2010–11 North American winter
A crippling blizzard affects the United States on the afternoon of February 1
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| Astronomical winter | December 21 – March 20 |
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| Meteorological winter | December 1 – February 28 |
The 2010–11 North American winter refers to winter in North America as it occurred across the North American continent from late 2010 through early 2011. While there is no well-agreed-upon date used to indicate the start of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, there are two definitions of winter which may be used. Based on the astronomical definition, winter begins at the winter solstice, which in 2010 occurred late on December 21 (early on December 22 in EST), and ends at the March equinox, which in 2011 occurred on March 20. Based on the meteorological definition, the first day of winter is December 1 and the last day February 28. Both definitions involve a period of approximately three months, with some variability.
On October 21, 2010 the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Climate Prediction Center issued its US winter outlook. It predicted a La Niña to form. The Outlook predicted colder a wetter than average winter for the Pacific Northwest and Northern plains. It also predicted that the Southern plains, Gulf States, Southwest and Southeast Regions receiving a warmer and drier winter season with Florida having equal chance of a below or above average temperatures. The central United States, Mid Atlantic and New England had equal chances of having below or above average temperature and precipitation. It predicted that Alaska would have colder than average temperatures with an equal chance for above average or below average precipitation. It predicted that Hawaii would be drier than average in November but Wetter December through February.
The 2010-2011 winter featured several significant storms and one of them was a a historic storm. A devastating tornado outbreak in mid April was responsible for a late season blizzard in the Great Plains.
In late October a massive cyclone brought a serial derecho to a large portion of the country as well an early season blizzard to parts of the Midwest and Canadian Prairies from October 25 through October 28. Forming over the Upper Midwest, it intensified rapidly prompting the storm to be classified as a bomb cyclone which are more common over the ocean rather than over land. The massive storm across the entire country and up into Canada bringing a wide variety of weather. It was responsible for 69 tornadoes across the country with an EF2 being the highest category. It had its highest recorded winds in Nebraska at 70 mph (112.6 km/h) and the highest recorded snowfall totals being 9 in ( 22.9 cm) in St. Louis County, Minnesota.
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