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A request that this article title be changed to Winter Storm Shirley is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.

February 2021 North American ice storm

GOES-16 satellite imagery of the developing ice storm impacting the Upland South at 21:11 UTC (3:11 p.m. CST) on February 10
Type	Extratropical cyclone Ice storm Winter storm
Formed	February 10, 2021
Dissipated	February 12, 2021
Lowest pressure	1014 mb (29.94 inHg)
Maximum snowfall or ice accretion	Ice – 0.50 inches (1.3 cm) in Shawneetown, Illinois Snow – 5.0 inches (13 cm) in Keyser, West Virginia
Fatalities	12 fatalities
Power outages	> 212,000
Areas affected	Southern United States, Upland South, Central United States, Mid-Atlantic states, Northeastern United States, Northern Mexico
Part of the 2020–21 North American winter

The February 2021 North American ice storm was a damaging ice storm that impacted the Deep and Upland South and Ohio Valley from February 10–11. The storm also brought wintry precipitation to the Mid-Atlantic states. The system caused over 212,000 power outages and at least 9 fatalities have been confirmed so far, primarily due to accidents involving freezing rain and sleet. It was unofficially named Winter Storm Shirley by The Weather Channel.

Meteorological history

On February 10, a low pressure began developing on a stationary front situated just north of the Gulf Coast of the United States. The frontal system drew in moisture from the Gulf of Mexico ahead of the storm and the low pressure drew in cold air from the north. By 15:00 UTC, light precipitation began to form with the developing low.

Preparations and impact

On February 8, Winter Storm Watches were issued in much of Kentucky and portions of other bordering states for a major freezing rain threat. The next day, watches were expanded into West Virginia and watches in parts of northeastern Kentucky were upgraded to Winter Storm Warnings. Due to potentially heavy freezing rain accretion, Ice Storm Warnings were issued in most of Kentucky and northeastern Arkansas. The next day, winter weather alerts were expanded into the Mid-Atlantic states.

Ohio Valley

In Louisville, road crews and utility workers began preparing for a major ice storm on February 8. The City of Louisville Department of Public Works began preparing for a mass pre-treatment of the roads in the area, getting thousands of tons of salt and brine ready. Over 200 snow and ice removal vehicles were prepared to be treating the roads during the storm. Utility workers began preparing to work for many hours fixing the power due to outages from snow and ice. Two people were killed in car accidents in Kentucky On February 10th, Delta Airlines flight 2231 slid off a taxiway prior to takeoff due to ice accumulations at Pittsburgh International Airport, although there were no casualties.

Deep South

Georgia

On February 9, 2021, in Cobb County, Georgia, one person was killed due to a pileup on the I-285. 3 other individuals were injured.

Texas

In Arlington, Texas, the Arlington Police department responded to more than 80 car crashes since 10 p.m. on February 10.

On the early morning of February 11, 2021, due to the frigid weather, Interstate 35W in Fort Worth, Texas was icy, which was unusual for the area. As a result, at 6:30 AM CST the first collision occurred when a vehicle skid off the road, which led to several vehicles, including semi-trucks, to pile up on the motorway. Ultimately, 133 cars piled in the incident which left motorists trapped in their vehicles. Six people died and sixty-five people were transported to a local hospital. The National Transportation Safety Board is performing a safety investigation of the crash.

Governor Greg Abbott (R) called on the legislature to investigate and reform the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) after winter weather left millions of Texans without power.

Mayor Tim Boyd of Colorado City, Texas resigned after mocking people for asking for assistance following water, heat, and electrical shortages.

See also

• December 2013 North American storm complex
• January 2017 North American ice storm
• January 1998 North American ice storm

References

1. ^ "Accuweather Update". Twitter. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
2. "Pile-up Update". Twitter. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
3. "Ice Accumulations". National Weather Service. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
4. ^ meteorologists, weather.com (February 9, 2021). "Significant Ice Storm Possible From Southern Plains to Virginia as More Snow Blankets Midwest, East". The Weather Channel. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
5. "WPC Surface Analysis for 02/10/21 at 18 UTC". Weather Prediction Center. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
6. The Weather Channel (February 8, 2021). "Winter storm watches extend from southern Missouri to Kentucky and Ohio, where potentially significant #ice accumulations are possible starting Tuesday night. Details: https://weather.com/storms/winter/news/2021-02-08-snow-ice-forecast-midwest-northeast-south" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
7. Ratterman, Lexie (February 8, 2021). "Kentuckiana prepares for possible ice storm later this week". WDRB. Retrieved February 8, 2021.
8. US Department of Commerce, NOAA. "Ice Storm Feb 10 2021". www.weather.gov. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
9. "Delta plane slides off icy taxiway at Pittsburgh International Airport; no one injured". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2021-02-14.
10. "1 Dead, 3 Injured In Cobb County Hit And Run Multi-Car Pile Up, Driver Charged". 2021-02-09. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
11. Aaron Perry (February 11, 2021). "Tough video from Dallas-Fort Worth this AM. Precipitation falling through warm air with below-freezing Arctic air..." (Tweet) – via Twitter.
12. "6 Dead, Dozens Injured After Pileup Of Over 130 Vehicles On I-35W In Fort Worth". 11 February 2021. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
13. "NTSB to Investigate Fatal Fort Worth Crash of Over 130 Vehicles". nbcdfw.com. Fort Worth, Texas. February 16, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
14. Coleman, Justine (16 February 2021). "Texas governor calls for investigation into grid operator over 'unacceptable' power outages". TheHill. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
15. Walker, Chris (February 17, 2021). "Texas Mayor Who Told Residents to "Sink or Swim" During Winter Crisis Resigns". Truthout. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
16. Balluck, Kyle (17 February 2021). "Texas mayor who said residents were owed 'NOTHING' amid outages, record cold resigns". TheHill. Retrieved 17 February 2021.

External links

• 2021 Storm Summaries from the Weather Prediction Center

• 2020–21 North American winter
• Ice storms
• February 2021 events in the United States