Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 4 to 5, 2015

Name: Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 4 to 5, 2015
Start: 2015-03-04T22:00
End: 2015-03-05T11:00
Location: Ohio

March 4 to 5, 2015 · NWS PBZ · 1 event in 1 county or zone

The system that brought mixed precipitation and a gradual changeover to rain on the 3rd continued to plague the region on the 4th as the cold front was slowly pushed across the Upper Ohio Valley by an approaching upper level trough. This brought a transition from rain to snow across eastern Ohio, western Pennsylvania, northern West Virginia, and Garrett county Maryland through the evening hours…

Where it happened

Every event with a place to put it; 1 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

Open the live radar over this ground

The toll

Deaths: 0
Injuries: 0
Property damage: None recorded
Crop damage: None recorded
Events: 1

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 PBZ wrote it up.

What forecasters said that day

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, 9:48 PM EST, 12 minutes earlier.

Area forecast discussion, Mar 4, 9:48 PM EST, 12 minutes before

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
948 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015

.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL BRING SNOW MAINLY SOUTH OF INTERSTATE 80 THROUGH
EARLY THURSDAY...FOLLOWED BY BUILDING HIGH PRESSURE TO END THE
WEEK.

&&

.NEAR TERM /THROUGH THURSDAY/...
SNOW CONTINUES ACROSS THE REGION AS A SURFACE WAVE IN THE
CAROLINAS MOVES ALONG A SLOWLY SOUTHWARD MOVING COLD FRONT. A BAND
OF DEEP MOISTURE CONTINUES TO STREAM ACROSS THE AREA TO THE NORTH
OF THE FRONT. MADE VERY LITTLE CHANGE FOR AREAS IN THE WINTER
WEATHER ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS WITH NORTHERN SECTIONS ON THE
FRINGE OF THE PRECIPITATION SHIELD SHOULD SEE THE LEAST
SNOWFALL...WHILE AREAS TO THE SOUTH SEEING THE MOST WITH A MORE
PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW WITH FAVORABLE MOISTURE AND LIFT. DID CUT
BACK ON SNOW NORTH OF THE ADVISORY AREA WITH A SHARP GRADIENT
SETTING UP.

SNOW SHOULD QUICKLY END THURSDAY AS THE SURFACE WAVE EXITS OFF THE
COAST...AND HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN LATE IN THE DAY. THURSDAYS
HIGHS SHOULD BE AROUND 25 DEGREES BELOW AVERAGE BASED ON THE
LATEST SREF NUMBERS.

&&

.SHORT TERM /THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY/...
WEATHER PATTERN QUIETS DOWN FOR THE END OF THE WEEK AS A BROAD
AREA OF HIGH SURFACE PRESSURE PUSHES IN FROM THE WEST AND KICKS
OUT THE MID-WEEK SYSTEM. LINGERING LIGHT SNOW SHOWERS WILL
DISSIPATE QUICKLY THURS NIGHT AND SKIES WILL BEGIN CLEARING FROM
THE WEST. REMNANT SKY COVER WILL PLAY A BIG ROLE IN OVERNIGHT LOWS
HEADING INTO FRIDAY MORNING. WITH CALM WINDS AND THE PRESENCE OF A
FRESH SNOW PACK...FOR AT LEAST 1/2 OF THE CWA...ALL SIGNS POINT
TO DECOUPLING OF THE LOWER ATMOSPHERE AND TEMPERATURES BEGINNING
TO CRATER WELL BELOW AVERAGE. MET AND MAV GUIDANCE SHOW AT LEAST SOME
CLOUDS HOLDING IN DURING THE PRE-DAWN HOURS FRI...WHICH WOULD
DISRUPT EFFICIENT RADIATIONAL COOLING. THINK THIS ROUTE IS A BIT
CONSERVATIVE...AND HAVE HELD LOWS BELOW THOSE NUMBERS.

TEMPERATURES WILL WARM UP QUICKLY HEADING INTO THE WEEKEND WITH
DRIER AND CLEARER CONDITIONS EXPECTED. NEXT SYSTEM POISED TO
STREAM NORTH OF THE FORECAST AREA...EMBEDDED IN THE NORTHWEST
UPPER LEVEL FLOW. NAM/ECMWF SEEM TO HAVE THE BEST HANDLE ON THIS
RELATIVELY DRY SYSTEM...AND THEREFORE FOLLOWED THIS TO INTRODUCE
LIGHT SNOW SATURDAY EVENING.

&&

.LONG TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
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 /02Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LOW MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
NIGHT AS MOISTURE CONTINUES TO FLOW ALONG A SOUTHWARD SAGGING
FRONT. THE RESULTING SNOW AREA WILL SHIFT SOUTHWARD AND GRADUAL
IMPROVEMENT CAN BE EXPECTED ON THURSDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BUILDS IN
THE WAKE OF THE FRONT.

.OUTLOOK.../THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY/...
RESTRICTIONS ARE POSSIBLE WITH A SUNDAY MORNING COLD FRONT.

&&

.PBZ WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
MD...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR MDZ001.
OH...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR OHZ049-050-
     057>059-068.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR OHZ069.
PA...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR PAZ021-023-
     029-031-073>075.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR PAZ076.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR WVZ001>004.
     WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY FOR WVZ012-
     021>023-041.

&&

Hazardous weather outlook, Mar 4, 5:18 PM EST, 4 hours 42 minutes before

HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
518 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015

OHZ039>041-048-PAZ007>009-013>016-020-022-052230-
TUSCARAWAS-CARROLL-COLUMBIANA-COSHOCTON-MERCER-VENANGO-FOREST-
LAWRENCE-BUTLER-CLARION-JEFFERSON PA-BEAVER-ARMSTRONG-
518 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EAST CENTRAL OHIO...NORTHWEST
PENNSYLVANIA...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND WEST CENTRAL PENNSYLVANIA.

.DAY ONE...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>004-052230-
HARRISON-JEFFERSON OH-MUSKINGUM-GUERNSEY-BELMONT-NOBLE-ALLEGHENY-
INDIANA-WASHINGTON-GREENE-WESTMORELAND-WESTMORELAND RIDGES-FAYETTE-
HANCOCK-BROOKE-OHIO-MARSHALL-
518 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015

...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT UNTIL 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...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.

.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>023-041-052230-
GARRETT-MONROE-FAYETTE RIDGES-WETZEL-MARION-MONONGALIA-PRESTON-
TUCKER-
518 PM EST WED MAR 4 2015

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT UNTIL 4 PM EST THURSDAY...

THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR WESTERN MARYLAND...EAST
CENTRAL OHIO...SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA AND NORTHERN WEST VIRGINIA.

.DAY ONE...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...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.

07

In the hours before

Local storm report, Mar 4, 8:22 PM EST, 1 hour 38 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
822 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0745 PM     SNOW             MOUNT WASHINGTON        40.43N  80.01W
03/04/2015  E1.0 INCH        ALLEGHENY          PA   SOCIAL MEDIA

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501414

15

Local storm report, Mar 4, 8:28 PM EST, 1 hour 32 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
828 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0828 PM     SNOW             TAPPAN                  40.36N  81.21W
03/04/2015  M1.0 INCH        HARRISON           OH   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501415

15

Local storm report, Mar 4, 8:30 PM EST, 1 hour 30 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
830 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0715 PM     SNOW             WINTERSVILLE            40.38N  80.71W
03/04/2015  M1.5 INCH        JEFFERSON          OH   DEPT OF HIGHWAYS

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501416

15

Local storm report, Mar 4, 9:20 PM EST, 40 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
920 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0919 PM     SNOW             FARMINGTON              39.81N  79.57W
03/04/2015  M1.0 INCH        FAYETTE            PA   TRAINED SPOTTER

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501417

07

Local storm report, Mar 4, 9:40 PM EST, 20 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
940 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0940 PM     SNOW             HOLBROOK                39.86N  80.31W
03/04/2015  E2.0 INCH        GREENE             PA   SOCIAL MEDIA

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501418

15

Local storm report, Mar 4, 9:54 PM EST, 6 minutes before

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
954 PM EST WED MAR 04 2015

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0953 PM     SNOW             BETHLEHEM               40.04N  80.69W
03/04/2015  E1.5 INCH        OHIO               WV   SOCIAL MEDIA

&&

EVENT NUMBER PBZ1501419

15

The radar

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

Open the radar archive at this moment

Event by event

1 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.

Heavy Snow, Monroe

When: March 4, 10:00 PM EST to March 5, 11:00 AM EST
Where: Monroe forecast zone
Reported by: Department of Highways
Coordinates: 39.727, -81.083 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)

What these are

Heavy Snow: Snowfall reaching the local warning threshold without the other hazards of a winter storm.

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

The same day elsewhere

Every storm in Ohio in 2015 Every state in 2015 This day in weather history Warnings in Ohio, March 2015

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: 562738.