 Satellite image of the blizzard near peak intensity at 06:45Z (1:45 a.m. EST) on January 27, 2015. | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Winter storm Nor'easter Blizzard |
|---|---|
| Formed | January 23, 2015 |
| Dissipated | January 31, 2015 |
| Highest winds |
|
| Highest gust | 153 km/h (95 mph)[1] |
| Lowest pressure | 970 mb (28.64 inHg) |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 36.0 in (91 cm) in Lunenburg, Milford, Auburn, and Hudson, and Maynard, Massachusetts |
| Fatalities | 3 total |
| Damage | $500 million (2015 USD)[2] |
| Areas affected | Pacific Northwest, Central United States, Eastern United States, Atlantic Canada, Southern Greenland, Portugal, Spain, France |
Part of the 2014–15 North American winter | |
The January 2015 North American blizzard was a powerful and severe blizzard that dumped up to 3 feet (910 mm) of snowfall in parts of New England. Originating from a disturbance just off the coast of the Northwestern United States on January 23, it initially produced a light swath of snow as it traveled southeastwards into the Midwest as an Alberta clipper on January 24–25. It gradually weakened as it moved eastwards towards the Atlantic Ocean, however, a new dominant low formed off the East Coast of the United States late on January 26, and rapidly deepened as it moved northeastwards towards southeastern New England, producing pronounced blizzard conditions. The nor’easter then gradually weakened as it moved away into Canada. The storm was also given unofficial names, such as Blizzard of 2015, and Winter Storm Juno.
The nor'easter disrupted transportation, with snow emergencies declared in six states and travel bans enacted in four of these states – Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island – as well as in New York City. Most passenger rail service was suspended, and thousands of flights were cancelled.[3][4] Schools and activities saw weather-related cancellations for one or more days.
Before the blizzard struck, meteorologists had been anticipating that the impending storm would be "historic" and "record-breaking", with predictions of snowfall accumulations in major metropolitan areas such as New York City of up to 2–3 feet (24–36 in). However, the predictions fell significantly short of what was anticipated, mainly due to a shift of the storm's track, which cut down on the amount of snowfall. In the aftermath of the storm, citizens criticized the local government for shutting down the subway system in New York City for the storm.
- ^ "Winter Storm Juno Hammering New England". The Weather Channel. January 26, 2015. Retrieved January 27, 2015.
- ^ Global Catastrophe Recap - January 2015, Aon, February 2015
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