Snowstorm Database

Dataset Identification:

Resource Abstract:
The Snowstorm Database is a collection of over 500 snowstorms dating back to 1900 and updated operationally. Only storms having large areas of heavy snowfall (10-20 inches or greater) are included. The spatial extent includes the contiguous U.S. but the most storms are in the eastern two thirds of the U.S. This is the only comprehensive data set with starting and ending dates along with daily and total storm snowfall for large snowstorms from 1900 to the present. The data is archived in shapefile format, one shapefile per storm. Shapefiles are a non-proprietary spatial format widely used in Geographical Information Systems (GIS). Each shapefile contains daily and storm total snowfall for weather stations that were affected by the snowstorm. The snowfall data comes from the Global Historical Climatological Network - Daily (GHCN-D).
Citation
Title Snowstorm Database
publication  Date   2012-11-30
Edition 
presentationForm  tableDigital
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name User Engagement and Services Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice +1 (828) 271-4800
Fax +1 (828) 271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Topic Category:  climatologyMeteorologyAtmosphere
Keywords:
Theme keywords (theme):
EARTH SCIENCE > ATMOSPHERE > PRECIPITATION > SOLID PRECIPITATION > SNOW
TERRESTRIAL HYDROSPHERE > SNOW/ICE > SNOW DEPTH
HUMAN DIMENSIONS > NATURAL HAZARDS > METEOROLOGICAL HAZARDS
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Science and Services Keywords
revision  Date   2015-08-04
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Theme keywords (theme):
Precipitation
thesaurus name >
Title GCOS Essential Climate Variables (ECVs)
publication  Date   2010
Edition Unknown
cited responsible party - custodian
organisation Name  UN/WMO/GCOS > Global Climate Observing System, World Meteorological Organization, United Nations
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name GCOS Essential Climate Variables
URL: http://www.wmo.int/pages/prog/gcos/index.php?name=EssentialClimateVariables
protocol 
link function information
Location keywords:
Continent > North America > United States of America
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
revision  Date   2015-04-07
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Stratum keywords:
VERTICAL LOCATION > LAND SURFACE
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Location Keywords
revision  Date   2015-04-07
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
instrument Keywords
SNOW MEASURING ROD
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Instrument Keywords
revision  Date   2015-10-02
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
platform Keywords
METEOROLOGICAL STATIONS
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Platform Keywords
revision  Date   2015-09-23
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
dataResolution Keywords
H: 10 km - < 50 km
T: Daily - < Weekly
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Resolution Keywords
revision  Date   2013-03-19
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
dataCenter Keywords
NOAA > National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
thesaurus name >
Title Global Change Master Directory (GCMD) Data Center Keywords
revision  Date   2015-10-02
Edition Version 8.1
cited responsible party - publisher
organisation Name  NASA/GSFC/SED/ESD/GCDC/GCMD > Global Change Master Directory, Global Change Data Center, Earth Sciences Division, Science and Exploration Directorate, Goddard Space Flight Center, NASA
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name NASA GCMD Keyword Community Page
URL: https://gcmd.gsfc.nasa.gov/learn/keywords.html
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description Overview of the NASA GCMD Keywords.
target application profile  Web Browser
Theme keywords (theme):
Snowfall
Snowstorms
Societal Impacts
GIS
Shapefiles
thesaurus name >
Title Keyword Thesaurus Title
publication  Date   2007
Edition Unknown
cited responsible party - custodian
organisation Name  Keyword Thesaurus Organization Name
Theme keywords (theme):
Climatology
thesaurus name >
Title Science Domain > Climatology
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
METEOROLOGICAL STATION
thesaurus name >
Title Equipment > Platform
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Continent
thesaurus name >
Title Realm > Geosphere
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
NOAA
thesaurus name >
Title Organization > GOVERNMENT AGENCIES-U.S. FEDERAL AGENCIES
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
North
thesaurus name >
Title Property > Measure
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
SNOW MEASURING ROD
thesaurus name >
Title Equipment > Instrument
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
National Centers for Environmental Information
U.S. Department of Commerce
National Climatic Data Center
thesaurus name >
Title Virtual International Authority File (VIAF) Corporate Names
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
Theme keywords (theme):
Precipitation
thesaurus name >
Title Process > Atmospheric Process
publication  Date   2018-12-15
other Citation Details  Cinergi keyword enhanced.File generated at Sat Dec 15 05:00:59 UTC 2018
purpose:
The original purpose of this data set was to provide input for the calculation of the Regional Snowfall Index (RSI) and the Northeast Snowfall Impact Scale (NESIS), which are snowfall impact scales produced operationally by NCDC. This data has also been used for analyzing trends of large snowstorms. The data can be used to make maps of historical snowstorms or for exploratory data analysis of historical storms. Archiving the data as shapefiles allows external users such as emergency managers, researchers, or anyone from snow sensitive entities to use the data directly in a GIS.
Browse image (thumbnail):
thumbnail file name:  ...
file type: JPEG
thumbnail file description:  RSI map based on Snowstorm Database
Resource language:  eng; USA
Resource progress code:  onGoing
Resource Maintenance Information
maintenance or update frequency:  asNeeded
Constraints on resource usage:
Legal Constraints
use constraint:  otherRestrictions
Other constraints
Use Constraints: Acknowledgement of the Data Originator when using the Data Item as a source is required.
Constraints on resource usage:
Legal Constraints
use constraint:  otherRestrictions
Other constraints
NCEI cannot assume liability for any damages caused by any errors or omissions in the data, nor as a result of the failure of the data to function on a particular system. NCEI makes no warranty, expressed or implied, nor does the fact of distribution constitute such a warranty. NCEI can only certify that the data it distributes are an authentic copy of the records that were accepted for inclusion in the NCEI archives.
Spatial representation type code:  vector
Processing environment:  Windows, ArcGIS
Resource extent
Extent description
Geographic Extent
Geographic Bounding Box
extent Type Code  1
westBoundLongitude  -125.0
eastBoundLongitude  -66.0
northBoundLatitude  24.0
southBoundLatitude  50.0
Temporal Extent
ground condition 1900-01-01
Credits:
point of contact - pointOfContact
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
point of contact - principalInvestigator
individual Name Mike Squires
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Meteorologist
Contact information
Telephone
Voice +1 828-271-4800
Fax 
Address
, , ,  Country 
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
contact Instructions
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Reference system information

Reference System Identifier
Identifier string: urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::9822
authority
Title EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset Registry
publication  Date   2008-11-12
cited responsible party - custodian
organisation Name  International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) Geomatics Committee
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset Registry Application
URL: http://www.epsg-registry.org/
protocol HTTP
link function search
Description Interface to the EPSG Geodetic Parameter Dataset Registry
target application profile  Data Search Application
cited responsible party - custodian
organisation Name  International Association of Oil and Gas Producers (OGP) Geomatics Committee
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name Coordinate Reference System data in GML
URL: http://www.epsg-registry.org/export.htm?gml=urn:ogc:def:crs:EPSG::9822
protocol HTTP
link function download
Description Coordinate Reference System data in GML
target application profile  Download
Version Unknown
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Scope of quality information
scope level  dataset
Resource lineage description
Lineage statement
The Snowfall Database uses Global Historical Climatatology Network - Daily (GHCN-D), which has automated quality control built into its processing. Once the starting and ending dates of a snowstorm are identified, daily data from GHCN-D is extracted and brought into ArcGIS. At that point an analyst removes stations that are not part of the storm. Stations that were part of the storm are checked to ensure that only days with snowfall are included in the snowfall total. The data is then checked for any stations whose total snowfall is statistically different from it's neighbors using Local Moran's Index (see documentation). Stations flagged from this test are checked for spatial consistency. It is assumed that all data is correct unless there is enough evidence otherwise. The station may be kept or rejected, but not values are changed. The analyst then looks for any stations that appear spatially inconsistent with its neighbors. Some of the factors that can make a station or stations appear spatially in consistent are topography, lake effect snow, changes in temperature during the storm (wet vs. dry snow), and spatial variability.
source
source description  Source dataset
source citation
Title Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 2
publication  Date  
cited responsible party - originator
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
cited responsible party -
organisation Name  
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 2
URL: https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.ncdc:C00838
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Landing page for the Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 2, including links and other information.
target application profile  Web Browser
Resource extent
Temporal Extent
1900-01-01
source
source description  Source dataset
source citation
Title Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3
publication  Date  
cited responsible party - originator
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCDC > National Climatic Data Center, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
cited responsible party -
organisation Name  
Contact information
Linkage for online resource
name Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3
URL: https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.ncdc:C00861
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Landing page for the newest release of Global Historical Climatology Network - Daily (GHCN-Daily), Version 3, including links and other information.
target application profile  Web Browser
Resource extent
Temporal Extent
1900-01-01

Scope of quality information
scope level  repository
Level Description
other component described  NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Resource lineage description

Resource distribution information

Distributor
distributor contact - distributor
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Format
Format name XML
Format version 
Standard ordering process
fees In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Digital Transfer Options
transfer Size 1
Linkage for online resource
name Snowstorm Database Landing Page
URL: https://data.nodc.noaa.gov/cgi-bin/iso?id=gov.noaa.ncdc:C00464
protocol HTTP
link function information
Description Dataset landing page with general information and access links for the dataset.
target application profile  Description
Distributor
distributor contact - distributor
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Format
Format name Shapefile
Format version 
specification > http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/shapefile.pdf
file Decompression Technique  
Standard ordering process
fees In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Digital Transfer Options
transfer Size 50
Linkage for online resource
name Surface Snow Products Distribution Link
URL: ftp://ftp.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/surface-snow-products/
protocol FTP
link function download
Description Link to ftp location to download original storm shapefiles.
target application profile  Download
Distributor
distributor contact - distributor
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name Customer Engagement Branch
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Format
Format name Shapefile
Format version 
specification > http://www.esri.com/library/whitepapers/pdfs/shapefile.pdf
file Decompression Technique  
Standard ordering process
fees In most cases, electronic downloads of the data are free, however fees may apply for data certifications, copies of analog materials, and data distribution on physical media.
Digital Transfer Options
transfer Size 
Linkage for online resource
name CDO Map Service
URL: https://gis.ncdc.noaa.gov/map/viewer/#app=cdo&cfg=rsi&theme=rsi
protocol HTTP
link function download
Description Download dynamically generated shapefiles of user specified location and time period.
target application profile  WFS

Metadata data stamp:  2017-04-24
Resource Maintenance Information
maintenance or update frequency:  asNeeded
notes: Bulk metadata change applied on 2017-04-24. See version control repository history for metadata change details.
Metadata contact - pointOfContact
organisation Name  DOC/NOAA/NESDIS/NCEI > National Centers for Environmental Information, NESDIS, NOAA, U.S. Department of Commerce
position Name ISO 19115 Metadata Contact
Contact information
Telephone
Voice 1-828-271-4800
Fax 1-828-271-4876
Address
151 Patton AvenueVeach-Baley Federal Building, Room 468, Asheville, NC, 28801-5001 Country USA
electronic Mail Address ncei.orders@noaa.gov
Linkage for online resource
name NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information (NCEI)
URL: https://www.ncei.noaa.gov
protocol HTTPS
link function information
Description NCEI home page with information, data access and contact information.
target application profile  Web Browser
hoursOfService 8:00 - 6:00 Eastern
Metadata scope code  dataset
Metadata language  eng; USA
Metadata character set encoding:   utf8
Metadata standard for this record:  ISO 19115-2 Geographic Information - Metadata - Part 2: Extensions for Imagery and Gridded Data
standard version:  ISO 19115-2:2009(E)
Metadata record identifier:  gov.noaa.ncdc:C00464

Metadata record format is ISO19139-2 XML (MI_Metadata)