The snowstorm of March 12 to 16, 2023

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

407

Deaths

3

Injuries

15

Damage

$1.7 million

Episodes

58

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 New Jersey, March 10 to 11, 20232 eventsA period of snow fell from late on the 10th into the morning of the 11th with marginal temperatures. This yielded snowfall amounts that were highly elevation dependent across portions of northern New Jersey.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 10 to 11, 20233 eventsA crossing shortwave trough and deepening surface low spread precipitation across the area on March 10th. Precipitation started mainly as rain, but then transitioned to snow during the night of the 10th and the morning of the 11th as the low crossed and cold advection set in.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in North Dakota, March 11 to 12, 202331 eventsBlizzard Warnings were issued on the afternoon of the 10th for the nighttime hours starting in the west, then spreading into the Red River Valley as the early morning hours of March 11th progressed. Blizzard conditions and heavy snow were reported across eastern North Dakota.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 11 to 12, 2023$1.0 million · 15 eventsA slow moving area of low pressure brought a long duration snowfall to much of the Northland starting the 11th and continuing into the 12th.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 11 to 12, 202325 eventsBlizzard Warnings and Winter Storm Warnings were issued on the afternoon of the 10th for the nighttime hours starting in the west, then spreading into northwestern Minnesota as the early morning hours of March 11th progressed.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 11 to 12, 20235 eventsA band of warm-air-advection heavy snow was forecast to move across the region from west to east on the 11th and produce a few inches of snow.
• Blizzard in Montana, March 11, 20231 eventA very strong surface low over the Dakotas brought very gusty north to northwest winds along with snow across far southeast Montana. The combination of the falling snow and strong winds, as well as snow already on the ground, resulted in blizzard conditions across Fallon County.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, March 11 to 13, 20238 eventsA slow moving area of low pressure brought a long duration snowfall to much of the Northland starting the 11th and continuing into the 12th.
• Winter Storm in Wisconsin, March 11 to 12, 20232 eventsA band of warm-air-advection heavy snow was forecast to move across the region from west to east on the 11th and produce a few inches of snow.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, March 11 to 12, 20231 eventA storm system moved across the region on March 11th into the 12th and dumped heavy snow on portions of north-central Wisconsin. Reports of 6 to 9 inches were received from Taylor County and the highest reported total was 9 inches near Stetsonville.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, March 11 to 13, 202314 eventsA prolonged heavy snow event occurred from Saturday evening (3/11) through early Monday morning (3/13) as a low pressure system tracked through the western Great Lakes.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, March 11 to 13, 20234 eventsSlow moving low pressure brought rounds of light to moderate snow to central WI.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, March 12 to 13, 20233 eventsA storm system moving in from the Northern Plains generated moderate snow over central portions of Upper Mi from the 12th into the 13th.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 12 to 14, 20232 eventsPrecipitation associated with a complex low pressure system overspread the North Carolina mountains during the early morning of the 12th. Temperatures were cold enough for the precip to fall as freezing rain in some areas, especially across Avery County.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 12 to 13, 20236 eventsAn upper-level system and weak area of surface low pressure brought a period of snow across the region during the daylight hours of March 12th which transitioned to freezing drizzle during the evening and continued into the overnight.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 12 to 13, 20234 eventsAn upper-level system and weak area of surface low pressure brought a period of snow across the region during the daylight hours of March 12th which transitioned to freezing drizzle during the evening and continued into the overnight.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, March 12 to 13, 20232 eventsAn upper-level system and weak area of surface low pressure brought a period of snow across the region during the daylight hours of March 12th which transitioned to freezing drizzle during the evening and continued into the overnight.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 12, 20231 injured · 4 eventsA weak low pressure system tracked from southeastern North Dakota from the evening of March 11th into northwestern Wisconsin by noon on March 12th.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, March 12 to 13, 20231 eventA cold front brought snow levels down through the mountains, and moisture to enhance snowfall along the Cascades, particularly in the North Cascades.
• Winter Weather in Alaska, March 12 to 16, 20232 eventsA deep upper-level low dropped south into the Kuskokwim Delta and eastern Bering Sea, as multiple shortwaves passed through its flow.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 13 to 14, 20239 eventsLow pressure tracked across the region on the 13th. Antecedent moisture and synoptic lift |created some convective snow showers with brief low visibility during the daytime hours, but a warm ground kept accumulations in check initially.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, March 13 to 15, 202327 eventsA powerful Nor'Easter resulted in widespread moderate to heavy wet snow and gusty winds across eastern New York March 13-March 15, 2023. Anywhere from 15 to 30 inches of snow with locally higher amounts in excess of 30 inches fell over the SW Adirondacks and eastern Catskills.
• Winter Storm in New York, March 13 to 15, 20235 eventsA deepening coastal low brought snow again to the region, this time more widespread from the northern Finger Lakes to the eastern Lake Ontario region. The heaviest snow occurred during the daytime and evening hours of the 14th.
• Heavy Snow in New York, March 13 to 15, 202310 eventsA storm system moved into Central New York on the 13th. Snow continued throughout the day on the 14th and was heavy at times with snowfall rates around or greater than one inch per hour. Snow eventually came to an end on the 15th as the storm moved out of the region.
• Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 13 to 15, 20235 eventsA storm system moved into Northeastern Pennsylvania on the 13th. Snow continued throughout the day on the 14th and was heavy at times. Snow eventually came to an end on the 15th as the storm moved out of the region.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 13 to 15, 20233 eventsNorthwest flow brought periods of upslope snow showers. Winds gusted to 25 to 45 mph at times resulting in periods of blowing and drifting snow.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, March 13 to 15, 20233 eventsA powerful Nor'Easter resulted in widespread heavy wet snow and gusty winds across southern Vermont March 13-March 15, 2023. Anywhere from 15 to 30 inches of snow with locally higher amounts in excess of 30 inches fell over the southern Greens.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 13 to 14, 20232 eventsLow pressure tracked across the region on the 13th. Antecedent moisture and synoptic lift |created some convective snow showers with brief low visibility during the daytime hours, but a warm ground kept accumulations in check initially.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Connecticut, March 13 to 15, 20232 eventsA powerful Nor'Easter resulted in widespread moderate to heavy wet snow and gusty winds particularly across northern Litchfield County in northwestern Connecticut March 13-March 15, 2023. Anywhere from 6 to 15 inches fell across the area.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, March 13 to 15, 20232 eventsNorthwest flow brought periods of upslope snow showers. Winds gusted to 25 to 45 mph at times resulting in periods of blowing and drifting snow.
• Winter Storm in Massachusetts, March 13 to 15, 20232 eventsA powerful Nor'Easter resulted in widespread heavy wet snow and gusty northwest winds between 35-50 mph across western Massachusetts March 13-March 15, 2023.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 13 to 15, 20231 eventNorthwest flow brought periods of upslope snow showers which resulted in snow accumulations of three to eight inches. Winds gusted to 25 to 45 mph at times resulting in periods of blowing and drifting snow.
• Heavy Snow in Massachusetts, March 13 to 15, 2023$106,000 · 11 eventsStrong low pressure meandered just off the southeast coast of New England from late on the 13th to early on the 15th, before moving eastward and farther offshore. In its wake, it produced 2 to 3+ feet in northern and western MA.
• Heavy Snow in Connecticut, March 13 to 14, 2023$3,000 · 1 eventStrong low pressure meandered just off the southeast coast of New England from late on the 13th to early on the 15th, before moving eastward and farther offshore. In its wake, it produced 2 to 3+ feet in northern and western MA.
• Winter Storm in Vermont, March 13 to 15, 202317 eventsLow pressure developed off the Carolina coast during the late afternoon/evening hours of March 13th and reached offshore of southeastern Massachusetts by the morning of March 14th and then slowly meandered in the Gulf of Maine until the morning of March 15th before exiting away…
• Winter Storm in New Hampshire, March 13 to 15, 202311 eventsLow pressure developed off the coast of the Carolinas early on the 13th. The low deepened rapidly overnight into the morning of the 14th. The storm became occluded off of Cape Cod and retrograded into the Gulf of Maine, where it stalled through the morning of the 15th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, March 13 to 14, 20235 eventsA Miller B type storm brought rain which changed over to heavy wet snow across Interior SE NY. The heaviest snow totals were mostly driven by elevation as temperatures were right at freezing.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 13 to 14, 20232 eventsWet snow fell across portions of eastern Pennsylvania with marginal temperatures. Resulting snowfall amounts were highly elevation dependent.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, March 14 to 15, 20239 eventsLow pressure developed off the Carolina coast during the late afternoon/evening hours of March 13th and reached offshore of southeastern Massachusetts by the morning of March 14th and then slowly meandered in the Gulf of Maine until the morning of March 15th before exiting away…
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, March 14, 20232 eventsA Miller B type storm brought rain which changed over to wet snow across Interior Southern CT. The heaviest snow totals were mostly driven by elevation across far northwestern Fairfield as temperatures were right at freezing.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 14, 20231 eventA coastal storm developed off the Mid-Atlantic Coast on March 13, 2023 and spread rain and snow northward into the eastern third of Pennsylvania from late March 13 into early March 14.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 14, 20231 death · 1 injured · 1 eventIncoming low pressure from the west and high pressure to the east resulted in gusty south-southeasterly winds across northeastern South Dakota on the morning of March 14th.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 14, 20232 eventsWet snow fell across portions of Northern New Jersey with marginal temperatures. Resulting snowfall amounts were highly elevation dependent.
• Winter Storm in Maine, March 14 to 15, 20237 eventsLow pressure developed off the coast of the Carolinas early on the 13th. The low deepened rapidly overnight into the morning of the 14th. The storm became occluded off of Cape Cod and retrograded into the Gulf of Maine, where it stalled through the morning of the 15th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Maine, March 14 to 15, 202311 eventsRapidly intensifying low pressure tracked across the Gulf of Maine through the 14th. Snow developed during the afternoon of the 14th. A band of very heavy snow lifted across Downeast areas during the late afternoon into the evening.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 16 to 17, 20231 death · 5 injured · 24 eventsA rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota.
• Blizzard and Winter Weather in Minnesota, March 16 to 17, 20235 injured · 13 eventsA rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 from eastern South Dakota into southwestern Minnesota.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 16 to 17, 20232 injured · 9 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked from southwestern Minnesota into far northwestern Wisconsin on March 16th and generated between a half and three inches of snow.
• Winter Weather in Minnesota, March 16 to 17, 20232 eventsAn area of low pressure tracked from southwestern Minnesota into far northwestern Wisconsin on March 16th and generated between one and two inches of snow.
• Winter Weather in Iowa, March 16 to 17, 20236 eventsA rapidly strengthening storm developed across the Northern Plains and into the western Great Lakes on March 16-17. An initial band of precipitation developed during the early morning hours of March 16 across northwest Iowa in the form of light rain or light freezing rain.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 16, 20231 death · 4 eventsLow pressure moved to the south and east of the region on the 16th and into the 17th leading to snowfall across the Northland. The heaviest amounts were across southern areas where 3 to 7 inches were received.
• Heavy Snow in Wisconsin, March 16 to 18, 2023$330,000 · 4 eventsLow pressure moved to the south and east of the region on the 16th and into the 17th leading to snowfall across the Northland.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 16 to 17, 202322 eventsA band of heavy precipitation developed on the northern side of a surface low that tracked from southern Minnesota into Wisconsin. This band of precipitation started as rain on the morning of March 16, but transitioned over to snow during the day as it moved northeast.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, March 16 to 18, 20235 eventsA Colorado low pressure system lifting from the Central Plains into Upper Mi produced moderate to heavy wet snow over portions of west and north central Upper Mi from the evening of the 16th into the 18th.
• Winter Weather in Alaska, March 16 to 17, 20233 eventsAn upper-level trough and embedded low overspread much of mainland Alaska, while a series of shortwaves rotated through the trough. At the surface, an attendant low and its front, extended from near Kodiak Island and out along the Southcentral coast.
• Winter Weather in Nebraska, March 17, 20237 eventsA borderline Winter Storm event was forecast in northeast Nebraska. A frontal passage brought strong winds and snowfall. Higher end snowfall amounts did not materialize and the event was a bust.
• Winter Weather in North Dakota, March 17, 20231 injured · $300,000 · 19 eventsDeep low pressure over the Great Lakes and high pressure over Montana brought gusty northwest winds, on the order of 40 mph, to much of North Dakota. Falling snow was light, and in some cases just flurries, so although visibility was reduced at times, not significantly.
• Winter Storm in Michigan, March 17 to 19, 20233 eventsA two-part lake effect snow event set up from the evening of 3/17 into the early morning hours of 3/19 across portions of northern Michigan.

The snowstorm of February 21 to 24, 2023The snowstorm of January 5 to 8, 2024Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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