Strong Storm System Brings Heavy Mountain Snow to the Sierra Nevada and Critical Fire Weather Conditions to the Plains

A Pacific storm system will continue to bring low elevation rain and mountain snow to much of the West through Wednesday, with heavy mountain snow expected in the higher elevations of the Sierra Nevada. This system will also bring strong winds to the Intermountain West, Rockies, and Plains, which will create Critical fire weather conditions for the High Plains. Read More >

Overview

Frigid Morning Temperatures Saturday 17 Jan 2009 The coldest morning in at least a decade occurred across the region Saturday (the 17th) morning. A record low of 13 below zero F was set at Williamsport, PA, breaking the record set in 1982 of 12 below. See the map below for other reported low/minimum temperatures that morning. Low temperatures varied greatly from urban areas to rural spots, which is not unusual on clear, calm mornings any time of year. They also varied from areas close to bodies of relatively warmer water to open land, and also from hill tops to valleys. Again, this variation was not unusual, but the near-record cold was.