Recently in Nature Category

An update on the wacky weather Maryland has been having this year. First all time snow records. And now all-time heat records:

1. Hottest summer: The average temperature at BWI from June through August was 79.3 degrees. That broke the previous record of 79.1 degrees, set in 1943.

2. Most 90-degree days: The total now stands at 56 days, which broke the previous record of 54 days set in 1988.

3. Most 100-degree days: Seven days. This was a tie, matching the total in 1988.

4. Record-high daily temperatures were set on 10 dates: April 5 (84 degrees); April 6 (90 degrees); June 23 (97 degrees); June 24, (100 degrees); June 27, (100 degrees); June 28 (99 degrees); July 6 (105 degrees); July 7 (101 degrees); July 24 (101 degrees); July 25 (100 degrees);

5. Record-high minimum temperatures: set May 3 (69 degrees); July 24 (82 degrees)

6. Warmest month/warmest July: Temperatures in July averaged 81.5 degrees. This matched the record for the warmest month and the warmest July, first set in 1949 and matched in 1995.

7. Hottest average daily high temperature: July's daily highs averaged 92.5 degrees, beating the previous record of 91.9 degrees, set in 1988.

K-

The last of the February snow melted from my front yard this morning. All the frozen precipitation is at long last gone. Since the Ides are almost upon us, the possibility of more snow in Maryland is rapidly diminishing.

I didn't think I'd live to ever say this but I've had enough snow this year.
K-

Wednesday, 3:07 PM
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-

Mother Nature continues punching the mid-Atlantic region.

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