Bazaar
Winter Storm Iras Recap | The Weather Channel
Advertisement
Advertisement

Winter Storm

Winter Storm Iras Recap

Play

At a Glance

  • Iras brought snow and some ice from the Northwest to the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and Northeast.
  • The storm occurred in the first half of January 2017.

Iras was a cross-country winter storm that brought snow and some ice from the Northwest to the Upper Midwest, Great Lakes and interior Northeast during early January 2017.

(MORE: How Winter Storms Are Named | Winter Storm Central)

The storm began Jan. 7-8 in the Northwest with significant snow and ice affecting that region.

Up to an inch of ice was reported in Lane County, Oregon, which includes Eugene, Creswell and Goshen. Eugene, Oregon, also picked up 4.5 inches of snow. Freezing rain and snow impacted the Salt Lake City metro and Portland, as well.

Cold air trapped in the valleys of western Colorado also resulted in freezing rain there on Jan. 9. Around the Grand Junction area, near one quarter of an inch of ice accumulated, leading to ice-covered roads and sending cars into ditches.

Blowing snow and high winds combined to snarl traffic across southern Minnesota on Jan. 10, even creating whiteout conditions in south-central and southwest Minnesota. 

Additional snowfall-related road tie-ups occurred on Interstates 90 and 35 in southern Minnesota and Interstate 94 in western Wisconsin. 

(LATEST NEWS: Winter Storm Iras Impacts)

Advertisement

Parts of upstate New York became coated in ice late Jan. 10, including the city of Syracuse. Many area schools dismissed early to get students home safely before the sleet and freezing rain arrived.

Iras also brought strong winds to the Great Lakes as low pressure intensified Jan. 10. Erie, Pennsylvania, along the southeast shore of Lake Erie, gusted as high as 67 mph.

The winds downed trees and power lines in parts of Ohio, Michigan and New York. More than 40,000 utility customers lost power in Upstate New York, according to The Associated Press.

Snowfall Totals From Iras

Here are some select snow totals from Iras by state.

California: 25 inches in Mammoth LakesColorado: Estimated 18.2 inches in the higher terrain near Steamboat SpringsIdaho: 44 inches at the Atlanta Summit Snotel; 2-4 inches in BoiseIllinois: 0.9 inches in Gurnee; 0.2 inches in Chicago (O'Hare)Indiana: 1 inch near Lake JamesMaine: 2 inches in CaribouMassachusetts: 0.2 inches in SavoyMichigan: 9 inches near Quinnesec; 3 inches at Detroit Metro AirportMinnesota: 7.2 inches near Willmar; 1.9 inches in MinneapolisMontana: 30.3 inches near Island Park at the Black Bear Snotel​New York: 3 inches in Indian Lake​North Dakota: 3.5 inches in Wahpeton and Casselton; 2.3 inches in Fargo; 1.2 inches in BismarckNevada: 5.0 inhces near Incline VillageOhio: 3.5 inches in ChardonOregon: 20 inches near Paulina; 9.0 inches in Bend; 4.5 inches in Eugene​Pennsylvania: 3 inches near CressonSouth Dakota: 5 inches near KidderUtah: 16.6 inches near Almo at the George Creek Snotel​Vermont: 0.5 inches in Landgrove​Virginia: 0.1 inches in PurcellvilleWashington: 14.0 inches in Cle Elum​West Virginia: 1 inch in Paw PawWisconsin: 6 inches in Francis Creek; 1.5 inches in Green Bay; 0.9 inches in Madison; 0.7 inches in MilwaukeeWyoming: Estimated 48 inches near Driggs at the Grassy Lake Snotel

Ice Accretion Totals From Iras

Here are some select ice totals from Iras by state.California: 0.25-0.50 inches in Big PineColorado: 0.25 inches near Grand JunctionIdaho: 0.50 inches in FruitlandNevada: 0.10 inches near Gardnerville RanchNew York: 0.25 inches in Cicero and CayugaOregon: 0.75-1 inch of ice in Creswell; 0.75 inches near EugenePennsylvania: 0.34 inches in BradfordSouth Dakota: 0.07 inches near WatertownWashington: 0.50 inches near VancouverWest Virginia: 0.10 inches in Kingwood and Hendricks

MORE ON WEATHER.COM: Winter Storm Iras, January 2017

Hampton Township and Frankenlust Township firefighters help remove a jackknifed semi tractor-trailer at Nolet Road in Hampton Township, Michigan, on Jan. 10, 2017. (Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times via AP)
1/61
Hampton Township and Frankenlust Township firefighters help remove a jackknifed semi tractor-trailer at Nolet Road in Hampton Township, Michigan, on Jan. 10, 2017. (Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times via AP)
Advertisement
Hidden Weather Icon Masks
Hidden Weather Icon Symbols