The snowstorm of January 30 to February 3, 2010

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

999

Deaths

10

Injuries

21

Damage

$2.2 million

Episodes

89

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 Storm and Winter Weather in Arkansas, January 28 to 30, 2010$305,000 · 41 eventsColder air began spilling into Arkansas from the northwest on the 28th as Arctic high pressure approached. Then, a low pressure system approached the state from the northwest. This low pressure caused moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to overrun the cold air near the ground.
• Winter Weather in New Mexico, January 28, 20101 death · 1 eventDespite a respite from winter storms for a few days, icy roads were still a factor across much of northern New Mexico due to several rounds of winter storms the previous week.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 28 to 29, 201020 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow to southeast Kansas and southern Missouri on Friday, January 29, 2010. Light snow began the night of January 28th then increased in intensity on January 29th as a storm system tracked across Arkansas.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Arkansas, January 28 to 30, 20101 injured · $1,000 · 12 eventsThe Mid-South had a favorable set-up for winter weather during the time frame of January 28th-January 30th, 2010. A cold front moved through the area on January 27th allowing cold arctic air to filter into the region behind the front.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, January 28 to 29, 20103 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow to southeast Kansas and southern Missouri on Friday, January 29, 2010. Light snow began the evening of January 28th then increased in intensity on January 29th as a storm system tracked across Arkansas.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, January 28 to 30, 20102 eventsThe Mid-South had a favorable set-up for winter weather during the time frame of January 28th-January 30th, 2010. A cold front moved through the area on January 27th allowing cold arctic air to filter into the region behind the front.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, January 28 to 29, 20105 eventsSnow fall of 6 - 7 inches fell across Southeast Missouri. Schools were closed on the 29th and travel was very difficult through the weekend.
• Cold in New York, January 29, 20103 eventsThe combination of brisk winds and cold temperatures, below zero, late Thursday night, January 28th, through Friday morning, January 29th, produced wind chills of around -30 F across the southern Adirondacks.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 29 to 30, 20101 death · 2 injured · $25,000 · 20 eventsThe Mid-South had a favorable set-up for winter weather during the time frame of January 28th-January 30th, 2010. A cold front moved through the area on January 27th allowing cold arctic air to filter into the region behind the front.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, January 29 to 30, 2010$850,000 · 37 eventsA low pressure system passed to the south of Middle Tennessee, spreading precipitation across the area starting Friday morning, January 29th. Snow developed across Middle Tennessee and continued through 12 PM on Saturday, January 30th.
• Winter Weather in Tennessee, January 29 to 30, 20102 eventsA low pressure system passed to the south of Middle Tennessee, spreading precipitation across the area starting Friday morning, January 29th. Snow developed across Middle Tennessee and continued through 12 PM on Saturday, January 30th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Alabama, January 29 to 30, 20102 deaths · 4 injured · 10 eventsOn January 29th, a cold, dry air mass was in place across northern Alabama around daybreak. At the same time, a low pressure system was developing along a quasi stationary boundary extending from southern Louisiana east through southern Georgia.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in Mississippi, January 29 to 30, 201016 eventsThe Mid-South had a favorable set-up for winter weather during the time frame of January 28th-January 30th, 2010. A cold front moved through the area on January 27th allowing cold arctic air to filter into the region behind the front.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, January 29, 20101 death · 3 eventsA mixture of sleet and snow began Friday night and continued through the day on Saturday. Between 1 and 5 inches of sleet and snow accumulation ocurred from this system in Lincoln and Moore counties, with the highest totals in the northern portion of these counties.
• Ice Storm and Heavy Snow in Georgia, January 29 to 30, 2010$12,000 · 14 eventsA split flow pattern was observed in the upper atmospheric pattern across the United States during this period. A large upper low was anchored across the northeast U.S. while another upper low was moving east from the south central U.S.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, January 29 to 30, 201040 eventsHeavy snow occurred across east Tennessee, with snowfall amounts ranging from four to eight inches in the lower elevations to ten to fourteen inches across the higher elevations.
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, January 29 to 30, 20103 injured · 11 eventsAn upper level storm system moved slowly east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley, producing widespread heavy snow. The surface low pressure center moved east across the Gulf Coast states.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 29 to 30, 20102 injured · 22 eventsAn upper level storm system moved slowly east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley, producing widespread heavy snow. The surface low pressure center moved east across the Gulf Coast states. Accumulations across western Kentucky were generally from 4 to 6 inches.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 29, 20102 eventsHeavy snow occurred across Cherokee and Clay counties, with snowfall amounts ranging from four to six inches across the area.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, January 29 to 30, 201014 eventsAn upper level storm system moved slowly east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley, producing widespread heavy snow. The surface low pressure center moved east across the Gulf Coast states.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 29 to 30, 201011 eventsLow pressure tracked across southern Georgia during the night of the 29th, and then off the Southeast cost on the 30th. As the low passed so far south of the region, most of the precipitation fell as snow, though other precipitation types mixed in toward the end.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 29 to 30, 20105 eventsHeavy snow occurred across southwest Virginia, with snowfall amounts ranging from eight to twelve inches inches across the area.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Kentucky, January 29 to 30, 2010140 eventsA powerful area of low pressure moved across the Tennessee valley and then through the mid Atlantic region on January 29th and 30th.
• Ice Storm in Tennessee, January 29, 20101 death · $725,000 · 18 eventsA low pressure system moved along the gulf coast spread a wintry mix of sleet and freezing rain across much of the southern portion of Middle Tennessee, mainly locations along and south of Interstate 40.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 29 to 31, 20109 eventsA cold front moved through the area on January 28th. Behind this front cold air was left in its wake. On the 29th, an area of low pressure moved the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico before heading north and strengthening along the eastern coast of the U.S. on the 30th.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 29 to 30, 201018 eventsLow pressure tracked across southern Georgia during the night of the 29th, and then off the southeast cost on the 30th. As the low passed well south of the region, most of the precipitation fell as snow, though other precipitation types mixed in toward the end.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Carolina, January 29 to 30, 201015 eventsPrecipitation began as light snow early in the evening across northern portions of the Upstate. By late evening, snow had mostly changed to sleet, except in areas along the North Carolina border.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 29 to 31, 201027 eventsA cold front moved through the area on January 28th. Behind this front cold air was left in its wake. On the 29th, an area of low pressure moved the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico before heading north and strengthening along the eastern coast of the U.S. on the 30th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Georgia, January 29 to 30, 20106 eventsLow pressure tracked across southern Georgia during the night of the 29th, and then off the southeast cost on the 30th. Precipitation began as light snow early in the evening across the Georgia mountains.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in North Carolina, January 29 to 30, 20105 eventsLow pressure tracked across southern Georgia during the night of the 29th, and then off the southeast cost on the 30th. Snow became heavy at times during the late evening, resulting in quick accumulation of snow.
• Cold in New York, January 29 to 30, 20104 eventsThe combination of very cold temperatures, well below zero, and winds of 5 to 10 mph Friday night, January 29th, into Saturday morning, January 30th, produced wind chills of -30 to -35 F across the southern Adirondacks.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, January 29 to 30, 20102 eventsWith low pressure well to the south and temperatures in the 20s, a dry snow accumulated from Friday evening the 29th, into Saturday the 30th. The heaviest snow rates were observed during the predawn hours on the 30th.
• Cold in Vermont, January 29 to 30, 20102 eventsThe combination of very cold temperatures, well below zero, and winds of 5 to 10 mph Friday night, January 29th, into Saturday morning, January 30th, produced wind chills of around -30 F across southern Vermont above 1500 feet.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 29 to 31, 20104 eventsA cold front moved through the area on January 28th. Behind this front cold air was left in its wake. On the 29th, an area of low pressure moved the northern edge of the Gulf of Mexico before heading north and strengthening along the eastern coast of the U.S. on the 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 29 to 30, 201037 eventsAn upper level disturbance moved east from the southern plains through the Tennessee Valley late on a Friday night.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 29 to 30, 20101 death · 1 injured · 31 eventsA strong storm system tracking northeast from the Gulf of Mexico spread heavy snow and freezing rain into Central North Carolina the evening of January 29th. The snow continued into the morning hours of January 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, January 29 to 30, 20104 eventsAn upper level storm system moved slowly east across the Mid-Mississippi Valley, producing widespread heavy snow. The surface low pressure center moved east across the Gulf Coast states.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, January 29 to 30, 201012 eventsWith low pressure well to the south, and temperatures in the teens and lower 20s, a dry snow gradually moved north, into extreme southern West Virginia late on Friday the 29th. The snow creeped further north during the morning hours of Saturday the 30th.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 29 to 31, 201043 eventsLow pressure moving off the coastal Carolinas produced between five and fifteen inches of snow across central and eastern Virginia from Friday night, January 29th, into Saturday night January 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, January 29 to 30, 20101 eventAn upper level disturbance moved from the southern Plains through the Tennessee Valley the evening of January 29th. This storm left a broad swath of heavy snow from Oklahoma, through southern Kentucky and Tennessee, to the southern Appalachians and the mid-Atlantic states.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 29 to 30, 201010 eventsLow pressure moving off the coastal Carolinas produced between three and eleven inches of snow across northeast North Carolina from Friday night, January 29th, into Saturday night January 30th.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 30, 201010 eventsLow pressure developed just south of eastern North Carolina during the evening of January 29th. This low then moved northeast along the coast of North Carolina on January 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, January 30, 20101 eventWith low pressure well to the south and temperatures in the 20s, a dry snow accumulated on Saturday the 30th. The northern fringe of the heavy snow was seen across Lawrence County, with lighter snow amounts across Carter, Greenup, and Boyd Counties in northeast Kentucky.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in North Carolina, January 30, 20102 eventsA combination of freezing rain and sleet fell over much of Robeson County.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, January 30 to 31, 201024 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic triggering snow on the 30th. The heaviest snow fell during the late morning and afternoon hours.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, January 30 to 31, 20109 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic triggering snow on the 30th. The heaviest snow fell during the late morning and afternoon hours.
• Ice Storm in South Carolina, January 30, 20103 eventsFreezing rain accumulated on grass, roads, and trees, causing numerous power outages.
• Ice Storm and Winter Storm in South Carolina, January 30, 2010$170,000 · 11 eventsA winter storm moved up the SC coast and produced snow, sleet, and freezing rain to Lancaster, Chesterfield, and Newberry counties. Freezing rain and some sleet fell in Fairfield, Kershaw, Lee, Saluda, Lexington, Richland, Sumter, and northern Clarendon counties.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, January 30 to 31, 201015 eventsAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic triggering snow on the 30th. The heaviest snow fell during the late morning and afternoon hours.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, January 30 to 31, 20105 eventsLow pressure moving off the coastal Carolinas produced between six and thirteen inches of snow across the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore from Saturday morning into Saturday night January 30th.
• Heavy Snow in Delaware, January 30 to 31, 20105 injured · 4 eventsHeavy snow fell across Delaware from the morning of the 30th into the early morning of the 31st. Snowfall averaged 4 to 10 inches with the highest amounts in the southern part of the state. Snow spread from south to north from 9 a.m.
• Heavy Snow in Maryland, January 30 to 31, 20105 eventsHeavy snow fell across the Eastern Shore from the morning of the 30th into the early morning of the 31st. Snowfall averaged 4 to 10 inches with the highest amounts in the southern part of the Eastern Shore. Snow spread from south to north from 9 a.m.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Jersey, January 30 to 31, 201012 eventsSnow fell across southern New Jersey from the morning of the 30th into the early morning of the 31st. Heavy accumulations occurred in Salem, Cumberland, Atlantic and Cape May Counties. Snowfall averaged 4 to 10 inches with the highest amounts in Cape May County.
• Winter Storm in District of Columbia, January 30 to 31, 20101 eventAn upper-level low passed through the Mid-Atlantic triggering snow on the 30th. The heaviest snow fell during the late morning and afternoon hours.
• Winter Weather in South Carolina, January 30, 2010$10,000 · 1 eventIce accumulation caused a large branch to fall, damaging a home.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, January 30, 20102 eventsA light accumulating snow fell across extreme southeastern Pennsylvania from the middle of the afternoon into the middle of the evening on the 30th. The region was along the northwest edge of the accumulating snow. Untreated roadways and walkways were slippery.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, January 31, 20103 eventsHeavy snow fell in southern and eastern Idaho through the morning of February 1st with 16 inches reported at Pebble Creek ski area and up to a foot on the west benches of Pocatello. Franklin County saw up to a foot of snow and the Upper Snake Highlands had heavy snow as well.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, January 31, 2010$20,000 · 2 eventsA weak low passed across Ontario into Quebec well north of the Lakes, with a trailing west-east trough stalling out north of Lake Ontario.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, February 1 to 3, 201011 eventsA winter storm impacted portions of west Texas on the 3rd. Widespread drizzle and light rain began to fall over much of the region during the early morning hours, but the precipitation transitioned toward heavy snowfall over the extreme southwestern Panhandle by midday.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, February 2, 2010$10,000 · 5 eventsAn area of low pressure moving through the southeastern states and then off the eastern seaboard combined with an upper level disturbance to bring wintry weather to eastern Kentucky on the morning of February 2nd.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 2, 20107 eventsA weak area of low pressure passed south of the region, spreading light rain across western North Carolina.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, February 2, 20102 eventsA low pressure moving off the South Carolina coast combined with an upper level disturbance moving out of the Ohio Valley producing areas of light to moderate snow.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, February 2 to 3, 20103 eventsA low pressure moving off the South Carolina coast combined with an upper level disturbance moving out of the Ohio Valley producing areas of light to moderate snow.
• Blizzard in Alaska, February 2 to 3, 20102 eventsAn area of low pressure dropped out of the high Arctic and deepened to 998 mb just off the coast of Banks Island.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, February 2 to 3, 201024 eventsLow pressure tracked through the Ohio Valley on the 2nd before emerging off the Mid-Atlantic Coast during the early morning hours of the 3rd.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, February 2 to 3, 201010 eventsLow pressure tracked through the Ohio Valley on the 2nd before emerging off the Mid-Atlantic Coast during the early morning hours of the 3rd.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, February 2 to 3, 201015 eventsLow pressure tracked through the Ohio Valley on the 2nd before emerging off the Mid-Atlantic Coast during the early morning hours of the 3rd.
• Winter Weather in District of Columbia, February 2 to 3, 20101 eventLow pressure tracked through the Ohio Valley on the 2nd before emerging off the Mid-Atlantic Coast during the early morning hours of the 3rd. The forcing from the low combined with cold air already in place to produce snow across Washington D.C.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, February 2 to 3, 201021 eventsDouble barrel low pressure systems brought a light accumulating snow to New Jersey on the evening and overnight on the 2nd. Snowfall averaged 1 to 4 inches with the highest amounts in the Raritan and Passaic Basins as well as in extreme southern New Jersey.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, February 2 to 3, 20109 eventsDouble barrel low pressure systems brought a light accumulating snow to Eastern Pennsylvania on the evening and overnight on the 2nd. Snowfall averaged 1 to 3 inches. Snow started during the early evening of the 2nd and ended by 5 a.m. EST on the 3rd.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, February 2 to 3, 20105 eventsDouble barrel low pressure systems brought a light accumulating snow to the Eastern Shore on the evening and overnight on the 2nd. Snowfall averaged 2 to 4 inches.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, February 2 to 3, 20104 eventsDouble barrel low pressure systems brought a light accumulating snow to Delaware on the evening and overnight on the 2nd. Snowfall averaged 1 to 3 inches. Precipitation started during the early evening of the 2nd and initially began as rain in Sussex County.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, February 2 to 4, 20102 eventsA broad Pacific upper low moved across the desert southwest and southern New Mexico. A strong surface high over the central U.S. brought low level easterly winds into the region providing plenty of moisture and cold air.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, February 3 to 4, 20102 deaths · 3 injured · 21 eventsMoisture spread from south to north across the state as an upper level low pressure system tracked from the boot-heel of New Mexico northeastward into the Texas panhandle.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Texas, February 3 to 4, 20101 death · 6 eventsA winter storm approached the Texas Panhandle and produced heavy snow across mainly the northwest section of the Texas Panhandle. One person was killed in the central Texas Panhandle in a single car automobile accident.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, February 3 to 4, 20102 eventsA winter storm approached the Oklahoma Panhandle and produced heavy snow mainly across the central and eastern Oklahoma Panhandle. No damage or injuries were reported. At 0837 CST on February 4...six inches of snow was reported by local law enforcement officials in Turpin.
• Winter Weather in Oklahoma, February 3 to 4, 20105 eventsA large storm system moved well southwest and south of Oklahoma, but a significant wave rotating around the system moved over Oklahoma. Precipitation began on the 3rd, mainly in the form of rain.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, February 3 to 4, 20101 eventAbundant low level moisture was in place across western Kansas February 3rd and 4th, 2010, when a strong upper level short wave crossed New Mexico and northern Oklahoma. Snow began falling lightly across far western Kansas the evening of Wednesday, February 3rd.
• Extreme Cold in Alaska, February 3 to 4, 20101 eventTemperatures of 28 to 33 below zero (F) combined with a northeast wind of 20 to 30 mph to produce wind chills as low as 69 below at Atigun Pass during the early morning hours of the 4th.
• Winter Storm in Arkansas, February 4, 20101 eventAn area of light to moderate precipitation developed across the region with the approach of an upper level disturbance. A mixture of rain, sleet, and some light freezing rain occurred in this event resulting in a generally light accumulation from the wintry mix.
• Winter Storm in South Dakota, February 4 to 5, 20104 eventsAn upper level storm system crossed the region, bringing accumulating snow to much of the area. The heaviest snow fell across far western South Dakota from Edgemont north to the Belle Fourche area.
• Winter Weather and Strong Wind in Georgia, February 4 to 5, 2010$55,000 · 7 eventsA strong, negatively tilted upper low was rotating northeast from the southern plains and mid-south region of the U.S.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, February 4 to 5, 20105 eventsAn upper level storm system, brought snow to the region on February 4th and 5th,|2010. The heaviest snow fell across west central Missouri and north central Missouri.|Accumulations of 4 to 8 inches was observed in these areas.
• Winter Weather in Kansas, February 4 to 5, 20103 eventsAn upper level storm system, brought snow to the region on February 4th and 5th, 2010. The heaviest snows fell across extreme east central Kansas. Accumulations of 4 to 8.5 inches was observed in this area.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, February 4 to 5, 201014 eventsLow pressure moved across the deep south, spreading light snow over the southern mountains of North Carolina during the late afternoon. The snow gradually spread north and east into the North Carolina foothills and piedmont during the evening and overnight hours.
• Winter Storm in North Carolina, February 4 to 5, 20106 eventsAs low pressure moved across the deep south, snow, mixed with sleet, developed over the southern mountains during the late afternoon hours. The precipitation fell heavily at times, and up to 4 inches of snow accumulated across the area by early evening.
• Winter Storm in South Carolina, February 4 to 5, 20103 eventsLight snow developed over the South Carolina mountains during the late afternoon, and continued through the evening and overnight hours.
• Winter Weather in Georgia, February 4 to 5, 20102 eventsLow pressure moved across the deep south, spreading light snow over the mountains of northeast Georgia during the late afternoon.
• Winter Storm in California, February 4 to 5, 20105 eventsA winter storm brought moderate to locally heavy snow to the higher mountains of interior Northern California. There were 6 to 10 inches of snow above 5000 feet, with about a foot of new snow above 8000 feet.

The snowstorm of January 29 to 30, 2010The snowstorm of February 2 to 3, 2010Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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