National Weather Service United States Department of Commerce

Snow Across the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast; Unsettled Weather in the West

Light to moderate snow will continue into Saturday over the Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, and Northeast. This weekend into next week, a series of atmospheric rivers will bring gusty winds, periods of heavy rain, and mountain snow to northern California and the Pacific Northwest. Colder temperatures are in store for the weekend from the Great Lakes to East Coast. Read More >

Overview
A potent upper level low pressure wrapped cold arctic air and moisture around the north and west side of the low. This helped to produce light to moderate snow across portions of the area. Heavy snow was reported in McCurtain County in Southeast Oklahoma, where up to six inches was reported.
 
Snow Accumulations from March 21, 2010
OKLAHOMA
LOCATION AMOUNT
Broken Bow 3 inches
Idabel 1.5 inches
ARKANSAS
LOCATION AMOUNT
Ashdown 0.8 inch
De Queen 0.2 inch
Hope 0.2 inch
Nashville 0.2 inch
LOUISIANA
Shreveport 0.1 inch
 
Snow Accumulations from March 21, 2010
TEXAS
LOCATION AMOUNT
Clarksvile 4 inches
Daingerfield 0.2 inch
6 miles S of Gilmer 1 inch
Lindale 2 inches
2 miles SW of Lindale 1.5 inches
Longview 0.2 inch
1 mile W of Longview 0.5 inch
Marshall 1 inch
Mount Pleasant 1.5 inches
7 miles SSE of Mount Vernon 1 inch
New Boston 0.5 inch
Quitman 2 inches
Tyler 0.2 inch
5 miles N of Tyler 0.5 inch
8 miles S of Tyler 0.5 inch
Yantis 1.5 inches
 
The snow wasn't the only story. The cold temperatures set daily low maximum records at many locations. Here is a list:
LOCATION OLD RECORD NEW RECORD RECORD SINCE
Shreveport, LA 42 in 1970 40 in 2010 Records since 1874
Monroe, LA 43 in 1970 42 in 2010 Records since 1930
Texarkana, AR 44 in 1956 38 in 2010 Records since 1896
El Dorado, AR 40 in 1970 40 in 2010 Records since 1907
Longview, TX 42 in 1915 40 in 2010 Records since 1902
Lufkin, TX 46 in 1968 44 in 2010 Records since 1906
 
Radar image of snow bands at 11am CDT on March 21, 2010
Radar image from 11am CDT on March 21. Snow bands had developed on the west side of the upper level low and funneled south. Temperatures were generally in the low to mid 30s areawide..
 
12z sounding from KSHV on March 22, 2010
Upper-air profile taken Sunday morning at the NWS office in Shreveport. Very cold temperatures existed aloft. In fact, the 850 mb (5000 ft) temperature was -9 degrees C.
 
Water vapor imagery showing the upper trough over Northwest Louisiana
Water vapor satellite imagery showing the "bowling ball" low over Northwest Louisiana early Sunday morning.
 
 
2 inches of snow in Winnsboro, TX
Picture from the Winnsboro, TX, area where up to 2 inches of snow was reported. Photo is courtesy of KLTV.
 
Snow on the ground in Lindale, TX
Picture from the Lindale, TX, area. Photo is courtesy of KLTV.