NOAA's National Centers for Environmental Information
The Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS)
Overview
While the Fujita and Saffir-Simpson Scales characterize tornadoes and hurricanes respectively, there is no widely used scale to classify snowstorms. The Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS) developed by Paul Kocin and Louis Uccellini of the National Weather Service (Kocin and Uccellini, 2004) characterizes and ranks high-impact Northeast snowstorms. These storms have large areas of 10 inch snowfall accumulations and greater. NESIS has five categories: Extreme, Crippling, Major, Significant, and Notable. The index differs from other meteorological indices in that it uses population information in addition to meteorological measurements. Thus NESIS gives an indication of a storm's societal impacts. This scale was developed because of the impact Northeast snowstorms can have on the rest of the country in terms of transportation and economic impact.
NESIS scores are a function of the area affected by the snowstorm, the amount of snow, and the number of people living in the path of the storm. The diagram to the right illustrates how NESIS values are calculated within a geographical information system (GIS). The aerial distribution of snowfall and population information are combined in an equation that calculates a NESIS score which varies from around one for smaller storms to over ten for extreme storms. The raw score is then converted into one of the five NESIS categories. The largest NESIS values result from storms producing heavy snowfall over large areas that include major metropolitan centers. For details on how NESIS scores are calculated at the National Centers for Environmental Information, see Squires and Lawrimore (2006).
| Category | NESIS Value | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1—2.499 | Notable |
| 2 | 2.5—3.99 | Significant |
| 3 | 4—5.99 | Major |
| 4 | 6—9.99 | Crippling |
| 5 | 10.0+ | Extreme |
Rank | Start | End | NESIS | Category | Description | Map |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1993-03-12 | 1993-03-14 | 13.20 | 5 | Extreme | March 12-14, 1993Mar 12-14, 1993 |
| 2 | 1996-01-06 | 1996-01-08 | 11.78 | 5 | Extreme | January 6-8, 1996Jan 6-8, 1996 |
| 3 | 1960-03-02 | 1960-03-05 | 8.77 | 4 | Crippling | March 2-5, 1960Mar 2-5, 1960 |
| 4 | 2022-12-13 | 2022-12-20 | 8.52 | 4 | Crippling | December 13-20, 2022Dec 13-20, 2022 |
| 5 | 2016-01-22 | 2016-01-24 | 7.66 | 4 | Crippling | January 22-24, 2016Jan 22-24, 2016 |
| 6 | 2003-02-15 | 2003-02-18 | 7.50 | 4 | Crippling | February 15-18, 2003Feb 15-18, 2003 |
| 7 | 1961-02-02 | 1961-02-05 | 7.06 | 4 | Crippling | February 2-5, 1961Feb 2-5, 1961 |
| 8 | 1964-01-11 | 1964-01-14 | 6.91 | 4 | Crippling | January 11-14, 1964Jan 11-14, 1964 |
| 9 | 2005-01-21 | 2005-01-24 | 6.80 | 4 | Crippling | January 21-24, 2005Jan 21-24, 2005 |
| 10 | 1978-01-19 | 1978-01-21 | 6.53 | 4 | Crippling | January 19-21, 1978Jan 19-21, 1978 |
| 11 | 1969-12-25 | 1969-12-28 | 6.29 | 4 | Crippling | December 25-28, 1969Dec 25-28, 1969 |
| 12 | 1983-02-10 | 1983-02-12 | 6.25 | 4 | Crippling | February 10-12, 1983Feb 10-12, 1983 |
| 13 | 1958-02-14 | 1958-02-17 | 6.25 | 4 | Crippling | February 14-17, 1958Feb 14-17, 1958 |
| 14 | 1966-01-29 | 1966-01-31 | 5.93 | 3 | Major | January 29-31, 1966Jan 29-31, 1966 |
| 15 | 1978-02-05 | 1978-02-07 | 5.78 | 3 | Major | February 5-7, 1978Feb 5-7, 1978 |
| 16 | 2007-02-12 | 2007-02-15 | 5.63 | 3 | Major | February 12-15, 2007Feb 12-15, 2007 |
| 17 | 2010-02-23 | 2010-02-28 | 5.46 | 3 | Major | February 23-28, 2010Feb 23-28, 2010 |
| 18 | 2015-01-29 | 2015-02-03 | 5.42 | 3 | Major | January 29 - February 3, 2015Jan 29 - Feb 3, 2015 |
| 19 | 1987-01-21 | 1987-01-23 | 5.40 | 3 | Major | January 21-23, 1987Jan 21-23, 1987 |
| 20 | 1994-02-08 | 1994-02-12 | 5.39 | 3 | Major | February 8-12, 1994Feb 8-12, 1994 |
| 21 | 2011-01-09 | 2011-01-13 | 5.31 | 3 | Major | January 9-13, 2011Jan 9-13, 2011 |
| 22 | 2011-02-01 | 2011-02-03 | 5.30 | 3 | Major | February 1-3, 2011Feb 1-3, 2011 |
| 23 | 2014-02-11 | 2014-02-14 | 5.28 | 3 | Major | February 11-14, 2014Feb 11-14, 2014 |
| 24 | 2017-03-12 | 2017-03-15 | 5.03 | 3 | Major | March 12-15, 2017Mar 12-15, 2017 |
| 25 | 2021-01-30 | 2021-02-03 | 4.93 | 3 | Major | January 30 - February 3, 2021Jan 30 - Feb 3, 2021 |
| 26 | 2010-12-24 | 2010-12-28 | 4.92 | 3 | Major | December 24-28, 2010Dec 24-28, 2010 |
| 27 | 1979-02-17 | 1979-02-19 | 4.77 | 3 | Major | February 17-19, 1979Feb 17-19, 1979 |
| 28 | 1972-02-18 | 1972-02-20 | 4.77 | 3 | Major | February 18-20, 1972Feb 18-20, 1972 |
| 29 | 1960-12-11 | 1960-12-13 | 4.53 | 3 | Major | December 11-13, 1960Dec 11-13, 1960 |
| 30 | 2010-02-04 | 2010-02-07 | 4.38 | 3 | Major | February 4-7, 2010Feb 4-7, 2010 |
| 31 | 2013-02-07 | 2013-02-10 | 4.35 | 3 | Major | February 7-10, 2013Feb 7-10, 2013 |
| 32 | 1969-02-22 | 1969-02-28 | 4.29 | 3 | Major | February 22-28, 1969Feb 22-28, 1969 |
| 33 | 2010-02-09 | 2010-02-11 | 4.10 | 3 | Major | February 9-11, 2010Feb 9-11, 2010 |
| 34 | 2006-02-12 | 2006-02-13 | 4.10 | 3 | Major | February 12-13, 2006Feb 12-13, 2006 |
| 35 | 2014-01-29 | 2014-02-04 | 4.08 | 3 | Major | January 29 - February 4, 2014Jan 29 - Feb 4, 2014 |
| 36 | 1961-01-18 | 1961-01-21 | 4.04 | 3 | Major | January 18-21, 1961Jan 18-21, 1961 |
| 37 | 2009-12-18 | 2009-12-21 | 3.99 | 2 | Significant | December 18-21, 2009Dec 18-21, 2009 |
| 38 | 1966-12-23 | 1966-12-25 | 3.81 | 2 | Significant | December 23-25, 1966Dec 23-25, 1966 |
| 39 | 1969-02-08 | 1969-02-10 | 3.51 | 2 | Significant | February 8-10, 1969Feb 8-10, 1969 |
| 40 | 1958-03-18 | 1958-03-21 | 3.51 | 2 | Significant | March 18-21, 1958Mar 18-21, 1958 |
| 41 | 1967-02-05 | 1967-02-08 | 3.50 | 2 | Significant | February 5-8, 1967Feb 5-8, 1967 |
| 42 | 2018-03-05 | 2018-03-08 | 3.45 | 2 | Significant | March 5-8, 2018Mar 5-8, 2018 |
| 43 | 1982-04-06 | 1982-04-07 | 3.35 | 2 | Significant | April 6-7, 1982Apr 6-7, 1982 |
| 44 | 2014-02-04 | 2014-02-05 | 3.34 | 2 | Significant | February 4-5, 2014Feb 4-5, 2014 |
| 45 | 2013-12-30 | 2014-01-03 | 3.31 | 2 | Significant | December 30, 2013 - January 3, 2014Dec 30, 2013 - Jan 3, 2014 |
| 46 | 2020-12-14 | 2020-12-18 | 3.21 | 2 | Significant | December 14-18, 2020Dec 14-18, 2020 |
| 47 | 2018-03-11 | 2018-03-15 | 3.16 | 2 | Significant | March 11-15, 2018Mar 11-15, 2018 |
| 48 | 2013-03-04 | 2013-03-09 | 3.05 | 2 | Significant | March 4-9, 2013Mar 4-9, 2013 |
| 49 | 2013-12-13 | 2013-12-16 | 2.95 | 2 | Significant | December 13-16, 2013Dec 13-16, 2013 |
| 50 | 2005-02-28 | 2005-03-02 | 2.84 | 2 | Significant | February 28 - March 2, 2005Feb 28 - Mar 2, 2005 |
| 51 | 2003-12-14 | 2003-12-16 | 2.77 | 2 | Significant | December 14-16, 2003Dec 14-16, 2003 |
| 52 | 2022-12-21 | 2022-12-26 | 2.66 | 2 | Significant | December 21-26, 2022Dec 21-26, 2022 |
| 53 | 2015-01-25 | 2015-01-28 | 2.62 | 2 | Significant | January 25-28, 2015Jan 25-28, 2015 |
| 54 | 2007-03-15 | 2007-03-18 | 2.54 | 2 | Significant | March 15-18, 2007Mar 15-18, 2007 |
| 55 | 2017-01-04 | 2017-01-08 | 2.52 | 2 | Significant | January 4-8, 2017Jan 4-8, 2017 |
| 56 | 2000-01-24 | 2000-01-26 | 2.52 | 2 | Significant | January 24-26, 2000Jan 24-26, 2000 |
| 57 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-01-05 | 2.49 | 1 | Notable | January 2-5, 2003Jan 2-5, 2003 |
| 58 | 2000-12-30 | 2000-12-31 | 2.37 | 1 | Notable | December 30-31, 2000Dec 30-31, 2000 |
| 59 | 1997-03-31 | 1997-04-01 | 2.29 | 1 | Notable | March 31 - April 1, 1997Mar 31 - Apr 1, 1997 |
| 60 | 2018-01-03 | 2018-01-05 | 2.27 | 1 | Notable | January 3-5, 2018Jan 3-5, 2018 |
| 61 | 2011-01-26 | 2011-01-27 | 2.17 | 1 | Notable | January 26-27, 2011Jan 26-27, 2011 |
| 62 | 2019-01-11 | 2019-01-13 | 2.03 | 1 | Notable | January 11-13, 2019Jan 11-13, 2019 |
| 63 | 2004-01-27 | 2004-01-28 | 2.03 | 1 | Notable | January 27-28, 2004Jan 27-28, 2004 |
| 64 | 2017-02-09 | 2017-02-10 | 1.87 | 1 | Notable | February 9-10, 2017Feb 9-10, 2017 |
| 65 | 1956-03-18 | 1956-03-19 | 1.87 | 1 | Notable | March 18-19, 1956Mar 18-19, 1956 |
| 66 | 2011-10-29 | 2011-10-30 | 1.75 | 1 | Notable | October 29-30, 2011Oct 29-30, 2011 |
| 67 | 2022-01-28 | 2022-01-30 | 1.73 | 1 | Notable | January 28-30, 2022Jan 28-30, 2022 |
| 68 | 2015-03-03 | 2015-03-05 | 1.66 | 1 | Notable | March 3-5, 2015Mar 3-5, 2015 |
| 69 | 2010-01-29 | 2010-01-30 | 1.66 | 1 | Notable | January 29-30, 2010Jan 29-30, 2010 |
| 70 | 2018-03-01 | 2018-03-03 | 1.65 | 1 | Notable | March 1-3, 2018Mar 1-3, 2018 |
| 71 | 2018-03-20 | 2018-03-22 | 1.63 | 1 | Notable | March 20-22, 2018Mar 20-22, 2018 |
| 72 | 2022-01-04 | 2022-01-07 | 1.60 | 1 | Notable | January 4-7, 2022Jan 4-7, 2022 |
| 73 | 2009-03-01 | 2009-03-03 | 1.59 | 1 | Notable | March 1-3, 2009Mar 1-3, 2009 |
| 74 | 2014-11-26 | 2014-11-28 | 1.56 | 1 | Notable | November 26-28, 2014Nov 26-28, 2014 |
| 75 | 2003-03-03 | 2003-03-06 | 1.54 | 1 | Notable | March 3-6, 2003Mar 3-6, 2003 |
| 76 | 2014-12-09 | 2014-12-14 | 1.49 | 1 | Notable | December 9-14, 2014Dec 9-14, 2014 |
| 77 | 1987-02-22 | 1987-02-23 | 1.46 | 1 | Notable | February 22-23, 1987Feb 22-23, 1987 |
| 78 | 1995-02-02 | 1995-02-04 | 1.43 | 1 | Notable | February 2-4, 1995Feb 2-4, 1995 |
| 79 | 2015-02-08 | 2015-02-10 | 1.32 | 1 | Notable | February 8-10, 2015Feb 8-10, 2015 |
| 80 | 2009-01-17 | 2009-01-19 | 1.32 | 1 | Notable | January 17-19, 2009Jan 17-19, 2009 |
| 81 | 2015-02-20 | 2015-02-22 | 1.31 | 1 | Notable | February 20-22, 2015Feb 20-22, 2015 |
| 82 | 2003-02-06 | 2003-02-08 | 1.30 | 1 | Notable | February 6-8, 2003Feb 6-8, 2003 |
| 83 | 2019-03-03 | 2019-03-04 | 1.29 | 1 | Notable | March 3-4, 2019Mar 3-4, 2019 |
| 84 | 2014-01-20 | 2014-01-22 | 1.26 | 1 | Notable | January 20-22, 2014Jan 20-22, 2014 |
| 85 | 2008-12-19 | 2008-12-20 | 1.25 | 1 | Notable | December 19-20, 2008Dec 19-20, 2008 |
| 86 | 1987-01-25 | 1987-01-26 | 1.19 | 1 | Notable | January 25-26, 1987Jan 25-26, 1987 |
| 87 | 2001-01-19 | 2001-01-21 | 1.12 | 1 | Notable | January 19-21, 2001Jan 19-21, 2001 |
| 88 | 2022-01-01 | 2022-01-03 | 1.06 | 1 | Notable | January 1-3, 2022Jan 1-3, 2022 |
References:
- Kocin, P. J. and L. W. Uccellini, 2004: A Snowfall Impact Scale Derived from Northeast Storm Snowfall Distributions. Bull. Amer. Meteor. Soc., 85, 177-194.
- Squires, M.F., J.H. Lawrimore, R.R. Heim, Jr., D.A. Robinson, M.R. Gerbush, and T.W. Estilow, 2014: The Regional Snowfall Index. Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society , DOI:10.1175/BAMS-D-13-00101.1
