Baltimore snowiest winters ranked
The latest edition of the "Sterling Reporter," the seasonal report from forecasters at the National Weather Service's Baltimore-Washington forecast office in Sterling, Va., includes their ranking of the snowiest winters in Baltimore and Washington.
The rankings appear to take into account adjustments the NWS had to make in the snow measurements at BWI, which were found to have been done improperly by an FAA contractor. So put an asterisk on the numbers for the top storm.
It's interesting to note that the top three storms since record-keeping for Baltimore began in the 19th century, have all occurred in the last 15 years. And, notice how much less snow Washington has received than Baltimore. Only 40 miles up the road and we seem to get significantly snowier winters.
BWI-MARSHALL AIRPORT
1. 2009-10: 77.0 inches
2. 1995-96: 62.5 inches
3. 2002-03: 58.2 inches
4. 1963-64: 51.8 inches
5. 1898-99: 51.1 inches
6. 1960-61: 46.5 inches
7. 1921-22: 44.4 inches
8. 1966-67: 43.4 inches
9. 1957-58: 43.0 inches
10. 1978-79: 42.5 inches
WASHINGTON REAGAN NATIONAL AIRPORT
1. 2009-10: 56.1 inches
2. 1898-99: 54.4 inches
3. 1995-96: 46.0 inches
4. 1921-22: 44.5 inches
5. 1891-92: 41.7 inches
6. 1904-05: 41.0 inches
7. 1957-58: 40.4 inches
8. 2002-03: 40.4 inches
9. 1960-61: 40.3 inches
10. 1910-11: 39.8 inches
(SUN PHOTOS: Top/Kim Hairston; Bottom/Karl Merton Ferron, 2010)
Comments
A couple of reasons there might be so much difference between the snow totals between BWI and National is Nat'l is located at sea level, right on the Potomac, while BWI is quite a distance from any body of water, and at an elevation of almost 150 feet. The snowfall at Dulles (approx. 310 ft. elev, and also not close to any major body of water) is much closer to the recorded snowfall at BWI.
Many of the commentators at the WaPo's 'Capital Weather Gang' brought out those differences during and after the Feb. snow 'events'. Those located just two or three miles inland from National recorded much more snow than that recorded at National. Some speculated that the river kept the air temps a bit warmer, thus precip early fell as rain (reducing the snow total), the first snow falling on that wet ground melted (reducing the snow total), and the river caused the air temps to be a bit warmer earlier after the snow, sometimes causing some of the precip to turn back to rain (reducing the snow total).
Posted by: Mike | May 15, 2010 1:23 AM