The snowstorm of January 27 to 29, 2013

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

497

Deaths

6

Injuries

17

Damage

$1.4 million

Episodes

65

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 High Wind in Montana, January 26 to 29, 20137 eventsHeavy snow fell over portions of Central Montana.
• Winter Storm in Utah, January 27 to 29, 20131 death · 1 injured · 6 eventsA cold front moved into northern Utah on January 27, bringing additional snow to the area, and finally breaking the long-lasting valley inversions. The heaviest snow occurred along the cold front on the 27th, with showers lingering on the 28th, and eventually ending on the 29th.
• Ice Storm in Iowa, January 27, 2013$550,000 · 14 eventsA cold airmass was in place over Iowa as arctic high pressure slipped east of the state during the early morning hours of the 27th.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, January 27, 201321 eventsLow clouds and a mix of freezing rain, sleet, and rain were found across southeast and east central Iowa, northeast Missouri and west central and northwest Illinois on Sunday, January 27th as a storm system lifted northeast into the plains.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, January 27, 20138 eventsFreezing rain caused icy roads and other surfaces in much of northwest Iowa during the morning of January 27th.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, January 27, 20132 eventsLow clouds and a mix of freezing rain, sleet, and rain were found across southeast and east central Iowa, northeast Missouri and west central and northwest Illinois on Sunday, January 27th as a storm system lifted northeast into the plains.
• Winter Weather in Minnesota, January 27, 20131 death · 8 eventsFreezing rain caused icy roads and other surfaces across southwest Minnesota during the morning and early afternoon of January 27th. There was one indirect fatality resulting from an accident.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, January 27, 20138 eventsIce accumulations up to a quarter of an inch from freezing rain were reported across northeast Iowa from a winter storm that impacted the region on January 27th. The winter storm originated over South Dakota and then moved almost due east into Wisconsin.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 27 to 28, 20131 eventHeavy snow was reported in the Caribou HIghlands and Upper Snake River Plain with 6 to 12 inches of snow common.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, January 27, 201312 injured · $20,000 · 7 eventsIce accumulations up to a quarter of an inch from freezing rain were reported across southeast Minnesota from a winter storm that impacted the region on January 27th. The winter storm originated over South Dakota and then moved almost due east into Wisconsin.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, January 27, 20132 eventsA large, but quickly moving area of precipitation in the form of freezing rain, sleet and snow, quickly moved from northern Iowa, into far southern Minnesota by 9 am Sunday morning, January 27th.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 27, 20138 eventsIce accumulations up to two tenths of an inch from freezing rain were reported across western Wisconsin from a winter storm that impacted the region on January 27th. The winter storm originated over South Dakota and then moved almost due east into Wisconsin.
• Blizzard in Alaska, January 27 to 29, 2013$75,000 · 4 eventsA 970 mb low pressure system moved from the North Pacific Ocean January 27th, progressed north toward the eastern Aleutians and eventually the Pribilof Islands late January 29th, spreading generally light to moderate snow.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, January 27, 20136 eventsLow clouds and a mix of freezing rain, sleet, and rain were found across southeast and east central Iowa, northeast Missouri and west central and northwest Illinois on Sunday, January 27th as a storm system lifted northeast into the plains.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 27, 20131 death · 1 injured · 6 eventsA large, but quickly moving area of precipitation in the form of freezing rain, sleet and snow, quickly moved from southeastern Minnesota, northeast across west central Wisconsin by noon.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, January 27 to 28, 201320 eventsSnow affecting Southern Wisconsin on January 27th became mixed with some freezing rain and sleet which resulted in hazardous driving conditions. There were brief heavy showers of sleet and bursts of snow with isolated elevated thunderstorms.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 27 to 28, 20131 eventA broad weather disturbance that moved across Montana and Idaho brought snow and wind to portions of the Billings Forecast Area.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 27 to 28, 201313 eventsA low pressure system moving through the Lower Great Lakes produced moderate to heavy snow over portions of west and central Upper Michigan from the afternoon of the 27th into the morning of the 28th.
• Ice Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 27 to 28, 20135 eventsLight freezing rain spread north into the region ahead of a warm front during the evening hours of January 27th. Ice accretions near a tenth of an inch were common.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, January 27 to 28, 20131 eventA Pacific frontal system brought heavy snow to the Cascades.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, January 27 to 28, 201317 eventsLight freezing rain spread north into the region ahead of a warm front during the evening hours of January 27th. Ice accretions near a tenth of an inch were common.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, January 27 to 28, 20138 eventsLight freezing rain spread north into the region ahead of a warm front during the evening hours of January 27th. Ice accretions near a tenth of an inch were common.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 28, 20131 eventA warm front well in advance of low pressure across the Great Lakes produced a mix of winter precipitation across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and Garrett county Maryland.
• Ice Storm in Maryland, January 28, 20131 eventA warm front well in advance of low pressure across the Great Lakes produced a mix of winter precipitation across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and Garrett county Maryland.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, January 28, 20131 eventA warm front well in advance of low pressure across the Great Lakes produced a mix of winter precipitation across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and Garrett county Maryland.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, January 28, 201321 eventsHigh pressure was slow to move off the Atlantic Coast and sub freezing air was trapped on the leeward side of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, January 28, 201315 eventsHigh pressure was slow to move off the Atlantic Coast and sub freezing air was trapped on the leeward side of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 28, 201311 eventsHigh pressure was slow to move off the Atlantic Coast and sub freezing air was trapped on the leeward side of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Ice Storm in Pennsylvania, January 28, 20134 eventsA warm front well in advance of low pressure across the Great Lakes produced a mix of winter precipitation across eastern Ohio, northern West Virginia, western Pennsylvania, and Garrett county Maryland.
• Winter Weather in District of Columbia, January 28, 20131 eventHigh pressure was slow to move off the Atlantic Coast and sub freezing air was trapped on the leeward side of the Appalachian Mountains.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, January 28, 20132 deaths · 13 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected the Poconos throughout the day on the 28th and the rest of Eastern Pennsylvania into the early afternoon of the 28th.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, January 28, 20135 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected the Eastern Shore of Maryland during the early morning of the 28th before changing to all rain later that morning. The effects of the wintry mix increased farther north along the Eastern Shore.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, January 28, 20134 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected Delaware during the early morning of the 28th before changing to all rain later that morning. The effects of the wintry mix increased farther north in the state. All places away from the immediate coast had at least some freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 28, 20136 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected northwest New Jersey throughout the day on the 28th and west central New Jersey during the morning of the 28th.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, January 28 to 29, 20133 eventsStrong onshore flow produced heavy snow across the Oregon Cascades.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, January 28 to 29, 20132 eventsStrong onshore flow produced heavy snow across the South Washington Cascades.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, January 28 to 29, 201314 eventsA low pressure system moving slowly across the region produced a moderate to heavy band of snow across much of central and northeastern South Dakota. Snowfall rates were greater than one inch per hour in some locations.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, January 28 to 29, 201312 eventsA band of heavy snow fell across portions of southeast North Dakota up toward the Bemidji, Minnesota area. Reports of six to twelve inches of snow were common from Forman and Wahpeton Breckenridge up through Bemidji.
• Heavy Snow in North Dakota, January 28 to 29, 20134 eventsA band of heavy snow fell across portions of southeast North Dakota up toward the Bemidji, Minnesota area. Reports of six to twelve inches of snow were common from Forman and Wahpeton Breckenridge up through Bemidji.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, January 28 to 29, 20134 eventsA low pressure system tracked across Southern Minnesota January 28th, 2013. This brought some snow across Northern Minnesota with the heaviest snowfall of 8 to 12 inches in a swath from Bemidji to International Falls.
• Heavy Snow in North Dakota, January 28 to 29, 20132 eventsLow pressure lifting northeast across the Central Plains brought a band of heavy snow to the far southern James River Basin of North Dakota during the afternoon and evening of the 28th. Snow eventually ended early on the morning of the 29th.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, January 29, 201314 eventsWarm moist air lifting over the area ahead of an approaching cold front produced widespread light freezing rain over much of Upper Michigan on the morning of the 29th. Many schools were closed or delayed as a result of the freezing rain.
• Winter Storm in Utah, January 29 to 31, 20134 eventsA couple of weather disturbances moved through Utah on January 29 and 30, bringing more snow to northern Utah.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, January 29, 20134 eventsStrong arctic high pressure was established over central ALCAN at 1043 MB on the morning of 1/28 driving cold northerly flow through mountain passes and Lynn Canal. The high moved to the southeast on 1/29 as a moisture-laden frontal system moved into the eastern Gulf.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, January 29 to 30, 20134 eventsA slow-moving, moist upper level storm system pushed across New Mexico delivering strong winds along and east of the central mountain chain and heavy snow for portions of the northern mountains.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, January 29 to 30, 20135 eventsBetween the late afternoon of Tuesday the 29th and the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday the 30th, the majority of the six-county area received a widespread 2 to 5 inches of snow. The only exception was Phillips County, most of which measured only 1-2.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 29 to 30, 20135 eventsBetween the late afternoon of Tuesday the 29th and the pre-dawn hours of Wednesday the 30th, southeast portions of the area received a widespread 2 to 5 inches of snow, with very localized higher amounts up to 6 inches.
• Winter Weather in Texas, January 29, 201322 eventsAn upper level trough of low pressure moved across the Texas Panhandle on January 29th and caused snow showers during the afternoon and overnight hours.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Nebraska, January 29 to 30, 20133 eventsAn upper level disturbance tracking across the plains caused low pressure to deepen as it tracked from northern Oklahoma into northeast Missouri. Snow, occasionally moderate and even briefly heavy, fell from late on the 29th into the morning hours of the 30th.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, January 29, 20131 eventAn upper level trough of low pressure moved across the Oklahoma Panhandle on January 29th and caused snow showers during the afternoon and overnight hours.
• Heavy Snow in Montana, January 29 to 31, 20137 eventsHeavy snowfall was reported at many locations across Central and South Central Montana.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, January 29 to 30, 20132 eventsAn upper level disturbance tracking across the plains caused low pressure to deepen as it tracked from northern Oklahoma into northeast Missouri. Snow, occasionally moderate and even briefly heavy, fell from late on the 29th into the morning hours of the 30th.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, January 29 to 30, 2013$750,000 · 30 eventsA volatile pattern was in place over the central U.S. with a strong long wave trough moving through the area. On the 29th, a strong push of warm to record warm air moved over the state.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, January 29 to 30, 201319 eventsA winter storm system lifted northeastward across Missouri and northern Illinois January 30th bringing heavy snows and strong northwest winds which occasionally gusted between 30 and 45 mph.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, January 29 to 30, 20132 eventsA storm system moved northeast across the area January 29th and 30th, 2013. On the south side of the system, showers and thunderstorms were noted mainly south of Interstate 70.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 30, 2013$10,000 · 8 eventsSnowfall amounts of 5 to 12 inches covered portions of western Wisconsin from a winter storm that moved through the region on January 30th.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, January 30, 20136 eventsSnowfall amounts of 4 to 10 inches covered portions of northeast Iowa from a winter storm that moved through the region on January 30th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, January 30 to 31, 20131 death · 1 injured · $8,000 · 14 eventsA strong cold front moving through Upper Michigan produced heavy snow over the east half of Upper Michigan on the 30th, and then moderate to heavy lake effect snow and blowing snow behind the front into the 31st for portions of west and north central Upper Michigan.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 30, 201317 eventsA low pressure system developed along an Arctic front and moved northeast across northern Illinois. Snowfall across central and northeast Wisconsin was mostly in the 4 to 9 inch range, most of which fell in a 12-hour period.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, January 30, 201311 eventsHeavy snow fell over most of South-central Wisconsin and northwest portions of Southeast Wisconsin as low pressure followed a favored track from southern Missouri to eastern Lower Michigan during the day on January 30th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, January 30, 20136 eventsA winter storm system lifted northeastward across Missouri and northern Illinois January 30th bringing heavy snows and strong northwest winds which occasionally gusted between 30 and 45 mph.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, January 30, 20132 injured · 9 eventsRain changed over to snow over most of Southeast Wisconsin and far southeast portions of South-central Wisconsin as low pressure followed a favored track from southern Missouri to eastern Lower Michigan during the day on January 30th.
• Blizzard in Alaska, January 30, 20131 eventA 976 mb low in the bering strait produced strong northeast winds over Saint Lawrence Island on the 29th. Blizzard conditions were reported at the Gambell ASOS during the early morning hours of the 30th. The visibility was frequently reduced to one quarter mile or less.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, January 30 to 31, 20131 eventA moist northwest flow combined with a cold front brought accumulating snow and gusty winds across Sheridan County.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, January 30 to 31, 20135 eventsA strong cold front turned mixed rain and snow over to lake effect snow showers on the night of the 30th. Those snow showers intensified during the day on the 31st, thanks to a passing upper level disturbance.

The snowstorm of January 25 to 27, 2013The snowstorm of January 29 to 31, 2013Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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