Winter Storm — Wyandot, Ohio

2014-03-12 · Wyandot, Ohio

Event narrative

Mixed precipitation spread across the area early on the 12th and then transitioned to snow from west to east. Much of the area also saw a period of freezing rain. The snow increased in intensity during the late morning hours with visibilities less than one half mile. North to northeast winds increased as the low passed to the south of the area. Winds gusted to more than 40 mph during the early afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to more than 30 mph through the evening hours. The strong winds combined with the snow to create significant blowing and drifting and very treacherous driving conditions. Around a tenth of an inch of ice accumulation along with 3 to 5 inches of snow was reported in Wyandot County. Schools across most of northern Ohio were closed on the 12th and the evening commute was very difficult. Dozens of accidents and a some power outages were reported.

Wider weather episode

An area of deepening low pressure moved up the Ohio Valley on March 12th. The low shifted to the east coast during the evening hours. Precipitation associated with the low spread across the area early on the 12th and then transitioned to snow from west to east beginning around daybreak. Much of the area also saw a period of freezing rain. Ice accmulations ranged from just a slight glaze near Lake Erie to nearly two tenths of an inch in the Findlay and Marion areas. The snow increased in intensity during the late morning hours with visibilities less than one half mile through late afternoon. North to northeast winds increased as the low passed to the south of the area. Winds gusted to more than 45 mph during the early afternoon hours. Winds continued to gust to more than 30 mph through the evening hours. The strong winds combined with the snow to create significant blowing and drifting and very treacherous driving conditions. Peak snowfall totals of around 8 inches were reported in the Toledo area and also across the northeastern tip of Ohio. Snowfall totals of 4 to 6 inches and a glaze of ice were reported from east of Toledo through the Cleveland Metropolitan area. Schools across most of northern Ohio were closed on the 12th and the evening commute was very difficult. Dozens of accidents and a some power outages were reported.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 508138. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.