Storm

2010-02-07 05:32:57.000 – Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist

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With relatively uneventful weather hanging on to New England, I’ll take this opportunity to travel to where the weather is for my comments today.

The latest major winter storm struck the mid-Atlantic states yesterday, and has been dubbed with a copious number of over-the-top nicknames already (‘Snowmaggeddon’ and ‘Snowpocalypse’ stuck out in my mind) as many locations witnessed record snowfalls.

The highest reported snowfall totals produced by this storm (inches):

Colesville, MD: 40.0
Near Elkridge, MD: 38.3
Near Howellsville, VA: 37.0
Frostburg, MD: 36.0
Leesburg, VA: 34.5

Some other impressive totals from around the mid-Atlantic (inches):

Near Crofton, MD: 34.0
Dulles Airport (Washington, D.C.): 32.4
Philadelphia, PA: 28.5
Johnstown, PA: 28.0
Near Martinsburg, WV: 27.9
American University (Washington, D.C.): 27.5
Cherry Hill, NJ: 27.3
Wilmington, DE: 26.5
Baltimore-Washington Airport: 24.8

The 32.4 total at Dulles Airport was a two-day record, destroying the old record of 23.2 set during the infamous blizzard of ’96.

The 24.8 total at Baltimore-Washington Airport was also a two-day record, squeaking by the old record of 24.4 during the president’s day storm of ’03.

Wilmington, DE received 19.4 of its total 26.5 on February 6th, which was a one-day record, defeating the old record of 13.9 set in 1978.

Not only did the storm produce significant snowfall totals, but blustery winds as well as the low pressure system rapidly intensified off the eastern seaboard and rocketed northeastward. Here are some of the selected highest reported wind gusts (just as a reference point, Mt. Washington’s peak gust yesterday was 57 mph):

Lewes, DE: 61 mph
Georgetown, DE: 60 mph
Tuckerton, NJ: 51 mph
Cape May, NJ: 50 mph
Atlantic City, NJ: 48 mph

In addition to the winds and snow, the storm produced nearly 1/4 inch of ice (due to freezing rain) in parts of North Carolina and Virginia.

This storm will certainly be remembered for years to come by those who experienced it. And those of us in New England will just have to remain patient and hope some of the snow comes our way soon!

 

Mike Carmon,  Staff Meteorologist