Eastern Cornbelt:
A winter storm was expected to bring snow to northern Illinois and rain to central areas of the state late in the week, with forecasts suggesting a strong possibility of 6-10 inches of snow in some locations.
Indiana was bracing for strong winds and heavy rainfall from the same system. All of central Indiana was under a wind advisory on March 3, with forecasts warning of 1-2 inches of rainfall and localized flooding, prompting a flood watch from some areas. Far northern areas of the state were bracing for snow as the system pushes through.
Strong thunderstorms earlier in the week produced widespread power outages across central Ohio, prompting multiple tornado and severe thunderstorm warnings. Some areas saw large hail and 45-60 mph winds gusts, followed by climbing temperatures as the week progressed, with highs reaching the 50s and 60s across the state. Another round of heavy rain and minor flooding was in the Ohio forecast again on March 3.
Western Cornbelt:
The week began with 1-2 inches of rainfall across a wide swath of central Iowa. Highs climbed to the 30s in northern Iowa and the low-50s in central and southern Iowa during the week.
Light snow flurries moved through Nebraska on the last day of February, with temperatures warming to the 40s and 50s at midweek. Another cold front was on tap for late in the week, however, with highs falling back to the 30s and low-40s.
Missouri was bracing for potentially heavy rain late in the week, with flash flood watches in effect for some southern areas of the state on March 2. Forecasts warned of 1-2 inches across central Missouri and close to three inches in parts of southeastern Missouri.
California:
California’s historic winter continued as February came to a close, with more heavy snow causing widespread power outages and road closures.
In Northern California, blizzard conditions were expected to drop another 3-4 feet of snow in the Sierra Nevada from Feb. 28 through March 1, forcing authorities to close portions of Interstate 80 and Highway 50 during the week. More than 50,000 homes and business were without power on Feb. 28 across Northern California.
Sacramento experienced heavy rain, strong winds, and near freezing temperatures at midweek, while San Francisco posted a record low of 39 degrees on March 1. Snowfall totals in Yosemite National Park reached 15 feet as waves of storms pounded the region.
A third wave of storms also pushed more rain, snow, and high winds into Southern California early in the week, prompting winter storm warnings for Los Angeles, Riverside, and San Bernardino. Forecasts warned of 2-6 feet of snow accumulation at higher elevations and an inch or more of rain in coastal areas and valleys.
The recent storms continued to boost reservoir levels, contributing to California’s ongoing drought recovery. Shasta Lake was up to 84% of its historical average by the end of February, compared with 57% at the beginning of January. Lake Oroville is higher than its historical average at 116%, up from 71%.
California’s snow water equivalent in the Sierra Nevada was 181% of average as of Feb. 27 and 156% of a full season’s average, according to the California Department of Water Resources. The Northern Sierra/Trinity region’s snowpack is at 144% of the average, Central Sierra is 185%, and the Southern Sierra mountains are at 219% of the average.
Pacific Northwest:
After a near-record 10.8 inches of snow in Portland, Ore., in late February, forecasts warned of additional snow and slush during the first days of March across the Willamette Valley, along with freezing temperatures.
Eastern Oregon was bracing for 35 mph winds and 6-8 inches of snow above 3,000 feet during the week, with heavy snow and high winds also expected in southern Oregon.
A winter storm warning was in effect for parts of the Cascades in western Washington on March 2-3, with 4-6 inches of snow expected in the Cascade foothills in southern Washington and 12-24 inches in Snohomish, King, Whatcom, and Skagit counties. Temperatures in Seattle dropped to 28 degrees on March 1, the coldest in 58 years for that date.
The same powerful system also brought heavy snow and severe weather to Idaho, prompting closures earlier in the week for portions of Highways 20, 26, 87, 32, and 33. Snowfall also blanketed portions of western Montana during the week, with temperatures in the 20s and low-30s across much of the state.
Western Canada:
After a cold Arctic blast during the final week of February, temperatures warmed up considerably across Western Canada during the first days of March.
The warmer weather also ushered in some winter precipitation, along with strong winds in some locations. A wind warning was in effect for most of southern Alberta at midweek, with reports of 70-100 km/h gusts causing blowing and drifting snow across the region.
Environment Canada also issued a special weather statement for British Columbia’s South Coast at midweek, with rain expected at lower elevations and heavy snow in the mountains. The last days of February also brought heavy snow to Vancouver and other locations in the province.