December 2017 North American winter storm

December 2017 North American winter storm

Satellite imagery of fallen snow across parts of the Mid-Atlantic and Southeast regions of the US, taken on December 11
Meteorological history
Formed	December 8, 2017
Dissipated	December 18, 2017
Category 2 "Minor" winter storm
Regional Snowfall Index: 3.08 (NOAA)
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion	64 cm (25 in) at Mount Mitchell, North Carolina, US
Overall effects
Fatalities	8
Injuries	≥37
Damage	$1.06 million
Areas affected	Southern, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeastern United States
Power outages	>699,660
Part of the 2017–18 North American winter

A winter storm, unofficially named Winter Storm Benji by The Weather Channel and Storm Zubin by the Free University of Berlin, impacted parts of the Southern, Mid-Atlantic, and Northeastern United States, and later across parts 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 snowfalls and causing travel impacts across the South. The low then moved northeastward, reaching the Big Bend and western Florida, while continuing to produce snowfall north of the low, across a narrow band stretching from Alabama to North Carolina. A second low-pressure area formed on December 9, producing snow across the East Coast of the United States, including parts 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 dissipating.

The storm in the Southern United States set numerous snowfall records across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, while also causing extensive damage to power infrastructure and property. Snow accumulated across parts of the Florida panhandle, with 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 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 also resulted in New York City receiving its first major snowfall of the 2017–18 winter season. The low-pressure area associated with the storm also caused high winds across Germany and severe weather in Switzerland. Overall, the storm killed eight people and injured at least 37^[a] others.

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