Sunday, February 2, 2014

Kickoff storm of a Fabulous February?

Kickoff storm of a Fabulous February? 

Our current precipitation projections as of 7:40 AM today (2/2) for Tuesday 2/3

1:40 PM 2/2/14 (Winter Stormcast Team) Whatever the Groundhog predicts today, we have at least one more day of winter! 



A moderate snow event is expected for Monday across part of the region. This in an interesting storm in many regards and presents a difficult forecast. We expect a sharp gradient in snow accumulations somewhere likely in between Baltimore and DC, and the precise location will greatly impact general accumulations. 


You can monitor the latest official NWS statements, watches and warnings for the region at: http://www.erh.noaa.gov/. We will continue to evaluat the situation and expect to post an update later this afternoon prior to the Superbowl.

SYNOPSIS – Out ahead of the cold front, we will make a run for temperatures in the upper 40s to near 50ยบ which feels like summer after January’s Arctic grip! The front will pass this afternoon with little fanfare, but the concern comes after. Temperatures will drop back down to the low to mid 30s tonight, and then another wave of moisture is expected to ride along the trailing front. 

TIMING - Temperatures will be close to freezing, and ground temperatures are above freezing in many areas without snow cover.
  • Precipitation is expected to arrive in the form of light rain prior to sunrise for much of the I-95 corridor and SE as well as south of Baltimore. 
  • Then the rain/snow line will slowly progress SSE over the course of the morning. Snow may have trouble sticking in some areas, especially south of Baltimore, although most of central MD is expected to see some snowfall. 
  • By the early afternoon, precipitation should start to clear out. 

ACCUMULATIONS: Our general expectations are outlined in the map shown above. One thing to emphasize is that we do expect a very sharp cut off in snow accumulation. As in only a couple of miles could separate several inches from a coating. The exact location of this cut off cannot be pinned down at this time. 

BUST POTENTIAL: This storm by its nature has a high bust potential, both on the high and the low end. The main areas that should stay tuned in the case of changes are those located in the Baltimore metro and southward. Those in the 2-4” band through central MD, the 1-3” band and the Trace-1” band have the highest bust potential in both directions. 
  • More Snow? – If the temperatures are colder than expected, that 3-6” band may have to be expanded southward since higher precipitation totals are expected around Baltimore and southward, just temperatures are marginal so snow may have trouble sticking and some of the precipitation may be rain. (25% chance)
  • Less Snow? – The opposite, temperatures are warmer than expected, even those in the 3-6” band may be in danger of getting cut off of the snow accumulation. Temperatures are the key in this storm, and only a few degrees will make a huge difference. (15% chance)

IMPACTS: 
  • Snowfall is expected to impact the AM commute, especially for the counties bordering the Mason-Dixon Line. 
  • Snow will be heavy and wet, not light and powdery like the last several events. Snow-to-liquid ratios may be 10:1 or lower.
  • A heavy snow band may set up, but exact position is uncertain at this time
  • May be similar to December 10, 2013 event

The Mid-Atlantic Winter Stormcast Team

(Forecasters Mike Natoli, Kate O'Brien, Connor Meehan, Jason Mitchell, Andrew Barney, Mintong Nan, Emily Day, J. Baron; Advisors R. Foot, B. Lear, K. Krichinsky, J. Isaacs)

95 comments:

Unknown said...

Can someone who has access to it post a EURO total snow map.

NeedaSnowday said...

http://forums.accuweather.com/index.php?act=attach&type=post&id=223849

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

Winter Storm Warning

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
305 PM EST SUN FEB 2 2014

MDZ003>007-VAZ027-028-030-031-WVZ052-053-030415-
/O.UPG.KLWX.WS.A.0002.140203T0400Z-140203T2100Z/
/O.NEW.KLWX.WS.W.0004.140203T0800Z-140203T2100Z/
WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-
SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-WARREN-CLARKE-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...HAGERSTOWN...FREDERICK...WESTMINSTER...
WINCHESTER...FRONT ROYAL...MARTINSBURG...CHARLES TOWN
305 PM EST SUN FEB 2 2014

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM TO 4 PM EST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM 3
AM TO 4 PM EST MONDAY. THE WINTER STORM WATCH IS NO LONGER IN
EFFECT.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...3 TO 6 INCHES.

* TIMING...RAIN WILL MIX WITH SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT AND
EVENTUALLY CHANGEOVER TO ALL SNOW EARLY MONDAY MORNING. THE
HEAVIEST SNOW IS EXPECTED MONDAY MORNING. SNOW WILL MOVE OUT
OF THE AREA MONDAY AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES...DROPPING TO THE LOWER 30S MONDAY MORNING.

* WINDS...NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH.

* IMPACTS...ROADS COULD BECOME SNOW COVERED AND SLIPPERY...
MAKING TRAVEL DIFFICULT DURING THE MONDAY MORNING COMMUTE.
SNOW WILL REDUCE VISIBILITY TO BELOW ONE-HALF MILE AT TIMES.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER
CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW
ARE FORECAST THAT WILL MAKE TRAVEL DANGEROUS. ONLY TRAVEL IN AN
EMERGENCY. IF YOU MUST TRAVEL...KEEP AN EXTRA FLASHLIGHT...
FOOD...AND WATER IN YOUR VEHICLE IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY.

Morpheus said...

Jeremy if I get 4-6 inches shown on the Euro that NeedaSnowday provided I will be very happy!!! But sitting here at 61.7 degrees it hard to believe the 30 degree drop will happen soon enough. Caught a forecast from dc on the radio and they said change over possible after 2 pm tomorrow... which I think is when it is supposed to move out. :-/

Storm said...

I'm in the 4-7 range.....YIPPEE!!

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

MODEL DIAGNOSTIC DISCUSSION
NWS WEATHER PREDICTION CENTER COLLEGE PARK MD
127 PM EST SUN FEB 2 2014

VALID FEB 2/1200 UTC THRU FEB 6/0000 UTC

...SEE NOUS42 KWNO (ADMNFD) FOR THE STATUS OF THE UPPER AIR
INGEST...

==============================================
12Z FINAL MODEL EVALUATION AND PREFERENCES
==============================================
NAM/GFS INITIALIZATION ERRORS DON'T APPEAR TO
SIGNIFICANTLY AFFECT THEIR LARGE SCALE OUTPUT.
==============================================


***SOUTHERN STREAM WAVE TRACKING FROM SOUTHWEST TO THE MID
ATLANTIC SUN-MON***

PREFERENCE: NAM/UKMET/ECMWF COMPROMISE
CONFIDENCE: AVERAGE WITH MASS FIELDS AND BELOW AVERAGE WITH
PRECIPITATION

MODELS ARE COMING INTO BETTER OVERALL AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO
THE PRESSURE PATTERN WITH THIS SYSTEM, WHILE THE DETAILS
CONCERNING QPF AND ESPECIALLY THE LOW LEVEL THERMAL STRUCTURE
REMAIN, MAKING FOR A RELATIVELY CHALLENGING WINTER WEATHER
FORECAST FOR THE MID-ATLANTIC. THE 12Z NAM HAS TRENDED SLIGHTLY
FARTHER TO THE NORTHWEST WITH THE SURFACE LOW TRACK, AND THIS ALSO
HOLDS TRUE FOR THE 12Z GFS. THERE WAS NO NOTICEABLE TREND WITH
THE 500MB PATTERN. COMPARING THESE TO THE OTHER OPERATIONAL
MODELS, THE CMC CONTINUES TO BE A SLIGHT OUTLIER HAVING THE UPPER
TROUGH AXIS AND SURFACE LOW SLIGHTLY SLOWER, AND THE 12Z GFS IS A
FAST OUTLIER WITH THE SURFACE LOW, WHILE THE 12Z ECMWF IS CLOSE TO
THE MODEL CONSENSUS. FOR NOW WE WILL FAVOR A NAM/UKMET/ECMWF
COMPROMISE WITH THIS SYSTEM. THE LATEST QPFPFD AND QPFHSD DISCUSS
THE QPF AND WINTER WEATHER ASSOCIATED WITH THIS SYSTEM.

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

GFS has problems.

mayawild said...

Andy,
Thanks for posting! Could you please translate?
Thank you!

Sandy said...

We went out at 3 pm with them temp around 56.My husband insisted we get the car washed. We waited 25 minutes for the car wash. Temp now 44. Glad to see it dropping.

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

I like my 6-10 call from Baltimore north, with isolated 12 inch totals near the Mason Dixon line.3-6 from Annapolis north and west.

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

Mayawild,

Basically, the NWS through it Prediction Center is saying the GFS is being largely discounted and the data that the UKMET Model, Euro, and NAM are and have been showing is preferred. Those are the wettest, strongest, and snowiest solutions.

mayawild said...

Andy,
Wow and thanks!
If it holds up we'll be in school till July, but I can't help it- still love a snow day!

BioPat said...

With no sun the temperature is definitely dropping. I do see where this will begin as rain overnight and then begin the switch to that sloppy wet snow sometime around sunrise. The question remains will the schools hold their decision by beginning with a 2 hour late opening instead of trying to get the kids in only to send them home in 2 hours. I sure hope JB is on some of these decision making boards to halp them make the right call.

Tina said...

I know a lot of folks are concerned about the warmth. Have you tried to dig in the ground? All the melting snow formed a huge puddle in front of our garage (downstate DE) and actually started to run INTO the garage. Because the ground is still frozen solid, it wasn't sinking in. I tried (with a pick-ax), to dig a small trench to let it run the other way. Couldn't do it. Well, I could have, but it would have taken such huge chunks of frozen ground out, it would have been a bigger mess. So, the ground is already cold for those falling flakes!

Tina said...

Ha BioPat! Will the schools be caught between wanting to get a day in OR pulling "an Atlanta"?

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...


WINTER STORM WARNING UPGRADE YORK COUNTY PA

PAZ033>036-064>066-030815-
/O.UPG.KCTP.WW.Y.0007.140203T0500Z-140203T2100Z/
/O.NEW.KCTP.WS.W.0003.140203T0500Z-140203T2100Z/
SOMERSET-BEDFORD-FULTON-FRANKLIN-ADAMS-YORK-LANCASTER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...SOMERSET...BEDFORD...MCCONNELLSBURG...
CHAMBERSBURG...GETTYSBURG...YORK...LANCASTER
506 PM EST SUN FEB 2 2014

...WINTER STORM WARNING IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 4 PM
EST MONDAY...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STATE COLLEGE HAS ISSUED A WINTER
STORM WARNING FOR HEAVY SNOW...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT
TONIGHT TO 4 PM EST MONDAY. THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS NO
LONGER IN EFFECT.

* LOCATIONS...EXTREME SOUTHERN PENNSYLVANIA.

* HAZARD TYPES...SNOW.

* ACCUMULATIONS...6 TO 8 INCHES OF SNOW.

* TIMING...LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY AFTERNOON MONDAY. THE
HEAVIEST SNOW WILL LIKELY FALL BETWEEN 5 AND 11 AM.

* IMPACTS...HAZARDOUS DRIVING CONDITIONS...ESPECIALLY FOR THE
MORNING COMMUTE.

* WINDS...NORTH 5 TO 10 MPH.

* TEMPERATURES...IN THE LOWER 30S.

Storm said...

wow....I have to warn my friend who lives in Red Lion....looks like he will get HAMMERED with the 6-8:)

Butch Dynomite said...

Seconding Tina....also I'm suposed to present at a faculty meeting Monday.Obviously I hope they call it in Baltimore county early but we have a new super.B.C. seems to like to wait.

Unknown said...

Andy, how are we looking now. Temps at 47-49 degrees where I am.

Amy said...

This game is unwatchable. I need some snow tomorrow to salve the wounds.

Tina said...

Yup, I just took the dogs out for a pee trip. More exciting. Yeesh.

NeedaSnowday said...

Agreed Amy!!

Someone should pull the plug and turn off the lights ... Just sayin'

ravensbbr said...

Jeremy, Kyle, Morph: relax. :)

It's gonna snow. Or it won't. Either way: not a dang thing that can be done about it by anyone on this message board. And when the one guy on this board who knows anything about weather (i.e., that would be Andy) says it's gonna snow, well....#PROBABLYGONNASNOW

In the meantime, we've arranged a little spur-of-the-moment distraction for you to take your mind off it. You may have heard about it. Little something called:


The Super Bowl. :-P

Unknown said...

Justin Berk just put me in his 6-9" zone. #PROBABLYGONNASNOW

Tina said...

Ravensbbr... I thought of you while reading a story earlier today about what an average Domino's Pizza store does to get ready for the Super Bowl. First thing: on their calendar, they can't write "Super Bowl"... they write "the big game"...

::shaking head::

Unknown said...

Stephen Colbert referred to the Super Bowl as the Suberb Owl. Smart move, Stephen...smart move.

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

Relax it will and it will snow hard. Justin Berks idea which I just checked out matches my thoughts. 6 to 10 from baltimore north is a good bet. Isolated 12 totals near the Mason Dixon. Baltimore city itself 4 to 6 from south to north. North AA County 3 to 5 far north. Morning rush hour is not advisable from Baltimore City are north. Stay home in these areas. Aa county should close schools as well as points north. Nasty morning for driving. North of Baltimore forget it!

Tina said...

I love Stephen Colbert. Smart indeed!

Unknown said...

That was a pretty good half time show he sounds good live could have done without the peppers though. Andy how big is the bust potential in bel air hopefully small.

BioPat said...

Interesting that there are 3 delays/closures already for tomorrow one of which is Social Security. It would be foolish for the schools to make a decision this early,but I hope by 5:30 am they will be on top of their calls.

Amy said...

BioPat- I'm trying to decide if its worth getting up before 5:30. I doubt they'll call it early and I have some fear they won't call it at all.

BioPat said...

Amy, I sincerely hope you are wrong but I can also understand your concerns with your due date approaching quickly. I would suggest turning your alarm off, it won't be safe for you to be on the road.

Morpheus said...

Hi all I am relaxed - just was hoping to have enough snow to go tubing with my son. If you missed it I made my first prediction of trace to 2 inches for the Bowie area this morning. I actually live under a few miles south of 50 and west of 695 - so just outside of Bowie city limits. I was in JB's bust zone this morning and am glad to see our forecasts have aligned... I would love for both of us to be wrong to the tune of 4-6 inches. I a not greedy.

My prediction for TU is 10 am delayed opening, with a full cancellation before 10 m.

BioPat said...

Morph, I tend to agree that the schools will start with a 2 hour late opening then close before 10 am.

NeedaSnowday said...

Congrats Seahawks!

Morpheus said...

BP - this storm has been upstaged in the media with the Super Bowl. As a sleeper storm I fear far two many folks will be caught unaware and in a mess tomorrow.

Unknown said...

Looking really juicy down south

ravensbbr said...

Need, further proof that the NFL is not as rigged as once feared. TWO small market teams back to back??? No way Goddell lets that happen if he could stop it. And since apparently he couldn't find the breaker box to spill his beer in this year...

Unknown said...

00z GFS sucks...What the heck is wrong with that thing?!

Adam Herb said...

14 Super Bowls ago, Rams v. Titans, I was in my first year teaching... young 20's. Snowed so hard that evening, they called school off before halftime of the game. 20 people at a party, half of them teachers. THAT was a good Super Bowl...

Storm said...

Super Bowl sucked but it's raining in Hampstead!!!

mayawild said...

Bust?

Amy said...

All rain in pasadena but might be to early for snow switch. Schools taking their sweet time this morning.

BioPat said...

Not a bust but a late enough arrival the school's could not justify closing. Now we have to examine new totals.

Amy stay home today!

Unknown said...

Andy....where's the snow?!

Anonymous said...

Getting a little worried here in Perry Hall. All rain :(

Unknown said...

I think the storm is busting.

kristia35 said...

I hope not. I will be beyond disappointed. I'm giving MD a few more winters, then onward to a more snow prone place.

Sandy said...

Change over happening in New Market Md. Car reads 34. Glad to be the passenger not the driver.

Unknown said...

All rain in Anne arundel

Amy said...

Sorry BioPat, I have very little sub time so I came in Anticipating an early release.

ravensbbr said...

Coming down just fine here...little sleet mixed in, but 2 inches plus already...

Unknown said...

Snowing heavy in Manchester CC when I left at 6am. Now in Glen Burnie, 37 with heavy rain. This is not the storm we all are looking for in the more southern areas. It wasn't even snowing on 795 when I came thru there.

BioPat said...

According to JB's latest post the turnover line is very close to Baltimore at 7:45 and his posted turnover is between 7 - 9 am. I believe the school's had little choice with the number of days out already. With the quick coverage they'll be making a decision to close by 10 am.

Amy understand dilemma, be careful.

Unknown said...

Andy, I'm sorry, but, it's a bust.

Anonymous said...

Jeremy S.,

What is your location? Snowing like crazy in CC. My early appointment canceled this am.

Tina said...

Feel for anyone driving in Baltimore, Carroll and counties further west. The traffic cams show a white out and the roads are snow covered. The radar shows it creeping south, as well as east.

Unknown said...

Reisterstown. Was expecting at least 4-6" here. Might not even see a flake.

NeedaSnowday said...

Not busting for Andy!! Saw your pic... Dang! Almost four inches.... Still raining here....

Tina said...

My nephew's school in Carroll County is closed today.

ravensbbr said...

Absolutely puking snow here in NE Carroll...3"+ already...wish we could post pics easier...

kristia35 said...

Where's my snow? :(

ravensbbr said...

Just for the record, I, too, would be pissed if I was on the green side of the radar instead of the blue side...

But the line has to be somewhere...

Tina said...

Torrential, cold, wind-driven rain in downstate DE. Lordy, if this were snow, we'd be in BIG trouble!!

BioPat said...

Sleet but no snow yet at MSJ, and it is COLD!

Becky said...

It is sleeting/snowing in Roland Park. Pretty ugly day!

Julee said...

JUST started snowing in Pikesville. Love it, no matter when it shows up!

kristia35 said...

All rain in perry hall I am thoroughly disappointed.

NeedaSnowday said...

Pourin' snow in Timonium... salt truck cruisin' down my street!

ravensbbr said...

I think the 4-7" call up here may well be exceeded, need to get out there and check it out with the John Deere...

Kathi said...

Just starting to snow a little here in Ferndale/BWI area.

Julee said...

Today's weather:
Snoooooow ... no snow ... snoooooow ... no snow.
THIS minute ... snow. No, wait ... NO snow.

BioPat said...

Snowing in Catonsville, the students are already asking if we'll be late tomorrow.

ravensbbr said...

Heaviest, wettest snow I can remember. 10 spot avg. yielded 6.8" for us. I'm sure some compaction has already begun.

Gonna wait a few hours, let the colder air and wind take the H2O content down some. Old trick from living up north, we'll see if it works...

The Wivells said...

Great call Andy! Right on the money here in Westminster. Last time I measured we had 5" and that was an hour ago. Still coming down in buckets!

NeedaSnowday said...

JULEE!! It's like the kids with ADD!

Wed?
Sunday?

LOOK OUT YALL!

mayawild said...

I feel so left out. It's barely wet in the city!

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

10 inches here of heavy wet snow. Took over an hour for the snow blower to cut through it. The system itself performed as expected but the cold front slowed down and did not catch up with the moisture further south.

I will look at the models and see what they bring for the weekend. It is painful as a fan of snow to see all the potential fail just 20 miles to my south. I will post a few picts of what we had today soon.

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

This storm shows you how hard it can be to time the speed of a cold front with the approaching storm. Just a slight slowdown can mean the difference between 10 inches and rain.

Models did pretty good, but that 20 mile difference created an entirely different "ground truth" in many places.

Unknown said...

Maybe an inch in bel air south guess this means will get nothing the next two storms too oh well

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Julee said...

NEEDY!

Indeed! Astute observation.

Still getting something LIKE snow, only I am able to count the flakes as they fall. :(
DID enjoy those big old cotton-y flakes a few hours ago.

Thinking of changing your name to NeedaClearDay?

Sandy said...

Winter storm watch up for Frederick for Tuesday Pm-Wed Am.

Morpheus said...

Lot's of rain here today - if we had some of Andy's cold I would still be digging out the drive. As it was, we had 30 minutes of big wet flurries, not enough to leave a mark... so my t-2 inch prediction was a bust as I can not even claim a trace :[ Better luck next time. Looks like Tue/Wed is too warm for snow or even ice here. So is Sat-Sunday even remotely a chance of the white stuff?

Amy said...

Anyone read Justin Berks ice storm discussion for Wednesday? May not means now but could impact school.

Leslie said...

Today was a prime example of how challenging it can be to live in Frederick County and work in Howard County. Kissed my sleeping family goodbye as I grumbled all the way down 70 this morning....:(

ravensbbr said...

Anyone want to buy a John Deere TRS 24" snowthrower? Doesn't run now, as is... :-/

Sandy said...

Leslie, for me too. My son joined me at work bc he is too young to stay home by himself. Both my husband and I are teachers in hoco but live in Frederick. We are moving this summer to MoCo closer to our schools (still cheaper the Hoco) hopefully being south will help during the winters. 10 years of commuting has been enough. A bigger house has not made the difficulties of working an hour away worth it. Not looking forward to a similar school issue on Wednesday am. Justin Berk's map puts Frederick in ice but Columbia in rain.

Leslie said...

I know Sandy. I was thinking the same thing. Wednesday just sounds like it may be too dangerous to drive anywhere, may be home regardless of what happens in Ellicott City.

Unknown said...

We gotta get past Wed. Ice to get to the next event. The canadien gem model is lookin SWEEEEET, but its a long way out. We have a shot folks.

Tina said...

Agreed Mike. And, yup, a week's a ways out, but it's a LOT better than a coupla weeks out. Each run now will more clearly hammer the picture into shape. Or something like that! LOL!!

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/32639942@N03/sets/72157640482424264/show

10 inches of snow here as the cold front zipped over me and slowed to my south. 5 miles to my south there was only one inch! Talk about gradient. Amazing what a little cold air will do.

Have not had time to digest all the new data but clearly snow and ice threat is on our doorstep, and a potential Kahuna for the weekend.

The weekend has my attention and will follow that closely. Will look at all the data for our event which is trending colder for Wednesday morning more on Tuesday.

NeedaSnowday said...

BBR ya break your snow thrower?! Now? Oh gracious this can only mean big Kahuna!

Yes, Julee... Name change is under consideration.... Like your recommendation! Especially for next week! Of course the Kahuna is looming... Orlando field trip time.... Just gotta get em to BWI on Tuesday! :::rockin back and forth incoherently muttering:::::

Andy, Southern York County Pa said...

Winter Storm Watch

URGENT - WINTER WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
841 PM EST MON FEB 3 2014

MDZ007-009>011-VAZ027-029>031-040-042-501-040945-
/O.EXA.KLWX.WS.A.0003.140205T0000Z-140205T1800Z/
HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-SHENANDOAH-PAGE-
WARREN-CLARKE-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-NORTHERN FAUQUIER-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...GAITHERSBURG...COLUMBIA...BALTIMORE...
FRONT ROYAL...WASHINGTON...LEESBURG...WARRENTON
841 PM EST MON FEB 3 2014

...WINTER STORM WATCH IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY EVENING THROUGH
WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON HAS
ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM TUESDAY
EVENING THROUGH WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* PRECIPITATION TYPE...SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN

* ACCUMULATIONS...A COATING TO ONE INCH OF SLEET ACCUMULATION.
POTENTIAL FOR A QUARTER INCH OR MORE OF ICE ACCUMULATION FROM
FREEZING RAIN.

* TIMING...FREEZING RAIN AND SLEET WILL BEGIN TUESDAY EVENING.
PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE TO ALL FREEZING RAIN LATE TUESDAY
NIGHT AND IT WILL CONTINUE THROUGH WEDNESDAY MORNING.
PRECIPITATION WILL END WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* TEMPERATURES...UPPER 20S TUESDAY EVENING RISING INTO THE LOWER
AND MIDDLE 30S LATE TUESDAY NIGHT AND WEDNESDAY MORNING.
TEMPERATURES WILL RISE ABOVE FREEZING WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON.

* WINDS...NORTHEAST 5 TO 10 MPH.

* IMPACTS...UNTREATED ROADS AND SIDEWALKS WILL BECOME SLIPPERY
FROM ICE. TRAVEL MAY BE DANGEROUS DURING THIS TIME.

PRECAUTIONARY/PREPAREDNESS ACTIONS...

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT
ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE
LATEST FORECASTS.

Amy said...

I'm all for an event that let's me sleep in but doesn't keep us in school one more day closer to July. Let's see if hose temps are cold enough to affect central MD this time.