The snowstorm of February 19 to 24, 2010

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

622

Deaths

6

Injuries

11

Damage

$5.3 million

Episodes

92

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.

• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, February 17 to 19, 20103 eventsAn approaching upper level disturbance in combination with rather moist conditions at the surface produced snowfall amounts from 1 to 6.5 inches. Blowing and drifting snow were not an issue because the winds were relatively light during the episode.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 19 to 21, 20103 eventsA stationary 1056 mb high 600 miles north of Wrangel Island combined with several weak waves of low pressure that tracked north along the west coast of Alaska to produce a strong pressure gradient along the Arctic coast.
• Winter Storm in Utah, February 19 to 22, 20106 eventsTwo winter storms moved through Utah in quick succession, impacting primarily the central and southern parts of the state.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, February 20 to 21, 20106 injured · $22,000 · 6 eventsPeriodic bouts of light wintry precipitation, including freezing drizzle, sleet, freezing rain and snow affected locations generally along and northwest of the Kansas Turnpike from the predawn hours on the 20th through the evening hours on the 21st.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 20 to 21, 20104 eventsA slow moving storm system moved across the Central Rockies. At the same time the influence of the mountainous terrain on the easterly surface winds provided additional support for snow to form.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, February 20 to 21, 20102 eventsA slow moving storm system moved across the Central Rockies. At the same time the influence of the mountainous terrain on the easterly surface winds provided additional support for snow to form.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 20 to 21, 20101 death · 1 injured · 9 eventsA storm system moved out of the Rockies and across the state of Kansas on Sunday, February 21. As this storm system approached from the southwest, a cold airmass with sub freezing temperatures had already moved south across much of the area.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 20 to 23, 201033 eventsA series of storm systems brought heavy snow to much of the state between the 20th and the 22nd of February. Light to moderate snows began across northwest New Mexico on the evening of the 20th.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, February 21, 20101 eventA cold front that had settled across the southeast half of Oklahoma slowly lifted north into northern Oklahoma during the day on the 20th. Temperatures during the evening and overnight hours of the 20th/21st were in the lower to middle 30s.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, February 21 to 22, 20105 eventsSnowfall of 6 to 7 inches, mixed with some sleet, fell across Northeast Missouri.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 21 to 22, 20101 eventSnowfall around 8 inches fell across Adams County, IL.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, February 21, 201026 eventsYet another winter storm, in an already active winter season, impacted much of Kansas and Missouri, during the weekend of February 20-21, 2010.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 21, 20106 eventsYet another winter storm, in an already active winter season, impacted much of Kansas and Missouri, during the weekend of February 20-21, 2010.
• Ice Storm in Kansas, February 21, 20102 eventsA strong arctic cold front advanced southeast through southwest and south central Kansas during the day Sunday, February 21st. This front ran into moisture flowing north from Oklahoma, resulting in snow, and a narrow band of ice, across much of south central Kansas.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, February 21 to 22, 20106 eventsLow pressure tracking from Missouri into northern Ohio brought a mix of rain and snow to parts of central Illinois. The heaviest snow with this system fell along and west of the Illinois River, where widespread amounts of 5 to 8 inches were observed.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 21, 20102 eventsA relatively weak upper level disturbance moved across the southern plains from late on the 20th into the 21st and brought snow to southeast Nebraska. Although only 3 to 5 inches of snow fell across the southeast corner, it was accompanied by north winds of 20 to 30 mph.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, February 21 to 22, 20102 eventsA strong winter storm moved from northeast Texas to southern Indiana to Lake Erie February 21-22, 2010. This system produced light to moderate snow across the region mainly along and south of Highway 30.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, February 21 to 22, 201012 eventsA strong winter storm moved from northeast Texas to southern Indiana to Lake Erie February 21-22, 2010. This system produced light to moderate snow across the region mainly along and south of Highway 30.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, February 21 to 22, 201013 eventsA strong winter storm moved from northeast Texas to southern Indiana to Lake Erie February 21-22, 2010. This system produced light to moderate snow across the region mainly along and south of Highway 30.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, February 21, 20101 eventA storm system moved out of the southern Rockies and across far southeast Missouri during the day on the 21st into the early morning of the 22nd. Iowa was on the northwest edge of the system with snow falling over the southern third of the state.
• Winter Storm and Strong Wind in California, February 21 to 22, 2010$1,000 · 5 eventsThe next Pacific storm reached the California coast on February 19th. This storm moved south, parallel to the coast, on the 19th and 20th, before moving inland over far southern California.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, February 21 to 22, 20109 eventsFour to eight inches of snow fell south of a Muskegon to St. John's line over southwest lower Michigan during the morning hours of Monday, February 22nd. The highest amounts fell over Eaton, Ingham, Calhoun, and Jackson counties.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, February 21 to 22, 20103 eventsA strengthening area of low pressure tracked through central Indiana and northern Ohio, bringing a period of wet heavy snow to much of southern Lower Michigan late on February 21st into early February 22nd. Snowfall amounts of 5-8 were common across the region.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, February 22, 20109 eventsLow pressure moved out of the Central Plains and tracked northeast through the Ohio River Valley, moving through northwest Ohio. Snowfall totals were generally in the 2 to 8 inch range, with the higher totals occuring along and south of I-69.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 22, 20102 eventsAn upper level low moved across Southeast Arizona resulting in some mountain snow above 5000 feet.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 22 to 23, 20101 eventA cold upper low moving out of the Pacific Northwest combined with a back door cold front to bring heavy snow to the Southern Sacramento Mountains.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, February 22 to 23, 20101 death · 3 injured · $350,000 · 23 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow and deadly travel conditions to the South Plains of west Texas during the 22nd and 23rd.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 22 to 24, 20102 deaths · 4 eventsA protracted winter storm dropped a wintry mix of snow. sleet and freezing rain from the Lehigh Valley into the Poconos and affected Monroe County the most. The wintry conditions led to numerous accidents including a fatal one in Carbon County.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 22 to 23, 20105 eventsA protracted winter storm dropped a wintry mix of snow. sleet and freezing rain from in northwest New Jersey on the 23rd and 24th and affected Sussex County the most. The wintry conditions led to numerous accidents.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 22 to 24, 20101 eventLow pressure developing off the North Carolina Coast slowly tracked north Monday Night into Wednesday to over eastern Long Island by Wednesday Night.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 22 to 23, 201012 eventsA potent upper level shortwave trough moved over southeast New Mexico and west Texas on February 23rd. With cold air already entrenched over the area, widespread snowfall occurred.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 22 to 23, 20104 eventsA potent upper level shortwave trough moved over southeast New Mexico and west Texas on February 23rd. With cold air already entrenched over the area, widespread snowfall occurred. Snowfall totals ranged from 3 to 7 inches across the region.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 23, 201016 eventsA potent upper level low pressure system embedded in northwest flow moved into the region and brought a combination of cold air and strong lift to West Central Texas.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 23, 20101 death · $680,000 · 10 eventsAn upper level disturbance moved through north Texas with the best lift south of Interstate 20. The precipitation initially began as rain, but as colder temperatures filtered into the region, the rain transitioned to snow.
• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 23 to 24, 20106 eventsA cold front moving through the area produced moderate to heavy lake effect snow over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 23rd into the 25th.
• Winter Storm in Texas, February 23, 20101 eventA potent upper level trough moved east into Central Texas over a cold airmass causing widespread precipitation. Rain mixed with sleet and eventually turned over to snow across the northern half of county warning area.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, February 23 to 24, 20102 eventsLake effect snow fell across Ashland and Iron counties. Amounts ranged from 8 inches at Mellen and Saxon, to 19 inches in Gile. Hurley recorded 12 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 23 to 24, 201022 eventsLow pressure developed along the mid Atlantic coast Tuesday, February 23rd, then gradually moved northward toward southern New England Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, February 23, 20105 eventsA late-season winter storm affected portions of east Texas and northwest Louisiana which began in the late morning and lasted through the evening of Tuesday, February 23, 2010.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, February 23 to 24, 20101 eventLow pressure developed along the mid Atlantic coast Tuesday, February 23rd, then gradually moved northward toward southern New England Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, February 23 to 24, 2010$113,000 · 6 eventsLow pressure moving along the eastern Massachusetts coast brought snow to much of interior Southern New England, with rain falling along the coast.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, February 23 to 24, 20102 eventsLow pressure developed along the mid Atlantic coast Tuesday, February 23rd, then gradually moved northward toward southern New England Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 23, 20107 eventsA low pressure system tracked along the Texas coast, producing a band of snow over portions of southeast Texas...generally north of Interstate 10.
• Heavy Snow in Vermont, February 23 to 24, 20103 eventsLow pressure developed along the mid Atlantic coast Tuesday, February 23rd, then gradually moved northward toward southern New England Tuesday night and Wednesday.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 23 to 24, 2010$28,000 · 2 eventsLow pressure moving along the eastern Massachusetts coast brought snow to much of interior Southern New England, with rain falling along the coast. Nine to twelve inch snowfall totals were widespread across southern New Hampshire.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, February 23 to 25, 2010$2.2 million · 16 eventsOn the afternoon of February 23rd through the evening hours of February 24th, the combination of a large developing upper atmospheric low pressure system across the lower Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley with a surface low south of New England accounted for a prolonged fetch of…
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, February 23 to 24, 2010$50,000 · 6 eventsOn the afternoon of February 23rd through the evening hours of February 24th, the combination of a large developing upper atmospheric low pressure system across the lower Great Lakes and Ohio River Valley with a surface low south of New England accounted for a prolonged fetch of…
• Winter Storm in New York, February 23 to 24, 20102 eventsLow pressure formed off the North Carolina coast and tracked slowly northeast to off the Delmarva Peninsula by Wednesday morning the 24th. The storm then tracked out to sea.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 23 to 24, 20102 eventsLow pressure formed off the North Carolina coast and tracked slowly northeast to off the Delmarva Peninsula by Wednesday morning the 24th. The storm then tracked out to sea.
• Heavy Snow and Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, February 23 to 25, 20105 eventsA weak low pressure system moving southeast along an advancing cold front brought locally heavy snowfall to southwest lower Michigan from the evening of Tuesday, February 23rd through the evening of Wednesday, February 24th due to significant lake enhancement.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, February 23 to 24, 20101 eventChilly north-northeast winds (behind a departing low pressure system) kicked off lake effect snow showers. The strongest band hugged portions of the Lake Michigan coastline, dumping 7 inches of snow on the town of Empire.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 23, 20101 eventSome light wintry precipitation fell from a deck of low level cloud cover during the late evening hours on February 23rd. A single report of freezing rain and minor ice accumulations was received from an emergency manager in Elliott county.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, February 23 to 24, 20106 eventsThe second winter storm to strike southeast Texas this month brought another round of sleet and snow from the evening hours on February 23rd into the morning hours on February 24th.
• Winter Weather in Louisiana, February 23 to 24, 20104 eventsThe second winter storm to strike southwest Louisiana this month brought another round of sleet and snow from the evening hours on February 23rd into the morning hours on February 24th.
• Winter Storm in California, February 23 to 24, 20105 eventsA Pacific storm brought moderate to heavy snow over the higher mountain elevations. Snow levels were generally from 4000 to 5000 feet and above for much of the event.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 23 to 26, 201011 eventsA major storm system affected the northeastern U.S. from February 23rd through March 2nd.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 24 to 26, 20107 eventsA major storm system affected the northeastern U.S. from February 23rd through March 2nd.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 24, 20102 eventsHeavy snow fell in the South Central Highlands and mountainous areas of the Cache Valley. 11 inches fell at Bostetter Ranger Station, 12 inches at Howell Canyon, and 12 inches at Oxford Springs.
• Cold in Iowa, February 24, 20103 eventsThe combination of strong winds and cold temperatures created bitterly cold wind chills across portions of northeast Iowa in the morning hours of February 24th.
• Cold in Minnesota, February 24, 20103 eventsThe combination of strong winds and cold temperatures created bitterly cold wind chills across portions of southeast Minnesota in the morning hours of February 24th.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 24, 20103 eventsAn upper level low crossing the Great Lakes region developed an associated surface low that moved over southern portions of Lake Michigan.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Virginia, February 24 to 28, 2010$19,000 · 62 kt wind · 20 eventsAn upper level low centered overhead, combined with a deepening coastal low brought cold air and strong northwest winds to the area. This resulted in significant upslope snow showers across the west facing slopes of the higher elevations across southwest Virginia.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 24 to 28, 20102 eventsAn upper level low centered overhead, combined with a deepening coastal low brought cold air and strong northwest winds to the area. This resulted in significant upslope snow showers across the higher elevations of southeast West Virginia.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 24 to 25, 2010$5,000 · 20 eventsAn upper level low pressure system tracked across the central Appalachians on February 24tha and 25th. The weather system kicked off widespread light snow showers that brought accumulating snowfall to multiple counties across eastern Kentucky.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 24 to 26, 20103 eventsNorthwest flow snow showers developed during the evening across the Smoky Mountains and surrounding areas. As snow showers continued during the early morning hours, heavy snowfall accumulations were reached across the higher elevations of the Smokies and surrounding areas.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, February 24 to 28, 201023 eventsThe 2nd prolonged period of snow showers in the later half of February occurred from late on Wednesday the 24th into early on Sunday the 28th. The event started as a strong upper air disturbance crossed the area late on the 24th into Thursday the 25th.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 24 to 26, 2010$5,000 · 60 kt wind · 8 eventsAn upper level low centered overhead, combined with a deepening coastal low brought cold air and strong northwest winds to the area. This resulted in significant upslope snow showers across the west facing slopes of the higher elevations across northwest North Carolina.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 24 to 26, 20104 eventsNorthwest flow snow showers developed during the evening across the northern mountains, and continued along the Tennessee border through much of the 25th, with heavy snowfall accumulations reached across much of the area shortly after sunrise.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Maine, February 24 to 26, 201061 kt wind · 7 eventsA tight pressure gradient between intense low pressure across southern New England and high pressure to the north produced strong east winds across Downeast Maine. The strongest winds occurred from the evening of the 25th into the early morning hours of the 26th.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 24 to 25, 20102 eventsAn upper level low tracked across the region resulting in heavy snow across mainly northeast Tennessee and the Cumberland Plateau. The heaviest snow fell over the higher elevations where up to 6 inches of snow was reported.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, February 24 to 25, 20101 eventAn upper-level low passed through Maryland triggering a period of snow on the night of the 24th. The snow lasted into the morning rush hour across northern Maryland.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 25 to 26, 201010 eventsThe third widespread major winter storm of the month of February affected most of Eastern Pennsylvania from the early morning of the 25th into the middle of the day on the 26th. In the Poconos, snowfall averaged 12 to 24 inches.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 25 to 28, 20106 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the night of the 24th. The upper-level low combined with energy in the southern branch of the jet stream, causing low pressure to rapidly intensify over New England on the 25th into the 26th.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 25 to 28, 20102 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the night of the 24th. The upper-level low combined with energy in the southern branch of the jet stream, causing low pressure to rapidly intensify over New England on the 25th into the 26th.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Maryland, February 25 to 28, 20102 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the night of the 24th. The upper-level low combined with energy in the southern branch of the jet stream, causing low pressure to rapidly intensify over New England on the 25th into the 26th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Delaware, February 25 to 26, 20102 eventsHeavy snow fell in New Castle County while lighter snow fell across Kent and New Sussex Counties from from the late evening of the 24th into the afternoon of the 26th. Snowfall averaged three to six inches in New Castle County and around one inch in Kent County.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 25 to 26, 20101 injured · 21 eventsThe third widespread winter storm of February alone spread heavy snow and strong winds across most of New Jersey from the early morning of the 25th into the afternoon of the 26th. The heaviest snowfall was in northwest New Jersey which averaged one to two feet.
• Winter Storm in New York, February 25 to 26, 201018 eventsLow pressure organized off the southeast U.S. coast from Wednesday night, the 24th, to early Thursday the 25th. The low moved north along the eastern seaboard and became a major winter storm as it reached the tip of Long Island Thursday evening.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 25 to 26, 20108 eventsLow pressure organized off the southeast U.S. coast from Wednesday night, the 24th, to early Thursday the 25th. The low moved north along the eastern seaboard and became a major winter storm as it reached the tip of Long Island Thursday evening.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, February 25, 20104 eventsOn Thursday, February 25th, 2010, a cold front marched southeast through western Kansas, and produced a little snow over a small section of southwestern Kansas.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, February 25 to 26, 20103 eventsHeavy snow fell in Cecil County while lighter snow fell across the rest of the Eastern Shore from from the late evening of the 24th into the early afternoon of the 26th. Snowfall averaged three to five inches in Cecil County and around one inch in Kent and Queen Anne's Counties.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 25 to 27, 20101 death · 15 eventsLow pressure rapidly deepened as it tracked north from the North Carolina coast Thursday morning the 25th of February to over the Tri-State area by Thursday evening. This was in response to a powerful upper level disturbance approaching the Eastern U.S coast.
• Winter Storm and Debris Flow in New York, February 25 to 27, 201019 eventsA powerful storm impacted the region, the second in just a couple of days bringing heavy rainfall and a heavy wet snow to the local area.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, February 25 to 26, 20106 eventsLow pressure rapidly deepened as it tracked north from the North Carolina coast Thursday morning the 25th of February to over the Tri-State area by Thursday evening. This was in response to a powerful upper level disturbance approaching the Eastern U.S coast.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, February 25, 20102 eventsAs an upper level low moved across the Cumberland Plateau, its circulation brought upper level disturbances across this area, which resulted in snowfall across two counties. This also resulted in hazardous driving conditions and several car accidents in these two counties.
• Winter Storm in New York, February 25 to 26, 2010$215,000 · 13 eventsA deep storm system off Long Island strengthened and stalled off the New York/New Jersey coast. The system circulated Atlantic moisture back across western and north central New York.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 25 to 26, 201010 eventsAn intense coastal low pressure system brought heavy snow and strong winds to the north central mountains, Laurel Highlands and portions of the middle Susquehanna valley. Frequent wind gusts between 40 and 50 mph were common, resulting in near-blizzard conditions at times.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 25 to 27, 20102 eventsA large and slow moving area of low pressure developed across the Ohio valley on the 25th and intensified as it moved east to the Mid-Atlantic states.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 25 to 28, 20102 eventsA large and slow moving area of low pressure developed across the Ohio valley on the 25th and intensified as it moved east to the Mid-Atlantic states.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 25 to 28, 20101 eventA large and slow moving area of low pressure developed across the Ohio valley on the 25th and intensified as it moved east to the Mid-Atlantic states.
• Winter Storm in Ohio, February 25 to 26, 2010$1.1 million · 3 eventsAn area of strong low pressure developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast early on February 25th. This low deepened considerably and moved slowly up the East Coast on the 25th and 26th.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 25 to 26, 2010$500,000 · 2 eventsAn area of strong low pressure developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast early on February 25th. This low deepened considerably and moved slowly up the East Coast on the 25th and 26th.

The snowstorm of February 16 to 21, 2010The snowstorm of February 21 to March 1, 2010Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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