VIRGINIA — Although March signals the transition from winter to spring, historical weather records show that significant snowstorms can still occur in Virginia during the month.
Past weather events demonstrate that under the right atmospheric conditions, a single storm has the potential to produce snowfall totals approaching or exceeding one foot in parts of the state.
March weather in Virginia can vary widely. Average temperatures typically begin to increase as the month progresses, but cold air masses from Canada can still move south into the Mid Atlantic region. When this colder air combines with moisture from the Gulf of Mexico or the Atlantic Ocean and a developing low pressure system, conditions can support heavy snowfall.
Historical records show that several notable March snowstorms have affected Virginia, according to the National Weather Service.
One of the most significant occurred during the Blizzard of 1993, often referred to as the “Storm of the Century,” which impacted much of the eastern United States in mid March. Parts of Virginia received more than a foot of snow during that storm, with some areas reporting even higher totals.
Other late season storms have also produced significant snowfall across the state. Strong low pressure systems that track along the Gulf Coast or up the Atlantic seaboard can bring large amounts of moisture northward. If cold air remains in place over Virginia as these systems pass through, heavy snow can develop and accumulate quickly.
Climatological data indicates that heavier March snowfall totals are often more likely in western and northern parts of Virginia, particularly in higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge region. These areas tend to remain colder later into the season, which increases the chances that precipitation will fall as snow rather than rain.
Meteorologists also note that storms later in the winter season can contain more atmospheric moisture than typical midwinter systems. This additional moisture can allow storms to produce heavier snowfall rates even when temperatures are close to freezing.
While many March storms in Virginia bring rain or a mix of rain and snow, the historical record shows that the right combination of cold air, moisture, and storm track can still produce significant snowfall across the state, including totals near or above one foot from a single system.
