The snowstorm of March 13 to 17, 2021

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

258

Deaths

0

Injuries

5

Damage

$35,000

Episodes

27

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 in Utah, March 12 to 13, 20213 eventsA low pressure system moving across northern Arizona brought a period of accumulating snow to portions of Utah.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 12 to 13, 20214 eventsA developing low ran north along a deep baroclinic zone into Dixon Entrance. A cold air mass with 850 temperatures of around -10C coupled with northward dry cold air at the surface created a very efficient overrunning event across the southern Panhandle into Saturday.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Colorado, March 12 to 15, 202119 eventsBands of snow developed over northeast Colorado into the northern mountains and foothills on the 13th, which then intensified overnight. The heavy snow then gradually shifted southward on the 14th and covered much of the area.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Colorado, March 13 to 15, 202153 kt wind · 21 eventsA large upper level system slowly moved across the region during this time frame, providing an extended period of moderate to heavy snow across the region.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in Nebraska, March 13 to 15, 20218 eventsStrong winds and heavy snowfall resulted in blizzard conditions for most locations across the Nebraska Panhandle. Area roads were closed for multiple days as crews needed time to clear snow drifts off roadways.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in South Dakota, March 14 to 15, 202120 eventsA strong winter storm impacted much of western and south central South Dakota, especially the Black Hills area and southwestern South Dakota.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, March 14 to 15, 20213 eventsA powerful storm system brought Blizzard conditions to Sheridan County and winter storm conditions to Cherry County. Northeast winds of 25 to 35 mph with gusts to around 40 mph combined with moderate to heavy snowfall to produce blizzard conditions across Sheridan County.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 14 to 15, 202124 eventsA large slow-moving area of low pressure wandered from Colorado to eastern South Dakota over a two-day period. Precipitation circulated back into southeast South Dakota, which started as a period of rainfall during the morning and early afternoon on March 14.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in California, March 14 to 19, 20216 eventsAn active weather pattern set up over northern California from March 14-19, with a series of troughs passing over the region. The main impacts reported from these storms systems were moderate amounts of mountain and foothill snow, which lead to chain controls and travel delays.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 14 to 15, 20217 eventsA large upper-level low pressure area moved across the Central Plains and produced heavy snow across central South Dakota from the afternoon of the 14th through the morning of the 15th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 14 to 15, 20212 eventsA surface cyclone moved across the Rockies into eastern Colorado during the afternoon hours of the 14th. As the cyclone continued to slowly move into western Kansas, it produced rain and snow showers through the morning of the 15th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Minnesota, March 14 to 15, 20218 eventsA large slow-moving area of low pressure wandered from Colorado to eastern South Dakota over a two-day period. Precipitation circulated back into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, which started as a period of rainfall prior to evening on March 14.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, March 14 to 15, 20218 eventsA large slow-moving area of low pressure wandered from Colorado to eastern South Dakota over a two-day period. Precipitation circulated back into northwest Iowa and southwest Minnesota, which started as a period of rainfall prior to evening on March 14.
• Winter Storm in Iowa, March 15, 20217 eventsA late season winter storm moved across the region on March 15th. This storm dumped sleet and snow on northeast Iowa with accumulations ranging from 3 to 9 inches. Roads became snow covered and slippery and numerous schools canceled classes for the day.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Iowa, March 15, 202113 eventsA fast moving system brought late season snow to the area in the early morning hours of March 15th. Precipitation initially began as rain before transitioning over to snow across the northern half of the state.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 14 to 16, 20216 eventsA strong low pressure system brought snow across the Icy Strait corridor and north. Quickly accumulating snow was measured throughout the northern panhandle.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 15, 202113 eventsDuring the evening of Sunday, March 14th, a very large storm system began to move out into the plains with a broad circulation across most of the Northern Plains/Upper Midwest.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 15, 20215 injured · $25,000 · 4 eventsA late season winter storm moved across the region on March 15th. This storm dumped sleet and snow on portions of southeast Minnesota with accumulations ranging from 4 to 10 inches. Roads became snow covered and slippery and numerous schools canceled classes for the day.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Iowa, March 15, 202110 eventsA winter storm brought a mix of precipitation and gusty winds to eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and far northeast Missouri on Monday, March 15. Precipitation initially began as rain but changed to snow during the early morning hours of the 15th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Illinois, March 15, 20217 eventsA winter storm brought a mix of precipitation and gusty winds to eastern Iowa, northwest Illinois, and far northeast Missouri on Monday, March 15. Precipitation initially began as rain but changed to snow during the early morning hours of the 15th.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, March 15, 2021$10,000 · 1 eventDuring the daytime hours of March 15th, an area of rain moved through central Indiana with periods of freezing rain that impacted mainly elevated surfaces. The heaviest accumulation of ice occurred north of I-74 with some reports of icing up to a tenth of an inch.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, March 15, 202110 eventsA large low pressure area in the upper atmosphere brought a brief period of moderate to heavy snow to portions of southern WI. Areas of light freezing drizzle and sleet followed the snow.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in New Mexico, March 16 to 17, 202155 kt wind · 12 eventsAn active pattern over New Mexico continued over March 16-17, 2021 as another strong winter storm system impacted the state. As the low pressure system and its associated cold front tracked eastward across New Mexico, westerly winds strengthened across much of the area.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Texas, March 17, 202170 kt wind · 34 eventsA dynamic storm system brought high winds and a heavy wet snow on the 17th of March 2021. This combination lead to blizzard conditions in some areas and near blizzard conditions in others. Travel was impacted area wide and isolated power outages were reported.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Oklahoma, March 17, 20213 eventsA dynamic storm system brought high winds and a heavy wet snow on the 17th of March 2021. This combination led to blizzard conditions in some areas and near blizzard conditions in others. Travel was impacted area wide and isolated power outages were reported.
• Heavy Snow and High Wind in Alaska, March 17, 202150 kt wind · 3 eventsNorthward moving frontal band with moisture streaming over colder entrenched air over the northern portion of the panhandle.
• Heavy Snow in Alaska, March 18 to 19, 20212 eventsNorthern gulf low slowly tracks SE through Friday with bands of snow showers and highly variable rates/amounts.

The snowstorm of February 16 to 20, 2021The snowstorm of January 1 to 3, 2022Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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