Ohio, 1998

Winter Storm in Ohio, February 3 to 6, 1998

February 3 to 6, 1998 · NWS RLX · 6 events in 6 counties and zones

A slow moving coastal storm and a prolong period of easterly wind aloft, resulted in several periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The deepest snow cover over southeast Ohio was in Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, and Vinton Counties.

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 6 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.

  • Tornadoes
  • Tropical storms and surge
  • Floods
  • Wind
  • Hail
  • Winter weather
  • Heat and drought
  • Cold
  • Fire, smoke and dust
  • Marine and coastal
  • Other

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The toll

Deaths
0
Injuries
0
Property damage
$250,000
Crop damage
None recorded
Events
6

Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.

What happened

The episode as NWS RLX wrote it up.

A slow moving coastal storm and a prolong period of easterly wind aloft, resulted in several periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The deepest snow cover over southeast Ohio was in Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, and Vinton Counties. On the 6th, Ironton had 9 inches on the ground, South Point and Waterloo had 7 inches, Patriot of Gallia County had 8 inches, the city of Jackson had 5 inches, while McArthur had 4 to 5 inches. No old snow was on the ground prior to the storm. A roof to a South Point home caved in, due to the weight of the snow.More sleet than snow fell further to the northeast, resulting in 1 to 3 inches of snow and ice over Meigs and Athens Counties.

The radar

The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

6 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.

Winter Storm, Athens

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Athens forecast zone
Coordinates
39.334, -82.045 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Gallia

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Gallia forecast zone
Property damage
$50,000
Coordinates
38.825, -82.317 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Jackson

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Jackson forecast zone
Coordinates
39.020, -82.618 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Lawrence

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Lawrence forecast zone
Property damage
$200,000
Coordinates
38.599, -82.537 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Meigs

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Meigs forecast zone
Coordinates
39.082, -82.023 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

Winter Storm, Vinton

When
February 3, 10:00 PM EST to February 6, 7:00 AM EST
Where
Vinton forecast zone
Coordinates
39.251, -82.485 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Winter Storm
A storm that brought snow, sleet or freezing rain at warning levels, usually over several hours or days.

After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.

The same day elsewhere

More

Every storm in Ohio in 1998Every state in 1998This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, February 1998

Sources

NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5629599, 5629600, 5629601, 5629602, 5629603, 5629604.