TheFebruary 2022 North American winter storm was a widespread, damaging, and severewinter storm which affected a wide swath of much of theUnited States with widespread wintry precipitation; it spread fromTexas northeast toMaine.[2][3][4] Nineteen states in the U.S. were impacted by the system; more than 90 million people were in the storm's path.[5] The winter storm was namedWinter Storm Landon byThe Weather Channel and was also referred to by other media outlets as theGroundhog Snowstorm, primarily due to the storm impacting onGroundhog Day.[6][7]
The storm spread a widespread swath of heavysnowfall stretching from Texas to Maine, with anywhere from 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) falling. It also caused many disruptions as well, with over 375,000 people losing power as a result of the storm and many accidents occurring on snowy roadways as well. 7 deaths were attributed to the winter storm's impacts. Fivetornadoes also occurred within the warm sector of the storm inAlabama on February 3; three of them were rated EF2.
Over much of the Midwest, temperatures were unseasonably mild on February 1 as a strong cold front moved southward over the region. Rain began to fall in the early afternoon over the Central Midwest, and temperatures began to drop as the front draped southward. During the early evening, an upper-level low began to form along the front and interacted with a jet streak producing lift. As the temperatures on the backside of the front cooled and fell below freezing, the rain quickly turned to snow and thanks to the lift, made perfect conditions for lots of snow with rates receiving 1" an hour in some places. The winds also picked up to 30–35 mph causing many cases of blowing and drifting snow. This snow continued through the night with areas along and south ofI-70 in Missouri and Indiana receiving more of a wintry mix and rain.[8]
During the night and morning of February 2, a second upper-level low began to form over Texas. Snow accumulations occurred in areas west ofI-35 while areas east received freezing rain and sleet. This system also began to advance northeastward along the cold front. Meanwhile, the first system also continued northeast and by the late-morning moved out of the Western Midwest and by the afternoon moved out of the rest of the area and into the northeast. But during the night, the second system moved back over the same area as the first bringing yet another round of snow to many of the same regions while areas in Arkansas and along the Ohio River Valley received heavy freezing rain and sleet.[9][10]
The energy from the two systems began to merge over the northeast during the morning on Thursday, February 3. By this time the system had become so large that precipitation associated with the system was falling over nearly half of all the US states, from Texas to Maine, but with the bulk of it still over Texas and Arkansas. During the late morning this would shift to over the Ohio River Valley while snow began to become heavier in the northeast and moisture being pulled northward by the system would cause a small severe weather outbreak over Alabama. The storm continued to move northeast and by that night was over mainly the Northeast. Snow would continue through the day on Friday, February 4 before the bulk of the storm moved offshore in the early afternoon.[10] It would reach a minimum pressure of 1,004 mb (29.6 inHg) around this time as well.[citation needed]
More than 600 flights were canceled to Northeastern U.S. airports on Wednesday in preparation of the winter storm.[25] Cities includingBurlington,Boston, andProvidence issuedsnow emergencies due to the upcoming winter storm.[36] Due to forecasted amounts of 7–13 in (18–33 cm) of snow, numerous schools inWestern New York closed.[37]
As much as 37 inches (94 cm) of snow was reported inTaos Ski Valley, New Mexico.[42] At least 3 people were killed in New Mexico, 1 was killed in a weather–related pileup onI-40 inBernalillo County, New Mexico, and 2 were killed when their car rolled 100 feet (30 m) down a mountain nearCedar Crest. An additional non–fatal tractor–trailer accident closedI-25 nearSanta Fe.[43][44]
The severe weather outlook produced by the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) on February 3, 2022.
The warm side of the storm, inAlabama, had temperatures of nearly 70 °F (21 °C), an ingredient in forming powerful tornadoes.[56] On the morning of February 3, theStorm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a slight risk for tornadoes for portions of Mississippi and Alabama. The storm system spawned a supercell that produced three EF2 tornadoes in Western Alabama, the second of which struck areas nearSawyerville and caused significant high-end EF2 damage. One person was killed and eight others were injured, including three seriously. Two additional tornadoes, both rated EF0, impactedElmore County as well, resulting in minimal damage.[57] TheNational Weather Service issued aparticularly dangerous situation on the tornado warning for Sawyerville.[58] The tornado damaged 60 homes and destroyed 20 others.[59]
In Missouri,I-70,I-44, andI-72 were all covered with snow and ice. In Illinois, a stretch ofI-55 was closed due to motor accidents reported in the area,[26] and parts ofI-74 andI-57 also closed in Illinois.[60] InLewistown, Illinois, at least 14.4 inches (36.6 cm) of snow fell.[39] Snow also resulted in theVeterans Airport of Southern Illinois completely closing down during the storm.[61] Snow accumulated as high as 17 inches (44 cm) was reported inColumbia City, Indiana.[42] A "weather-related" fatality occurred inTennessee on February 4.[62] There were also over 85,000 power outages inOhio.[63]Milwaukee, Wisconsin was “blitzed” by small amounts of snow andMadison, Wisconsin was also briefly affected.[64] As far down asKansas saw snow and ice, specifically in theKansas City andTopeka areas.Lansing, Michigan saw its record highest snow, with 13.3 inches (34 cm).[65] More snow was dropped inNebraska, though it got less snow than neighboring Kansas, with the most snow inOmaha with 2 inches (5.1 cm).[65]
After the winter storm exited to sea, SouthernNova Scotia saw small amounts of snow before the winter storm began moving northeast into the sea towardGreenland.[71]
Greenland was briefly affected by the winter storm, though no major damage was reported due to the system dissipating a few hours later.[72] Similar to Greenland, the remnants of the winter storm dropped snow inIceland.[72]
One home was shifted off its foundation with some of its walls collapsed, and numerous trees were downed. This was the first EF2 tornado produced by the western Alabama supercell.[73]
1 death – Trees were downed at EF0 intensity along the beginning of the tornado's path in Greene County near the town ofForkland, some of which fell onto homes. The tornado then crossed into Hale County and intensified as it downed hundreds of trees and damaged or destroyed several manufactured homes, including an unoccupied dwelling that rolled over and landed upside-down on top of a car. After the weakening slightly, the tornado reintensified as it approached and crossedSR 14 north ofSawyerville. Several homes were damaged and a double-wide manufactured home was destroyed, causing several injuries. A fish truck was overturned with its load of fish scattered across the road and two pick-up trucks were thrown into a nearby pond. The tornado reached its peak intensity of high-end EF2 to the northeast as it tore a double-wide manufactured home from its anchors and tossed it approximately 50 yards (46 m) across a road, obliterating it. The one fatality from this tornado occurred here, along with two serious injuries. A home across the street sustained significant roof damage and had many windows blown out, and a manufactured home just to the south was split in half with one of the halves rolling away. Mainly tree damage occurred beyond this point before the tornado dissipated shortly after crossingSR 69. Eight people were injured in total. This was the second EF2 tornado produced by the western Alabama supercell.[74]
The third EF2 tornado produced by the western Alabama supercell moved through theTalladega National Forest, snapping or uprooting countless large trees. A home also sustained shingle damage and sheet metal was removed from the roof of a barn.[75]
This brief tornado lofted the roof of one outbuilding and blew metal paneling off of another. One house lost shingles and another was damaged by a fallen tree. Several other trees were uprooted as well.[77]
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