Two inches of the fluffy stuff
The best thing that can be said about this morning's snowfall was that it was pretty, and fluffy, and easy to dispose of. And it gave the kids a chance to sleep in as most schools systems in the region closed or delayed their openings.
But it was not an impressive storm. Alberta Clippers just don't usually pack enough moisture to bring civilization to a crawl. So for most of us, getting out and about this morning was no big deal. Another good thing.
A check of accumulation reports this morning shows most readings were consistently in the 1- to 2-inch range, as per the late-afternoon forecasts from Sterling. Here below is a sampling. There are more here.
The WeatherDeck in Cockeysville: 1.5 inches
BWI Marshall Airport: 1.7 inches
Crownsville, Anne Arundel: 2.1 inches
Long Green, Baltimore Co.: 2.0 inches
Towson: 1.0 inch
Essex: 1.5 inches
Pimlico: 2.0 inches
Westminster, Carroll Co.: 1.8 inches
Waldorf, Charles Co.: 2.2 inches
Frederick: 1.2 inches
Edgewood, Harford Co.: 2.0 inches
Columbia, Howard Co.: 1.9 inches
Great Mills, St. Mary's Co.: 2.2 inches
For the season to date, BWI has recorded 24.9 inches of snow, if I read it correctly. The long-term average is about 18 inches.
Forecasters say there are still a few showers and flurries in the region. But they should be clearing out as the arctic cold front passes. Temperatures won't rise much today, and winds will pick up to 18 mph, with gusts to 35 mph, making it feel lots colder. Wind chills will dip into the teens. , and below zero in the western mountains, where snow showers will continue.
The good news is that we'll see plenty of sunshine this weekend and right into next week. But it will be cold, with weekend highs in the 20s (10 to 15 degrees below the average), and lows in the teens. Things begin to creep back toward the norms by Monday.
(SUN PHOTO/Kim Hairston/Jan. 8, 2010)
Comments
How are the official measurements of snow depth made? For the big December storm, we shoveled 8" or so twice, and we measured a total of 16" in a couple of places as the storm wound down. Most of the reports around us were saying 20 or 22".
How do they account for the settlement factor- the weight of new snow causing earlier snow to compact? Is there any factor for how wet the snow is?
Thanks for the UK aerial photo and big wave posts. This weather stuff is cool (especially this winter!)
FR: Measuring snow is about the only thing meteorologists do these days, short of launching balloons, that still must be done by hand. The NWS stations specify that observers use a flat, white snowboard, about 18 inches square. Every six hours an observer has to go outside, measure the snow, then wipe the board clear. Six hours later they measure again and add the totals. That continues until the storm ends. It's not perfect, but it's consistent. And it gets around some of the settling, without exaggerating the reality of what happens when the snow is wet and heavy.
Posted by: Susan | January 8, 2010 2:27 PM