A winter storm, unofficially named Winter Storm Benji by
The Weather Channel and Storm Zubin by the
Free University of Berlin, impacted portions of the
Southern,
Mid-Atlantic, and
Northeastern United States, and later across portions of
Europe in December 2017. First developing as a
low-pressure area in the
Gulf of Mexico, the storm system impacted the Southern United States on December 8, producing rare snowfall totals and causing hazardous travel impacts across the South. The low then moved northeastward, reaching the
Big Bend and western portions of
Florida, while continuing to produce snowfall totals north of the low, across a narrow band stretching from
Alabama to
North Carolina. A second low-pressure area formed thereafter on December 9, producing additional snow totals across the
East Coast of the United States, including portions of the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, before the low moved inland over
Nova Scotia and
The Maritimes the day after. After moving offshore, the low-pressure area strengthened, progressing over the northern
Atlantic Ocean before moving over
Sweden and
Finland and subsequently dissipating.
The impacts of the winter storm in the Southern United States set numerous snowfall records across
Texas and
Louisiana and caused extensive damage to power infastructure and property damage that totaled $965,000, including $820,000 in
Mississippi alone. Additionally, snowfall fell in the
Florida panhandle, with snow flurries being reported as far south as
Miramar Beach,
Destin, and
Pensacola. In southern
Florida, severe weather also occurred after a
squall line developed along a
cold front, which produced wind damage that caused $50,000 in property damage across western and southern parts of the state. In the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern United States, hundreds of vehicle accidents occurred from the heavy snowfall and resulted in
New York City receiving its first major snowfall of the 2017–18 winter season. The low-pressure area associated with the winter storm also caused high winds across
Germany and severe weather in
Switzerland. Overall, the impacts from the winter storm killed eight people and injured at least 45[a] others.
Meteorological synopsis
On December 5, 2017, a cold front moved through southern
Texas, bringing rainfall and colder air before intensifying, causing temperatures across the region to further decrease into the 40–50 °F (4–10 °C) range and resulted in the cooling of the atmosphere by December 7.[3][4] On the same day, a cold front progressed across portions of the southern
Great Plains and the
Southeastern United States.[5] The combination of the atmospheric cooling, cold temperatures, and the cold front resulted in a
wintry mix developing across southern Texas on December 7 and 8.[3] As the cold front moved eastward, a broad area of southwesterly wind above the atmosphere developed in the
Gulf of Mexico along an upper-level
trough that was located across the southern Plains as
moisture was pulled into the trough.[5][6] A
low-pressure area developed in the Gulf of Mexico along a frontal boundary, and moved northeastward towards the
Big Bend region in
Florida.[5][7] A zone of intense
frontogenesis also formed north of the low-pressure area near the
Texas coast, and moved northeast parallel to the low, producing heavy snowfall across a narrow area extending from east-central
Alabama to northern
Georgia to western
North Carolina.[5]
Icy conditions led to a 26-car collision on a
Interstate 410 ramp near
San Antonio on December 8, which injured one person and forced the closure of the ramp.[16][17] Vehicle accidents also contributed to closures on
Interstate 10 and
Interstate 610.[18] Numerous highways and roads were covered in ice, including Interstate 10,
Interstate 45, and
Interstate 69, which created hazardous travel conditions.[19] There were several vehicle crashes across the Houston area.[20][21] Snow fell across several major cities in the state, including in
Austin,
Houston, and
San Antonio, and snow fell as far south as
Brownsville, where a trace of snow fell on December 8, which was the second-ever measurable snowfall there and set a daily snowfall record.[22][23] In addition,
Corpus Christi received measurable snow, the first since 2004, and San Antonio received snowfall in December for the second time on record, which was also the second-earliest snowfall there.[24][25] Additionally, measurable snow fell in Houston in December for the first time since 2009,[26] and daily snowfall records were broken on December 7 and 8.[27] The
Beaumont-
Port Arthur area received its first December snowfall ever, where 3 inches (7.6 cm) of snow fell, and was also tied for the second-highest snowfall total ever.[28] In
Laredo, 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) of snow accumulated, which set a snowfall record on December 8.[23] Multiple flights were delayed at
Austin–Bergstrom International Airport,[29] where 1.3 inches (3.3 cm) of snow fell and the first snowfall in December since 1948,[28] and nearly 63,000 power outages occurred across Texas.[30] Several people contracted
hypothermia that resulted from the cold temperatures and low
wind chills caused by the winter storm, which killed three people and hospitalized two others.[31] Across the state, the winter weather impacts caused $85,000 in property damage.[32]
Louisiana
As a
winter weather advisory was in effect for central portions of Louisiana,[33]Lafayette and
Lake Charles recorded their snowiest December days on record, with 2.1 inches (5.3 cm) and 1.7 inches (4.3 cm) of snow respectively.[14][24] Snow fell across the
Baton Rouge area as well, covering vehicles with snow,[34] as 3.5 inches (8.9 cm) of snow fell, which was the third-highest total recorded there.[24] A trace of snow fell in
New Orleans,[14][35] as the state experienced below-freezing temperatures, causing ice to form, and resulted in seven casualties.[36] In
Kentwood, 6.5 inches (17 cm) of snow fell, the highest snowfall total across the state, while 5 inches (13 cm) of snow fell in
Catahoula Parish southwest of
Jonesville.[37][38][39] There were 63 vehicle crashes across
St. Helena,
St. Tammany,
Tangipahoa, and
Washington parishes,[40] and nearly 100,000 power outages occurred across the state.[41] Icy conditions on overpasses closed portions of
Interstate 10,[42] and a
curfew was set in Tangipahoa Parish as there were more than 29,000 power outages across the parish.[41][43] Several shelters were opened in New Orleans, while a warming shelter was opened in St. Tammany Parish.[44] A motorcycle restriction was implemented on the
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge following the winter storm,[45] and in Catahoula Parish, property damage amounted to $10,000.[46][47]
Mississippi and Alabama
Winter storm warnings were issued for numerous counties in
Mississippi as more than 6 inches (15 cm) fell across southwestern portions of the state.[48] Numerous school districts across the state were closed in preparation for the winter storm.[41]Jackson received 5.1 inches (13 cm) of snow, which was the sixth-highest snowfall total recorded there, while two locations separately in
Jones and
Lamar counties received 8 inches (20 cm) of snow.[14][38] Additionally, 5 inches (13 cm) of snow fell in
Meridian, which was recorded as the third-highest snowfall accumulation on record.[24][49] Across the state, there were nearly 80,000 power outages,[50] and there was $820,000 of property damage.[51]
Across
Alabama, the heaviest snow fell across eastern portions of the state, mainly across
Clay,
Cleburne, and
Randolph counties.[52] The heaviest snow in the state fell in
Delta, where 15 inches (38 cm) was recorded, which was the seventh-highest snowfall in the state's history and the second-highest snowfall in December.[52][53] In
St. Clair County, 6 inches (15 cm) of snow fell in
Ragland, setting a county record for the highest snowfall accumulation in a day.[53] Prior to the winter storm, more than thirty-six school systems were closed.[41] There were several vehicle accidents on
Interstate 65, including one which closed all southbound lanes of Interstate 65 in
Shelby County, in
Calera.[54][55] Nearly 45,000 power outages occurred across the state, including nearly 10,000 outages across the
Birmingham area.[56][57] In
Mobile, 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snow fell, which was the earliest measurable snow there,[58] while 4 inches (10 cm) of snow fell at
Birmingham–Shuttlesworth International Airport, which was the third-highest snowfall in December there.[58] As of December 2023, Birmingham has not seen more than 1 inch (2.5 cm) of snowfall.[59]
Georgia
Before the winter storm impacted Georgia, winter storm warnings and advisories were in effect for numerous counties.[61] The heaviest snow fell across northern portions of the state, and the heavy snowfall caused extensive damage to power infrastructure.[60] A seven-vehicle crash closed all lanes of the
Langford Parkway in
Atlanta on December 8,[62] and numerous schools across the state, including schools across
Metro Atlanta, were closed or dismissed early.[63][64] There were nearly 1,600 flights cancelled and another 930 delayed at
Atlanta International Airport,[65][66] including the cancellation of more than 600
Delta Air Lines flights on December 8.[67] Additionally, there were more than 325,000 power outages across northern Georgia,[68] including more than 30,000 outages across the Atlanta metropolitan area.[64] One person was killed after being electrocuted from a downed power line.[69] During the winter storm, an emergency warming shelter was opened in Atlanta.[57][70]
The heaviest snow fell across western portions of North Carolina, causing 54 vehicle accidents.[76] The total of vehicle accidents included one which injured two people and briefly closed all eastbound lanes of
Interstate 40,[76] while another crash near
Sylva that injured one person.[77] Another crash occurred at a shopping center in
Burke County, which injured one person,[78] and several crashes occurred on the
Triangle Expressway and on
Interstate 540.[74] Delays occurred across several highways, including on
Interstate 26 and Interstate 40,[76] and the heaviest snow for the winter storm and in the state fell on
Mount Mitchell, where 25 inches (64 cm) was recorded.[79] Several flights were cancelled at
Asheville Regional Airport,[80] and more than 39,000 power outages occurred across North Carolina.[81] A warming center was opened in the
Asheville area by the
American Red Cross.[71]
There were 660 power outages across the
Greenville, South Carolina area,[88] and the highest snow fell in South Carolina near Cedar Mountain, where 9 inches (23 cm) of snow was reported.[14]
Public school activities across several cities were cancelled in
Virginia, including in
Fairfax and
Alexandria,[101] the latter of which also cancelled an
ACT test across the city's school district.[98] The heaviest snow across the state fell in
Henrico County, where
Laurel received 5 inches (13 cm) of snow.[102] Two people were killed after a car crash,[79] and there were more than 200 vehicle crashes across the state, including one which shut down all lanes of
Georgetown Pike after power lines were downed.[103][104] About 18,000 power outages occurred across Virginia,[105] including 3,500 across northern portions of the state.[103] The winter storm also caused $95,000 in property damage.[106]
In southern
Germany, wind gusts of 122 kilometres per hour (76 mph) occurred in
Waibstadt, and there were reported winds of over 100 kilometres per hour (62 mph) in
Munich.[121] Blowing snow and high winds contributed to numerous vehicle accidents across the
Black Forest, and in the districts of
Dachau,
Fürstenfeldbruck, and
Starnberg.[121] Felled trees caused train delays in Munich and
Stuttgart, and a crane collapsed in
Germering as a result of the high winds.[121] Flights were reportedly disrupted at
Munich Airport, including one being cancelled, and eight people were injured.[121][122]
Severe weather and high winds in
Switzerland caused numerous felled and uprooted trees, some of which obstructed roads, and property damage in
Baselland.[121][122] A woman was killed in after high winds a tree fell on her while in a tent, which injured another person inside.[122] High winds also overturned barriers at multiple construction sites, and felled a tree onto a moving vehicle.[122] Fallen trees blocked transit lines in
Bruderholz [
de], and numerous calls were made to Baselland public safety for assistance.[122]
Notes
^This includes 31 injury crashes across
Connecticut,[1] though it is unknown exactly how many injuries occurred. Not included is additional crashes resulting in several hospitalizations in
Massachusetts, as there is no exact total of the amount of crashes or injuries stemming from the reference.[2]