March 9th, 1956 – A whopping 367 inches of snow was measured on the ground at the Ranier Paradise Ranger Station in Washington. The snow depth was a state record and the second highest total of record for the continental U.S. (The Weather Channel)

Weather Forecast for Tuesday (NOAA)

The same system that brought severe weather to the Southern Plains on Monday will cause rain and thunderstorms from the Dakotas to the Gulf Coast on Tuesday. A few severe severe thunderstorms will be possible in the Central and Southern U.S.. Cold air aloft could lead to large hail in either location while vorticity in Northeast Kansas and Central Missouri means a tornado can not be ruled out.

Severe Weather Probabilities for Tuesday (NOAA)

A stovepipe tornado near Hammond, OK on Monday. (Courtesy of news9.com)

The National Tornado Awareness week began appropriately on Monday as a large tornado tracked across West Central Oklahoma during the late afternoon hours. The tornado touched down just before 5:30 CDT near Elk City and was on the ground for approximately 20 minutes. At least five homes and one barn was destroyed as the storm moved through Hammond. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported at this time. A slide-show of the tornado and resulting damage can be seen here.

Residents of Brinkley Dazed by the Destruction (courtesy of gendisasters.com)

March 8th, 1909 – The town of Brinkley AR was struck by a tornado which killed 49 persons and caused 600,000 dollars damage. The tornado, which was two-thirds of a mile in width, destroyed 860 buildings. Entire families were killed as houses were completely swept away by the tornado. A fire broke out amidst the rubble demolishing what was left of the town and killed an additional eight people. Tornadoes killed 64 persons and injured 671 others in Dallas and Monroe counties during the Arkansas tornado outbreak. (David Ludlum)

Weather Forecast Map for Monday (NOAA)

Ongoing showers and thunderstorms will be present over the Southern Plains throughout Monday. Low-topped supercells will be possible in the afternoon near a stacked low pressure system near the Oklahoma panhandle. Small hail may be possible as well as a brief tornado or two. Further south into Oklahoma and Texas, a few severe thunderstorms may develop in the evening and overnight hours as mid-level forcing is maximized.

Severe Probabilities for Monday (NOAA)

Only one tornado was reported across the USA in February, the fewest February tornadoes on record in the USA, according to Greg Forbes, severe weather expert at the Weather Channel. In a typical February, 37 tornadoes are reported in the USA.

Forbes said that the previous February record for fewest tornadoes was two, set in two years (1964 and 2002). U.S. tornado records go back to 1950.

Just two years ago, in February 2008, a record 147 tornadoes roared across the nation.

The USA’s lone February tornado was a weak twister spotted near Taft, Calif., on Feb. 27, which caused no damage or injuries, according to the Storm Prediction Center.

By Doyle Rice, USA TODAY

Artist Rendering of "The Great Snow"

March 7th, 1717 – The “Great Snow”, a composite of four winter storms to hit the eastern U.S. in nine days, finally came to an end. Snow depths averaged 60 inches following the storm. Up to four feet of snow fell around Boston MA, and snow drifts 25 feet high were reported around Dorchester MA. (David Ludlum)

Weather Forecast for Sunday (NOAA)

The first ’spring-like’ system of the storm season will work its way into the Southern Plains over the next few days. This will bring rain to Texas and Oklahoma on Sunday. During the evening and overnight hours, thunderstorms may develop over the Southern High Plains. The thunderstorms should evolve into a line and could produce some large hail and gusty winds.

Severe Precentages for Sunday (NOAA)