Winter Storm — Lucas, Ohio

2004-12-22 to 2004-12-23 · Lucas, Ohio

Wider weather episode

A potent winter storm affected northwestern Ohio on December 22nd and 23rd. Low pressure developed over eastern Texas early on the 22nd and then moved quickly northeast. The low eventually tracked across eastern Ohio during the morning hours of the 23rd after dumping nearly two feet of snow on portions of Ohio. The snow began in the Findlay area around mid morning on the 22nd and spread north into the Toledo area during the evening. The snow intensified during the late evening hours with heavy snow then continuing through daybreak on the 23rd. Snowfall rates of around an inch per hour occurred during the early morning hours of the 23rd with visibilities less than one quarter mile at times. Northerly winds behind the low increased during the evening hours of the 22nd and this caused much blowing and drifting as well. Drifts two to three feet deep were common. Snowfall totals from this event ranged from 12 to 15 inches in southern Hancock and eastern Sandusky Counties to 7 to 10 inches in far western Lucas County. Accumulations a little further east in north-central Ohio were nearly two feet at some spots. Officially, 7.9 inches of snow fell at Toledo Express Airport (Lucas County). Travel was nearly impossible during the peak of this event. Hundreds of accidents occurred and it took several days for road crews to clean up after this event.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5429350. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.