The February 2024 nor'easter was a quick-moving but powerful and disruptive nor'easter that brought widespread effects primarily in the Mid-Atlantic and New England regions of the Northeastern United States. Developing from a combination of an upper-level low and an area of low-pressure in the Southwestern United States on February 10, the system first brought heavy snow to the Texas Panhandle the following day. It then moved northeastwards across the Ohio Valley, causing impacts before beginning to consolidate into a more defined low as it approached the East Coast. The system then began rapid deepening as a nor’easter it moved offshore early on February 13, bringing heavy snowfall to much of the Mid-Atlantic. The system departed later that day, but not before bringing impacts to Atlantic Canada before peaking and gradually weakening thereafter, eventually dissipating on February 18.
Many cities in the Northeast and the Mid-Atlantic, particularly New York City, were expected to receive the heaviest snowfall accumulation in at least two years due to the nor'easter,[1] although the storm was notable for being difficult to predict in the aforementioned regions in the hours leading up to the event. For example, forecasts for Boston released on the morning of February 12 predicted at least a foot of snow, but when the storm moved through the New England region the following day, it hardly dropped any snow on the city after taking a more southerly course.[2] Flights were cancelled or delayed across the Mid-Atlantic, and millions spanning from Pennsylvania to Massachusetts were placed under winter storm warnings. Over 175,000 people across the Northeast lost power, due to the heavy wet nature of the snow, and the nor'easter was responsible for at least one death so far as of February 13. Separately, the system dumped at least 1 foot (12 in; 30 cm) in parts of Texas and Oklahoma causing severe impacts in the region as well.
The setup for a potential coastal storm in the Northeastern United States was evident as early as the afternoon of February 8.[3] Uncertainties as to how the system would develop, how much cold air would be available and how the upper-level features would evolve in the run up to the event. The primary factors expected in the development of the system involved an upper-level shortwave trough that would eject out of the Southwest, leading to coastal development.[3] By February 10, the aforementioned feature began developing in the Southwest, and due to limited cold air, heavy wet snow affected the northern parts of Texas and Oklahoma. A weak area of low pressure developed along the Gulf Coast and trekked northeastwards throughout February 11–12 across the Southeast as the system as a whole continued eastward.[4] At 09:00 UTC, the Weather Prediction Center deemed it necessary to begin issue storm summary bulletins for the winter storm.[5] At that time, precipitation mostly consisted of rain showers and squalls, with isolated wet snow in the colder regions of the atmosphere near the upper-level low. Later on February 12, a primary low-pressure area began to consolidate in the Tennessee Valley, strengthening as it moved eastwards and as precipitation began to slowly move into the Mid-Atlantic states.[6]
As the system became a nor'easter and moved offshore, rapid deepening – known also as "bombing out" – commenced overnight, with the central pressure falling from 991 mb (29.3 inHg) at 09:00 UTC on February 13 to 964 mb (28.5 inHg) at 03:00 UTC on February 14, a drop of 27 millibars (0.80 inHg) in 18 hours.[7][8] As this process commenced during the early morning hours on February 13, precipitation rapidly switched from rain to heavy snowfall along much of the Mid-Atlantic, with rates approaching 1–2 inches (2.5–5.1 cm) per hour in the northwestern and northeastern portions of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively, which led to the heaviest snowfall totals of the event in those areas.[9] The nor'easter moved quickly, with precipitation and snowfall ending across the Mid-Atlantic and eventually New England by evening that day; consequently, the WPC terminated storm summary bulletins for the departing nor'easter at 03:00 UTC on February 14.[10] The system continued to rapidly deepen afterwards as it began impacting Atlantic Canada with heavy snow and gusty winds, peaking at a minimum pressure of 956 mb (28.2 inHg) at 18:00 UTC that day while located south of Nova Scotia.[11] The system slowly began weakening thereafter as it moved further into the North Atlantic Ocean.
A burst of heavy snow during the nor'easter in central New Jersey
Schools across the state of New Jersey closed or moved classes to remote learning.[13] Despite not declaring a state of emergency, governor Phil Murphy strongly encouraged citizens to remain indoors and to not travel during the morning commute when the heaviest snowfall would be occurring, as well as encouraging to work from home, if possible.[14] Additionally, a commercial vehicle ban was set to go into effect at midnight and state offices were to open on a delayed schedule. Morris County residents were advised to think twice before traveling, and snowplows and equipment were loaded with salt to begin pre-treating major roadways such as Interstate 280 that evening.[15]
In southern New York, where New York City and the surrounding regions and boroughs were expected to receive at least 5–8 inches (13–20 cm) of snow – the heaviest expected for the city since a blizzard in January 2022, schools moved to online learning for February 13.[16]Westchester County declared a state of emergency late on February 12, in order to ensure the safety of its citizens.[17]
New England
Connecticut and Rhode Island
Connecticut closed some of its schools and business for February 13.[18] Governor Ned Lamont also announced that a tractor-trailer ban was going into effect at midnight.[19] In the town of Hartford, approximately 100 crews and thirty trucks were prepared to treat roadways with salt for the storm.[19]
Rhode Island governor Dan McKee also implemented a tractor-trailer ban beginning at midnight as well, while also stating the state government would be closed the following day.[20] The Department of Housing (DOH) said it would be setting up emergency shelters as well as warming centers across the state.[20]
Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, schools closed altogether for the following day, and Boston mayor Michelle Wu declared a snow emergency and advised residents to stay off the roads altogether.[21]
Impact
Snowfall from the nor'easter across the Northeastern United States the day after the storm, on February 14
Southern United States
Parts of the states of Texas and Oklahoma received upwards of over 1 foot (12 in; 30 cm) of heavy wet snow in the storm's precursor stage.[22][23] Travel in the town of Plainview, Texas was reportedly "crippled" by 14 in (36 cm) of snow, which became the heaviest snow in the region. Portions of New Mexico received over 6 in (15 cm) of snow as well,[24] and Bandelier National Monument was closed during the storm.[25]
Further east, hail up to 3 in (7.6 cm) affected Louisiana and eastern Texas.[26]
Northeastern United States
Mid-Atlantic
Delaware, Pennsylvania and New Jersey
The highest snowfall total in Delaware was only 2.2 in (5.6 cm).[27]
In New Jersey, approximately 13,000 people lost power.[28] In the city of Atlantic City, only trace of snow was recorded.[27] However, snowfall in the state varied widely, as Sussex recorded 15.0 in (38 cm) of snow.[31]
In Hartford, Connecticut, small parts of Interstate 91 closed due to a jackknifed tractor trailer.[36] The heaviest snowfall in the region was nearby, with 15.7 in (40 cm) of snow in West Hartford, Connecticut.[37] However, parts of northwestern Connecticut, often the snowiest region of the state, had lower totals around 4 in (10 cm) of snow.[38]
In the state of Massachusetts, over 23,000 customers lost power and snow resulted in Massachusetts Route 28 closing.[39] Despite significant snow in many parts of the state, Boston only received 0.1 in (0.25 cm) of snow.[40]
