the region.
• Blizzard in Missouri, November 25 to 26, 20182 eventsA strong low pressure system moved from Kansas into Central Illinois bringing heavy snows of 4 to 13 inches to the area. Strong north winds gusted to 40 to 50 mph and combined with the heavy snow to produce widespread blizzard conditions.
• Blizzard in Missouri, November 25 to 26, 201810 eventsA strong area of low pressure tracked east across Kansas, Missouri, and central Illinois on November 25th, bringing heavy snowfall and gusty winds to the region.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, November 25 to 26, 20182 eventsWeakening low pressure tracked through the southern Great Lake Region bringing the first significant snowfall for parts of southeast Michigan.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Vermont, November 26 to 28, 2018$955,000 · 16 eventsA storm that brought blizzard conditions to parts of the Midwest on Sunday, November 25th moved into the Ohio River Valley - Southern Great Lakes on 11/26.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, November 26 to 28, 20186 eventsA low pressure system approaching from the southwest brought an area of rain to much of eastern New York on the 26th.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, November 26 to 27, 20187 eventsThis winter storm began as a blizzard over the Midwest. The storm moved into the eastern Great Lakes early on the 26th and snow broke out over northern New England that afternoon and evening.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, November 26 to 27, 20185 eventsThis winter storm began as a blizzard over the Midwest. The storm moved into the eastern Great Lakes early on the 26th and snow broke out over northern New England that afternoon and evening.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, November 26 to 28, 20182 eventsA low pressure system approaching from the southwest brought an area of rain and snow to southern Vermont on the 26th.
• Winter Weather in Massachusetts, November 26 to 28, 20181 eventA low pressure system approaching from the southwest brought an area of rain and snow to western Massachusetts on the 26th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, November 26 to 28, 2018$125,000 · 9 eventsA storm that brought blizzard conditions to parts of the Midwest on Sunday, November 25th moved into the Ohio River Valley - Southern Great Lakes on 11/26.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 26 to 28, 2018$35,000 · 1 eventAn area of low pressure moved Lake Erie on the evening of November 26. Northwest flow and cold air wrapping behind the system allowed for a multi-band lake effect snow event to develop over the entire Lake Erie snow belt.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, November 26 to 28, 20187 eventsA strong cold front brought markedly colder temperatures into eastern Kentucky early on November 26th. This allowed residual moisture to transition to light snow and freezing drizzle during the morning and afternoon.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, November 27 to 29, 20186 eventsA prolonged synoptic/lake effect/orographic event unfolded over the area from November 26-28. Temperatures during the event were marginally cold, especially in the lower elevations east of Lake Erie.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, November 27, 20182 eventsA disturbance moving across Lake Superior enhanced lake effect snow bands into Gogebic and Alger counties resulting in moderate snow accumulation on the 27th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, November 27 to 28, 20181 eventA prolonged lake-effect snow event affected Warren County from November 26-28, producing several inches of snow across the northwestern snow-belt of the county.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, November 27 to 28, 20182 eventsGusty northwest flow behind a departing low pressure system combined with lingering low level moisture and elevated terrain to generate up-slope snow showers along and near the Allegheny Front from the afternoon of November 27th into the morning of the 28th.
• Cold in Virginia, November 28, 20181 eventA low pressure system moved up the eastern seaboard of the United States from November 26th through the 27th, with cold temperatures and strong northwest winds funneling behind the system from the night of the 27th into the morning of the 28th.
• Cold in West Virginia, November 28, 20181 eventA low pressure system moved up the eastern seaboard of the United States from November 26th through the 27th, with cold temperatures and strong northwest winds funneling behind the system from the night of the 27th into the morning of the 28th.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, November 28, 20181 death · 4 injured · 16 eventsWith cooler air locked in near the surface, progression of a mid-level wave from the west during the daytime hours of November 28 increased warm advection atop the cold layer, resulting in periods of light freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, November 28, 20182 eventsWith cooler air locked in near the surface, progression of a mid-level wave from the west during the daytime hours of November 28 increased warm advection atop the cold layer, resulting in periods of light freezing rain.
• Cold in Wisconsin, November 29, 20181 death · 1 eventA 61-year-old man died due to hypothermia in Hales Corners after wandering into the woods near his group home. Temperatures were in the 30s during the day and 20s at night. The man was not dressed appropriately for the cold temperatures.

The snowstorm of November 14 to 16, 2018The snowstorm of December 7 to 10, 2018Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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