January 2017 North American ice storm

The January 2017 North American ice storm was a major ice storm that impacted the Great Plains, Pacific Northwest, and American Midwest. During the storm, multiple U.S. states declared states of emergency, and icy road conditions caused traffic incidents and fatalities. It was Named Winter Storm Jupiter by the weather channel.[2] An outbreak of 11 tornadoes also struck Texas, injuring two.[3]

January 2017 North American ice storm
The storm system over the United States as viewed by GOES-16 on January 15, 2017
TypeExtratropical cyclone
Winter storm
Ice storm
Tornado outbreak
FormedJanuary 10, 2017
DissipatedJanuary 17, 2017
Lowest pressure1006 mb (29.71 inHg)
Tornadoes
confirmed		11
Max. rating1EF2 tornado
Maximum snowfall
or ice accretion		Snow – 29.5 inches (75 cm) at Red Mountain Pass, Colorado[1]
Ice – 1.00 inch (2.5 cm) in Beaver, Oklahoma
Fatalities9 fatalities
Areas affectedPacific Northwest, Southwestern United States, Midwestern United States, Great Plains

1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale

Meteorological history

In mid-January, an unusual surge of atmospheric moisture surged into northwestern Mexico associated with an upper-level low near California.[4][5] This moisture began to move into the High Plains and Central United States by the jet stream ahead of the low late on January 13, and, with below-freezing temperatures at the surface in much of Oklahoma, northern Texas, and Kansas, freezing rain began to explode into existence.[6][5] The frozen precipitation continued to blossom as the day progressed.[7] The low began to inject the aforementioned moisture into the state of Texas and Oklahoma as it slowly moved east-northeastwards across the Baja California peninsula and across the northern Gulf of California throughout the day on January 14. Meanwhile, icy conditions continued in much of the Central United States.

By late on January 14, a surface low developed east of the upper-low as it moved swiftly towards the United States–Mexico border.[8][9] The surface low, while intensifying, as a result of interaction with the incoming moisture, developed a squall line of thunderstorms along its cold front, as it and the upper-low emerged into the Southwestern United States.[10] The entire storm system continued to push northeastwards through the state of Texas on January 15. In advance of the squall line that was moving rapidly to the east, scattered supercell thunderstorms popped up, and at one point during the nighttime hours, a tornado warning had to be issued for the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, a rare occurrence.

Preparations and impact

Oregon
Snow covered car in Portland, Oregon

The storm impacted Portland, Oregon on January 10, 2017. Blizzard conditions caused Interstate 84 to close between Troutdale, Oregon and Hood River, Oregon.[11] Governor Kate Brown declared a state of emergency in Oregon, and the mayor Ted Wheeler declared a state of emergency for the city of Portland, Oregon on January 11.[12] Downtown Portland received 11 inches of snow in a 12-hour period, making it the largest snowstorm for the city in twenty years.[13] Crater Lake National Park temporarily closed due to the snow, as well as an avalanche caused by the storm.[14]

California

On January 13, 2017, the storm caused snowfall in the mountains near San Diego.[15]

Missouri

On January 13, 2017, the storm covered Missouri with freezing rain, causing hazardous driving conditions and scattered power outages. Lambert Airport canceled most of its flights due to the ice.[16] Missouri Governor Eric Greitens declared a state of emergency and called up the Missouri National Guard.[17] The Missouri Department of Transportation reported that it responded to about 100 crashes on January 13, 2017. A woman from Crystal City, Missouri died while driving in on an ice-covered bridge.[18] The start time of a National Football League divisional playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers in Kansas City, Missouri on January 15 was changed from 12:05 p.m. CST to 7:20 p.m. CST due to the weather forecast.[19]

On January 14, two more traffic fatalities were attributed to the effects of the storm. One man from Ravenwood, Missouri slid off the road while another man died in a pileup.[20]

Kansas

The National Weather Service issued a winter storm watch for southern Kansas on January 11, 2017.[21] In Dodge City, where 1 inch (2.5 cm) of ice accumulated, so many downed trees blocked roads that school buses could not run on January 18.[22][23] The Kansas National Guard helped stranded motorists and provided emergency transportation on January 13, 2017. On January 14, the storm caused a pileup of 20 vehicles, causing two injuries.[24] The Victory Electric Cooperative Association reported 5,800 power outages on January 15, of which 1,175 outages remained on January 18.[25]

Nebraska and Iowa

The National Weather Service issued ice storm warnings on January 14, 2017 for southeastern Nebraska and southern Iowa. Residents in these areas were urged stay indoors during the storm and to prepare by buying food, water, and fuel.[26]

Icy conditions contributed to a fiery crash between two semitrailer trucks on Interstate 80 near Kearney, Nebraska on January 15, and no injuries were reported.[27] The University of Nebraska–Lincoln canceled classes on January 17 due to the road conditions.[28] Since 2016 was an abnormally dry year for Nebraska, some local farmers appreciated the moisture from the storm.[29]

On January 15, the storm left 1⁄3 inch (0.85 cm) of ice on some parts of Iowa, and hundreds of crews were sent to clear the roads.[30]

Oklahoma

On January 12, 2017, Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin declared a state of emergency. The next day, some schools and government offices were closed for the storm.[18] Many Oklahoma residents responded to these warnings by buying groceries and generators.[16] An accident in Weatherford, Oklahoma on January 14 left at least one person dead. Road conditions stranded several vehicles in Oologah, Oklahoma, and Interstate 40 was closed due to multiple accidents.[20]

Texas
See also: List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2017 § January 15 event, and List of United States tornadoes from January to March 2017 § January 16 event
FU EF0 EF1 EF2 EF3 EF4 EF5
0 6 3 2 0 0 0

On January 15–16, the ice storm impacted Texas, creating severe storms and tornadoes in South Clifton and in the counties Bosque and Hill.[1] In the end, 11 tornadoes were confirmed.[31] After a January 15 NFL game between the Dallas Cowboys and Green Bay Packers at the AT&T Stadium, a tornado warning caused thousands to stay in the stadium until weather conditions improved.[32]

See also

References
  1. Rice, Doyle (January 16, 2017). "Deadly ice storm, tornadoes lash central U.S." USA TODAY. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  2. Chaney, Eric; Carr, Ada (January 13, 2017). "Missouri Woman Dies on Icy Interstate: Winter Storm Jupiter Knocks Out Power, Glazes Roads in Plains, Midwest". The Weather Channel. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  3. "Tornado History Project: Texas in January 2017". Archived from the original on 2020-06-28. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  4. "WPC Surface Analysis". Weather Prediction Center. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  5. "Storm Summary Number 1 for Central Plains to Midwest Ice Storm". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  6. "WPC Surface Analysis". Weather Prediction Center. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  7. "WPC Surface Analysis". Weather Prediction Center. January 14, 2017. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  8. "Storm Summary Number 5 for Central Plains to Midwest Ice Storm". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  9. "WPC Surface Analysis". Weather Prediction Center. January 15, 2017.
  10. "Storm Summary Number 8 for Central Plains to Midwest Ice Storm". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  11. "Here we snow again: Another winter storm hits NW Oregon, SW Washington". KATU. January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  12. "Governor Brown, Mayor Wheeler declare emergency after snow storm". KGW. January 12, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  13. Dean, S.; Loikith, P. C. (2017). "Winter Storm Jupiter of January 2017: Meteorological Drivers, Synoptic Evolution, and Climate Change Considerations in Portland, Oregon". AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts. 2017: A53C–2261. Bibcode:2017AGUFM.A53C2261D.
  14. Crater Lake National Park closed by avalanche and heavy snowfall, KGW, January 10, 2017
  15. "January Winter Storm Brings Snow to San Diego's Mountains". NBC 7 San Diego. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  16. "St. Louis' airport reports dozens of flights canceled as winter storm hits southern Plains". CBS News. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  17. Clancy, Sam (January 12, 2017). "Greitens declares state of emergency for winter storm". KSDK. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  18. "One dead as ice storm targets central United States". Reuters. January 13, 2017. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  19. Bergman, Jeremy (January 13, 2017). "Steelers-Chiefs start time changed due to forecast". NFL.com. Retrieved January 14, 2017.
  20. Phillips, Ryan; Chaney, Eric; Carr, Ada (January 14, 2017). "Weather". The Weather Channel. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  21. Finger, Stan (January 11, 2017). "Ice storm could cripple parts of Kansas this weekend; winter storm watch issued". The Wichita Eagle. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  22. Latzke, Jennifer M. (January 18, 2017). "Winter Storm Jupiter downs trees, power lines in Oklahoma and Kansas". High Plains Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  23. Wu, Lily (January 17, 2017). "Cleanup begins in Dodge City following ice storm". KAKE. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  24. Helsel, Phil (January 15, 2017). "Four Dead in Ice Storm Wrecks; Kansas and Missouri Brace for Another Round". NBC News. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  25. Latzke, Jennifer M. (January 18, 2017). "Winter Storm Jupiter downs trees, power lines in Oklahoma and Kansas". High Plains Journal. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
  26. "Nebraska, Iowa prepare ahead of predicted ice storm". KWWL. January 14, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  27. "Crash involving two semi trailers on the I-80 near Odessa". NTV News. January 15, 2017. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  28. McKenith, DaVonté (January 16, 2017). "UNL classes canceled Tuesday; personnel to report". KETV. Retrieved February 6, 2017.
  29. Juarez, Valerie (17 January 2017). "Farmers in Central Nebraska Grateful for Ice Storm". KHGI. Retrieved February 7, 2017.
  30. Leland, Michael (January 16, 2017). "Ice Storm Leaves Roads Slick, but No Major Problems Reported". Iowa Public Radio. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
  31. "Tornado History Project: January, 2017". Archived from the original on 2020-06-27. Retrieved 2020-06-25.
  32. Bieler, Des (January 16, 2017). "Tornado warning keeps Cowboy fans stuck at AT&T Stadium after Packers game". Washington Post. Retrieved January 17, 2017.
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