Midwest Weekly Highlights - February 15-21, 2010

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More Snow, but Dry Overall

Low pressure swept out of the Midwest on the 15th (Figure 1) leaving snow, nearly a foot in some locations, in its wake throughout the Ohio River Valley (Figure 2). Despite the snow, precipitation totals were well below normal for most of the region. Two areas, near Lake Superior and from western Missouri to southwestern Iowa, received above normal precipitation. The remainder of the Midwest was below normal with areas in all nine states below 50%, or even 25%, of normal (Figure 3). Some daily precipitation records were set, however numerous daily snowfall records were set during the week. The generally dry conditions did nothing to alleviate the long-term drought conditions in the upper Midwest (Figure 4).
 

Temperature Pattern, A Repeat of Previous Week

Temperatures were again warmer than normal for the upper Midwest and cooler than normal for the rest of the region (Figure 5). Departures ranged from 4°F above normal in upper Michigan to as much as 10°F below normal in southwestern Iowa. Temperatures averaging in the lower 20's throughout February (Figure 6) led to continued ice formation on the Great Lakes with Lake Erie nearly frozen over (Figure 7). Just a few temperature records were set during the week, mostly record low maximum temperatures in Missouri on the 16th.
 

Ohio Snow Totals At or Near February Records

Snowfall totals in Ohio were at or near record levels. The President's Day storm, the third significant snow of the month, pushed snow totals over 20 inches at many reporting stations. The Wilmington, Ohio National Weather Service Office showed Cincinnati (Hamilton County) as the snowiest February on record with 10 days remaining in the month. Columbus (Franklin County) was second and Dayton (Montgomery County) was third in their respective histories.

The storm in Ohio was reported to cause hundreds of closings and schedule disruptions in central Ohio. Schools in Reedsville, Ohio (Meigs County) were in session on the 15th to make up an earlier snow day, but ironically, they were sent home early due to snow. In eastern Ohio, Belmont County officials declared a state of emergency, in part due to snow that had narrowed roads to such an extent that access by emergency vehicles was threatened. County crews were working with state crews to remove enough snow to open access. Also in eastern Ohio, buildings were damaged (Jefferson County) or destroyed (Columbiana County) by the weight of snow that had accumulated on the structures.
 

Midwest Snow Cover Heightens Concern for Likely Flooding

The snowy and cold conditions this winter have blanketed the Midwest with a deep layer of snow which exceeds 10 inches across most of Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio along with smaller areas of Missouri, Indiana, and Kentucky (Figure 8). The water content of the snow pack (Figure 9) raised concerns about possible spring flooding from the Red River in the northwest corner of the Midwest to the Ohio River in the southeast. The rate of the spring thaw, due to warming temperatures and possibly rain, will play a large role in determining the severity of flooding across the Midwest.
 

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