The 2022–23 North American winter was quite warm for the eastern half of North America, with much of the Eastern United States experiencing one of their warmest and least snowy winters on record. Despite this, numerous significant events still occurred, including a severe lake-effect winter storm across the Great Lakes region in mid-November, a cold wave bringing extremely cold temperatures to the Northeast in early-February, and several tornado outbreaks throughout the winter. However, most of the winter's damage and fatalities were due to a crippling and historic blizzard that wreaked havoc across the majority of the United States and parts of Canada in late-December. Additionally, the Western United States was colder than usual in contrast to the east, with a series of atmospheric rivers through December to March bringing widespread flooding in California and record amounts of snow across the region. During the winter, the Weather Prediction Center tracked 19 significant winter weather events, while five storms have been ranked on the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI), two of which attained the “Major” category. Similar to the previous two winters, a La Niña was expected to influence weather patterns across the continent.
While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2022 occurred on December 21, and ends at the March equinox, which in 2023 occurred on March 20. Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28. Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability. Winter is often defined by meteorologists to be the three calendar months with the lowest average temperatures. Since both definitions span the calendar year, it is possible to have a winter storm spanning two different years.
Seasonal forecasts
On October 20, 2022, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center released its outlook for the upcoming winter in the United States. Temperatures were favored to be below normal in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Plains, and above normal in the Southwestern United States, Southeastern United States and Northeastern United States. Temperatures were forecast to be above average in Hawaii and near average across most of Alaska. Precipitation was forecast to be above normal in the Pacific Northwest and Great Lakes region, and below normal in the Southwestern United States and Southeastern United States. Western Alaska was forecast to have above normal precipitation, as was Hawaii.
Seasonal summary
On October 17, a minor early-season cold-core low impacted the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, with some areas receiving of snow, and over 30,000 customers losing power.Upper Midwest buried by heavy snow as Chicago sees 1st flakes, AccuWeather, October 18, 2022 This resulted in the heaviest October snow on record for Marquette, Michigan across a two-day period.Record snowfall measurements from very odd October Michigan snowstorm, MLive, October 19, 2022 Over the next few days, cold air pushed south, breaking records in the Midwest and Deep South.Freezing Temperatures—And Even Snow—Grip Eastern U.S. In Historic October Cold Snap, Forbes, October 18, 2022 For the first time in history, Tallahassee, Florida froze before Denver, Colorado.Wait, what? Florida's capital dropped below freezing before Denver, 9News, October 20, 2022 On November 4, a winter storm on the backend of a tornado outbreak led to a 100-car pileup in Denver forcing 6th Avenue to close. The crash led to 13 injuries, one of which was serious.The morning of the 100-car pileup: what happened on 6th Ave.?, Denverite, November 4, 2022 In Amarillo, Texas, the temperature dropped to , allowing for rare early-season snowflakes.This part of Texas saw snow during Friday's storms, KCENTV, November 4, 2022 On November 9, a major winter storm struck North Dakota, leading to a pileup causing several injuries on Interstate 94.Blizzard roars into North Dakota; I-94 pileup causes multiple injuries, Bismarck Tribune, November 10, 2022 An intense lake-effect snowstorm produced massive snow accumulations, primarily situated in the Buffalo area, with the highest total of snowfall peaking in Orchard Park, New York. Prior to the Christmas holiday, another snowstorm occurred, which led to 106 deaths, 41 in the Buffalo area alone. On January 8, icy roads in Iowa led to a car crash, killing 2. On February 1, New York City finally picked up of snow, their latest date for first snowfall on record. That storm also dropped in Philadelphia and in Baltimore.New York City Sees First Accumulating Snow After Record Long Wait, The Weather Channel, February 1, 2023 Heavy snow resulted in Mesa Verde National Park being shut down for 3 days in mid-February.Colorado national park forced to close due to TOO MUCH snow, Out There Colorado, February 17, 2023
Events Early November blizzard
Starting late on November 9, a significant blizzard affected the Midwestern United States. The Storm Prediction Center issued a Mesoscale Discussion 1938 stating portions of North Dakota and Minnesota would have snowfall rates per hour for much of the day on November 10. On November 10, of ice was reported west-northwest of Westwood Colony, South Dakota. On Interstate 94 in North Dakota, a pileup of at least two dozen cars resulted in “numerous” injuries, but no fatalities. Between Fargo and Grand Forks, portions of Interstate 29 closed. of snow was reported in Ralph, South Dakota. In Bismarck, North Dakota, fell, making it the second snowiest day in Bismarck on record.Winter storm wallops northern Plains bringing near record-setting snow to Bismarck, Fox Weather, November 10, 2022 The Winter Storm was unofficially named Winter Storm Alejandra by The Weather Channel.
Mid-November winter storm
An intense lake-effect snow storm produced massive snow accumulations in the Buffalo metropolitan area. In preparation for the storm, the NFL game between the Buffalo Bills and Cleveland Browns game was moved to Detroit.NFL moves Browns-Bills game to Detroit due to snowstorm, ESPN, November 17, 2022 In addition, New York Governor Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for 11 counties in Upstate New York.Governor Hochul Declares State of Emergency in Eleven Counties Forecast to be Impacted by Heavy Lake Effect Snowstorm This Week, New York Governor On the New York Thruway west of Exit 46, the road closed on the afternoon of November 17.I-90 Eastbound Traffic Redirected To Due Heavy Lake Effect Snow, Erie News Now, November 18, 2022 Multiple Amtrak stations such as Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Depew closed, and Erie County suspended all bus service.Metro Bus reinstating some service in Erie County, The Buffalo News, November 18, 2022 Hamburg recorded of snow by 8am on November 18.The worst of what could be a historic snowstorm has started hitting western New York, CNN, November 18, 2022 By 2:30pm, that amount increased to , with in Orchard Park.Millions under snow alerts as storm hits Western New York, CNN, November 18, 2022 In Buffalo, from 8-9pm fell.The beginning at NWS Buffalo. We just measured 3.1" of snow in the past hour with this first burst of heavy lake effect snow. #nywx, Twitter, NWS Buffalo. November 17, 2022 Reed Timmer measured of snow at 9:30pm in Hamburg. Over 6,000 customers lost power.From bad to worse: Power outages reported in Orchard Park, The Buffalo News, November 18, 2022 The same lake effect storm also hammered parts of Ohio with up to of snow in 12 hours.NWS: Over 17 inches of snow in 12-hour span recorded in part of Northeast Ohio, Cleveland19, November 17, 2022 By the morning of November 19, Hamilton Park reported of snow. Orchard Park reached of snow, and of snow in 24 hours, which broke the record for the area. Buffalo International Airport reported by the end of the storm. Hamburg, New York eventually reported of snow, being the highest total from the storm. Heavy lake-effect snow also occurred in Watertown where of snow was reported. Snow was amplified partially due to very warm Lake Erie temperatures of .Lake Erie’s Warmth Fuels Buffalo’s Potential Record Snow, Bloomberg, November 17, 2022
Mid-December blizzard
A major blizzard occurred in the Great Plains related to a tornado outbreak, leading to heavy snow and freezing rain. In Fargo, North Dakota, all after school activities on December 13 were canceled. Parts of Interstate 80 in Nebraska and Interstate 76 in Colorado were shut down due to the blizzard, as was part of Interstate 90 in South Dakota.Crippling blizzard brings whiteout conditions as major winter storm barrels through northern Plains, Fox Weather, December 14, 2022 Portions of Interstate 29 were also shut down as the storm approached.Parts of I-29, I-90 remain closed until Friday amid massive no travel advisory, SDPB, December 15, 2022 Freezing rain accumulation peaked at in Litchville, North Dakota. Further east, blizzard conditions and thundersnow were verified in Duluth, Minnesota. Power outages totaled 45,000 in Minnesota, 70,000 in Wisconsin and 43,700 in Michigan.Blizzard halts travel, leaving hundreds stranded across the northern Plains, AccuWeather, December 15, 2022 In Penn State University, the snowstorm forced the final exams to be rescheduled from December 15 to December 16 and 17.Penn State cancels activities, reschedules final exams due to winter storm, Daily Collegan, December 14, 2022 Small portions of Interstate 80 in Pennsylvania closed due to the storm.Snow, ice clog roads and lead to accidents across Northeast, AccuWeather, December 16, 2022 As of the morning of December 16, snow accumulations reached in Wilmington, Vermont.Disruptive ice, then heavy snow for Northeast as coast-to-coast winter storm bids adieu, Fox Weather, December 16, 2022 In New Hampshire, many regions received over 20 inches by the storm's end. Ultimately, over 160,000 customers in the Northeast lost power, including over 100,000 in New Hampshire alone.
Pre-Christmas blizzard and cold snap