The snowstorm of March 17 to 20, 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

522

Deaths

1

Injuries

0

Damage

$1.0 million

Episodes

78

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.

• Lake-Effect Snow and Winter Weather in Michigan, March 15 to 16, 20132 eventsA strong cold front moving through the area generated heavy lake effect snow showers over Marquette County and moderate lake effect snow over Gogebic County from the evening of the 15th into the morning of the 16th.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, March 16 to 17, 20132 eventsA Pacific frontal system brought heavy snow to the Cascades from Stevens Pass northward.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 16, 20137 eventsA quick moving low pressure system dropped 1 to 3 inches of snow across Berks County, the Lehigh Valley, the Poconos and higher terrain locations in the Philadelphia northwest suburbs.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 16, 20136 eventsA quick moving low pressure system dropped 1 to 2 inches of snow during the day on the 16th across parts of central and northwest New Jersey.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 16, 20137 eventsAn upper level disturbance brought light snow to much of southwestern and south central South Dakota.
• Winter Weather in Illinois, March 17, 20135 eventsWidespread sleet and snow occurred north of a stationary front that extended from west to east across the Tennessee Valley. The precipitation occurred on the nose of a southerly low-level jet.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, March 17, 20132 eventsWidespread sleet and snow occurred north of a stationary front that extended from west to east across the Tennessee Valley. The precipitation occurred on the nose of a southerly low-level jet. Areas north of Interstate 64 received up to an inch of slushy snow and sleet.
• Winter Storm in Idaho, March 17, 20131 death · 2 eventsA strong cold front moved through eastern Idaho early on March 17th and brought with it snow and very strong wind. The combination of snow and wind caused some road closures and fatal automobile accidents.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 17 to 18, 20136 eventsNorth of a strong east to west front, a narrow band of snow streaked into the central West Virginia mountains around 0800E on the 17th. Two to 5 inches of snow fell over southern Upshur County, Randolph County and the northern half of Pocahontas County by 1800E.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, March 17, 20132 eventsNorth of a strong east to west front, a narrow band of snow streaked across extreme southern Ohio on Saint Patrick's Day. Accumulations of 1 to 2 inches of wet snow were observed across Lawrence and Gallia Counties.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, March 17, 20132 eventsNorth of a strong east to west front, a narrow band of snow streaked across extreme northeast Kentucky on Saint Patrick's Day. Accumulations of 1 to 3 inches of wet snow were observed across Greenup and northern Boyd Counties.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, March 17, 20138 eventsAn overrunning event gave a quick shot of snow to areas along and south of the Ohio River before changing over to rain later in the day.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, March 17, 20133 eventsAn overrunning event gave a quick shot of snow to areas along and south of the Ohio River before changing over to rain later in the day.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 17 to 18, 201323 eventsLow pressure developed along a stationary front south of the Washington DC. Surface temperatures were marginal and snowfall accumulated west of the I-95 corridor.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 17 to 18, 20138 eventsLow pressure developed along a stationary front south of the Washington DC. Surface temperatures were marginal and snowfall accumulated west of the I-95 corridor.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, March 17 to 18, 201318 eventsSurface low pressure moved into the western Dakotas on the afternoon of the 17th, spreading snow into portions of eastern North Dakota. Gusty southeast winds also led to low visibilities with the falling and blowing snow. Snow amounts generally ranged from four to six inches.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 17 to 18, 201316 eventsAn area of surface low pressure tracked from the western Dakotas into central Minnesota, producing steady snow and wind across portions of the northwest quarter of Minnesota. A good four to eight inches of snow fell, with Badger reporting a foot of new snow.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 17 to 18, 20138 eventsSurface low pressure moved into the western Dakotas on the afternoon of the 17th, spreading snow into portions of the northwest quarter of Minnesota. Gusty southeast winds also led to low visibilities with the falling and blowing snow.
• Blizzard and Heavy Snow in North Dakota, March 17 to 18, 20135 eventsA storm moving out of the Rockies into the Northern Plains brought widespread snowfall amounts of one to four inches across North Dakota March 17th and 18th. An isolated six inch amount was reported at Stanley, Mountrail County.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, March 17 to 18, 20134 eventsA strong storm system late in the winter season, brought a few inches of snow across portions of west central Minnesota during the night of March 17, 2013.
• Blizzard in North Dakota, March 17 to 18, 201318 eventsAs the area of surface low pressure moved into western Minnesota, northwest winds cranked up and resulted in whiteout conditions due to falling and blowing snow.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, March 17 to 18, 20138 eventsAs the area of surface low pressure moved into western Minnesota, northwest winds cranked up and resulted in whiteout conditions due to falling and blowing snow.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 17 to 18, 201311 eventsA developing low pressure system brought light snowfall amounts to central and eastern Virginia.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 17 to 18, 20133 eventsA complex frontal system produced moderate to heavy snow and mixed precipitation over portions of south-central Pennsylvania. Light snow developed during the early morning hours with a several-hour lull in the wintry precipitation from mid-morning into the early afternoon.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 17 to 18, 20133 eventsA winter storm brought heavy snow of 6 to 12 inches to parts of northern Minnesota, mainly north of U. S. Highway 2, including much of Lake County.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, March 18, 201311 eventsA strong surface low pressure area moving across the region brought widespread accumulating snowfall along with very strong northwest winds to northeast South Dakota.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, March 18, 20132 eventsLow pressure developed along a stationary front south of the Washington DC. Surface temperatures were marginal and snowfall accumulated west of the I-95 corridor.
• Ice Storm in West Virginia, March 18, 20131 eventLow pressure over the Tennessee Valley pushed a warm front across the upper Ohio Valley during the early morning into the late afternoon of the 18th.
• Blizzard in Minnesota, March 18, 20132 eventsA strong surface low pressure area moved across the region Sunday night through Monday evening bringing 2 to 3 inches of snowfall along with very strong northwest winds.
• Ice Storm in Ohio, March 18, 2013$285,000 · 4 eventsAn area of low pressure moved north across western Ohio on March 18th. A warm front stretching east from the low also lifted north across the region. Rain developed along this front. Temperatures at the onset of the precipitation remained below freezing.
• Ice Storm in Pennsylvania, March 18, 20131 eventLow pressure over the Tennessee Valley pushed a warm front across the upper Ohio Valley during the early morning into the late afternoon of the 18th.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 18, 2013$150,000 · 2 eventsAn area of low pressure moved north across western Ohio on March 18th. A warm front stretching east from the low also lifted north across the region. Rain developed along this front during the morning hours. Temperatures at the onset of the precipitation remained below freezing.
• Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 18, 201311 eventsWarm and moist air overran cold air at the low-levels of the atmosphere, causing light rain, sleet and snow. However, surface temperatures were below freezing across the higher elevations, resulting in areas of freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, March 18, 20134 eventsWarm and moist air overran cold air at the low-levels of the atmosphere, causing light rain, sleet and snow. However, surface temperatures were below freezing across the higher elevations, resulting in areas of freezing rain.
• Winter Weather in Minnesota, March 18, 20134 eventsNorthwest winds gusting to 45 mph combined with existing snow cover and very light falling snow to reduce visibilities to less than a mile in blowing snow in some areas.
• Winter Weather in South Dakota, March 18, 20132 eventsNorthwest winds gusting to 45 mph combined with existing snow cover and very light falling snow to reduce visibilities to less than a mile in blowing snow in some areas.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 18, 201316 eventsWarm and moist air overran cold air at the low-levels of the atmosphere, causing light rain, sleet and snow. However, surface temperatures were below freezing across the higher elevations near and west of the Blue Ridge Mountains, resulting in areas of freezing rain.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Michigan, March 18 to 21, 201315 eventsA low pressure system tracking from Minnesota into Ontario produced moderate snow over much of Upper Michigan from the 18th into the early morning hours of the 19th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 18 to 19, 20139 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected most of Eastern Pennsylvania except for Philadelphia and its immediate suburbs from the afternoon of the 18th into the morning of the 19th.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 18 to 19, 20133 eventsA wintry mix of precipitation affected northwest New Jersey from the afternoon of the 18th into the morning of the 19th. In Sussex, Warren and Morris Counties snowfall averaged two to five inches and ice accretions average one to two tenths of an inch.
• Heavy Snow in New York, March 18 to 19, 2013$45,000 · 3 eventsA warm front lifted north across New York State and brought steady, heavy snow to the North Country. Snowfall amounts of seven to thirteen inches of snow fell in less than 24 hours from the late afternoon of the 18th through the 19th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New York, March 18 to 19, 201327 eventsDuring the afternoon of Monday, March 18th, an area of low pressure moved towards the eastern Ohio Valley. Precipitation well out ahead of the storm's warm front moved from southwest to northeast across the region.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, March 18 to 19, 20132 eventsDuring the afternoon of Monday, March 18th, an area of low pressure moved towards the eastern Ohio Valley. Precipitation well out ahead of the storm's warm front moved from southwest to northeast across the region.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New York, March 18 to 19, 20135 eventsWeak low pressure moved from the Tennessee Valley on the morning of the 18th to just south of Long Island on the morning of the 19th.
• Winter Weather in Massachusetts, March 18 to 19, 20132 eventsDuring the afternoon of Monday, March 18th, an area of low pressure moved towards the eastern Ohio Valley. Precipitation well out ahead of the storm's warm front moved from southwest to northeast across the region.
• Heavy Snow in New Jersey, March 18 to 19, 20131 eventWeak low pressure moved from the Tennessee Valley on the morning of the 18th to just south of Long Island on the morning of the 19th.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Massachusetts, March 18 to 20, 201319 eventsA coastal storm moved across the southern New England coastline, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation across much of the area.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, March 18 to 20, 20133 eventsA coastal storm moved across the southern New England coastline, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation across much of the area.
• Heavy Snow in Vermont, March 18 to 19, 20133 eventsDuring the afternoon of Monday, March 18th, an area of low pressure moved towards the eastern Ohio Valley. Precipitation well out ahead of the storm's warm front moved from southwest to northeast across the region.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New York, March 18 to 19, 2013$65,000 · 9 eventsA dual area of low pressure, one across the Great Lakes and the other moving offshore of southern New England, on February 19th delivered a moderate snowfall to portions of northern New York. Snow began just after midnight on the 19th and ended by late evening.
• Winter Weather in Wisconsin, March 18 to 19, 201320 eventsOne to four inches of snow fell over southern Wisconsin during the morning and afternoon hours of March 18th with strong low pressure passing through the region.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, March 18 to 19, 20133 eventsA coastal storm moved across the southern New England coastline, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation across much of the area.
• Winter Weather in Rhode Island, March 18 to 19, 20133 eventsA coastal storm moved across the southern New England coastline, spreading a wintry mix of precipitation across much of the area.
• Winter Storm in Connecticut, March 18 to 19, 20131 eventWeak low pressure moved from the Tennessee Valley on the morning of the 18th to just south of Long Island on the morning of the 19th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Vermont, March 18 to 20, 2013$168,000 · 16 eventsA dual area of low pressure, one across the Great Lakes and the other moving offshore of southern New England, on February 19th delivered a moderate snowfall to most of Vermont. Snow began just after midnight on the 19th and ended just before midnight on the 20th.
• Heavy Snow in New Hampshire, March 19 to 20, 201312 eventsAn area of low pressure moving east from the Ohio Valley intensified off the New Jersey coast during the morning of the 19th and then moved northeast to Nova Scotia by the morning of the 20th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Michigan, March 19 to 20, 20137 eventsA slow moving, occluded low pressure system was nearly parked across the far northern Great Lakes. A light synoptic snowfall gave way to more substantial lake effect snow during the day on the 19th.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, March 19 to 20, 201317 eventsAn area of low pressure moving east from the Ohio Valley intensified off the New Jersey coast during the morning of the 19th and then moved northeast to Nova Scotia by the morning of the 20th.
• Heavy Snow in Maine, March 19 to 20, 201315 eventsIntensifying low pressure tracked across the Gulf of Maine during the overnight hours of the 19th into the 20th. The low then lifted northeast across New Brunswick during the 20th. The low brought heavy snow to northern and eastern Maine.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, March 19 to 21, 2013$105,000 · 7 eventsLake effect snows developed off both Lake Erie and Ontario in a typical westerly flow. Snowfall rates of an inch an hour off Lake Erie and two inches an hour off Lake Ontario were reported.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, March 19 to 21, 20132 eventsA Pacific frontal system brought heavy snow to the Cascades from Stevens Pass northward.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 19, 20131 eventA 1003 mb low near Banks Island by 1300AKST on the 19th coupled with a strong high pressure center over western Alaska created a strong pressure gradient, providing strong winds and local blizzard conditions at Barter Island.
• Lake-Effect Snow in New York, March 19 to 21, 20131 eventIn the wake of a winter storm, a northwest flow of air allowed for very cold aloft to move into the region. As this cold air crossed over the water of Lake Ontario, a broken band of lake effect snow developed during the evening of Tuesday, March 19th.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Wisconsin, March 20 to 21, 20132 eventsParts of Iron and Bayfield counties, including at Gile and Cornucopia, received about 6 inches of lake effect snow.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 22, 2013$125,000 · 2 eventsA cold front swept east across the upper Ohio Valley on March 20th. Cold west to northwest winds developed behind the front causing lake effect snow showers to develop. The snow showers were intermittent and finally ended during the afternoon hours of the 22nd.
• Lake-Effect Snow in Ohio, March 20 to 22, 2013$75,000 · 1 eventA cold front swept east across the upper Ohio Valley on March 20th. Cold west to northwest winds developed behind the front causing lake effect snow showers to develop. The snow showers were intermittent and finally ended during the morning hours of the 22nd.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 20 to 21, 20139 eventsSnow showers developed over the western mountains during the evening of the 20th and continued off and on through the mid-morning hours of the 21st.
• Winter Weather in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 21, 20135 eventsA sharpening upper air trough helped form a cold front and snow showers and flurries across Eastern Pennsylvania during the early morning of the 21st. The highest snowfall (up to 1.0 inch) occurred in the Philadelphia suburbs and caused slippery travel for overnight drivers.
• Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 21, 20136 eventsA sharpening upper air trough helped develop a cold front and a weak low pressure system along it. This caused snow showers and flurries across New Jersey on the 21st. There were two areas which saw the highest accumulating snowfall (around one inch).
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 21, 2013$20,000 · 2 eventsEarly morning snowfall ranging from a dusting to 0.2 inches contributed to several accidents on I-81 causing major delays.
• Winter Weather in Delaware, March 21, 20132 eventsA sharpening upper air trough helped develop a cold front and a weak low pressure system along it. This caused snow showers and flurries across Delaware on the 21st.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Massachusetts, March 21 to 22, 20137 eventsLow pressure off the coast of southern New England coupled with a shortwave/mid level trough in the Ohio Valley resulted in a typical Norlun trough set up across the area. These troughs can promote a very narrow band of heavy snow where low level convergence sets up.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, March 21 to 22, 20137 eventsModerate to heavy snow fell across portions of southern Missouri during the afternoon and evening ours of March 21, 2013. Total snow accumulations of 4 to 8 inches feel across south central Missouri with localized amounts near 10 inches.
• Winter Weather in Rhode Island, March 21 to 22, 20131 eventLow pressure off the coast of southern New England coupled with a shortwave/mid level trough in the Ohio Valley resulted in a typical Norlun trough set up across the area. These troughs can promote a very narrow band of heavy snow where low level convergence sets up.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 21 to 22, 201319 eventsLow pressure approaching from the west caused moisture from the Gulf of Mexico to ride up over cold air at ground level in Arkansas on the 21st. Central and southern Arkansas received mainly a cold rain, through some sleet was mixed in at times.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in Arkansas, March 21 to 22, 20138 eventsA strong surface low pressure system moved northeast out of the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle Region into the Mid-South during the evening of March 21st, 2013. Heavy snow fell across Northeast Arkansas as a result. Snow accumulations ranged from two to seven inches across the area.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Missouri, March 21 to 22, 20134 eventsAnywhere from 1 to 3 inches of snow fell across the Ozark foothills, along and west of a line from Poplar Bluff to Greenville. Up to 5 inches of snow was reported in the Doniphan area in Ripley County.
• Winter Weather in Missouri, March 21 to 22, 20132 eventsA strong surface low pressure system moved northeast out of the Texas/Oklahoma Panhandle Region into the Mid-South during the evening of March 21st, 2013. Snow fell across the Missouri Bootheel as a result. Snow accumulations ranged from one to two inches across the area.

The snowstorm of March 8 to 13, 2013The snowstorm of March 23 to 28, 2013Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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