Although generally a warm season, the winter of 2022-23 was punctuated by the third most costly and deadly winter storm in modern US history. The December 21-26 coast-to-coast Holiday storm caused $8.7B in damages and 87 deaths. As the calendar turned to 2023, an onslaught of Atmospheric Rivers ameliorated the California drought, but caused over $4B in losses. Historic snowfall was observed across much of the Sierra Nevada mountains and historic snowfall in the San Bernardino mountains immobilized residents for days. In contrast, much of the eastern U.S. had a near record-warm January-February period. In fact, New York City set a record for the latest first measurable snowfall (occurring on Feb 1).
The societal impacts of winter storms were readily evident. For example, during the December 21-26 historic winter storm more than a million customers, from Texas to Maine, were left without power. Buffalo, New York endured a terrifying 37 consecutive hours of blizzard conditions, which tragically contributed to dozens of fatalities in the region. Although forecasts were generally good (warning of ‘once-in-a-generation’ blizzard), the ferocity of the blizzard was outside the lived-experience for many. Similarly, heart-wrenching stories of fear and desperation were heard among residents in the San Bernardino mountains, as the snowfall exceeded the capability of plows to clear roads. Residents were stranded for days waiting for earth-moving equipment and dump trucks to clear the roads
In reviewing the events of the 2022-23 season, successes and challenges in building public readiness for winter weather will be highlighted, including the use of new product and messaging innovations.
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