The snowstorm of March 12 to 16, 1999

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

556

Deaths

5

Injuries

6

Damage

$665,000

Episodes

80

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.

• Cold in Alaska, March 11 to 12, 19991 eventA large low in the Gulf of Alaska produced northwest winds over the area with and existing cold airmass, creating low wind chill values. Lowest readings were:Buckland -72, Deering -77, Selawik -71, Kotzebue -71.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, March 11 to 12, 19996 injured · $35,000 · 1 eventThree people were injured when the pickup truckin which they were riding went off Interstate 80 and rolled into the ditch. The truck was heading east, about a mile east of Potter when the driver lost control on the ice.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, March 12 to 13, 199913 eventsThis was the biggest snow event of the season across NW Kansas. Freezing precipitation during the early morning of the 12th quickly turned to snow. Moderate to Heavy snow continued through the early morning hours of the 13th resulting in up to one foot of snow in most areas.
• Winter Storm in Nebraska, March 12 to 13, 19993 eventsOne of the biggest snow events of the season hit far southwest Nebraska on the morning of the 12th, and continued through the early morning hours of the 13th. Snowfall amounts ranged from 5 to 8 inches by the time the storm ended.
• Winter Storm in Colorado, March 12 to 13, 19992 eventsOne of the biggest snow events of the season hit far eastern Colorado with 5 to 8 inches observed across eastern Cheyenne and Kit Carson Counties. There was also some blowing snow as Interstate 70 near Burlington was closed for a short time.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, March 12 to 13, 19992 eventsStrong low pressure lifting north from the southern plains spread a swath of heavy snow across a small part of north-central Kansas. Reports of "thundersnow" were noted in the morning hours as the snow came down. Snow amounts by the storms end had totaled 6 inches in some spots.
• Heavy Snow in Nebraska, March 12 to 13, 19991 eventStrong low pressure lifting north from the southern plains spread a swath of heavy snow across a small part of south-central Nebraska. Reports of "thundersnow" were noted in the morning hours as the snow came down.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 12, 19993 eventsHeavy snow of 8 to 10 inches developed across the north central mountains from Wolf Canyon in Sandoval County north to Brazos Ridge southeast of Chama and also over the ridges of central Taos County.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, March 12 to 13, 1999$170,000 · 27 eventsWinter Storm affected the entire CWA producing heavy snow and local blizzard conditions. There were winter weather driving accidents (fender benders) but no injuries. Three structures received damage.
• Heavy Snow in Kansas, March 12 to 13, 1999$8,000 · 11 eventsA late season winter storm moving from northern New Mexico into northeast Texas spread heavy snow across much of central, south-central and southeast Kansas resulting in accumulations ranging from 6-11 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, March 12 to 13, 19993 eventsA strong low pressure system in the upper atmosphere moved from south-central New Mexico into the Texas South Plains. Snowfall amounts ranged from four inches in the western and eastern Oklahoma panhandle to around five to six inches in the central Oklahoma panhandle.
• Heavy Snow in Texas, March 12 to 13, 19991 eventA strong low pressure system in the upper atmosphere moved from south-central New Mexico across the Texas South Plains producing snowfall amounts of six inches at Stratford in the northwest Texas panhandle.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, March 13 to 14, 1999$100,000 · 12 eventsHeavy snow fell across portions of northern Oklahoma on the 13th, resulting in hundreds of closed roads, traffic accidents, stranded motorists and power outages.
• Winter Storm in Tennessee, March 13 to 14, 199940 eventsA very wet weather system brought heavy amounts of rain to East Tennessee. Heavy rain began early Saturday morning, changed to heavy snow in some places during the day Saturday, back to rain Saturday night, then finally to snow Sunday night.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, March 13, 199912 eventsA narrow band of heavy snow fell across extreme northern Kentucky. The snow fell at a rate higher than one inch an hour at times leaving behind accumulations of 4 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 13, 19999 eventsA strong low pressure system brought a narrow band of heavy snow into southern Ohio. The snow fell faster than 1 inch an hour at times and thunder and lightning ocurred in spots. A general area of 4 to 8 inches fell from Cincinnati northeastward to around Chillicothe.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, March 13, 19994 eventsA narrow band of heavy snow pushed into southeastern Indiana. The snow fell at a rate greater than 1 inch an hour at times leaving behind accumulations of 4 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, March 13, 19993 eventsMoisture being pulled north by a low pressure system in the Lower Mississippi Valley region encountered cold air in place across western North Carolina. A quick burst of snow during the early afternoon resulted in accumulations of 3 to 5 inches.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 13, 19992 eventsMoisture associated with a low pressure system in the Lower Mississippi Valley region streamed north into the mountains of North Carolina and produced a 1 to 3 inch snow accumulation.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, March 13 to 14, 1999$260,000 · 23 eventsA winter storm produced an area of 3 to as much as 16 inches of snow over a portion of southwest and south central Missouri.
• Heavy Snow in Oklahoma, March 13 to 14, 1999$21,000 · 17 eventsSummary of winter storm on March 13-14 1999:A powerful upper level storm system moving eastward along the Red River valley brought one of the top winter storms on record to the area.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, March 13 to 14, 1999$20,000 · 4 eventsSummary of winter weather on March 13-14 1999:A powerful upper level storm system moved eastward across southern Oklahoma and southern Arkansas on March 13 and 14.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 13 to 16, 19993 eventsA moderate front moved steadily into the area from southwest Alaska, producing heavy snows along much of the Seward Highway from the town of Seward through Turnagain Arm.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, March 13 to 14, 19992 eventsA winter storm dropped 3 to 6 inches of snow in Crawford County and 6 to 10 inches in Cherokee County. No serious storm related accidents or damage was reported.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, March 13 to 14, 19996 events4 to 6 inches of snow fell across southern parts of the CWA in less than 24 hours.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, March 13 to 14, 19998 eventsA late season winter storm struck southeast Missouri dumping from 2 to 14 inches of snow. The heaviest band of snow fell from south central to southeast Missouri. Iron, Madison, St. Francis, Ste. Genevieve, and Reynolds counties received from 6 to 14 inches of snow.
• Winter Storm in Illinois, March 13 to 14, 19993 eventsA late winter snow storm dropped from 2 to 13 inches of snow across parts of southwest Illinois. The band of heavy snow had a rather sharp northern edge. For example, north Monroe County reported 2 inches while the south part of the county picked up 6.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 14, 19991 eventThe remains of a weakening weather system over southwest Alaska moved north over Norton Sound and the Seward Peninsula, causing local blizzard conditions at Tin City on the Bering Strait Coast (conditions were not as severe over Saint Lawrence Island).
• Heavy Snow in Missouri, March 13 to 14, 19999 eventsA major snowstorm dumped 12 to 15 inches of snow over parts of southeast Missouri. The precipitation fell mainly as rain near the Bootheel, so little if any snow was reported from New Madrid to Charleston. There was a sharp division between heavy snow and no snow at all.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, March 14, 19991 eventOne to 3 inches of snow fell, before changing to freezing rain. A quarter inch of ice was deposited by the freezing rain.
• Heavy Snow in Illinois, March 14, 199915 eventsA major snowstorm dumped as much as a foot of snow over parts of far southern Illinois. The hardest hit area was the Marion-Carbondale area, where 11 to 12 inches was measured.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 14, 199911 eventsOverrunning heavy snow occurred just north of the rain/snow line. Big wet snow flakes came down during the afternoon, causing snow rates of an inch per hour. Snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches were measured. For example, Clarksburg had 7 inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in Arkansas, March 14, 199910 eventsA late Winter storm brought heavy snow to much of north central Arkansas. The storm tracked along the Gulf Coast, with snow developing in northern Arkansas during the evening of the 13th. The snow ended before midnight, with two to three inches of accumulation common.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 14, 19996 eventsA 50 mile wide band of 4 to 10 inches of snow cut across southeast Ohio. The heaviest snow rates were between 1100 and 1500 EST. The communities of Jackson and Carpenter had 10 inches of snow accumulate. McArthur and Salem Center measured 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Indiana, March 14, 19994 eventsHeavy snow, between 4 and 8 inches, fell over parts of southwest Indiana away from the Ohio River. Close to the river, the precipitation fell mainly in the form of rain. There was a sharp division between little snow and heavy snow.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, March 14 to 15, 199919 eventsAn area of low pressure over the Southeast U.S. produced snow across much of Northern Virginia on the 14th. Snowfall amounts were heaviest near the West Virginia border. Rain mixed with snow southeast of a line from Fairfax to Orange County.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maryland, March 14 to 15, 199912 eventsAn area of low pressure over the Southeast U.S. produced snow across Western and Central Maryland on the 14th. Snowfall amounts were heaviest near the Pennsylvania border. Rain mixed with snow southeast of a line from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, March 14 to 15, 19998 eventsAn area of low pressure over the Southeast U.S. produced snow across the Eastern Panhandle on the 14th. The low pressure system redeveloped off the coast of North Carolina and moved up the Eastern Seaboard on the morning of the 15th, resulting in another period of snowfall.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, March 14 to 15, 19995 eventsA very wet weather system brought heavy amounts of rain to southwest Virginia. Heavy rain began early Saturday morning, changed to heavy snow in some places during the day Saturday, back to rain Saturday night, then finally to snow Sunday night.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 14, 19992 eventsExtreme east central Ohio received a fresh blanket of snow as a late-winter storm moved across the area. Some snowfall totals included 6 inches in Farmington, Monroe County and 4 to 6 inches in Dungannon, Noble County.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 14, 19994 eventsNorthern sections of West Virginia received a fresh blanket of snow as a late-winter storm moved across the area.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 14, 19992 eventsThe extreme southwest corner of Pennsylvania received a fresh blanket of snow as a late-winter storm moved across the area. Some snowfall totals from Fayette County included 13 inches in Farmington and 10 inches in Chalk Hill.
• Heavy Snow in Maryland, March 14, 19991 eventGarrett County received a fresh blanket of snow as a late-winter storm moved across the area. Snowfall totals from across the county were in the 8 to 10 inch range.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 14, 199924 eventsLow pressure tracked east across Tennessee and the Carolinas on Sunday, the 14th. An easterly flow of Atlantic moisture north of the system spread heavy snow of 6 inches or more across southern PA roughly south of a line from Ebensburg to State College to Lewisburg and Tamaqua.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 14 to 15, 199910 eventsA coastal low pressure system brought heavy wet snow to most of Eastern Pennsylvania from around noon on the 14th into the early morning of the 15th. The heavy wet snow also tore down trees, tree limbs and wires, especially in the Philadelphia suburbs.
• Heavy Snow in Maryland, March 14, 19991 eventA coastal low pressure system caused heavy snow and rain to fall across Cecil County from around noon on the 14th into the early morning of the 15th. The rain/snow line meandered in the county for most of the 14th.
• Heavy Snow in Delaware, March 14, 19991 eventA coastal low pressure system caused heavy snow and rain to fall across New Castle County from around noon on the 14th into the early morning of the 15th. The rain/snow line meandered in the county for most of the 14th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 14 to 15, 199914 eventsA coastal low pressure system brought heavy wet snow to most of New Jersey from northern Burlington and Ocean Counties northward. Several inches of heavy wet snow also accumulated in southwest New Jersey before a change to rain occurred near midnight EST on the 14th.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 14 to 15, 19994 eventsA strengthening storm system moved from the southern Appalachians northeastward to off the coast of Delaware during the evening of the 14th; then skirted out to sea early on the 15th.
• Winter Storm in Connecticut, March 14 to 15, 1999$10,000 · 1 eventAn area of low pressure developed over the southeastern United States on March 14. This low tracked northeast off the eastern seaboard and was off the coast of Cape Cod by the evening of March 15. Wet snow fell over Northwest Connecticut.
• Winter Storm in New York, March 14 to 15, 1999$5,000 · 1 eventAn area of low pressure developed over the southeastern U.S. on March 14. This low tracked northeast off the eastern seaboard and was off the coast of Cape Cod by the evening of March 15. Wet snow fell over the Taconics of eastern Dutchess County.
• Heavy Snow in New York, March 14 to 15, 19991 eventA strengthening storm system moved from the southern Appalachians northeastward to off the coast of Delaware during the evening of the 14th; then skirted out to sea early on the 15th.
• Heavy Snow in Kentucky, March 14 to 15, 1999$10,000 · 3 eventsFour to ten inches of snow fell across the southeast Kentucky mountains. Numerous power outages occurred due to the heavy snow downing power lines.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Hampshire, March 14 to 16, 199912 eventsA low pressure center intensified as it moved northeastward from the Gulf States on the morning of the 14th to off the Virginia Capes on the 15th, to the Bay of Fundy on the morning of the 16th.
• Heavy Snow in New York, March 14 to 15, 199910 eventsWith cold air in place, a low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States on Saturday, March 13th. As the low slowly intensified and moved northeast toward the Mid-Atlantic Coast, it spread precipitation northeast across the area.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, March 14 to 15, 19992 eventsThe upper air energy associated with a large storm caused a second round of precipitation. Rain changed to snow. Snow accumulations of 3 to 8 inches were deposited. Breaks Interstate Park had more, with 9 to 10 inches.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, March 14 to 15, 19995 eventsWith cold air in place, a low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States on Saturday, March 13th. As the low slowly intensified and moved northeast toward the Mid-Atlantic Coast, it spread precipitation northeast across the area.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, March 15, 199919 eventsA strong low pressure system, centered off the coast of Virginia during the early morning hours, moved northeast to a position southeast of Nantucket by early afternoon.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 15, 19998 eventsThe upper air energy associated with a large storm caused a second round of precipitation. Rain changed to wet snow, depositing 4 to 10 inches of snow. Lester in Raleigh County measured 8 inches, while Elkhorn of McDowell County and Marlinton both had 7 inches.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 15, 19997 eventsLow pressure weakening as it moved east across the mountains brought 1 to 3 inches of snowfall to the region.
• Heavy Snow in Rhode Island, March 15, 19997 eventsA strong low pressure system, centered off the coast of Virginia during the early morning hours, moved to a position southeast of Nantucket by early afternoon. This system brought a late season snowstorm to all of Rhode Island, with totals of 7 to 12 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, March 15, 19993 eventsAn intensifying low pressure system off the coast of Virginia during the early morning hours moved to a position southeast of Nantucket by early afternoon.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, March 15, 19992 eventsAn intensifying low pressure system off the coast of Virginia during the early morning hours moved to a position southeast of Nantucket by early afternoon. This system brought a late season snowstorm to southern New Hampshire, with up to 6 to 8 inches of snow.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, March 15, 1999$10,000 · 9 eventsRain and sleet changed to wet snow early in the morning of the 15th. Snow accumulated from 4 to 8 inches, with up to 10 inches in the higher elevations, before ending during mid morning. The snow downed small trees and power lines resulting in power outages.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 15, 1999$2,000 · 2 eventsWet snow developed early in the morning on the 15th and accumulated from 8 inches in the valleys to 14 inches in the higher elevations before ending late in the morning. The weight of the snow downed trees and power lines resulting in scattered power outages.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Maine, March 15 to 16, 199930 eventsA low pressure center intensified as it moved northeastward from the Gulf States on the morning of the 14th to off the Virginia Capes on the 15th, to the Bay of Fundy on the morning of the 16th.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, March 15, 1999$11,000 · 4 eventsRain and sleet changed to wet snow during the early morning of the 15th. The wet snow accumulated 4 to 8 inches in the valleys, with up to 14 inches in the higher elevations of Alleghany, Botetourt, and Rockbridge counties, before ending late in the morning.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 15, 1999$2,000 · 1 eventSnow developed early in the morning of the 15th and accumulated from 8 to 10 inches with up to 14 inches in the eastern half of the county before ending late in the morning. The weight of the snow downed small trees and power lines with scattered power outages resulting.
• Heavy Snow in West Virginia, March 15, 19991 eventWet snow developed early in the morning of the 15th and accumulated from 4 inches in the valleys to 14 inches in some of the higher elevations before ending late in the morning.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, March 15, 1999$1,000 · 1 eventSnow developed early in the morning of the 15th and accumulated 12 to 14 inches before ending late in the morning. The weight of the snow downed trees and power lines resulting in power outages.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, March 15, 19998 eventsWith cold air in place, a low pressure system developed over the Gulf Coast States on Saturday, March 13th. As the low slowly intensified and moved northeast toward the Mid-Atlantic Coast, it spread precipitation northeast across the area.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in California, March 15, 19994 eventsA powerful and cold Pacific storm brought snow to parts of Southern California. Across Ventura and Los Angeles Counties, snow levels fell to around 2000 feet with mountain communities reporting at least 8 to 10 inches of snowfall.
• Heavy Snow in California, March 15, 19992 eventsFrazier Park received 7 inches of snow, Tehachapi 1 inch, and Lodgepole in the Tulare County Mountains getting 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Oregon, March 15 to 16, 19991 eventFive inches of new snow fell overnight in Meacham and 2 1/2 inches fell in Tollgate.
• Blizzard and Ice Storm in Alaska, March 16 to 19, 19995 deaths · 100 kt wind · 14 eventsAn extremely intense storm moved up toward the extreme Western Aleutians late Tuesday continuing to just south of Adak as a 946mb center 9pm Wednesday.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 17, 19997 eventsAn area of low pressure drifting along the North and South Dakota border brought 4 to 6 inches of snow to northwest Minnesota along with gusty north winds.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 17, 19993 eventsAn intense low pressure system moving across northern Minnesota dropped 6 to 7 inches of snow along the international border. Some of the snow fell in heavy bursts associated with thunderstorms.
• Blizzard in North Dakota, March 17, 19993 eventsA strong area of low pressure along the North and South Dakota border brought an intense pressure gradient across eastern North Dakota. 4.2 inches of snow was reported at the NWS in Grand Forks along with north wind gusts to 48 mph.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, March 17, 19993 eventsA low pressure area along the North and South Dakota border created an intense pressure gradient across eastern North Dakota and northwest Minnesota.
• Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 17 to 18, 19992 eventsHeavy snow fell in the mountains of southern New Mexico, with 8 inches reported at Mimbres and 14 inches near Cloudcroft.

The snowstorm of March 7 to 10, 1999The snowstorm of October 1 to 2, 1999Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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