The snowstorm of February 24 to 27, 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

360

Deaths

4

Injuries

5

Damage

$760,000

Episodes

58

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 and Winter Weather in Washington, February 23 to 24, 20111 death · 1 injured · 8 eventsSnow fell over much of western Washington. Amounts varied from 1-10 inches with one site in Mount Vernon reporting 16 inches.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, February 23, 201177 kt wind · 2 eventsAn intense north Pacific storm moved through the Aleutians producing high wind and snow that resulted in blizzard conditions in Shemya.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 24, 20119 eventsA winter storm moved across the region, bringing snow to portions of western South Dakota. Five to ten inches of snow accumulated across southwestern South Dakota.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Wyoming, February 24, 20112 eventsA winter storm passed through the region, bringing heavy snow to parts of northeastern Wyoming. The heaviest snow fell across Weston County, where six to 12 inches of snow accumulated.
• Winter Storm and Hail in Kansas, February 24, 20112 injured · $125,000 · 0.75 in hail · 9 eventsPeriods of light freezing drizzle, light sleet and light snow produced a glaze of ice across portions of central and east-central Kansas, mainly along and north of Highway 50. Ice accumulations ranged from one-eighth to one-quarter inch.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 24, 20119 eventsMuch of Northeast Kansas received a mixture of freezing rain, sleet and snow during the day of February 24th.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 24 to 25, 20115 eventsA potent winter storm moved across the area, with a variety of precipitation,|beginning in the morning hours of February 24, 2011. The activity diminished to light|snow, and ended in the early morning hours of February 25, 2011.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, February 24 to 25, 201126 eventsA potent winter storm moved across the area, with a variety of precipitation,|beginning in the morning hours of February 24, 2011. The activity diminished to light|snow, and ended in the early morning hours of February 25, 2011.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, February 24, 20111 eventA fast-moving winter storm produced areas of light freezing drizzle from Leoti to Hill City in northwest Kansas. Further north, heavy snow was reported across much of Norton county, where observers reported six to eight inches of snow.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 24, 201110 eventsThis Thursday featured one of the most intense, narrow snow bands of the 2010-2011 winter season across South Central Nebraska, targeting locations between Interstate 80 and the Kansas border.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, February 24, 20113 eventsAlthough it only affected a small sliver of North Central Kansas, this Thursday featured one of the most intense, narrow bands of snow of the 2010-2011 winter season within the area.
• Winter Storm in Utah, February 24 to 27, 201114 eventsA cold and slow-moving upper-level trough moved across the Great Basin over a three-day period, producing heavy snow all the way from Utah's northern mountains down to Utah's valleys that border with Arizona.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 24, 20114 eventsAn upper level disturbance that tracked across the central plains brought an area of 3 to 5 inches of snow to southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa. The snow briefly lowered visibilities to 1/4 mile or less in some areas.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, February 24, 20111 eventAn upper level disturbance that tracked across the central plains brought snow to southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa during the evening commute on Feb. 24th.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, February 24, 20113 eventsA low pressure system moved east across southern Missouri into the lower Ohio River Valley during the late afternoon and evening hours of the 24th. A narrow band of moderate to occasionally heavy snow developed over southern Iowa on the north edge of this storm.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, February 24 to 25, 20112 eventsLow pressure tracked from eastern Oklahoma to northern Arkansas and then into the Ohio Valley on February 24-25, 2011. This storm system spread snow, briefly heavy, across portions of southeast Iowa, western Illinois and extreme northeast Missouri.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in California, February 24 to 26, 20117 eventsAn especially cold winter storm moved through Northern California, bringing light snow briefly into the Central Valley.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 24, 20111 eventA second snowfall event occurred over southwest Washington Thursday evening when a deformation band formed over the area.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, February 24 to 25, 20117 eventsLow pressure tracked from eastern Oklahoma to northern Arkansas and then into the Ohio Valley on February 24-25, 2011. This storm system spread snow, briefly heavy, across portions of southeast Iowa, western Illinois and extreme northeast Missouri.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, February 24 to 25, 20112 eventsLow pressure tracked from eastern Oklahoma to northern Arkansas and then into the Ohio Valley on February 24-25, 2011. This storm system spread snow, briefly heavy, across portions of southeast Iowa, western Illinois and extreme northeast Missouri.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 24 to 25, 20111 eventHeavy post-frontal snow showers persisted over the southern Willamette Valley Thursday evening bringing locally heavy snow accumulations to the area.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, February 24 to 25, 201113 eventsA strong area of low pressure tracked along the Ohio River on Thursday, February 24th and brought widespread heavy rain to the Ohio Valley. As the low crossed the area, cold air was pulled into the area from the northwest and rain changed to snow north of metropolitan Dayton.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Indiana, February 24 to 25, 201119 eventsModerate to heavy snow impacted much of northeast Indiana during the morning hours of February 25th as an area of low pressure tracked northeastward near the Ohio River. Snowfall amounts generally ranged between four and seven inches.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 24 to 25, 20111 injured · 2 eventsFreezing rain occurred over the higher terrain of the Poconos overnight on the 24th into the early morning of the 25th. Ice accumulations over the higher terrain averaged around one quarter of an inch and made untreated roadways and walkways hazardous.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 24 to 25, 20111 eventFreezing rain occurred over the higher terrain of Sussex County overnight on the 24th into the morning of the 25th. Ice accumulations over the higher terrain averaged around one quarter of an inch and made untreated roadways and walkways hazardous.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Ohio, February 25, 20118 eventsModerate to heavy snow impacted much of northwest Ohio during the morning hours of February 25th as an area of low pressure tracked northeastward near the Ohio River. Snowfall amounts generally ranged between four and seven inches.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, February 25, 201122 eventsLow pressure tracked northeast from the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley Thursday February 24th, then from the Ohio Valley across Pennsylvania to Long Island during Friday February 25th, before tracking rapidly northeast off the New England coast Friday night.
• Winter Storm in New York, February 25, 2011$325,000 · 17 eventsAn intensifying area of low pressure moved across Pennsylvania then headed northeast across New England. The system brought a significant snowfall of six to twelve inches of snow to the entire area.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 25, 20112 eventsA strong area of low pressure brought a mix of rain and snow to the Upper Ohio Valley with precipitation changing to snow north of interstae 80 in Pennsylvania.
• Winter Storm in Massachusetts, February 25, 20111 eventLow pressure tracked northeast from the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley Thursday February 24th, then from the Ohio Valley across Pennsylvania to Long Island during Friday February 25th, before tracking rapidly northeast off the New England coast Friday night.
• Winter Storm in New York, February 25, 201115 eventsA low pressure system moved east from the Ohio Valley through southern|Pennsylvania on the morning of February 25th. Cold air to the north of the|system brought widespread snow to central New York and portions of northeast|Pennsylvania throughout the day.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 25, 20111 eventA low pressure system moved east from the Ohio Valley through southern|Pennsylvania on the morning of February 25th. Cold air to the north of the|system brought widespread snow to portions of northeast Pennsylvania throughout the day.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, February 25, 20113 eventsLow pressure tracked northeast from the southern Plains into the Ohio Valley Thursday February 24th, then from the Ohio Valley across Pennsylvania to Long Island during Friday February 25th, before tracking rapidly northeast off the New England coast Friday night.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Massachusetts, February 25, 2011$15,000 · 52 kt wind · 4 eventsAn area of low pressure deepened through the interior Mid-Atlantic Region early on February 25th slowly moving to the northeast and reinvigorating off the immediate shoreline of New England and into the Gulf of Maine before retreating further northeast into Nova Scotia.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 25, 201111 eventsAn area of low pressure over the Ohio Valley on the morning of the 25th moved rapidly east during the day to the Canadian Maritimes by the morning of the 26th. The low brought 8 to 12 inches of snow to the region with locally higher amounts.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Vermont, February 25, 2011$140,000 · 16 eventsA storm that brought severe weather to portions of the Mississippi River Valley on February 24th was located in the Ohio River Valley on the morning of the 25th and into the Gulf of Maine by that evening.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, February 25, 2011$60,000 · 9 eventsA storm that brought severe weather to portions of the Mississippi River Valley on February 24th was located in the Ohio River Valley on the morning of the 25th and into the Gulf of Maine by that evening.
• Winter Storm in New Hampshire, February 25, 20112 eventsAn area of low pressure deepened through the interior Mid-Atlantic Region early on February 25th slowly moving to the northeast and reinvigorating off the immediate shoreline of New England and into the Gulf of Maine before retreating further northeast into Nova Scotia.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 25, 201116 eventsAn area of low pressure over the Ohio Valley on the morning of the 25th moved rapidly east during the day to the Canadian Maritimes by the morning of the 26th. The low brought 8 to 12 inches of snow to the region with locally higher amounts.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Maine, February 25 to 26, 201111 eventsIntensifying low pressure tracking near the Maine coast brought heavy snow and gusty winds to the region. Snow began during the morning of the 25th...then continued through that evening.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 25 to 26, 20114 eventsHeavy snow reports were: 11 inches in Stone, 10 inches at Malad Summit, 8 inches at Montpelier, 12 inches at Bern, 10 inches at Preston, 12 inches at Weston, 6 inches at the Pocatello Airport, 14 inches at Emigrant Summit, 16 inches at Franklin Basin, 13 inches at St Charles,…
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 25 to 26, 20113 eventsAn upper level disturbance brought snow to southwestern South Dakota during the night.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, February 25 to 26, 20113 deaths · 1 injured · $90,000 · 4 eventsPeriods of freezing drizzle and freezing fog affected much of south-central and southeast Kansas from the late evening on the 25th through the morning on the 26th. Area roads became very slick, producing numerous accidents and slide-offs.
• Winter Storm in Montana, February 26 to 28, 20112 eventsAn upper level disturbance brought heavy snow to the Rocky Mountain Front. Eight to ten inches of snow were reported.
• Blizzard in Montana, February 26 to 27, 20113 eventsStrong southwest surface winds combined with falling and newly fallen snow to produce blizzard conditions along the Rocky Mountain Front. Wind gusts in excess of 70 mph were reported as well visibilities less than one-quarter mile.
• Blizzard and High Wind in Alaska, February 26 to 28, 2011$5,000 · 87 kt wind · 3 eventsStrong low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska combined with intense high pressure over interior Alaska produced winds in excess of 100 mph through the Thompson Pass area. The strong wind re suspended snow in the area to produce blizzard conditions.
• Winter Storm in California, February 26, 20113 eventsDuring the last week of February, another powerful winter storm brought significant rain and snow to Southwestern California. The storm produced remarkable snowfall amounts in the mountains with some resorts receiving 48 inches of new snowfall.
• Winter Storm in New Hampshire, February 27, 20112 eventsA weak area of low pressure moved eastward out of the Great Lakes Region and off the New England shoreline gradually pushing out to sea.
• Winter Storm in Massachusetts, February 27, 20111 eventA weak area of low pressure moved eastward out of the Great Lakes Region and off the New England shoreline gradually pushing out to sea.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 27, 20111 eventA strong, wet Pacific storm system and its associated cold front moved east across south-central Arizona Saturday night and into the day on Sunday, February 27.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 27 to 28, 20116 eventsA strong front moved into the region Sunday evening and remained fairly stationary over the area through Monday. The frontal system produced very heavy snowfall in the Cascades with some snow accumulations at elevations as low as 300 to 600 feet.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 27 to 28, 20114 eventsA strong front moved into the region Sunday evening and remained fairly stationary over the area through Monday. The frontal system produced very heavy snowfall in the Cascades with some snow accumulations at elevations as low as 300 to 600 feet.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 27 to 28, 20111 eventHigh pressure over the region began to break down as a cold storm system dropped in out of the Gulf of Alaska on the night of the 26th. Moist westerly flow enveloped the region as this upper level low sagged down the British Columbia coastline.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, February 27 to 28, 20112 eventsLow pressure tracked from the southern Plains to central Missouri and then to northern Indiana on February 27-28, 2011. Warmer moist air flowing ahead of the system developed rain across the region during the evening of February 27.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, February 27 to 28, 201111 eventsLow pressure tracked from the southern Plains to central Missouri and then to northern Indiana on February 27-28, 2011. Warmer moist air flowing ahead of the system developed rain across the region during the evening of February 27.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, February 28, 20111 eventAn area of low pressure moving east from Western New York on the morning of the 28th brought a mix of precipitation to New Hampshire.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 28, 20117 eventsLow pressure tracking along the Maine coast brought heavy snow to northern portions of the state. Snow began during the morning of the 28th...then continued into that evening. Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 5 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 28, 20113 eventsAn area of low pressure moving east from Western New York on the morning of the 28th brought a mix of precipitation to Western Maine.

The snowstorm of February 19 to 23, 2011The snowstorm of March 23 to 25, 2011Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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