The snowstorm of April 15 to 17, 2011

The Regional Snowfall Index is NOAA’s ranking of snowstorms east of the Rockies by how much snow fell, over how wide an area and on how many people, region by region: the area and the population above four snowfall thresholds set for each region, weighted against that region’s own history. A storm is scored in each region it reached, on a scale from 1, notable, to 5, extreme.

Events

119

Deaths

2

Injuries

1

Damage

$694,000

Episodes

16

Every winter weather episode the Weather Service filed east of the Rockies in these dates. A few may belong to another system on the same days. 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.

• Winter Storm in Montana, April 13 to 14, 20111 eventA Pacific storm system brough heavy snow to portions of Madison County. The heaviest snow fell mainly at elevations above 6000 feet. Up to 10 inches was reported.
• Winter Storm in Colorado, April 14, 2011$56,000 · 3 eventsAn intense, slow-moving, winter-like storm moved across the Central High Plains on April 14-15. The storm produced a round of high winds with numerous gusts over 60 mph, in addition to wet, heavy snow.
• Blizzard in Nebraska, April 14 to 15, 2011$200,000 · 2 eventsAn intense, slow-moving, winter-like storm moved across the Central High Plains on April 14-15. The storm produced a round of high winds with numerous gusts over 60 mph, in addition to wet, heavy snow.
• Blizzard in Kansas, April 14 to 15, 2011$437,000 · 5 eventsAn intense, slow-moving, winter-like storm moved across the Central High Plains on April 14-15. The storm produced a round of high winds with numerous gusts over 60 mph, in addition to wet, heavy snow.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, April 14 to 15, 201116 eventsAn intense spring storm system tracked across western and north central Nebraska on April 14th and 15th, 2011.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 14 to 15, 20118 eventsA strong storm moved across the Rockies and Central Plains, bringing rain and snow to western and south central South Dakota. The heaviest precipitation fell from southwestern into central South Dakota, where rain changed to snow during the afternoon and evening of the 14th.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, April 14 to 15, 201119 eventsA strong upper level low pressure area brought widespread heavy snowfall to central and parts of northeast South Dakota. This early spring storm brought 6 to 14 inches of heavy snow to the area. The heavy wet snow caused a lot of travel problems along with a few accidents.
• Heavy Snow in North Dakota, April 14 to 15, 201117 eventsAn inverted surface trough extending from a deep area of low pressure moving slowly across the central plains, brought heavy snow to much of south central and southeastern North Dakota from April 14th through April 15th.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in North Dakota, April 15, 201110 eventsAn area of surface low pressure moved across the central plains toward the Great Lakes, while an inverted trough extended up into the northern plains. Along and east of the trough, winds were easterly in direction and relatively dry.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in South Dakota, April 15, 201111 eventsWet snow accumulated 6 to 9 inches in scattered areas of southeast South Dakota, away from the eastern border of the state.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, April 15, 20114 eventsIntense low pressure tracked from central Kansas into southern Missouri before weakening as it lifted northeast. This system brought areas of heavy snow to northeast Nebraska with the heaviest from around Neligh northeast into Cedar and Knox counties.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, April 15, 20112 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventA large surface low pressure area brought 1 to 2 inches of snowfall resulting in slushy roads and difficult driving conditions across Hamlin County. The poor conditions contributed to a fatal accident.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, April 15, 20116 eventsAn area of surface low pressure moved across the central plains toward the Great Lakes, while an inverted trough extended up into the northern plains. Along and east of the trough, winds were easterly in direction and relatively dry.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Minnesota, April 15 to 16, 201156 kt wind · 5 eventsA deep low moved from Oklahoma on April 14th, tracking across southern Iowa on the evening of the 15th, reaching North Carolina late on the 16th. Some heavy snow fell over and just west of the Iron Range and in parts of the Rainy River Valley during the 16th.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, April 15 to 17, 2011$1,000 · 9 eventsA low pressure system lifting from Wisconsin across eastern Lake Superior and then into Ontario brought periods of freezing rain and moderate snow to portions of Upper Michigan from the 16th into the 17th.
• Winter Storm in Montana, April 16 to 18, 20112 eventsA Pacific storm system brought heavy snow to the Rocky Mountain Front. Snow amounts up to a foot were reported.

The snowstorm of March 23 to 25, 2011The snowstorm of October 25 to 31, 2011Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.