The 2011 Groundhog Day blizzard [3] [4] [5] was a powerful and historic winter storm that affected large swaths of the United States and Canada from January 31 to February 2, 2011, especially on Groundhog Day. Below is an article that was written in February 2011 providing additional context on the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard and how it stacked up to other historic winter storms that had impacted the Chicago area in prior decades. Chicago’s Top Four Snowstorms – Which Was the Worst? Jim Allsopp and Richard Castro, Feb 2011 Scientific Analysis of the January 31 - February 2, 2011 Blizzard . Snowfall Totals . On January 31st, a strong shortwave began to round the base of the western United States trough inducing the development of low pressure near northern Mexico. Pieces of this shortwave energy raced quickly northeast over the Upper Mississippi Valley. The Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011, which crippled Chicago for more than a day, was also nicknamed by some as “Snowpocalypse” or “Snowmageddon” because of its surreal ability to put Groundhog Day Blizzard, 2011. During the overnight hours of Feb 1 to Feb 2, a powerful low pressure center passing south of Wisconsin produced blizzard conditions across much of southern Wisconsin. Snow associated with the system began in the mid-afternoon hours in far southern Wisconsin and pushed northward into the state through the evening. The Groundhog Day blizzard of 2011 was a large blizzard that struck parts of Canada, Mexico, and the United States between 31 January 2011 and 2 February 2011. The blizzard was also called the 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard because it happened close to Groundhog Day. The storm dumped over 14 inches (36 cm) of snow from Oklahoma City to Chicago and On Jan. 31, 2011 – a decade ago Sunday – the snow began in a blizzard that did not let up for 40 hours. Some called it Snowmageddon. Others called it the Groundhog Day Blizzard – as it came The snow was coming down at such a furious rate that hundreds of cars were stranded -- and 25,000 calls flooded 911 lines in just 24 hours. NWS Chicago Groundhog Day Blizzard Summary Infrared (IR) satellite loop NWS Watch, Warning, and Advisory Map from the morning of February 1, 2011, showing how widespread the impacts were from this powerful winter storm A very large and strong winter storm hit the central and northeastern U.S. and southern Canada between February 1 st and 3 rd and was dubbed the 'Groundhog’s Day Blizzard of 2011'. Impacts were also felt from New Mexico northward to Wisconsin and eastward into Maine. 2011 Groundhog Day blizzard • Duration: January 31–February 2, 2011 • Lowest pressure: 996 mb (29.41 inHg) • Fatalities: 36 confirmed • Damage: $1.8 billion (2011 USD) Seasonal statistics; Total storms (Cat. 1+) 10: Maximum snowfall accumulation: 40.5 in (103 cm) at Savoy, Massachusetts: Maximum ice accretion The Groundhog Day Blizzard, as it was officially named, was immortalized with eerie overhead photographs of hundreds of abandoned vehicles, including mighty CTA articulated buses, helplessly Groundhog Day Blizzard 2011: How timing, conditions led to travel nightmare. The Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011 was seen coming several days in advance, but still nobody expected it to have quite A collection of monthly summaries recapping climate-related occurrences on both a global and national scale The blizzard of 2011 — better known by its monikers “Snowmageddon” and the “Groundhog Day Blizzard” — is the city’s third-largest winter storm on the books. Snow fell again and again and again for 40 hours over three days as a cruelly obvious sign that a certain rodent hadn’t seen its shadow. The last time the snowpack was this deep was 10 years ago during the Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011.Subscribe to WISN on YouTube now for more: That made it the third heaviest blizzard in Chicago history, outdone only by the infamous blizzard on Jan. 26-27, 1967, when 23 inches fell, and the blizzard of Jan. 1-3, 1999, which brought 21.6 The Groundhog Day Blizzard of 2011 clobbered southern Wisconsin from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 of that year, officially delivering 18.7 inches of snow to Madison. At the time, it tied for the second most snow in a 72-hour period in Madison history. A large winter storm impacted many central, eastern and northeastern states. The city of Chicago was brought to a virtual standstill as up to 2 feet of snow fell in the area. The blizzard caused insured losses greater than $1 billion, with total losses greater than $1.8 billion. At least 36 deaths are attributed to this sprawling storm.
Articles and news, personal stories, interviews with experts.
Photos from events, contest for the best costume, videos from master classes.