© Getty Images

Snowstorm hits southern US (2025) -

On January 22, a rare winter storm swept the southern US, causing snow and freezing rain, shutting down highways and airports in Texas, triggering the first blizzard warning ever in southwest Louisiana, and causing unusual scenes of snow covering Florida beaches. The Sunshine State is seeing the most snow in its history, with at least 8 inches (20 cm) reported by the National Weather Service, twice the 4-inch (10 cm) record set in 1954.At least nine people have died from storm-related car accidents and cold exposure, as ice, sleet, and snow hit areas usually known for warm winters. 

© Reuters

Blizzard in Buffalo, NY (2014) - From November 13 to 21, a snowstorm hit the region, covering the city and its suburbs with more than 6 ft of snow. It paralyzed the area for days.

© Getty Images

Blizzard in Buffalo, NY (2014) - At least six people died, and more than 100 were stranded.

© Getty Images

Groundhog Day Blizzard (2011) - Between January 31 and February 2, this powerful winter storm covered several cities throughout the Midwest and Northeast in 2 ft of snow, accompanied by winds of more than 60 mph.

© Getty Images

Groundhog Day Blizzard (2011) - At least 36 people died as a consequence. The system most notably affected Tulsa, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, St. Louis, Springfield, El Paso, Las Cruces, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Detroit, Indianapolis, Dayton, Cleveland, New York City, and Boston. Other cities affected included ones not used to extreme weather, such as Albuquerque, Dallas, and Houston.

© Getty Images

Post-Christmas storm (2010) - The storm brought between 12 and 32 in of snow to major northeastern cities, including Norfolk, Philadelphia, Newark, New York City, Hartford, Providence, and Boston.

© Getty Images

Post-Christmas storm (2010) - The storm claimed the lives of at least seven people. Because the system came in the day after Christmas, thousands of travelers across the US were stranded as airlines canceled more than 7,000 flights.

© Getty Images

The Blizzard of 1996 - The mid-Atlantic and northeastern regions received between 2 and 3 ft of snow during this powerful storm between January 6 and 10. Philadelphia received 30.7 in, its highest record to date.

© Reuters

The Blizzard of 1996 -

The storm killed 154 people, many as a result of car accidents, and the ensuing floods killed 33 more.

© Getty Images

The Superstorm of 1993 -

Sometimes dubbed the “Storm of the Century,” this event is historic, as it marked the first time governors declared a state of emergency before any snowfall. This is thanks to technology advances in weather forecasting that allowed the National Weather Service to issue a severe storm warning two days in advance.

© Getty Images

The Superstorm of 1993 -

Despite technological advances, the storm still killed more than 300 people and caused between $6 and $10 billion in damages between March 12 and 15.

© Getty Images

The Blizzard of 1978 -

Between February 5 and 7, a storm accompanied by hurricane-speed winds of up to 90 mph covered the northeast in 3 ft of snow.

© Getty Images

The Blizzard of 1978 -

An estimated 100 people died. Part of the problem resulted from the fact that the storm was predicted for early in the day on February 5 and it didn't come in the morning, so people went about their days only to be surprised by its force later in the day.

© Getty Images

Post-Christmas storm of 1969 -

Between December 25 and 28, 3 ft of snow fell in New England and upstate New York.

© Getty Images

The Chicago Blizzard of 1967 -

Between January 26 and 27, 23 inches of snow fell in the city of Chicago in just 24 hours, marking the record to date. The storm affected areas ranging from the Ohio Valley down to New Mexico.

© Getty Images

The Chicago Blizzard of 1967 -

The blizzard claimed the lives of at least 76 people. The storm caught people by surprise during the day, when most were already at work or at school.

© Getty Images

The Great Appalachian Storm (1950) -

The storm formed over North Carolina and looped around Ohio, devastating much of the southeast on the way. The November 24 storm killed 353, and injured more than 160.

© Getty Images

Blizzard in North Dakota and Minnesota (1941) - Residents of North Dakota and northern Minnesota had almost no warning of the storm that swept the area on March 15, which caused temperatures to drop 20ºF in less than 15 minutes in some locations.

© Reuters

Blizzard in North Dakota and Minnesota (1941) - The blizzard, with its 50-mph winds and gusts reaching 85 mph in Grand Forks and 75 mph in Duluth, brought blinding snow and 7-foot-high snow drifts across the states.

© Shutterstock

Blizzard in North Dakota and Minnesota (1941) - The storm killed at least 151 people, most of whom were in their cars when the storm hit. The storm turns 77 on March 15.

© Shutterstock

The Knickerbocker Storm (1922) -

Between January 27 and 28, this powerful storm dumped 28 inches of snow in Washington, D.C., setting its record to date.

© Getty Images

The Knickerbocker Storm (1922) -

The storm got its name because the Knickerbocker roof collapsed under the weight of the snow, killing 98 people who had been inside watching ‘Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford.’

© Getty Images

Great Lakes Storm of 1913 -

Also known as the "Big Blow," this snowstorm is the single deadliest natural disaster to ever hit the Great Lakes region. It occurred between November 7 and November 10.

© Getty Images

Great Lakes Storm of 1913 - The storm killed more than 250 people. It also destroyed 19 ships, and stranded 19 others. It caused $5 million in damages, equivalent to about $123.8 million in today’s currency.

© Public Domain

The Children’s Blizzard (1888) - January 12 was a relatively balmy winter day, with temperatures a few degrees above freezing—until it wasn’t. Temperatures suddenly dropped to -40ºF, catching most residents in the Dakota Territory and Nebraska by surprise. The storm get its tragic name because the cold front happened during school hours, and many kids were caught in the storm. At least 235 lives were lost as a consequence of the unexpected blizzard.

© Public Domain

The Great Blizzard of 1888 - Between March 11 and 14, the storm, also referred to as the Great White Hurricane, paralyzed the East Coast from the Chesapeake Bay to Maine, after dumping from 10 to 58 in of snow in parts of New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut.

© Public Domain

The Great Blizzard of 1888 - The storm caught the region by surprise after a stretch of relatively mild—albeit rainy—weather. Winds of up to 50 mph accompanied the heavy snowfall, blocking roads and disabling telephone, telegraph, and rail service for several days.

© Public Domain

The Great Blizzard of 1888 -

The disaster claimed the lives of a whopping 400 people, 200 of whom were in New York City. The storm led New York and Boston to become the country’s first cities to develop underground subway systems.

See also: Countries with the most natural resources

© Public Domain