1994 — Feb 8-13, Southeast, Southwest, Midwest Ice, Snow, Freezing Rain, Sleet — >15
—>23 AP. “Snow shuts down government…” The Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 2-11-1994, A7.[1]
— 15 Blanchard tally based on State breakouts below.
— >9 Lott and Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeast – The February Ice Storm… 1994, pp. 2-3.
Illinois ( 1)
— 1 Carpentersville, Feb 8. Boy, 7, sledding on fresh now, slides underneath school bus.[2]
Ohio (>7)
— 1 Middletown, Butler Co., Feb 8-9. Exposure; male, 40. NCDC Storm Data, 36/1, pp. 38-39.
— >6 Statewide. Traffic fatalities. NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, pp. 38-39.)
Oklahoma ( 1)
— 1 Oklahoma City, Feb 8. Freezing drizzle; traffic accident; female lost control of her car.[3]
Tennessee ( 1)
— 1 Memphis, Feb 9-10. Tree falls onto moving car killing male driver.[4]
Texas ( 4)
— 2 San Antonio International Airport, Feb 11. Air ambulance crash in freezing rain.[5]
— 2 Traffic accidents. Lott and Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeastern… 1994, p. 6.
West Virginia ( 1)
— 1 Wayne County, Feb 9. Flash Flood.
Narrative Information — General
Lott and Ross: “The ice storm which struck the Southeast in February 1994 resulted from a typical icing scenario: a quasi-stationary front with overrunning moisture producing freezing precipitation in colder air near the surface to the north of the front. However, this storm was very unusual in 2 respects: 1) Its areal extent was much greater than usually found in ice storms, and 2) The precipitation amounts were much higher than usually found in ice storm situations, with some amounts exceeding 5 inches for the event…
“The ice storm began in the western sections of the Southeast on the 9th and gradually spread eastward into Tennessee, Mississippi, and Alabama. These three states suffered the worst damage before the storm continued northeastward through the Carolinas, Virginia, and Kentucky. A large temperature gradient across the front (some temperature drops of 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit from the previous day’s readings occurred) contributed to the ‘energy’ of the storm. Ice accumulations ranged from 1 inch to as much as 6 inches in parts of northern Mississippi–unprecedented ice thicknesses in this area for a freezing rain event.
“Overall, the storm produced over $3 billion in damages and cleanup costs, and at least 9 deaths were attributed (directly or indirectly) to the storm. Also, well over 2 million customers were without electricity at some time, and 1/2 million were still without power 3 days after the storm. There were even some instances of residents without power for 1 month after the storm. Many homes, businesses, and vehicles were damaged by falling trees and limbs.” (Lott and Ross, 1994 Ice Storm and Floods, 1994, pp. 2-3)
“KY…reported 150 injuries for the event…” (Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm, Floods, 1994, p. 4)
TN: “There was one traffic fatality attributed to the storm when a tree fell on a moving car.” (Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm, Floods, 1994, p. 6)
TX: “…2 fatalities were reported due to traffic accidents…”(Lott & Ross, 1994 Ice Storm, 6)
NCDC Storm Data: “A combination of snow, sleet, and freezing rain struck Arkansas, Oklahoma, and Texas late on February 8 and spread eastward toward the mid-Atlantic states over the next few days. An Arctic cold front was moving south and east out of Canada beneath a strong southwesterly flow of moisture. Snow extended from the Plains to the Northeast, north of the front, and a mixture of sleet, snow, and freezing rain fell along the front from Oklahoma and Texas to the mid-Atlantic. Temperature drops of 40 to 50 degrees from the previous day readings, to below freezing were common with the passage of the front.
“Due to the heavy amounts of precipitation, totals greater than five inches…flash flooding occurred in Tennessee and Alabama. Eastern Tennessee recorded over six inches of precipitation. More than 100 residents of Washington and Rhea counties in Tennessee were forced to evacuate. Flash flooding also closed or washed out numerous roads.
“Major ice accumulation of three to six inches existed in Mississippi. Louisiana recorded one to two inches of ice accumulation and at times freezing rain was accompanied by thunder. Generally, ice accumulations of up to three inches existed in the remaining area with the exception of northern Texas where amounts of up to four inches occurred. The accumulation of ice caused extensive damage in most states affected by the ice. Homes, businesses, and vehicles were also damaged by the falling trees. Many trees also fell on utility poles and lines causing the widespread loss of electrical power. Some people in Mississippi were without power for up to a month. Additionally, Mississippi reported significant damage to 3.7 million acres of commercial forestland valued at an estimated $1.3 billion. Preliminary estimates place the damage and cleanup cost at over $50 million in Arkansas alone. The Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness estimated the ice damage approximately $13.5 million.” (NCDC. Storm Data, “Outstanding Storms of the Month. 1. Ice Storm Occurs in the South and Southeast.” Vol. 36, no. 2, Feb 1994, p. 7.)
Arkansas
NCDC Storm Data: “A combination of snow, sleet and freezing rain began falling across northern Arkansas late on the 8th and overspread the rest of the state on the 9th. The precipitation continued falling on the 10th and ended from the west early on the 11th. Many roads, bridges and overpasses across the state became hazardous due to the accumulation of ice and snow. Numerous traffic accidents resulted from the slick roads. Heavy amounts of sleet and ice fell over southeast Arkansas on the 9th and 10th. Significant accumulations of ice and sleet brought down numerous trees and utility poles. A number of homes and businesses also sustained structural damage by falling trees. Some communities in southeast Arkansas had virtually every power pole knocked down by the weight of the ice. At the height of the storm, approximately 120,000 customers were without power. In some cases, it took up to two weeks to get power restored to some areas. The damage was not as widespread over the rest of Arkansas. Some of the power companies were calling this the worst storm in their history. Preliminary estimates place the damage and cleanup costs at over $50 million.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, 1994, p. 16.)
Louisiana
NCDC Storm Data: “A severe ice storm developed over Louisiana, as well as adjacent states, in the early morning hours of February 10. Freezing rain spread across much of the north third of Louisiana during the next 12 hours, and at times was accompanied by thunderstorms which produced the most severe icing problems. The greatest damage occurred on elevated objects. The combination of gusty winds and icing of one to two inches thick snapped power lines, power poles, or caused tree limbs to snap which subsequently broke power lines. The weight from ice accumulations was also heavy enough to collapse a number of chicken houses. Ground temperatures were fairly warm due to mild temperature s prior to the ice storm, so icing on roadways was not widespread, however fallen trees and power line s did close many secondary roads. The two hardest hit parishes appeared to be Claiborne and Webster. From newspaper accounts over 100,000 persons in north Louisiana were without electrical power on February 10 and 11. While temperatures above freezing quickly returned to the region on the February 11 and 12, some power companies had difficulty returning power to residents due to the widespread nature of the ice storm which affected many states from northeast Texas to the Tennessee Valley. On February 15, 10,000 residents were still without electrical power in Bienville, Claiborne, and Union Parishes. The Forest Service reported that 256,000 acres of forest were damaged by icing. Overall, the Louisiana Office of Emergency Preparedness estimated the ice storm damage at approximately $13.5 million. This was the worst ice storm in Louisiana since 1983, and likely the costliest on record with respect to dollar damages.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, 1994, p. 26.)
Mississippi
NCDC Storm Data: “During the early morning hours on the 9th, freezing rain began falling over north Mississippi and continued through mid-day on the 10th. Ice accumulation of three to six inches were common over the affected area. Due to the weight of the ice, power lines, trees and tree limbs were downed. Many trees fell on houses and automobiles. The ice storm caused significant damage to approximately 3.7 million acres of commercial forestland. The value of damaged timber was estimated to be $1.3 billion. In addition to the damage of commercial timber was the damage to urban trees, estimated to be $27 million. Twenty five percent of the states pecan crop will be lost for the next five to ten years at an estimated cost of $5.5 million per year. Nearly 750,000 customers were with out power in the affected area. Customers were without power for up to a month. Over eight thousand utility poles were pulled down by the weight of the ice. Over 4,700 miles of power lines were down. Four-hundred-ninety-one water systems were affected with around 741,000 customers without water. Estimates of damage to utilities will run nearly $500 million. This is the worst ice storm to strike Mississippi since a severe ice storm struck the state in January 1951.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 31.)
Ohio
NCDC Storm Data: Jan 8-9: “The worst ice storm in recent memory struck southern Ohio. Heavy freezing rain fell across the counties near the Ohio River and heavy sleet mixed in across the central counties. Ice accumulations averaged three-quarter to two inches. Thunderstorms with heavy freezing rain occurred over parts of southern Ohio the evening of the 8th. Trees, including numerous fruit trees, and power lines were downed and damaged in many southern Ohio communities. Supplies of salt, already low from previous storms, were used up by many communities hindering ice removal. Temperatures during and after the storm remained quite cold, in the teens and single digits, also slowing ice removal. Travel on foot and by vehicle was treacherous. The extended cold, the inability to remove all the ice, and school closings (some schools were closed through the 11th) produced a record number of injuries, mostly due to falls and sledding accidents. Most were broken bones. At least a half dozen traffic fatalities occurred and one death can be directly attributed to the weather. A Middletown (Butler) man, age 40, died of exposure. Some freezing drizzle lingered into the 9th.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, pp. 38-39.)
Tennessee
NCDC Storm Data on Jan 9-10 Ice Storm: “A major ice storm hit much of Tennessee. Numerous trees were knocked down. Many of these trees took down power lines as well. About 770,000 people in the state lost power for some period of time. One person was killed in Memphis when a tree fell upon his car while he was driving.” (NCDC Storm Data, 36/2, p. 45.)
Sources
Associated Press. “Snow shuts down government operations in nation’s capital.” The Chronicle, Centralia/Chehalis, WA, 2-11-1994, p. A-7. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=282839111&sterm
Daily Herald (Dan Rozek and Bonnie Booth), Fox Valley, IL. “Before-school playtime ends in tragedy for boy.” 2-9-1994, p. K1. Accessed 3-6-2016 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=264620206&sterm
Lott, Neal and Tom Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeast – The February Ice Storm and the July Flooding (Technical Report 94-03). Asheville, NC: National Climatic Data Center, NOAA, Department of Commerce, October 12, 1994, 23 pages. Accessed at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/techrpts/tr9403/tr9403.pdf
National Climatic Data Center. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994. Asheville, NC: NCDC, NOAA, U.S. Dept. of Commerce. Accessed 3-26-2016 at: http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/orders/IPS/IPS-BC0A4775-3147-4DBF-8D2C-7EFCEA5FD483.pdf
[1] Not using as our estimate of fatalities in that we have not been able to substantiate.
[2] Daily Herald (Dan Rozek and Bonnie Booth), Fox Valley, IL. “Before-school playtime ends in tragedy for boy.” 2-9-1994, p. K1.
[3] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, Vol. 36, No. 2, Feb 1994, p. 40.
[4] NCDC, NOAA. Storm Data, 36/2, Feb 1994, p. 45; Lott/Ross. 1994 Weather in the Southeastern… 1994, p. 6.
[5] AP. “Snow shuts down government operations in nation’s capital.” The Chronicle, Centralia, WA, 2-11-1994, A7.