_on_February_28%2c_2014.jpg) Visible satellite imagery of the winter storm offshoreCalifornia early on February 28, nearing peak intensity. | |
| Type | Extratropical cyclone Blizzard Winter storm Ice storm |
|---|---|
| Formed | February 23, 2014 |
| Dissipated | March 4, 2014[3] |
| Highest gust | 102 mph (164 km/h)[1] |
| Lowest pressure | 968 millibars (28.6 inHg) |
| Tornadoes confirmed | 2 confirmed[1][2] |
| Max. rating1 | EF0 tornado |
| Maximum snowfall or ice accretion | Snow – 40 inches (100 cm) nearKirkwood Ski Resort,California |
| Maximum rainfall | 14.54 inches (369 mm) at Matilija Canyon (Ventura County), California. |
| Fatalities | At least 16[4] |
| Areas affected | |
Part of the2013–14 North American winter 1Most severe tornado damage; seeFujita scale | |
TheMarch 2014 North American winter storm, also unofficially referred to asWinter Storm Titan,[5][6] was an extremely powerfulwinter storm that affected much of the United States and portions ofCanada. It was one of the most severe winter storms of the 2013–14 North American winter storm season, storm affecting most of the Western Seaboard (especiallyCalifornia), and various parts of the Eastern United States, bringing damaging winds, flash floods, and blizzard and icy conditions.[4]
On February 23, 2014, an extratropical disturbance developed over the northeast Pacific. The system slowly began to intensify as it moved eastwards, before encountering anomega block that was situated overAlaska and the Northwest Pacific, on February 24, 2014. Over the next few days, the omega block began to dissipate, and the system began to intensify more rapidly as it moved towards the southeast. On February 27, 2014, meteorologists identified the system as having of high risk of having major impacts in the United States.[1] Winter Weather Watches and Winter Storm Warnings were initiated in numerous portions of the Western United States. After a previous, weaker winter storm had moved through the West Coast on February 26, the winter storm turned towardsCalifornia, resulting in Flash Flood warnings and high wind advisories being issued. During the next 2 days, the storm system underwentexplosive intensification and also developed aneye-like feature, reaching an intensity of 976 millibars on February 27, before deepening further to its peak intensity of 968 millibars (28.6 inHg) on February 28.[7] Around that time, the winter storm was predicted to bring ice, snow, and blizzard conditions to the Central and Eastern States of the US.[4] Afterwards, the system slowly began to weaken as it continued bearing down on the West Coast, although it continued to maintain its organization. The storm brought powerful winds and heavy torrents throughout much of the Western Seaboard, especially in California. Flash floods ensued throughout many parts of the state, resulting in some road closures. Early on March 1, the eye of the storm disappeared as the organization of the system began to deteriorate. Later on March 1, the winter storm continued to shrink in size as it weakened further, and the storm began moving ashore inSouthern California. A secondary circulation developed near the southern end of the storm's circulation, which quickly dominated the system;[8] the original surface low became completely detached from the system and was absorbed into another approaching storm on March 3.[9] On March 1, the winter storm also spawned an EF0 tornado overArizona, which was the confirmed first tornado in theGreater Phoenix area since January 2005.[2] Late on March 1, 2014, the winter storm's low-level circulation center made landfall overSan Diego County.[10] Several hours later, the winter storm passed through California, even as the storm weakened to 1,007 millibars (29.7 inHg) on March 2.[11] The winter storm triggered severe thunderstorms, and dropped hail while it passed through theSouthwestern United States.[1] The storm began to accelerate towards the east while building up convection. During the next couple of days, the winter storm's structure began to break down; however,[12][13] the storm still brought blizzard conditions and ice to theEastern United States.[4] Early on March 4, the winter storm weakened and exited the east coast of theCarolinas, before being absorbed into the circulation of a much largerextratropical cyclone centered over theLabrador Sea later that day.[14][3]
On March 1, the storm caused at least 2 fatalities, at least 44 injuries, as well as several car accidents.[4] On the same day, a plane was moved 3 feet (0.91 m) and damaged by a microburst, near the John Wayne Airport at Santa Ana, California.[1] While moving eastward across the United States, the storm caused more road accidents, and downed numerous trees and power lines. The storm also produced an EF0 tornado 9 miles south ofKarnak,California, which lasted for 5 minutes.[1] Another person was killed inKansas, along with a student inOklahoma.[4] The winter storm later killed another 12 people and injured dozens more, before the storm weakened and left the East Coast on March 4, 2014.[1][14] Nearly 8,000 flights were canceled or delayed on March 3, and 832 flights were canceled and 3,903 flights were delayed on March 4.[15]
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In North Carolina, an inch of snow fell along theNorth Carolina Highway 264 corridor, and minor travel issues were noted with the winter storm system, though cars slid offNorth Carolina Highway 150 inGuilford County, causing slowdowns in both directions.[16][15]Virginia Tech operations were impacted, with classes canceled and a medical center closed.[17]
Recreational programs and parks atOcean City, Maryland were canceled, along with aMaryland State Police snow emergency plan in effect for several counties in the state, includingWorcester County. A hospital was also closed.[18] This was also in place for Delaware, where driving restrictions were in place for the state.[19]
Due to the heavy snowfall totals inNew Jersey, numerous school districts delayed openings, and hundreds of flights were delayed or canceled atNewark Liberty International Airport.[20] Schools were also opened late in Pennsylvania.[21]
Across the Eastern United States, the highest snow total was 10 inches (25 cm) atBruceton Mills, West Virginia.[1]
In Kentucky, the roof of aDollar General collapsed inMayfield, Kentucky, causing six people to be evacuated and the store to be demolished.[15] TheKentucky Department of Transportation warned drivers that the majority of all roads in the state were covered in ice.[15]Interstate 65 in the northern part of the state was shut down for a short period on March 2.[22]
InIndiana, numerous traffic accidents were reported aroundIndianapolis, and inNew Albany, snow fell on roads, where the city was in short supply of salt, and used IMIX, a combination of natural sand and calcium chloride.[22] 9.8 inches of snow fell inPortage, Indiana, which was the highest snowfall total in the Midwestern United States.[1] Crashes were reported onInterstate 65 inGary, including a rollover and a chain-reaction crash.[23]
InTennessee, governorBill Haslam declared a state of emergency, along with theTennessee Emergency Management Agency activating at a Level 3.[24] Several inches of sleet fell across the state, which prompted government buildings, schools, businesses, and colleges to close on March 3.[1][24] 62,000 power outages were reported inShelby County, and theHernando de Soto Bridge gridlocked due to stopped and stalled trucks, trapping motorists in their vehicles for up to 12 hours.[24] Governor Haslam requested a disaster declaration in the aftermath of the storm.[25]
InOhio, snow emergencies were in effect for several counties.[26] TheJohn A. Roebling Suspension Bridge was closed due to ice on its metal grid decking, and theOhio Department of Transportation urged drivers to give snow plows more room to clear snow off highways. The department had also ordered salt to assist communities in need of salt for melting snow, though demand for it had outpaced supply.[27]
InIllinois, the highest snow total was 5.5 inches (14 cm) nearHillsdale.[1] Winter weather advisories were in place for portions of the state.[23]
InMissouri, 5 inches (13 cm) of sleet was also reported in Dudley and Pemiscot County.[1]
InArkansas, 4.5 inches (11 cm) of sleet fell atBiggers,[1] in which the ice and sleet caused accidents alongInterstate 40 andInterstate 55, causing motorists to be stranded overnight.[15] The sleet and ice inLouisiana caused a 60 miles (97 km) closure alongInterstate 10 betweenLafayette andLake Charles, where someMardi Gras events were canceled. DuringMardi Gras festivities in New Orleans, temperatures were as low as 39 °F (4 °C) on the afternoon of March 4, the second-most coldest Mardi Gras event in New Orleans on record, 1 degree shy of 38 °F (3 °C), which was set in 1899. Attendance was also lowered at the event, and the parade was shortened for high school and college units, which included dozens of bands.[28]
InTexas, 2 inches (5.1 cm) of sleet fell inQuitman andVan,[1] which caused power outages, with 7,100 power outages in theHouston area.[15] Ice accumulated 0.25 inches (6.4 mm) southwest ofKaty.[15]
The highest snowfall total across the southern United States was inMiami, Oklahoma, where 5.5 inches (14 cm) of snow fell.[1]
InCalifornia, on February 28, 40 inches (100 cm) of snow fell near theKirkwood Ski Area,[1] and 14.54 inches (369 mm) of rain fell atMatilija Canyon inVentura County. TheLos Angeles area received a range of 2–5 inches (5.1–12.7 cm) of rainfall.[29] The maximum wind gust measured was 102 miles per hour, recorded nearBig Bear Resort, near Los Angeles, on February 28. Due to the heavy rainfall, mudslides were observed in the easternSan Gabriel Valley, and caused evacuation orders forGlendora,Monrovia, andAzusa, particularly theColby Fire burn scar area.[29] Severe thunderstorms containing 1 inch (2.5 cm) hail was reported atWalnut in the morning hours of March 1.
Wind gusts of 77 miles per hour (124 km/h) nearMt. Charleston, Nevada, at an elevation of 8,818 feet (2,688 m),[1] and a wind gust of 64 miles per hour (103 km/h) was recorded atGrand Canyon Airport, Arizona. Pea-sized hail was reported inPeoria, Arizona, and a snowfall total of 20 inches (51 cm) was recorded inTaos, New Mexico.[1]
| EFU | EF0 | EF1 | EF2 | EF3 | EF4 | EF5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A total of two tornadoes were reported from this storm system.
On February 28, an EF0 tornado was reported 9 miles south of Karnak, California, moved north at 25 miles per hour (40 km/h), and lasted for 5 minutes before dissipating.[1]
On March 1, anEF0 tornado touched down in a park in Arizona and moved over an apartment complex, damaging roof tiles, blowing in a car's windshield and two apartment windows, and lifting a hot tub up into the clouds. Several trees and a power pole were downed as well. This was the first confirmed tornado in theGreater Phoenix area since January 2005, and caused $50,000 in damage.[2][30][31][32]
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