MID-ATLANTIC Storm Thread 2005-06

[Fodie77]

With all the storms that may (or may not) develop over this season, I figured it'd be smart to have a mid-atlantic storm thread.

Please place all discussion of upcoming storms, forcasts, and current conditions for all of those in NC, VA, DC, MD, PA, DE, and NJ.

Here at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg it's 34 degrees with overcast skies. NWS is still sticking to a moderate ice storm forecast for the overnight hours. Expecting no more than a couple of inches of snow, but as much as a 1/2 inch of ice. (Wouldn't be too pleasant for the start of finals tomorrow!)

[Fodie77]

For the SW VA region, including Roanoke and Blacksburg:

... Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 9 am EST Friday...

A Winter Storm Warning remains in effect until 9 am EST Friday.

Snow and sleet will develop early this evening. The snow and sleet
will then change to mostly freezing rain by midnight... with the
precipitation ending by daybreak Friday. Up to an inch of snow
and sleet are possible before precipitation mixes with and changes
to freezing rain. Then between a quarter inch and a half inch of
ice is expected in most areas before precipitation ends.

This amount of ice accumulation will likely cause some power
outages. Winds will be increasing to 15 to 30 mph in the
morning... with gusts to around 40 mph. This could increase the
chances for power outages across the region.

A Winter Storm Warning means significant amounts of snow...
sleet... and ice are expected or occurring. This will make travel
very hazardous or impossible.

[Fodie77]

For back home in Winchester and the DC metro area:

A Heavy Snow Warning remains in effect from 6 PM this evening to
12 PM EST Friday.

A winter storm is currently taking shape across the Ohio Valley...
and is forecast to advance into our region this evening. Snow is
expected to begin in the northern Shenandoah Valley... eastern West
Virginia Panhandle and western Maryland between 8 and 10 PM. The
snow will continue overnight... heavy at times. Steady accumulating
snow is expected to come to an end between 8 and 10 am Friday.

Some additional accumulations of snow are possible late Friday
along the western slopes of the Allegany front.

Total snowfall by mid day Friday is expected to be around 4 to 8
inches.

[boca]

Please send whatever you get down to S FL preferably 2 or 3 snow balls.

[Fodie77]

The GFS appears to be holding steady in its devlopment of a coastal system. Looking better and better for those in inland NJ.

[Fodie77]

Please send whatever you get down to S FL preferably 2 or 3 snow balls.

Does express mail sound OK?

[Stephanie]

Please send whatever you get down to S FL preferably 2 or 3 snow balls.

Does express mail sound OK?

We'd better make it express - they'll melt otherwise!

Good idea for this thread Fodie!

[Stephanie]

WINTER STORM WARNING
Issue Date: 1106 AM EST THU DEC 08 2005
Expiration: 1200 PM EST FRI DEC 09 2005

DEZ001-MDZ008-012-NJZ009-010-012-015>019-PAZ067>071-090000-
/O.CON.KPHI.WS.W.0002.051209T0500Z-051209T1700Z/
NEW CASTLE-CECIL-KENT MD-HUNTERDON-SOMERSET-MIDDLESEX-MERCER-
SALEM-GLOUCESTER-CAMDEN-NORTHWESTERN BURLINGTON-CHESTER-
MONTGOMERY-BUCKS-DELAWARE-PHILADELPHIA-
INCLUDING THE CITIES OF...WILMINGTON...ELKTON...CHESTERTOWN...
FLEMINGTON...SOMERVILLE...NEW BRUNSWICK...TRENTON...PENNSVILLE...
GLASSBORO...CAMDEN...CHERRY HILL...MOORESTOWN...MOUNT HOLLY...
WEST CHESTER...NORRISTOWN...DOYLESTOWN...MEDIA
1106 AM EST THU DEC 8 2005
...WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT
TO 12 PM EST FRIDAY...
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO
12 PM EST FRIDAY.
A DOUBLE-BARRELLED LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL AFFECT THE REGION
BEGINNING LATE TONIGHT. ONE AREA OF LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH
THE REGION FROM THE WEST AND WEAKEN AS IT MOVES TOWARD SOUTHERN
CANADA. A SECOND LOW IS FORECAST TO FORM OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA
COAST AND MOVES NORTHEAST. THIS LOW WILL RAPIDLY INTENSIFY AS IT
HEADS OUT TO SEA.
WITH COLD AIR ALREADY IN PLACE OVER THE REGION...THE
PRECIPITATION WILL BEGIN AS SNOW ACROSS THE AREA. HOWEVER...WARM
AIR IS FORECAST TO MOVE IN FROM THE SOUTHEAST AND THE
PRECIPITATION MAY MIX WITH SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN TOWARD MORNING
FRIDAY. THE BEST CHANCES OF ANY MIXED PRECIP ARE OVER THE SOUTHERN
AND EASTERN PORTIONS OF THE WARNING AREA...WHERE THE WARM AIR
WILL ARRIVE FIRST.
IN ANY AREAS WHERE THERE IS MIXED PRECIPITATION... SNOWFALL
ACCUMULATIONS WILL BE LESS THAN IN THOSE LOCATIONS THAT DO NOT
MIX. HOWEVER...MIXED PRECIPITATION... ESPECIALLY FREEZING RAIN...
IS CAPABLE OF CAUSING THEIR OWN PROBLEMS AND MAKING TRAVEL VERY
HAZARDOUS.
SNOW ACCUMULATIONS WILL RANGE FROM 3 TO 4 INCHES SOUTH AND EAST
OF PHILADELPHIA TO 4 TO 7 INCHES NORTH AND WEST. ALL
PRECIPITATION SHOULD END BY NOON ON FRIDAY.
IF YOU MUST TRAVEL LATE TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING... USE
EXTREME CAUTION. SLOW DOWN AND ALLOW EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR
DESTINATION. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES DO NOT NECESSARILY HAVE
GREATER BRAKING ABILITY THAN OTHER VEHICLES. THE MORNING COMMUTE
WILL BE MUCH MORE DIFFICULT THAN USUAL. IF YOU CAN PLEASE GIVE
YOURSELF MUCH EXTRA TIME TO REACH YOUR DESTINATION AND POSTPONE
ANY UNNECESSARY DRIVING.
CONTINUE TO STAY TUNED TO NOAA WEATHER RADIO ALL HAZARDS OR YOUR
FAVORITE MEDIA SOURCE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION.
$$

[Fodie77]

Please send whatever you get down to S FL preferably 2 or 3 snow balls.

Does express mail sound OK?

We'd better make it express - they'll melt otherwise!

Good idea for this thread Fodie!

Thanks! What are your predictions for up there in NJ?

[simplykristi]

Hi boca,
Be glad to send you the 10 inches of snow we got.

Kristi

[lester]

that snow might be coming sooner than I thought!!!

[angelwing]

I just came home and it's still party cloudy here in Philly but on the map it looks like its snowing...go figure

[WindRunner]

I found this update to the LWX AFD rather amusing, but still informative. This guy (he's new) probably has the most personality at Sterling.

AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
850 PM EST THU DEC 8 2005

.UPDATE...I'LL SAY THIS...THE TAX PAYER HAS GOTTEN THEIR MONEYS
WORTH OUT OF MY FCSTG PARTNER AND I DURING THIS SET OF 7
SHIFTS...AND MOTHER NATURE HAS SAVED THE BEST FOR LAST. THE OVRNGT
FCST IS QUITE DIFFICULT...AND A DEG OR TWO DIFFERENCE IN THE LO LVL
ATMOPSHERE WL MEAN A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE THRU FRI MRNG.

A PHONE CALL JUST CAME IN - 10SM N WINCHESTER VA THAT S- JUST
BEGAN. MID ATLC RDR LOOP SHOWS SN IS MAKING A STEADY EWD PROGRESSION
- AT 7 PM S- BEGAN IN GRANT CO. INTERESTING TO NOTE THAT THE HOUR
PRIOR TEMP DROPPED 5 DEGS AT EKN ONCE S- BEGAN. ATMOPSHERE HAS BEEN
VERY DRY (SPL 18Z SNDGS AT IAD AND PBZ SHOWED A PW OF ONLY 1/4". 00Z
SNDGS HV ONLY GONE UP 1/10 OF AN INCH) SO INTRODUCTION OF MOISTURE
W/ SN CAUSED A QUICK COOLING OF THE COLUMN. THIS SHOULD CONTINUE AS
THE MOISTURE SPREADS E. *HOWEVER!!*...THERE IS BIG CONCERN REGARDING
THE STNG PROGGED 850-800 MB WIND FIELD..S AT 50 KT RIGHT DURG TIME
OF PEAK PCPN (06-12Z). THIS IS ACTUALLY SEEN IN THE 00Z RNK SNDG.
THIS WL PUSH THE ABV SFC TEMPS ABV FRZNG. QUESTIONS STILL RESIDE
CONCERNING HOW FAR W THIS CHG COULD OCCUR..AND FOR HOW LONG. HENCE
THE PSBLTY RMNS FOR SGNFT ICING. DAYSHIFT PCPN GRIDDS HAD A GOOD
HANDLE ON WHAT I THINK COULD HAPPEN - A MIX OF ALL THREE WINTER
PCPNS FM DC-CHO AND PTS E. HV ADDED A SLIVER OF IP ADJACENT W OF
THAT AREA BTWN 09-12Z. 850 0 LN IN 00Z ANLYS IS APRCHG LWR SRN MD.
HV CHGD THE PCPN TO PLAIN R THERE A FEW HRS EARLIER.

I WL HV TO REISSUE THE WSW THIS EVE. ONE THING I WL MAKE IS TO CHG
"ANY ICE ACCUM WL BE MINIMAL" TO "SOME ICE ACCUM IS PSBL." CHO TO
SRN FAUQUIER LOOK TO BE THE MOST PROBLEMATIC.

I PLAN TO WAIT UNTIL CLOSE TO 10 PM TO RELEASE PRODUCTS TO SEE HOW
THINGS ARE TRANSPIRING AND ACT ACCORDINGLY.

[Fodie77]

A freezing drizzle just starting to come down here in Blacksburg. Local mets are leaning towards an ice accumulation of around 1/2 an inch in the valleys with winds of 15-25mph. No finals tomorrow maybe.

[angelwing]

Just got this:

Title: Winter Storm Alert
Interchanges: 00 - All Interchanges - 00 - All Interchanges
Mileposts: 0 - 0
Direction : ALL
Report(Type) : Update
Date/Time: 12/8/2005 9:41:05 PM
Currently, heavy snow is falling from the Ohio Line to the Blue Mountain area. Maintenance crews are salting and plowing the roadway surfaces as needed. Please use caution and drive accordingly for conditions.
-----------------------------------------
For Complete Information about this advisory, follow the link below:
http://www.paturnpike.com/rttc/advisory ... px?ID=3695

[JenyEliza]

For DC/Virginia/Maryland webcams and a view of road conditions, check this site out:

http://www.trafficland.com

[fasteddy77]

Just waiting for the snow to start....

La, la, la.....

3-6 inches (hopefully more!! )

[coriolis]

Snowing pretty good here, now. We're supposed to get 5 to 8 inches.

[Fodie77]

It appears as if all has come to a close here at VT. It's hard to tell exactly what we ended up with, but at this point I'd say around an inch of snow and perhaps a quarter inch or so of ice. Roads are looking TERRIBLE right now. Snow on top of sleet on top of ice...not a good combination. More details tomorrow.

In addition, a few disturbances may be on the horizon for next week. Those will have to be followed rather closely in the upcoming days.

[Matt-hurricanewatcher]

Is this a big snow event for you people like the Feb 2003 President day storm II? How big is this storm?