March 1-6, 2001

The Midwest was largely bypassed by two major precipitation-producing systems during the period March 1-6. A strong low pressure center dumped inches of rain across the deep south early in the week, while a massive Gulf-based system spread up the east coast during the second half of the week, bringing up to 3 feet of snow to places in New England. The precipitation totals for the week were very small everywhere in the Midwest except in Kentucky and eastern Ohio, which received a glancing blow from the coastal storm and an associated upper level low that spun southward from the Great Lakes (Figure 4). The upper level low also brought up to half a foot of snow to the eastern Midwest on March 5 and 6 (Figure 5). The only other snow this week occurred at the beginning of the period in Missouri. The dominance of high pressure in the Midwest in the latter half of the period also brought sunny days but below normal temperature to the region, especially in the western Midwest (Figure 6). Warmer air entered the area as the high moved to the east.