New Year's Eve 1963 snowstorm
Encyclopedia
The New Year's Eve 1963 snowstorm was a significant winter storm
occurring from December 31, 1963 to January 1, 1964 over most of the Southern United States
. The storm began when a surface low-pressure system moved northward through the eastern Gulf of Mexico
and up the fall line
east of the Appalachians, leading to a snow
storm from the central Gulf coast northward into Tennessee
. Three people perished during the storm, and travel was severely restricted for a couple days following the snowfall. The strong winds accompanied by heavy snow fall set historic new snowfall records in Alabama
.
closed off as it approached the central United States Gulf of Mexico
coastline. A surface cyclone
formed in the Yucatán Peninsula
of Mexico, slowly deepening as it moved north-northeast across the eastern Gulf. Cold air was residing across the Deep South in advance of this system, and as the surface cyclone tracked across northern Florida, heavy snowfall fell in its comma head from the Mouth of the Mississippi River
northeast through Mississippi
and Alabama into Tennessee, where the snow persisted into January 1. The cyclone ultimately moved along the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada
, moving out into the far north Atlantic as a strengthening storm.
Southeast Louisiana saw 4 inches (10.2 cm) to 8 inches (20.3 cm), mainly east of the Mississippi river, with New Orleans, Louisiana
measuring 4.5 inches (11.4 cm). Damages totalled at least US$50,000 (1963 dollars). A stripe of 15 inches (38.1 cm) to 17 inches (43.2 cm) of snow fell across portions of Mississippi, northwest Alabama, and into Tennessee, with lesser amounts falling on either side of this axis. In Mississippi, Meridian saw 15 inches while Bay St. Louis saw a 10.5 inch snowfall. Tree branches and power lines were downed as over a foot of snow fell in a band across eastern Mississippi
. Three people lost their lives in traffic accidents relating to the storm. Damage totalled at least US$50,000. Across Alabama, Huntsville recorded 17.1 inches (43.4 cm) of snow, setting a new record for daily, weekly, and monthly snowfall. It was the worst snow storm for the area since 1899. Meridian saw 15 inches (38.1 cm) while Bay St. Louis saw a 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) snowfall. Mobile, Alabama
measured 2 inches (5.1 cm) of snow. Many roads and highways were impassable for two to three days after the snow fell. Damage totaled at least US$550,000 (1963 dollars).
Across Tennessee, central and eastern sections of the state recorded over 6 inches (15.2 cm) of snow, with up to 16 inches in south-central Tennessee at Lawrenceburg. Power and telephone lines were downed. Several boats were sunk at their docks when a shed covering them collapsed under the weight of the snow. Damage totaled more than US$50,000. Farther north across Pennsylvania on January 1, 3 inches (7.6 cm) fell at Millersville.
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...
occurring from December 31, 1963 to January 1, 1964 over most of the Southern United States
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
. The storm began when a surface low-pressure system moved northward through the eastern Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
and up the fall line
Fall line
A fall line is a geomorphologic unconformity between an upland region of relatively hard crystalline basement rock and a coastal plain of softer sedimentary rock. A fall line is typically prominent when crossed by a river, for there will often be rapids or waterfalls...
east of the Appalachians, leading to a snow
Snow
Snow is a form of precipitation within the Earth's atmosphere in the form of crystalline water ice, consisting of a multitude of snowflakes that fall from clouds. Since snow is composed of small ice particles, it is a granular material. It has an open and therefore soft structure, unless packed by...
storm from the central Gulf coast northward into Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
. Three people perished during the storm, and travel was severely restricted for a couple days following the snowfall. The strong winds accompanied by heavy snow fall set historic new snowfall records in Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
Synoptic history
A shortwave in the southern stream of the WesterliesWesterlies
The Westerlies, anti-trades, or Prevailing Westerlies, are the prevailing winds in the middle latitudes between 30 and 60 degrees latitude, blowing from the high pressure area in the horse latitudes towards the poles. These prevailing winds blow from the west to the east, and steer extratropical...
closed off as it approached the central United States Gulf of Mexico
Gulf of Mexico
The Gulf of Mexico is a partially landlocked ocean basin largely surrounded by the North American continent and the island of Cuba. It is bounded on the northeast, north and northwest by the Gulf Coast of the United States, on the southwest and south by Mexico, and on the southeast by Cuba. In...
coastline. A surface cyclone
Cyclone
In meteorology, a cyclone is an area of closed, circular fluid motion rotating in the same direction as the Earth. This is usually characterized by inward spiraling winds that rotate anticlockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere of the Earth. Most large-scale...
formed in the Yucatán Peninsula
Yucatán Peninsula
The Yucatán Peninsula, in southeastern Mexico, separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico, with the northern coastline on the Yucatán Channel...
of Mexico, slowly deepening as it moved north-northeast across the eastern Gulf. Cold air was residing across the Deep South in advance of this system, and as the surface cyclone tracked across northern Florida, heavy snowfall fell in its comma head from the Mouth of the Mississippi River
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the largest river system in North America. Flowing entirely in the United States, this river rises in western Minnesota and meanders slowly southwards for to the Mississippi River Delta at the Gulf of Mexico. With its many tributaries, the Mississippi's watershed drains...
northeast through Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Alabama into Tennessee, where the snow persisted into January 1. The cyclone ultimately moved along the east coast of the United States and Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada
Atlantic Canada is the region of Canada comprising the four provinces located on the Atlantic coast, excluding Quebec: the three Maritime provinces – New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia – and Newfoundland and Labrador...
, moving out into the far north Atlantic as a strengthening storm.
Effects
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
measuring 4.5 inches (11.4 cm). Damages totalled at least US$50,000 (1963 dollars). A stripe of 15 inches (38.1 cm) to 17 inches (43.2 cm) of snow fell across portions of Mississippi, northwest Alabama, and into Tennessee, with lesser amounts falling on either side of this axis. In Mississippi, Meridian saw 15 inches while Bay St. Louis saw a 10.5 inch snowfall. Tree branches and power lines were downed as over a foot of snow fell in a band across eastern Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. Three people lost their lives in traffic accidents relating to the storm. Damage totalled at least US$50,000. Across Alabama, Huntsville recorded 17.1 inches (43.4 cm) of snow, setting a new record for daily, weekly, and monthly snowfall. It was the worst snow storm for the area since 1899. Meridian saw 15 inches (38.1 cm) while Bay St. Louis saw a 10.5 inches (26.7 cm) snowfall. Mobile, Alabama
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
measured 2 inches (5.1 cm) of snow. Many roads and highways were impassable for two to three days after the snow fell. Damage totaled at least US$550,000 (1963 dollars).
Across Tennessee, central and eastern sections of the state recorded over 6 inches (15.2 cm) of snow, with up to 16 inches in south-central Tennessee at Lawrenceburg. Power and telephone lines were downed. Several boats were sunk at their docks when a shed covering them collapsed under the weight of the snow. Damage totaled more than US$50,000. Farther north across Pennsylvania on January 1, 3 inches (7.6 cm) fell at Millersville.