Low pressure tracked across the Ohio valley on the 2nd and spread snow and gusty winds across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 5 inches, with the higher amounts generally along and north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and into the higher elevations of Preston and Tucker counties of West Virginia, and Garrett…
Every event with a place to put it; 2 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
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.
The episode as NWS PBZ wrote it up.
Low pressure tracked across the Ohio valley on the 2nd and spread snow and gusty winds across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland. Snowfall amounts ranged from 2 to 5 inches, with the higher amounts generally along and north of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and into the higher elevations of Preston and Tucker counties of West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland. Behind this storm system arctic air combined with strong winds to produce wind chills from 10 to 20 degrees below zero the morning of the 3rd.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Pittsburgh, PA wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Jan 2, 6:28 PM EST, 32 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
628 PM EST THU JAN 2 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING SNOW INTO TONIGHT...WITH COLD TEMPERATURES
TO FOLLOW TONIGHT AND FRIDAY. ANOTHER COLD FRONT IS EXPECTED
SUNDAY...WITH VERY COLD TEMPERATURES EARLY NEXT WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM FRIDAY MORNING/...
LATEST SNOWFALL TOTALS SHOW NEW SNOW ACCUMULATIONS AVERAGING
AROUND 3 INCHES IN GENERAL ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA WITH HIGHEST
AMOUNTS ACROSS NORTHERN PA ZONES WHERE WE HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL
REPORTS OF 5 TO 6 INCHES FOR THE DAY. EXPECT MOST LOCATIONS TO SEE
ANOTHER ONE OR TWO SHORTER PERIODS OF MORE INTENSE SNOWFALL FOR
ANOTHER INCH OR TWO...BUT BASED ON LATEST GUIDANCE AND TRENDS
SNOWFALL WILL BECOME MORE LIGHT BETWEEN 8 TO 9 PM AND REALLY DROP
OFF SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT EXCEPT FOR THE RIDGES WHERE SNOW MAY
HANG ON FOR SEVERAL MORE HOURS.
WITH THAT...NO UPDATES ARE NEEDED AT THIS TIME TO THE FORECAST OR
ADVISORIES IN EFFECT. PREV DISCUSSION FOLLOWS..
LOW PRES CNTRD OVR VA...WITH A TROF EXTG INTO SRN PA...WL CONT TO
MOVE E AND REDVLP OFF THE COAST TNGT IN RESPONSE TO A DIGGING UPR
TROF. THIS SHOULD BEGIN THE ENERGY TRANSFER TO THE COASTAL
LOW...BRINGING A GRDL DCRS IN SNWFALL. SNW SHOULD CONT IN LMTD
UPSLOPE FLOW ACRS THE RIDGES SE OF PIT INTO FRI MRNG...AND
EXTENDED THE WINTER WEA ADVY FOR THAT AREA THRU 12Z. COLD AIR WL
BE MOVG IN ACRS THE GT LKS...HOWEVER MOISTURE DEPTH SHOULD BE
LMTD...ALG WITH LWRG TEMPS INVERSIONS...AND THIS SHOULD KEEP
SNWFALL AMTS UNDER CTRL.
WND CHILL ADVY WAS CONTD AS WELL. TEMPS SHOULD DROP INTO THE
SINGLE DIGITS TNGT...AND THIS COMBINED WITH GUSTY WNDS WL BRING
ADVY LVL WND CHILLS TO THE AREA.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM FRIDAY MORNING THROUGH SUNDAY/...
STILL SOME SCT SNW SHWRS PSBL FRI MRNG IN COLD N-NW FLOW...THEN
BLDG HIGH PRES SHOULD END ANY PCPN BY MD-LT AFTN. NO SGFNT ACCUMS
EXPD THOUGH. HIGH PRES WL CONT DRY WEA ACRS THE RGN THRU SAT. A
STG CDFNT WL APCH FM THE W ON SUN. CRITICAL THICKNESSES/SOUNDING
PROFILES INDICATE A RAIN/SNW MIX WL BE PSBL. THIS WL HAVE TO BE
REFINED AS DETAILS BCM MORE CERTAIN. AFT A COLD START WITH SINGLE
DIGIT LOWS AGAIN FRI NGT...TEMPS SHOULD RTN TO NR SEASONAL LVLS BY
SUN.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY/...
ARCTIC COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS REGION SUNDAY NIGHT WITH ANY
MIXED PRECIP QUICKLY CHANGING TO A PERIOD OF SNOW LATER SUNDAY NIGHT
WITH SOME ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL INTO THE
TEENS BY DAYBREAK MONDAY THEN FALL TOWARD ZERO AND BELOW BY LATE
AFTERNOON MONDAY AS A SECONDARY SHORTWAVE AND REINFORCING ARCTIC
FRONT MOVES THROUGH MIDDAY. BY FAR THE COLDEST AIR IN A FEW YEARS
ACROSS THE REGION WITH 850MB TEMPS AROUND -30C...AND RECORD LOW
TEMPERATURES ARE IN THE FORECAST. SEE CLIMATE SECTION BELOW FOR
MONDAY AND TUESDAY RECORDS. MODELS ARE IN AGREEMENT IN KEEPING A
FAIRLY TIGHT PRESSURE GRADIENT MONDAY INTO TUESDAY AS POLAR VORTEX
PIVOTS ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES AND SURFACE HIGH REMAINS SOUTHWEST
OF THE REGION. WITH WINDS STAYING NEAR OR ABOVE 10 MPH FORECAST
WIND CHILLS WILL BE RATHER EXTRAORDINARY TUESDAY MORNING WITH
READINGS FROM -30 TO -40F ACROSS THE REGION.
A SLOW WARMUP FOR WEDNESDAY AS CORE OF ARCTIC AIR BEGINS TO
RETREAT AND ANOTHER STORM SYSTEM FROM THE CENTRAL PLAINS
APPROACHES BY WEDNESDAY NIGHT. FOR NOW CONTINUED CHC POPS FOR SNOW
WEDNESDAY NIGHT INTO THURSDAY...AS PER USUAL MODELS HAVE TIMING
AND STRENGTH ISSUES THAT FAR INTO THE FUTURE. BY THURSDAY
TEMPERATURES WILL RECOVER TO ONLY 5 TO 10 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL.
&&
.AVIATION /23Z THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY/...
A PERIOD OF LIFR/IFR SNOW AND CIGS INTO THE EVENING WILL SLOWLY
IMPROVE SOUTHWEST TO NORTHEAST LATER THIS EVENING AS COASTAL LOW
STRENGTHENS OFFSHORE. GUSTY NORTH WINDS OVER 25KT AT TIMES WILL ALSO
GIVE SOME BLOWING SNOW.
LATER TONIGHT WINDS BEGIN TO DIMINISH WITH IMPROVEMENT TO
MVFR...WITH KDUJ THE LAST TO IMPROVE TOWARD 12Z. COLD DRY HIGH
PRESSURE WILL THEN GRADUALLY GIVE VFR BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON.
.OUTLOOK.../FRIDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
MVFR/IFR RESTRICTIONS ARE LIKELY SUNDAY INTO MONDAY AS AN ARCTIC
FRONT CROSSES THE REGION.
&&
.CLIMATE...
VERY COLD AIR IS EXPECTED ACROSS THE REGION EARLY NEXT WEEK. FOR
PITTSBURGH...THE LAST TIME THE TEMPERATURE DROPPED BELOW ZERO WAS
JANUARY 22 2011. THE LAST TIME IT DROPPED TO 10 BELOW ZERO WAS
JANUARY 17 2009. A SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT COLD TEMPERATURE READINGS
IS INCLUDED BELOW:
CITY MON/TUES LAST DATE LAST DATE LAST DATE
RECORD(YEAR) BELOW -10 BELOW 0 HIGH BELOW 0
PITTSBURGH -5(1942)/-5(1884) 1/17/2009 1/22/2011 1/19/1994
MORGANTOWN -1(1988)/-4(1970) 1/21/1994 1/17/2009 1/19/1994
ZANESVILLE -3(1959)/-3(1968) 1/22/2011 1/24/2011 1/19/1994
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY FOR MDZ001.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EST FRIDAY FOR MDZ001.
OH...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR
OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY FOR OHZ039>041-
048>050-057>059-068-069.
PA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR
PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029-031-073-075.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY FOR PAZ007>009-
013>016-020>023-029-031-073>076.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EST FRIDAY FOR PAZ074-076.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT FOR
WVZ001>004-012-021-022.
WIND CHILL ADVISORY UNTIL NOON EST FRIDAY FOR WVZ001>004-012-
021>023-041.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 AM EST FRIDAY FOR WVZ023-041.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 349 PM EST THU JAN 2 2014 OHZ039>041-048>050-057>059-068-069-PAZ007>009-013>016-020>023-029- 031-073-075-WVZ001>004-012-021-022-032100- TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH- MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-MONROE-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST- LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ALLEGHENY-ARMSTRONG- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-FAYETTE-HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO- MARSHALL-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA- 349 PM EST THU JAN 2 2014 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL MIDNIGHT EST TONIGHT... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA...NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WIND CHILL ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WIND CHILL ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION SUNDAY... USHERING IN VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW ZERO AND DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MDZ001-PAZ074-076-WVZ023-041-032100- GARRETT-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE RIDGES-PRESTON-TUCKER- 349 PM EST THU JAN 2 2014 ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 AM EST FRIDAY... ...WIND CHILL ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 7 PM THIS EVENING TO NOON EST FRIDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WIND CHILL ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...FRIDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. WIND CHILL ADVISORY. IN ADDITION...A STRONG COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION SUNDAY... USHERING IN VERY COLD ARCTIC AIR MONDAY THROUGH TUESDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW ZERO AND DANGEROUSLY COLD WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. 07
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
616 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0516 PM SNOW MOUNT WASHINGTON 40.43N 80.01W
01/02/2014 E3.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400077
ASMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
618 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0618 PM SNOW WELLSVILLE 40.60N 80.66W
01/02/2014 M2.3 INCH COLUMBIANA OH TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400078
XXPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
619 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0619 PM SNOW COSHOCTON 40.26N 81.85W
01/02/2014 E3.0 INCH COSHOCTON OH PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400079
ASMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
626 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0625 PM SNOW CRANBERRY TWP 40.69N 80.10W
01/02/2014 E3.5 INCH BUTLER PA NWS EMPLOYEE
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400080
XXPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
654 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0630 PM SNOW IMPERIAL 40.45N 80.24W
01/02/2014 E3.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400081
ASMITHPRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
658 PM EST THU JAN 02 2014
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0656 PM SNOW WEST MIDDLESEX 41.17N 80.46W
01/02/2014 E6.0 INCH MERCER PA PUBLIC
0656 PM SNOW CARNEGIE 40.41N 80.09W
01/02/2014 E2.0 INCH ALLEGHENY PA PUBLIC
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400082
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1400083
ASMITHThe national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 cold/wind chill. Local standard time, as filed.
A wind chill reading of 10 degrees below zero was recorded at the Zanesville Airport the morning of the 3rd.
A wind chill reading of 9 degrees below zero was recorded near Sugarcreek on the morning of the 3rd.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2014Every state in 2014This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, January 2014
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: 496025, 496028.