Historic Snowstorm Hits D.C. – Boston, Pictures and Amounts…

The Forecasts were amazingly close to what actually happened, when you consider the normal settling rates and melting rates for a pre-Winter snow event.  The conversion is around 80% over a 24 hour period.  In this case a forecast of 30″ is equivalent to  24″.

The RPM Forecast - Very Close to reality...

Click to enlarge... Saturday during the storm... In the middle of the day, Dark Skies, Golf ball Size Snowflakes, 12" on the ground and 8-10" to go...

AND THE TOTALS WERE… HISTORIC…

THE GREATEST SNOWSTORM IN DECEMBER FOR WASHINGTON D.C. IN THE PAST 200 YEARS (EVER KNOWN), IT WAS ALSO THE 5th GREATEST.

BELOW ARE STORM SPOTTER REPORTS

PUBLIC INFORMATION STATEMENT
SPOTTER REPORTS
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
600 AM EST SUN DEC 20 2009

THE FOLLOWING ARE UNOFFICIAL OBSERVATIONS TAKEN FOR THE STORM THAT
AFFECTED OUR REGION FROM DECEMBER 18TH TO DECEMBER 19TH.
APPRECIATION IS EXTENDED TO HIGHWAY DEPARTMENTS...COOPERATIVE
OBSERVERS...SKYWARN SPOTTERS AND MEDIA FOR THESE REPORTS.  THIS
SUMMARY IS ALSO AVAILABLE ON OUR HOME PAGE AT WEATHER.GOV/BALTIMORE

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS
                     SNOWFALL           OF
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

...DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA...
   THE MALL              16.0   615 PM 12/19

MARYLAND

...ALLEGANY COUNTY...
   LONACONING            17.4   412 AM 12/20
   NORTH BRANCH 1 N      17.0  1015 PM 12/19
   CUMBERLAND 1 SSE      14.5   702 PM 12/19
   FROSTBURG             14.0   700 PM 12/19

...ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY...
   GLEN BURNIE           22.5   915 PM 12/19
   CROFTON               21.0  1030 PM 12/19
   BALT-WASH INTL ARPT   21.0  1200 AM 12/20   KBWI
   ANNAPOLIS             20.8   700 PM 12/19
   OWINGS 1 NNE          20.0   845 PM 12/19
   GREEN HAVEN 1 NE      19.9   424 AM 12/20
   GAMBRILLS 1 NW        18.0   733 PM 12/19
   MILLERSVILLE          18.0   815 PM 12/19
   PAROLE 1 NNW          17.0   630 PM 12/19
   RIVA 2 NW             15.0   933 PM 12/19

...BALTIMORE COUNTY...
   CATONSVILLE           20.5   847 PM 12/19
   GUNPOWDER 1 WSW       20.5   933 PM 12/19
   GARRISON 1 SE         20.4  1025 PM 12/19
   ESSEX                 20.0  1020 PM 12/19
   PARKTON               20.0   655 PM 12/19
   DUNDALK 1 SSW         19.5   700 PM 12/19
   MONKTON               19.0   915 PM 12/19
   REISTERSTOWN          19.0   945 PM 12/19
   HAMPTON 1 W           18.0   618 PM 12/19
   HUNT VALLEY           17.8  1005 PM 12/19
   JACKSONVILLE          17.0   900 PM 12/19
   RANDALLSTOWN 1 NW     16.5   715 PM 12/19
   PARKVILLE 1 ENE       12.0   830 PM 12/19

...BALTIMORE CITY COUNTY...
   CARROLL 2 W           17.0  1115 PM 12/19

...CALVERT COUNTY...
   DARES BEACH 3 NW      19.0   800 PM 12/19
   HUNTINGTOWN           18.8  1050 PM 12/19

...CARROLL COUNTY...
   LINEBORO 3 WSW        20.0   933 PM 12/19
   MILLERS               19.0  1100 PM 12/19
   WESTMINSTER 1 N       18.8   729 PM 12/19
   LINEBORO 2 E          18.5   800 PM 12/19

...CHARLES COUNTY...
   BRYANS ROAD 2 ESE     21.2  1000 PM 12/19
   DENTSVILLE 1 SW       13.5  1050 PM 12/19
   WALDORF 4 SE          13.5   600 PM 12/19

...FREDERICK COUNTY...
   LIBERTYTOWN 2 N       22.5   931 PM 12/19
   FREDERICK 1 ESE       22.0  1100 PM 12/19
   NEW MARKET 2 NW       22.0   900 PM 12/19
   MIDDLETOWN            21.0   930 PM 12/19
   JEFFERSON 2 NE        20.2   931 PM 12/19
   POINT OF ROCKS        19.0   930 PM 12/19
   WALKERSVILLE          19.0   743 PM 12/19

...HARFORD COUNTY...
   EDGEWOOD              19.0   800 PM 12/19
   FALLSTON 1 N          18.0   931 PM 12/19
   BEL AIR 1 NE          16.5   840 PM 12/19

...HOWARD COUNTY...
   COLUMBIA              23.0   945 PM 12/19
   SIMPSONVILLE 1 SSE    22.9  1200 AM 12/20
   COLUMBIA 2 N          22.9   950 PM 12/19
   ELKRIDGE 2 W          21.0   930 PM 12/19
   GLENELG 1 ENE         19.5  1050 PM 12/19
   SAVAGE 1 WSW          19.0  1128 PM 12/19
   HANOVER               19.0   945 PM 12/19
   SAVAGE 1 N            17.0   900 PM 12/19
   ELLICOTT CITY 1 ESE   16.8   900 PM 12/19

...MONTGOMERY COUNTY...
   BETHESDA              24.0   500 AM 12/20
   OLNEY                 23.3  1030 PM 12/19
   DERWOOD               23.0   900 PM 12/19
   GLEN ECHO             22.8   930 PM 12/19
   OLNEY 1 S             22.5   800 PM 12/19
   GERMANTOWN            22.0   650 PM 12/19
   GAITHERSBURG 1 NW     22.0   632 PM 12/19
   NORBECK               21.3  1200 AM 12/20
   ROCKVILLE 2 NW        21.0   932 PM 12/19
   NORBECK 1 SE          21.0  1000 PM 12/19
   COLESVILLE            21.0   900 PM 12/19
   GLENMONT              21.0   737 PM 12/19
   POTOMAC 3 ENE         20.6  1100 PM 12/19
   DAMASCUS              20.3   918 PM 12/19
   BETHESDA 2 NNW        20.0   743 PM 12/19
   FAIRLAND 1 ESE        20.0   815 PM 12/19
   ROCKVILLE 1 SSW       20.0   800 PM 12/19
   NORTH POTOMAC 1 E     19.0  1000 PM 12/19
   POOLESVILLE           19.0  1230 AM 12/20
   DARNESTOWN 1 SW       19.0   815 PM 12/19
   SILVER SPRING 1 ESE   18.0  1000 PM 12/19
   GERMANTOWN 3 E        16.5   700 PM 12/19

...PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY...
   LAUREL                19.1  1000 PM 12/19
   BOWIE 2 NNW           19.0   921 PM 12/19
   BOWIE                 18.8   802 PM 12/19
   HYATTSVILLE           18.0   812 PM 12/19
   GLENN DALE 3 ENE      18.0  1050 PM 12/19
   FOREST HEIGHTS 1 SSE  17.0   720 PM 12/19
   BELTSVILLE 1 SSW      15.0  1110 PM 12/19
   ADELPHI 1 ENE         13.8  1000 PM 12/19

...ST. MARYS COUNTY...
   HOLLYWOOD 1 NNE       15.8   300 AM 12/20
   HOLLYWOOD             14.5   950 PM 12/19

...WASHINGTON COUNTY...
   SMITHSBURG            21.0   742 PM 12/19
   HANCOCK               16.0   630 PM 12/19

VIRGINIA

...ALBEMARLE COUNTY...
   EARLYSVILLE 3 NW      23.0  1045 PM 12/19
   EARLYSVILLE           23.0  1010 PM 12/19
   CROZET                22.0   600 PM 12/19
   MONTICELLO 1 NW       19.0  1000 PM 12/19

...ARLINGTON COUNTY...
   BALLSTON 1 SW         20.5   100 AM 12/20
   ARLINGTON             20.5   800 PM 12/19
   BAILEYS CROSSROADS 1  19.3   945 PM 12/19
   FALLS CHURCH 1 ENE    19.2  1100 PM 12/19
   REAGAN NATIONAL AIRP  16.4  1200 AM 12/20   KDCA

...AUGUSTA COUNTY, VIRGINIA...
   STUARTS DRAFT         28.8   600 PM 12/19
   FISHERSVILLE          26.0   600 PM 12/19

...CITY OF ALEXANDRIA...
   BARCROFT 2 ESE        20.0  1244 AM 12/20
   ALEXANDRIA            19.0   741 PM 12/19
   ALEXANDRIA 1 SE       15.0   614 PM 12/19

...CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE...
   CHARLOTTESVILLE       21.0   600 PM 12/19

...CITY OF WAYNESBORO...
   WAYNESBORO            28.0   600 PM 12/19

...CLARKE COUNTY...
   BERRYVILLE 1 NW       22.0   857 PM 12/19
   BERRYVILLE            22.0   720 PM 12/19
   BERRYVILLE 2 NE       21.0   700 PM 12/19

...FAIRFAX COUNTY...
   CENTREVILLE 1 SE      23.0   820 PM 12/19
   CHANTILLY 1 N         22.0  1230 AM 12/20
   GREAT FALLS 2 NW      21.8  1120 PM 12/19
   HERNDON 1 NNE         21.0  1000 PM 12/19
   BURKE 1 NNW           21.0  1200 AM 12/20
   LORTON                20.8  1000 PM 12/19
   VIENNA                20.5   700 PM 12/19
   CHANTILLY 3 SE        20.0   845 PM 12/19
   RESTON                20.0   845 PM 12/19
   FAIRFAX STATION 1 NN  19.2  1100 PM 12/19
   LINCOLNIA 1 W         19.2   940 PM 12/19
   FRANCONIA 1 N         18.0  1227 AM 12/20
   RAVENSWORTH           17.5   830 PM 12/19

...FAUQUIER COUNTY...
   OPAL                  21.8  1035 PM 12/19
   MARSHALL              21.0  1107 PM 12/19
   WARRENTON 4 SE        20.5   900 PM 12/19
   BEALETON 1 ESE        18.0   900 PM 12/19

...FREDERICK COUNTY...
   WHITACRE 1 ESE        19.0   600 PM 12/19
   STEPHENS CITY 2 E     18.5   945 PM 12/19
   WINCHESTER            18.0   930 PM 12/19
   WINCHESTER 5 NE       17.8   800 PM 12/19

...GREENE COUNTY...
   RUCKERSVILLE 1 W      19.5   815 PM 12/19
   MCMULLEN              16.5   702 PM 12/19

...LOUDOUN COUNTY...
   LUCKETTS              22.0  1000 PM 12/19
   BLUEMONT              21.0   745 PM 12/19
   DULLES INTL 3 NW      19.3  1200 AM 12/20   NWS OFFICE
   ASHBURN               19.0   710 PM 12/19
   LOVETTSVILLE          19.0   611 PM 12/19
   ARCOLA 1 SSW          18.5   810 PM 12/19
   DULLES INTERNATIONAL  18.0  1200 AM 12/20   KIAD

...NELSON COUNTY...
   WINTERGREEN           30.0   600 PM 12/19

...PAGE COUNTY...
   LURAY 1 SW            17.0  1130 PM 12/19

...PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY...
   WOOLSEY 3 NNW         19.3   932 PM 12/19
   MANASSAS              18.0  1200 AM 12/20

...ROCKINGHAM COUNTY...
   GROTTOES              22.0  1100 PM 12/19
   MASSANUTTEN 1 SE      20.5   607 PM 12/19

...SHENANDOAH COUNTY...
   TOMS BROOK 3 SSE      17.5   900 PM 12/19

...SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY...
   BELMONT 4 SE          19.0   649 PM 12/19
   CHANCELLORSVILLE 4 S  18.5   721 PM 12/19

...STAFFORD COUNTY...
   FALMOUTH              14.0  1000 PM 12/19

...WARREN COUNTY...
   LINDEN 2 N            26.8   800 PM 12/19
   FRONT ROYAL 1 ENE     21.0   748 PM 12/19

WEST VIRGINIA

...BERKELEY COUNTY...
   VANVILLE 1 SSW        21.0   951 PM 12/19
   BUNKER HILL 1 WNW     20.0  1000 PM 12/19
   MARTINSBURG           20.0   800 PM 12/19
   GERRARDSTOWN          19.5   622 PM 12/19
   FALLING WATERS 2 N    19.5   613 PM 12/19
   FALLING WATERS 1 NNW  17.0  1015 PM 12/19
   GERRARDSTOWN 1 ESE    14.5   900 PM 12/19

...HAMPSHIRE COUNTY...
   SPRINGFIELD           22.0   739 PM 12/19
   LEHEW 2 WNW           20.0   739 PM 12/19
   CAPON BRIDGE 6 SW     19.0   936 PM 12/19

...JEFFERSON COUNTY...
   SHENANDOAH JUNCTION   20.0   900 PM 12/19

...MINERAL COUNTY...
   KEYSER                21.0   738 PM 12/19

$$

KLEIN

OUR RAINS END… MASSIVE MID-ATLANTIC STATES SNOWSTORM

THE RAINFALL TODAY WAS… about what was expected… 

As I mentioned last night, today’s weather would be very changeable and it has been!  Not only the steady morning rains/downpours, but we have also seen the sunshine  return as temperatures “popped” into the 70’s!  And because changes have been happening fast, rains rolled through here pretty quickly, most saw under 1/2″, except at the beach which was close to 1 1/2″

See Below…

Click on Image to Enlarge

THE LOW PRESSURE GIVING US RAIN TODAY LOOKED LIKE A HURRICANE…

This was not an “Eye”, but rather a circulation center whose center was clear of clouds…

BUT NOW THE STORY TURNS TO SNOW, no, not for us, but from the Mountains of North Carolina to Boston, the ground will be covered by snow…  Some 2″ to 24″ of Snow!  Major Cities, including Richmond (8+”), D.C. (10+”), Philadelphia (2-4″), New York (4″) and Boston (2-4″), the heaviest will be in the Piedmont areas of North Central Virgina, areas like Fredericksburg may see 18+” !!!

Click on the image below to watch the snow…

Click on Image to go to the website and see what is happening right now!

 JG

Gray Skies, Some Sun… Warm then Cold then Warm… El Nino…

IN THE FIRST 10 DAY’S OF DECEMBER…

We will have seen Rain 7 of 10 days, daytime highs range from only 51 to 80+, night time lows range from near freezing to only around 72…  Up and Down, Up and Down…

What gives???

El Nino… Water temperatures along the equator in the Pacific Ocean are way above normal.  This warming of the Pacific Equatorial Water Temps is what El Nino is all about…  See this image below…

Click on Image to Enlarge

Now, below is a different looking map  showing the last time a MAJOR El Nino event was taking place, the winter of 1997-98.  That winter, we had our wettest December-January-February ever!  And then, we had our driest Spring in decades, which later fueled the extreme FIRES in June.  Those fires were everywhere and included the evacuation of Flagler County (not kidding, if you didn’t live here back then, this is true, as embers rained down on dry ground, new fires spread like… wildfire).

Click image to enlarge...

For us, short term…

It means Saturday will see Heavy Rains somewhere between St. Augustine and Brunswick, GA.

JG