February 15–20, 2021 North American winter storm
Category 3 winter storm and ice storm in the United States / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The February 15–20, 2021 North American winter storm, also unofficially referred to as Winter Storm Viola, was a significant and widespread snow and ice storm across much of the United States, Northern Mexico, and Southern Canada. The system started out as a winter storm on the West Coast of the United States on February 15, later moving southeast into the Southern Plains and Deep South from February 16–17. It then moved into the Appalachian Mountains and Northeastern United States, before finally moving out to sea on February 20. The storm subsequently became a powerful low pressure system over the North Atlantic, before eventually dissipating on February 26.
Meteorological history | |
---|---|
Formed | February 14, 2021 |
Exited land | February 20, 2021 |
Dissipated | February 26, 2021 |
Category 3 "Major" winter storm | |
Regional Snowfall Index: 7.50 (NOAA) | |
Highest winds | 90 mph (150 km/h) (1-minute sustained winds) |
Lowest pressure | 948 mbar (hPa); 27.99 inHg |
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snow – 24 in (61 cm) at Skamania, Washington[1] Ice – 0.7 in (18 mm) at Harrisonburg, Louisiana[2] |
Overall effects | |
Fatalities | At least 29 fatalities[3][4] |
Damage | > $2 billion (2021 USD)[5][6] |
Areas affected | Western United States, Southern Plains, Deep South, Northeastern United States, Atlantic Canada, British Isles, Iceland, Faroe Islands |
Power outages | > 4 million[7] |
Part of the 2020–21 North American winter |
The system resulted in over 170 million people being placed under winter weather alerts, stretching from the West Coast to the East Coast.[8][9] Over 4 million people lost power due to the storm, particularly in areas of the Deep South and interior Southeast.[7] The system worsened the 2021 Texas power crisis, causing additional major damage to the Texas power grid just days after another destructive winter storm came through the area and hampering recovery efforts. It also contributed to a a historic cold wave that affected most of the Central United States. In total, the winter storm resulted in at least 29 fatalities, with 23 in the United States and six in Mexico.[3][4] The system is estimated to have caused at least $2 billion (2021 USD) in damages, mainly due to blackouts and structural damage.[5][6] Excluding the winter storm a few days previous to this storm, the system was the costliest winter storm in the United States since the March 1–3, 2018 nor'easter, and the deadliest since the Blizzard of 2016.