According to this week's Weather and Crop Bulletin report of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a pre-holiday storm traversing the central Plains, Midwest, and Great Lakes region delivered blizzard conditions on multiple days. In most areas, snowfall was relatively light, but travel conditions were complicated by sharply falling temperatures and high winds, which reduced visibilities due to blowing and drifting snow.
Harsh conditions were observed downwind of the Great Lakes, where snow was heavier. Meanwhile, heavy rain preceded and accompanied the storm system in parts of the South and East. Some of the heaviest rain (locally 1 to 4 inches or more) fell in the middle and northern Atlantic States, especially across New England.
By the 21st, snow overspread portions of the Plains and Midwest. Minneapolis-St. Paul, MN, received a daily- record snowfall of 7.4 inches on the 21st, followed by 2 calendar days (December 22-23) with temperatures remaining below 0°F and winds gusting as high as 45 mph. In Chicago, IL, where major airport delays developed, only 1.3 inches of snow fell (on the 22nd), but westerly winds gusted as high as 50 mph (on the 23rd).
For the full USDA report for Dec. 28, click here.