The snowstorm of February 3 to 7, 1998

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

393

Deaths

7

Injuries

10

Damage

$47 million

Episodes

62

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 California, February 1 to 3, 19981 eventAt Mammoth Mountain 12" snow by 0600 PST on 2/2/98 and totalling 48" by 1800 PST 2/3/98. Fish Camp had 4" snow at 5000 feet MSL by 1550 PST 2/1/98...with another 4" by 1350 PST on 2/2/98.
• Winter Storm in California, February 2, 19982 eventsSnow accumulations of 12 to 18 inches at 5000 feet elevation, and 24 to 36 inches at even higher elevations, accompanied by strong winds, caused power outages and damaged one home in Amador county slightly. The heavy snows also temporarily closed U.S. Route 50 and Interstate 80.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 2 to 3, 19981 eventA slowly increasing pressure gradient across the Arctic coast brought blizzard conditions to Point Lay, Kuparuk, and Prudhoe Bay. Deadhorse had poor visibility, but wind speeds were not strong enough.
• Ice Storm in Nebraska, February 3, 19982 deaths · 1 injured · $16,000 · 2 eventsLight freezing drizzle on highway surfaces caused hazardous driving conditions during the morning. A few accidents occurred in which motorists hit patches of ice, lost control and rolled over.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 3 to 6, 1998$22 million · 16 eventsAn intense coastal low moved northeast along the immediate coastline producing strong winds and heavy rain across the region. Seas of 14 to 16 feet ate away at the beaches from Topsail Island to the Outer Banks.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 3 to 4, 1998$25,000 · 2 eventsRain changed to heavy snow during the evening hours on the 3rd and continued to around midnight.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 19983 deaths · 4 injured · 48 eventsA freak winter storm dumped as much as 25 inches of snow on parts of Kentucky from the evening of February 3 to the morning of February 6.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 19982 deaths · 1 injured · $10 million · 33 eventsA major snowstorm affected eastern Kentucky from the evening of February 3 into the morning of February 6. Snowfall totals for the storm ranged from around 4 inches in valley locations near the Virginia border to as much as 2 feet in areas from Whitley City to Flemingsburg.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 3 to 4, 1998$5.0 million · 19 eventsThe heavy snow brought treacherous driving conditions, school closures, and widespread power outages across the eastern part of Middle Tennessee. Interstate 40 was closed at Monterey due to the heavy snow. Winds gusted to 50 mph at times during the snowstorm.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, February 3 to 6, 1998$150,000 · 2 eventsA slow moving coastal storm and prolong easterly winds aloft, gave several periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. By Friday morning on the 6th, snow depths of 3 to 8 inches in the valleys were measured.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 3 to 6, 19984 injured · $5.5 million · 15 eventsA slow moving coastal storm in conjunction with easterly winds aloft, caused several periods of wet snow, sleet, and rain. The snow fell mostly from the 3rd into the 4th and again late on the 5th into the 6th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 1998$900,000 · 4 eventsA slow moving coastal storm and a prolong period of easterly wind aloft, gave northeast Kentucky several periods of snow and sleet. The end result was widespread snow depths of over one foot. No snow was on the ground prior to the storm.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 3 to 4, 19982 eventsRain changed to heavy wet snow during the evening hours on the 3rd in Bath County and the northern portion of Rockbridge County. Around dawn on the the 4th, the heavy snow mixed with and changed back to rain.
• Winter Storm in Ohio, February 3 to 6, 1998$250,000 · 6 eventsA slow moving coastal storm and a prolong period of easterly wind aloft, resulted in several periods of snow, sleet, and freezing rain. The deepest snow cover over southeast Ohio was in Lawrence, Gallia, Jackson, and Vinton Counties.
• Winter Storm in Kentucky, February 3 to 6, 199812 eventsA slow-moving East coast storm brought significant moisture west of the Appalachians and by the time it was finished, had dumped 15 to 30 inches of snow across Northern Kentucky.
• Winter Storm in Ohio, February 3 to 5, 199812 eventsA powerful East coast storm brought significant moisture west of the Appalachians and by the time it was over, from 8 to 24 inches of snow had accumulated over southern Ohio.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 3 to 4, 19983 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 10 inches was reported in the mountain areas generally above 8000 feet across northern, central and south central New Mexico. Ski areas in Lincoln County measured 12 inches of fresh powder.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 4 to 5, 19984 eventsAn intensifying low pressure system of the Florida panhandle moved slowly up the Atlantic Coast to the North Carolina Coast. This storm system spread a mix of heavy snow and sleet into parts of northern West Virginia. The highest amounts were confined to the highest elevations.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, February 4 to 5, 19983 eventsAn intensifying low pressure system of the Florida panhandle moved slowly up the Atlantic Coast to the North Carolina Coast. This storm system spread a mix of heavy snow and sleet into parts of southwest Pennsylvania.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 3 to 4, 19981 eventA fast moving winter storm deposited eight to ten inches of snow over the Hualapai Mountains in less than 12 hours.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 4 to 5, 19981 eventAn intensifying low pressure system of the Florida panhandle moved slowly up the Atlantic Coast to the North Carolina Coast. This storm system spread a mix of heavy snow and sleet into western Maryland.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, February 4, 199821 eventsBy around 1 A.M. on the 4th , the rain began changing to snow in the northwest Georgia mountains. Between 4 A.M. and 8 A.M. the snow had spread southward into counties in the western Atlanta suburbs and eastward into the northeast Geoprgia mountains.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, February 4, 19986 eventsA 3 to 7 inch snow was deposited before changing to rain and sleet.
• Heavy Snow in Utah, February 4 to 5, 1998$2,000 · 2 eventsHeavy snow fell in the western mountains. Sundance had 11" and Duck Creek Village 13" for tops in the state. Heavy rainfall along the Wasatch Front caused minor urban flooding. Sugarhouse received 1.46" of rain.
• Winter Storm in Alabama, February 4, 1998$27,000 · 9 eventsA winter snow storm moved over the northeast part of the state early Wednesday morning. Snowfall totals ranged from 2-6 inches over the region. There were a few accidents due to slick roads.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Virginia, February 4 to 5, 1998$1.3 million · 22 eventsA powerful nor'easter, laden with deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, produced a prolonged period of mixed snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain across the northwest corner of Virginia.
• Heavy Snow in Arizona, February 4, 19984 eventsA strong pacific storm system brought heavy snow to the mountains above 5000 feet. Snowfall reports include: 26 inches on mount Lemmon, 16 inches on mount Hopkins, 8 inches at Hannagan Meadow, and 6 inches on Kitt Peak.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, February 4, 19982 eventsCounty 911 offices reported up to 6 inches of snow on the ground. The temperature was in the lower 30s.Snow covered roads made travel dangerous.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, February 4 to 5, 1998$12,000 · 8 eventsA powerful nor'easter, laden with tropical moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, dumped moderate to heavy snow across all of eastern West Virginia beginning early on the 4th.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 4 to 5, 1998$5,000 · 2 eventsA powerful nor'easter, laden with deep moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, produced a prolonged period of mixed snow, sleet, freezing rain, and rain across northwestern Maryland.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, February 4, 199813 eventsA strong storm system over the southeast dumped generally 2-5 inches across the southern Cumberland Plateau. Across the northern part of the Plateau, 6-12 inches fell. As many as 50,000 customers were without power.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, February 4, 19982 eventsA strong storm system over the southeast dumped 3-5 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, February 4 to 7, 199812 eventsA strong and nearly stationary upper level low pressure area over the lower Ohio Valley, in combination with a strong and cold anticyclone over the upper Great Lakes resulted in a 3 day period of heavy snow across southern Indiana.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, February 4 to 6, 199810 eventsA freak winter storm dumped 10 to 20 inches of snow across south central Indiana from around daybreak February 4 to the morning of February 6. Roads were slick and hazardous and in some spots impassable. Trees and power lines were also downed due to the weight of the wet snow.
• Winter Storm in Indiana, February 4 to 5, 19985 eventsA slow moving East coast storm brought significant moisture back into Southeastern Indiana. By the time the storm was over, from 6 to 16 inches of snow had fallen. Travel problems were widespread as the snow fell too fast at times for road crews to keep the roads clear.
• Ice Storm in Pennsylvania, February 4 to 5, 19981 eventFreezing rain accumulated up to 0.25 inches in Sharon.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 4 to 6, 199813 eventsA storm moving slowly northward up the Atlantic coast combined with an east/west oriented trough over the Ohio Valley produced heavy snow over parts of west Kentucky. The heavy snow was confined to areas east of Kentucky Lake, including Hopkinsville and Owensboro.
• Ice Storm in Virginia, February 4 to 6, 19988 eventsFreezing rain and freezing drizzle from the early afternoon hours on the 4th through around noon on the 6th at elevations above 2800 feet resulted in major accumulations of ice on exposed objects. At elevations above 3600 feet, ice accumulations were up to 5 inches thick.
• Ice Storm in Virginia, February 4 to 6, 19986 eventsFreezing rain and freezing drizzle from the early afternoon hours on the 4th through the early morning hours on the 6th at elevations above 2800 feet resulted in major accumulations of ice on exposed objects.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, February 4 to 6, 19986 eventsOne of the heaviest snowfalls in recent memory blanketed southwest Indiana with a total of 10 to 14 inches of snow. The snow fell in two distinct bursts. The first period of heavy snow from the afternoon of the 4th into the wee morning hours of the 5th produced 6 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 4, 19983 events
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 4 to 5, 19985 eventsThe fringe of the precipitation associated with the strongest northeaster of the winter affected the Poconos, Lehigh Valley and Berks County. In the Lehigh Valley and Berks County, precipitation fell mainly as a mixture of sleet and rain.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 4 to 6, 19983 eventsA major storm moving slowly north up the Atlantic coast combined with an east-west oriented trough over the Ohio Valley produced heavy snow. The western edge of the heavy snow shield extended into the lower Wabash River Valley, from Mt. Carmel to Carmi and Shawneetown.
• Winter Storm in New Jersey, February 4 to 5, 19983 eventsThe strongest northeaster of the winter battered coastal areas and caused a prolong period of snow, sleet and freezing rain across Northwest New Jersey. The storm system developed in the middle of the Gulf of Mexico during the night of February 1st and moved northeast. At 7 a.m.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 4 to 5, 19981 eventA strong low pressure system along the east coast caused precipitation in the form of snow to wrap back into Southeastern Illinois. Snowfall amounts of 3 to 5 inches were common across Lawrence County.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 4, 19982 eventsDeep low pressure system moved east across South Carolina with a strong easterly flow of moisture north across North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania into New York.
• Winter Weather in New York, February 4 to 5, 19988 eventsAn intense low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic coast produced freezing rain across the Mid-Hudson Valley, eastern Catskills and southern Taconics. The freezing rain was occasionally mixed with sleet and wet snow. Icy roads caused many traffic accidents and school closings.
• Winter Weather in Massachusetts, February 4 to 5, 19981 eventAn intense low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic coast produced freezing rain across Berkshire County. The freezing rain was occasionally mixed with sleet and wet snow. Icy roads caused many traffic accidents and school closings.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, February 4 to 5, 19981 eventAn intense low pressure system off the Mid-Atlantic coast produced freezing rain across Litchfield County. The freezing rain was occasionally mixed with sleet and wet snow. Icy roads caused many traffic accidents and school closings.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, February 4 to 5, 19984 eventsRain changed to snow across portions of western Oklahoma and western north Texas late in the evening of February 4th, then moderate to heavy snow lasted through midday of the 5th.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 4 to 5, 19982 eventsRain changed to snow across portions of western Oklahoma and western north Texas late in the evening of February 4th, then moderate to heavy snow lasted through midday of the 5th.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 6, 19982 eventsFreezing rain fell during the early morning hours, causing icy roads.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, February 6, 1998$1.7 million · 4 eventsHeavy snow developed during the morning hours on the 6th and continued into the afternoon hours. Snowfall amounts were mainly from 3 to 6 inches in Mercer, Monroe, and Summers Counties and from 6 to 10 inches in Greenbrier County.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 6, 19982 eventsHeavy snow during the morning and early afternoon hours on the 6th dropped 4 to 8 inches of snow on much of Alleghany and Bath Counties. Hazardous road conditions resulted in several traffic accidents.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, February 6, 19983 eventsResidual low- and mid-level atmospheric forcing associated with a disturbance moving out of the Ohio Valley produced a stripe of moderate snow across the central Shenandoah Valley during the morning of the 6th.
• Heavy Snow in California, February 6, 19981 eventThe first in a series of winter storms dropped heavy snow on the southern Sierra Nevada mountains. Aspendell (8500 feet) picked up 23 inches of new snow in a little more than 12 hours.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 6, 1998$12,000 · 1 eventIcy roads created by light snow caused a few accidents across Cheyenne County. The accidents occurred within a 6 mile radius of Sidney,NE. No one was injured in any of the accidents reported.
• Heavy Snow in California, February 6 to 10, 19981 event12 inches of snow in the 1st 24 hours ending by 0600 on the 7th...an additional 18-24" by the 8th...then another 8" by the morning of 9th...and then an additional 8" by the morning of the 10th at Mammoth Mountain (Over 4 feet in 4 days).
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 7, 19981 eventBlizzard conditions occurred at Point Lay only.
• Winter Storm in California, February 7 to 8, 19981 eventSouth-Southeast flow produced locally orographic driven heavy snow in the Mt. Shasta area and high winds in the Shasta Valley. 6 to 8 inches fell at Mt. Shasta City and 16 to 20 inches near Black Butte at 4000 ft. Wind gusts up to 67 mph were reported at Weed.
• Heavy Snow in California, February 7 to 8, 19981 eventAfter a short break between storms, the southern Sierra Nevada received another dumping of snow with Aspendell reporting an additional 20 inches in a 30 hour period.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 8, 19982 eventsHeavy snow of 6 to 8 inches was reported in the mountains near Santa Fe and west over the Jemez Mountains to Cuba. Santa Fe Ski area measured 13 inches.

The snowstorm of January 27 to 29, 1998Blizzard of 1999Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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