HEAVY SNOW WARNING FOR DC/BALT METRO AREA

[Fodie77]

.. Heavy Snow Warning in effect from 1 am Monday to 1 am EST
Tuesday...

The National Weather Service in Sterling Virginia has issued a Heavy
Snow Warning for northern Virginia... central and western Maryland
the eastern West Virginia Panhandle and the District of Columbia
from 100 am Monday through 100 am Tuesday.

Low pressure over the northeastern Gulf of Mexico will move
northeast to the South Carolina coast overnight tonight. The storm
system will continue to move to the northeast near the Delmarva
Peninsula by Monday evening.

Snow is expected to develop late tonight in the central Shenandoah
Valley and foothills... eventually reaching areas near the
Pennsylvania border by sunrise.

The snow is expected to become heavy at times by mid morning. At
this time... the heaviest snow is expected to fall between 1000 am
and 600 PM Monday. Winds will become gusty tomorrow... leading to some
blowing and drifting snow. In addition... visibilities will be greatly
reduced during periods of heavy snow.

The snow may mix briefly with rain over far southern Maryland during
the day Monday.

By late tomorrow evening... areas west of the Blue Ridge are expected
to see 5 to 10 inches of snowfall. East of the Blue Ridge including
the Baltimore and Washington metropolitan areas... 6 to 10 inches of
snowfall is expected.

There is still some uncertainty as to the exact track of this storm
system. A small shift in the track of this storm can yield large
differences in snowfall accumulations.

[Fodie77]

I never really understood the difference between a HSW and a WSW.

[jkt21787]

The difference is that a winter storm warning is issued for a combination of events, such as snow and sleet and freezing rain, or snow accompanied by strong winds or low wind chills. A heavy snow warning means only heavy snow, no sleet, no ice, no strong winds, no low wind chills.

At least that is it for the Memphis area.

[Fodie77]

The difference is that a winter storm warning is issued for a combination of events, such as snow and sleet and freezing rain, or snow accompanied by strong winds or low wind chills. A heavy snow warning means only heavy snow, no sleet, no ice, no strong winds, no low wind chills.

At least that is it for the Memphis area.

Oh, I see.

[jkt21787]

Here it is straight from the NWS Memphis site:

Heavy Snow Warning (WSW)
A "Heavy Snow Warning" is issued when snowfall of 4+ inches in 12 hours, or 6+ inches in 24 hours is expected. If strong winds and low wind chills are expected in addition to the heavy snow, then a Winter Storm Warning or Blizzard Warning will be issued instead.

EDIT: After a little research, I found that for your area the criteria for the Heavy snow warning is 6+ in 12 hours or 8+ in 24 hours, which is a little higher since you're more snow prone.

[Brent]

Why does it snow everywhere but here?

[jkt21787]

Why does it snow everywhere but here?

LOL, one day it will happen for you.

[jkt21787]

Hey, I just noticed something:

The snow is expected to become heavy at times by mid morning. At
this time... the heaviest snow is expected to fall between 1000 am
and 600 PM Monday. Winds will become gusty tomorrow... leading to some
blowing and drifting snow. In addition... visibilities will be greatly
reduced during periods of heavy snow.

Strong winds and reduced visibility, not to mention blowing and drifting would require a Winter Storm Warning. It looks like they may be making a mistake.

[BlizzzardMan]

Why does it snow everywhere but here?

You need to move north!

[JenyEliza]

Why does it snow everywhere but here?

LOL, one day it will happen for you.

Not THIS winter, I'm afraid.

Jeny

[JenyEliza]

Why does it snow everywhere but here?

I know. Again...we're stuck with 40 degrees and rain.

[WXBUFFJIM]

Certainly a dangerous setup if the heaviest swath of snow focuses on the major cities. Wind gusts of 35-45 mph doesn't boad well either, especially in areas of heavy snow. I'm one that is watching this closely since we're right smack in the middle of this possible snowstorm.

Some areas in the heaviest snow bands could experience easily over a foot of snow with this classic nor' easter.

[krysof]

all depends where that rain/snow line sets up, if it is all snow than well over a foot of snow will surely be possible for the big cities and I-95, cut that in half if it changes or mixes with rain and sleet

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Holy #%# I just looked at all the buoys around the center of low pressure. It has more of a wind field of a tropical cyclone then a large nor'easter/Extratropical system. There is a very tight center on this system. The pressure ranges are tight like you can't believe. Lets say no more then 50 miles per 5 millibar differces. Buoys to the south rising 3 to 5 milibars one hour time. Buoys falling that. Wow I can't wait to see this thing bomb we might see a eye like center forming.(Like the December 25th storm a few years ago.)