December 2009 North American blizzard facts for kids
A powerful blizzard hit the northeastern United States in mid-December 2009. This storm brought huge amounts of snow and very strong winds. Washington D.C. was buried under an amazing 31 inches of snow!
Contents
History of the Storm
This big storm started on December 16, 2009, in Texas. It began with heavy rain. The next day, December 17, the rain moved northeast. By that evening, it had reached North Carolina.
On December 18, the rain turned into snow. The storm was in Virginia by morning and in Maryland by evening. By the night of December 18, it had moved into Delaware.
On December 19, the storm quickly moved across New Jersey and hit New York City. Weather experts issued blizzard warnings and winter storm warnings to alert people. The storm then continued towards Connecticut and Massachusetts. By December 20, the blizzard had moved across Maine and into Canada. After that, it faded away over the ocean.
How the Storm Affected Different Areas
The blizzard caused different impacts across the Northeast. Some areas got lots of snow, while others mainly saw heavy rain.
North Carolina
Most of North Carolina experienced heavy rain from this storm. However, some parts of the state received very heavy snow. These areas even had conditions like a blizzard. For example, the city of Greensboro saw 5 inches of snow after a lot of rain.
Virginia
Virginia was mostly covered in heavy snow. The southern parts and the coastline were exceptions, seeing less snow. The city of Richmond received between 8 and 14 inches of snow. Washington, D.C. was hit the hardest, with an incredible 31 inches of snow! It was the snowiest spot during the blizzard.
Maryland
Maryland also experienced heavy snow and blizzard conditions. The storm dumped over 17 inches of snow on Cambridge. Ocean City, which is right on the coast, saw several inches of soaking rain and even thunderstorms.
Delaware
Delaware was hit with heavy snow and a blizzard. The storm dropped between 20 and 26 inches of snow on Dover. Areas right along the coast mostly received rain. The blizzard brought a lot of heavy snow and strong winds to Delaware.
New Jersey
New Jersey also had a blizzard from this storm. There was heavy snow and strong winds. Camden received 29 inches of snow. However, Milford only saw 1 to 3 inches. Coastal cities like Atlantic City and Cape May mainly had rain.
New York City
New York City experienced heavy snow and a blizzard. About 10 inches of snow fell in the city. There was also some sleet, which is like icy rain, in Bay Ridge for a short time. Some freezing rain also fell.
Other Northeast Areas
Other parts of the Northeast also saw heavy snow. Some areas even had blizzard conditions. Southern Connecticut received 20 to 26 inches of snow. However, the northwest part of Connecticut only got 0.1 to 0.3 inches.
Similarly, Massachusetts saw 20 to 19 inches of snow in the south. But the northwest part of Massachusetts only got 0.2 to 0.7 inches. Maine and Canada also saw similar amounts of snow. Areas near their immediate coasts experienced sleet and freezing rain.
Images for kids
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After the blizzard in Old Fort, North Carolina. A foot of snow fell.
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Impassable road in Ashe County, North Carolina after the 2009 blizzard
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Snowfall during the blizzard in Clifton, Virginia completely covers a road and reduces visibility
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Streetscape of the Dupont Circle neighborhood of Washington, D.C.
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A DDOT snowplow driving past diplomatic missions on P Street, NW, in Dupont Circle, Washington, D.C.
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Cars buried by nearly 24 inches (61 cm) of snow in Woodley Park, Washington, D.C. on December 19
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National Weather Service image showing snowfall accumulation for the Mid-Atlantic states
