WINTER STORM SUMMARY FOR
JANUARY 02, 2014 TO JANUARY 3, 2014 EVENT

Synopsis

Low pressure developed over the southern plains and moved northeast into the Ohio Valley from January 1st into January 2nd . This low pressure system transferred its energy to a low pressure developing off the Carolina coastline. By Thursday evening January 2nd the coastal low had become the dominant low pressure system with a period of snow breaking out across the region as the coastal low pressure system organized. Some areas along the New Jersey coast and in the Delmarva saw the precipitation start as rain and sleet before changing to snow. Additional periods of snow and snow showers also developed on the backside of the low pressure system at it departed early Friday aided by an inverted trough feature across the region. Very cold air with strong winds moved in after the storm on Friday creating blowing and drifting snow.

Watches/Warnings/Advisories

At 353 AM on January 1st, a Winter Storm Watch was issued for Carbon, Monroe and Northampton counties in Pennsylvania and Morris, Sussex and Warren counties in New Jersey. At 235 PM on January 1st, the Winter Storm Watch was converted to a Winter Storm Warning. At this time the warning was expanded to include Lehigh county in Pennsylvania. Also at this time, a Winter Storm Watch was issued for the following counties: New Castle county in Delaware; Atlantic, Camden, Cumberland, Gloucester, Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex, Monmouth, Northwestern Burlington, Ocean, Salem, Somerset and Southeastern Burlington counties in New Jersey; Berks, Delaware, Eastern Chester, Eastern Montgomery, Lower Bucks, Philadelphia, Upper Bucks, Western Chester and Western Montgomery counties in Pennsylvania. 

At 332 AM on January 2nd, the watch area was converted to a Winter Storm Warning. In addition, a Winter Weather Advisory was issued for the following counties: Kent and Sussex counties in Delaware; Caroline, Cecil, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties in Maryland; Cape May county in New Jersey. At 1:59 PM on January 2nd, Kent county in Delaware, Cape May county in New Jersey along with Caroline, Cecil, Kent and Queen Anne's counties in Maryland were changed from a Winter Weather Advisory to a Winter Storm Warning. At 942 PM on January 2nd, the remaining advisories were converted to Winter Storm Warnings. All warnings were expired at 1226 PM on Friday January 3rd. 

At 1226 PM on January 3rd, a Wind Chill Advisory was issued for Carbon and Monroe counties in Pennsylvania. This advisory was cancelled at 843 AM on Saturday January 4th.

Precipitation/Temperatures/Winds

Overall 4 to 9 inches of snow fell across most of the region with the highest amounts of 10 to near 12 inches falling across parts of Monmouth and northern Ocean counties in new Jersey. Wide ranges in temperatures were noted from some single digits and teens in the Poconos to the mid 30s across the Delmarva when precipitation started. Temperatures fell gradually on the night of January 2nd into the single digits or teens by the morning of January 3rd across the region. As the low departed, winds increased out of the north and northwest leading to very low wind chills through the night of January 3rd into the morning of January 4th, as well as, blowing and drifting snow across the region.

Significant Impacts/Aspects

With temperatures at or below freezing, snow accumulation occurred on all surfaces Thursday night. This led to a quite a few slick and snow covered roads on Thursday night, January 2nd, with road crews working most of the night. With the increasing winds, blowing and drifting snow occurred through Friday night, January 3rd. Schools were closed on Friday across most of the region due to the impending storm and epected travel issues. With a snowpack in place, low temperatures on Friday night, January 3rd, were quite cold and fell below zero in spots.

Notes

Information contained in this summary is preliminary. More complete and/or detailed information may be contained in subsequent monthly NOAA storm data publications.