Significant Storms in the United States during the Winter of 2008–2009

The winter of 2008-2009 produced a number of significant winter storms. Twice a day throughout the season the Winter Weather Desk (WWD) of the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC) provided guidance forecasts of snow and freezing rain through 72 hours to meteorologists and others interested in impending winter weather across the conterminous United States. The WWD also served as a catalyst for collaboration among the field offices of the National Weather Service as they prepared the official forecasts for their geographic areas of responsibility. HPC issues Storm Summaries in real time when winter storms are particularly significant. These summarize the meteorological nature of the storm, its geographic coverage, precipitation amounts to date, and expected upcoming conditions. The Storm Summaries are available at http://www.hpc.ncep.noaa.gov/winter_storm_summaries/winter_storm_summaries.shtml. During the winter 2008-2009 HPC issued summaries for 18 events. This paper will summarize these events and focus on several of them that were particularly noteworthy