The snowstorm of February 5 to 8, 2008

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

533

Deaths

5

Injuries

11

Damage

$832,000

Episodes

79

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 Michigan, February 3 to 4, 20082 eventsA warm front lifted north through Southeast Lower Michigan, which resulted in a burst of heavy snow tapering off to light freezing rain. Parts of Saginaw and Tuscola counties received 4 inches of snow in a six hour period, with accumulations less everywhere else.
• Heavy Snow in North Dakota, February 4, 20081 eventAreas of snow developed along a stationary boundary situated across central North Dakota Sunday night, and continued into Monday.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, February 4, 20084 eventsSnow accumulated 2 to 4 inches in southeast South Dakota near and just south of Interstate 90 from the Menno to Sioux Falls areas. The snow fell during the morning hours and made travel slippery.
• Ice Storm in Iowa, February 4, 2008$20,000 · 4 eventsFollowing the passage of the weather system from the previous afternoon, low pressure developed to the southwest of Iowa. A warm front extended from the low into Missouri.
• Winter Weather in Minnesota, February 4, 20084 eventsSnow accumulated 2 to 4 inches in southwest Minnesota during the morning and early afternoon of February 4th. Most of the snow fell near Interstate 90, but a 4 inch report was received at Marshall in Lyon County with 1 to 2 inches reported between these areas.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, February 4, 20083 eventsSnow accumulated 2 to 4 inches in northwest Iowa near the northern border of the state during the morning and early afternoon of February 4th. The snowfall made travel conditions slippery.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 4 to 5, 20082 eventsHigh pressure in southeastern Canada during the morning of the 4th, stretched southward and east of the mountains. Light winds coupled with enough lingering moisture allowed areas of dense fog to form with temperatures below freezing.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, February 4, 20084 eventsBrief heavy snow spread into south central and eastern Upper Michigan on the afternoon of the 4th ahead of low pressure system approaching from the Plains.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 4 to 5, 20084 eventsA 983 MB gale force low rapidly developed in the eastern Gulf of Alaska on Tuesday morning, 2/5. This low dissipated over the Panhandle on the evening of Tuesday, 2/5, causing heavy snow inland during the day.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, February 4 to 5, 20089 eventsA winter storm produced a band of 6-10 inches of snow from extreme eastern Colorado into northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska.
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 4 to 5, 20081 eventA winter storm produced a band of 6-10 inches of snow from extreme eastern Colorado into northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska. Cheyenne county Colorado received 6-7 inches of snow in the eastern half of the county from Kit Carson to Cheyenne Wells and Arapahoe.
• Winter Weather in Vermont, February 5, 2008$30,000 · 6 eventsAn area of low pressure traveled from the Great Lakes across New England during February 5th. Snow overspread Vermont just after Midnight on the 5th and mixed with sleet and freezing rain around dawn before ending around midday.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, February 5, 20083 eventsA winter storm produced a band of 6-10 inches of snow from extreme eastern Colorado into northwest Kansas and southwest Nebraska. County snow totals in Nebraska include: Dundy 5-8, Hitchcock 5-8, Red Willow 6-8.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, February 5 to 6, 20082 eventsIntense low pressure brought near record snowfalls to the region on February 5-6, 2008. Copious amounts of gulf moisture, combined with a deepening storm system, resulted in periods of heavy snow and embedded thundersnows.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kansas, February 5 to 6, 200824 eventsA potent winter storm moved into western Kansas during the early morning of Tuesday, February 5th and then marched eastward through central Kansas during the day Tuesday.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 5, 20086 eventsA winter storm blanketed north central Kansas with a solid 6+ inches of fresh snow. The snow developed around sunrise and continued throughout the entire day. Covert reported 8 inches of accumulation, while 7 inches fell at Smith Center, Phillipsburg and near Plainville.
• Winter Storm and Hail in Kansas, February 5 to 6, 20081 in hail · 11 eventsA strong storm system moved through the Central Plains spreading severe thunderstorms across South Central Kansas and snow to Central Kansas.
• Heavy Snow and Hail in Kansas, February 5 to 6, 20080.75 in hail · 21 eventsA strong 500mb storm system dug into the four corners region the morning of February 5th, while a surface low established itself over northwest Texas. A cold front extended from the surface low northeastward.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 5, 200815 eventsA winter storm covered south central Nebraska with a fresh blanket of 6 inches of snow on average. The snow rolled in around sunrise the morning of the 5th and continued into the evening hours. A wide swath of 5 to 8 inches of snow fell along U.S.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, February 5, 20089 eventsParts of south central Nebraska were on the northern fringes of a winter storm and shared in accumulating snow as a result. A swath of 2 to 5 inches of snow fell along and north of a line from Lexington to Grand Island, and then to Columbus.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, February 5 to 6, 200816 eventsA storm system brought heavy snows to portions of the area on February 5th through February 6th. Six to ten inches was common across portions of northern Missouri. Drifts were as high as three feet.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, February 5 to 6, 20083 eventsA storm system brought heavy snows to the area February 5, through February 6, 2008. Four to seven inches of snow was reported.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 5 to 6, 20081 eventAn intense storm system that helped spawn killer tornadoes over the Tennessee Valley brought areas of heavy snow and blowing snow to southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, February 5 to 6, 20082 eventsAn intense storm system that helped spawn killer tornadoes over the Tennessee Valley brought areas of heavy snow and blowing snow to southeast Nebraska and southwest Iowa.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 5 to 6, 2008$390,000 · 20 eventsA major winter storm system affected a large part of the central U.S. during the 5th and 6th. Heavy snow fell over the southeast half of Iowa with this storm. The system had some freezing rain and sleet during the day on the 5th into the evening hours.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, February 5, 20081 eventLow pressure tracking across Maine during the 5th brought heavy snow to northeast Aroostook county. Snow began during the morning of the 5th...then continued through the evening. Storm total snow accumulations ranged from 6 to 8 inches.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, February 5 to 6, 200821 eventsIntense low pressure brought near record snowfalls to the region on February 5-6, 2008. Copious amounts of gulf moisture, combined with a deepening storm system, resulted in periods of heavy snow and embedded thundersnows.
• Winter Weather in Texas, February 5, 20082 deaths · 5 injured · $15,000 · 1 eventOne inch of snow with strong winds of twenty-five to thirty miles an hour with gusts to near forty miles an hour contributed to a rollover of a van on U.S. Highway 287 just south of Cactus in Moore County.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Washington, February 5 to 7, 2008$22,000 · 59 kt wind · 5 eventsThere was a brief high wind event that caused no damage on Feb 5th, and a short lived strong wind event late on the 6th and early 7th which caused minor damage. About 4 inches of snow fell over the Hood Canal area on the 6th.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Washington, February 5 to 9, 20086 eventsOn February 1st, snow depth at Snoqualmie Pass was 130 inches, or 165 percent of normal. On Friday, Feb. 8th, all 3 passes - Snoqualmie, Stevens and White, were all closed, the first time this had happened in 11 years.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, February 5 to 6, 200813 eventsIntense low pressure brought near record snowfalls to the region on February 5-6, 2008. Copious amounts of gulf moisture, combined with a deepening storm system, resulted in periods of heavy snow and embedded thundersnows.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, February 5 to 6, 20081 eventA strong low pressure area moved from Missouri to the lower Great Lakes on February 5 and 6. This system brought heavy snow with amounts of 6 to 10 inches along and east of a line from near Strawberry Point to Elkader to the Wisconsin River area of southwest Wisconsin.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 5, 20082 eventsAn intense North Pacific storm produced strong wind and snow across the Eastern Aleutians an Pribilof Island resulting in a blizzard.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, February 5 to 6, 200810 eventsSnow began to fall across northern Illinois during the evening of February 5th and continued through the afternoon of February 6th.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 5 to 6, 20082 eventsA strong low pressure area moved from Missouri to the lower Great Lakes on February 5 and 6. This system brought heavy snow with amounts ranging from around 6 inches near the Wisconsin River, to as much as 18 inches near the Illinois border.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 5 to 6, 20086 eventsA long-duration, massive winter storm with near blizzard conditions pounded southern Wisconsin with snow accumulations of 10 to 21 inches, thundersnow, occasional northerly wind gusts to 35 mph, and blowing and drifting snow that reduced visibilities to occasionally below 1/4…
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 5 to 6, 20085 eventsA long-duration, massive winter storm with near blizzard conditions pounded southern Wisconsin with snow accumulations of 10 to 21 inches, thundersnow, occasional northerly wind gusts to 35 mph, and blowing and drifting snow that reduced visibilities to occasionally below 1/4…
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 5 to 6, 20086 eventsA long-duration, massive winter storm with near blizzard conditions pounded southern Wisconsin with snow accumulations of 10 to 21 inches, thundersnow, occasional northerly wind gusts to 35 mph, and blowing and drifting snow that reduced visibilities to occasionally below 1/4…
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 5 to 6, 20084 eventsA long-duration, massive winter storm with near blizzard conditions pounded southern Wisconsin with snow accumulations of 10 to 21 inches, thundersnow, occasional northerly wind gusts to 35 mph, and blowing and drifting snow that reduced visibilities to occasionally below 1/4…
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 5 to 6, 20084 eventsAnother in a series of winter storms brought 8 to 12 inches of snow to eastern Idaho. The worst conditions were reported in the Upper Snake River Plain.
• Winter Weather in New York, February 6 to 7, 2008$15,000 · 3 eventsOn February 6th, two areas of low pressure traveled along a boundary, previously left by a storm on February 5th.
• Winter Storm in New York, February 6 to 7, 2008$60,000 · 6 eventsOn February 6th, two areas of low pressure traveled along a boundary, previously left by a storm on February 5th.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, February 6, 20085 eventsLow pressure moved across the Ohio Valley, and the north end of the heavier snowfall brushed Northern Lower Michigan. Six to ten inches of snow fell from Wellston to Houghton Lake to Gladwin, with lesser amounts to the north.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, February 6 to 7, 2008$145,000 · 16 eventsOn February 6th, two areas of low pressure traveled along a boundary, previously left by a storm on February 5th.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, February 6, 20083 eventsA weak upper level disturbance moved along the Oklahoma and Kansas morning late on the 5th and early on the 6th. A band of light snow developed near this feature and moved northeast, with snow accumulations of one to two inches in some locations.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, February 6 to 7, 200828 eventsA low pressure system tracked east northeast from the lower Ohio Valley on Wednesday morning, February 6th, to just south of Cape Cod by Thursday morning on February 7th.
• Winter Weather in Vermont, February 6 to 7, 20083 eventsA low pressure system tracked east northeast from the lower Ohio Valley on Wednesday morning, February 6th, to just south of Cape Cod by Thursday morning on February 7th.
• Winter Weather in Massachusetts, February 6 to 7, 20082 eventsA low pressure system tracked east northeast from the lower Ohio Valley on Wednesday morning, February 6th, to just south of Cape Cod by Thursday morning on February 7th.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, February 6 to 7, 20082 eventsA low pressure system tracked east northeast from the lower Ohio Valley on Wednesday morning, February 6th, to just south of Cape Cod by Thursday morning on February 7th.
• Winter Storm in New Hampshire, February 6 to 7, 20084 eventsSeveral areas of low pressure moved along a quasi-stationary frontal boundary and produced a mixed precipitation event which changed to snow across the region as colder air filtered into the area.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, February 6, 20081 eventStrong low pressure moved across Illinois and Indiana and produced a wide swath of heavy snow across the southeast half of Wisconsin. Winds, gusting over 30 mph, produced considerable blowing and drifting snow.
• Winter Storm in Maine, February 6 to 7, 20087 eventsSeveral areas of low pressure moved along a quasi-stationary frontal boundary and produced a mixed precipitation event which changed to snow across the region as colder air filtered into the area.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, February 6 to 7, 200819 eventsA widespread snowstorm produced near blizzard conditions across much of central and southern lower Michigan in the afternoon and evening of February sixth. Snowfall rates of one to two inches per hour occurred in the heaviest snow bands.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, February 6 to 7, 200814 eventsA cold front moved through Southeast Michigan. A secondary low then developed along the trailing front, with the center passing just south of the area. This allowed heavy precipitation to spread north into southeast Michigan, with predominantly snow along and north of M-59.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, February 6 to 7, 20082 eventsA very moist Pacific system combined with favorable onshore flow brought heavy snow amounts to the Cascades of northwest Oregon.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 6 to 8, 20081 eventA very moist Pacific system combined with favorable onshore flow brought heavy snow amounts to the Cascades of northwest Oregon.
• Cold in Illinois, February 7, 20081 death · 1 eventLow temperatures fell into the 20s by the morning of February 7th. A man was found frozen to death outside his home in Goose Lake. He had apparently been outside all night.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Idaho, February 7 to 8, 20088 eventsHeavy snow combined with wind shut down roads across southeastern Idaho. Heavy snow fell in the Upper Snake River Highlands with 10 inches at Island Park and Marysville. US Route 26 was closed from Ririe to the Wyoming state line.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, February 7 to 8, 200857 kt wind · 5 eventsA quick-hitting storm system brought snow to the mountains of northern Utah. This system also had strong post-frontal winds in the valleys.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Montana, February 7 to 8, 20082 eventsA fast moving storm system crossed the area on February 7th, bringing some reports of high winds and heavy snow, mainly to higher elevations of Central Montana.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 7, 20081 eventThe arctic front remained stationary over central southeast Alaska on 2/7. Warm moist air moving over the front from the Gulf caused heavy snow in the inner channels.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, February 7 to 9, 20081 eventA moist northwest flow produced heavy snow just east of the crest of the Cascade Range. Snowfall amounts in inches included 5 miles west northwest of Cle Elum (11) and 7 miles north northwest of Easton (11).
• Blizzard in North Dakota, February 8 to 9, 200818 eventsLate in the evening of the 8th, a cold front was located along a line from the Turtle Mountains to just east of Bismarck (ND). By Saturday morning (9th), the front had moved into Minnesota, along a line from near Baudette to Detroit Lakes.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 8, 20081 eventA storm and its associated front moved into the Gulf of Alaska Friday. Strong wind combined with snow in advance of the front produced blizzard conditions across Kodiak Island.
• Extreme Cold in Alaska, February 8 to 10, 20082 eventsA period of cold temperatures combined with winds of 15 mph produced Extreme Wind Chills at:|Zone 201 - Wainwright ASOS Lowest Wind Chill -65 F.|Zone 203 - Deadhorse ASOS Lowest Wind Chill -67 F.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, February 8 to 9, 20089 eventsLate in the evening of the 8th, a cold front was located along a line from the Turtle Mountains to just east of Bismarck (ND). By Saturday morning (9th), the front had moved into Minnesota, along a line from near Baudette to Detroit Lakes.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 8 to 12, 200818 eventsA 1046 MB high cell over the Yukon forced the arctic front south into Dixon Entrance. Warm moist air from the Gulf moved aloft over the front for the southern third of the Panhandle on 2/8.
• Blizzard in North Dakota, February 8 to 9, 20087 eventsRecent snowfall of 2 to 6 inches, along with gusty northwest winds of 25 to 40 mph with gusts up to 50 mph, created ground blizzard conditions Friday evening of the eighth, through Saturday morning of the ninth over parts of central North Dakota.
• Extreme Cold in North Dakota, February 9 to 10, 200827 eventsBitter cold arctic air with temperatures of 15 to 30 below zero, and winds of 15 to 35 mph and gusts up to 45 mph, resulted in wind chills of 40 to near 60 below zero.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 9, 20082 eventsA cold front that approached and then moved through the Poconos late in the afternoon helped trigger scattered snow showers during the day on the 9th. Accumulations averaged 1 to 3 inches.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 9, 20081 eventA strong cold front that moved through northwestern New Jersey late in the day on the 9th brought scattered snow showers to the area. Total snow accumulations of one to two inches fell across parts of northwestern New Jersey, mainly in Sussex County.
• Winter Weather in New York, February 9 to 10, 200815 eventsA low pressure system tracked east across the Great Lakes on Saturday, February 9th, and then redeveloped along the New England coast by Sunday morning on February 10th.
• Winter Weather in Vermont, February 9 to 10, 20083 eventsA low pressure system tracked east across the Great Lakes on Saturday, February 9th, and then redeveloped along the New England coast by Sunday morning on February 10th.
• Winter Weather in Massachusetts, February 9 to 10, 20082 eventsA low pressure system tracked east across the Great Lakes on Saturday, February 9th, and then redeveloped along the New England coast by Sunday morning on February 10th.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, February 9 to 10, 20081 eventA low pressure system tracked east across the Great Lakes on Saturday, February 9th, and then redeveloped along the New England coast by Sunday morning on February 10th.
• Extreme Cold and Winter Weather in Minnesota, February 9 to 10, 20081 death · 6 injured · $20,000 · 8 eventsAn arctic cold front moved through the area during the afternoon of February 9. This system was accompanied by falling temperatures and strong northwest wind gusts of 40 to 45 mph.
• Winter Weather in New York, February 9 to 10, 2008$30,000 · 6 eventsA weak storm system moved across New York and New England on the night of February 9th which delivered several inches of snow to portions of northern New York.
• Winter Weather in Vermont, February 9 to 10, 20081 death · $85,000 · 13 eventsA storm system moved across New England on the night of February 9th which delivered 2 to 5 inches of snow to portions of Vermont, especially central and eastern Vermont.
• Winter Weather in Alaska, February 9 to 10, 20082 eventsHigh pressure across the Arctic Ocean and low pressure in the Gulf of Alaska combined to produce locally strong east to northeast winds across portions of interior Alaska on the afternoon of the 9th through the evening of the 10th.

The snowstorm of February 1 to 3, 2008The snowstorm of February 21 to 24, 2008Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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