2009 North American Christmas winter storm

The 2009 North American Christmas blizzard was a winter storm

Winter storm

A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are formed that only occur at low temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are low enough to allow ice to form...

and severe weather

Severe weather

Severe weather phenomena are weather conditions that are hazardous to human life and property.- Examples Include :Severe weather can occur under a variety of situations, but three characteristics are generally needed: a temperature or moisture boundary, moisture, and , instability in the...

event affecting the Midwestern United States

Midwestern United States

The Midwestern United States is one of the four U.S. geographic regions defined by the United States Census Bureau, providing an official definition of the American Midwest....

, Great Plains

Great Plains

The Great Plains are a broad expanse of flat land, much of it covered in prairie, steppe and grassland, which lies west of the Mississippi River and east of the Rocky Mountains in the United States and Canada. This area covers parts of the U.S...

, Southeastern United States

Southeastern United States

The Southeastern United States, colloquially referred to as the Southeast, is the eastern portion of the Southern United States. It is one of the most populous regions in the United States of America....

, Eastern Seaboard

Eastern seaboard

An Eastern seaboard can mean any easternmost part of a continent, or its countries, states and/or cities.Eastern seaboard may also refer to:* East Coast of Australia* East Coast of the United States* Eastern Seaboard of Thailand-See also:...

and parts of Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

. The storm started on December 22, was reported to have claimed at least 21 lives, and disrupted air travel during the Christmas

Christmas

Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...

travel season. In the Southeastern

Southeastern United States

and Central United States

Central United States

The Central United States is sometimes conceived as between the Eastern United States and Western United States as part of a three-region model, roughly coincident with the Midwestern United States plus the western and central portions of the Southern United States; the term is also sometimes used...

, there were 27 reported tornadoes on December 23-24.

Snowfall

Snowfall varied across the United States. South Dakota

South Dakota

South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...

may have received the most: 30.8 inches (78.2 cm). In Minnesota

Minnesota

Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...

, 26 inches (66 cm) was received near Pequaywan Lake on the state's North Shore. Parts of Texas

Texas

Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...

recorded snowfall as high as 9 inches (22.9 cm) at Post

Post, Texas

Post is a city in and the county seat of Garza County, Texas, United States. The population was 3,708 at the 2000 census.There are many ranchers and civic boosters in Garza County, among them Giles McCrary, a former mayor who operates the OS Museum, a hybrid of exhibits from both the American West...

. Snowfall in Nebraska

Nebraska

Nebraska is a state on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States. The state's capital is Lincoln and its largest city is Omaha, on the Missouri River....

caused six deaths. In Oklahoma, a state of emergency

State of emergency

A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...

was declared after blizzard conditions killed 3 people and dropped 19 inches of snow. Iowa saw high snowfall as well.

The storm was so intense that it wrapped warm air around the north and west side of it and cold air and snow blew in from the south. Rochester, Minnesota, in the northern half of the storm, saw rain with temperatures in the mid 30's Fahrenheit while snow was falling just to the west in a 1300 miles (2,092.1 km) band stretching from Canada south to at least Dallas, Texas, giving that region its first "white Christmas

White Christmas

A white Christmas refers to the presence of snow on Christmas Day. This phenomenon is most common in the northern countries of the Northern Hemisphere...

" since 1929. Interstate 29

Interstate 29

Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...

was completely closed in North and South Dakota, and then in stretches into Missouri

Missouri

Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...

Rain

Heavy rain in parts of the Midwest prompted the National Weather Service to issue Flood Warnings

Flood

A flood is an overflow of an expanse of water that submerges land. The EU Floods directive defines a flood as a temporary covering by water of land not normally covered by water...

for many areas. The max rainfall amount recorded so far is 6.89 inches (17.5 cm) in Little Rock, Arkansas

Arkansas

Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

. Freezing rain fell across Iowa

Iowa

Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...

and Illinois

Illinois

Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...

, affecting travel to and from O'Hare International Airport

O'Hare International Airport

Chicago O'Hare International Airport , also known as O'Hare Airport, O'Hare Field, Chicago Airport, Chicago International Airport, or simply O'Hare, is a major airport located in the northwestern-most corner of Chicago, Illinois, United States, northwest of the Chicago Loop...

. The Chicago area saw as much as ten inches of snow following the freezing rain and sleet.

Tornadoes

Several houses were destroyed near Lafayette

Lafayette, Louisiana

Lafayette is a city in and the parish seat of Lafayette Parish, Louisiana, United States, on the Vermilion River. The population was 120,623 at the 2010 census...

, Louisiana

Louisiana

Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...

, possibly by a tornado. Near Longview, Texas

Longview, Texas

Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is...

a EF-2 tornado left a path of destruction nearly one mile long. Another tornado near Lufkin

Lufkin, Texas

Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:...

, Texas

Texas

produced EF-3 damage.

Confirmed tornadoes

List of reported tornadoes - Wednesday, February 18, 2009
EF# Enhanced Fujita Scale The Enhanced Fujita Scale rates the strength of tornadoes in the United States based on the damage they cause.Implemented in place of the Fujita scale introduced in 1971 by Ted Fujita, it began operational use on February 1, 2007. The scale has the same basic design as the original Fujita scale:...	Location	County	Time (UTC)	Path length	Damage
Louisiana Louisiana Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
EF0	S of Martin Martin, Louisiana Martin is a village in Red River Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 625 at the 2000 census.-History:The Reverend John Dupree organized sixteen Baptist churches in Louisiana east of the Red River. where his work began in 1862. Earlier, he had organized congregations in Georgia. He...	Red River Red River Parish, Louisiana Red River Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. Its seat is Coushatta. It was one of the newer parishes created in 1871 by the state legislature under Reconstruction...		2.76 miles (4.4 km)
EF0	S of Pleasant Hill Pleasant Hill, Louisiana Pleasant Hill is a village in Sabine Parish in western Louisiana, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the village population was 786. It is best known as the site of The Battle of Pleasant Hill, fought in April 1864.- History :...	Sabine Sabine Parish, Louisiana Sabine Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Many. In 2010, the parish's population was 24,233....		1.2 miles (1.9 km)
EF0	N of Many Many, Louisiana Many is a town in and the parish seat of Sabine Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 2,889 at the 2000 census. The town was named for John B. Many, the commander of nearby Fort Jesup.-History:...	Sabine Sabine Parish, Louisiana Sabine Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The seat of the parish is Many. In 2010, the parish's population was 24,233....		2.6 miles (4.2 km)
EF1	W of Farmerville Farmerville, Louisiana Farmerville is a town in and the parish seat of Union Parish, Louisiana, United States. The population was 3,808 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Monroe Metropolitan Statistical Area...	Union Union Parish, Louisiana Union Parish is a parish located in the U.S. state of Louisiana. The parish seat is Farmerville....		6 miles (9.7 km)
Texas Texas Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
EF0	W of Pineland Pineland, Texas Pineland is a city in Sabine County, Texas, United States. The population was 980 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Pineland is located at ....	Sabine		1.5 miles (2.4 km)
EF0	W of Fairmont	Sabine		0.5 mile (0.80467 km)
EF0	Recklaw area	Rusk Rusk County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 47,372 people, 17,364 households, and 12,727 families residing in the county. The population density was 51 people per square mile . There were 19,867 housing units at an average density of 22 per square mile...		0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
EF2	Longview Longview, Texas Longview is a city in Gregg and Harrison Counties in the U.S. state of Texas. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 80,455. Most of the city is located in Gregg County, of which it is the county seat; only a small part extends into the western part of neighboring Harrison County. It is... area	Harrison Harrison County, Texas Harrison County is a county of the U.S. state of Texas. In 2000, its population was 62,110. It is named for Jonas Harrison, a lawyer and Texas revolutionary. It is located in the Ark-La-Tex region...		7 miles (11.3 km)
EF3	Lufkin Lufkin, Texas Lufkin is a city in Angelina County, Texas, United States. Founded in 1882, the population was 35,067 in 2010. It is the county seat of Angelina County, and is situated in Deep East Texas.-History:... area	Angelina Angelina County, Texas Angelina County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas. Angelina County was formed in 1846 from Nacogdoches County. As of 2000, the population was 80,130. Its county seat is Lufkin. Angelina is named for a Hainai Native American woman who assisted early Spanish missionaries and was named...		4 miles (6.4 km)
EF0	Jacksonville Jacksonville, Texas Jacksonville is located in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 13,868 at the 2000 census. It is the principal city of the Jacksonville Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Cherokee County and part of the larger Tyler-Jacksonville Combined Statistical... area	Cherokee Cherokee County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...		2 miles (3.2 km)
EF0	NE of New Summerfield New Summerfield, Texas New Summerfield is a city in Cherokee County, Texas, United States. The population was 998 at the 2000 census.-Geography:New Summerfield is located at ....	Cherokee Cherokee County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 46,659 people, 16,651 households, and 12,105 families residing in the county. The population density was 44 people per square mile . There were 19,173 housing units at an average density of 18 per square mile...		3 miles (4.8 km)
EF1	SE of Atlanta Atlanta, Texas Atlanta is a city in Cass County, Texas, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 5,745.-Geography:Atlanta is located at .... area	Cass Cass County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 30,438 people, 12,190 households, and 8,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 13,890 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile... , Miller (AR)		4 miles (6.4 km)
EF1	S of Avinger Avinger, Texas Avinger is a town in Cass County, Texas, United States. The population was 464 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Avinger is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of , all of it land....	Cass Cass County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 30,438 people, 12,190 households, and 8,654 families residing in the county. The population density was 32 people per square mile . There were 13,890 housing units at an average density of 15 per square mile...		0.1 mile (0.160934 km)
EF2	Timpson Timpson, Texas Timpson is a city in Shelby County, Texas, United States. The population was 1,094 at the 2000 census. The community is named after T.B Timpson, a railroad engineer.- History :... area	Shelby Shelby County, Texas ArcadiaBrooklynCenterDreka HuxleyJoaquinPossum TrotShelbyville TenahaTimpsonWeaver-Education:The following school districts serve Shelby County:Center ISD*Excelsior ISD... , Panola Panola County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 22,756 people, 8,821 households, and 6,395 families residing in the county. The population density was 28 people per square mile . There were 10,524 housing units at an average density of 13 per square mile...		10 miles (16.1 km)
EF1	Garrison Garrison, Texas Garrison is a city in Nacogdoches County, Texas, United States. The population was 895 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Garrison is located at .... area	Nacogdoches Nacogdoches County, Texas As of the census of 2000, there were 59,203 people, 22,006 households, and 14,039 families residing in the county. The population density was 62 people per square mile . There were 25,051 housing units at an average density of 26 per square mile...		0.5 mile (0.80467 km)