Event Summary

A strong arctic cold front intensified as it swept southeast across the region. This caused rain to change to snow, temperatures to fall from the 40s into the 20s, and northwest winds that gusted between 40 and 55 mph. A peak isolated wind gust to 58 mph was measured by the Automated Surface Observing System at JFK Airport. Near blizzard conditions occurred for a short time. Storm total snowfalls ranged from around 2 to 4 inches. Wet and mild antecedent conditions were followed by more than a 20 degree drop in temperature in 3 hours with strong gusty winds. This resulted in a "flash" freeze across roads that resulted in hundreds of vehicle accidents.