Winter storms of 2008–09

Winter storms of 2008–2009 profiles the major worldwide winter storms, including blizzards, ice storms, and other winter events, from July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are forms that only occur at cold temperatures, such as snow or sleet, or a rainstorm where ground temperatures are cold enough to allow ice to form (i.e. freezing rain).

Events

July

July 22–July 24 (New Zealand)

A storm brewing over the Tasman Sea is expected to produce heavy rain, gales, thunderstorms, hail and snow in New Zealand in the coming days. A large band began affecting portions of Australia as the system intensified. convert|90|mm|in|abbr=on to convert|120|mm|in|abbr=on of rain is predicted to fall in some locations. A severe weather warning is in effect for the Westland range. [cite web|author=Staff Writer|title=Heavy rain set to batter NZ in coming days|year=2008|publisher="The New Zealand Herald"
accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10522840]

October

October 10–October 12 (Western U.S.)

A huge early season storm began to develop over the Great Basin on the 10th and snowfall spread through the Idaho mountains and into Montana. It spread eastward through the rest of Montana and Wyoming throughout the 10th, bringing heavy snowfall to the northern High Plains and adjacent Rocky Mountains. Snow will fill in across Utah and Colorado on the 11th, and as the strong low pressure area moves northeast through Wyoming and into the High Plains, snow will once again intensify across those regions.

The mountains of Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, and Utah will see widespread totals of 1-2 feet of snow, with up to 4 feet in the mountains of south-central Montana and the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming. Snow will fall to the valley floors across the region as well, bringing at least 4 inches to most mountain valley locations, with over 12 inches in some areas. On the High Plains, snow of 6-12 inches will occur from southern Saskatchewan through eastern Montana, western North and South Dakota, and eastern Wyoming. Amounts of 1-2 feet are possible in the far western High Plains region from approximately Billings to Sheridan. In addition, approximately 3-6 inches are expected in the valleys of eastern Idaho, northeastern Nevada, and western Utah, with locally greater totals downwind of the Great Salt Lake due to the lake-effect. The plateaus of southern Wyoming will see blizzard conditions, while the western mountains of Colorado will see up to a foot of snow. This storm is expected to be one of the largest storms to ever affect the region so early in the year.

ee also

*Winter storm
*Winter storms of 2007-08
*Tornadoes of 2008

References