From January 31 to February 3, 2021, a powerful, severe, and erratic nor'easter, referred to as the 2021 Groundhog Day nor'easter and unofficially named Winter Storm Orlena by the Weather Channel, impacted much of the Northeastern United States and Eastern Canada from February 1–3 with heavy snowfall, blizzard conditions, strong gusty winds, storm surge, and coastal flooding. The storm first developed as an extratropical cyclone off the West Coast of the United States on January 25, with the storm sending a powerful atmospheric river into West Coast states such as California, where very heavy rainfall, snowfall, and strong wind gusts were recorded, causing several hundred thousand power outages and numerous mudslides. The system moved ashore several days later, moving into the Midwest and dropping several inches of snow across the region. On February 1, the system developed into a nor'easter off the coast of the Northeastern U.S., bringing prolific amounts of snowfall to the region. Large metropolitan areas such as Boston and New York City saw as much as of snow accumulations from January 31 to February 2, making it the worst snowstorm to affect the megalopolis since the January 2016 blizzard.
Several states deployed snow equipment and many winter weather alerts were issued in advance of the storm, and several major cities issued snow emergencies. The state of New Jersey and the cities of New York City and Boston declared states of emergencies ahead of the storm and cancelled in-person schools for many, and dozens of flights were cancelled as well. The storm directly caused at least six deaths and indirectly caused the death of one, and is estimated to have caused over $1.85 billion (2021 USD) in damages. The nor'easter was ranked as a Category 3 winter storm on the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI) scale.
Meteorological history
In late January 2021, an extratropical cyclone developed in the Northeastern Pacific Ocean, to the south of Alaska. The system subsequently occluded and strengthened, reaching a peak intensity of at 18:00 UTC on January 26, before gradually weakening, while slowly moving southeastward. The system drew moisture northeastward from the North Central Pacific towards the West Coast of the United States in a phenomenon known as the Pineapple Express, an atmospheric river known to affect the West Coast of the United States for periods of time during the winter. The main focus of this plume of moisture was directed towards the state of California on January 26, bringing heavy amounts of rain and snow. By 15:00 UTC, the Weather Prediction Center (WPC) began issuing storm summary bulletins for the storm, as it was impacting California. On January 27, the storm began moving towards the West Coast, with the storm's trough and cold front reaching the coasts of Oregon and Northern California, channeling a large atmospheric river into California in the process, triggering a Category 2 Atmospheric River event for California (based on a scaling system devised by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography that ranks atmospheric river events from 1 to 5). The low-pressure system responsible slowly moved eastward near the coastline, prolonging impacts until it moved inland early on January 29, in a weakened state. During this time, the storm's cold front and the atmospheric river gradually moved southward, reaching Southern California by 00:00 UTC on January 29, increasing the intensity of the precipitation in the southern part of the state. The storm continued moving eastward towards the Rocky Mountains while weakening, and later on January 29, the WPC terminated storm summary bulletins for the storm over the West Coast, as impacts had generally diminished.
The remaining energy from the storm, associated with a dip in the jet stream known as a shortwave trough, moved eastward through the mountainous terrain, helping to generate a new surface low in the early morning hours of January 30, over the state of Kansas, which eventually became the dominant low. On January 30, The Weather Channel gave the storm the name Orlena, given its expected impacts. The storm slowly deepened as it moved eastward, with precipitation, initially primarily rain, blossoming over a large area as a result. Snowfall eventually broke out within the northern part of the disturbance on January 30, as it encountered colder air over the Midwest, dropping a swath of across the region. On January 31, with the forecast of the development of a new coastal low expected later that night, the WPC began issuing storm summary bulletins again at 15:00 UTC for the second phase of the winter storm. As wintry precipitation began dissipating over the Midwest and Ohio Valley while expanding into the Mid-Atlantic states, a new area of low pressure began developing over the Carolinas as energy transferred to the coast.
This new low-pressure center soon became the dominant low in the storm. Throughout the next day on February 1, the system intensified and evolved into a nor'easter off the East Coast of the United States, as it moved northeastward, with baroclinic forcing increasing, producing intense snowbands occurring as a result – snowfall rates approached an hour within the mesoscale features near the New York City metro area. Later that day, the storm stalled off the coast of New Jersey while the central pressure dropped to by 12:00 UTC on February 2. Competing centers of circulation elongated the system while it resumed its northeastward motion. By 12:00 UTC on February 3, the storm reached a secondary peak, at a minimum pressure of , as it neared Nova Scotia. Afterward, the nor'easter gradually began to weaken, as it slowly moved away from the Northeastern United States; consequently, the WPC terminated storm summary bulletins at 10:00 AM EST that day (15:00 UTC), as most of the snow had tapered off in the Mid-Atlantic. The storm became increasingly disorganized, with multiple areas of low pressure revolving around a broad center, with the storm briefly developing a tertiary low near the Gulf of Maine. Weakening continued as the nor'easter moved over Eastern Canada, with the tertiary low dissipating by 00:00 UTC on February 4. On February 4, the older low-pressure center became the dominant low in the storm once again, and the storm split in half, with the newer storm racing eastward across the North Atlantic. Over the next day, the storm moved over Newfoundland and turned eastward, while continuing to weaken, before dissipating late on February 5.
Preparations All warnings and advisories issued in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States due to the storm Winter Storm Warning Winter Storm Watch Winter Weather Advisory Coastal Flood Advisory High Wind Warning
Western United States The National Weather Service issued a Winter Storm Warning for all areas above in Nevada. Nevada Governor Steve Sisolak ordered all state offices in Northern Nevada to open 2 hours later than usual. Across California, numerous flood watches and winter weather alerts, and high wind alerts were issued, in anticipation of the coming impacts from the storm. The California Highway Patrol closed a 75-mile stretch of Interstate 80 due to multiple spinouts. A total of eight states in the Western United States had watches and warnings of various types issued ahead of the storm.
Midwest and Ohio Valley The Illinois Emergency Management Agency in Illinois urged residents to make preparations for the winter storm on January 29, and to check on neighbors to make sure they received the necessary preparations as well. The city of Chicago, Illinois and surrounding areas were placed under a Winter Storm Warning on January 29 with expectations of up to of snow. The city also deployed about 300 salt spreaders and snow plows as the winter storm continued throughout the evening of January 30. 100 flights out of the city were cancelled. Statewide, the Illinois Department of Transportation had more than 1,800 equipment trucks available at will for the storm.
In Indiana, a full call out for plow trucks was issued by the Indiana Department of Transportation on January 29 for the northern half of the state. The department also called for drivers to drive slower than normal, due to the wintry weather.
Crews within Ohio pretreated roads on January 30, as much of the central parts of the state were placed under Winter Storm Warnings, with up to of snow expected.
Northeast
Amtrak operated a modified schedule in the Northeast on February 1, with the Northeast Regional, Keystone Service, and Empire Service running on a limited schedule and the Acela and Pennsylvanian cancelled. At 3 p.m. on February 1, service was suspended between New York City and Boston and between New York City and Albany. On February 2, Amtrak will operate modified service on the Acela, Northeast Regional, Keystone Service, and Empire Service routes.
In Pennsylvania, Governor Tom Wolf issued a disaster emergency due to the storm. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation enacted restrictions on the speed limit on several interstates and highways on January 31 within the Susquehanna Valley, including I-81, I-83, I-283, and I-78. Speed limits were also reduced on highways in the Philadelphia area including I-76, I-95, I-295, I-476, I-676, US 1, US 30, US 202, US 422, PA 63, PA 100, and PA 309. Commercial vehicle and speed restrictions were implemented on several highways in northeastern Pennsylvania including all or part of I-78, I-80, I-84, I-380, I-476, US 22, and PA 33. A snow emergency went into effect for the city of Philadelphia on January 31. City offices were closed and trash and recycling collection were suspended on February 1. In the cities of Levittown and Bristol Township, city officials declared a snow emergency starting at 6 p.m. on January 31 and effective for 36 hours. Several cities within the state began readying salt spreaders and snow plowers the day before as well. In Reading, BARTA bus service was suspended on February 1 and February 2, due to the storm.
Governor Phil Murphy of New Jersey declared a state of emergency for the state on January 31, as New Jersey was expected to bear the brunt of the nor'easter, with up to of snow being expected across a large majority of the state. Civil offices would also be closed for the following day. Murphy also stated that all New Jersey Transit forms of transportation would be suspended systemwide during the day, with the exception of the Atlantic City Line. AirTrain Newark service was also suspended, with free shuttle bus service provided until Newark Liberty International Airport was shut down by 3 p.m.Airlines cancel all commercial flights at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark airports due to winter storm, Audacy, February 1, 2021 The New York City Subway suspended all outdoor subway service for the first time since the January 2016 United States blizzard, truncating numerous lines.Outdoor subway service in New York will resume on Tuesday morning, New York Times, February 1, 2021 All six COVID-19 vaccine mega-sites were also closed for February 1, with appointments to be rescheduled. The New Jersey Department of Transportation enacted travel restrictions due to the storm, focusing on many major interstate highways, including I-95, I-80 and I-78. The state also activated roughly 3,000 plows and salt spreaders to clear snow off of major highways. Utility companies also pledged their readiness to handle and restore power outages caused by the storm.