National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Frigid Cold in the East; Snow Continues in the Great Lakes

A frigid cold airmass will continue to bring colder weather across the eastern two thirds of the country early this week. Record low temperatures are expected to be tied or broken across the Southeast and Florida. Periods snow will continue downwind of the Great Lakes and in portions of interior New England through Tuesday afternoon, with several inches of snowfall accumulation expected. Read More >

 

Analyzed map of snowfall reports received across the Tennessee Valley (click to see a larger image)


How Did This Event Measure Up?

 

Total Event Snowfall (Huntsville)

The 8.9 inches recorded at the Huntsville International Airport was the third-highest event snowfall on record at Huntsville.  The top five events are:

 

1 New Year's 1963-1964 Event 17.1 inches
2 January 7-8, 1988 9.6 inches
3 January 9-10, 2011 8.9 inches
4 February 15, 1958 8.0 inches
5 January 29-30, 1936 7.5 inches

Total Calendar Day Snowfall (Huntsville)

 The 6.5 inches recorded at the airport for January 9, 2011 also ranks as the 5th-highest calendar day snowfall on record at Huntsville.  (Note that this doesn't include the 2.4 inches that fall on January 10th.)  The top five are:

1 15.7 inches December 31, 1963
2 8.0 inches February 15, 1958
3 7.2 inches January 29, 1966
4 7.1 inches January 7, 1988
5 6.5 inches January 9, 2011

Note: the so-called 1993 "Superstorm" of March 12-13 ranks 6th, with 7.2 inches.

Winter Season Snowfall Totals (Huntsville)

The 2010-2011 winter season snowfall totals reached 11.7 inches, which was the third highest total ever recorded.
1 24.1 inches 1963-64
2 14.1 inches 1935-36
3 11.7 inches 2010-11
4 11.2 inches 1917-18
T-5 10.6 inches 1987-88
T-5 10.6 inches 1967-68

Total Event Snowfall (Muscle Shoals)

The 9.0 inches recorded by the cooperative observer at Muscle Shoals tied for the fourth-highest event snowfall on record.  The top five events are:

1 New Year's 1963-64 Event 19.5 inches (Actual observations taken from Florence, AL)
2 February 11, 1910 12.0 inches
3 January 18, 1893 10.5 inches
T-4 January 9-10, 2011 9.0 inches
T-4 January 29, 1966 9.0 inches
T-4 February 12-13, 1960 9.0 inches

Winter Season Snowfall Totals (Muscle Shoals)

The 2010-2011 winter season snowfall total reached 12.5 inches.  This ranks as the fifth-snowiest winter season on record at Muscle Shoals.  The top five are:

1 20.8 inches 1963-64
2 18.5 inches 1967-68
3 16.9 inches 1929-30
4 15.9 inches 1935-40
5 12.5 inches 2010-11