March 2021 North American blizzard
NASA satellite imagery of the winter storm over the Central United States on March 14 | |
| Meteorological history | |
|---|---|
| Formed | March 4, 2021 |
| Dissipated | March 17, 2021 |
| Category 3 "Major" winter storm | |
| Regional Snowfall Index: 7.84 (NOAA) | |
| Highest winds | 71 mph (114 km/h) in Douglas Pass, Colorado on March 15 |
| Lowest pressure | 980 mbar (hPa); 28.94 inHg |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | 52.5 in (133 cm) at Windy Peak, Laramie Range, Wyoming |
| Tornado outbreak | |
| Tornadoes | 21 |
| Maximum rating | EF2 tornado |
| Duration | 6 hours, 43 minutes |
| Overall effects | |
| Fatalities | None reported |
| Damage | >$75 million (2021 USD) |
| Areas affected | Pacific Northwest, Western United States, Rocky Mountains, Southern United States, Midwestern United States, New England |
| Power outages | > 54,000 |
Part of the 2020–21 North American winter and tornado outbreaks of 2021 | |
The March 2021 North American blizzard was a record-breaking blizzard in the Rocky Mountains and a significant snowstorm in the Upper Midwest that occurred in mid-March 2021. It brought Cheyenne, Wyoming their largest two-day snowfall on record, and Denver, Colorado their second-largest March snowfall on record. The storm originated from an extratropical cyclone in the northern Pacific Ocean in early March, arriving on the west coast of the United States by March 10. The storm moved into the Rocky Mountains on Saturday, March 13, dumping up to 2–3 feet (61–91 cm) of snow in some areas. It was unofficially given the name Winter Storm Xylia.
Thousands lost power and several areas received some of their heaviest late-season snowfall on record. The system caused at least $75 million in damage, although no fatalities were reported. The system was also responsible for a tornado outbreak in the Texas Panhandle on March 13, spawning 21 confirmed tornadoes. These tornadoes caused $1.285 million in damage.