In addition to mixed precipitation, a period of moderate to heavy rain fell across the upper Ohio Valley along a stalled boundary that was associated with the low pressure system over the Great Lakes. Flooding was reported where the heaviest axis of rainfall occurred through the 5th.
Every event with a place to put it. 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.
In addition to mixed precipitation, a period of moderate to heavy rain fell across the upper Ohio Valley along a stalled boundary that was associated with the low pressure system over the Great Lakes. Flooding was reported where the heaviest axis of rainfall occurred through the 5th.
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 Mar 4, 7:56 AM EST, 4 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
756 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015
.SYNOPSIS...
MIXED PRECIPITATION INTO THIS AFTERNOON WILL TURN TO SNOW
TONIGHT...WITH SEVERAL INCHES OF SNOW EXPECTED INTO NORTHERN WEST
VIRGINIA. TEMPERATURES WILL BE UNSEASONABLY COLD INTO THE WEEKEND.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON/...
HARD TO CATCH BAND OF ACCUMULATING SNOW ON THE BACK EDGE OF
HEAVIER PRECIP BAND BUT HAVE UPDATED TO ADD A QUICKER MIX THIS
MORNING AS 1000-850MB THICKNESS CRASH...AND UP SNOWFALL AMOUNTS
THIS MORNING. TEMPERATURES WILL FALL THROUGH THE DAY WITH MAIN
PUSH OF MUCH COLDER SURFACE AIR NOW ACROSS CENTRAL OHIO WITH
SHARPER WIND SHIFT AND SECONDARY FRONT.
HEADLINES UNCHANGED. STILL EXPECT FLOOD PROBLEMS INTO THE
AFTERNOON BEFORE COLDER AIR BEGINS TO SLOW RUNOFF. FLOOD WATCH
CONTINUES AND ALREADY NUMEROUS ICE JAMS AND LOW LYING FLOODING.
&&
.SHORT TERM /4 PM THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH FRIDAY/...
THE MAIN CHANGEOVER FROM RAIN TO SNOW WILL HAPPEN DURING THE LATE
AFTERNOON INTO EARLY EVENING. ALTHOUGH THE COLDER AIR WILL MOVE IN
BEHIND THE COLD FRONT...THE FRONT ITSELF WILL TAKE ITS TIME MOVING
OUT OF THE REGION...ALLOWING PRECIPITATION TO CONTINUE TONIGHT INTO
THURSDAY. MOST DIFFICULT PART OF THE FORECAST WILL BE DETERMINING
THE WESTERN EDGE OF THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL...AS A TIGHT GRADIENT IS
EXPECTED. ALL COUNTIES PREVIOUSLY UNDER THE WINTER STORM WATCH
HAVE BEEN PUT INTO A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY OR WINTER STORM
WARNING...WITH A FEW ADDITIONAL COUNTIES ADDED INTO THE ADVISORY
AS WELL. HAVE GONE SOMEWHAT CONSERVATIVE WITH THE AREA IN THE
WARNING...AND AM CONCERNED THAT HIGHER SNOW TOTALS COULD EDGE A
LITTLE BIT FARTHER NORTH AND WEST. AN ADDITIONAL CONCERN WAS
MODEL SOUNDINGS SHOWING THAT A WARM LAYER ALOFT COULD REMAIN FOR A
FEW HOURS ACROSS THE WV/MD RIDGES...WHICH COULD ALLOW FOR A BRIEF
PERIOD OF FREEZING RAIN DURING THE EVENING HOURS. IF FREEZING RAIN
DEVELOPS...IT WOULD CUT INTO OVERALL SNOWFALL TOTALS...BUT WOULD
PRESENT ITS OWN SET OF PROBLEMS DUE TO ICE ACCUMULATION.
SNOW SHOWERS WILL DIMINISH THROUGH THURSDAY AFTERNOON WITH ARCTIC
HIGH PRESSURE CLEARING OUT SKIES. WITH LIGHT WINDS TEMPERATURES
EXPECTED TO CRASH NEAR OR BELOW ZERO WITH FRESH SNOW COVER.
SUNSHINE BUT CONTINUED COLD FRIDAY WITH TEMPERATURES 15 TO 20
DEGREES BELOW SEASONAL AVERAGES.
&&
.LONG TERM /FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH TUESDAY/...
THE LONG TERM PERIOD LOOKS RELATIVELY QUIET WITH A PROGRESSIVE
PATTERN FEATURING PASSAGE OF A COUPLE OF SHORTWAVE TROUGHS. POPS
WERE FORECAST GENERALLY BELOW CHANCE CLIMO NUMBERS USING GFS
TIMING...BUT LONG TERM CONFIDENCE IS MINIMAL WITH DOUBTS ABOUT
TIMING AND MOISTURE SUPPLY. SEASONALLY COOL TEMPERATURES WERE
FORECAST VIA PERSISTENCE AND MOS.
&&
.AVIATION /13Z WEDNESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY/...
IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE MAJORITY OF THE
DAY AS LOW PRESSURE CROSSES THE GREAT LAKES REGION. A GRADUAL
CHANGEOVER TO SNOW IS EXPECTED FROM NORTH TO SOUTH THROUGH THE
MORNING WITH KMGW THE LAST TO CHANGE OVER JUST BEFORE NOON. AN
IMPROVEMENT TO LOW END MVFR WILL BE POSSIBLE FROM PIT NORTH BY
AFTERNOON AS THE ASSOCIATED COLD FRONT PUSHES SOUTH.
.OUTLOOK.../WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH SUNDAY/...
WIDESPREAD RESTRICTIONS ARE EXPECTED INTO THURSDAY AS A WAVE OF
LOW PRESSURE MOVES ALONG A COLD FRONT...WITH SNOW MAINLY FROM PIT
SOUTH. RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH A SUNDAY COLD FRONT.
&&
.HYDROLOGY...
THE COMBINATION OF SNOW MELT AND DEVELOPING RAIN IS EXPECTED TO
CAUSE SIGNIFICANT RISES ON THE CHEAT... MONONGAHELA AND
YOUGHIOGHENY RIVER BASINS. THESE RISES WILL AID IN MOVING ICE INTO
AREAS WHERE ICE JAMS ARE KNOWN TO DEVELOP. THE RISES WILL MOST
LIKELY PERSIST THROUGH THURSDAY. CONFIDENCE IN RAIN AMOUNTS
REMAINS LOW...BUT THE BETTER CHANCE FOR MORE SIGNIFICANT
ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO BE ALONG AND SOUTH OF A ZANESVILLE TO
LATROBE LINE.
&&
.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MDZ001.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR MDZ001.
OH...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR OHZ049-050-057>059-
068-069.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR OHZ049-050-057>059-068.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR OHZ069.
PA...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR PAZ014-020>023-029-
031-073>076.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR PAZ021-023-029-031-073>075.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR PAZ076.
WV...FLOOD WATCH UNTIL 7 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR WVZ001>004-012-
021>023-041.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR WVZ001>004.
WINTER STORM WARNING FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST
THURSDAY FOR WVZ012-021>023-041.
&&HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 432 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 OHZ039>041-048-PAZ007>009-013-015-016-051200- TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST- LAWRENCE-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA- 432 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. OHZ049-050-057>059-068-PAZ021-023-029-031-073>075-WVZ001>004-051200- HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-ALLEGHENY- INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE- HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL- 432 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA...WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN PANHANDLE OF WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. MDZ001-OHZ069-PAZ076-WVZ012-021>023-041-051200- GARRETT-MONROE-FAYETTE RIDGES-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON- TUCKER- 432 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... ...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 4 PM THIS AFTERNOON TO 4 PM EST THURSDAY... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. WINTER STORM WARNING. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. 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 SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES. PAZ014-020-022-051200- BUTLER-BEAVER-ARMSTRONG- 432 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 ...FLOOD WATCH IN EFFECT THROUGH THIS EVENING... THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA. .DAY ONE...TODAY AND TONIGHT. PLEASE LISTEN TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO OR GO TO WEATHER.GOV ON THE INTERNET FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE FOLLOWING HAZARDS. FLOOD WATCH. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...THURSDAY THROUGH TUESDAY. NO HAZARDOUS WEATHER IS EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... WEATHER SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO REPORT SIGNIFICANT WEATHER CONDITIONS ACCORDING TO STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES.
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA 655 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 OHZ059-069-PAZ021-023-029-031-073>076-WVZ003-004-012-041315- BELMONT-MONROE-ALLEGHENY-INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND- WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE-FAYETTE RIDGES-OHIO-MARSHALL-WETZEL- INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...ST. CLAIRSVILLE...WOODSFIELD... PITTSBURGH METRO AREA...INDIANA...WASHINGTON...WAYNESBURG... GREENSBURG...LATROBE...LIGONIER...DONEGAL...UNIONTOWN... CHAMPION...OHIOPYLE...WHEELING...MOUNDSVILLE...NEW MARTINSVILLE 655 AM EST WED MAR 4 2015 MODERATE SNOW SHOWERS WILL BE POSSIBLE THROUGH 9AM...BRINGING DOWN VISIBILITIES TO UNDER ONE MILE AT TIMES AND RESULT IN A QUICK ONE TO TWO INCHES OF SNOW ACCUMULATION. DRIVERS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION THIS MORNING AND ALLOW FOR EXTRA TRAVEL TIME IF POSSIBLE.
PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
758 AM EST WED MAR 04 2015
..TIME... ...EVENT... ...CITY LOCATION... ...LAT.LON...
..DATE... ....MAG.... ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
..REMARKS..
0757 AM HEAVY RAIN 1 WSW MONESSEN 40.15N 79.89W
03/04/2015 M1.50 INCH WESTMORELAND PA TRAINED SPOTTER
&&
EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501394The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
2 flood. Local standard time, as filed.
Emergency management reported that State Route 148 was closed due to an ice jam on Cats Run near the Powhatan area. State Route 149 was also flooded and closed west of Belaire due to ice jam on McMahon Creek.
Emergency management reported that several roads were flooded and closed throughout the county due to heavy rainfall and snowmelt. These roadways include: the intersection of State Route 260 and 724, State Route 821 about a quarter mile south of Dexter City, the intersection of 147 and 146 near Shenandoah School, and the intersection of State Route 564 and 145.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Ohio in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Ohio, March 2015
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: 564011, 564040.