The 2011 Groundhog Day Blizzard

Katherine IsabellaEnglish & EconomicsCollege of Arts and

Sciences

What Is a Blizzard?Weather Related Blizzards

vs. Dairy Queen Blizzards

• Conditions occur 3+ hours:

• Wind speed greater than 35 mph

• Visibility not greater than 1/4th a mile

• High in sugar, fat, carbohydrates, and deliciousness• Filled with

candy, cookies, or fruit• Sold in a small,

medium, or large

Where Blizzards Occur

How Blizzards Form

How Blizzards Form

Groundhog Day Blizzard (2011)

Before the Storm

• Well forecast • Many cities had already used up their snow

removal budget• Super Bowl travel warnings• State of emergencies issued

Groundhog Day Blizzard (2011)

• Snowo Snow Drifts

• Winds• Cold

Temperatures• Hail• Lightning

Where the Storm Hit

Chicago & the Blizzard

• City brought to a standstill

• Up to 2 feet of snow

• Peak wind of 70 mph

• Snow stayed on ground for 16 days after storm

Pictures from the Blizzard

Records Set by the Blizzard

• Chicago, Illinois

• Rockford, Illinois

• Tulsa, Oklahoma

The High Cost of the Groundhog Day Blizzard• 36 people lost

their lives• $1.8 - 4 billion

in losses• Problems with:

o Power outageso Abandoned carso Snow removalo Low visibilityo Stressed roofso Flight

cancellations

Losses by State• Illinois - $400 million• Indiana - $157 million• Iowa - $70 million • Kentucky - $96 million • Maryland - $184 million • Massachusetts - $265 million • Michigan - $251 million • Minnesota - $167 million• Missouri - $162 million • New Jersey - $289 million• New York - $700 million • Ohio - $300 million • Pennsylvania - $370 million • Utah - $66 million• Virginia - $260 million • Wisconsin - $149 million

Benefits of the Storm• Deep

South• Southern

Plains• West

Much needed rain

MoistureFor Southern Plains

Broke up fog

Did the Groundhog See Its Shadow?

• Punxsutawney Phil

did not see his

shadow!• Early spring

predicted

To Summarize…• Blizzards are no joke!oMostly happen in northern plains of

the U.S., but can happen wherever there is wind and snow

oHave the power to shut down citiesoCan lead to loss of life and massive

profit losses

Questions?

Works Cited

• http://worldofnovelty.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/08/saasdf.jpg• http://eatdrinkbite.files.wordpress.com/2012/05/banner_midnighttruffle.jpg• http://assets-s3.usmagazine.com/uploads/assets/article_photos/elsa-let-it-go-inline.jpg• http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/anniversary-of-the-groundhog-d/60974• https://www.jigsawexplorer.com/puzzles/subjects/baby-groundhog-368x300.jpg• http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/climate/blizzard.htm• http://www.weather.com/encyclopedia/winter/types.html• http://boonstoon.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/front-yard-trees-in-blizzard-12-26-2010-6-48

-30.jpg• http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/02/02/AR2011020203650.ht

ml• http://www.accuweather.com/en/features/trend/blizzard-one-of-the-most-commo-1/58712• http://w1.weather.gov/glossary/index.php?letter=b• http://www.weather.com/blog/weather/8_10972.html• http://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Atmosphere/blizzard.html• http://www.weathertrends360.com/Blog/Post/Blizzard-Alley-Meet-Tornado-Alley-777• http://industryedge.nationalhardwareshow.com/2013/10/is-your-business-ready-for-winter-

weather

Works Cited

• http://imgarcade.com/1/blizzards-forming/• http://www.cbsnews.com/news/groundhog-day-storm-more-snow-for-much-of-us-31-01-201

1/

• http://www.accuweather.com/en/outdoor-articles/outdoor-living/pictures-of-chicago-groundhog/60976

• http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/Slideshow-monster-storm_2011-02-01

• http://www.accuweather.com/en/weather-news/groundhog-day-storm-may-affect-1/45062• http://www.noaa.gov/extreme2011/blizzard.html• http://www.mlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/02/what_was_cost_of_groundhog_day.html• http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/shredded-money-4206255.jpg• http://blogs.mprnews.org/updraft/2011/02/chicago_blizzard_mega_storm_ra/