In a historic weather event that has paralyzed the Southeastern United States, Winter Storm Gianna rapidly intensified into a powerful “bomb cyclone” over the weekend.
The storm, which formed from a shortwave trough moving off the coast, underwent bombogenesis (a pressure drop of over 24 millibars in 24 hours), bringing the heaviest snowfall to the Carolinas in decades. The region is transitioning into a deep freeze with record-low temperatures following the record-shattering precipitation.
Meteorological Milestones
Gianna is being cited by the National Weather Service as a “once-in-a-generation” coastal snow event for the South.
Rapid Intensification: The storm’s central pressure plummeted to 973 hPa, creating a tight pressure gradient that produced hurricane-force gusts.
Peak Wind Gusts: A maximum gust of 64 mph was recorded at Jennette’s Pier, North Carolina, with some offshore gusts reaching up to 70 mph.
Historic Snowfall: Many areas saw their most significant snow totals since 2018, and in some coastal cases, since the legendary “Snowmageddon” of 1989.
Snowfall Totals & Regional Impact
Snow was reported in all 100 counties of North Carolina, a rare feat that blanketed everything from the Appalachian Mountains to the Outer Banks.
| Location | Snowfall Total (Approx.) | Historical Significance |
| Faust, NC | 22.5 inches | State-wide peak for this storm. |
| Charlotte, NC | 11–12 inches | Heaviest snowfall since Jan 2018 (3.5″). |
| Raleigh, NC | 5–8 inches | Biggest storm since Dec 2018. |
| Wilmington, NC | 8–12 inches | First 5″+ storm in over 20 years. |
| Columbia, SC | 4–7 inches | Heaviest since Feb 2010. |
| Myrtle Beach, SC | 6–10 inches | Rare major coastal accumulation. |
The Aftermath: Damage and Recovery
The storm’s impact extended beyond the snow, with high winds and extreme cold creating hazardous conditions across the Southeast.
Coastal Destruction: In Buxton, NC, at least one unoccupied home collapsed into the Atlantic due to the combination of churning 20-foot waves and coastal flooding. The NCDOT reported significant “ocean overwash” covering sections of Highway 12 in sand and saltwater.
Transportation Chaos: Over 1,000 traffic collisions were reported in North Carolina alone, including a harrowing 100-car pileup on Interstate 85.
Aviation: Charlotte Douglas International Airport—a major hub—canceled nearly 86% of its flights on Saturday, Jan 31, as a 300-member snow team worked around the clock to clear runways.
Casualties: At least four fatalities have been linked to the storm, including two storm-related deaths confirmed by NC Governor Josh Stein.
