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Heavy Snow January 5th, 2014

National Weather Service, Springfield, MO

 

Event Summary

Low pressure tracked across northern Arkansas during the morning hours of Sunday January 5th, 2014 with areas of heavy snow occurring northwest of the low across the Missouri Ozarks and extreme southeast Kansas.  The heaviest snowfall occurred along the Interstate 44 corridor where 7 to 12 inches of snow fell.   Gusty northwest winds of 20 to 35 mph at times caused significant blowing and drifting of snow throughout the area.  Temperatures fell throughout the day into the teens for all locations by the mid afternoon with wind chills hitting the single digits above and below zero throughout the event.



Wind chills values also dropped to unusually low levels during this event.  Here are the minimum wind chill values observed across the region:

...Minimum Wind Chill Values (DEG F) observed on the morning of
Monday, January 6, 2014...

Depending on the observation site, calculated wind chills are
based on observations taken in 5 minute, 20 minute, or 1 hour
intervals. For many sites, it is likely that even lower readings occurred
between observation times.

............................................................................

Springfield ASOS (KSGF)...-26 (Data available every 5 minutes)

Joplin ASOS (KJLN)........-25 (Data available every 5 minutes)

Rolla-Vichy ASOS (KVIH)...-34 (Data available every 5 minutes)

West Plains ASOS (KUNO)...-26 (Data available every 5 minutes)

Branson...................-22 (Data available every 20 minutes)

Osage Beach AWOS (KAIZ)...-25 (Data available every 20 minutes)

Monett....................-23 (Data available every 20 minutes)

Macks Creek RAWS..........-22 (Data available once per hour)

MT Vernon RAWS............-29 (Data available once per hour)

Ava RAWS..................-22 (Data available once per hour)
 

 

 

Event Synopsis

An area of low pressure developed over eastern Texas during the evening hours of the 4th along a frontal boundary which stretched to the northeast into south central Missouri.  An Arctic air mass was pushing in from the northwest behind the front with upper level energy moving in from the Plains.  The surface low started lifting to the northeast into northern Arkansas during the very early morning hours of the 5th, with snow developing to the northwest of the low track.  Because of the strong pressure gradient between this area of low pressure and the strong Arctic high pressure moving into the area, north winds of 20 to 35 mph developed during the event which caused significant blowing and drifting of snow, also reducing visibility to near zero at times.

The low eventually tracked to the northeast into southeast Missouri and the Ohio valley, bringing a swath of heavy snow along the Interstate 44 corridor in southwest and central Missouri where 7 to 12 inches occurred. 

Animation of surface low, fronts and radar image throughout the event

 

 

 
 
 

 

Event Maps

Snowfall map from the January 5th, 2014 storm system.

 

 

 

Snow Reports

PRELIMINARY LOCAL STORM REPORT...SUMMARY
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SPRINGFIELD MO
815 PM CST SUN JAN 05 2014

..TIME...   ...EVENT...      ...CITY LOCATION...     ...LAT.LON...
..DATE...   ....MAG....      ..COUNTY LOCATION..ST.. ...SOURCE....
            ..REMARKS..

0700 AM     SNOW             LOCKWOOD                37.39N 93.95W
01/05/2014  M3.1 INCH        DADE               MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             MORRISVILLE             37.48N 93.43W
01/05/2014  M3.0 INCH        POLK               MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             PITTSBURG               37.41N 94.70W
01/05/2014  M3.0 INCH        CRAWFORD           KS   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             FORT LEONARD WOOD       37.71N 92.16W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        PULASKI            MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             DADEVILLE               37.48N 93.67W
01/05/2014  M3.0 INCH        DADE               MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0700 AM     SNOW             VERONA                  36.96N 93.80W
01/05/2014  M2.9 INCH        LAWRENCE           MO   PUBLIC

0753 AM     SNOW             3 SSE MONETT            36.88N 93.91W
01/05/2014  M3.0 INCH        BARRY              MO   PUBLIC

0755 AM     SNOW             SPRINGFIELD             37.20N 93.29W
01/05/2014  M3.5 INCH        GREENE             MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

0800 AM     SNOW             3 NE MARSHFIELD         37.37N 92.87W
01/05/2014  M4.5 INCH        WEBSTER            MO   PUBLIC

0833 AM     SNOW             5 ESE SPRINGFIELD       37.17N 93.20W
01/05/2014  M5.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

0833 AM     SNOW             4 S ASH GROVE           37.26N 93.58W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0840 AM     SNOW             ROLLA                   37.95N 91.77W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        PHELPS             MO   PUBLIC

0840 AM     SNOW             GOODSON                 37.70N 93.25W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        POLK               MO   PUBLIC

0845 AM     SNOW             LEBANON                 37.68N 92.66W
01/05/2014  E5.0 INCH        LACLEDE            MO   PUBLIC

0845 AM     HEAVY SNOW       HERMITAGE               37.94N 93.32W
01/05/2014  E6.0 INCH        HICKORY            MO   PUBLIC

0851 AM     SNOW             4 SW SPRINGFIELD        37.16N 93.34W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

0855 AM     HEAVY SNOW       DIXON                   37.99N 92.09W
01/05/2014  M6.5 INCH        PULASKI            MO   PUBLIC

0855 AM     SNOW             AVA                     36.95N 92.66W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            MO   PUBLIC

0913 AM     HEAVY SNOW       5 W LAURIE              38.21N 92.93W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        MORGAN             MO   PUBLIC

0937 AM     SNOW             BATTLEFIELD             37.12N 93.37W
01/05/2014  M5.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

0941 AM     SNOW             ROLLA                   37.95N 91.77W
01/05/2014  E4.5 INCH        PHELPS             MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

1000 AM     SNOW             SALEM                   37.65N 91.54W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        DENT               MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

1028 AM     SNOW             ROLLA                   37.95N 91.77W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        PHELPS             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

1100 AM     SNOW             WEBB CITY               37.15N 94.48W
01/05/2014  E5.0 INCH        JASPER             MO   BROADCAST MEDIA

1101 AM     SNOW             3 NE HALLTOWN           37.22N 93.59W
01/05/2014  M6.5 INCH        GREENE             MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

1101 AM     SNOW             NEOSHO                  36.87N 94.37W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        NEWTON             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

1232 PM     SNOW             CAMDENTON               38.01N 92.74W
01/05/2014  M8.5 INCH        CAMDEN             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0130 PM     SNOW             WHITE CHURCH            36.85N 91.79W
01/05/2014  E1.5 INCH        HOWELL             MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0130 PM     SNOW             WEST PLAINS             36.73N 91.85W
01/05/2014  E1.5 INCH        HOWELL             MO   LAW ENFORCEMENT

0220 PM     HEAVY SNOW       6 S SPRINGFIELD         37.11N 93.29W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   NWS EMPLOYEE

            AVERAGE SNOW MEASUREMENT OF 6 INCHES IN SOUTH
            SPRINGFIELD. LOTS OF SNOW DRIFTS MUCH HIGHER OF ONE TO
            TWO FEET AT LEAST

0226 PM     HEAVY SNOW       CAMDENTON               38.01N 92.74W
01/05/2014  M8.5 INCH        CAMDEN             MO   AMATEUR RADIO

0230 PM     SNOW             ROLLA                   37.95N 91.77W
01/05/2014  M8.0 INCH        PHELPS             MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

            TWO FOOT DRIFTS COMMON.

0241 PM     HEAVY SNOW       3 E ROLLA               37.95N 91.72W
01/05/2014  M10.5 INCH       PHELPS             MO   PUBLIC

0256 PM     HEAVY SNOW       WAYNESVILLE             37.83N 92.20W
01/05/2014  M8.0 INCH        PULASKI            MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0304 PM     HEAVY SNOW       5 WSW MARSHFIELD        37.31N 92.99W
01/05/2014  M7.0 INCH        WEBSTER            MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

            DRIFTS UP TO TWO FEET.

0348 PM     HEAVY SNOW       GOODSON                 37.70N 93.25W
01/05/2014  M7.5 INCH        POLK               MO   PUBLIC

            SNOW DRIFTS OF ONE TO TWO FEET

0350 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ASH GROVE               37.32N 93.58W
01/05/2014  M8.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   CO-OP OBSERVER

0405 PM     SNOW             AVA                     36.95N 92.66W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        DOUGLAS            MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

0410 PM     SNOW             2 SE PURDY              36.80N 93.89W
01/05/2014  M4.0 INCH        BARRY              MO   PUBLIC

0445 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 WNW SPRINGFIELD       37.22N 93.35W
01/05/2014  M7.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   OFFICIAL NWS OBS

            A STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF 7.0 INCHES WAS MEASURED AT THE
            NWS SPRINGFIELD OFFICE WITH AN AVERAGE OF 20 MEASUREMENTS
            DUE TO EXTREME DRIFTING OF SNOW

0504 PM     SNOW             6 NE WILLARD            37.36N 93.36W
01/05/2014  M7.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   COCORAHS

            DRIFTS OF 1 TO 2 FEET

0525 PM     SNOW             1 W OSAGE BEACH         38.15N 92.64W
01/05/2014  M8.5 INCH        CAMDEN             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0532 PM     SNOW             WEBB CITY               37.15N 94.48W
01/05/2014  M5.5 INCH        JASPER             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0532 PM     SNOW             REPUBLIC                37.12N 93.48W
01/05/2014  M7.1 INCH        GREENE             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0532 PM     SNOW             SOUTH WEST CITY         36.51N 94.61W
01/05/2014  M4.5 INCH        MCDONALD           MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0549 PM     HEAVY SNOW       SARCOXIE                37.07N 94.12W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        JASPER             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0549 PM     HEAVY SNOW       LEBANON                 37.68N 92.66W
01/05/2014  E10.0 INCH       LACLEDE            MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT WITH PICTURE OF MEASUREMENT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0550 PM     SNOW             1 N NEOSHO              36.88N 94.37W
01/05/2014  M6.0 INCH        NEWTON             MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0552 PM     SNOW             MONETT                  36.92N 93.93W
01/05/2014  M5.0 INCH        BARRY              MO   PUBLIC

            REPORT FROM SOCIAL MEDIA

0556 PM     SNOW             DORA                    36.78N 92.22W
01/05/2014  M2.0 INCH        OZARK              MO   PUBLIC

0612 PM     SNOW             NIXA                    37.04N 93.29W
01/05/2014  E5.0 INCH        CHRISTIAN          MO   AMATEUR RADIO

            5 INCHES ESTIMATED WITH DRIFTS OVER 2 FEET.

0654 PM     HEAVY SNOW       4 SW SPRINGFIELD        37.16N 93.34W
01/05/2014  E8.0 INCH        GREENE             MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0654 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MARSHFIELD              37.34N 92.91W
01/05/2014  E8.0 INCH        WEBSTER            MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0654 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 S CAMDENTON           37.99N 92.74W
01/05/2014  E9.0 INCH        CAMDEN             MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0654 PM     HEAVY SNOW       1 E HERMITAGE           37.94N 93.30W
01/05/2014  E9.0 INCH        HICKORY            MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0654 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ALDRICH                 37.55N 93.55W
01/05/2014  M8.0 INCH        POLK               MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0658 PM     HEAVY SNOW       MARIONVILLE             37.00N 93.64W
01/05/2014  E6.0 INCH        LAWRENCE           MO   PUBLIC

            SOCIAL MEDIA REPORT

0717 PM     SNOW             4 W PITTSBURG           37.83N 93.37W
01/05/2014  M8.0 INCH        HICKORY            MO   TRAINED SPOTTER

0800 PM     HEAVY SNOW       7 SSW ROLLA             37.86N 91.80W
01/05/2014  M12.0 INCH       PHELPS             MO   EMERGENCY MNGR

            MEASURED 12 INCHES NEAR VIDA AND ALONG HIGHWAY O SOUTH OF
            ROLLA. 8-12 INCHES MEASURED THROUGHOUT PHELPS COUNTY.

0800 PM     HEAVY SNOW       ST. ROBERT              37.83N 92.18W
01/05/2014  M9.0 INCH        PULASKI            MO   EMERGENCY MNGR