Halloween Blizzard
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| Storm type: | Cyclonic blizzard, Gulf Low | |
| Formed: | October 31, 1991 | |
| Dissipated: | November 3, 1991 | |
| Maximum amount1: |
37 inches (940 mm) (Duluth, MN) | |
| Lowest pressure: |
984 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damages: | $100 Million (2005 USD) | |
| Fatalities: | 20 | |
| Areas affected: | Eastern and southern Minnesota, northwestern Wisconsin, central Iowa | |
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1Maximum snowfall or ice accretion |
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The Halloween Blizzard was a period of extreme snowfall that began on Halloween (October 31) in 1991. This marked the beginning of a major winter storm that pounded the eastern half of Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin over a three day period. Record snow acculations were recorded in eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin, while a major ice storm affected southern Minnesota and Iowa.
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[edit] The Storm
[edit] Uniqueness
In terms of its characteristics, the Halloween Blizzard was a fairly unique storm. It started out as many winter storms do, as a developing low pressure system in the western Gulf of Mexico. Normally storms that form in the Gulf of Mexico will be driven northeast by the jet stream towards the central Great Lake states, or perhaps eastward towards the Southeast U.S.[1] But in the case of the Halloween Blizzard, the low pressure system moved from near Houston, Texas on October 31 to Thunder Bay Ontario on November 2.[2] That's approximately 2,200 kilometers (1400 miles) north, and just 550 kilometers (350 miles) east. Because of the prevailing westerly winds in the mid-latitudes of the northern hemisphere, it's very unusual for a storm to travel that that far north or south without getting pushed further to the east by the westerly winds.[3]
The main reason this storm did not get pushed more to the east is because the massive 1991 Halloween Nor'easter (a.k.a - The Perfect Storm) was sitting off the northeast U.S. coast, and actually pushing its way to the west into the east coast of Canada. So instead of the Gulf Low moving towards the east or northeast as they normally would do, it encountered resistance and instead got pushed almost straight north. That meant that it would affect places like Iowa, Minnesota and western Wisconsin; places that do not experience a storm track like this very often. Since Gulf Lows have greater access to Gulf of Mexico moisture and can be even more potent snowfall producers than Panhandle Hooks, and since the storm track was a relatively rare one, it's not a surprise that this storm went on to produce many record snowfall amounts.[4]
[edit] Impact
The area of Low Pressure responsible for the Halloween blizzard originated in the Pacific Ocean, moving inland over the state of Oregon on October 25, 1991. By October 30 the storm had reached the Gulf of Mexico, and on October 31 it began its journey northward and rapidly strengthened. The snow began to fall across Minnesota during the late afternoon hours of October 31 and it accumulated rapidly. By midnight, Minneapolis had already recorded 8.2 inches (208 millimeters) of snow, which set a record for the most amount of snow on October 31, as well as the most snow ever recorded during the month of October.
Within 24 hours many areas of the state had already received over a foot and a half snow, but the storm was only about half way done. Over the next two days additional accumulations of one to two feet (300 millimeters to 600 millimeters) were recorded in parts of the state. By the time it was done the storm had dropped 28.4 inches (721 millimeters) of snow on the Twin Cities, setting a single storm record for the metropolitan area. Duluth received 36.9 inches (937 millimeters), the largest single storm total in Minnesota history at that time. At least one foot (300mm) of snow fell in a swath approximately 100 miles (160 kilometers ) wide from south central Minnesota, northeastward into northwestern Wisconsin and into the Minnesota Arrowhead. A more narrow band of 2+ feet (600+ millimeters ) of snow fell from the Twin Cities through Duluth and northward. Highway snow removal was hindered by record cold temperatures that followed the storm and transportation was hampered for many days.[5]
Areas of southern Minnesota and Iowa along and south of the I-90 corridor did not see as much snow, but instead saw a major ice storm with ice accumulations of 2 to 3 inches (600 millimeters to 900 millimeters). The ice storm alone caused almost $82 million in damage and 11 counties in southern Minnesota were declared federal disaster areas. Many rural areas were without power for up to a week due to power lines that snapped under the weight of the ice. Between the blizzard and the ice storm 20 people were killed and over 100 were injured.[6]
[edit] Records
| Records tied or broken during the Halloween Blizzard | ||
|---|---|---|
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|
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| Duluth[7] | ||
| Most snow on October 31 | 4.2 inches (106mm) | m |
| Most snow on November 1 | 24.1 inches (612mm) | m |
| Most single storm snow total | 36.9 inches (937mm) | m |
| Most snowfall in any month | 50.1 inches (1,273mm) (Nov, 1991) | 46.8 inches (1,189mm) (Jan, 1969) |
| Eau Claire, WI[7] | ||
| Most snow on November 1 | 3.1 inches (79mm) | m |
| International Falls, MN[7] | ||
| Most snow on November 1 | 11.6 inches (295mm ) | m |
| La Crosse, WI[8] | ||
| Most snow on November 1 | 9.2 inches (234mm) | m |
| St. Cloud, MN[7] | ||
| Most snow on October 31 | 3.1 inches (79mm) | m |
| Most snow on November 1 | 9.0 inches (229mm ) | m |
| Twin Cities[8] | ||
| Most snow on October 31 | 8.2 inches (208mm) | 0.4 inches (10mm) (1954) |
| Most snow on November 1 | 18.5 inches (470mm) | 3.6 inches (91mm) (1941) |
| 24 hour snowfall in any season | 21.0 inches (533mm) | 18.5 inches (470mm) (January 23, 1982) |
| Most single storm snow total | 28.4 inches (729mm) | 20.0 inches (508mm) (Jan 22-23 1982) |
| Most snow in October | 8.2 inches (208mm) | 5.5 inches (140mm) (1905) |
| Earliest 8 inch snow | 8.2 inches (208mm) | 8.5 inches (216mm) (Nov 8, 1943) |
| Most snowfall in any month | 46.9 inches (1,191mm) (Nov, 1991) | 46.4 inches (1,179mm) (Jan, 1982)[9] |
| Earliest autumn below zero low | -3°F (-19°C) (Nov 4) | -1°F (-18°C) (Nov 11, 1986) |
[edit] Trivia
- T-shirts and sweatshirts bearing the slogan "I survived the Halloween Blizzard" were briefly popular afterward.
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes and references
- ^ D'Aleo, Joe. CLIMATOLOGICALLY-FAVORED STORM TRACKS. Intellicast.com. Retrieved on December 21, 2006.
- ^ daily weather maps (DJVU). NOAA (1991-11-03). Retrieved on December 21, 2006.
- ^ Pidwirny, Michael (2006-02-02). The Mid-Latitude Cyclone. PhysicalGeography.net. Retrieved on December 21, 2006.
- ^ Ostro, Stu (October 30, 2006). METEOROLOGICAL PERFECTION. The Weather Channel. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
- ^ 15 Years Ago: Halloween Blizzard. NOAA. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
- ^ Halloween Blizzard/Ice Storm of 1991. NOAA. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
- ^ a b c d Daily Climate Report (CLI). NOAA. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
- ^ a b 1991 Halloween Blizzard. Minnesota Climatology Office. Retrieved on December 20, 2006.
- ^ NOVEMBER IN THE NORTHERN PLAINS. Intellicast.com. Retrieved on December 19, 2006.
