2006-07 Winter Summary

From National Weather Service Reports

The winter of 2006-2007 was characterized by above normal temperatures and snowfall across most of northern Ohio. The winter started out quietly with little accumulating snow outside of the Lake Erie snowbelt through the end of December. Temperatures during November and December averaged several degrees above normal. During January, things began to change as much colder air settled into Ohio. Lake effect activity picked up in January with some locations in Northeast Ohio seeing three to four feet of snow during the month.

February was by far the coldest and wettest month of the season and Ohio saw its most significant winter events of the 2006-2007 season. On February 3, strong low pressure moved through the Great Lakes region. This helped bring light snow to northwest Ohio and also generated winds in excess of 45 mph. On February 6, a clipper system worked into the Ohio Valley behind an arctic air mass that had settled into place. Numerous counties experienced 3 to 5 inches of snow accumulation across parts of Ohio. Some areas had 6 to 7 inches of snowfall in a six-hour period.

The biggest storm of the year occurred on February 13 and 14, when 8 to 18 inches of snow blanketed much of Ohio. The exception was a 2 to 4 inch snow accumulation in parts of southeast Ohio. Strong winds accompanied the snow causing near blizzard conditions at times. Drifts were 3 to 4 feet in some spots. Ice accumulations over the southern Miami Valley and parts of eastern Ohio wreaked havoc. A large swath of between one-half to one inch ice accumulations was found through Cincinnati and up along the I-71 corridor to the south side of Columbus. These ice accumulations extended east along and north of I-70 through eastern Ohio.

A nine year old girl was killed by a falling branch in southwestern Ohio while walking her dog. Another widespread freezing rain and sleet event occurred with ice accumulations ranging from 1/10-inch to as much as a half an inch over northwest Ohio on February 24 and 25.

Temperatures returned to above normal during March with periodic light snows the first half of the month in northern Ohio. Winter got one last parting shot in during the early stages of April. A cold snap with low temperatures dropping into the low and mid 20s threatened agricultural interests, especially in the southern part of the state where the growing season had begun early. A significant lake effect snow event occurred between April 4-9, with some locations in the snowbelt receiving more than two feet of snow.

Youngstown finished the season with 90.2 inches of snow, its snowiest winter ever. A peak snowfall total of more than 180 inches was reported in Geauga County.