The snowstorm of December 3 to 6, 1999
A snowstorm NOAA ranked in 4 regions on its Regional Snowfall Index, strongest in the South.
What the offices filed during it
Winter weather episodes east of the Rockies from the day before the storm began to the day after it ended, colored by kind.
- Tornadoes
- Tropical storms and surge
- Floods
- Wind
- Hail
- Winter weather
- Heat and drought
- Cold
- Fire, smoke and dust
- Marine and coastal
- Other
The storm by region
Each region’s thresholds are its own, so the same depth of snow counts for more in the South than in the Northeast.
| Region | Index | Category | Area with snow (sq mi) | People under snow | Above the top threshold (sq mi) | People above it |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South | 1.46 | Category 1, Notable | 158,286 | 4,925,189 | 0 | 0 |
| Upper Midwest | 0.10 | Below category 1 | 77,879 | 14,378,209 | 0 | 0 |
| Ohio Valley | 0.07 | Below category 1 | 152,655 | 29,818,154 | 0 | 0 |
| Northern Rockies and Plains | 0.05 | Below category 1 | 162,668 | 1,765,756 | 0 | 0 |
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.
The toll the offices filed
- Events
- 112
- Deaths
- 1
- Injuries
- 6
- Damage
- $431,000
- Episodes
- 21
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.
Episode by episode
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 1 to 2, 1999A very moist pacific frontal system brought heavy snows to the Cascades. Mt. Hood Medows received 22 inches, Timberline 19, Mt Bachelor 18 and Bennett Pass 17 inches.
- Winter Storm in Idaho, December 2, 1999A winter storm brought heavy snow to the mountains of Eastern Idaho. Accumulation of 5 to 8 inches were reported from the Sawtooth Mountains to the Teton Basin. Additionally, snow amounts below 2 inches were reported across the Snake and Magic Valleys.
- Heavy Snow in Utah, December 2 to 3, 1999A major winter storm developed over Utah late on the 2nd and lasted into the morning hours of the 3rd. The heaviest snow fell along the Southern Wasatch Front. Near blizzard conditions were reported overnight in Northern Utah County, with drifts up to 3 feet in Pleasant Grove.
- Heavy Snow and Hail in Kansas, December 2 to 5, 1999Occurred at Strother Field.
- Winter Storm in Wyoming, December 3, 1999Icy roads from snowfall resulted in a few serious accidents. The most significant was a collision between two semi trucks on Interstate 80 about 17 miles west of Cheyenne, Wy.
- Heavy Snow in New Mexico, December 3 to 4, 1999Heavy snow of 6 to 9 inches was reported across the north central mountains. Heavy snow of 3 to 7 inches also developed in the northeast plains while Quay County measured 8 to 12 inches along the Caprock.
- Heavy Snow in Texas, December 4, 1999An upper level low pressure system translated from the Pacific Northwest on the 2nd into the four corners region on the 3rd then into the Southern Plains on the 4th.
- Heavy Snow in Texas, December 4, 1999Strong upper low over southeastern New Mexico moved northeast during the day across the Texas South Plains region and then into southwestern Oklahoma by the early evening hours.
- Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, December 4, 1999Strong upper low over southeastern New Mexico moved northeast during the day across the Texas South Plains region and then into southwestern Oklahoma by the early evening hours. Heavy snowfall occurred across the eastern Oklahoma panhandle.
- Winter Storm in Kansas, December 4 to 5, 1999A winter storm produced 6 inches of snow across most of the area. In Barber county, the snow was lighter but at the same time ice accumulated to 3/4 of an inch during a period of freezing rain. Power lines were reported to be down in the area.
- Heavy Snow and Lightning Strike in Oklahoma, December 4 to 5, 1999A winter storm accompanied by heavy snow and strong winds affected northwest Oklahoma from the evening of the 4th through the early morning of the 5th.
- Winter Storm in Kansas, December 4 to 5, 1999A low pressure system moved from Oklahoma to Missouri and spread wintry weather across much of Northeast and East central Kansas. Cold rain changed to sleet then to snow during the evening of the 4th and continued through mid morning on the 5th.
- Winter Storm in Iowa, December 5, 1999Low pressure over Missouri lifted into the Ohio Valley. Precipitation began as rain, but as the system moved east strong north winds on the backside of the storm ushered in colder air allowing for a changeover from rain to snow.
- Winter Storm in Illinois, December 5, 1999Low pressure over Missouri lifted into the Ohio Valley. Precipitation began as rain, but as the system moved east strong north winds on the backside of the storm ushered in colder air allowing for a changeover from rain to snow.
- Winter Storm in Missouri, December 5, 1999Low pressure over Missouri lifted into the Ohio Valley. Precipitation began as rain, but as the system moved east strong north winds on the backside of the storm ushered in colder air allowing for a changeover from rain to snow.
- Heavy Snow in Missouri, December 5, 1999Rain changed over to heavy snow in parts of northwest Missouri early on the morning of December 5th. Snow began around 3 am in the St. Joseph area, and spread northeastward during the next few hours. By 8 am, St. Joseph and Bethany reported snow depths of 6 inches or more.
- Heavy Snow in Kansas, December 5, 1999Portions of Atchison and Doniphan Counties were under a band of heavy snow early on the morning of December 5. Snow began around 3 am, and accumulated at a rate of more than 1 inch per hour. By 8 am, reports were received of 6 inches of snow on the ground.
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 6 to 7, 1999A strong pacific frontal system brought heavy snows to the Cascades. Timberline got 22 inches, Mt Hood Meadows 18 inches, Bennett Pass and Santiam Pass 16 inches.
- Heavy Snow in Alaska, December 6, 1999The haines areas received 2 feet of snow.
- Heavy Snow in Oregon, December 7, 1999Heavy snow fell in the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon and Washington. Meacham received 7 inches of snow in 9 hours. Tollgate, at an elevation of 5200 ft, received 6 inches between 2 am and 11 am.
- Heavy Snow in Utah, December 7, 1999Another storm brought good amounts of snow to mainly Northern Utah. Alta, Brian Head and Solitude received 13 inches, Snowbird had 12 inches and Brighton 11 inches. Most valley locations picked up 2-4 inches with 3-6 inches on the benches.
More
The snowstorm of November 21 to 24, 1999The snowstorm of December 8 to 9, 1999Snow nowEvery winter storm filed
Sources
NOAA NCEI Regional Snowfall Index, and the Storm Events Database for the episodes.