An intense low-pressure system produced widespread impacts across the United States in early March 2023. Additionally, an outbreak of 35 tornadoes affected 12 states from the Southern United States to the Great Lakes. In all, the storm system killed 13 people due to flooding and strong winds. At least 17 other people were injured.
Impact
Western United States On March 1, the snowstorm in Arizona led to many pileups, and several roads such as I-40, I-17, and US 93 closed.Winter Storm Strands Dozens On Arizona Highways, The Weather Channel, March 2, 2023 In addition, I-80 closed from Applegate, California to the Nevada state line.Blizzard conditions close major highways and roads in Lake Tahoe area, trigger avalanche, Los Angeles Times, March 1, 2023 In Nevada, portions of US 93, I-11 and I-15 were shut down as well, as well as several state highways.Rare March snowstorm blankets parts of Las Vegas region, Las Vegas Review Journal, March 1, 2023 On March 1, the Northern Arizona University cancelled all in person classes., 12News, March 1, 2023 Joshua Tree National Park temporarily closed due to the inclement weather, and the San Bernardino National Forest shut down for two weeks.Highways into the San Bernardino Mountains are closed as residents run out of supplies, patience, ABC7, March 3, 2023California blanketed in snow as parts of the U.S. face threat of 'intense' tornadoes, NBC News, March 1, 2023 All park roads in Mojave National Preserve were shut down, and partial closures also occurred in Redwood National Park, Sequoia National Park, Kings Canyon National Park and Death Valley National Park.Deep snow closes Yosemite and other California parks, CNN Travel, March 2, 2023 A supermarket in Crestline, California collapsed due to the snow.Crestline market roof collapses from snow; Lake Arrowhead market red-tagged, CBS News, October 2, 2023 One person was killed due to the storm in California. Further east, I-40 westbound lanes was also shut down in Gallup, New Mexico.I-40 westbound closed overnight in Gallup; storm headed to New Mexico, Albuquerque Journal, March 1, 2023 In the state of Idaho, portions of US 20 were shut down as well.(UPDATE) Winter weather forces the closure of Hwy. 20, crews working to clear a path, KMVT, March 1, 2023
Southern United States On March 1, hail fell in north Texas, some of which were up to half-dollar size. Hail fell in Dilley, Texas, causing damage to windows and cars, as well as a severe thunderstorm warning for softball sized hail in Pearsall, Texas. On March 2, severe storms led to a ground stop at Dallas Fort Worth International Airport.Tornadoes strike Texas and Louisiana as storms pummel the South, CNN, March 3, 2023 On March 3, the storm led to the lowest pressure on record in Louisville and Bowling Green, Kentucky.March 3, 2023 High Winds & Severe Storms, National Weather Service Indianapolis, IN Mammoth Caves National Park was shut down on March 4 due to storm damage.Mammoth Cave National Park, park roads, ferry, and services closed due to severe weather, WBKO, March 3, 2023 Nearly 400,000 residents in Kentucky alone lost power, with over 1800 being placed under boil water advisories. The storm resulted in five people being killed in Kentucky, three in Alabama, two in Tennessee, one in Mississippi, and one in Arkansas.At least 13 people are dead as severe storms bring tornadoes, flooding to South; head to Northeast, ABC7NY, March 4, 2023
Eastern United States On March 3, snow led to many snow emergencies in the Albany, New York metropolitan area and near Pittsfield, Massachusetts.Snow emergencies for March's first weekend storm, CBS6Albany, March 3, 2023 Ultimately, of snow fell in Albany. 72,700 customers in eastern New York lost power due to the winter storm.National Grid Crews Responding to Damage, Outages After Heavy, Wet Snow Disrupts Service to Customers in Eastern New York, NationalGridUS, March 4, 2023 On the night of March 3, WestJet cancelled all flights out of Toronto Pearson Airport due to the snow.WestJet cancels all Friday night flights at Toronto airport due to winter storm, Reuters, March 3, 2023 The snowstorm also shut down Detroit Metro Airport on the night of March 3,Detroit Metro Airport temporarily closes due to winter storm, Fox 2 Detroit, March 3, 2023 and a ground stop was imposed at Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport due to severe weather.Ground stop lifted at Atlanta airport, 11Alive, March 3, 2023 Over 100 flights were cancelled due to the storm at Boston Logan International Airport.Dozens of Flights Canceled, Delayed as Storm Nears New England, NBC Boston, March 3, 2023 The Maine Turnpike had a speed restriction as a result of the storm.Speed on Maine Turnpike lowered as snow begins to fall, WMTW, March 2, 2023 Between March 3 and 4, up to of rain fell in Newark, New Jersey, with of rain falling in New York City.Here are some rain / liquid equivalent amounts from last night's storm from NWS ASOS. #nycwx #nywx #njwx #ctwx #liwx #hvwx, NWS New York, Twitter, March 4, 2023
Tornado outbreak March 1
While confidence for a widespread severe weather outbreak increased for March 2, an enhanced risk for severe weather, including the possibility for a few strong/EF2+ tornadoes, was issued for March 1. A large capping inversion, placed along northern Louisiana, was expected to contain the atmosphere from initiating convective activity, but the presence of moisture, daytime heating in the area, and steep mid-level lapse rates, made the environment favorable for severe weather, including the possibility for supercells capable of all hazards. Given the favorable parameters in place, the Storm Prediction Center (SPC) issued a large corridor, extending from extreme northeastern Texas, most of central Arkansas, northwestern Mississippi, and southwestern Tennessee, were the highest probabilities for tornadoes were located. A slight risk, lined with a 5% risk for tornadoes, was issued around the main area of concern, and extended into central Tennessee, and northern Alabama. A large, 30% risk for strong, damaging wind gusts was also placed along central and eastern portions of Arkansas, extending into northwest Mississippi and southwest Tennessee, as was a hatched corridor for very large hail was also introduced for this corridor.
March 2
As a large, widespread, and damaging storm complex event was occurring throughout the Great Plains, which unleashed powerful damaging winds and tornadoes across Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas, the SPC highlighted a potential area for the risk of severe weather in the following days, with the main, 30% area for severe weather centered around eastern Texas, northern Louisiana, southern Arkansas, middle portions of Mississippi, and western Alabama, as conditions were expected to be very favorable for the development of thunderstorms capable of all severe weather hazards.
After introducing a massive level 3/enhanced risk for March 2 on February 28, which now included portions of southeastern Oklahoma, the SPC upped the threat to a level 4/moderate risk, throughout a corridor centered along the Ark-La-Tex region, clipping into extreme southeastern Oklahoma, on March 1. Throughout the risk area, the environmentally favorable conditions for severe weather were set in motion due to the presence of abundant moisture, instability that was expected ahead of a cold front starting from north-central Texas, and intense wind shear prevalent across the entire region. With this setup, a linear cluster of discrete supercell thunderstorms was expected to develop, and given the favorable wind and instability patterns, a 15%, hatched risk for strong/EF2+ tornadoes was placed along the moderate risk area, while a large, surrounding 10% hatched risk for strong tornadoes was placed and extended into central portions of Arkansas, and all the way into northwestern Mississippi. At the 1630 UTC update on March 2, however, the 15% hatched area was removed due to lingering uncertainty about the timing of the most favorable wind shear for tornadoes versus the convective mode of the ongoing storms. Despite this, a moderate risk remained due to a 45% hatched risk for damaging winds and 45% hatched area for large hail that had also been issued.
March 3
Confirmed tornadoes
March 1 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Wednesday, March 1, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF1Shottsville to SW of PigeyeMarionAL03:54–04:07This tornado touched down in Shottsville where a church sustained exterior damage. Elsewhere, a home sustained damage to its metal roof and numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, one of which fell on a barn. EF1NE of Hazel GreenMadisonAL04:32–04:33A very brief and narrow high-end EF1 tornado damaged the roofs of several homes in a subdivision to the northeast of Hazel Green, including one home that had a large portion of its attached garage roof removed, causing a wall to blow out. A pickup truck was tipped over onto its side and a small portion of a fence was knocked down as well.
March 2 event + List of confirmed tornadoes – Thursday, March 2, 2023EF#LocationCounty / parishStateStart coord.Time (UTC)Path lengthMax. width EF0W of Signal MountainMarionTN12:16–12:17A brief tornado downed a swath of trees in Prentice Cooper State Forest. EF0W of GeorgetownHamilton, MeigsTN11:55–11:59Homes sustained minor damage, a barn lost its roof, and trees and power lines were downed. EF1PicktonHopkinsTX21:20–21:28This narrow high-end EF1 tornado caused considerable damage as it moved directly through Pickton, inflicting roof damage to several homes, businesses, and a church. Trees were damaged along the path as well. EF0N of Mount VernonFranklinTX23:00–23:11Several tree limbs were downed. EF1WNW of JeffersonMarionTX23:05–23:10A few outbuildings were damaged or destroyed. Several trees were snapped or uprooted, some of which caused damage to homes and other structures upon falling. EF1NW of McLeodCassTX23:34–23:35Many trees were snapped or downed, some of which caused damage to homes and other structures upon falling. A few outbuildings were damaged as well. EF1Southeastern ShreveportCaddoLA23:35–23:40An EF1 tornado moved through southeastern sections of Shreveport, touching down and lifting several times along an intermittent path. In all, 98 homes sustained damage to their roofs, windows, and chimneys, including one home that had a large section of its roof torn off. Four businesses were also damaged and an apartment building sustained minor damage as well. Additional damage occurred to light poles, signs, fences, trampolines, and basketball hoops. Numerous trees were snapped or uprooted, including on the campus of Louisiana State University Shreveport. Two people sustained minor injuries in a vehicle. Damage totaled $50 million. EF1WSW of FoukeMillerAR23:58–00:02A high-end EF1 tornado occurred near the Sulphur River Wildlife Management Area, damaging or destroying several outbuildings. Additional homes and other structures were also damaged, mainly from downed tree limbs and trees. EF1NW of Broken BowMcCurtainOK03:05–03:11Trees were uprooted, some of which caused structural damage upon falling. EF2NNE of KirbyPikeAR04:50–04:53This high-end EF2 tornado completely destroyed two chicken houses at the beginning of its path. Elsewhere, a frame home had part of its roof torn off and a tied-down mobile home was destroyed after being lofted and tossed into a wooded area. Many large trees were snapped or uprooted along the path, one of which landed on and destroyed a mobile home. A few other mobile homes were also damaged, one of which was shifted off its foundation blocks. A house sustained minor damage from falling trees shortly before the tornado dissipated. Five people were injured. EF1N of ApplebyNacogdochesTX04:51–04:58Large trees were snapped or uprooted along the path of this large tornado.
March 3 event