Developing a database to map and assess U.S. snowstorms: initial findings and concerns

Heavy one to two day snowfall totals (> 6 inches) observed at National Weather Service (NWS) first-order and cooperative stations were carefully examined over the period 1950-2000. A methodology that compared snow totals and the frequency of heavy snowfalls among neighboring stations was used to identify “high” quality stations for further spatial and temporal analyses. Snowstorms east of the Rockies were identified as an “event” if three or more neighboring stations experienced six or more inches of snow over a two-day period. To understand better the spatial characteristics of significant snowstorms, a number of events were plotted by hand as well as by GIS software. The preliminary results of this research will be presented.