At the start of spring 2016, a major winter storm moved through the High Plains and Midwest, bringing blizzard conditions with snowfall of up to 12–18 inches (30–46 cm) and strong winds as well. Snowstorms like this are typical in these areas at this time of year. The system also brought with it a severe weather threat as well. As it moved to the east, a crippling ice storm scenario was developing as well.
Late March 2016 North American blizzard
NOAA satellite image of the winter storm moving across the Midwest on March 23.
On March 21, an area of low pressure moved ashore on the West Coast, with a limited amount of moisture available. Because of this precipitation was originally isolated. As it moved westward on March 22 it started to intensify and as such snowfall began to become widespread. The storm also began to transition into an extratropical cyclone, achieving a peak of 989 millibars (29.2 inHg) two times on March 23.[2] Blizzard warnings were issued for areas around Denver due to the strong winds accompanying the system along with snowfall. Parts of Interstate 80 were shut down due to the extreme winter weather conditions[3] Ahead of its cold front, thunderstorms began to fire up, prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch. A squall line later developed out of this as more storms began to fire up and move eastwards, with the severe weather threat shifting more to the east towards the East Coast.[4]
The massive system continued to trek to the east, as it began to push more into Canada, rather than the United States. An icing threat was also imminent as well. Some areas in Michigan recorded up to 0.5–0.75 inches (13–19 mm) of ice on March 24.[3] Part of Ontario were also impacted with significant freezing rain leading to significant ice accretion, the hardest hit area was that of Fergus, Ontario where there was roughly 1.4 inches (35 mm) of ice accretion. More ice accumulations were possible in New England, where freezing rain advisories were put into effect through March 25. The storm then started to rapidly weaken as it continued to move to the east, moved offshore late on March 25, then finally dissipated on March 26 while situated off Saint Pierre and Miquelon,[1] however, its remaining cold front lingered across the South while transitioning into a stationary front, which flared up thunderstorm activity for the Easter weekend.
Impactedit
Snowfall totalsedit
The following list below are snowfall totals at or above 12 inches (30 cm).
^ ab"Winter Storm Selene a High Plains Blizzard; Heavy Snow Spreading to Upper Midwest (FORECAST)". March 23, 2016. Retrieved March 23, 2016.
^"Tornado Watch Issued as Severe Thunderstorms Target South, Ohio Valley Into Thursday Night (FORECAST)". March 24, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2016.
^"Winter Storm Selene Spreads Snow, Ice Through Northern New England After Hammering High Plains, Upper Midwest (FORECAST)". weather.com. March 25, 2016. Retrieved March 25, 2016.
October 28, 2023
late, march, 2016, north, american, blizzard, start, spring, 2016, major, winter, storm, moved, through, high, plains, midwest, bringing, blizzard, conditions, with, snowfall, inches, strong, winds, well, snowstorms, like, this, typical, these, areas, this, ti. At the start of spring 2016 a major winter storm moved through the High Plains and Midwest bringing blizzard conditions with snowfall of up to 12 18 inches 30 46 cm and strong winds as well Snowstorms like this are typical in these areas at this time of year The system also brought with it a severe weather threat as well As it moved to the east a crippling ice storm scenario was developing as well Late March 2016 North American blizzardNOAA satellite image of the winter storm moving across the Midwest on March 23 TypeExtratropical cycloneWinter stormIce stormBlizzardFormedMarch 21 2016 2016 03 21 DissipatedMarch 26 2016 2016 03 26 1 Lowest pressure989 mb 29 21 inHg Maximum snowfallor ice accretion32 5 in 83 cm near Kittredge ColoradoFatalities2 fatalitiesPower outages200 000 Areas affectedHigh Plains Central United States New EnglandPart of the 2015 16 North American winter Contents 1 Meteorological history 2 Impact 2 1 Snowfall totals 3 ReferencesMeteorological history edit nbsp Weather Prediction Center WPC graphic showing the track of the low pressure associated with the stormOn March 21 an area of low pressure moved ashore on the West Coast with a limited amount of moisture available Because of this precipitation was originally isolated As it moved westward on March 22 it started to intensify and as such snowfall began to become widespread The storm also began to transition into an extratropical cyclone achieving a peak of 989 millibars 29 2 inHg two times on March 23 2 Blizzard warnings were issued for areas around Denver due to the strong winds accompanying the system along with snowfall Parts of Interstate 80 were shut down due to the extreme winter weather conditions 3 Ahead of its cold front thunderstorms began to fire up prompting the National Weather Service to issue a tornado watch A squall line later developed out of this as more storms began to fire up and move eastwards with the severe weather threat shifting more to the east towards the East Coast 4 The massive system continued to trek to the east as it began to push more into Canada rather than the United States An icing threat was also imminent as well Some areas in Michigan recorded up to 0 5 0 75 inches 13 19 mm of ice on March 24 3 Part of Ontario were also impacted with significant freezing rain leading to significant ice accretion the hardest hit area was that of Fergus Ontario where there was roughly 1 4 inches 35 mm of ice accretion More ice accumulations were possible in New England where freezing rain advisories were put into effect through March 25 The storm then started to rapidly weaken as it continued to move to the east moved offshore late on March 25 then finally dissipated on March 26 while situated off Saint Pierre and Miquelon 1 however its remaining cold front lingered across the South while transitioning into a stationary front which flared up thunderstorm activity for the Easter weekend Impact editSnowfall totals edit The following list below are snowfall totals at or above 12 inches 30 cm Source 5 Amount City location State32 5 inches 83 cm Kittredge CO21 inches 53 cm Near Cheyenne WY18 inches 46 cm Tower MI17 inches 43 cm NNE of Sioux City IA16 inches 41 cm Sierra at Tahoe Ski Resort CA16 inches 41 cm Near Wakefield NE15 inches 38 cm Sugarbowl Ski Area CA14 3 inches 36 cm Dakota Dunes SD14 1 inches 36 cm Cheyenne WY13 2 inches 34 cm Near Princeton WI13 inches 33 cm West of Red Lodge MO12 inches 30 cm Apple Valley MN12 inches 30 cm Goodview MN12 inches 30 cm Savage MN12 inches 30 cm Wabasha MNReferences edit a b WPC Surface Analysis Archive WPC Surface Analysis Archive a b Winter Storm Selene a High Plains Blizzard Heavy Snow Spreading to Upper Midwest FORECAST March 23 2016 Retrieved March 23 2016 Tornado Watch Issued as Severe Thunderstorms Target South Ohio Valley Into Thursday Night FORECAST March 24 2016 Retrieved March 24 2016 Winter Storm Selene Spreads Snow Ice Through Northern New England After Hammering High Plains Upper Midwest FORECAST weather com March 25 2016 Retrieved March 25 2016 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Late March 2016 North American blizzard amp oldid 1146400360, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
