The Carolina Crusher was one of the most powerful winter storms on record in parts of North Carolina, USA. The storm impacted the Greater Richmond Region on January 25th, 2000, causing thousands of power outages and leaving of snow in Richmond, Virginia, and at Raleigh-Durham International Airport before moving out into the Atlantic Ocean.

Meteorological history The storm began forming during a mild winter with below-average snowfall across much of the East Coast. Snow first started falling on Wednesday, January 19th, the major storm portion began on Friday, January 21st, 2000.

Initially, computer models suggested that an area of low-pressure would develop and, after getting energy from another low-pressure system in Canada, track up the East Coast. But over the weekend, some computer models no longer showed a strong storm. By Monday, January 24th, forecasters called only for "snow flurries" and "up to an inch of accumulation on the ground."

Some meteorologists considered classifying the event as part of the Big Storm, which was occurring in Canada at the time. The North American storm's low-pressure system originated over the northern Great Lakes, then entered over Appalachia where it strengthened considerably. Following this, it went into the North again to collide with the warm front that was approaching.

Progression of the storm A dip in the jet stream had created a trough, which caused rain in northern Florida and snow in Georgia. By the morning of the 24th, the storm was located in the northeastern Gulf of Mexico near Apalachicola, Florida. By the evening of the 24th, it was rapidly intensifying against the South Carolina coast. By Tuesday, January 25th, it was near Hatteras, North Carolina. The storm moved northeastward along the Atlantic Seaboard. Later in the day, it was located 80 miles east of Long Beach Island, New Jersey. It then began to weaken and by the morning of the 26th, it was located just east of Portland, Maine. The storm was poorly forecast because of other simultaneous storm events and the awkward buildup of two low-pressure systems.

Impact of the storm Progress throughout the northern territories, including Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New Jersey, was significantly more damaging due to high winds, wet snow, sleet, and freezing rain. Snowfall rates of around 2 inches per hour were common during the first hours of this storm. Businesses, schools, airports, malls, and government offices were closed on January 25th due to weather.

In Pennsylvania, this was the most significant winter storm since the Blizzard of 1996. Most municipalities declared the standard snow emergencies where accidents, traffic hazards, and power outages occur. About 2,000 homes and businesses lost power, mainly in the Philadelphia area.

For Delaware, the change from wet snow to heavy, dry snow helped cut down on the amount of damage.

In addition to heavy snow, New Jersey also experienced wind gusts as strong as 60 mph along the shore, moderate coastal flooding, and drifts as high as 4 feet. The storm's intensity was lighter during the late morning and afternoon hours before strengthening again in the evening. The winter storm caused numerous accidents around the region.

In the southwestern territories, the wind was not as severe as in the north. In Richmond, Virginia, the snow fell as sleet then immediately turned into dry snow. The power outages came late the following week due to the rise in temperatures, with the snow already on the ground becoming wet snow.

Charlotte, North Carolina received almost a foot of snow in a 12 hour period. Raleigh, North Carolina and Annapolis, Maryland both had 20-24 inches, while Washington, D.C. had 14 inches. Areas that had less snowfall include Boston, Massachusetts and New York City, New York which both had 5 inches.

Loss and damages Raleigh and other areas of North Carolina were shut down for many days due to large amounts of snow remaining and poor road conditions.

There were at least three confirmed deaths from heart attacks shoveling snow in Pennsylvania. In Maryland, the National Weather Service reported at least eight deaths.

Total accumulations

Pennsylvania and Delaware

+ County Location AmountMonroe CountySaylorsburg Long Pond Bossardsville East Stroudsburg Scotia Pocono Summit Northampton County Williams Township Bath Lehigh CountyAllentown Lehigh Valley Airport Berks CountyBlue Marsh Lake Morgantown Vinemont Kutztown Lincoln Park Chester CountyKennett Square West Barlborough Township Downingtown West Chester Coatesville Honey Brook Glenmoore Montgomery County Willow Grove Wynnewood Norristown King Prussia Pottstown Bucks County Chalfont Furlong Doylestown Springtown Langhorne Delaware County Springfield Philadelphia International Airport New Castle County New Castle County Airport Kent County Woodside Dover Milford Viola Sussex County Georgetown Seaford Lewes Laurel Rehoboth Beach

New Jersey

+ County Location Amount Sussex County High Point Culver Lake Wantage Sparta Sussex Warren County Phillipsburg Allamuchy Morris County Oak Ridge Long Valley Whippany Rockaway Madison Hunterdon County White House Station Califon Flemington Wertsville Somerset County Neshanic Pottersville Branchburg Somerville Middlesex County New Brunswick Woodbridge Mormouth County Ocean Grove Manasquan Howell Union Beach Mercer County Washington's Crossing Princeton Hightstown Burlington County Moorestown Lumberton Marlton Mount Laurel Bordentown Ocean County Brick Brant Beach Jackson Camden County Gloucester City Somerdale Pennsauken Cherry Hill Gloucester County Sewell Mullica Hill Swedesboro Salem County Deepwater Cumberland County Seabrook Millville Vineland Atlantic County Pomona Estell Manor Atlantic City International Airport Cape May County North Wildwood Cape May City Cape May Courthouse North Carolina

+ Location Amount Gastonia and New Bern Jacksonville Salisbury and Wilmington Winston-Salem Rocky Mount and Tarboro Kannapolis Charlotte, Greensboro, and Smithfield Carrboro Asheboro Sanford, Chapel Hill, and Fayetteville Durham Monroe Raleigh

The Outer Banks received rain with the system and the mountains did not receive any precipitation.

Sources

References

External links Record Snow Blankets the Region January 25, 2000 Winter Storm