Post by WXJIM22 on Dec 14, 2003 10:28:40 GMT -5
Good morning everyone. So far, 3 inches of snow fell here in Essex, MD just east of Baltimore. Reagan National in Washington has seen 4 inches of snow. Snow has changed over to sleet here in Essex and rain at Reagan National in DC. Snow has changed over to frez rain at Dulles. Sleet and frez rain is expected to mix in at Dulles Airport throughout the day. As a result, snow totals of 4-7 inches is possible at Dulles Airport and in the northwest suburbs of DC and Baltimore. Breaking it down, Baltimore City and Washington DC have seen 2-4 inches of snowfall and that is changing over to sleet and rain as we speak. Northwest suburbs of DC and Baltimore can expect a general 4-7 inches of snow followed by ice accumulation of around 1/4 inch on trees and powerlines. Temperatures north and west of the cities are below freezing. Fredrick is 29 with snow heavy at times. It's 30 with frez rain at Dulles. But here in Essex, MD, it's 34. BWI is 33, National is 33. All three sites Essex, BWI, and DCA are reporting rain and or sleet. Martin Airport MTN just east of Essex is reporting rain and sleet and 34 now. An interesting morning here to say the least.
Meanwhile further south into western North Carolina, huge problems this morning. Hickory, NC has received 1 inch of frez rain and sleet. Power outages are reported in western North Carolina at this time. Expect to lose power in spots in western North Carolina and western Virginia where 1/4-1/2 inch of ice is widespread. Some places could see 1/2-1 inch of ice locally. That kind of ice can result in downed trees and powerlines and expect to lose power in spots as trees and powerlines could be snapped due to the weight of the ice. Warm air moving on top of the cold air at the surface better known as cold air damming is keeping the icestorm going from western North Carolina up into western Virginia. Keep an eye out west of DC and Baltimore for possible isolated power outages due to ice accumulation of 1/4 inch expected.
Further north, Philadelphia is 31 and snow. Allentown is 23 and snow. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches an hour can be expected for a few more hours in both areas. Only difference is Allentown will stay in the snow and mix with sleet later today. Philadelphia will see snow changeover to rain around midday or so. That's why Philadelphia will see 3-5 inches of snow before a heavy rain. Flood watches are in effect for Philadelphia because of the potential of snowmelt flooding and heavy rains on top of saturated ground. 1-2 inches of rain is expected in Philly after midday today and lasting through this evening. Meanwhile Allentown, PA will see 8-14 inches of snow because the snow will last longer and sleet will not mix in with the snow in Allentown until later today. Further north on I 95, New York City is under a winter weather advisory with winter storm warnings north and west of NYC. A flood watch is in effect for NYC and a wind advisory is in effect too. Coastal sections near NYC and the Jersey Shore are under a gale warning. Snowfall has started in New York City sooner than expected. Thus 3-6 inches of snow is expected in the city of New York. 1-2 inches of rain is expected on top of that tonight into early Monday. Winds will be sustained at 25-35 mph with gusts to 45-50 mph. Winds are coming from the northeast now in New York. However as the coastal storm deepens rapidly and moves north along the coastline, winds will turn towards the east and snow will change to rain in the big apple later today. Meanwhile northwest Jersey is under a winter storm warning. 10-15 inches of snow is expected for the northwest corner of Jersey today through tonight. Snow may mix with sleet in northwest Jersey at times. But a mainly snow event is what we're looking at in through here.
Meanwhile Boston, Mass will see snow arrive later this afternoon, then change over to rain by later tonight as warmer Atlantic ocean air moves in. Boston is under a winter weather advisory. A winter storm warning is in effect just northwest of beantown. 8-14 inches of snow can be expected from western Mass northeastward through southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire before this event is all said and done.
If you folks want to see some of the heaviest snow in this storm, I suggest heading to northeastern PA, eastern New York and into northern New England. Snowfall amounts of 2-3 feet is expected. Breaking it down, 15-25 inches in northeast Pennsylvania can be expected. Many areas near the capital district of Albany where Jim Cantore will be reporting live will see 2 feet of snow widespread. Some places in northern New England in the ski resort areas will likely see 2-3 feet of snow. Northern New England maybe the area that hits the jackpot as far as heaviest snow amounts are concerned.
On top of all this snow, strong winds will create blowing snow even inland from the coast. Gale and storm warnings are up from the mid atlantic coast up into the new england coast. After this storm is all said and done, a few days of rest before an even bigger and stronger coastal storm for the mid atlantic and northeast US coast. Precipitation could be significant potentially and winds could be very strong and damaging in some cases. Coastal problems could potentially be widespread from the mid atlantic and northeast US coast. However exactly how strong the winds will be and how much rain and snow falls will depend on the track, timing, and intensity of this storm. It could potentially be a major coastal storm for the eastern seaboard Wednesday night into Thursday, which could be stronger than the one we're seeing now. In the meantime, let's deal with the second significant nor'easter in a weeks time. More updates will be issued on this storm later this afternoon.
Stay tuned and stay warm and safe out there.
Jim
Meanwhile further south into western North Carolina, huge problems this morning. Hickory, NC has received 1 inch of frez rain and sleet. Power outages are reported in western North Carolina at this time. Expect to lose power in spots in western North Carolina and western Virginia where 1/4-1/2 inch of ice is widespread. Some places could see 1/2-1 inch of ice locally. That kind of ice can result in downed trees and powerlines and expect to lose power in spots as trees and powerlines could be snapped due to the weight of the ice. Warm air moving on top of the cold air at the surface better known as cold air damming is keeping the icestorm going from western North Carolina up into western Virginia. Keep an eye out west of DC and Baltimore for possible isolated power outages due to ice accumulation of 1/4 inch expected.
Further north, Philadelphia is 31 and snow. Allentown is 23 and snow. Snowfall rates of 1-2 inches an hour can be expected for a few more hours in both areas. Only difference is Allentown will stay in the snow and mix with sleet later today. Philadelphia will see snow changeover to rain around midday or so. That's why Philadelphia will see 3-5 inches of snow before a heavy rain. Flood watches are in effect for Philadelphia because of the potential of snowmelt flooding and heavy rains on top of saturated ground. 1-2 inches of rain is expected in Philly after midday today and lasting through this evening. Meanwhile Allentown, PA will see 8-14 inches of snow because the snow will last longer and sleet will not mix in with the snow in Allentown until later today. Further north on I 95, New York City is under a winter weather advisory with winter storm warnings north and west of NYC. A flood watch is in effect for NYC and a wind advisory is in effect too. Coastal sections near NYC and the Jersey Shore are under a gale warning. Snowfall has started in New York City sooner than expected. Thus 3-6 inches of snow is expected in the city of New York. 1-2 inches of rain is expected on top of that tonight into early Monday. Winds will be sustained at 25-35 mph with gusts to 45-50 mph. Winds are coming from the northeast now in New York. However as the coastal storm deepens rapidly and moves north along the coastline, winds will turn towards the east and snow will change to rain in the big apple later today. Meanwhile northwest Jersey is under a winter storm warning. 10-15 inches of snow is expected for the northwest corner of Jersey today through tonight. Snow may mix with sleet in northwest Jersey at times. But a mainly snow event is what we're looking at in through here.
Meanwhile Boston, Mass will see snow arrive later this afternoon, then change over to rain by later tonight as warmer Atlantic ocean air moves in. Boston is under a winter weather advisory. A winter storm warning is in effect just northwest of beantown. 8-14 inches of snow can be expected from western Mass northeastward through southern Vermont and southern New Hampshire before this event is all said and done.
If you folks want to see some of the heaviest snow in this storm, I suggest heading to northeastern PA, eastern New York and into northern New England. Snowfall amounts of 2-3 feet is expected. Breaking it down, 15-25 inches in northeast Pennsylvania can be expected. Many areas near the capital district of Albany where Jim Cantore will be reporting live will see 2 feet of snow widespread. Some places in northern New England in the ski resort areas will likely see 2-3 feet of snow. Northern New England maybe the area that hits the jackpot as far as heaviest snow amounts are concerned.
On top of all this snow, strong winds will create blowing snow even inland from the coast. Gale and storm warnings are up from the mid atlantic coast up into the new england coast. After this storm is all said and done, a few days of rest before an even bigger and stronger coastal storm for the mid atlantic and northeast US coast. Precipitation could be significant potentially and winds could be very strong and damaging in some cases. Coastal problems could potentially be widespread from the mid atlantic and northeast US coast. However exactly how strong the winds will be and how much rain and snow falls will depend on the track, timing, and intensity of this storm. It could potentially be a major coastal storm for the eastern seaboard Wednesday night into Thursday, which could be stronger than the one we're seeing now. In the meantime, let's deal with the second significant nor'easter in a weeks time. More updates will be issued on this storm later this afternoon.
Stay tuned and stay warm and safe out there.
Jim
