February 2021 North American cold wave

February 2021 North American cold wave
Temperature anomaly map for the week of February 14–20, 2021, showing the widespread cold across the Central and Eastern United States.
Meteorological history
FormedFebruary 6, 2021
DissipatedFebruary 22, 2021
Cold wave
Lowest temperature−51.9 °C (−61.4 °F) in Wekweètì, Northwest Territories on February 8[1]
Overall effects
FatalitiesAt least 331[note 1]
Damage≥ $27.575 billion[2][3][4]
Areas affectedCanada, Central United States, Eastern United States, Northern Mexico
Part of the 2020–21 North American winter

The February 2021 North American cold wave was an extreme weather event that brought record low temperatures to a significant portion of Canada, the United States and parts of northern Mexico during the first two-thirds of February 2021. The cold was caused by a southern migration of the polar vortex, likely caused by a sudden stratospheric warming event that occurred the prior month. Temperatures fell as much as 25–50 °F (14–28 °C) below average as far south as the Gulf Coast. Severe winter storms also were associated with the bitter cold, which allowed for heavy snowfall and ice accumulations to places as far south as Houston, Texas, and contributing to one of the snowiest winters ever in some areas in the Deep South.

With the record cold advancing so far south, effects were crippling and widespread. Many regions within the Southern Plains such as Oklahoma and Texas, in addition to Arkansas, broke or nearly reached record-low temperatures not seen in decades or even a century. In Texas, the record cold caused enormous strain on the power grid and froze pipelines, leading millions to lose power and many pipes to burst. At least 278 people were killed directly or indirectly by severe cold,[5][6][7][8][9][10][11] and the damages are estimated to exceed $27.575 billion (2021 USD), including at least $26.075 billion in the United States and $1.5 billion in Mexico.[2][3][4]

  1. ^ Parts of Canada recorded -52°C this past weekend, coldest in 4 years, DH News, February 8, 2021
  2. ^ a b 2021 Winter Storm Uri After-Action Review: Findings Report (PDF) (Report). City of Austin & Travis County. November 4, 2021. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved November 5, 2021.
  3. ^ a b Global Catastrophe Recap September 2021 (PDF) (Report). Aon Benfield. October 12, 2021. pp. 11, 13. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Billion-Dollar Weather and Climate Disasters: Events". NOAA. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  5. ^ "Accuweather Update". Twitter. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  6. ^ "Pile-up Update". Twitter. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  7. ^ "Ice Accumulations". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  8. ^ Andrew Weber (July 14, 2021). "Texas Winter Storm Death Toll Goes Up To 210, Including 43 Deaths In Harris County". Houston Public Media. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  9. ^ Jan Wesner Childs (February 18, 2021). "Houston Faces Dire Water Issues as Power Outages, Cold Push Texans To Their Limits". weather.com. The Weather Company. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  10. ^ Estrada, Jesús (February 16, 2021). "Tormenta invernal deja 12 muertos en estados del norte". jornada.com.mx (in Spanish). La Jornada. Archived from the original on February 17, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  11. ^ "20 deaths blamed on cold weather in north as another front moves in". Mexico News Daily. February 19, 2021. Retrieved April 27, 2021.


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