The snowstorm of March 20 to 22, 2018

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

384

Deaths

0

Injuries

0

Damage

$633,000

Episodes

43

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 Nebraska, March 19, 20184 eventsA band of 3 to 6 inches of snow fell across portions of Dawson, Gosper, Phelps, and Kearney counties on this Monday. During the evening hours on the 18th, a cyclonic band of precipitation developed east and north of the developing mid-level low.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Virginia, March 20 to 21, 201828 eventsA wave of low pressure passed by to the south on the 20th. At the same time, high pressure was building to the north and this caused cold air to filter in from New England. Rain changed to a wintry mix on the 20th.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, March 20 to 21, 201818 eventsA wave of low pressure passed by to the south on the 20th. At the same time, high pressure was building to the north and this caused cold air to filter in from New England. Rain changed to a wintry mix on the 20th.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 20 to 21, 20188 eventsA wave of low pressure passed by to the south on the 20th. At the same time, high pressure was building to the north and this caused cold air to filter in from New England. Rain changed to a wintry mix on the 20th.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, March 20 to 21, 20181 eventSouthern stream low brought a period of mixed precipitation across the higher elevations, which eventually changed to snow cross much of the upper Ohio Valley as an upper trough pivoted overhead and coastal low development enhanced cold advection across the region.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 21, 201817 eventsA long-duration, late-season snowstorm dropped widespread 10-15 inches of snow across southern Pennsylvania, with locally higher amounts (primarily at higher elevations). The system came in two rounds of heavy snow.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in Pennsylvania, March 20 to 21, 201811 eventsSouthern stream low brought a period of mixed precipitation across the higher elevations, which eventually changed to snow cross much of the upper Ohio Valley as an upper trough pivoted overhead and coastal low development enhanced cold advection across the region.
• Winter Weather in District of Columbia, March 20 to 21, 20181 eventA wave of low pressure passed by to the south on the 20th. At the same time, high pressure was building to the north and this caused cold air to filter in from New England. Rain changed to a wintry mix on the 20th and a light wintry mix continued through the night of the 20th.
• Winter Weather in Kentucky, March 20 to 21, 20188 eventsA large, slow-moving low in the upper levels of the atmosphere caused snow to linger across the Pennyrile region of western Kentucky through much of the night. The upper-level low drifted east across the Ohio Valley.
• Winter Weather in Indiana, March 20 to 21, 20186 eventsA large, slow-moving low in the upper levels of the atmosphere caused snow to linger across southwest Indiana through much of the night. The upper-level low drifted east across the Ohio Valley. Snowfall amounts were generally from 1 to 2 inches.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Ohio, March 20 to 21, 201827 eventsAn upper level low interacted with a surface low in southeast Ohio. A band of heavy snowfall set up northwest of this stacked system, producing 2 to 5 inches of snow along and west of the I-75 corridor.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Kentucky, March 20 to 21, 20189 eventsAn upper level low interacted with a surface low in southeast Ohio. A band of heavy snowfall set up northwest of this stacked system, producing 2 to 5 inches of snow along and west of the I-75 corridor.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Indiana, March 20 to 21, 20188 eventsAn upper level low interacted with a surface low in southeast Ohio. A band of heavy snowfall set up northwest of this stacked system, producing 2 to 5 inches of snow along and west of the I-75 corridor.
• Winter Storm in Indiana, March 20 to 21, 20182 eventsAn area of low pressure brought heavy, wet snow to southeast portions of central Indiana. The heaviest of the snow fell across portions of Lawrence and Decatur counties.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, March 20 to 21, 201810 eventsAn area of low pressure progressed from the Tennessee Valley to the east coast, and then farther northeast to off the New England Coast. The impact on the region was first widespread rain.
• Winter Weather in Ohio, March 20 to 21, 20181 eventSouthern stream low brought a period of mixed precipitation across the higher elevations, which eventually changed to snow cross much of the upper Ohio Valley as an upper trough pivoted overhead and coastal low development enhanced cold advection across the region.
• Winter Storm in West Virginia, March 20 to 21, 2018$58,000 · 5 eventsAn area of low pressure progressed from the Tennessee Valley to the east coast, and then farther northeast to off the New England Coast. The impact on the region was first widespread rain.
• Winter Storm in Kentucky, March 20 to 21, 2018$200,000 · 11 eventsA potent storm system crossed through the Ohio Valley March 20-21 and led to a band of heavy wet snow over portions of central Kentucky. The highest totals observed were 10-12 inches with widespread amounts of 4 to 8 inches.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Tennessee, March 20 to 21, 201811 eventsA strong early Spring clipper system brought widespread wet snow to the northeast half of Middle Tennessee including much of the Upper Cumberland from the evening hours on March 20 into much of the day on March 21.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Indiana, March 20 to 21, 201810 eventsA potent storm system crossed through the Ohio Valley March 20-21 and led to a band of heavy wet snow over portions of southern Indiana. The highest totals observed were 8-10 inches, with widespread amounts of 4 to 8 inches.
• Heavy Snow in Ohio, March 20 to 21, 2018$375,000 · 6 eventsAn area of low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on March 20th. An inverted trough stretching north from the low caused bands of snow to develop across northern Ohio late in the evening of the 20th. Due to warm ground temperatures the snow initially did not accumulate much.
• Heavy Snow in Tennessee, March 20 to 21, 20181 eventCold air flowed into the Southern Appalachian Region behind a departing low pressure system. The northwest flow into the higher terrain generated orographic snow showers.
• Heavy Snow in Virginia, March 20 to 21, 20181 eventCold air flowed into the Southern Appalachian Region behind a departing low pressure system. The northwest flow into the higher terrain generated orographic snow showers.
• Winter Storm in Alaska, March 20, 20181 eventA low pressure system over the Gulf kept snow showers over the Haines Borough longer than originally anticipated. Snow showers were heavy at times for 5 to 7 inches over the area. Impact was snow removal.
• Winter Weather in Virginia, March 21, 201830 eventsLow pressure tracking east northeast off the Mid Atlantic Coast produced between one inch and four inches of snow across portions of central and south central Virginia, and the Middle Peninsula.
• Winter Storm in Virginia, March 21, 20187 eventsLow pressure tracking east northeast off the Mid Atlantic Coast produced between three inches and seven inches of snow across portions of central Virginia and the Virginia Northern Neck.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 21, 20186 eventsLight rain developed across the mountains during the evening of the 20th in association with an area of low pressure and associated cold front that moved across the area.
• Heavy Snow in North Carolina, March 21, 20181 eventLight rain developed across the mountains during the evening of the 20th in association with an area of low pressure and associated cold front that moved across the area.
• Winter Storm in Pennsylvania, March 21 to 22, 201813 eventsA complex area of low pressure over the Middle Atlantic, which involved several individual centers, slowly consolidated off the Virginia Capes Tuesday Morning, March 20th into Wednesday March 20st along a frontal boundary.
• Winter Storm and Heavy Snow in New York, March 21 to 22, 201817 eventsA large and slow moving low pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday, March 21st and moved slowly north and east along the coast through Thursday, March 22nd.
• Winter Weather in North Carolina, March 21, 20188 eventsCold air surging southward combined with a closed low deepening across North Carolina brought 1 to 2 accumulations of wet snow across the Northern Piedmont of North Carolina.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 21 to 22, 201821 eventsA complex area of low pressure over the middle Atlantic, which involved several individual centers, slowly consolidated off the Virginia Capes Tuesday morning, March 20th into Wednesday March 21st along a frontal boundary.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Jersey, March 21 to 22, 20189 eventsA large and slow moving low pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday, March 21st and moved slowly north and east along the coast through Thursday, March 22nd. Moderate to occasionally heavy snow bands moved across portions of northeast New Jersey.
• Winter Weather in Connecticut, March 21 to 22, 20188 eventsA large and slow moving low pressure developed along the Middle Atlantic coast on Wednesday, March 21st and moved slowly north and east along the coast through Thursday, March 22nd. Locally heavy snow occurred across Southern Connecticut.
• Winter Storm in Maryland, March 21 to 22, 20185 eventsA complex area of low pressure over the middle Atlantic, which involved several individual centers, slowly consolidated off the Virginia Capes Tuesday morning, March 20th into Wednesday March 21st along a frontal boundary.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Delaware, March 21 to 22, 20184 eventsA complex area of low pressure over the middle Atlantic, which involved several individual centers, slowly consolidated off the Virginia Capes Tuesday morning, March 20th into Wednesday March 21st along a frontal boundary.
• Winter Weather in Maryland, March 21 to 22, 20185 eventsLow pressure tracking east northeast off the Mid Atlantic Coast produced between one inch and three inches of snow across portions of the Lower Maryland Eastern Shore.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in West Virginia, March 21 to 22, 201818 eventsA surface low pressure system stalled out across the middle Ohio River Valley on the 20th, bringing rain to the region. As an upper level low dropped through, cold air rushed in and quickly changed the rain to snow.
• Heavy Snow in North Dakota, March 23, 201813 eventsA deep upper level trough pushed over the Rockies as a potent short wave ejected over the Northern Plains. Precipitation developed over North Dakota, with many areas experiencing a rain/snow mix. The heaviest snow fell over western and portions of north central North Dakota.
• Winter Storm in Montana, March 23, 20181 eventA winter storm impacted much of northeast Montana, bringing strong winds and a few inches of snow to the area. Northeast Montana received approximately two to six inches of snow, with the greatest amounts falling across Daniels and Sheridan counties.
• Heavy Snow in South Dakota, March 23 to 24, 20186 eventsA surface low pressure system brought heavy snow of 6 to 8 inches to northeast South Dakota.
• Heavy Snow in Iowa, March 23 to 24, 20186 eventsA band of snow developed across northeast Iowa during the late afternoon of March 23rd. This band remained nearly stationary for several hours before dissipating during the afternoon of the 24th.
• Heavy Snow in Minnesota, March 23 to 24, 20181 eventA band of snow developed across a small portion of southeast Minnesota during the late afternoon of March 23rd. This band then remained nearly stationary for several hours before dissipating during the early afternoon of the 24th.

The snowstorm of March 11 to 15, 2018The snowstorm of April 12 to 17, 2018Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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