Winter storms of 2006-07

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This article or section contains information about an ongoing meteorological event or phenomenon. Information may undergo major changes as events occur.

Winter storms of 2006-07 profiles the major winter storms, including blizzards, ice storms, and other winter events, from July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.

As of October 13, 2006, three deaths have been blamed on severe winter weather.

Contents 1 September events 1.1 September 14-16 1.2 September 21-23 2 October events 2.1 October 11-13 2.2 October 25-30 2.3 October 30-31 3 November events 3.1 November 9-11 3.2 November 21 3.3 November 26-December 1 4 December events 4.1 December 8 5 References 6 See also 7 External link

[edit] September events

[edit] September 14-16

While not a major event, the first widespread winter weather event took place in the higher elevations of the Northwestern United States and as far south as Utah^[1], and especially across the higher elevations of western Canada. The snow did not affect any of the major cities in the area, but did affect travel. The snow also had a positive impact in that it significantly reduced the number of wildfires in the area.^[2]

Such heavy snowfall is not unusual in September, especially in the northern Rocky Mountains.

[edit] September 21-23

Another storm moved into the Rocky Mountain region, dropping 1-2 feet of snow throughout the mountains of Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado. The Black Hills near Deadwood, South Dakota also saw up to a foot of snow. Gothic, Colorado and Alta, Utah both reported 11 inches.^[3]

[edit] October events

[edit] October 11-13

Main article: Lake Storm "Aphid"

A low pressure system moving through the Great Lakes region, accompanied by a record-breaking cold snap, combined to produce significant early-season snowfall across the region. Several areas on the Lower Peninsula of Michigan recorded their earliest-ever measurable snowfall^[4], and 1-2 feet (30-60 cm) of snow fell over western portions of the Upper Peninsula. A foot of snow also fell across portions of southwestern Ontario in the Niagara region with significant amounts also recorded in northwestern Ontario north and west of Thunder Bay. ^[5]

Record-breaking snowfall of 1-2 feet also occurred in the highly localized lake effect snowband areas around Buffalo, New York, with Buffalo setting two consecutive daily October snowfall records, recording a total of 22.6 inches (57.4 cm).^[6] The resulting heavy, wet snow downed tree limbs and power lines, leaving 350,000 people without electricity in western New York. It also closed a large section of Interstate 90 from Rochester to Dunkirk and killed three people.^[7] Governor George Pataki is expected to declare a state of emergency in the hard-hit counties. The bands were very localized; very little snow fell in most other areas.

[edit] October 25-30

The first Plains blizzard of the season occurred over the Front Range of Colorado. Blizzard warnings were issued, with 6 to 12 inches (15 to 30 cm) of snow combining with winds as strong as 60 mph (95 km/h) in some areas. Snow accumulations in the mountains reached up to 2 feet (60 cm). Dozens of school districts were closed and highways were blocked throughout the region. Most flights out of Denver International Airport were either cancelled or significantly delayed.^[8]

Significant amounts of snow were also reported across northeastern Ontario and western and central Quebec from October 26 to October 30. Accumulations exceeded locally 20 centimetres (8 inches).

[edit] October 30-31

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A strong low pressure system that developed over the northern Great Plains affected portions of southern and eastern Manitoba, including the city of Winnipeg as well as portions of northwestern Ontario. Up to 6 inches of snow have already fallen among portions of Manitoba, while total snowfall amounts according to Environment Canada could reached 1 foot (30 centimetres).

[edit] November events

[edit] November 9-11

The first major winter storm of the season in the Upper Midwest dumped heavy snow across parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The highest amounts were in western Wisconsin, east of the Twin Cities, where up to 16 inches (41 cm) of snow fell. Schools and roads were closed as a result.^[9] Portions of Northeastern Ontario, including Greater Sudbury, also received over 15 centimetres on the night of the 10th into the 11th, with moderate snow falling across central Quebec later that day.

[edit] November 21

Main article: Late November 2006 Nor'easter

An unusual snow event took place in parts of South Carolina and Georgia in areas that typically don't receive snow, especially in November. The storm produced thunder snow for a time at Charleston, South Carolina, the only time thunder snow has been reported. Generally 1-2 inches was observed in interior areas from Jenkins County, Georgia to Colleton County, South Carolina. Not only was this a winter weather oddity, it was record setting. Charleston and Savannah, Georgia both observed their earliest snowfall on record. The powerful storm also brought heavy rains, severe beach erosion, and damaging winds to South Carolina and Georgia. This storm also brough snow flurries as far south as central Florida, near Orlando, the earliest that snow had ever fallen that far south.

[edit] November 26-December 1

A very powerful storm system moved into the Pacific Northwest on November 26 and is currently moving across the entire northern tier of the United States and much of southern Canada. Up to 2 feet of snow fell in the Cascades, with up to a half-foot in the Puget Sound area.^[10] The Sierra Nevada saw up to a foot, while up to 2 feet fell in the far northern Rocky Mountains, and many valley locations have recorded 4-10 inches. The storm then moved into the central Rocky Mountains and the northern Plains. The Central Rockies received 1-2 feet, with up to 3 feet in the Wasatch Range and a foot of snow falling along the Wasatch Front of Utah through November 29.

In the Greater Vancouver Area and Victoria Island, British Columbia, 15-50 centimetres (6-20 inches) of snow fell from November 26–27, with Abbotsford recording the heaviest amount. The Vancouver and Victoria areas rarely see snow, even during the winter months, due to the warm flow coming from the Pacific Ocean. Heavy snow also fell across portions of Saskatchewan, Manitoba and northwestern Ontario including the cities of Saskatoon, Regina and Winnipeg. Accumulations of 10-25 centimetres (4-10 inches) were common and blizzard conditions occurred across portions of Saskatchewan. ^{[11] [12]} At least 1 person was killed by the snowfall in British Columbia.^[13]

Up to a foot of snow with blizzard conditions and even some freezing rain at times fell across the Plains and Midwest as far south as Texas through the 30th, after which the storm moved into the Northeast by November 30, bringing the first significant snowfall of the season to some areas. Freezing rain and other winter weather was expected across parts of the southern Plains and the Tennessee Valley by the 30th, as well. Blizzard conditions were reported in Oklahoma, where Tulsa, Oklahoma picked up about 10 inches of snow, a record high snowfall so early in the season for that city.

The storm continued to press northeastward late in the day on November 30th, producing heavy snow and ice across most of Kansas and Missouri. The Wichita area received blizzard conditions, while Butler, Missouri picked up 15 inches of snow. Freezing rain and sleet caused widespread power outages in the St. Louis area, causing over 500,000 customers to be without power in Missouri and Illinois. On Sunday, December 3rd, over 300,000 customers were still without power through the weekend, prompting the Army National Guard to come in and provide aid. The storm also signifcantly impacted central Illinois, where Bloomington received 3" of ice, followed by 17.6" of snow. In Peoria, Illinois, heavy snow caused the roof of a nursing home to collapse, injuring four people.

The storm hit the Chicagoland area on the morning of December 1st, its intensity peaking during the morning rush hour. It's expected impact caused over 450 flights to be canceled at O'Hare International Airport and 70 flights to be canceled at Midway International Airport. Additionally, hundreds of schools, colleges, and even workplaces, particularly in the collar counties, were closed for the day. 17" inches of snow fell in LaSalle-Peru, where blizzard conditions brought Interstate 80 to a standstill for much of the day. Chicagoland's northern and northwestern suburbs were particularly hard hit, where up to 15" of snow fell in McHenry and over a foot of snow fell over much of Lake County, Illinois, and northwestern Cook County. Snow fell at times at rates of over 1 to 2 inches throughout most of the Chicagoland area, and thundersnow was reported in several locations. Meanwhile, the city of Chicago only saw 6.2" of snow, thanks to warm air on the back side of the low which produced more of a slushy mixture and less snowfall. Blowing and drifting snow, in addition to below-freezing temperatures caused roads to continue to be hazardous for travel through the weekend. In southeast Wisconsin blizzard warnings were posted for much of the day on December 1st in Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee counties. Genoa City, WI, just north of the WI-IL border, saw over 14" of snow, while Milwaukee received 10.1" of snow. The highest total in the region was Kenosha, WI, receiving 17" of snow. This area of southeast Wisconsin had not experienced a blizzard like this since the Blizzard of 1999. The storm moved out over Lake Michigan and into the northern sections of lower Michigan midday December 1st, and 6-12" of snow fell across the area. By late afternoon, the blizzard moved into Canada.

In eastern Canada, several areas received between 15 and 25 centimetres of snow (6-10 inches), especially in northeastern Ontario and in central and eastern Quebec. However, many areas, including central New Brunswick, southern Ontario and southern Quebec, received mixed precipitation including ice pellets and freezing rain. Over a quarter of a million Hydro-Quebec residents near the Montreal area lost their power during their storm and tens of thousands of residents in Ontario were also without power due to damaging winds and heavy amounts of freezing rain, which locally reached two inches in eastern Ontario with Ottawa receiving over 25 millimetres while Montreal in southern Quebec received 30 millimetres of ice. The towns of Russell and Embrun in eastern Ontario were under a state of emergency due to the storm. ^{[14] [15] [16]}

Meanwhile, ahead of the cold front, warm Gulf moisture created a situation ripe for heavy rain and severe thunderstorms in the Eastern United States. Prior to receiving snowfall, areas from Texas to Wisconsin saw upwards of 2 inches of rain, mild temperatures, and strong winds earlier in the week, part of the same storm complex that brought these areas snowfall. Additionally, large sections of the southeast saw severe thunderstorms, including a bow echo that hit parts of Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia on November 30th. Additionally, on the morning of December 1st, while heavy snow was battering the Midwest, large sections of the Northeastern United States saw temperatures in the sixties and seventies. Severe thunderstorms were forecast for Ohio, Pennsylvania, and parts of the BosWash corridor. Sure enough, heavy rain, strong winds, hail, and vivid lighting pelted the area, in addition to several tornadoes. One of the strongest tornadoes, an F2, struck Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, southwest of Scranton.

The massive and far-reaching storm has been called the Superstorm of 2006 by some meteorologists.^[17]

As of Sunday evening, as many as 19 deaths have been attributed to the storm system.[1] The death toll could still rise, as hazardous conditions attributed to the storm still exist, including power outages, snow drift-covered roads, bitter cold temperatures, and so forth.

The storm has allowed frigid air bottled up in much of western Canada and Alaska to flow south and overspread the United States, with sub-zero (°F) highs in the northern Plains. The colder air later reached the eastern half of the United States.

[edit] December events

[edit] December 8

A severe, but localized, lake effect snow event took place in parts of the Great Lakes region. The hardest hit community was London, Ontario, where over 50 cm (20 inches) of snow fell. The heavy snow virtually shut down the community, with many roads and highways closed and even shutting down the transit system for the first time since 1978.^[18] Other areas on the windward side of the Great Lakes saw lesser snowfall amounts.

[edit] References

[edit] See also

• Lake Storm "Aphid"
• Late November 2006 Nor'easter
• United States weather of 2006

[edit] External link

• Current Watches and Warnings in Canada, courtesy of Environment Canada