2007 — Nov 30-Dec 1, Winter Storms, especially the Midwest, also Northeast –>16-19

—  19  Changnon / Kunkel. Major Winter Storms in the Midwest during Winter 2006-2007, 4.[1]

—>16  Assoc. Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007.

–>16  Wikipedia. “Early December 2007 North American winter storm.” 12-9-2013 update.

–>11  The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast…” 12-3-2007, p. 1.

—>10  Fox News/Associated Press. “Deadly Winter Storm Slams Northeast.” 12-2-2007.

—    7  AP/Fox News. “Midwest Storm Cancels Hundreds of Flights, Kills 7.” 12-2-2007.

— > 3  Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10.

 

Colorado        (1)

— 1  Van slides off icy interstate, hits fence near Wellington.[2]

 

Illinois             (1)

— 1  The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast…” 12-3-2007, p. 6.

— 1  13-year-old girl killed in two-car collision.[3]

 

Indiana           (1)

— 1 Purdue Univ. ice hockey team van rolls, ice-slick road 20 miles SW of West Lafayette.[4]

 

Michigan        (4)

— 4  Assoc. Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007.[5]

— 4  The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast…” 12-3-2007, p. 6.

 

New Jersey     (2)

— 2  Assoc. Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007.[6]

 

New York       (1)

— 1  Associated Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007.

— 1  WCAX.com. “Storm Claims Life.” 12-4-2007.[7]

 

North Dakota (1)

— 1  The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast…” 12-3-2007, p. 6.

 

Ohio                (2)

— 2  Associated Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007.

 

Wisconsin       (3)

— 3  Three separate traffic accidents with fatalities “blamed on the weather.”[8]

— 3  The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast…” 12-3-2007, p. 6.

— 1  Jeep hits semitrailer on icy road north of Madison, male dies.[9]

 

Changnon and Kunkel:  “A very powerful early winter storm produced significant snowfall and ice across much of the Midwest on November 30-December 1. More than 6 inches of snow fell along a 1,000-mile path from central Oklahoma to northern Michigan, with accumulations of sleet and freezing rain in excess of 2 inches in large portions of Illinois and Missouri.

 

“This monstrous storm ushered in winter 2006-2007. The storm began in the southern Plains on November 30 and swept across the Midwest during the 30th and December 1, the start of climatological winter. It caused numerous deaths and near record damages in many locales….

 

“Snowfalls of 6 inches or more fell in less than 24 hours, a threshold long recognized as leading to major problems (Changnon et al., 2006).[10] The area of 6 inches or more extended from central Oklahoma to the Northeast, crossing southeastern Kansas, central Missouri, half of Illinois, eastern Iowa, southeastern Wisconsin, and northern Michigan…much of Missouri and Illinois had snowfall of 10 inches or more, with several locales receiving 14 inches or more. Some small areas had 16 inches or more including 18 inches in central Missouri and in west-central Illinois.

 

“In addition, freezing rain occurred over a large area in and parallel to the snow region. Ice layers of 0.25 inch or more were common in much of Oklahoma, Missouri, and Illinois….Much of this bad ice area also had snowfall of 2-6 inches as the ice storm ended. (pp. 4-5)

 

“Three major factors influenced the magnitude and characteristics of this storm event. First, the combination of the cold Arctic air mass from southwestern Canada into the western United States and very mild air in the eastern United States provided potential energy for development of a strong storm system. Second, given the path of surface low pressure from Texas into the Midwest, winds on the eastern side of the low-pressure center were directly off the Gulf of Mexico, providing abundant moisture to the system. Third, the congruence of the path of the low-pressure system just east of the slow-moving freeze line provided many hours of freezing precipitation.” (p. 7.)

 

“Dimensions and intensity of the 2006 storm were assessed using results from all snowstorms during 1949-2006, a 58-year period with 2,305 storms (Changnon, 2007[11]).” (p. 9.)

 

“Comparison of the 2006 storm values with the averages reveals the 2006 storm was longer, wider, and much larger than average. It was 3.5 times bigger than the average of 41,300 square miles, but smaller than the largest storm during 1949-2006. Storm size (152,600 square miles) was compared with sizes of past storms. The 2006 storm was the 93rd largest on record and, thus, in the top 4 percent of all snowstorms since 1948.

 

“The 2006 snowstorm also was evaluated based on how heavy snow areas rated statistically against amounts from snowstorms expected to occur at 5- and 10-year frequencies (Changnon, 2006)[12]. Snowfall amounts of 10-14 inches, once in 10-year events, occurred from Oklahoma to northern Illinois…over 50,260 square miles. Snowfall amounts rated as once in 5-year (and less than 10-year) events covered 43,400 square miles. This included the area of 6 inches or more in south-central Oklahoma, and areas of 6-10 inches along the storm’s axis into northeastern Illinois. Thus, storm amounts matched 5- and 10-year frequencies and covered 93,660 square miles, 61 percent of the total snowfall area. Other moderate to heavy snow areas in Wisconsin and Michigan were amounts that occur more frequently than once in 5 years….” (p. 10.)

 

“The storm led to 19 deaths and more than a thousand injuries. Excessive damages to buildings and vehicles and resulting financial losses exceeded $900 million.” (p. 11.)

 

“There were 106,000 loss claims from the 2006 storm, a very high number (Kerney, 2006). The nation has experienced 202 catastrophic winter storms since 1948 (Changnon and Changnon, 2006)[13]. The average property loss per storm was $147 million, and the highest loss was $1.8 billion. Hence, 2006 storm property losses of $300 million were double the average. Assessment also showed that 25 of the 202 past catastrophic storms had insured property losses greater than $300 million, indicating that the 2006 storm losses ranked in the top 13 percent of all catastrophic storms.

 

“The 19 deaths (15 in vehicle accidents and 4 from shoveling snow) were three times the average based on past catastrophic winter storms. Such a magnitude of deaths was uncommon for the more sizable past catastrophic winter storms. Most injuries in 2006 came from falls and traffic accidents. Numerous cases of hypothermia and frostbite occurred during six days after the storm.

The storm and ensuing 6-day period of 21°F average temperatures, all much below normal, affected several sectors. Included were power and telephone systems, transportation, retail sales, property, the environment, and local, state, and federal governments.

 

“The large storm area with thick ice layers, coupled with moderate to heavy snow, produced extensive losses of power and telephone lines from broken wires due to broken poles and falling tree branches…By December 2, 2.4 million customers were without power. Repairs were slowed greatly by thick ice layers, very slick surfaces, and continuing cold temperatures that kept the ice from melting. Power outages still affected 510,000 customers in Missouri and Illinois on December 3, and 350,000 customers were still without power on December 4…including 42,000 customers in Decatur, Illinois. Reports showed that 65,000 customers were without power as late as December 7, six days after the storm ended. Repair costs for power and telephone companies in the eight-state snowstorm area were $177 million. The slow recovery raised government concerns, and Illinois and Missouri launched investigations of the how power companies handled repairs.” (p. 11.)

 

“Other government actions included use of National Guard troops in Missouri and Illinois. Troops were sent to individual houses in power outage areas to assess the needs of local residents. Governors of three states declared portions of their states as major disaster areas, thus qualifying for federal aid. This included 49 counties in Illinois, 52 counties in Missouri, and 27 counties in Kansas. Costs of snow and ice removal and various snow-ice damage repairs by local and state government agencies totaled $65 million, including $15 million in Illinois. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provided $33 million for the local and state recovery and repair efforts.

 

“As would be expected, the sizable storm had major transportation impacts. Many roads and highways, including several interstate highways, were closed for 1-5 days after the storm, and many rural areas were isolated with no transportation…Truck movement was delayed and halted in several areas. Chicago, Kansas City, and St. Louis, the three major rail hubs in the nation, were hit by the storm, and busy rail lines between them were in the axis of the storm. Rail-yards were closed, delaying or altogether halting trains for 1-2 days. Amtrak passenger trains between Chicago and St. Louis were halted until December 4. Railroad losses plus the costs to remove snow and ice totaled $74 million. Airports were closed from 12 hours up to 3 days at several locations, including the busy airports in Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Louis. Losses from hundreds of cancelled flights amounted to $145 million. Added costs for travelers stranded at airports and train stations for unexpected meals and hotel costs were an estimated $4 million.” (p. 13.)

 

“Summary.  Sizable death totals and $924 million in losses and costs rank this storm as one of worst U.S. winter storms in the past 51 years. Storm dimensions were much above average but not quite at record-setting levels.

 

• Storm size was in the top 4 percent of all past snowstorms, 3.5 times the average size.
• Snowfalls reached or exceeded 5- or 10-year frequencies in 61 percent of the storm area.
• Ice storm area was 2.3 times the average size and in the top 23 percent of all past ice storms.
• Insured property losses of $300 million were double the winter catastrophe average, the 26th

highest loss in the 202 winter catastrophes since 1948.” (p. 14.)

 

Dec 2: “Des Moines, Iowa – Snow and ice plastered a wide area of the Midwest on Saturday [Dec 1], interrupting campaigning by presidential hopefuls, disrupting ‘ airport and highway traffic and killing at least three people.

 

“The National Weather Service posted winter storm and ice warnings across parts of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the eastern Dakotas, Illinois and northern Michigan, although some warnings were lifted by midday.

 

“Much of Iowa was hit by snow, sleet and freezing rain. Temperatures warmed to above freezing by evening, helping to melt away much of the ice and sleet that had accumulated, said Ken Podrazik, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Des Moines.

 

“Hundreds of flights were canceled at airports in Des Moines, Chicago and Milwaukee. Officials decided to close Des Moines International Airport for several hours after a United Airlines plane slid off a taxiway as it was heading to a runway for a flight to Chicago’s O’Hare, said airport spokesman Roy Criss. He said none of the 44 passengers was injured, and the airport reopened by midafternoon.

 

“At Dane County Regional Airport in Madison, Wis., an incoming Mesa Airlines regional jet flying for United Express slid off the pavement after failing to make a turn onto a taxiway, but no injuries were reported among the 25 passengers, said United Airlines spokesman Jeff Vick.

 

“The storm also complicated plans for some presidential hopefuls drumming up support for the Jan. 3 caucuses that kick off the nomination process. Republican Mitt Romney canceled three campaign stops planned Saturday in southern Iowa, and former President Clinton canceled a rally for his wife, US. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, scheduled Saturday afternoon outside Des Moines.

 

“Heavy ice accumulations on power lines blacked out more than 14,000 customers scattered around Iowa, said representatives for Alliant Energy and MidAmerican Energy. Thousands more were without power near Galesburg, Ill., Ameren spokesman Leigh Morris said.

 

“In Indiana, a van carrying Purdue University’s ice hockey team rolled over on an ice-slickened highway about 20 miles southwest of West Lafayette, killing one team member and injuring seven others, school officials said.

 

A man died when his Jeep hit a semitrailer on a highway north of Madison, Wis., authorities said. Vehicles had been slowing after another semitrailer tipped on its side as the driver tried to exit the highway.

 

“On an icy interstate near Wellington, Colo., a van slid off the road, rolled and struck a fence. One passenger was thrown from the vehicle and died, while the driver and two other passengers

were injured, police said.” (Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10.)

 

Dec 3, Valerie Bauman, Associated Press:  “Albany, N.Y. (AP) — Drivers in the Northeast faced a treacherous commute Monday as a storm blamed for at least 11 deaths blanketed the region with snow, sleet and freezing rain after glazing roads in the Midwest. The National Weather Service said a foot of snow was possible in the mountains of northern New England, with the potential for 20 inches in northern Maine. Upstate New York’s central Adirondacks and Lake George region could see 12 inches of snow….

 

“”Compared to what’s happening in the Midwest, we’ve kind of got it easy right now,” said Joe Orlando, a spokesman for the [NJ Turnpike] authority. The storm dumped snow and ice from the Plains across the Upper Midwest on Saturday. Minnesota’s Grand Marais, on Lake Superior’s North Shore, got 20 inches of snow, and the port city of Duluth marked a Dec. 1 record of 10.3 inches, according to the weather service….

 

“Before the storm hit the Plains and Midwest, it dumped about 3 feet of snow in one mountain area in western Colorado. Silverton Mountain ski resort workers had hoped to open for the season Sunday but postponed the opening a day because of the storm.

 

“The weather was blamed for four deaths in Michigan, three in Wisconsin, and one each in Illinois, Indiana, North Dakota and Colorado.” (The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast, glazing roads.” 12-3-2007, pp. 1 and 6.)

 

Sources

 

Associated Press. “Fatal storm spreads ice, snow across Northeast.” NBC News, 12-4-2007. Accessed 12-30-2013 at: http://www.nbcnews.com/id/22054673/#.UsG9UvulrOs

 

Associated Press/Fox News. “Midwest Storm Cancels Hundreds of Flights, Kills 7.” 12-2-2007. At: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/12/02/midwest-storm-cancels-hundreds-flights-kills-7/

 

Changnon, Stanley A. and Kenneth E. Kunkel. Major Winter Storms in the Midwest during Winter 2006-2007 (Data/Case Study 2007-04). Champaign, IL: Illinois State Water Survey, Illinois Dept. of Natural Resources and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Oct 2007. Accessed 12-29-2013 at: http://www.isws.illinois.edu/pubdoc/dcs/iswsdcs2007-04.pdf

 

Fox News/Associated Press. “Deadly Winter Storm Slams Northeast.” 12-2-2007. Accessed 12-30-2013 at: http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/12/02/deadly-winter-storm-slams-northeast/

 

Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=161816818&sterm=winter+storm

 

The Progress, Clearfield, PA. “Winter storm barrels into Northeast, glazing roads.” 12-3-2007, p. 1. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=151409980&sterm=winter+storm

 

Wikipedia. “Early December 2007 North American winter storm.” 12-9-2013 update. Accessed 12-29-2013:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Early_December_2007_North_American_winter_storm

 

 

 

 

 

 

[1] Authors do not indicate where the fatalities occurred. Their focus, however, is on the U.S. Midwest, thus presumably this is where all the fatalities occurred. We are aware of a snow-related suffocation death in Ontario, Canada, but have no reason to think that this death is one of the 19.

[2] Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10.

[3] Associated Press/Fox News. “Midwest Storm Cancels Hundreds of Flights, Kills 7.” 12-2-2007.

[4] Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10.

[5] “Icy or wet pavement was blamed for four deaths in Michigan…”

[6] One fatality was in a “15-car pileup that also injured 28 people…”

[7] “Slippery roads are being blamed for a fatal accident in northern New York. It happened on Route 3 in Saranac. Police say 34-year-old Daryll Paquette, of Cadyville, lost control of his car and slammed into a tractor-trailer. Police say Paquette was going too fast on the snow covered roads.”

[8] Associated Press/Fox News. “Midwest Storm Cancels Hundreds of Flights, Kills 7.” 12-2-2007.

[9] Santa Fe New Mexican, NM. “Winter storm slams Midwest.” 12-2-2007, p. A10.

[10] Changnon, S.A., D. Changnon, and T.R. Karl. 2006. Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of Snowstorms in the Contiguous U.S. Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology 45: 1144-1155.

[11] Changnon, S.A. 2007. Final Report Snowstorm Project. Changnon Climatologist, Mahomet, IL.

[12] Changnon, S.A. 2006. Frequency Distributions of Heavy Snowfall from Snowstorms in the U.S. Journal of Hydroponic Engineering, ASCE, 11: 427-431.

[13] Changnon  and Changnon. 2006. Snowstorm Catastrophes in the U.S. Environmental Hazards 6: 158-166.