The snowstorm of February 2 to 4, 2016

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

464

Deaths

6

Injuries

3

Damage

$685,000

Episodes

51

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 Weather in Minnesota, February 1, 20162 deaths · 3 injured · $8,000 · 1 eventTwo people were killed and another injured in a two car accident on U.S. Highway 61 south of La Moille (Winona County).
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in New Mexico, February 1, 201662 kt wind · 17 eventsA vigorous low pressure system and associated cold front produced widespread snow, heavy at times, across much of the area late on the 31st through the 1st before diminishing early on the 2nd.
• Winter Storm in Colorado, February 1 to 2, 201617 eventsA slow moving storm system moved across the Four Corners region and strengthened as it moved into southeastern Colorado. The southeasterly flow aloft initially produced snowfall in the and near the foothills of Larimer County.
• Winter Storm in Utah, February 1 to 2, 20167 eventsA strong winter storm that began in northern Utah on January 29 shifted into southern Utah for the end of January. The storm continued into the beginning of February across primarily the southern half of Utah.
• Winter Weather and Strong Wind in California, February 1, 2016$10,000 · 3 eventsA low pressure system brought some snow to the mountains. Gusty north winds developed as high pressure built in behind the departing system.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 1 to 2, 201615 eventsA strong low pressure system impacted the central Rockies with periods of moderate to heavy snowfall and gusty east to northeast winds of 30 to 40 mph. The combination of falling and blowing snow created poor visibilities and snow-packed roadways.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 1 to 2, 201617 eventsA strong winter storm moved across the region on February 1st and 2nd and produced heavy snowfall amounts of 8 to 15 inches across portions of western and north central Nebraska.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, February 1 to 2, 20165 eventsWidespread snowfall moved across Northwest Kansas during the morning of the first, lasting into the afternoon of the second. Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to 15 inches. Wind gusts in the 40-50 mph range accompanied the snow.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 1 to 2, 20163 eventsA large area of moderate to heavy snowfall moved across East Central Colorado beginning on the first and lasting into the second. The heaviest snowfall occurred during the night.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, February 1 to 2, 20167 eventsAn upper level low moved through the Western United States at the end of January then into the Central High Plains Feb 1st into Feb 2nd. Moisture increased above western Kansas as this system approached with mostly cloudy skies observed after midnight on Feb 1st.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, February 1 to 2, 20161 eventSnowfall started across Southwest Nebraska during the morning. Snowfall amounts ranged from 9 to 12 inches across Dundy county, with higher amounts to the east. Near zero visibility was reported in Benkelman at one point during the storm.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Kansas, February 1 to 2, 20165 eventsAlthough most of this six-county North Central Kansas area was spared the overall-higher snow totals that slammed Nebraska counties to the north, the first two days of February nonetheless featured one of the most significant winter storms/blizzards to strike the local area in…
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 1 to 3, 201623 eventsA strong jet stream moved into the southwest United States on Monday February 1st, and then into the plains on Tuesday February 2nd.
• Blizzard in Kansas, February 1 to 2, 20167 eventsWidespread snowfall, and wind gusts in the 40-55 MPH range, lead to blizzard conditions across much of Northwest Kansas beginning late on the first and well into the second. Snowfall totals ranged from 9-18 inches, with the highest snowfall amount reported in Norton.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 2, 201624 eventsOne of the most significant winter storms/blizzards on record slammed this 24-county South Central Nebraska area during the first two days of February, with the vast majority of impacts occurring on Tuesday the 2nd as a crippling combination of heavy snow and strong winds…
• Blizzard in Nebraska, February 2, 20162 eventsWidespread snowfall spread across Hitchcock and Red Willow counties during the second day of February. Wind speeds in the 50-55 MPH range, combined with the falling snow, caused blizzard conditions to develop across both counties on the second.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Iowa, February 2 to 3, 201633 eventsA low pressure system moved off the Rockies Monday night into Tuesday and proceeded east and then northeast towards Iowa. It traversed the southeastern portions of the state on Tuesday evening and into early Wednesday.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Iowa, February 2 to 3, 20164 eventsA strong jet stream moved into the southwest United States on Monday February 1st, and then into the plains on Tuesday February 2nd.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, February 2, 20161 eventA late winter storm system brought rain, sleet, and snow to portions of Iowa early February 3rd. While most of the snow fell farther north and west of eastern Iowa, portions of northwest Buchanan county saw heavy amounts of snow.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Iowa, February 2 to 3, 201622 eventsHeavy snow in northwest Iowa was accompanied by north to northwest winds reaching sustained speeds near 30 mph with gusts above 40 mph.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 2 to 3, 201620 eventsSnow in southeast south Dakota was accompanied by north to northwest winds reaching sustained speeds near 30 mph with gusts above 40 mph.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 2 to 3, 20164 eventsHeavy snow in extreme northeast Nebraska was accompanied by north to northwest winds reaching sustained speeds near 30 mph with gusts above 40 mph.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 2 to 3, 20168 eventsNortheast Iowa was covered by a 5 to 10 inch blanket of snow on February 2nd. This snow fell as a winter storm tracked from Kansas into lower Michigan.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 2 to 3, 201612 eventsWestern and central Wisconsin was covered by 5 to 11 inches of snow on February 2nd. This snow fell as a winter storm tracked from Kansas into lower Michigan.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 2 to 3, 20167 eventsSoutheast Minnesota was covered by a 6 to 9 inch blanket of snow on February 2nd. This snow fell as a winter storm tracked from Kansas into lower Michigan.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Minnesota, February 2 to 3, 201614 eventsSnow in southwest Minnesota was accompanied by north to northwest winds reaching sustained speeds near 30 mph with gusts above 40 mph.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, February 2 to 3, 201625 eventsA major winter storm affected the Upper Midwest with snowfall amounts in excess of one foot around the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area that fell during the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, February 2nd.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wisconsin, February 2, 20167 eventsStrong low pressure tracked from the Central Great Plains through Southeast Wisconsin bringing several inches of snow to Sauk, Columbia, Marquette, and Green Lake Counties. Gusty east winds to 30 mph prevailed during the day.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 2 to 3, 20169 eventsA major winter storm affected the Upper Midwest with snowfall in excess of a foot near the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area, to between 9 and 12 inches northeast across portions of west central Wisconsin during the afternoon and evening of Tuesday, February 2nd.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 2 to 3, 201619 eventsA winter storm impacted most of the area during the afternoon and evening hours of February 2nd as a strong low pressure system moved from the central Plains to northern Lower Michigan, then continued northeast to western Quebec.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, February 2 to 3, 20161 eventStrong low pressure moved northeast from the central plains, crossing northern lower Michigan early on the 3rd. Snow developed ahead of system, and was briefly heavy at times before switching to rain, drizzle, and freezing drizzle over many areas.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, February 2 to 3, 20167 eventsAn area of low pressure moved across Iowa and southern Wisconsin. After the low moved east of the area the snow transitioned to lake effect snow.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, February 2 to 3, 201613 eventsA low pressure system developing over the Southern Plains tracked into the Central Great Lakes and dropped moderate to heavy snow over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the 2nd into the 3rd.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, February 4 to 8, 20161 death · 1 eventA man was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the south side of Mishawaka early Thursday, February 4th. Areas of freezing drizzle created slick roadways during the morning hours of February 4th.
• Winter Weather in Idaho, February 4, 2016$12,000 · 1 eventSeveral traffic accidents and slide offs occurred on snow covered roads in the Upper Snake River Plain during the morning of February 4th.
• Cold in Wisconsin, February 4, 20161 death · 1 eventHypothermia was a significant factor in the death of a woman who went missing for several days.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Alaska, February 4 to 5, 201661 kt wind · 4 eventsAnother in a series of weather systems moving up from the south along the outer coast caused strong winds and a couple of areas of heavy snow to SE Alaska. First, a strong occluded front moved onshore on the afternoon of Wed 2/3.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 5, 201616 eventsPrecipitation associated with a low pressure system moving north along a nearby offshore front began as light rain during the evening hours on the 4th, then turned to snow from northwest to southeast during the overnight hours.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 5, 20164 eventsPrecipitation associated with a low pressure system moving north along a nearby offshore front began as light rain during the evening hours on the 4th, then turned to snow from northwest to southeast during the overnight hours.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, February 5, 20163 eventsPrecipitation associated with a low pressure system moving north along a nearby offshore front began as light rain during the evening hours on the 4th, then turned to snow from northwest to southeast during the overnight hours.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, February 5, 20161 eventPrecipitation associated with a low pressure system moving north along a nearby offshore front began as light rain during the evening hours on the 4th, then turned to snow from northwest to southeast during the overnight hours.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Massachusetts, February 5, 20162 deaths · $540,000 · 22 eventsLow pressure traveling along a cold front stalled south of southern New England brought heavy rain, which changed over to heavy snow as temperatures dropped. This snow was extraordinarily wet and heavy, bringing down trees and wires across portions of southern New England.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, February 5, 2016$50,000 · 3 eventsLow pressure traveling along a cold front stalled south of southern New England brought heavy rain, which changed over to heavy snow as temperatures dropped. This snow was extraordinarily wet and heavy, bringing down trees and wires across portions of southern New England.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, February 5, 20168 eventsLow pressure developing along a cold front moving through the region on Thursday February 4th moved off the southern Mid Atlantic coast on Friday February 5th, bringing heavy snow to southern Connecticut on the fifth.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 5, 20166 eventsAn elongated area of low pressure stretching from the outer banks of North Carolina to the Gulf of Maine on the morning of the 5th intensified as it moved rapidly northeast during the day.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 5, 20162 eventsLow pressure developing along a cold front moving through the region on Thursday February 4th moved off the southern Mid Atlantic coast on Friday February 5th, bringing locally heavy snow to parts of interior Northeast New Jersey on the fifth.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, February 5, 20161 eventAn area of low pressure moved northeast along the mid Atlantic Coast towards the coast of Cape Cod on the morning of Friday, February 5th.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 5, 201611 eventsAn elongated area of low pressure stretching from the outer banks of North Carolina to the Gulf of Maine on the morning of the 5th intensified as it moved rapidly northeast during the day.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 5, 20166 eventsLow pressure developing along a cold front moving through the region on Thursday February 4th moved off the southern Mid Atlantic coast on Friday February 5th, bringing heavy snow to Long Island on the fifth.
• Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, February 5, 2016$65,000 · 8 eventsLow pressure traveling along a cold front stalled south of southern New England brought heavy rain, which changed over to heavy snow as temperatures dropped. This snow was extraordinarily wet and heavy, bringing down trees and wires across portions of southern New England.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 5, 20166 eventsA front stalled southeast of the Gulf of Maine during the 5th...while intensifying low pressure tracked along the front. The low brought heavy snow to Downeast areas with accumulations of 6 to 13 inches. Snow developed during the morning of the 5th.

The snowstorm of January 22 to 24, 2016The snowstorm of November 17 to 22, 2016Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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