The snowstorm of February 26 to 28, 2004

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

304

Deaths

1

Injuries

0

Damage

$5.0 million

Episodes

49

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 Texas, February 24 to 25, 20045 eventsA surprise snow storm dropped one to three inches of snow across the Interstate 20 corridor of the Big Country. There were reports of isolated amounts of up to four inches in the hills surrounding the Abilene area.
• Winter Storm in California, February 25 to 26, 20042 eventsMajor snow accumulations of up to 36" occurred with the primary storm system in the higher mountain elevations and lingering shower activity added up to 7 inches of additional snow on the 26th.
• Heavy Snow in California, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventThe town of Aspendell, CA recorded 27 inches of snow in just over 12 hours.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Clay County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the northern mountains of the county. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Calhoun County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the southern sections of the county. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Talladega County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the northern mountains of the county. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Cherokee County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the western mountain sections. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Cleburne County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the northern and western mountains. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 25 to 26, 20041 eventA combination of snow and sleet occurred across Etowah County. The snow and sleet measured one to three inches across the northeast sections. Numerous roads were ice covered.
• Winter Storm in Georgia, February 26, 200453 eventsAnother winter wedge of cold air in place across north and central Georgia combined with a strong upper-level storm system moving across the Midsouth to bring a mixture of snow and sleet to much of north and the northern parts of central Georgia.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 25 to 26, 20045 eventsHeavy snow fell in the mountainous regions of southeast Idaho. Spotters reported 12 inches in Spencer, 12 inches in Ketchum, and 9 inches in Island Park.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 26, 20042 eventsTwo inches of snow occurred in the Boaz area of the county in the higher elevations.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, February 26, 20046 eventsLight snow began during the pre-dawn hours across northern portions of the Upstate. By late morning, up to 3 inches had accumulated.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, February 26, 20045 eventsLight snow developed during the pre-dawn hours across extreme northeast Georgia. Up to 3 inches had accumulated by late morning.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 26, 20043 eventsLight snow developed during the pre-dawn hours across the southwest mountains. Up to 3 inches accumulated by late morning.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 26, 20042 eventsSleet and snow began falling over the area around 5 am, and quickly changed to heavy snow, with occasional thunder reported. Snowfall rates as high as three inches per hour were reported.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Carolina, February 26, 20041 death · 3 eventsA mixture of freezing rain, sleet, and snow began falling over the area around 6 am. The light precipitation quickly changed to snow showers, falling heavily at times, with occasional thunder reported.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, February 26, 20042 eventsHeavy snow and sleet fell during the morning hours across southern portions of the Upstate. Roads became slick and hazardous for a while, but most of the sleet and snow melted during the afternoon.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 26, 20041 event7 inches of snow fell at Hanging Limb in Overton County.
• Winter Storm in Georgia, February 26, 20041 eventPrecipitation intensified and transitioned to a sleet/snow mixture during the late morning hours across portions of northeast Georgia. By noon, accumulations of 3 to 5 inches had occurred.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 26 to 27, 20047 eventsDuring the 26th, an upper level low pressure system moved from the Gulf Coast States east into South Carolina. This helped develop a surface low along the coast. This low spread Atlantic moisture into a cold air mass, and produced a couple of bands of heavy snow.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, February 26, 20041 eventThree inches of snow occurred 10 miles south of Winchester on Keith Springs Mountain.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, February 26 to 27, 20045 eventsA winter storm produced 4 to 18 inches of snow across the upstate and northern midlands. The heaviest snow band was 10 to 18 inches from Chesterfield and Lancaster extending southwest into the Whitmire area of northern Newberry county.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 26, 20047 eventsA wintry mix of snow and sleet occurred, mainly across the coastal plains of eastern North Carolina, on the 26th with accumulations up to three inches.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 26, 20041 eventA weather front moved north over the central Bering Sea which increased winds over Saint Lawrence Island and produced blowing snow. Blizzard conditions were likely at Gambell during this time, as indicated by the AWOS.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 26 to 27, 200426 eventsA strong storm arrived on February 26th and continued into the morning of the 27th. This storm hit the area with a one-two punch, affecting southern sections on the 26th, then northern sections late on the 26th and the 27th.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 26, 20049 eventsSnow intensity increased during the late morning across the North Carolina mountains, and continued through the afternoon. Total accumulations of 3 to 5 inches occurred, but much of it melted rapidly.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, February 26, 20043 eventsSnow increased in intensity across the South Carolina mountains during the late morning, and continued through the afternoon. Total accumulations of 3 to 5 inches were observed, although much of this melted rapidly.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 26 to 27, 2004$3.1 million · 16 eventsHeavy snow began to fall across the foothills, piedmont, and northern mountains of North Carolina during the late morning.
• Heavy Snow in South Carolina, February 26 to 27, 2004$1.9 million · 8 eventsHeavy snow began to fall across much of the Upstate during the late morning. Although snowfall intensity decreased dramatically during the early-to-middle portion of the afternoon, heavy snow redeveloped during the late afternoon, and continued into the evening and overnight…
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 26, 20042 eventsCookeville and Smithville had 4 inches of snow while Monterey in Putnam County had 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 26, 200422 events3-6 INCHES OF SNOW
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 26, 20045 events3-6 INCHES OF SNOW
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 26, 20045 eventsGenerally 6-10 inches of snow was reported across the higher elevations. 14 inches fell on Roan Mountain in Carter County.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 26 to 27, 20043 eventsHeavy snow developed during the late afternoon of the 26th across portions of the northern foothills and northwest piedmont, and continued through the early morning hours of the 27th. Total snow accumulation of 3-5 inches occurred.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, February 26 to 27, 20041 eventHeavy snow redeveloped across portions of northeast Georgia during the late afternoon, producing total snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches before tapering off after midnight.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 26 to 27, 20041 eventTimberline reported 11 inches of snow, Santiam Pass 9 inches, 8 inches at both Santiam Junction and Mt Hood Meadows, and 7 inches at Tombstone.
• Cold in Alaska, February 26 to 28, 20041 eventModerate winds combined with a cold airmass produced extreme wind chills at Point Lay; -70 F was the lowest recorded.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 26 to 27, 20042 eventsDuring the 26th, an upper level low pressure system moved from the Gulf Coast States east into South Carolina. This helped develop a surface low along the coast.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, February 28 to 29, 200411 eventsHeavy snow and gusty winds occurred over much of southeast Wyoming with near-blizzard conditions in some areas. Snowfall amount from 6 to 12 inches were common with local amounts in excess of 12 inches over the Snowy Range.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 28 to 29, 20043 eventsThe final snowstorm of a very snowy month affected the Pocatello area and surrounding mountains beginning on the 28th and continuing until the early morning of the 29th.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, February 28 to 29, 200410 eventsAn area of low pressure intensified over Colorado moving northeast into the plains. The winter storm system brought a band of heavy snow from southwest to central North Dakota. Snow amounts ranged between 6 to 9 inches.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 28 to 29, 200424 eventsA powerful upper level storm system moved slowly across the Central Rockies and then through the Northern and Central Plains, bringing abundant precipitation and heavy snow to much of Western and South Central South Dakota.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, February 28 to 29, 20046 eventsA powerful upper level storm system moved slowly across the Central Rockies and then through the Northern and Central Plains, bringing abundant precipitation and heavy snow to much of Northeast Wyoming.
• Blizzard in Nebraska, February 29, 20048 eventsSnow and strong winds occurred over much of the Nebraska panhandle creating blizzard conditions. Snowfall amounts from 6 to 10 inches were reported from many areas with amounts near 1 foot reported in the Chadron, NE. area.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 29, 20041 eventFebruary was a quiet month with only one major snow event...with this occurring on the last day of the month. This major winter storm mainly affected areas of South Central and Southeast Montana.
• Blizzard in Colorado, February 29, 20043 eventsA winter storm produced 2-4 inches of snow across extreme northwest Kansas, southwest Nebraska and eastern Colorado during the afternoon and overnight hours of February 29th.
• Blizzard in Colorado, February 29, 20048 eventsBlizzard conditions developed across the northeast plains of Colorado as a low pressure system intensified over the Central Plains.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, February 29, 20048 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 9 inches fell across parts of central and north central South Dakota. Some snowfall amounts included, 6 inches at Isabel and Ree Heights, 7 inches at Gettysburg and Eagle Butte, 8 inches at Murdo, and 9 inches northeast of Isabel in southern Corson County.

The snowstorm of January 27 to 28, 2004Ohio River Snow Storm of 2004Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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