Heavy Snow, Greene
- When
- March 4, 7:00 PM EST to March 5, 11:30 AM EST
- Where
- Greene forecast zone
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 39.854, -80.223 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 4 to 5, 2015
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; 5 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
The toll
- Deaths
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Property damage
- None recorded
- Crop damage
- None recorded
- Events
- 5
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.
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 of the 4th, into the 5th. Six to twelve inches of heavy snow was reported in several counties in OH, WV, MD and southern PA through early afternoon on the 5th.
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, 6:21 PM EST, 39 minutes earlier.
Area forecast discussion, Mar 4, 6:21 PM EST, 39 minutes before
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE PITTSBURGH PA
621 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/...
DROPPED THE FLOOD WATCH AS PRECIPITATION HAS OR WILL SOON BE
CHANGING TO SNOW. ONGOING HIGH WATER PROBLEMS SHOULD CONTINUE
THOUGH NEW FLOODING IS NOT EXPECTED. SEVERAL RIVER FLOOD WARNINGS
REMAIN IN EFFECT AS WELL SOUTH OF PIT.
SNOW IS EXPECTED TO INCREASE TONIGHT AS A WAVE OF LOW PRESSURE
MOVES ALONG A SOUTHWARD MOVING COLD FRONT. A BRIEF PERIOD OF
FREEZING RAIN IS POSSIBLE IN THE RIDGES BEFORE COLD AIR ADVECTS
IN. A MORE PROLONGED PERIOD OF SNOW IS EXPECTED SOUTH OF
INTERSTATE 70...WHERE MODELS INDICATE A FAVORABLE DEEP MOISTURE
FLOW AND FAVORABLE LIFT. MAINTAINED ALL WINTER ADVISORIES AND
WARNINGS AS IS. A SHARP CUTOFF IN SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED ON THE
NORTHERN FRINGE OF THE PRECIP NORTH OF PIT.
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.
&&
.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 /00Z THURSDAY THROUGH MONDAY/...
LOW MVFR AND IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH THE
NIGHT AS COPIOUS MOISTURE FLOWS NORTH AND GENERATES SNOW ALONG A
SOUTHWARD SAGGING FRONT. 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, 1 hour 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
The radar
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
Event by event
5 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
Heavy Snow, Fayette Ridges
- When
- March 4, 9:00 PM EST to March 5, 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Fayette Ridges forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 39.920, -79.647 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Fayette
- When
- March 4, 9:00 PM EST to March 5, 3:00 PM EST
- Where
- Fayette forecast zone
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 39.920, -79.647 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Westmoreland
- When
- March 4, 9:00 PM EST to March 5, 11:30 AM EST
- Where
- Westmoreland forecast zone
- Reported by
- Trained Spotter
- Coordinates
- 40.311, -79.467 (the zone’s center; the record gives no point)
Heavy Snow, Westmoreland Ridges
- When
- March 4, 9:00 PM EST to March 5, 11:30 AM EST
- Where
- Westmoreland Ridges forecast zone
- Reported by
- Social Media
- Coordinates
- 40.311, -79.467 (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
- Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Texas, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Winter Storm in Kentucky, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Flooding in Ohio, March 4, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Virginia, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Avalanche in Utah, March 4, 2015
- Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 4 to 5, 2015
- Winter Storm and Flooding in Kentucky, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Flooding in West Virginia, March 4 to 6, 2015
- Flooding and Heavy Snow in Kentucky, March 4 to 7, 2015
- Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, March 4, 2015
More
Every storm in Pennsylvania in 2015Every state in 2015This day in weather historyWarnings in Pennsylvania, 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: 562744, 562740, 562741, 562742, 562743.