January 25–27, 2011 North American blizzard
Encyclopedia
The January 25–27, 2011 North American blizzard was a major Mid-Atlantic
nor'easter
and winter storm, and a New England
blizzard
that affected portions of the northeastern
United States and Canada. This storm came just two weeks after a previous major blizzard had already affected most of these same areas earlier on the same month of January 2011
. The storm also comes just one month later from the previous major blizzard that affected the entire area after Christmas in December 2010
. This storm was the third significant snowstorm to affect the region thus far in the 2010-2011 winter season.
by January 27, where snowfall rates were at 3 to 4 inches an hour. Portions of Southern New Jersey saw variable snow amounts. Atlantic City saw about 3 inches of snow and Cape May reported about 2.5". All across the cental portoin of the state from Westfield Township
to Freehold
reported snowfall amounts in the ranges of 21-26 inches.
in wake of the storm. As a result for the ninth time in the city's history, all public schools were closed. All area airports were also closed. Airports re-opened later in the afternoon of January 27. All non-emergency city government offices were closed as well. After the additional snowfall, this made January 2011 the snowiest January on record for New York City. The storm also caused two deaths. A 64-year old woman was struck and killed by a snow plow on January 25. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
declared a city-wide weather emergency early on the 25th, which resulted in the closing of schools and government buildings as well as temporary closures of all of the area's Airports.
There were more than three dozen accidents during the morning of the 26th. This included an ambulance on its way to a hospital with a patient in West Nantmeal Township (Chester County). No injuries were reported. SEPTA regional transportation reported service disruptions along with systemwide delays. Philadelphia International Airport had 41 morning flights cancelled and had average delays of three hours. With the first surge of snow on the morning of the 26th, many school districts made last minute decisions to either close or have delayed openings. Many closed early that afternoon. Even Saint Joseph's University and West Chester University closed. Conditions though became worse when the second punch of heavier snow came through on the evening of the 26th. Snowfall rates reached 2 to 4 inches per hour. In Philadelphia, the emergency 311 hot line had four times the normal rate of calls. Many vehicles and buses were stuck in the snow. Some SEPTA bus drivers were stranded up to twelve hours. SEPTA still had service suspended on about one third of its routes on the 28th.
About 1,500 travelers were stranded overnight on the 26th at Philadelphia International Airport. Schools and courts were closed on the 27th. Schools were also closed on the 28th. In the northwest suburbs, numerous crashes were reported in Berks, Chester and Montgomery Counties on Pennsylvania State Routes 100 and 29 as well as U.S. Routes 202 and 422. In West Pottsgrove (Montgomery County), a 45-year-old man was injured after his vehicle slid down an embankment on Westbound U.S. Route 422 and rolled over. In Northampton County, westbound Interstate 78 was closed for three hours overnight on the 26th between Pennsylvania State Routes 412 and 309 because of disabled commercial vehicles. The weight of the snow also downed some trees in the southeast part of the state, but power outages remained isolated. The continued onslaught of winter weather was causing numerous municipalities to exhaust their snow removal budgets. The city of Philadelphia estimated the clean-up costs from the latest winter storm was at least 6 million dollars.
Residents throughout the Philadelphia area reported thundersnow
, a rare meteorological phenomenon in which thunder and lightning occur concurrently with the falling snow. Chester County
received over 20 inches of snow. In Berks County
most residents received around 13-14 inches of snow.
, were stuck for up to fourteen hours, and many abandoned their vehicles on the roadway.
A 77-year-old pedestrian in Pasadena
, Maryland was killed when he was struck by a snow plow.
Mid-Atlantic
Mid-Atlantic can refer to:*Mid-Atlantic English, a mix between British English and American English*Mid-Atlantic Region , one of the United States geographic divisions of the Little League World Series...
nor'easter
Nor'easter
A nor'easter is a type of macro-scale storm along the East Coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada, so named because the storm travels to the northeast from the south and the winds come from the northeast, especially in the coastal areas of the Northeastern United States and Atlantic Canada...
and winter storm, and a New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
blizzard
Blizzard
A blizzard is a severe snowstorm characterized by strong winds. By definition, the difference between blizzard and a snowstorm is the strength of the wind. To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of with blowing or drifting snow which reduces visibility to 400 meters or ¼ mile or...
that affected portions of the northeastern
Northeastern United States
The Northeastern United States is a region of the United States as defined by the United States Census Bureau.-Composition:The region comprises nine states: the New England states of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont; and the Mid-Atlantic states of New...
United States and Canada. This storm came just two weeks after a previous major blizzard had already affected most of these same areas earlier on the same month of January 2011
January 2011 North American blizzard
January 2011 North American blizzard can refer to:*January 8–13, 2011 North American blizzard*January 25–27, 2011 North American blizzard...
. The storm also comes just one month later from the previous major blizzard that affected the entire area after Christmas in December 2010
December 2010 North American blizzard
The December 2010 North American blizzard was a major nor'easter and historic blizzard affecting the United States from portions of northern Florida to Maine and portions of Canada on December 26–27, 2010. It was the first significant winter storm of the 2010-11 winter season and the fourth North...
. This storm was the third significant snowstorm to affect the region thus far in the 2010-2011 winter season.
Impact
New Jersey
Near 20 inches were reported on the ground at Newark, New JerseyNewark, New Jersey
Newark is the largest city in the American state of New Jersey, and the seat of Essex County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Newark had a population of 277,140, maintaining its status as the largest municipality in New Jersey. It is the 68th largest city in the U.S...
by January 27, where snowfall rates were at 3 to 4 inches an hour. Portions of Southern New Jersey saw variable snow amounts. Atlantic City saw about 3 inches of snow and Cape May reported about 2.5". All across the cental portoin of the state from Westfield Township
Westfield, New Jersey
Westfield is a town in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 30,316. The old village area, now the downtown district, was settled in 1720 as part of the Elizabethtown Tract....
to Freehold
Freehold Township, New Jersey
Freehold Township is a Township in Monmouth County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 36,184. Freehold Township was first formed on October 31, 1693, and was incorporated as a township by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on February 21,...
reported snowfall amounts in the ranges of 21-26 inches.
New York
At least 19 inches of snow accumulated in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in wake of the storm. As a result for the ninth time in the city's history, all public schools were closed. All area airports were also closed. Airports re-opened later in the afternoon of January 27. All non-emergency city government offices were closed as well. After the additional snowfall, this made January 2011 the snowiest January on record for New York City. The storm also caused two deaths. A 64-year old woman was struck and killed by a snow plow on January 25. New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg
Michael Bloomberg
Michael Rubens Bloomberg is the current Mayor of New York City. With a net worth of $19.5 billion in 2011, he is also the 12th-richest person in the United States...
declared a city-wide weather emergency early on the 25th, which resulted in the closing of schools and government buildings as well as temporary closures of all of the area's Airports.
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia received almost 15 inches of snow after the storm ended. The one-two punch hit the local Philadelphia the hardest. Many municipalities declared snow emergencies.There were more than three dozen accidents during the morning of the 26th. This included an ambulance on its way to a hospital with a patient in West Nantmeal Township (Chester County). No injuries were reported. SEPTA regional transportation reported service disruptions along with systemwide delays. Philadelphia International Airport had 41 morning flights cancelled and had average delays of three hours. With the first surge of snow on the morning of the 26th, many school districts made last minute decisions to either close or have delayed openings. Many closed early that afternoon. Even Saint Joseph's University and West Chester University closed. Conditions though became worse when the second punch of heavier snow came through on the evening of the 26th. Snowfall rates reached 2 to 4 inches per hour. In Philadelphia, the emergency 311 hot line had four times the normal rate of calls. Many vehicles and buses were stuck in the snow. Some SEPTA bus drivers were stranded up to twelve hours. SEPTA still had service suspended on about one third of its routes on the 28th.
About 1,500 travelers were stranded overnight on the 26th at Philadelphia International Airport. Schools and courts were closed on the 27th. Schools were also closed on the 28th. In the northwest suburbs, numerous crashes were reported in Berks, Chester and Montgomery Counties on Pennsylvania State Routes 100 and 29 as well as U.S. Routes 202 and 422. In West Pottsgrove (Montgomery County), a 45-year-old man was injured after his vehicle slid down an embankment on Westbound U.S. Route 422 and rolled over. In Northampton County, westbound Interstate 78 was closed for three hours overnight on the 26th between Pennsylvania State Routes 412 and 309 because of disabled commercial vehicles. The weight of the snow also downed some trees in the southeast part of the state, but power outages remained isolated. The continued onslaught of winter weather was causing numerous municipalities to exhaust their snow removal budgets. The city of Philadelphia estimated the clean-up costs from the latest winter storm was at least 6 million dollars.
Residents throughout the Philadelphia area reported thundersnow
Thundersnow
Thundersnow, also known as a winter thunderstorm or a thunder snowstorm, is a relatively rare kind of thunderstorm with snow falling as the primary precipitation instead of rain. It typically falls in regions of strong upward motion within the cold sector of an extratropical cyclone...
, a rare meteorological phenomenon in which thunder and lightning occur concurrently with the falling snow. Chester County
Chester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
received over 20 inches of snow. In Berks County
Berks County, Pennsylvania
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 373,638 people, 141,570 households, and 98,532 families residing in the county. The population density was 435 people per square mile . There were 150,222 housing units at an average density of 175 per square mile...
most residents received around 13-14 inches of snow.
Washington, D.C.
Washington D.C. received 5 to 10 inches of heavy, wet snow. As many as 650,000 people lost power as a result of the blizzard. Commutes across the region were difficult the afternoon of the storm, with many people spending four to eight hours in traffic on the way home; some, on the George Washington Memorial ParkwayGeorge Washington Memorial Parkway
The George Washington Memorial Parkway, known to local motorists simply as the "G.W. Parkway", is a parkway maintained by the U.S. National Park Service. It is located mostly in Northern Virginia, although a short section northwest of the Arlington Memorial Bridge passes over Columbia Island,...
, were stuck for up to fourteen hours, and many abandoned their vehicles on the roadway.
A 77-year-old pedestrian in Pasadena
Pasadena, Maryland
Pasadena is a census-designated place in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, United States. The population was 12,093 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pasadena is located at ....
, Maryland was killed when he was struck by a snow plow.
See also
- January 8–13, 2011 North American blizzardJanuary 8–13, 2011 North American blizzardThe January 8–13, 2011 North American Blizzard was a major Mid-Atlantic nor'easter and winter storm, and a New England blizzard. The storm also affected portions of the Southeastern regions of the United States. This storm came just two weeks after a previous major blizzard severely affected most...
- December 2010 North American blizzardDecember 2010 North American blizzardThe December 2010 North American blizzard was a major nor'easter and historic blizzard affecting the United States from portions of northern Florida to Maine and portions of Canada on December 26–27, 2010. It was the first significant winter storm of the 2010-11 winter season and the fourth North...