Pre-Christmas 2004 snowstorm
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| Storm type: | Winter storm | |
| Formed: | December 21, 2004 | |
| Dissipated: | December 24, 2004 | |
| Maximum amount1: |
29 inches (73.7 cm) | |
| Lowest pressure: |
994 mbar (hPa) | |
| Damages: | $900 million | |
| Fatalities: | 18 in all; 1 from Canada | |
| Areas affected: | Midwest United States and Ontario, Canada | |
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1Maximum snowfall or ice accretion |
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An historic snowstorm struck the Ohio Valley of the United States, as well as Ontario in Canada, on December 22 and December 23 and is not the same storm that led to snow in Texas on Christmas Eve. It lasted roughly 30 hours, and brought snowfall amounts up to 29 inches (73.7 cm) to portions of the Midwestern United States. Damages from the storm totalled US$900 million (2004 dollars). A total of 18 perished during the storm, one from Canada, mainly due to car accidents.
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[edit] Synoptic history
An arctic cold front moved through the Midwest, bringing cold air into the region and a brief 4-10 hour burst of snowfall on December 22. Thereafter, 3-6 hours of freezing rain and sleet fell. The second bout of wintry precipitation, which lasted about 13 hours, was caused by a surface cyclone in the southern stream of the Westerlies which moved northeast from the coastal bend of Texas early on December 22, moving across northern Louisiana, southeast Arkansas, northwest Mississippi, then across central Tennessee, through western West Virginia early on December 23, eastern Ohio and Pennsylvania.
[edit] Effects
Over 20 inches of snow fell across portions of southern Illinois and central Ohio. A band of freezing rain led to ice accumulations across northwest Tennessee, central Kentucky], as well as southern and eastern Ohio. Traffic was paralyzed across the region by plane, train, and automobile, during this winter storm. Interstate and state highways turned into parking lots as over 100,000 vehicle accidents were caused by the weather. Roofs of buildings caved in under the weight of the ice and snow, especially in areas which measured over 10 inches of snow. Almost a million residences saw power outages and numerous phone lines were downed. Four days of sub-freezing temperatures during and after the storm hampered recovery efforts. States of emergency were declared in Kentucky, Illinois, and Ohio.
[edit] United States
[edit] Arkansas
High winds and icing were the main impact in Arkansas. About 11,000 customers lost power for 2-3 days. Six perished during the storm statewide.
[edit] Tennessee
About 23,000 customers were without power during the storm.
[edit] Kentucky
A snowfall record was set at Paducah, when 14 inches was measured. A major ice storm struck central portions of the state. After the storm, a record low was set on Christmas Day when the temperature fell to -8 F at Paducah. A total of 168,000 customers experienced power failure. Two perished statewide.
[edit] Illinois
It was the most significant snowstorm on record for southern sections of the state. Snowfall records were set at Carbondale (12 inches), McLeansboro (14 inches), and Carmi (18 inches). Interstate 64 was blocked for three days.
[edit] Indiana
Snowfall records were set in many locations across the Hoosier state. The records above 20 inches included Evansville (22.3 inches), Seymour (29 inches), North Vernon (26 inches), and Greensburg (24 inches). After the storm, a record low was set at Evansville on Christmas Day when the temperature fell to -11 F. This combination of factors closed Interstate 64 for three days and Interstate 94 for over two days (reopening Christmas eve). Five perished statewide.
[edit] Ohio
Snowfall records were set at Dayton (16 inches), Greenfield (24 inches), and Mansfield (23 inches). A major ice storm impacted southeast and easter sections of the state. After the storm, a record low was set on Christmas Day when the temperature fell to -17 F. A total of 678,000 customers went without power. Four perished statewide. [1]
[edit] Canada
[edit] Ontario
Precipitation was mainly in the form of heavy snow across southeast sections of the province. Hundreds of flights were cancelled from Toronto's Pearson Airport. Hundreds of car accidents resulted from the storm. One person died.
[edit] Quebec
A wintry mix of precipitation fell across southern Quebec.[2]
[edit] See Also
- 2004 Christmas Eve Snowstorm that struck the Gulf coast and East coast
- Extratropical cyclone
- Snowstorm
[edit] References
- ^ Stanley A. Changnon and David Changnon. The Pre-Christmas 2004 Snowstorm Disaster in the Ohio Valley. Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
- ^ CBC News. Ontario storm causes travel havoc. Retrieved on 2006-12-02.
