January 2016 United States blizzard facts for kids
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The intensifying extratropical cyclone responsible for the blizzard over the Northeastern United States, at 2:15 a.m. EST (07:15 UTC) on January 23, 2016.
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| Type | Extratropical cyclone Nor'easter Winter storm Ice storm Blizzard |
|---|---|
| Formed | 2016 |
| Dissipated | 2016 |
| Damage | $500 million – $3 billion in economic losses |
| Power outages | 631,000+ people affected |
| Total fatalities | At least 55 fatalities |
| Areas affected | Pacific Northwest, Great Plains, South Central United States, Eastern United States (especially the Mid-Atlantic states), Atlantic Canada, British Isles, Finland |
The January 2016 United States blizzard was a severe weather event. The weather caused multiple states in the Mid-Atlantic to declare a state of emergency. The blizzard happened between January 20 and 25, 2016.
On January 20–22, the governors of eleven states and the mayor of Washington, D.C. declared a state of emergency in anticipation of significant snowfall and blizzard conditions. Approximately 103 million people were affected by the storm, with 33 million people under blizzard warnings.
More than 13,000 flights were cancelled in relation to the storm, with effects rippling internationally. Thousands of National Guardsmen were placed on standby and states deployed millions of gallons of brine and thousands of tons of road salt to lessen the storm's effect on roadways. A travel ban was instituted for New York City and Newark, New Jersey for January 23–24. The storm was given various unofficial names, including Winter Storm Jonas, Blizzard of 2016 and Snowzilla.
Two to three feet of snow fell from Virginia to New England. Snow also fell in Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee. The storm also caused tornadoes and hail from Louisiana to Florida.
Impact
The storm's widespread effects paralyzed travel across the eastern United States as it produced more than 20 in (51 cm) of snow across a large area along the Appalachian Mountains. At least 55 fatalities have been attributed to the storm and its aftermath. Throughout the affected region, more than 631,000 people lost power.
Images for kids
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The developing storm system at 9:30 p.m. EST on January 21 (02:30 UTC, January 22), over the southern United States
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Variable-message highway signs in Maryland and Virginia displayed warnings of the impending blizzard
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Forecast of expected weather conditions across the eastern United States for Saturday, January 23. Blue indicates snow, green indicates rain, and purple indicates mixed precipitation. Darker shades denote heavier precipitation.
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Cars buried in snow in suburban Washington, DC.
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Five-foot snow drifts in Reading, Pennsylvania
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Emergency services in New York City, such as the fire department (pictured), functioned during the snowstorm
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Service advisory in an unusually empty Grand Central–42nd Street station, warning that suspension of elevated subway service was imminent.
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Snowfall at the Belle Meade Plantation in Tennessee on January 22
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Aftermath of the storm in Cleveland Park, Washington D.C.
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Intense snowfall at Pershing Square, Manhattan, New York.
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Street flooding in Ocean City, New Jersey, on January 23
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Snow depth in Montgomery County, Maryland
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Partially frozen-over pond in Central Park, New York City
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Car stuck in snow on an unplowed road in Northern Virginia on January 24
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The aftermath of the blizzard in the Fairfax Villa neighborhood in Fairfax, Virginia. Unplowed streets and buried cars can be seen here.
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See also
In Spanish: Tormenta de invierno en Estados Unidos de enero de 2016 para niños
