The snowstorm of February 18 to 21, 2019

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

655

Deaths

6

Injuries

26

Damage

$368,000

Episodes

70

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 Iowa, February 16 to 17, 201925 eventsA relatively broad upper, maturing upper level trough, moved across the upper Plains on the 16th and 17th, providing the opportunity for widespread winter weather.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, February 16 to 17, 20195 eventsMore snow moved through the area during starting during the afternoon on Saturday, February 16 and lingering into Sunday morning February 17. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 9.5 inches occurred. Winds remained on the lighter side during the event generally less than 15 mph.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, February 16 to 17, 20195 eventsMore snow moved through the area during starting during the afternoon on Saturday, February 16 and lingering into Sunday morning February 17. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 9.5 inches occurred. Winds remained on the lighter side during the event generally less than 15 mph.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 16 to 17, 20193 eventsA long duration snow event occurred in Iowa and northern Illinois, from the evening of February 16th, through the evening of the 17th.
• Winter Weather in Arkansas, February 16, 20191 eventA cold front plowed through Arkansas from the Plains early on the 15th. Temperatures dropped at or just below freezing through much of the afternoon in northern sections of the state. A storm system was on the heels of the front, and promised to bring some precipitation.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 17 to 18, 20192 deaths · 16 eventsA slow moving low pressure area brought a prolonged period of light to moderate snowfall. Lake enhanced snow contributed to the overall totals for the counties bordering Lake MI.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, February 17 to 18, 201915 eventsSnow fell across northern Illinois from the morning of February 17th through the morning of February 18th. A mixture of freezing rain and snow developed during the afternoon of February 17th in parts of the Chicago Metro area.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, February 17 to 18, 20191 eventModerate to locally heavy lake effect snow occurred over portions of Marquette County from the 17th into the 18th.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 17 to 19, 201922 injured · 13 eventsA deep upper level low pressure system moved into the Great Basin on February 17, 2019 and forced moist southwest flow over New Mexico through the 18th and 19th.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, February 17, 201912 eventsA ridge of high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States in the early morning hours of February 17th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the lower Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 17, 201911 eventsA ridge of high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States in the early morning hours of February 17th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the lower Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, February 17, 201915 eventsA ridge of high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States in the early morning hours of February 17th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the lower Mississippi Valley.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, February 17, 20192 deaths · 1 injured · 1 eventIcy roads from freezing rain and light snow likely played a part in a car crash that killed 2 people and injured another Sunday afternoon, February 17th.
• Winter Storm in California, February 17 to 18, 20191 death · $330,000 · 2 eventsShowers and winds diminished across the area during the evening of February 17 as skies cleared out.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 17 to 18, 20191 eventA cold low pressure system brought snow down to the Mojave Desert floor.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Massachusetts, February 18, 20196 eventsA coastal storm passed offshore of Massachusetts on February 18th, bringing snow to all of Southern New England. The heaviest snow was located over Southern Massachusetts, especially Plymouth County. Snow tapered off during the evening.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, February 18 to 19, 20191 eventTwo systems moved across the Gulf bringing snow to the northern Panhandle. Cold air in place combined with 2 periods of strong lift in the low and mid levels resulted in a period of moderate to heavy snow early Mon 2/18 and again late Mon afternoon into early Tue morning, 2/19.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, February 19, 20194 eventsA winter storm brought a wintry mix to central Oklahoma, with a narrow band of heavy snowfall across portions of northwest Oklahoma.
• Winter Storm and Flooding in West Virginia, February 19 to 21, 2019$38,000 · 11 eventsA strong storm system moved out of the Plains into the Great Lakes on the 19th and 20th. Cold air was in place along the eastern slopes of the central Appalachians as precipitation started late on the 19th, with snow turning to freezing rain as low level warm air moved in.
• Heavy Snow in Utah, February 19 to 20, 20192 eventsA winter storm brought snow across northern Utah, with heavy snow accumulations across Davis County and northern valleys of the Wasatch Mountains.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, February 19, 201911 eventsA heavy snow event moved across portions of South Central KS producing amounts up to 10 inches. Most locations varied between 2 and 6 inches but a few localized areas received quite a bit more.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, February 19 to 21, 201919 eventsA strong center of high pressure over the northeastern United States wedged cold air along the east side of the Appalachian Mountains. Low pressure in the Gulf brought moisture into the region as it tracked northeast over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 19 to 20, 20191 eventHeavy snow fell at Paradise on Mount Rainier.
• Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 19 to 20, 20191 eventShallow arctic air spread into much of eastern Oklahoma and northwestern Arkansas on the 18th and 19th. Warm advection ahead of an approaching storm system resulted in widespread precipitation across the region.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 19 to 20, 20191 death · 3 injured · 21 eventsFor the third time in five days, South Central Nebraska saw a moderate snow event, this one peaking in intensity on the late afternoon-evening of Tuesday the 19th and lingering into the morning of Wednesday the 20th before ending.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 19 to 20, 201925 eventsAnother strong winter storm moved through the region on February 19-20, 2019. Snowfall amounts of 2 to 8 inches occurred. Winds remained on the lighter side at 10 to 15 mph, initially from the southeast, but eventually changing to the west.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, February 19 to 20, 20196 eventsA fairly low-impact snow event occurred within this six-county North Central Kansas area, getting underway on the late afternoon and evening of Tuesday the 19th and lingering into the morning of Wednesday the 20th before ending.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 19 to 20, 201914 eventsA moist southerly flow develop above a cool wedge of high pressure resulted in development of precipitation across western North Carolina during the afternoon and evening of the 19th.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 19 to 20, 20192 eventsA strong center of high pressure over the northeastern United States wedged cold air along the east side of the Appalachian Mountains. Low pressure in the Gulf of Mexico brought moisture into the region as it tracked northeast over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 19 to 20, 201910 eventsA surface low pressure area moved across the region and brought heavy snow of 6 to 8 inches to northeast South Dakota. Travel was significantly affected. Some activities were cancelled and schools started late or closed for the day.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, February 19 to 20, 20194 eventsAnother strong winter storm moved through the region on February 19-20, 2019. Snowfall amounts of 1 to 5 inches occurred. Winds remained on the lighter side at 10 to 15 mph, initially from the southeast, but eventually changing to the west.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 19 to 20, 20195 eventsA strong center of high pressure over the northeastern United States wedged cold air along the east side of the Appalachian Mountains. Low pressure in the Gulf brought moisture into the region as it tracked northeast over the Carolinas and Virginia.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 19 to 20, 201915 eventsThe winter hits continued for the Iowa area, with yet another system moving through and dropping inches of snowfall across a wide area.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, February 19 to 20, 20194 eventsOn the evening of February 19, a winter storms brought 5 to 7 inches of snow to portions of far northwest Missouri.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, February 19 to 20, 20196 eventsMost of northeast Iowa was covered with another six inches or more of snow from a storm system that passed across the region from late on February 19th into the 20th.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, February 20, 201924 eventsLow pressure moved through the Great Lakes region, sparking a brief round of accumulating snowfall early in the morning.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 19 to 20, 20194 eventsLow pressure brought light to moderate snow and areas of freezing drizzle to southern WI. Snow covered and slippery roads were prevalent mainly from Madison and westward.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, February 20, 20194 eventsLow pressure moved through the Great Lakes region, sparking a brief round of accumulating snowfall early in the morning.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 20, 20191 eventLow pressure moved through the Great Lakes region, sparking a brief round of accumulating snowfall early in the morning.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 19 to 20, 20197 eventsSoutheast Minnesota was covered with another six inches or more of snow from a storm system that passed across the region from late on February 19th into the 20th.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 20, 201934 eventsThis storm system moved out of the Rockies, and into the Upper Midwest late Tuesday night, and into Wednesday, February 20th. Deep moisture was present during the onset of this storm, which allowed for much higher snowfall rates.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 20, 201916 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Plains to the upper Midwest on February 20th, before transitioning to a coastal system by the morning of the 21st. This low pushed a warm front northward across our region.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 20 to 21, 201910 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Plains to the upper Midwest on February 20th, before transitioning to a coastal system by the morning of the 21st. This low pushed a warm front northward across our region.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, February 20, 201910 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Plains to the upper Midwest on February 20th, before transitioning to a coastal system by the morning of the 21st. This low pushed a warm front northward across our region.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 20, 20191 eventLow pressure tracked from the Plains to the upper Midwest on February 20th, before transitioning to a coastal system by the morning of the 21st. This low pushed a warm front northward across our region.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, February 20, 201910 eventsA couple of low pressure areas tracking from the Gulf Coast States northeast and across the Mid Atlantic region produced between one half inch and three inches of snow and sleet, along with one tenth of an inch or less of ice from freezing rain across portions of central and…
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 20, 20192 eventsA surface low pressure trough brought heavy snow up to 6 inches to west central Minnesota. Travel was significantly affected. Snowfall amounts included 6 inches at Browns Valley, Odessa, and Artichoke Lake.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, February 20, 201928 eventsSurface high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States during the overnight hours of February 19th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the south central US.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, February 20, 201918 eventsA wintry mix of snow, freezing drizzle and sleet had a significant impact on the February 20th morning commute. Light snow and ice accumulations were common across the region.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 20, 201911 eventsSurface high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States during the overnight hours of February 19th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the south central US.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, February 20, 20198 eventsA wintry mix of snow, freezing drizzle, and sleet had a significant impact on the February 20th morning commute. Light snow and ice accumulations were common across the region.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 20, 20197 eventsThis storm system moved out of the Rockies, and into the Upper Midwest late Tuesday night, and into Wednesday, February 20th. Deep moisture was present during the onset of this storm, which allowed for much higher snowfall rates.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, February 20, 20192 eventsA small part of western Wisconsin was covered with another six inches or more of snow from a storm system that passed across the region from on February 20th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, February 20, 201918 eventsSurface high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States during the overnight hours of February 19th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the south central US.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 20 to 21, 201928 eventsLow pressure passed over the western Great Lakes, bringing a period of warm-advection snow to central Pennsylvania. 6 to 10 inches of snow fell across the southern tier of counties from Somerset eastward to Lancaster, with lesser amount farther to the north.
• Winter Weather in District of Columbia, February 20, 20191 eventSurface high pressure was in place over the northeastern United States during the overnight hours of February 19th. At the same time, low pressure was tracking northeastward from the south central US.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, February 20, 20192 eventsA complex area of low pressure brought a mix of wintry precipitation, some heavy, to the mid-Atlantic.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 20 to 21, 201915 eventsA deepening low pressure system tracking from the Central Plains into the Great Lakes region brought moderate to heavy snow across much of Upper Michigan from the 20th into the morning of the 21st.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, February 20 to 21, 20198 eventsA quick moving low pressure system spread snow across much of the Northland during the morning hours. Snowfall became heavy during the afternoon hours with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour and whiteout conditions.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, February 20 to 21, 20194 eventsA quick moving low pressure system spread snow across much of the Northland during the morning hours. Snowfall became heavy during the afternoon hours with snowfall rates of 1 to 2 inches per hour and whiteout conditions.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, February 20, 20192 eventsA complex area of low pressure brought a mix of wintry precipitation, some heavy, to the mid-Atlantic.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 20 to 27, 201919 eventsA complex area of low pressure brought a mix of wintry precipitation, some heavy, to the mid-Atlantic.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Utah, February 20 to 22, 20198 eventsA strong winter storm produced significant snow accumulations across central and southern Utah.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in California, February 20 to 21, 201958 kt wind · 4 eventsA low pressure system dropped southward through the Great Basin on February 20. This system resulted in a brief periods of strong winds over the crest of the Southern Sierra Nevada and below the passes in Kern County.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 20 to 21, 201913 eventsA complex area of low pressure brought a mix of wintry precipitation, some heavy, to the mid-Atlantic.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, February 20, 20191 eventLight snow and freezing drizzle created hazardous driving conditions across the area on February 20th. The Kansas Highway Patrol says 67-year-old Kansas woman died when she lost control of her vehicle because of snow and ice.
• Winter Storm in Colorado, February 20 to 23, 20198 eventsA slow moving snow storm generated widespread snow, heavy at times over many portions of southern Colorado. Some of the higher reported snow totals with this event included six inches of snow near Creede, Monument, Florissant, Palmer Lake and Rye.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 21, 20191 eventA very cold low pressure system brought unusually heavy snow to low elevations in the Mojave Desert.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, February 21, 20192 eventsA low pressure system moved into the central Gulf on the evening of 2/21 with a warm front moving over the Panhandle. Some cold air was trapped over the Yakutat forelands and the northern Panhandle which caused come moderate snow that eventually had some rain mixed.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, February 21 to 23, 201957 kt wind · 30 eventsA slow-moving winter storm that pummeled Arizona with record heavy snowfall on February 21, 2019 shifted east into New Mexico on the 22nd and 23rd.

The snowstorm of January 18 to 21, 2019The snowstorm of February 21 to 25, 2019Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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