From the “weather is not climate department”, it seems that the biggest snowstorm of all time is targeting the nation’s capitol. Here’s the current radar image:
via NOAA/NWS
SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 1234 PM EST FRI FEB 5 2010 DCZ001-MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ042-050>057-501-502- 060145- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-NORTHERN BALTIMORE- 1234 PM EST FRI FEB 5 2010 ...RECORD SNOWFALL FORECAST IN THE BALTIMORE-WASHINGTON DC REGION... ...EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS DEVELOPING TONIGHT... GUSTY NORTHEAST WINDS 20 TO 30 MPH WITH VISIBILITIES FREQUENTLY FALLING BELOW ONE-QUARTER MILE DUE TO HEAVY SNOW WILL DEVELOP TONIGHT TO PRODUCE NEAR-BLIZZARD AND EXTREMELY HAZARDOUS WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS TONIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY MORNING. TRAVEL IS HIGHLY DISCOURAGED TONIGHT AND WILL BE VERY DANGEROUS. LOOKING BACK AT THE BIGGEST STORM OF RECORD FOR WASHINGTON DC... THE JANUARY 1922 KNICKERBOCKER STORM...28.0 INCHES OF SNOW WAS PRODUCED FROM 3.02 INCHES OF LIQUID WATER. CURRENT FORECASTS FOR THIS EVENT HAVE TOTAL LIQUID FALLING FROM THIS STORM APPROACHING 3 INCHES...WHICH ACCORDINGLY WOULD CREATE A SNOWFALL THAT WILL RIVAL THE KNICKERBOCKER STORM TOTAL. GENERALLY ACROSS THE REGION...20 TO 30 INCHES OF SNOW WILL FALL BY SATURDAY EVENING. BALTIMORES RECORD OF 26.8 INCHES FROM THE PRESIDENTS DAY FEBRUARY 2003 STORM WILL ALSO BE THREATENED.
While that might be a record for one storm, I grew up in that region and have seen more snow than that on the ground. That was when we had “back to back” or “back to back to back” Nor’easters come though in a relatively short period of time.
In fact, this storm might be setting up to do the same thing. There is a second storm spinning up around Missouri and when that one reaches the coast, it may also “explode” and produce a second event.
what do kids think nowadays? when i was a kid snowstorms were fun, still are. The Weather Channel (yesterday) was saying, yes, you can still get storms like this, but the planet IS warming. WTF!!
(a long time Weather Channel addict, but not lately).
it’s just sad.
So Bastardi and Corbyn are right again.
The biggest snow job in DC history? It staggers the imagination.
I wish there was another way other than to witness blizzards to make greeniacs look totally asinine trying to sell AGW.
Right now, I see no other way
The animated maps all over the place look like the storm is going to leave the coast pretty quickly. Is there something I am missing?
I understand how a noreaster works, but doesnt that mean the low has to slow down and hang of of the coast for a while? looks like its moving too fast.
I got a few shots of the arcs, sun-dogs and halos on Feb 4 that preceded the storm. Here is one shot, whacked a bit with Adobe to bring out some detail, with some of the phenomenon labelled:
http://www.gvarros.com/arc_list.jpg
and another one of some geese fleeing with a nice zenithal arc in the background:
http://www.gvarros.com/geese_arc3.jpg
These were shot about 35 miles NW of DC, in Mount Airy Maryland.
I’m in Baltimore and you have to realize we seem to be stuck on a snow belt this winter. Besides the Dec. storm, we had 5″ of snow last weekend, 4″ on Wednesday, we are predicted to get 20-30 over the next 24 hours, and snow is predicted for Tues next week and next Saturday. Is Al Gore in town or something???
Best wishes to all those caught up by the snow. Stay safe. Stay home. Take care.
As Gerry would say, “That’s a shame”.
I am 100 miles west of DC and it started snowing at 9:30 this morning. As of 6 pm, there was 7 inches of snow.
What a coincidence!
Washington, DC politicians get a chance to make direct observations themselves to independently “verify” Al Gore’s predictions.
What a strange coincidence.
With kind regards,
Oliver K. Manuel
Emeritus Professor
Nuclear & Space Science
Former NASA PI for Apollo
Don’t be alarmed, folks. This is just Mother Gaia compensating for the imminent loss of those Himalayan glaciers. By 2035 (2030?) they’ll be relocated to DC and vicinity.
I suggest moving the Federal Government about 250 km east to escape the ice.
I guess Mother Nature wanted to send President Obama a message:
“I don’t like it when others try and take credit for my handiwork!”
Great! More heat that will be released in the atmosphere to irradiate to space.
H2O(l) –> H2O(s) + Heat
Steve Goddard (14:55:01) :
Wow Steve, that was like a Keith Olbermann meltdown rant…
G. Varros (15:53:23) :
I got a few shots of the arcs, sun-dogs and halos on Feb 4 …
Super Pictures, thanks for showing them to us.
But what about Vanuatu? What about the polar bears? What about the Goreacle’s electricity bill?
I guess the first snow storm didn’t get the message across (even with the caption contest). So this one is The Special – A message to you Barry.
Since this is storm is obviously caused by KillerCoal, this would be a good time for J Hansen and his EcoWarriors to shut down the DC coal plant… This conscientious action would have the maximum effect during the storm. Who knows, the immediate cessation of CO2 might even clear the skies and usher in the EcoUtopia…. /sarc off
“The animated maps all over the place look like the storm is going to leave the coast pretty quickly. Is there something I am missing?”
What often happens is that once the low gets close to the coast, a new one forms offshore quite suddenly and “explodes” with moisture. What amazes me about the national RADAR is that you can see the classic Nor’easter set up.
Here is a good link with some snowstorm history of the region and a bit about how these storms work:
http://www.erh.noaa.gov/lwx/Historic_Events/md-winter.html
G. Varros:
Very nice. I’m also in the Mt. Airy neighborhood (over in Monrovia) and was looking at those clouds yesterday and wondering if there were any sun dogs or other phenomena. You must have been looking at just the right time, as I didn’t see anything.
I hope you’re hunkered down. I’ve got the Buffalo, NY-quality snow blower ready to go and all the bread, milk and toilet paper a family of five could ever need.
Stay safe.
Mr Varros, what is making the trees in the background stand out in incandescence?
Or did you photoshop that in?
This begs a question. If most of the earth’s stored heat is in the oceans, is this the result of the oceans releasing some of its stored heat?
Where I live on a very large lake we see this effect at night for those of us who live on the shoreline when the temperatures stabilize and even increase a degree or two for a couple of hours as the lake gives up its heat.
Seeing those wacko politicians get hit with 3 feet of snow makes me think this is either poetic justice or divine intervention.
Anyway I’m glad it isn’t coming here (metro Detroit area). Knock on wood.