The snowstorm of February 6 to 8, 2003

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

450

Deaths

1

Injuries

0

Damage

$193,000

Episodes

66

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 Maine, February 5, 20034 eventsSustained winds of 20 to 30 mph...with gusts to 45 mph...combined with recent snow to produce extensive blowing and drifting snow. The snow blowing from high snow banks along area roads produced extensive drifting across the roads with frequent whiteout conditions.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 5 to 6, 2003$36,000 · 5 eventsLake effect snow squalls began late on the fourth following a frontal passage. The activity was focused on northern Oswego and Lewis counties initially and included thunder and lightning.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 5, 2003$100,000 · 1 eventAn arctic front crossed central New York midday on the 4th. This changed the rain to snow. Snow accumulations were an inch or less with the front. This front ushered in much colder air causing lake effect snow to start that evening.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, February 5, 20031 event6 inches of new snow in Pryor
• Heavy Snow in Colorado, February 5 to 6, 200314 eventsAn upper level disturbance produced widespread snow across the region, and heavy snow across the southeast mountains and adjacent plains.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, February 5 to 6, 200311 eventsA winter storm produced general amounts of one to 3 inches of snow across east central Kansas. The largest amount reported was 4 inches between Admire and Eskridge. Many vehicle accidents occurred, but no injuries were reported.
• Winter Storm in Montana, February 5, 20034 eventsA winter storm produced heavy snow in the mountains of Central Montana on the 5th.
• Cold in North Dakota, February 5, 20031 death · 1 eventA women, age unknown, left her home walking to the grocery store. She took refuge in an abandon house with no electricity or heat. She died of hypothermia. No other information was available.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 5, 20031 event6 inches of new snow in Story
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 6, 2003$20,000 · 20 eventsHeavy snow fell across much of West Tennessee. Most of the region received between 3 and 5 inches of snow with some isolated location reporting as much as 6 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 6, 2003$7,000 · 7 eventsHeavy snow fell across much of northeast Arkansas. Most areas saw between 3 and 5 inches of snow with isolated area receiving as much as 6 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Mississippi, February 6, 2003$3,000 · 3 eventsHeavy snow fell across northern sections of Alcorn, Benton and Tippah counties in north Mississippi. Between 2 and 4 inches of snow fell over this area.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, February 6, 2003$2,000 · 2 eventsHeavy snow fell across the Missouri bootheel. Between 2 and 4 inches of snow fell over the area.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, February 6, 200311 eventsA two-part winter storm dropped an average of 4 to 6 inches of heavy wet snow across southeast Missouri. The first round of snow occurred during the early morning and dropped 2 to 3 inches. The second round during the evening produced another 1 to 3 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, February 6, 200311 eventsA two-part winter storm dropped an average of 3 to 5 inches of heavy wet snow across far western Kentucky, mainly from Kentucky Lake west. The first round of snow occurred during the early morning and dropped 2 to 4 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, February 6, 20036 eventsA two-part winter storm dropped an average of 3 to 5 inches of heavy wet snow across extreme southern Illinois, mainly south of the Marion and Carbondale areas. The first round of snow occurred during the early morning and dropped 1 or 2 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 6, 20038 eventsSnow...heavy at times...fell across parts of west-central and north-central Arkansas for much of the day on the 6th. Snowfall totals over the region ranged from 3 to 6 inches. Many roads were snow covered and hazardous.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, February 6, 200311 eventsA quick moving winter storm brought a period of light to moderate snow to the northern half of Oklahoma during the morning of the 6th.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 6 to 7, 20036 eventsSnow during the afternoon of the 6th through the morning of the 7th accumulated 4 to 7 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 6, 20031 event10 inches of new snow in Story
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 6 to 7, 200318 eventsSnow during the afternoon of the 6th through the early morning of the 7th accumulated from 5 to 8 inches.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, February 6, 200314 eventsA weak upper-level disturbance combined with temperatures near 32 degrees Fahrenheit to produce light snow across several north Georgia counties.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 6, 20035 eventsA light sleet quickly changed over to a mixture of snow and rain during the late afternoon across portions of the piedmont and foothills. Snow accumulations were generally 2 inches or less, but isolated amounts as high as 4 inches were reported.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, February 6, 20033 eventsLight snow fell during the late afternoon and evening across the mountains, and was mixed at times with sleet and freezing rain. Snow accumulations generally ranged from 1 to 2 inches.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, February 6, 20031 eventLight snow fell during the late afternoon and evening, and was mixed at times with sleet and freezing rain. Accumulations generally ranged from 1 to 2 inches.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, February 6 to 7, 200323 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas on the 6th then off the Atlantic coast on the 7th. This storm dropped light to moderate snow between the evening of the 6th and Noon on the 7th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, February 6 to 7, 200314 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas on the 6th then off the Atlantic coast on the 7th. This storm dropped light to moderate snow between the evening of the 6th and Noon on the 7th.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, February 6 to 7, 200313 eventsA winter storm produced 4 to 7 inches of snow across the piedmont of central Virginia and the Virginia northern neck. The higher snow amounts occurred in Caroline, Cumberland, Essex, Fluvanna, Goochland, Hanover, and Louisa counties.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 6 to 7, 20038 eventsLow pressure tracked from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas on the 6th then off the Atlantic coast on the 7th. This storm dropped light to moderate snow between the evening of the 6th and Noon on the 7th. Accumulations ranged from 2 to 5 inches across the Eastern Panhandle.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, February 6 to 7, 20038 eventsA winter storm produced 1 to 3 inches of snow across the piedmont of central Virginia and the Virginia northern neck. The higher snow amounts occurred in Chesterfield, Nottoway, Amelia, and Northumberland. Local law enforcement agencies reported numerous accidents.
• Winter Storm in District of Columbia, February 6 to 7, 20031 eventLow pressure tracked from the Gulf Coast to the Carolinas on the 6th then off the Atlantic coast on the 7th. This storm dropped light to moderate snow between the evening of the 6th and Noon on the 7th. Five inches of accumulation was reported at the National Arboretum.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, February 6 to 7, 200313 eventsLight snow began falling across the western mountains of North Carolina during the afternoon of the 6th, and gradually increased in intensity and coverage during the evening and overnight hours. General snowfall amounts of 4 to 5 inches were reported in the major valleys.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 6 to 7, 200310 eventsA winter storm that lasted about eighteen hours dropped about 5 to 8 inches of snow across most of Eastern Pennsylvania. Snow moved into the region during the evening of the 6th and fell at a fairly steady rate throughout the event.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Maryland, February 6 to 7, 20035 eventsA winter storm that lasted about eighteen hours dropped about 5 to 8 inches of snow across most of the Eastern Shore. Snow moved into the region during the evening of the 6th and fell at a fairly steady rate throughout the event.
• Heavy Snow in Georgia, February 6 to 7, 20031 eventLight snow began falling during the late afternoon of the 6th, and increased in intensity during the evening and overnight hours. By early morning on the 7th, snowfall averaged around 3 inches across the county, with slightly higher amounts observed in the highest elevations.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Delaware, February 6 to 7, 20034 eventsA winter storm that lasted about eighteen hours dropped about 5 to 8 inches of snow across Kent and New Castle Counties and from less than one inch to around five inches in Sussex County.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 6 to 7, 200321 eventsA winter storm that lasted about eighteen hours dropped about 5 to 8 inches of snow across most of New Jersey. Slightly lesser amounts fell across coastal Cape May County where precipitation mixed with sleet and some rain.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, February 6 to 7, 20039 eventsA low pressure system developed along the central Gulf Coast Thursday afternoon, February 6th, and moved northeast to a position just east of the North Carolina coast by Friday morning, February 7th.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, February 6, 20033 eventsUpper level storm system clipped southern Missouri, and produced a 6 inch snow band to fall over a 20 mile wide line across Douglas, Oregon, and Taney counties. Most areas south of the Interstate 44 corridor received 3 to 5 inches, with 1 to 2 inch amounts north of the corridor.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 6 to 7, 20035 eventsA mixture of sleet and snow began at around sunset on the 6th across the northwest piedmont and northern foothills of North Carolina.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 6 to 7, 20032 eventsA winter storm produced 1 to 2 inches of snow across portions of Wicomico and Worcester counties. Local law enforcement agencies reported several accidents. Many schools in the area were closed Friday, February 7th due to very slippery road conditions.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, February 6 to 7, 20031 eventA winter storm produced 3 to 7 inches of snow across Dorchester county. Cambridge reported 6.5" and Vienna reported 3".
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 7, 20039 eventsFour to eight inches of snow was reported across the far eastern Tennessee mountains with four to six inches of snow also reported across the Cumberland plateau in southeast Tennessee.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 7, 20035 eventsTwo to six inches of snow was reported across southwest Virginia with four to eight inches reported across the higher elevations.
• Winter Storm in Massachusetts, February 7 to 8, 200318 eventsA winter storm passing southeast of Nantucket brought heavy snow to south central and eastern Massachusetts. The greatest snowfall totals, averaging 12 to 16 inches, were observed from Worcester to Boston to Cape Cod and the Islands.
• Winter Storm in Rhode Island, February 7 to 8, 20037 eventsA winter storm passing southeast of Nantucket brought heavy snow to Rhode Island. Amounts of 6 to 12 inches were common, with the greatest amounts in the higher elevations of northern Providence County.
• Winter Storm in Connecticut, February 7 to 8, 20033 eventsA winter storm passing southeast of Nantucket brought heavy snow to northern Connecticut. Totals of 5 to 10 inches were common in Hartford, Tolland, and Windham counties with the greatest amounts reported in Windham County.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, February 7, 20036 eventsAs a low pressure system developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast, heavy snow occurred throughout the region.Snowfall amounts ranged from around 5 to 9 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, February 7, 20031 eventA heavy band of lake effect snow fell over Berrien county from late morning to early afternoon with accumulations of up to a foot around Benton Harbor. A multiple car accident occurred around 1:30 PMEST on I-94 just northeast of Benton Harbor.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 7, 200312 eventsAs a low pressure system developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast, heavy snow occurred throughout the region.Most snowfall amounts ranged from around 5 to 9 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, February 7, 20038 eventsAs a low pressure system developed off the Mid Atlantic Coast, heavy snow occurred throughout the region.Snowfall amounts ranged from 6 to near 10 inches. Here are selected specific snowfall amounts for:Fairfield County: from 6.0 inches at Sherman to 9.1 inches at Danbury.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 8, 20031 eventSnow and strong winds developed along the Bering Sea Coast in response to a low pressure center over Western Norton Sound and a 1036mb high pressure center over Eastern Siberia.
• Heavy Snow in Michigan, February 8, 20036 eventsAn area of low pressure moved through Michigan on the 8th. A combination of lake enhanced snow in advance of the storm and lake effect snow in its wake brought 6 to 10 inches of snow to extreme northwest lower Michigan.
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 8, 20031 event6 inches of new snow 18 miles west of Sheridan
• Heavy Snow in Montana, February 8, 20031 event6 inches of new snow 1 mile south of Pryor
• Heavy Snow in Wyoming, February 8, 20031 event8 inches of new snow in Story
• Heavy Snow in Texas, February 9, 20033 eventsA storm system in the upper atmosphere passing over the Texas panhandle produced areas of heavy snow across the central and eastern Texas panhandle during the early morning hours.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, February 9, 20039 eventsA narrow band of heavy snow developed during the early morning hours begining in the Bristow and Beggs areas in Creek and Okmulgee counties and then stretching northeast to the Kansas area in southern Delaware county.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 9, 20037 eventsHeavy snow feel across much of Northwest Arkansas during the morning hours before tapering off to flurries during the early afternoon hours. The heaviest snow occured in Benton county as part of a band of heavy snow that extended southwest into Northeast Oklahoma.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, February 9 to 10, 20033 eventsHeavy snow fell along a slow moving warm frontal boundary that stretched eastward from a low pressure center near Bettles, to the Canadian border.
• Heavy Snow in New York, February 9, 2003$16,000 · 2 eventsA weakening front dropped southeast to the north shore of Lake Ontario just after midnight on the ninth and gradually dissipated. A west to southwest flow ahead of this feature was still cold enough to allow lake effect to develop over the St. Lawrence Valley.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 9, 20036 eventsHeavy snow fell over parts of north-central Arkansas during the late morning and early afternoon hours on the 9th. Snow accumulations between 2 and 4 inches were common over the area. Numerous roads were snow covered and hazardous.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 9 to 10, 200322 eventsTwo to four inches of snow fell across western Kentucky. The heaviest amounts were reported along the Tennessee border east of Kentucky Lake, where Hopkinsville measured 3.5 inches and nearby Herndon had 4 inches. Most schools were closed.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, February 9, 2003$6,000 · 6 eventsHeavy snow fell on northern sections of West Tennessee where between 2 and 3 inches of snow was reported.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, February 9, 2003$2,000 · 2 eventsHeavy snow fell across the Missouri bootheel with most locations reporting between 2 and 3 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, February 9, 2003$1,000 · 1 eventHeavy snow fell across parts of Greene county with 2 inches of accumulation reported.

The snowstorm of January 14 to 17, 2003The President's Day Blizzard of 2003 (II)Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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