| W e a t h e r W a r r i o r . N e
t WINTER WEATHER INFORMATION AND FACTS |
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Winter Storm Intercepts January 1996 January 8th, 1999 2002/2003 Summary January 5th, 2003 February 17th, 2003 February 25th, 2007 ...many more to come Winter Weather Links NWS - MD Winter's Page WeatherTalkRadio Winter Outlook |
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December 5th , 2002 Snow Storm
This is the first snow of this season, and not a bad one at that. With the Washington, DC area recieving anywhere from 4" to 9" of snow. Most of the areas that I survey ranged from 6" to 7". Due to work deadlines, college deadlines, and other commitments, I did not get a chance to significantly survey the area. I did however explore a little in the Bethesda area around my building where I work. This is where most of the pictures were taken too. Click on either of links above to sample the pictures and some of the satellite and radar images I saved from the internet. Even with a light El Nino this season, we might see a slightly higher number of snow fall than we have had in previous seasons. El Nino does bring us a slightly higher than average level of precipitation, but it also traditionally means warmer temperatures. But if enough cold fronts plung low enough and mid level and upper level jets pull cold temperatures from Canada, we might see an active winter season, it will be hard to tell. December 11th, 2002 Ice Storm
The snow hasn't even melted from the last storm and now we get freezing rain ontop of it. This is an interesting storm because it's a perfect example of how important the mid-level temperatures can affect the precipitation type. While at the surface we were experiencing below freezing temperatures, there was a slight inversion of temperature-to-latitude. This means it was warmer (above freezing) up about 5,000 feet or higher, which kept the moisture from turning into snow. Once it fell to earth, and made contact with the surface, it frooze instantly. This creates a growing layer of ice over everything. While extreme picturesque, it is also the most hazardous of winter conditions. Impossible to walk, or drive on, and extremely heavy to all it freezes too. This often means lots of falling tree branches and power lines. Can be quite a unique photo opportunity, if you're willing to go out your front door. The links above provide some of the pictures I took as well as some of the graphics I saved from that day. December 25th, 2002 Snow Shower
Yes, that's right folks, it's Christmas morning, and it's snowing. I don't know when the last time it snowed on Christmas day here in the DC area. Just note though, this was no major snow event, just a few (wet) inches. I measured 3" here in Gaithersburg, Maryland, but I hear 5" fell in Hagerstown, but only 1" to 2" right down in the Capital. I traveled just a little north into Frederick County to get the pictures that you can see by clicking on the "My Pictures" link above. Since it will be nearly 40 degrees and sunny tomorrow, I suspect the melting will be very fast. I won't be able to get many (if any) more pictures. For the next snow storm I had better stick with my usual best spot...Great Falls Park. Merry Christmas. January 5th, 2003 Snow Storm
Well I go away for a week to Chicago, Illinios, where there was no snow (though I thought I would see some) and then come back the night before we get 4 inches in the D.C. area. I'm not complaining, in fact, I'm surprised I didn't miss it all together as I usually do (The Foster Affect). I got plenty of pictures, including some from around the Morman Temple in Kensington, MD where the winter light display was still up. The pictures are a little fuzzy since I didn't have a tri-pod. But they're still quite cool. There are other pictures to look at too in the group. Funny thing about this storm is it wasn't suppose to happen. Almost every forecaster said it would be merely a dusting on the ground. Well make that a 4" dusting. This being our fourth storm in the area, I suspect we'll have an above average active winter....but....I also suspect that the pattern is likely to change soon, mostly in that the Jet Stream in going to shift and bring warmer temperatures to the Mid-Atlantic. I do think we will continue to see the moisture, but rain will prevail more often. But that's fine, this area's drought of the last two or three years may finally come to a close. It may even be a good thing to have some extra. Maybe even help with areas still stickened with dry conditions. Getting back to my seasonal predictions, January will see a quite time with maybe one more good frontal storm. February will also have some more rain storms with a perhaps one storm out of three being a snow and/or ice event. March will bring only rain, no late snow storms this time around. I think we'll have to wait another year for that "Big-Big" Storm that dumps more than 12" in 24 hours. It'll likely be three plus years before we see another 1996 blizzard (20" plus). Enjoy this and the next storm while you can. January 26th, 2003 Snow flurries and light accumulation
This was just a dusting,
I don't think we even saw an inch on the ground. I did get
some pictures mostly because I took them while Geocaching. February 1st, 2003 Snow Storm in Denver, Colorado
A bonus to my travels to Denver for the Colorado Storm Chaser's Conference was that myself, and the Weathervine team got to drive up into the Rockies as it started to snow. It was quite interesting....Saturday it was near to 70 degrees, and everyone was wearing shorts and T-shirts. Then 24 hours later, we were seeing heavy snow fall which ended up dumping 8 inches at our hotel just outside Denver. February 7th, 2003 Snow Storm
I can't believe it...yet another snow storm in the Washington, DC area. I think this year is making up for all those years we didn't have snow, or very little to talk about. Luckily we haven't had any big storms, this one dumped about 5 inches in the Gaithersburg area, and didn't even really disrupt peoples travels. There is a way coming in from the Pacific, but too early to say it it's even going to reach us as snow....since there is a warming trend, and the Artic blast isn't present. But there is expected to be a High Pressure center over middle eastern Canada, which would send cooler temps our way February 15th-18th, 2003 President's Day Snow Storm (Worst in 24 years)
1996 was our last major storm...I remember that one, before that 1979 was worse. Other big storms were in 1993 and 1983, and the worst was 1922, named the Knickerbocker Storm because of the Knickerbocker Theater that had the roof collapse, killing a large group of people watching a play. This storm was amazing, it actually came in as two storms. On Friday night we saw 3 inches fall in Gaithersburg, then nearly 24 hours of no snow. Then the big one on Saturday night and Sunday all day...dumping 20 additional inches of snow. Add that to the 1 inch of snow left from the Feb. 7th storm, and we had an even 24 inches (2 feet) of total accumulation on the ground. Some areas had upto 27 inches total accumulation and others in Western Maryland and Northeastern Maryland had 30 plus inches. One Maryland town officially reported 48 inches of snow. Saturday I spent with a friend, going bowling, getting hot chocolate, and watching the snow start to fall. I wondered my way back home before it really started. Then I woke up on Sunday morning (at about 5am) to see we already had 4 inches or so. I was out by 7am, shoveling snow, and taking the first few pictures, then about noon I started heading south. I made it to Bethesda which is were I ended up spending the night. I took some more pictures Sunday night, and then Monday morning I got up and headed for DC. Once I was in DC, there were plenty of photo opportunities. This is were the bulk of the pictures and video were taken. I was only able to hang around the Metro Center area, and around the Washinton Monument, that's when I started for home. Once home all I wanted to do was rest, I hurt from walking in deep snow for long distances (in akward boots). I rested and got up Tuesday morning to attack more shoveling and digging out. The mountains of snow were amazing. most were at eye level, with a few being over my head. One or two piles were 10 feet or higher. Wednesday it's back to work, but still plenty of photo opportunities. Also by weeks end, there should be a massive melt off, with temperatures rising close to 50, and heavy rains expected for the next weekend. We could see massive flooding, which if true, I'll be there taking more pictures and video. For a full story/essay, click here (not yet available) February 26th-28th, 2003 Snow Storm
Unbelievable, it's snowing again,
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