The 2010–2011winter season was marked by a historic New York City blizzard that paralyzed the city, the first billion dollar disaster of 2011 – the February 2–4 Groundhog Day Blizzard, a new Oklahoma state record snowfall, and one of the latest spring melts in the West in recent history.

This presentation will summarize these and other major winter events during the 2010–2011 winter season, focusing on storms having particularly large societal impact. The presentation will also highlight activities of the Winter Weather Desk (WWD) of the Hydrometeorological Prediction Center (HPC). The WWD provides twice daily forecast guidance for snow and ice accumulations through 72 hours to meteorologists and others interested in impending winter weather across the conterminous U.S. The WWD also serves as a catalyst for collaboration among the forecasters of the field offices of the National Weather Service as they prepare the official forecasts for their geographic areas of responsibility. Operational and service changes to the WWD for the 2011–2012 season will be highlighted.