Winter Storm — Knox, Ohio

2022-02-03 to 2022-02-04 · Knox, Ohio

Event narrative

A prolonged winter storm occurred February 3rd and 4th, 2022 as multiple waves of low pressure tracked along a slow moving cold front. Rain changed to a mix of mainly sleet and some freezing rain during the early morning hours of February 3rd as temperatures fell below freezing. This wintry mix didn't change to snow until late in the afternoon on February 3rd. Snow tapered off early on the 4th. The mixed precipitation, heavy snow, and falling temperatures led to a prolonged period of poor travel conditions with auto accidents resulting. Road conditions were at their worst during the afternoon and evening hours on February 3rd, when a Level 2 snow emergency was declared, which strongly discouraged all non-essential travel in the county until it was lifted the next morning. The highest snow reports were 5' measured by members of the public in Mount Vernon and Danville. A CoCoRaHS observer measured 4.9' near Fredericktown. These snow amounts included 1-2' of sleet accumulation and a light glaze of ice from freezing rain.

Wider weather episode

A cold front slowly moved southeast across northern Ohio between the afternoon of February 2nd and the early morning hours of February 3rd. A weak wave of low pressure tracked along the front during this time. The front stalled over central Ohio on February 3rd as an even stronger wave of low pressure tracked through Ohio along the front, with the front then clearing to the southeast that evening. The slow moving front and waves of low pressure resulted in a prolonged period of wintry precipitation, falling temperatures and gusty winds across the region. Rain changed to snow behind the frontal passage with many areas observing at least a brief period of sleet and freezing rain during the transition. The period of mixed or freezing precipitation was most prolonged in portions of central and east-central Ohio due to the front stalling for several hours on February 3rd. Up to one-quarter of an inch of freezing rain and one to two inches of sleet accumulation were observed near Youngstown. Snowfall rates up to 1' per hour were observed on February 3rd as the stronger wave of low pressure tracked along the front. Wind gusts of 25 to 35 MPH were observed on February 3rd which led to blowing and drifting snow, especially in open areas in Northwest and North Central Ohio. The combination of snow, blowing snow, mixed precipitation and falling temperatures led to significant travel impacts across the region with numerous traffic accidents reported across the area. A number of counties in Northwest and North Central Ohio declared a Level 3 snow emergency during the afternoon or evening hours of February 3rd, which closed county roads to non-emergency travel. Portions of several major highways were also closed at times, including stretches of I-271, I-71, I-77 and I-90 during the afternoon and evening of February 3rd. Travel impacts lingered into February 4th. At the main climate sites in northern Ohio, Toledo Express Airport recorded 12.8' of snow with 12.1' falling at Mansfield Lahm Airport. Youngstown-Warren Regional Airport measured 10.7' of snow, with 9.5' measured at Cleveland Hopkins Airport while the Akron-Canton Airport came in with 9.0'. Select totals from trained spotters include: 14.8' in Chardon, 14' in Ashtabula, 12' in Hiram, 12' in Norwalk and 12' in Strongsville. CoCoRaHS observers measured 15.2' of snow in Madison, 13.3' of snow near Vermillion and in Shelby, 11.5' of snow in Westlake and 11' in Fremont.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 1115720. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.