2009 North American Christmas blizzard

Snowfall varied across the United States. South Dakota likely received the most, with 30.8 inches (78 cm).[1] In Minnesota, 26 inches (66 cm) was received near Pequaywan Lake on the state's North Shore.[7] Parts of Texas recorded snowfall as high as 9 inches (23 cm) at Post.[1] Snowfall in Nebraska caused six deaths.[8] In Oklahoma, a state of emergency was declared after blizzard conditions killed 3 people and dropped 19 inches of snow.[8] Iowa saw high snowfall as well.[9]

The storm was so intense that it wrapped warm air around the north and west side of it and cold air and snow blew in from the south. Rochester, Minnesota, in the northern half of the storm, saw rain with temperatures in the mid 30s Fahrenheit while snow was falling just to the west in a 1,300-mile (2,100 km) band stretching from Canada south to at least Dallas, Texas, giving that region its first "White Christmas" since 1929.[10] Interstate 29 was completely closed in North and South Dakota, and then in stretches into Missouri.[11][12]

Heavy rain in parts of the Midwest prompted the National Weather Service to issue Flood Warnings for many areas. The maximum rainfall amount recorded was 6.89 inches (17.5 cm) in Little Rock, Arkansas.[1] Freezing rain fell across Iowa and Illinois, affecting travel to and from O'Hare International Airport.[1] The Chicago area saw as much as ten inches of snow following the freezing rain and sleet.[13]

Several houses were destroyed near Lafayette, Louisiana, possibly by a tornado. Near Longview, Texas an EF-2 tornado left a path of destruction nearly one mile long.[14] Another tornado near Lufkin, Texas produced EF-3 damage.[15]