The snowstorm of March 23 to 26, 2009

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

312

Deaths

6

Injuries

19

Damage

$64 million

Episodes

35

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 Storm and High Wind in California, March 21 to 22, 2009$2,000 · 50 kt wind · 7 eventsThe second major storm of March arrived on the 21st, heralded by strong winds ahead of the cold front.
• Winter Storm in Montana, March 22 to 23, 20092 eventsA Pacific storm system brought heavy snow to portions of southwest Montana. Snowfall amounts in excess of 6 inches was reported.
• Winter Storm and High Wind in Utah, March 22 to 24, 200956 kt wind · 3 eventsA Pacific storm system created gusty winds across the state. Snowfall was widespread across northern Utah, but the heaviest snow was restricted to the higher terrain.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Wyoming, March 22 to 24, 20098 eventsA strong low pressure system deepened over eastern Colorado and produced widespread snow and strong winds across much of southeast Wyoming with blizzard or near blizzard conditions. Many roads were closed due to significant blowing and drifting snow.
• Winter Storm in Wyoming, March 22 to 23, 20092 eventsA strong upper level low moved across Wyoming bringing heavy wet snow and strong winds to Sheridan County on the 22nd and 23rd. In addition, very strong northerly winds caused blowing and drifting snow.
• Ice Storm in Minnesota, March 23 to 25, 2009$815,000 · 3 eventsWarm air surged north ahead of a strong low pressure system, while cold air over Lake Superior was pushed onshore by strong easterly winds. Heavy rain froze on contact and created severe icing conditions along the north shore of Lake Superior from Two Harbors to Grand Marais.
• Blizzard in Wyoming, March 23 to 24, 2009$750,000 · 6 eventsA powerful spring storm brought blizzard conditions to northeastern Wyoming. Heavy snow and wind gusts over 60 mph produced significant blowing and drifting snow, reducing visibilities to near zero for many hours.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, March 23 to 24, 2009$42 million · 23 eventsA powerful spring storm brought rain, snow, and very strong winds to western South Dakota. Precipitation started as rain, then changed to snow, and blizzard conditions developed. The heaviest snow fell over the northern Black Hills, where 18 to 48 inches of snow was measured.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Nebraska, March 23, 20097 eventsA low pressure system deepened across eastern Colorado. This produced snow and strong winds across much of the Nebraska panhandle with blizzard conditions over parts of the northern Nebraska panhandle.
• Winter Weather in Michigan, March 23 to 24, 20093 eventsA tight pressure gradient between low pressure over the Plains and high pressure over Hudson Bay caused strong southeast wind gusts over portions of the Keweenaw Peninsula from the 23rd into the 24th.
• Blizzard in South Dakota, March 23 to 24, 20099 eventsA strong area of low pressure moved out of the Rockies and into the Northern Plains producing snow and widespread blizzard conditions across central and north central South Dakota. Winds gusting to over 60 mph along with several inches of snow caused hazardous travel conditions.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 23 to 24, 20091 eventA strong low moved into the northern Gulf of Alaska producing heavy snow and strong wind across Kodiak Island. Snow fall began Sunday before mixing with rain then back to snow totaling around 20 inches over the two day period.
• Winter Storm in Minnesota, March 24 to 25, 200919 eventsFour to eight inches of snow fell across most of northwest Minnesota along with 25 mph wind speeds. The most snow fell along a line from Hallock (MN) to Stephen (MN) to Grand Forks (ND) to Finley (ND), where amounts around 8 inches were common.
• Winter Storm in North Dakota, March 24 to 25, 20098 eventsFour to eight inches of snow fell across the central and northern Red River Valley along with 25 mph wind speeds. The most snow fell along a line from Hallock (MN) to Stephen (MN) to Grand Forks (ND) to Finley (ND), where amounts around 8 inches were common.
• Heavy Snow in Washington, March 24 to 25, 20092 eventsA strong Pacific frontal system produced heavy snow in the Cascades.
• Winter Storm in Utah, March 25 to 26, 20095 eventsA strong and moist Pacific storm system brought heavy snow to northern and central Utah, with particularly heavy snowfall across the higher terrain.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 25 to 26, 20095 eventsA strong low south of the Alaska Peninsula produced strong wind and snow across the eastern Aleutians, Alaska Peninsula, Bristol Bay area and Kuskokwim Delta.
• Heavy Snow in Idaho, March 25 to 26, 20094 eventsNine inches to two feet of snow fell in the southern and eastern highlands of southeast Idaho.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Wyoming, March 26, 20096 eventsA strong spring storm developed over eastern Colorado and produced snow and strong winds over far southeastern Wyoming.
• Winter Storm in Colorado, March 26 to 27, 20097 eventsAt Denver International Airport, hundreds of flights were canceled. In addition, schools throughout the region were shut down and many roads closed due to multiple accidents.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Colorado, March 26 to 27, 20096 eventsIn the Northeast Plains storm totals included: 10.5 inches, 6 miles south of New Raymer; 10 inches at Hugo, 8 inches, 6 miles north-northeast of Woodrow; 7.5 inches, 10 miles northwest of Yuma, 7 inches, 4 miles east of Akron and at Karval; and 6 inches at Fort Morgan.
• Blizzard in Alaska, March 26 to 27, 20091 eventA 975 mb low in the northern Gulf of Alaska combined with a 1048 mb high across central Russia to produce strong winds and blizzard conditions along portions of the Chukchi Sea coast from the early morning hours on the 26th through the morning hours on the 27th.
• Blizzard in Nebraska, March 26, 20091 eventA strong low pressure system over eastern Colorado produced blizzard conditions over parts of Kimball county. Interstate 80 was closed for a time due to many accidents.
• Blizzard in Colorado, March 26 to 27, 200913 eventsA blizzard impacted the I-25 corridor and the southeast plains of Colorado with snow amounts up to 20 inches...wind gusts in excess of 50 mph...and visibilites near zero at times.
• Blizzard in Colorado, March 26 to 27, 20093 eventsA slow-moving winter storm produced heavy snow and blizzard conditions across the eastern Colorado plains and western Kansas. Snow amounts of 6-12 inches in Colorado combined with 30-50 mph winds resulted in low visibility and significant drifting.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, March 26 to 27, 20096 eventsA slow-moving winter storm produced heavy snow and near-blizzard conditions across the eastern Colorado plains and western Kansas. Snow amounts of 4-8 inches in Kansas combined with 30-40 mph winds resulted in low visibility and significant drifting.
• Heavy Snow and Winter Weather in New Mexico, March 26 to 27, 20091 death · 13 eventsA storm from the Pacific Northwest slowly advanced toward New Mexico on the 25th, reached the Four Corners Region late on the 26th and inched across the state on the 27th. A strong cold front also backed down the eastern plains with strong and gusty winds.
• Blizzard in Texas, March 26 to 28, 2009$800,000 · 19 eventsA vigorous low pressure system in the upper atmosphere moved just south of the Texas Panhandle and produced blizzard conditions across all but the extreme southeast Texas Panhandle.
• Blizzard in Oklahoma, March 26 to 28, 2009$450,000 · 3 eventsA vigorous low pressure system in the upper atmosphere moved just south of the Oklahoma and Texas Panhandles and produced widespread heavy snow...strong and gusty winds...and low visibilities.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Oklahoma, March 27 to 28, 20092 deaths · 5 injured · $1.9 million · 42 eventsA strong, late-season winter storm moved through parts of Oklahoma, producing record setting snowfall over western and northwest Oklahoma.
• Blizzard and Winter Storm in Kansas, March 27 to 28, 20093 deaths · 14 injured · $17 million · 26 eventsA late season winter storm of record breaking proportions struck central, south-central and southeast Kansas March 27-28, 2009. Heavy snow with blizzard conditions affected much of central and south-central Kansas, with accumulations exceeding 18 inches for some locations.
• Winter Storm and Winter Weather in Texas, March 27, 2009$100,000 · 9 eventsA dangerous blizzard struck portions of the U.S. Southern Plains on the 27th. The storm resulted in numerous road closures and other serious public impacts as between 25 and 30 inches of wind blown snow blanketed portions of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, southwestern…
• Blizzard in Kansas, March 27 to 28, 200936 eventsA historic blizzard impacted much of southwest Kansas with record or near record snowfall recorded in some areas. There was a strip from southeast Clark county to Pratt county that had 28 to 31 inches of snow and 10 to 15 foot drifts.
• Winter Storm in Kansas, March 27 to 28, 20093 eventsA winter storm brought a variety of winter weather to extreme southeast Kansas into west central Missouri from the afternoon of January 27th into January 28th. A mix of freezing drizzle, freezing rain and sleet transitioned to a period of snow.
• Winter Storm in Missouri, March 27 to 28, 20091 eventA winter storm brought a variety of winter weather to extreme southeast Kansas into west central Missouri from the afternoon of January 27th into January 28th. A mix of freezing drizzle, freezing rain and sleet transitioned to a period of snow.

The snowstorm of February 26 to March 3, 2009The snowstorm of March 27 to 30, 2009Snow nowEvery winter storm filed

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