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The 2022–23 North American winter was an unusually warm winter for the east and an unusually cold winter for the west in North America, as it occurred across the continent from late 2022 to early 2023. The winter season in North America began at the winter solstice, which occurred on December 21, 2022, and it ended at the March equinox, which occurred on March 20, 2023.[1] The first day of meteorological winter began on December 1 and unofficially ended on February 28;[2]winter storms may still occur outside of these limits.
Seasonal forecasts
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This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: Stops at January 8, minus two event in February. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(March 2023)
November 16–21, 2022 snowfall totals in New York.
On October 17, a minor early-season cold-core low impacted the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with some areas receiving 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) of snow, and over 30,000 customers losing power.[4][5][6] This resulted in the heaviest October snow on record for Marquette, Michigan across a two-day period.[7] Over the next few days, cold air pushed south, breaking records in the Midwest and Deep South.[8] For the first time in history, Tallahassee, Florida froze before Denver, Colorado.[9] On November 4, a winter storm on the backend of a tornado outbreak led to a 100-car pileup in Denver forcing 6th Avenue to close. The crash led to 13 injuries, one of which was serious.[10] In Amarillo, Texas, the temperature dropped to 35 °F (2 °C), allowing for rare early-season snowflakes.[11] On November 9, a major winter storm struck North Dakota, leading to a pileup causing several injuries on Interstate 94.[12] An intense lake-effect snowstorm produced massive snow accumulations, primarily situated in the Buffalo area, with the highest total of snowfall peaking 81.2 in (206 cm) in Orchard Park, New York.[13] Prior to the Christmas holiday, another snowstorm occurred, which led to 106 deaths, 41 in the Buffalo area alone.[14] On January 8, icy roads in Iowa led to a car crash, killing 2.[15] On February 1, New York City finally picked up 0.4 in (1.0 cm) of snow, their latest date for first snowfall on record. That storm also dropped 0.3 in (0.76 cm) in Philadelphia and 0.2 in (0.51 cm) in Baltimore.[16] Heavy snow resulted in Mesa Verde National Park being shut down for 3 days in mid-February.[17]
An intense lake-effect snow storm produced massive snow accumulations in the Buffalo metropolitan area. In preparation for the storm, the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns game was moved to Detroit.[28] In addition, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for 11 counties in Upstate New York.[29] On the New York Thruway west of Exit 46, the road closed on the afternoon of November 17.[30] Multiple Amtrak stations such as Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Depew closed,[31] and Erie County suspended all bus service.[32]Hamburg recorded 34 inches (86 cm) of snow by 8am on November 18.[33] By 2:30pm, that amount increased to 37 inches (94 cm), with 42.3 inches (107 cm) in Orchard Park.[34] In Buffalo, from 8-9pm 3.1 inches (7.9 cm) fell.[35]Reed Timmer measured 50 inches (130 cm) of snow at 9:30pm in Hamburg. Over 6,000 customers lost power.[36] The same lake effect storm also hammered parts of Ohio with up to 17.2 inches (44 cm) of snow in 12 hours.[37] By the morning of November 19, Hamilton Park reported 70.9 inches (180 cm) of snow. Orchard Park reached 80 inches (200 cm) of snow, and 66 inches (170 cm) of snow in 24 hours, which broke the record for the area. Buffalo International Airport reported 36.6 inches (93 cm) by the end of the storm.[38]Hamburg, New York eventually reported 81.2 inches (206 cm) of snow, being the highest total from the storm. Heavy lake-effect snow also occurred in Watertown where 61 inches (150 cm) of snow was reported. Snow was amplified partially due to very warm Lake Erie temperatures of 52 °F (11 °C).[39]
A major blizzard occurred in the Great Plains related to a tornado outbreak, leading to heavy snow and freezing rain. In Fargo, North Dakota, all after school activities on December 13 were canceled. Parts of Interstate 80 in Nebraska and Interstate 76 in Colorado were shut down due to the blizzard, as was part of Interstate 90 in South Dakota.[41] Portions of Interstate 29 were also shut down as the storm approached.[42] Freezing rain accumulation peaked at 0.40 in (1.0 cm) in Litchville, North Dakota. Further east, blizzard conditions and thundersnow were verified in Duluth, Minnesota. Power outages totaled 45,000 in Minnesota, 70,000 in Wisconsin and 43,700 in Michigan.[43] In Penn State University, the snowstorm forced the final exams to be rescheduled from December 15 to December 16 and 17.[44] Small portions of Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania closed due to the storm.[45] As of the morning of December 16, snow accumulations reached 11.4 in (29 cm) in Wilmington, Vermont.[46] In New Hampshire, many regions received over 20 inches by the storm's end.[47] Ultimately, over 160,000 customers in the Northeast lost power, including over 100,000 in New Hampshire alone.[48]
Just prior to the Christmas holiday, another powerful and significant blizzard, unofficially named Winter Storm Elliott by The Weather Channel,[49] began developing in southern Canada along an arctic front. It additionally dropped significant snowfall and record-breaking cold to the northern parts of the United States.[50]Denver saw 3.9 in (9.9 cm) of snow, as temperatures fell to −20 °F (−29 °C), the coldest temperature in the city since exactly 32 years ago, and just one degree shy of tying the monthly record low. Parts of the state saw over a foot of snow.[51][52][53] Denver saw their largest hourly temperature drop on December 21 from 4-5pm, as temperatures fell from 42 °F (6 °C) to 5 °F (−15 °C).[54]Cheyenne, Wyoming broke their hourly temperature drop record in just 30 minutes, as temperatures fell from 43 °F (6 °C) to 3 °F (−16 °C) from 1:05pm to 1:35pm.[55] In Casper, the low of −42 °F (−41 °C) set an all-time record.[56] In Malta, Montana, the wind chill got as low as −72 °F (−58 °C).[57] Eight thousand customers in Wichita, Kansas lost power, and portions of Interstate 435 closed due to snow.[58] Overnight in Kansas City temperatures dropped from 32 °F (0 °C) to −2 °F (−19 °C) in just six hours.[59] The highest snowfall totals in Iowa reached 5.9 inches (15 cm).[60] In Nashville the low of −1 °F (−18 °C) was the coldest low temperature in the city since 1996.[61] The winter storm led to 104 deaths, with 41 occurring in the Buffalo metropolitan area alone.[14]
A series of atmospheric rivers starting on December 31 and extending into 2023 caused widespread heavy rainfall and snowfall in Northern California and Nevada, leading to flooding. At least 22 people were killed, although it is unknown how many fatalities were due to winter weather. President Joe Biden declared a state of emergency in California due to the winter storms.[62]
Following an arctic front moving in the night of February 2,[73] extremely cold temperatures settled into the Northeast on February 3 and 4. Schools in Boston, Massachusetts closed on February 3 in anticipation of the cold temperatures.[74] On February 4, 2023, Boston experienced a temperature of −10 °F (−23 °C), the first double-digit negative temperature in the city since the 1950s.[75]Nantucket, Massachusetts was −3 °F (−19 °C), which tied a record low also set in both 2004 and 1962.[76]Portland, Maine had a record low wind chill of −45 °F (−43 °C).[77] Atop Mount Washington in New Hampshire, the wind chill hit −108 °F (−78 °C), the coldest wind chill in the United States, with an air temperature of −47 °F (−44 °C) combined with wind speeds of 97 mph (156 km/h).[78][79] The cold wave caused 5,000 power outages in Connecticut. The temperature in Bridgeport, Connecticut of −4 °F (−20 °C) broke the previous record by 9 °F (5 °C).[80] Temperatures in Burlington, Vermont were −15 °F (−26 °C) on February 4, leading to steam devils on Lake Champlain.[81] Several frostquakes occurred in Maine.[82] An all-time record low temperature was set atop Whiteface Mountain, at −40.2 °F (−40.1 °C).[83] Strong winds relating to the arctic front killed a passenger in a car in western Massachusetts when a tree fell on the car.[84] 60,000 customers lost power due to the cold wave in New England, with 46,000 in Massachusetts alone.[85] 191 flights were delayed and 62 flights were cancelled out of Logan International Airport due to the bitter cold.[86]
In preparation for the cold snap, a wind chill advisory was issued for eastern Suffolk County.[87] In New York City, the low at Central Park on February 4 was 3 °F (−16 °C), marking the coldest temperature there since 2019, although shy of the previous record low for the date.[88] However, LaGuardia Airport's low of 5 °F (−15 °C) and John F. Kennedy International Airport’s low of 4 °F (−16 °C) were low enough to set daily records.[89]Newark, New Jersey also recorded a record low of 5 °F (−15 °C), although it was the only site in the state to break a daily record. Temperatures in the state got as low as −10 °F (−23 °C) at High Point Monument in Sussex County, New Jersey.[90]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (February 2023)
A winter storm, unofficially named Winter Storm Olive by The Weather Channel,[92] was impacting the Midwestern United States from February 21–24.[93] Another winter storm associated with the broader system moved through the same general area shortly thereafter.
There were 13 fatalities, at least 1,200,000 power outages, and at least 3,000 flights cancelled by the storm.[94][92]
A major blizzard struck the Great Plains in early April 2023. In preparation for the storm, blizzard warnings were issued for over 800 mi (1,300 km), from Wyoming to Minnesota.[121] The snowstorm in Casper, Wyoming resulted in them setting both a one-day and two day record for snowfall, at 26.7 in (68 cm) and 37.4 in (95 cm). Atlantic City, Wyoming recorded 48.8 in (124 cm).[122]Kenora, Ontario recorded 27.2 cm (10.7 in) of snow.[123] As a result of the storm, parts of Interstate 29, Interstate 90 and Interstate 94 was closed due to the storm, and both Fargo and Grand Forks, North Dakota had record deep snowpack for so late in the spring.[124] Two people were killed in the winter storm due to a car crash on icy roads in Ward County, North Dakota.[125] Blowing snow in southern Manitoba resulted in several highways shutting down as well.[126]Mount Rushmore and Badlands National Park closed due to the snow.[127] In addition, Salt Lake City set a record cold high after the storm, at only 33 °F (1 °C).[128] As a result of the snow, as well as forecasted high temperatures of 34 °F (1 °C), the Minnesota Twins postponed their home opener by a day.[129] Further east, a severe ice storm struck Quebec, resulting in a fatality in Montreal and over a million customers losing power.[130] In addition to winter weather impacts, the system also spawned a severe weather and tornado outbreak that affected the Midwestern United States, Mississippi Valley, and Great Lakes. A total of 27 tornadoes were confirmed along with five fatalities.[131]
Early May winter storm
A record breaking winter storm affected the Upper Peninsula of Michigan from May 1 to 2. The city of Marquette, Michigan received 26.2 in (67 cm) of snow, which made the city record their snowiest May on record. 19.8 in (50 cm) of that total fell on May 1, which became the snowiest day in May for the city.[132] Over ten thousand customers in the Upper Peninsula lost power, and property damage reached $2.1 million.[133][134] Further south, Green Bay, Wisconsin recorded 2.2 in (5.6 cm) of snow.[135]West Virginia set a monthly snowfall record with Davis receiving 20.3 in (52 cm) of snow.[136] Further north, Pittsburgh had a record cold high on May 2 due to the system, at 44 °F (7 °C).[137]
Records
Eastern United States
Due to unfavorable storm tracks,[138] the Eastern United States received little snowfall. For the first time in history, Charlotte, North Carolina did not even record a trace of snow.[139]New York City also recorded its least snowy winter with just 2.3 in (5.8 cm) of snow, as well as their second warmest winter and warmest January on record.[140] The record warm January contributed to the first snowfall occurring on February 1, the latest first date for snowfall on record.[141] The season also became the least snowy on record at Baltimore, Atlantic City, Bridgeport, Oswego and Elkins, as well as tying for the second least snowy at Philadelphia, becoming the third least snowy in Washington DC and fourth least snowy in Boston.[142][143][144] In addition to the lack of snow, it was also one of the warmest winters on record, with Massachusetts tying for their warmest winter at an average temperature of 33.7 °F (0.9 °C), with Tupelo, Mississippi also recording their warmest winter.[145][146]Pittsburgh recorded their least snowy February at only 0.2 in (0.51 cm) of snow, with seasonal snowfall being well below normal.[147] Despite that, Buffalo, New York recorded its fifth snowiest winter on record with 132.8 in (337 cm) of snow falling, mainly due to lake effect snowstorms in November and December 2022.[148] In addition, Mount Washington recorded their snowiest June on record.[149]
Midwestern United States
The city of Duluth, Minnesota experienced their snowiest winter, with 138.3 in (351 cm) of snow as of April 20,[150] while Minneapolis recorded their third snowiest winter.[151] The city of Sioux Falls, South Dakota had their second snowiest January in history, as well as their snowiest 24 hour period in January between the 2nd and 3rd, and their fourth wettest January.[152] 2023 also became the wettest first quarter in LaCrosse, Wisconsin, Rochester, Minnesota and Saint Cloud, Minnesota, with the state of Wisconsin recording their third wettest start of the year.[153]
Western United States
The same pattern that contributed to little snow in the east helped give major snow to the Western US. The city of Flagstaff, Arizona recorded their third snowiest January on record.[154] The winter also became the second snowiest at the UC Berkeley Central Sierra Snow Lab,[155] which also made it the second deepest snowpack in California history.[156] This also helped produce copious amounts of rain in areas too warm for snow, with Hanford, California recording their wettest day on record on February 24,[157] and San Francisco recorded their third wettest winter on record.[158] In addition, the first quarter of 2023 became the coldest on record for Lander, Wyoming.[153] Near-record snow at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park resulted in the opening date being delayed to June 2.[159]
^National Centers for Environmental Information (2023). "Storm Reports Between 12/12/2022 and 12/15/2022". Storm Event Database. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 2 August 2023.
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