In the Middle of February a very cold arctic blast dived all the way down in the Southern United States this was caused by a Polar Vortex. Some parts of the South had single digit temperatures at night. This was known as the Middle February cold wave. However, the Cold wave was just the beginning for the Southern United States.
A strong El Nino caused the jet streak and storm track to be farther south. A low Pressure system moved into the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas Coast. This low begin to deepen and tap into the rich Gulf Moisture. Due to very cold temperatures in place it was clear this was going to be a historic storm for the Southern United States.
The Weather Service begin to issue winter storm watches and later warnings for Louisiana, Lower Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky on February 24th. As a meteorologist I started issuing my own forecast about this winter storm. I warned that this could be a significant winter storm for our area.
On February 25th and 26th snow engulfed most of the Southern States. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Upper South Carolina, Western North Carolina, Kentucky, and the Virginias. The low pressure system started to move northward.
Snowfall amounts were high for a southern winter storm. Some places saw more than 7 inches of snow. A lot of southern cities see less than 12 inches of snow per year, and some do not hardly see any snowfall.
A lot of Southern cities saw 6-10 inches of snow in Northern MS, Northern AL, Northern GA, TN, and KY. My area saw 7 inches of snow from this storm system. The valleys in my area usually just see 4-6 inches of snow per year. A lot of times we do not have any snow.
What was historic was the Lower South and along the Gulf Coast States saw 3-5 inches of snow. For these locations the average snowfall is less than 1 inch.
While this may have been a typical snow storm for the Rocky Mountains, Upper Midwest and North East for those of us in the South this storm was historic on two fronts. A lot of places had lows in the single digits which is rare for my area. Then you had the snow while my area does see winter storms sometimes we normally see ice storms, and maybe a storm with 1-3 inches at most.
The very strong El Nino contributed to this snowstorm in a huge way. Typically, El Nino causes cooler temps in the South, and it also tends to pull storm tracks farther south in the Winter Months. Then you had the Gulf Rich moisture being pulled into this storm system.
It should be noted this was the 3rd winter storm to impact the Eastern United States. From Late January to early March a series of winter storms impacted the Eastern US. However, the others just produced rain in the south. This one produced snow in the south with a lot places seeing snow from this storm system alone than what they see in a given year.
Personally, I remember this storm very well because I forecasted it. But, when it hit my area looked like a winter wonderland with snow hanging from the trees, and 7 inches of snow is something you do not see every day. There was even reports of Thunder Snow. Up until 2024 this was the last significant winter storm my area would see until 2024.
In the Middle of February a very cold arctic blast dived all the way down in the Southern United States this was caused by a Polar Vortex. Some parts of the South had single digit temperatures at night. This was known as the Middle February cold wave. However, the Cold wave was just the beginning for the Southern United States.
A strong El Nino caused the jet streak and storm track to be farther south. A low Pressure system moved into the Gulf of Mexico off the Texas Coast. This low begin to deepen and tap into the rich Gulf Moisture. Due to very cold temperatures in place it was clear this was going to be a historic storm for the Southern United States.
The Weather Service begin to issue winter storm watches and later warnings for Louisiana, Lower Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee, and Kentucky on February 24th. As a meteorologist I started issuing my own forecast about this winter storm. I warned that this could be a significant winter storm for our area.
On February 25th and 26th snow engulfed most of the Southern States. Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Upper South Carolina, Western North Carolina, Kentucky, and the Virginias. The low pressure system started to move northward.
Snowfall amounts were high for a southern winter storm. Some places saw more than 7 inches of snow. A lot of southern cities see less than 12 inches of snow per year, and some do not hardly see any snowfall.
A lot of Southern cities saw 6-10 inches of snow in Northern MS, Northern AL, Northern GA, TN, and KY. My area saw 7 inches of snow from this storm system. The valleys in my area usually just see 4-6 inches of snow per year. A lot of times we do not have any snow.
What was historic was the Lower South and along the Gulf Coast States saw 3-5 inches of snow. For these locations the average snowfall is less than 1 inch.
While this may have been a typical snow storm for the Rocky Mountains, Upper Midwest and North East for those of us in the South this storm was historic on two fronts. A lot of places had lows in the single digits which is rare for my area. Then you had the snow while my area does see winter storms sometimes we normally see ice storms, and maybe a storm with 1-3 inches at most.
The very strong El Nino contributed to this snowstorm in a huge way. Typically, El Nino causes cooler temps in the South, and it also tends to pull storm tracks farther south in the Winter Months. Then you had the Gulf Rich moisture being pulled into this storm system.
It should be noted this was the 3rd winter storm to impact the Eastern United States. From Late January to early March a series of winter storms impacted the Eastern US. However, the others just produced rain in the south. This one produced snow in the south with a lot places seeing snow from this storm system alone than what they see in a given year.
Personally, I remember this storm very well because I forecasted it. But, when it hit my area looked like a winter wonderland with snow hanging from the trees, and 7 inches of snow is something you do not see every day. There was even reports of Thunder Snow. Up until 2024 this was the last significant winter storm my area would see until 2024.
User Notice 
