Winter Storm Gianna Slams Southeast With Intense Snow, Bitter Cold

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Written by Aaron Studwell, Ph.D., Energy Meteorologist & Analyst

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Summary

Winter Storm Gianna rapidly strengthened along the East Coast, bringing heavy snow, strong winds and extreme cold to the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic regions. Rare snowfall totals, power outages and travel shutdowns showed that winter remained firmly in control.

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A New Winter Storm

Winter Storm Gianna developed quickly along the Southeast coast on Saturday. It developed from a relatively weak disturbance in coastal Georgia. From there, it evolved into a powerful "bomb cyclone" as it moved northward into an Arctic air mass.

Gianna intensified as it tracked along the East Coast. The strong winter storm drew in warm Gulf Stream moisture, as cold air remained entrenched across much of the eastern United States. This created a rare and high-impact winter weather event for regions that do not often see significant snow.

Parts of the Carolinas and Virginia experienced snowfall totals more in line of the Northeast. Areas along the North Carolina coast and coastal plains were particularly hard hit. Travel was severely disrupted as roads became impassable, flights were canceled and government offices closed. Power outages were reported in several areas due to heavy, wet snow and strong winds downing trees and power lines. Farther south, cold air plunged deep into Georgia and Florida. This led to widespread freeze warnings, increased energy demand and falling iguanas.

Across southern Virginia and the lower Delmarva, Gianna brought a combination of snow and gusty winds. With snowfall in line with typical winter events for this region, the persistence of cold air increased the storm's overall impact. In the Northeast, the storm's influence was more limited. It reinforced an already cold pattern and contributed to ongoing winter conditions.

Farther inland, the storm interacted with a broader Arctic air mass, extending the cold well beyond the storm's core. Temperatures across much of the eastern half of the Lower 48 were 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit below normal, slowing recovery efforts and increasing energy demand. Estimated power outages exceeded 100,000 customers.

Winter Storm Gianna is now part of a larger story about an active and unusually cold winter across the eastern United States. The storm reinforced the thought that winter was far from over, even as the calendar moves into early February.

Fittingly, as communities dig out from Gianna's snow and ice, attention turned to Punxsutawney Phil. His annual Groundhog Day forecast called for six more weeks of winter. This prediction seems well supported by the lingering cold and frequent storm threats. After Gianna's widespread impacts, many across the East would agree that winter still has plenty to say before spring arrives.

Data Callout

Snowfall Totals

• Faust, NC (western North Carolina): 22.5 inches
• Kannapolis, NC (central North Carolina): 14.5 inches
• New Bern, NC (eastern North Carolina): 15 inches
• Wilmington, NC area (coastal North Carolina): 8 to 10 inches
• Parts of South Carolina and northeast Georgia: 2 to 6 inches
• Southern Virginia: 4 to 8 inches

Key Takeaways

• Gianna formed near coastal Georgia and quickly intensified into a powerful winter storm as it moved north into Arctic air.
• Parts of North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia saw snowfall more typical of the Northeast, accompanied by major travel disruptions.
• Heavy, wet snow and strong winds caused widespread power outages and slowed recovery efforts.
• The storm reinforced a larger pattern of persistent cold across the eastern U.S., boosting energy demand and extending winter impacts.

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About IIR News Intelligence
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About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).