Recently in Maryland Category
I didn't think I'd live to ever say this but I've had enough snow this year.
K-
We already know this was the snowiest winter, the snowiest February, the snowiest month on record for Baltimore. Here are a few other winter weather trivia from this meteorological winter just ended, just published in the NWS Monthly Climate Report for BWI-Marshall in February:
1. Baltimore recorded two separate, two-day, double-digit snowfalls in the same month (Feb. 5-6 and Feb. 9-10) for the first time since record-keeping for snow totals began in the 1880s.
2. The two big February storms dropped a combined 44.5 inches of snow at BWI in just six days. It was the most snow ever to fall for any 7-day period on record for Baltimore. The previous record weekly snowfall was 32.6 inches, in Jan. 6-12, 1996.
3. The daily 7 a.m. "climatological snow depth" - the snow measured on the ground at BWI - on Feb. 11 was 34 inches, setting a new record. The report doesn't say what the old record was.
4. The average snow depth for Baltimore in February was 11 inches, the highest average monthly snow depth ever recorded for the city. The previous record was 7 inches, in January 1996.
5. There was at least an inch of snow on the ground at BWI on 22 dates in February. That's the third-highest number of February days with an inch of snow or more on the ground for Baltimore. The highest number is 27 days in 1934, followed by 25 days in 1905.
6. The maximum daily temperature at BWI failed to reach 50 degrees for the entire month. That's the first time that's happened in any month since January 1977, and only the 10th time on record. Even so, February 2010 ranked as only the 22nd coldest February on record here.
I am so glad I was here. I loved it.
K-
Things are worse than this morning. Temperature is down to 20.0F with barometric pressure down to 29.29 inches. Winds are strong; horizontal snow.
K-
Snow.
I awoke to 7 inches of new fluffy snow in the driveway, a 27.9F temperature, and a 29.35 inch barometric pressure rapidly falling. A blizzard warning is posted for Howard County until 7 PM.
More snow is on the way. The NWS is calling for 12 to 20 inches by tonight.
This is the most snow I've ever seen.
K-
Statement as of 7:46 AM EST on February 10, 2010
... Blizzard Warning now in effect until 7 PM EST this evening...
... Winter Storm Warning is cancelled...
The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has cancelled the Winter Storm Warning. The Blizzard Warning is now in effect until 7 PM EST this evening.
* Precipitation type... snow.
* Accumulations... 10 to 20 inches.
* Timing... snow will continue through this evening. Heaviest snowfall is expected this morning through early afternoon.
* Temperatures... mid and upper 20s.
* Winds... winds will become northwest increasing to 20 to 30 mph with gusts around 45 mph. Blowing and drifting snow will reduce visibilities to a quarter mile or less at times producing blizzard conditions.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow are expected or occurring. The combination of snow and strong winds will make travel very hazardous.
Precautionary/preparedness actions...
A Blizzard Warning means severe winter weather conditions are expected or occurring. Falling and blowing snow with strong winds and poor visibilities are likely. This will lead to whiteout conditions... making travel extremely dangerous. Do not travel. If you must travel... have a winter survival kit with you. If you get stranded... stay with your vehicle.
Digging out began today. I had shoveled half of my driveway yesterday with the help of my neighbors. Today I shoveled from about 8 AM till 11:15 AM, and with more help from my wonderful neighbors, had everything shoveled. I declared victory.
Woodstock got about 28 inches of snow. There were areas further east that received well over 30 inches. Woodstock is not usually reckoned on maps, so the Sykesville measurement - borne out by spot checks around the yard - puts the total at well more than 2 feet. The total snowfall this winter at BWI is 60.4 inches. The all-time record is 62.5 inches set in 1995-96.
Howard County plows did a yeoman job. The had the street cleared by 8:15 AM. They were truly phenomenal. After lunch I drove up to the supermarket and the roads were cleared as well as could be expected. Snow dunes were everywhere. Checking intersections before turning and extra caution watching for pedestrians will be required for weeks.
The funniest thing I saw was up at the local village center. A Chinese restaurant is up there and, evidently, the businesses are required to clear the areas in front of their businesses. I passed by this guy out in front of the restaurant clearing away the snow with a wok spatula. Priceless.
A snapshot of the aftermath is below.
This is probably it for blogging. I'll likely go back into hibernation. But I did want to live blog the big blizzard of 2010.
By the way, more snow is predicted for Tuesday. A winter storm watch is already posted.
K-
The snow has stopped. Temperature is 27.5F. Low tonight forecast to be 12F.
Saturday, Noon
The snow continues. I shoveled snow for two hours. With the help of several wonderful neighbors I was able to clear a path big enough for one car to get out. That is if Howard County plowed the street, which isn't supposed to happen till Monday. (According to the Howard County website.) There is about two feet of snow outside but the wind is such that getting an accurate measurement is problematic. Temperature is 25.6F. Barometric pressure is 29.27 inches and rising.
Saturday, 7:45 AM
The NWS changed the winter storm warning that was in effect into a blizzard warning until 10 PM. A blizzard doesn't necessarily have a lot of snow. It's the snow coupled with the wind that is the issue. Visibility is greatly diminished. Folks are already out shoveling. Temperature is down to 26.6F. Barometric pressure is 29.25 inches and falling.
Saturday, 7:17 AM
People, we have a boat load of snow. It's a huge amount of snow for anywhere, let alone Maryland. The NWS says that Columbia already has 24 inches, Elkridge 30.3 inches. The driveways in the neighborhood shoveled last night just to get ahead are now completely filled in. The winds are fierce. While I have yet to measure it, there appears to be more than 2 feet out on the Woodstock weather deck. The temperature is 26.7F.
.. Howard County...
2 W Elkridge 30.3 600 am 2/06 swe 2.73- 3-4 hr rate
1 ENE Glenelg 29.0 1123 am 2/06 tree limbs broken
1 WSW Savage 28.5 1000 am 2/06 2.99 liq equiv
2 N Columbia 27.9 900 am 2/06
1 SSE Simpsonville 27.3 1030 am 2/06
1 ESE Ellicott City 26.0 800 am 2/06
1 N Savage 25.0 1100 am 2/06
2 se Gaither 20.0 700 am 2/06 cocorahs
From a 7:00 AM NWS public statement:
Howard County...
2 W Elkridge 30.3 600 am 2/06 swe 2.73- 3-4 hr rate
2 N Columbia 24.0 430 am 2/06 thunder... lwe 2.32 in
1 ENE Glenelg 21.0 418 am 2/06 spotter
1 SSE Simpsonville 20.1 325 am 2/06 spotter
1 N Savage 20.0 630 am 2/06 spotter
1 WSW Savage 13.2 100 am 2/06
1 N Simpsonville 10.5 238 am 2/06
K-
