If early indications are a precursor of things to come, it will be a snowy winter for a large portion of the country. During October, warmer-than-average temperatures resulted in a lack of large-scale snow events throughout most of the nation. That all changed in November, when a crippling cold front gripped the upper half of the U.S. While many communities saw their share of snow, most of the attention went to Buffalo, which endured a lake-effect storm that buried the city in a record-setting seven feet of snow.
According to accuweather.com, numerous other communities could soon share in Buffalo’s troubles. The online weather resource predicts that cold air and high snow amounts will define the season, thanks to a reappearance of the polar vortex, which led to record-shattering temperatures and high snow totals last year. As the large, powerful high pressure system delivers a huge blast of arctic air, countless cities will feel the effect.
Throughout parts of the mid-Atlantic and Northeast, for instance, record snowfall is expected. Farther south, snow events and ice storms should also threaten the southern plains and Tennessee Valley. Higher-than-normal snow totals are also forecasted west of the I-95 corridor; however, the northern plains are expected to see below-normal snowfall, along with inconsistent, back-and-forth temperatures. While the south is expected to escape the deluge of snow, accuweather.com predicts the region will see a wet winter, with at least some severe weather encroaching on Florida.
Expected to arrive in mid-January to early-February, this severe weather isn’t expected to be as persistent as last season. That said, when it does hit, experts predict it will set new snowfall records in several states, including those that aren’t necessarily accustomed to dealing with large amounts of frozen precipitation.
Make sure that your home is prepared to handle any severe weather event, which can cripple municipal operations, damage plumbing, and affect water supplies. A Pelican water filter can help ensure that your family has access to cleaner, healthier water.
Current Snowfall Averages by State (Including D.C.)
- 25 inches – Vermont / Population: 625,741
- 28 inches – Maine / Population: 1,328,361
- 44 inches – New Hampshire / Population: 1,316,470
- 30 inches – Colorado / Population: 5,029,196
- 46 inches – Alaska / Population: 710,231
- 66 inches – Michigan / Population: 9,883,640
- 32 inches – New York / Population: 19,378,102
- 05 inches – Massachusetts / Population: 6,547,629
- 00 inches – Wyoming / Population: 563,626
- 79 inches – Wisconsin / Population: 5,686,986
- 43 inches – Minnesota / Population: 5,303,925
- 99 inches – Utah / Population: 2,763,885
- 85 inches – Rhode Island / Population: 1,052,567
- 85 inches – Connecticut / Population: 3,574,097
- 43 inches – South Dakota / Population: 814,180
- 28 inches – Montana / Population: 989,415
- 00 inches – North Dakota / Population: 672,591
- 49 inches – Idaho / Population: 1,567,582
- 84 inches – Pennsylvania / Population: 12,702,379
- 27 inches – Iowa / Population: 3,046,355
- 12 inches – Nebraska / Population: 1,826,341
- 63 inches – Ohio / Population: 11,536,504
- 13 inches – West Virginia / Population: 1,852,994
- 73 inches – New Jersey / Population: 8,791,894
- 74 inches – New Mexico / Population: 2,059,179
- 93 inches – Indiana / Population: 6,483,802
- 75 inches – Illinois / Population: 12,830,632
- 61 inches – Maryland / Population: 5,773,552
- 83 inches – Nevada / Population: 2,700,551
- 61 inches – District of Columbia / Population: 601,723
- 94 inches – Delaware / Population: 897,934
- 57 inches – Washington / Population: 6,724,540
- 42 inches – Kansas / Population: 2,853,118
- 85 inches – Virginia / Population: 8,001,024
- 67 inches – Missouri / Population: 5,988,927
- 91 inches – Oregon / Population: 3,831,074
- 83 inches – Kentucky / Population: 4,339,367
- 88 inches – Oklahoma / Population: 3,751,351
- 03 inches – North Carolina / Population: 9,535,483
- 76 inches – Arizona / Population: 6,392,017
- 61 inches – Tennessee / Population: 6,346,105
- 04 inches – Arkansas / Population: 2,915,918
- 76 inches – California / Population: 37,253,956
- 50 inches – South Carolina / Population: 4,625,364
- 36 inches – Texas / Population: 25,145,561
- 76 inches – Georgia / Population: 9,687,653
- 71 inches – Mississippi / Population: 2,967,297
- 57 inches – Alabama / Population: 4,779,736
- 20 inches – Louisiana / Population: 4,533,372
- 01 inches – Florida / Population: 18,801,310
- 00 inches – Hawaii / Population: 1,360,301