March 20–22, 2018 nor'easter
A Suomi NPP satellite image of the nor'easter at peak intensity off the Northeast U.S. on March 22, 2018 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 18, 2018 |
| Exited land | March 22, 2018 |
| Dissipated | March 24, 2018 |
| Category 1 "Notable" winter storm | |
| Regional snowfall index: 1.60 (NOAA) | |
| Highest gusts | 79 mph (127 km/h) near Topsfield, Massachusetts |
| Lowest pressure | 988 mbar (hPa); 29.18 inHg |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snowfall – 20.1 in (51 cm) in Patchogue, New York Ice – 0.20 in (5.1 mm) in Townsend, Delaware |
| Tornado outbreak | |
| Tornadoes | 20 |
| Maximum rating | EF3 tornado |
| Duration | 6 hours, 19 minutes |
| Largest hail | 5.38 inches (13.7 cm) in Alabama |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | 4 total |
| Damage | $900 million (2018 USD) |
| Areas affected | Midwestern United States, Southeast and Northeast |
| Power outages | > 100,000 |
Part of the 2017–18 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2018 | |
The March 20–22, 2018 nor'easter, dubbed the "Four'easter" in some media outlets, brought additional significant late-season snowfall to the Northeastern United States, after three previous such nor'easters had struck the general region on March 1–3, 6–8, and 12–15, respectively. affected the Mid-Atlantic states and New England with over 18 in (46 cm) of heavy snow and whiteout conditions. It also affected areas of the Southeastern and Midwestern United States with both snowfall and severe weather. The nor'easter was also one of the heaviest spring snowstorms on record in some areas in the Mid-Atlantic, especially Philadelphia and New York City.
Originating from a surface low that formed over the Rocky Mountains, the system tracked across the central United States, bringing some wintry weather to surrounding areas as well as severe weather in the South. It then reached the Northeastern U.S. on March 20–21 and, while moving slowly near the shorelines of Delaware, New Jersey, and Long Island, dropped heavy snowfall with rates of up to 5 inches (13 cm) an hour in some spots. The storm was given unofficial names such as Winter Storm Toby and Nor'easter 4.
The storm caused hundreds of flights to be cancelled in advance, and caused many school districts to close for the following day or two. Over 100,000 power outages were reported as a result of the nor'easter. At least 3 people have been killed in the nor'easter as of March 21. In addition, the system produced a tornado outbreak in the Southeast, spawning at least 20 tornadoes on March 19, one of which was a long-tracked EF3 that hit Jacksonville, Alabama causing considerable damage.