National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Atmospheric River in the Pacific Northwest and Northern Rockies this Weekend

A Pacific storm and atmospheric river will impact the Pacific Northwest states and northern Rockies this weekend, bringing locally heavy low elevations rain and heavy high elevation snow in the mountains. By Sunday over the Interior Northwest, rain combined with snowmelt will increase the risk of flood hazards. Flood Watches are in effect. Read More >

January 11-12, 2011
Winter Storm

Low pressure tracked across southwestern and central Ohio during the afternoon of January 11. Widespread areas of snow developed as the low moved across the region during the day. The heaviest snow fell near and just north of the low track, across a swath from southeast Indiana into southwest and west-central Ohio, where snowfall amounts of 4 to 5 inches were common. Snowfall amounts to the north and south of this band were generally in the 2 to 4 inch range.

As the main area of snow departed to the northeast Tuesday night, additional snow developed across parts of the Miami Valley and into areas east of the Cincinnati metro. This snow contributed an additional 1-3" of snow accumulation overnight, bringing some total accumulations in excess of 5 inches in some areas.

In addition to the snow, west winds occasionally gusting to 25 mph resulted in widespread blowing and drifting of snow. This resulted in some drifts over 1-2 feet in depth, and made roadways treacherous, as road crews were unable to keep up with the constant drifting of snow over them.