October 1997 North American storm complex: Difference between revisions
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{{Short description|Severe weather event in October 1997}} |
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{{Infobox storm |
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|maximum snow=13.2 inches [[Lincoln, Nebraska]] |
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| maximum snow = {{Convert|52|in|cm|abbr=on}} [[Palmer Lake, Colorado]] |
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|casualties= fatalities:13 (snow); 0 (tornado); injuries: unknown |
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| casualties = 13 (snow) |
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|damages= |
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| damages = $50 million (1997 USD) |
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| power outages = 400,000 |
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The '''October 1997 North American storm complex''' was a blizzard and tornado outbreak that affected the [[Intermountain West|Northwest]], [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]], much of the [[Midwest]] and [[Deep |
The '''October 1997 North American storm complex''' was a [[blizzard]] and [[tornado]] outbreak that affected the [[Intermountain West|Northwest]], [[Rocky Mountains|Rockies]], much of the [[Midwest]] and [[Deep South]]. 84 tornadoes were confirmed as the system moved eastward across the eastern half of the United States, including four that were rated as F3 on the [[Fujita scale]].<ref name="NOAA Storm Data">{{cite journal |author1=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |author2=National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service |author3=National Climatic Data Center |editor1-last=Hinson |editor1-first=Stuart |title=Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena |journal=Storm Data |date=January 1998 |volume=39 |issue=10 |pages=1–103 |publisher=United States Department of Commerce |language=English |issn=0039-1972}}</ref> |
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The storms resulted in 13 deaths (five in Colorado, two each in Nebraska and Illinois, and one each in Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas), and caused power outages and school closings lasting up to a week in affected areas. The event was famously billed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as being a "two-hundred year storm". The wind caused much damage, downing trees and power poles. |
The storms resulted in 13 deaths (five in Colorado,<ref name="NWS Webpage">{{cite web |author1=National Weather Service |title=The Blizzard of 1997 - October 24th - 26th |url=https://www.weather.gov/pub/1997blizzard |website=21st Anniversary of the Blizzard of '97 |publisher=National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration |access-date=29 September 2023 |date=2018}}</ref><ref name="KDVR">{{cite web |last1=Bitler |first1=Dara |title=25 years later: Monster snow totals in Colorado blizzard of 1997 |url=https://kdvr.com/news/local/25-years-later-monster-snow-totals-in-colorado-blizzard-of-1997/ |website=Fox 31 |publisher=KDVR |access-date=29 September 2023 |language=English |date=25 October 2022}}</ref> two each in Nebraska and Illinois, and one each in Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas), and caused power outages and school closings lasting up to a week in affected areas. The event was famously billed by the [[University of Nebraska–Lincoln|University of Nebraska-Lincoln]] as being a "[[Return period|two-hundred year storm]]". The wind caused much damage, downing trees and power poles. |
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== Impact == |
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{{uncat|date=January 2016}} |
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A {{convert|400|mi|km}} stretch of [[Interstate 80]] between [[Big Springs, Nebraska]] and [[Rock Springs, Wyoming]] was closed, and [[Interstate 25 in Colorado|Interstate 25]] was also shut down in [[Colorado]] being shut down from [[Denver]] southward to the [[New Mexico]] border. [[Interstate 70 in Colorado|Interstate 70]] was also closed in Colorado from Denver east to the [[Kansas]] state line.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=October 25, 1997 |title=Blizzard blasts western Plains |url=http://www.cnn.com/WEATHER/9710/25/plains.snow.pm/index.html |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=[[CNN]]}}</ref> Most airline flights at [[Denver International Airport]] were cancelled, as {{Convert|14|in|cm}} of snow fell which prompted the airport to shut down,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Reppenhagen |first=Cory |date=October 25, 2018 |title=There was a huge blizzard in Colorado one October, and here's what happened |url=https://www.9news.com/article/weather/weather-colorado/there-was-a-huge-blizzard-in-colorado-one-october-and-heres-what-happened/73-608162597 |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[KUSA]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Spears |first=Chris |date=October 24, 2017 |title=20 Years Ago Today: Front Range Buried In October Blizzard |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/20-years-since-october-blizzard/ |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[CBS Colorado]] |language=en-US}}</ref> and Colorado governor [[Roy Romer]] declared a [[state of emergency]] and activated the [[Colorado National Guard]] to assist with relief efforts.<ref name=":0" /> 1,600 snowplows were also deployed to clear snow-covered roads. A college football game between [[1997 Colorado State Rams football team|Colorado State University]] and [[1997 Tulsa Golden Hurricane football team|University of Tulsa]] in [[Fort Collins, Colorado|Fort Collins]] was snowed out, and mail service in Denver and [[Cheyenne, Wyoming]] was shut down.<ref name=":0" /> [[Palmer Lake, Colorado]] recorded {{Convert|52|in|cm}} of snowfall, and [[Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado]] received {{Convert|51|in|cm}} of snow.<ref name="NWS Webpage" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=October 25, 2018 |title=Oct. 1997 Blizzard Buried Eastern Colorado 21 Years Ago Today |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/march-97-blizzard/ |access-date=September 30, 2023 |website=[[CBS Colorado]] |language=en-US}}</ref> Seven people were killed and two others were injured in Colorado, and around 20,000 cattle and calves died.<ref name="NWS Webpage" /> Many school districts across Colorado were closed in the aftermath of the winter storm. Wind gusts up to {{Convert|60|mph|km/h}} caused wind chills between {{Convert|-25-40|F|C}} and snow drifts between {{Convert|4–10|ft|in}} in the state.<ref name=":1" /> |
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Nearly $50 million in damages and 300,000 power outages occurred across [[Nebraska]] and [[Iowa]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Report |first=KETV Staff |date=October 25, 2018 |title=25 years ago: Remembering Omaha's devastating 1997 snowstorm |url=https://www.ketv.com/article/omaha-nebraska-1997-snowstorm-25-years-ago/41736487 |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[KETV]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=February 14, 2018 |title=Photos: Record-breaking snowstorm hits Omaha in October 1997 |url=https://omaha.com/photos-record-breaking-snowstorm-hits-omaha-in-october-1997/collection_89904296-9161-11e6-bec4-3323a54292d7.html |access-date=October 1, 2023 |website=[[Omaha World-Herald]] |language=en}}</ref> An additional 100,000 power outages were in Colorado, with the majority of the outages centered in [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brooke |first=James |date=October 27, 1997 |title=A Blizzard Moves Eastward After Hitting East Colorado |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/10/27/us/a-blizzard-moves-eastward-after-hitting-east-colorado.html |access-date=October 1, 2023 |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{1997 tornado outbreaks}} |
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[[Category:1997 in North America|Storm, 10-23]] |
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[[Category:Tornadoes in the United States|1997-10-23]] |
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[[Category:Tornadoes of 1997|10-23]] |
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[[Category:October 1997 events in the United States|Tornado, 23]] |
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Latest revision as of 02:22, 1 November 2023
 Snowfall totals map of Eastern Nebraska | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone, Blizzard, Derecho, Tornado outbreak, Windstorm |
|---|---|
| Formed | October 23, 1997 |
| Dissipated | October 31, 1997 |
| Lowest pressure | 993 mb (29.32 inHg) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 84 confirmed |
| Max. rating1 | F3 tornado |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 52 in (130 cm) Palmer Lake, Colorado |
| Fatalities | 13 (snow) |
| Damage | $50 million (1997 USD) |
| Power outages | 400,000 |
| Areas affected | Eastern two-thirds of North America and adjacent waters |
Part of the 1997 North American winter storms 1Most severe tornado damage; see Fujita scale | |
The October 1997 North American storm complex was a blizzard and tornado outbreak that affected the Northwest, Rockies, much of the Midwest and Deep South. 84 tornadoes were confirmed as the system moved eastward across the eastern half of the United States, including four that were rated as F3 on the Fujita scale.[1]
The storms resulted in 13 deaths (five in Colorado,[2][3] two each in Nebraska and Illinois, and one each in Michigan, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Kansas), and caused power outages and school closings lasting up to a week in affected areas. The event was famously billed by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln as being a "two-hundred year storm". The wind caused much damage, downing trees and power poles.
Impact
[edit]A 400 miles (640 km) stretch of Interstate 80 between Big Springs, Nebraska and Rock Springs, Wyoming was closed, and Interstate 25 was also shut down in Colorado being shut down from Denver southward to the New Mexico border. Interstate 70 was also closed in Colorado from Denver east to the Kansas state line.[4] Most airline flights at Denver International Airport were cancelled, as 14 inches (36 cm) of snow fell which prompted the airport to shut down,[5][6] and Colorado governor Roy Romer declared a state of emergency and activated the Colorado National Guard to assist with relief efforts.[4] 1,600 snowplows were also deployed to clear snow-covered roads. A college football game between Colorado State University and University of Tulsa in Fort Collins was snowed out, and mail service in Denver and Cheyenne, Wyoming was shut down.[4] Palmer Lake, Colorado recorded 52 inches (130 cm) of snowfall, and Coal Creek Canyon, Colorado received 51 inches (130 cm) of snow.[2][7] Seven people were killed and two others were injured in Colorado, and around 20,000 cattle and calves died.[2] Many school districts across Colorado were closed in the aftermath of the winter storm. Wind gusts up to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) caused wind chills between −25–40 °F (−32–4 °C) and snow drifts between 4–10 feet (48–120 in) in the state.[5]
Nearly $50 million in damages and 300,000 power outages occurred across Nebraska and Iowa.[8][9] An additional 100,000 power outages were in Colorado, with the majority of the outages centered in Pueblo.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration; National Environmental Satellite, Data, and Information Service; National Climatic Data Center (January 1998). Hinson, Stuart (ed.). "Storm Data and Unusual Weather Phenomena". Storm Data. 39 (10). United States Department of Commerce: 1–103. ISSN 0039-1972.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b c National Weather Service (2018). "The Blizzard of 1997 - October 24th - 26th". 21st Anniversary of the Blizzard of '97. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ Bitler, Dara (25 October 2022). "25 years later: Monster snow totals in Colorado blizzard of 1997". Fox 31. KDVR. Retrieved 29 September 2023.
- ^ a b c "Blizzard blasts western Plains". CNN. October 25, 1997. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ a b Reppenhagen, Cory (October 25, 2018). "There was a huge blizzard in Colorado one October, and here's what happened". KUSA. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ Spears, Chris (October 24, 2017). "20 Years Ago Today: Front Range Buried In October Blizzard". CBS Colorado. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ "Oct. 1997 Blizzard Buried Eastern Colorado 21 Years Ago Today". CBS Colorado. October 25, 2018. Retrieved September 30, 2023.
- ^ Report, KETV Staff (October 25, 2018). "25 years ago: Remembering Omaha's devastating 1997 snowstorm". KETV. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ "Photos: Record-breaking snowstorm hits Omaha in October 1997". Omaha World-Herald. February 14, 2018. Retrieved October 1, 2023.
- ^ Brooke, James (October 27, 1997). "A Blizzard Moves Eastward After Hitting East Colorado". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 1, 2023.