Rush Hour Storm drops up to 11 inches
It would have been hard to design a storm better suited to slam the region during both rush hours on Wednesday. After a surprise couple of inches in the morning delivered an uppercut to commuters making their way to work before daybreak, the back end of the same system swung a hard right to the chin in time for the evening rush.
The result was commuter purgatory. Emails from colleagues stuck on the JFX for hours, or on clogged city streets, encouraged us stragglers in the newsroom to find hotel rooms. I've just made it home after a night with nothing but a warm bed, dirty clothes and a hotel toothbrush.
For the record, city streets - at least the main routes downtown - were scraped and salted to mostly wet pavement by 6:30 a.m. The JFX was just wet, although the shoulders were lined with abandoned cars. The Beltway and I-83 north were just wet. York Road by 7 a.m. was still rough, with lots of packed snow and ice.
Our local streets were plowed but snow-covered. I got in just fine, except for the plow-plug where my car was supposed to go. I'd post a photo, but my camera is still back in the newsroom.
But enough about me. Below are some snow totals from the CoCoRaHS Network. Damascus takes the brass ring on that list this morning, with 12.3 inches. The official total at BWI-Marshall Airport was 7.8 inches through midnight. That brings the season's total to 12.1 inches, just a half-foot shy of the seasonal average for Baltimore.
And click here for the snow tally and snow map from the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va. Winfield, in Carroll County, would seem to have the lead there, at 12 inches
Elkridge, Howard Co,: 11 inches
Catonsville, Baltimore Co.: 9.5 inches
Kingsville, Baltimore Co.: 9.4 inches
Silver Spring, Montgomery: 9.3 inches
The WeatherDeck in Cockeysville: 9.0 inches
Frederick: 9.0 inches
Cumberland, Allegany: 9.0 inches
Mt. Airy, Carroll: 8 inches
Jarrettsville, Harford; 6 inches
Deale, Anne Arundel: 3.5 inches
Comments
It's about time! who wants to freeze to death without snow, with or without a snowblower?
Posted by: siasds | January 27, 2011 8:53 AM
Am I making this up, or were the reports yesterday (at least on your blog) that everyone should go home early? "It's going to get bad right around 4 o'clock. There's a possibility of two inches per hour!" That's what I remember. So, close the shop/office early, let your workers go home and don't be driving out there. I can understand that some folks do not have control over their hours, but come on, people. Getting stuck out there and hampering the clean-up just costs us all money. Use some sense. I'm happy there are no reports of injury.
Posted by: Sprite | January 27, 2011 9:15 AM
Gotta question the Jarrettsville, Harford measurement of 6". I live in Forest Hill and we got at least 8" on top of whatever fell yesterday morning. I know, because I shoveled my driveway twice.
FR: The answer may be the very dynamic storm, as evidenced by the thunder and lightning. It's like a summer thunderstorm - lots of rain (or in this case snow) in some very locaized spots, markedly less nearby.
Posted by: Todd | January 27, 2011 9:19 AM
Hello Frank - 14" New Freedom, PA - Southern York County
Posted by: Jeff | January 27, 2011 10:08 AM
Most of the totals I've seen are in excess of 7", except the airports...seems DCA and IAD both had around 5" and BWI just over 7.
Posted by: Bryan | January 27, 2011 10:55 AM
Eveyone in our office left early 4pm thank Goodness because we would have been stuck.
Posted by: DD | January 27, 2011 11:23 AM
12.1 inches down, 10.1 left for this reader to win (a share of) the 2010-2011 Maryland Weather Blog Snowfall contest. Come on 22.2 total inches!!!
FR: Fran Smith is our current leader with 12.0 inches. More snow due. Seven competitors (of 68) have been eliminated.
Posted by: Eric | January 27, 2011 12:31 PM
Frank, what's the story on tomorrow's snow?
FR: Not to worry. Less than a half-inch, they say, and most likely along the Mason-Dixon Line. It's a dry little clipper, and there's a second one due Saturday. But we do need to watch the storm due early next week.
Posted by: Miriam Tillman | January 27, 2011 1:52 PM