Powerful Storm in the Western U.S.; Heavy Rain and Flooding Threat Across the Central Gulf Coast

A powerful storm system will continue to bring heavy mountain snow, rain, and high winds to the Pacific Northwest and northern California through midweek. Heavy rain and flash flooding potential exists across the central Gulf Coast over the next few days, including the Florida Panhandle. A Slight Risk (level 2 of 4) of excessive rainfall is in effect Tuesday. Read More >

Overview

A low pressure area began to form over the Southeastern United States on Sunday, the 1st of March, 2009. The storm then deepened as it moved over Cape Hatteras, NC, and out into the Western Atlantic Ocean on Sunday Night. Two areas of snow rode along the Eastern Seaboard and brushed Southeastern PA, especially the Philadelphia Metro Area, with some deep snow.

The first batch of snow, which hit during the early part of Sunday Night, just barely produced an inch or two of snowfall in Lancaster and York Counties. By Monday Morning, there was only an inch of new snow in Hershey, and generally between 1 and 4 inches in Lancaster and York Counties (New Holland 2, Hanover 4.2).

The second batch of snow hit right around sunrise on Monday morning, and produced another 1-4 inches across the area South and East of Harrisburg. This brought storm totals up to almost 8 inches in southern parts of Lancaster and York Counties, with nearly nothing just to the northwest of Harrisburg.


Snow Totals from the 1st-2nd of March, 2009, Map courtesy John LaCorte	Radar Composite Loop from 8PM EST 1 March 2009 through 1PM EST 2 March 2009	Visible Satellite Picture from the morning of March 3rd (clear skies, snow pack)

Surface Maps from the morning of the 1st and 2nd of March, 2009	Surface Maps from the morning of the 1st and 2nd of March, 2009