A cold front passed through the region last night and we’ll return to cold, dry conditions for today with some sunshine. The seasonable chill will continue as we go through the second half of the week and a storm that forms over the Atlantic Ocean should stay far enough to the east to not have an impact on the region. Temperatures will actually climb to the 40’s this weekend and those milder conditions should continue during the early part of next week.
Read More
A cold front is approaching the Mid-Atlantic region and rain showers are possible at just about anytime today. Temperatures are low enough this morning for some of the rain to freeze on untreated surfaces so watch out for potential icing during the next few hours. By later today and early tonight, any shower activity that takes place should be in the form of "plain" rain. As far as the late week threat is concerned, it appears that a storm system will form over the Atlantic Ocean, but it should stay well east of here and not have an impact on the region.
Read More
The new work week will start off with high pressure in control producing dry, cold weather conditions around here. A cold front arrives tomorrow night and it could set off a few rain showers later tomorrow and tomorrow night. It’ll return to rather cold and dry weather conditions at mid-week.
Late in the week, a storm will gather strength off the east coast – where have we heard that before. There is a chance that this storm has an impact on the I-95 corridor and we'll monitor it closely. Most current computer guidance suggests the storm will stay out-to-sea; however, there are reasons to believe that a storm track push to the northwest is feasable in coming days - stay tuned.
Read More
The “Blizzard of 2016” – some preliminary Mid-Atlantic snowfall reports (inches):
1) BWI Airport, MD - 29.2 (RECORD)
2) Philly Airport, PA - 22.4 (4th highest)
3) Dulles Airport, VA - 29.3 (2nd highest)
4) Central Park, NY - 26.8 (2nd highest)
5) Harrisburg, PA - 34.0 (RECORD)
6) Allentown, PA - 31.9 (RECORD)
7) JFK Airport, NY - 30.5 (RECORD)
8) LGA Airport, NY - 27.9 (RECORD)
9) King of Prussia, PA - 26.1
10) Chantilly, VA - 30.0
Reagan National Airport (DCA) in Washington, D.C. has officially come in with a highly suspicious reading of 17.8 inches and it is being investigated as it looks an underestimate compared to surrounding areas. This is not the first measurement problem at DCA. Last year, the temperature sensor at DCA was replaced as it was found to have been reporting erroneously high readings for years. By the way, 17.8 inches would make it the 4th biggest snowstorm ever at DCA.
Read More
The “Blizzard of 2016” will continue through the day and well into the night in the Mid-Atlantic region from DC-to-Philly-to-NYC. Most areas picked up a foot or more overnight and those amounts can be easily doubled over the next 24 hours or so with some areas reaching 30+ inches by tomorrow. The snow will come down at varying rates today as small-scale or “mesoscale” banding is setting up on the northwest side of the storm. Also, a dry slot of air has developed and it could cause a diminishing of the precipitation to next to nothing for awhile early today – but that dry slot will disappear shortly as additional bands move into the area. At times today, there will be blizzard conditions with whiteout conditions featuring heavy snow at 2-3 inch per hour rates and increasingly strong NE winds. Thunder snow has already been reported in some spots and can occur anywhere today along the I-95 corridor. This will turn out to be one of the all-time great snowstorms in the Mid-Atlantic region with historic snow accumulations in some areas.
Read More
The "Blizzard of 2016" will go down as one of the all-time great snowstorms in the Mid-Atlantic region and total snowfall accumulations may be historic over a wide area. It continues to look like this storm will be a paralyzing, high-impact and long-lasting storm for the DC, Philly and NYC metro regions that will include significant snow accumulations, some serious blowing and drifting, possible power outages, and perhaps even some thunder snow and lightning. The zone of heaviest snowfall now appears that it will extend from the DC metro region to across the entire Philly metro region, interior New Jersey, and to the southern side of the NYC metro region.
Read More
This continues to look like a crippling, high-impact and long-lasting storm for the entire DC metro region that will include significant snow accumulations of 20-30 inches, some serious blowing and drifting, isolated power outages, and perhaps even some thunder snow and lightning. The snow should arrive this afternoon in the DC metro region between noon and 4pm. There is a chance for some mixing with sleet at times, but this should primarily be a snow event for the District and northern and western suburbs. The snow is likely to come down at varying rates later tonight and on Saturday as small-scale or “mesoscale” banding is likely to set up given the impressive dynamics involved with this unfolding system. Specifically, the snow can fall heavily at times with blizzard conditions and can also slacken off to “little or nothing” at times as well if a dry slot develops.
At the Eastern Shore, in addition to significant snow accumulations of a foot or more, coastal flooding and beach erosion are a major concern given the expected sustained period of strong NE winds (plus Saturday’s full moon). Wind gusts could reach 70 mph at coastal locations by later tomorrow and 50 mph at inland areas including near I-95 in DC. Also, given the expected long-period of strong winds and the possible mixture in some areas of snow, sleet and rain, power outages are a real concern closer to the coast as the weight may be too much for some tree limbs. Temperatures should generally be confined to the 20’s during the storm.
One final note: the biggest DC snowstorm in recorded history is known as the "Knickerbocker Blizzard" of January 1922 (1/27-1/28) when 28 inches was recorded. It was called the Knickerbocker Blizzard as it was named after the theater that collapsed due to the heavy snow accumulation. The flat roof of the Knickerbocker Theater - the largest and newest movie house in D.C. at the time - collapsed during a Jan. 28 evening showing of the silent film "Get-Rich-Quick Wallingford," killing 98 people and injuring 133. This long-standing snowstorm record is in jeopardy.
Read More
This continues to look like a high-impact and long-lasting storm for the Mid-Atlantic region that will include significant snow accumulations, some serious blowing and drifting, coastal flooding and beach erosion given the sustained and strong NE winds (plus full moon), and perhaps even some thunder snow and lightning. The expected arrival of the storm is as follows: DC 2-6pm, Philly 6-10pm, NYC 10pm-2am. Wind gusts could reach 70 mph at coastal locations by later Saturday and 50 mph at inland areas near I-95. There is a chance for a "changeover to" or a "mixing with" rain and/or sleet for awhile during this storm; primarily, to the south and east of the big cities. Also, given the expected long-period of strong winds and the possible mixture in some areas of snow and rain, power outages are a real concern as the weight may be too much for some tree limbs. The snow is likely to come down at varying rates on Saturday and Saturday night as small-scale or mesoscale banding is likely to set up given the dynamics involved with this unfolding system. The snow can fall heavily at times on Saturday and Saturday night with blizzard conditions and can also slacken off to “little or nothing” at times as well.
Read More
Confidence continues to grow for a major - and perhaps widespread crippling storm - for the Mid-Atlantic region from later Friday into early Sunday morning. Starting time for the snow in DC area is 2-6PM Friday afternoon. The DC National Weather Service has already posted a blizzard watch for the DC and Baltimore metro regions for Friday afternoon into Saturday night. The NYC NWS has now posted a blizzard watch for the 5 boroughs of NYC and Long Island for Saturday into Sunday afternoon - Philly NWS should follow suit. Computer forecast models continue to show an incredible storm for the I-95 corridor. It looks like it'll be a high-impact and long-lasting storm that has the potential to dump 18-25 inches of snow on the DC metro region. It is quite likely that somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region there will be 30+ inches of snow accumulation from this upcoming system by the time early Sunday morning rolls around. In fact, most recent model runs suggests 30+ inches are possible in and around the DC metro region.
This storm is likely to include some serious blowing and drifting, coastal flooding and beach erosion given the sustained strong NE winds and full moon, and perhaps even some thunder snow and lightning. Wind gusts could reach 70 mph at coastal locations by later Saturday and 50 mph at inland areas near I-95. There is a chance for a "changeover to" or a "mixing with" rain and/or sleet for awhile during this storm; primarily, to the south and east of the big cities. One other note, given the expected long-period of strong winds and the possible mixture in some areas of snow and rain, power outages are a concern as the weight may be too much for some tree limbs. Stay tuned for updates, prepare – looks like this could be one of the all-time greats.
Read More
Confidence continues to grow for a major - and perhaps widespread crippling storm - for the Mid-Atlantic region from later Friday into early Sunday morning. The DC National Weather Service has already posted a blizzard watch for the DC and Baltimore metro regions for Friday afternoon into Saturday night. NOAA’s 12Z NAM and GFS computer forecast models are out and continue to show a major storm for the I-95 corridor. The 12Z Euro has edged the heavy snowfall zone slightly farther to the north in its latest model run . It looks like it'll be a high-impact and long-lasting storm that has the potential to dump 1-2 feet of snow on the I-95 corridor region from DC-to-Philly-to-New York City. It is quite likely that somewhere in the Mid-Atlantic region there will be 30+ inches of snow accumulation from this upcoming system by the time early Sunday morning rolls around. In fact, the latest GFS model run suggests 30+ inches are possible in and around the DC metro region (see snowfall map).
This storm is likely to include some serious blowing and drifting, coastal flooding and beach erosion given the sustained strong winds and full moon, and perhaps even some thunder snow and lightning. Wind gusts could reach 70 mph at coastal locations by later Saturday and 50 mph at inland areas. There is a chance for a changeover to or a mixing with rain and/or sleet for awhile during this storm; primarily, to the south and east of the big cities. One other note, given the expected long-period of strong winds and the possible mixture in some areas of snow and rain, power outages are a concern as the weight may be too much for some tree limbs. Stay tuned for updates, prepare – looks like this could be one of the all-time greats.
Read More
