March 2014 North American winter storm
The March 2014 North American winter storm, also unofficially referred to as "Winter Storm Titan", was an extremely powerful Winter storm that affected much of the United States and portions of Canada. It was one of the most severe winter storms of the 2013–14 North American winter storm season, storm affecting most of the Western Seaboard (especially California), and various parts of the Eastern United States, bringing damaging winds, flash floods, and blizzard and icy conditions. Meteorological history. On February 23, 2014, an extratropical disturbance developed over the northeast Pacific. The system slowly began  to intensify as it moved eastwards, before encountering an omega block that was situated over Alaska and the Northwest Pacific, on February 24, 2014. Over the next few days, the omega block broke down, and the system began to intensify more rapidly as it moved towards the southeast. On February 27, 2014, meteorologists identified the system as having of high risk of having major impacts in the United States. Winter Weather Watches and Winter Storm Warnings were initiated in many different parts of the Western United States. After a previous, weaker winter storm had moved through the West Coast on  February 26, the winter storm turned towards California, resulting in Flash Flood warnings and high wind advisories being issued. During the next 2 days, the storm system underwent explosive intensification and also developed an eye-like feature, reaching an intensity of 976 millibars on February 27, before deepening further to its peak intensity of on February 28. Around that time, the winter storm was predicted to bring ice, snow, and blizzard conditions to the Central and Eastern States of the US. Afterwards, the system slowly began to weaken as it continued bearing down on the West Coast, although it continued  to maintain its organization. The storm brought powerful winds and heavy torrents throughout much of the Western Seaboard, especially in California. Flash floods ensued throughout many parts of the state, resulting in some road closures. Early on March 1, the eye of the storm disappeared as the organization of the system began to deteriorate. Later on March 1, the winter storm continued to shrink in size as it weakened further, and the storm began moving ashore in Southern California. A secondary circulation developed near the southern end of the storm's circulation, which quickly dominated the system; the original surface  low became completely detached from the system and was absorbed into another approaching storm on March 3. On March 1, the winter storm also spawned an EF0 tornado over Arizona, which was the confirmed first tornado in the Greater Phoenix since January 2005. Late on March 1, 2014, the winter storm's low-level circulation center made landfall over San Diego County. Several hours later, the winter storm passed through California, even as the storm weakened to on March 2. The winter storm triggered severe thunderstorms, and dropped hail while it passed through the Southwestern United States. The storm began  to accelerate towards the east while building up convection. During the next couple of days, the winter storm's structure began to break down; however, the storm still brought blizzard conditions and ice to the Eastern United States. Early on March 4, the winter storm weakened and exited the east coast of the Carolinas, before being absorbed into the circulation of a much larger extratropical cyclone centered over the Labrador Sea later that day. Impacts. On March 1, The storm caused at least 2 fatalities, at least 44 injuries, as well as several car accidents. On the same day, a  plane was moved 3 feet and damaged by a microburst, near the John Wayne Airport at Santa Ana, California. While moving eastward across the United States, the storm caused more road accidents, and downed numerous trees and power lines. The storm also produced an EF0 tornado 9 miles south of Karnak, California, which lasted for 5 minutes. Another person was killed in Kansas, along with a student in Oklahoma. The winter storm later killed another 12 people and injured dozens more, before the storm weakened and left the East Coast on March 4, 2014. Precipitation totals. North Carolina Virginia Maryland  Delaware New Jersey Pennsylvania West Virginia Tennessee Kentucky Ohio Indiana Illinois Missouri Arkansas Texas Oklahoma New Mexico Arizona Nevada California Tornadoes. A total of two tornadoes were reported from this storm system; one in California on February 28, and one in Arizona on March 1.