A low pressure system moving through the Tennessee Valley combined with a cold front dropping down across the Ohio Valley to produce widespread freezing rain, sleet and snow across the area. The precipitation remained mainly snow along and north of Interstate 70.
Every event with a place to put it; 29 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 ILN wrote it up.
A low pressure system moving through the Tennessee Valley combined with a cold front dropping down across the Ohio Valley to produce widespread freezing rain, sleet and snow across the area. The precipitation remained mainly snow along and north of Interstate 70. However, to the south, the precipitation began as rain and freezing rain before changing to sleet and then snow through the afternoon and evening hours of March 2nd. Snow then continued along and south of the Ohio River through much of the night and on into the morning hours of March 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 Wilmington, OH wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Mar 2, 12:37 AM EST, 2 hours 23 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH
1237 AM EST SUN MAR 2 2014
.SYNOPSIS...
A SIGNIFICANT WINTER STORM WILL AFFECT THE REGION TONIGHT THROUGH
MONDAY BRINGING HEAVY SNOW AND ICE TO THE AREA. HIGH PRESSURE WILL
WORK INTO THE REGION FOR MONDAY NIGHT INTO TUESDAY.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 AM THIS MORNING/...
A COLD FRONT WILL GRADUALLY WORK ITS WAY SOUTHWARD ACROSS THE OHIO
VALLEY TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES STARTING OFF MILD SOUTH OF THE
INTERSTATE 70 CORRIDOR WILL DROP CLOSE TO FREEZING AS THE COLD
FRONT PASSES AND WINDS BECOME NORTHERLY. PRECIPITATION HAS SLOWED
IT SOUTHWARD PROGRESSION A BIT THIS EVENING...RESULTING IN THE
NEED TO TRIM BACK POPS IN THE NEAR TERM. LATE
TONIGHT...PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO SPREAD FROM WEST TO EAST
ACROSS THE AREA AHEAD IN RESPONSE TO ENHANCED LIFT CAUSED BY A
PIVOTING UPPER TROUGH TO OUR NORTH...AND APPROACHING PACIFIC STORM
SYSTEM TO OUR SOUTHWEST. PRECIPITATION NORTH OF INTERSTATE 70 IS
EXPECTED TO FALL AS SNOW TONIGHT...WITH 1 TO 2 INCHES POSSIBLE
BEFORE DAYBREAK. SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 70...AN INCREASING PRESENCE
OF WARMER AIR ALOFT WILL RESULT IN A WINTRY MIX OF SNOW/SLEET AND
FREEZING RAIN ONCE PRECIPITATION ARRIVES LATE TONIGHT. EVEN
FARTHER SOUTH TOWARD THE OHIO RIVER AND NORTHERN
KENTUCKY...PRECIPITATION MAY START AS A RAIN OR SLEET MIX...BEFORE
COLDER AIR FROM THE NORTH FINALLY DROPS SURFACE TEMPERATURES TO
FREEZING NEAR SUNRISE...CHANGING ANY RAIN TO FREEZING RAIN. MAINLY
LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS OF FREEZING RAIN ARE EXPECTED OVERNIGHT...AS
STEADY PRECIPITATION IS NOT EXPECTED TO BEGIN UNTIL WITHIN FEW
HOURS OF SUNRISE ACROSS THE SOUTH.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 AM THIS MORNING THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT/...
MODELS ARE IN GENERAL AGREEMENT ON THE WINTER STORM THAT WILL
CONTINUE TO IMPACT THE AREA THROUGH MONDAY MORNING. THERE ARE
STILL SUBTLE DIFFERENCES WITH THE LOCATION OF THE HEAVIEST
PRECIPITATION AND TEMPERATURES WHICH COULD HAVE AN IMPACT ON SNOW
AND ICE TOTALS. THE NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FA ARE EXPECTED TO
RECEIVE 5 TO 7 INCHES OF SNOW AND SLEET WITH ONLY A COUPLE
HUNDREDTHS OF AN INCH OF ICE ACCUMULATION. CENTRAL PORTIONS OF THE
FA ARE EXPECTED TO RECEIVE 5 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW WITH AROUND A
TENTH OF AN INCH OF ICE. SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FA ARE EXPECTED
TO RECEIVE 4 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW WITH A TENTH TO A QUARTER OF AN
INCH OF ICE. THESE VALUES FALL WITHIN WINTER STORM WARNING
CRITERIA AND THEREFORE WENT WITH A WINTER STORM WARNING ACROSS THE
ENTIRE FA.
COOLER AIR WILL CONTINUE TO MOVE INTO THE REGION THROUGH THE DAY
ON SUNDAY THEREFORE MOST LOCATIONS WILL NOT SEE MUCH OF A RISE IN
TEMPERATURES AND WILL ACTUALLY SEE A DECREASE IN TEMPERATURES
THROUGH THE DAY. TEMPERATURES WILL CONTINUE TO FALL THROUGH THE
NIGHT SUNDAY NIGHT WITH SINGLE DIGIT TEMPERATURES EXPECTED ACROSS
NORTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FA BY MONDAY MORNING. A COMBINATION OF
THE COLD TEMPERATURES AND WINDS WILL ALLOW FOR SUB ZERO WIND CHILL
VALUES ACROSS A LARGE PORTION OF THE AREA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY
MORNING.
WITH COOL AIRMASS IN PLACE TEMPERATURES WILL STRUGGLE TO
RISE ON MONDAY WITH HIGH TEMPERATURES RANGING FROM THE TEENS TO
THE MIDDLE 20S. MOSTLY CLEAR SKIES MONDAY NIGHT IN ADDITION TO
HAVING SNOW ON THE GROUND WILL LEAD TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES. LOW
TEMPERATURES MONDAY NIGHT WILL BE IN THE SINGLE DIGITS BELOW ZERO
TO THE SINGLE DIGITS ABOVE ZERO. WINDS WILL BE LIGHTER MONDAY
NIGHT HOWEVER EVEN WITH THE LIGHTER WINDS...WIND CHILL VALUES WILL
DROP DOWN AROUND NEGATIVE 5 TO NEGATIVE 15 ACROSS THE FA.
PRECIPITATION WITH THE WINTER STORM WILL CONTINUE TO OVERSPREAD THE
AREA ON SUNDAY AND INTO SUNDAY NIGHT BEFORE TAPERING OFF MONDAY
MORNING. MOST LOCATIONS ALONG AND NORTH OF A DAYTON TO LANCASTER
LINE WILL BECOME ALL SNOW FOR THE DAYTIME HOURS ON SUNDAY AND FOR
THE REMAINDER OF THE STORM. SOUTH OF THIS AREA A MIX OF
SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN WILL BE PRESENT.
THE HIGHEST ICE TOTALS WILL BE ACROSS SOUTHERN PORTIONS OF THE FA
ALONG AND SOUTH OF THE OHIO RIVER. LATEST MODEL SOLUTIONS HAVE
COME IN PRETTY ROBUST WITH PRECIPITATION ACROSS THE SOUTH DURING A
TIME WHEN SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN WILL BE OCCURRING. CURRENTLY
HAVE UPWARDS OF A QUARTER OF AN INCH OF ICE ACROSS PORTIONS OF
THIS AREA HOWEVER THIS WILL HAVE TO BE MONITORED FOR POSSIBLE
HIGHER ICE ACCUMULATIONS. PRECIPITATION WILL TRANSITION TO MOSTLY
SNOW ACROSS THE FA SUNDAY NIGHT INTO MONDAY MORNING.
&&
.LONG TERM /TUESDAY THROUGH SATURDAY/...
SPRAWLING HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD ACROSS EASTERN CANADA AND EXTEND
ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION INTO THURSDAY. THIS WILL KEEP
TEMPERATURES WELL BELOW NORMAL DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE WEEK. WEAK
MID LEVEL DISTURBANCES WILL BRING CLOUDS FROM TIME TO TIME AND
SPOTTY LIGHT PRECIPITATION CANNOT BE RULED OUT ALTHOUGH PROBABILITY
IS QUITE LOW AT THIS POINT.
HIGH WILL GET PINCHED OFF BETWEEN A STORM DEVELOPING IN THE
SOUTHEAST THAT WILL SWING UP THE ATLANTIC COAST AND A COLD FRONT
APPROACHING FROM THE WEST. PLENTY OF UNCERTAINTY ON HOW THESE
SYSTEMS WILL EVOLVE/INTERACT. TEMPERATURES WILL BE ABLE TO MODERATE
ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA AT THE END OF THE WEEK ALTHOUGH READINGS
WILL STAY BELOW NORMAL. IF THE COLD FRONT MANAGES TO MAKE IT INTO
THE REGION THERE IS A CHANCE OF SOME LIGHT RAIN OR SNOW.
&&
.AVIATION /06Z SUNDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN AT TAF SITES SHORTLY AS A FRONTAL ZONE
CONTAINING COPIOUS MOISTURE MOVES THROUGH. PRECIP WILL BE FZRA AND
PL TO START...WITH A CHANGE TO SNOW AS COLDER AIR TAKES OVER THE
AIR COLUMN. CONDITIONS WILL FALL AS LOW AS LIFR BY AFTERNOON AS
THE ATMOSPHERE BECOMES SATURATED. IMPROVEMENT TOWARD MVFR WILL
OCCUR AROUND 00Z MONDAY AS THE MAIN BAND OF MOISTURE AND LIFT
TRANSLATES SOUTHWARD. WINDS WILL REMAIN OUT OF THE NORTH WITH
SPEEDS CLOSE TO 10 KNOTS.
OUTLOOK...MVFR WILL CONTINUE INTO MONDAY.
&&
.ILN WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
OH...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EST MONDAY FOR OHZ026-034-035-
042>046-051>056-060>062.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST MONDAY FOR OHZ063>065-
070>074-077>082-088.
KY...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST MONDAY FOR KYZ089>100.
IN...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 10 AM EST MONDAY FOR INZ050-058-059.
WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 1 PM EST MONDAY FOR INZ066-073>075-
080.
&&
SYNOPSIS...NOVAK
NEAR TERM...LATTO
SHORT TERM...NOVAK
LONG TERM...
AVIATION...CONIGLIOHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE WILMINGTON OH 320 PM EST SAT MAR 1 2014 INZ050-058-059-OHZ026-034-035-042>046-051>056-060>062-022030- WAYNE-FAYETTE IN-UNION IN-HARDIN-MERCER-AUGLAIZE-DARKE-SHELBY-LOGAN- UNION OH-DELAWARE-MIAMI-CHAMPAIGN-CLARK-MADISON-FRANKLIN OH-LICKING- PREBLE-MONTGOMERY-GREENE- 320 PM EST SAT MAR 1 2014 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 10 PM THIS EVENING TO 10 AM EST MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL INDIANA...CENTRAL OHIO...MIAMI VALLEY OF OHIO AND WEST CENTRAL OHIO. .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 STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE. INZ066-073>075-080-KYZ089>100-OHZ063>065-070>074-077>082-088-022030- FRANKLIN IN-RIPLEY-DEARBORN-OHIO-SWITZERLAND-CARROLL-GALLATIN-BOONE- KENTON-CAMPBELL-OWEN-GRANT-PENDLETON-BRACKEN-ROBERTSON-MASON-LEWIS- FAYETTE OH-PICKAWAY-FAIRFIELD-BUTLER-WARREN-CLINTON-ROSS-HOCKING- HAMILTON-CLERMONT-BROWN-HIGHLAND-ADAMS-PIKE-SCIOTO- 320 PM EST SAT MAR 1 2014 ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM SUNDAY TO 1 PM EST MONDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHEAST INDIANA...NORTHEAST KENTUCKY...NORTHERN KENTUCKY...CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTH CENTRAL OHIO AND SOUTHWEST OHIO. .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 STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER STORM WARNING. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SNOW AND ICE ACCUMULATIONS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
21 winter weather, 8 winter storm. Local standard time, as filed.
Four inches of snow fell four miles east-southeast of Frankfort.
Four inches of snow was measured in Liberty Township, Monroe, and Hamilton. Two tenths of an inch of ice was measured in Wetherington, with one tenth of an inch nearby in Liberty Township.
The observer near Cheviot and the highway department near Wyoming measured 2.5 inches of snow. Combined with a tenth of an inch of ice measured in Deer Park and Blue Ash, numerous car wrecks were reported and travel across the region was severely impacted.
The observer at Kings mills, along with the highway department in Lebanon and NWS employees in Genntown and Mason all measured 3.5 inches of snow. Combined with icy accumulations, numerous car wrecks were reported and travel across the region was severely impacted.
The NWS office at Wilmington measured 3.5 inches of snow. The highway department south of Wilmington and an employee near Odgen both measured 3 inches. Combined with icy accumulations, significant impacts to travel was observed across the region.
The highway department in Georgetown measured 4.5 inches of snow. Combined with icy accumulations, significant impacts to travel was observed across the region.
The highway department near West Union measured 3.5 inches of snow. Combined with a measured two tenths of an inch of ice, significant impacts to travel was observed across the region. The cooperative observer 6 miles east of West Union measured 3.3 inches of snow, and a public report of 3 inches came out of West Union.
The Shawnee State Park measured 5.2 inches of snow near Turkey Creek Lake. The CoCoRaHS observer near Sciotodale, highway department in Lucasville, and 911 center in Portsmouth all measured 4 inches of accumulation. Combined with a measured tenth of an inch of ice in Otway, significant impacts to travel was observed across the region.
Two inches of snow was measured 3 miles west of Celina.
Three and a half inches of snow was measured near Wapakoneta.
The observers in Fort Loramie and near Anna measured three inches of snow. Another near Houston measured 2.5 inches, while the highway department in Sidney measured two.
The EMA in Rushsylvania and highway department near Bellefontaine both measured four inches of snow.
The observer near Gordon measured 2.5 inches of snow, while the observer near Bradford measured 2.1 inches. The highway department in Greenville reported 2 inches.
The highway department east of Eaton measured 2 inches of snow, as did a public report from Gratis.
The highway department near Troy measured 2 inches of snow.
A report from Centerville indicated that 3 inches of snow had fallen. The Dayton airport measured 2.7 inches, while a spotter near Shiloh measured 2.6. A NWS employee near the Wright Brothers Airport (MGY) measured a tenth of an inch of ice.
The observer near Kiser Lake State Park measured 2.2 inches of snow, while the highway department in Urbana measured 2 inches.
A report from Springfield indicated that 2 inches of snow had fallen, with the CoCoRaHS observer near Springfield measuring 1.4 inches.
The highway department near Xenia measured 3 inches of snow. A spotter in Beavercreek measured 2.3 inches of snow with a tenth of an inch of ice.
The highway department in Marysville measured 3.3 inches of snow.
A report from 4 miles south of the Alum Creek State Park measured 2.5 inches of snow while another report of 1.9 inches came out of Lewis Center.
A report from 5 miles northwest of Columbus measured 3 inches of snow. The Columbus airport measured 2.9 inches, while 2.5 inches was reported from Hilliard and Westerville.
In Baltimore, 3.2 inches of snow was measured. The highway department in Lancaster measured 2 inches.
The highway department near Washington Court House measured 3 inches of snow.
The highway department near Circleville measured 2.3 inches of snow while the cooperative observer in Circleville measured 2.2 inches.
The highway department near Logan measured 3 inches of snow.
The highway department near Owensville measured 2 inches of snow. Across the county, icy accumulations cut snowfall totals to average 2 to 3 inches.
The highway department near Hillsboro and a media report from Greenfield both measured 3 inches of snow. The cooperative observer south of Hillsboro measured 2 inches.
The highway department 5 miles south-southwest of Piketon measured 2.5 inches of snow. The cooperative observer near Waverly measured 2 inches.
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, March 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: 505531, 505532, 505534, 505535, 505536, 505537, 505538, 505539, 505540, 505541, 505543, 505544, 505545, 505546, 505547, 505548, 505549, 505550, 505551, 505553, 505555, 505556, 505557, 505558, 505559, 505560, 505561, 505562, 505563.