Snowstorm Dimensions Across the Central and Eastern United States

• Published in: Physical geography 2007-05, Vol.28 (3), p.218-232
• Main Authors: Changnon, David, Changnon, Stanley A.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Atmospheric moisture. Precipitations; Bgi / Prodig; Climatology; Physical geography; snowfall; snowstorms; United States
• ISSN: 0272-3646; 1930-0557
• DOI: 10.2747/0272-3646.28.3.218

A comprehensive study of the 2,305 snowstorms occurring east of the U.S. Rockies during 1950-2000 was performed. The average size of the snowstorms was 107,380 km 2 with a maximum one-storm value of 1,185,600 km 2 . Most were elliptical shaped and the average length was 568 km and average width was 171 km. The single-storm maximum length was 3,712 km and maximum width was 1,216 km. Snowstorms had three general shapes: elliptical (1,335 storms), irregular (750), and circular (220). Orientation of the major axis of most storms ranged from Southwest/Northeast to West/East. Three regions, the Northeast, the upper Midwest, and the central Great Plains, had the highest incidence of snowstorms. The Rockies and Appalachians influenced the occurrence of 43% of all snowstorms, while 33% of all storms were influenced by the Great Lakes. Fifteen percent of all snowstorms had a maximum point snowfall amount of 50 cm or more. Storm size was found to explain 74% of the variability in the magnitude of snowstorm-related property losses. There was great year-to-year variability in the annual number of snowstorms during the 51-year period. The maximum snowstorm frequency occurred in the 1970s. These snowstorm characteristics can be incorporated into design and planning scenarios as well as operational decisions by those in insurance, transportation, construction, and governmental organizations impacted by such storms.