February 18 2018

The quick hit of snow that fell across our region on Saturday February 17 was the second large snow event of the season. That is not saying much, but it did have a bigger impact than expected. The snowfall range lined up pretty well with most of my forecast, with metro areas receiving a little more stickage and accumulation. This was a tough call since the air temperature just two days earlier was in the 70s, and the 60s the day prior. But, there is a simple explanation:

Baltimore’s BWI reported 2.2 inches of snow. That is second to our 2.8″ on December 9th. The seasonal total is now 8.7 inches.

The intensity of the snowfall rate was enough to compensate for the melting on the ground. Basically it snowed so hard, it didn’t have a chance to melt before the other flakes piled up. As a result, a layer of snow let more snow stick on time and accumulate… even on the roads. That made for tough travel in more of the metro areas than I suggested during the late afternoon and evening. Just that initial intensity made the difference in an extra inch accumulating.

Based on this, regardless of the snow totals and timing working out well, I must grade myself a B-. See my snow forecast maps and compare to the snow reports from the National Weather Service. Please go back to the social media post where you saw this article and give me your grade for my forecast.

The spotter reports for the NWS Baltimore/Washington region are below.

Compare

My First Call (also my Final Call)

The snow intensity and additional inch dropped my snow bands about 30 miles to the south. The exception was a dry pocket in eastern Frederick and northwestern Carroll Counties. This was seen on the HRRR model ahead of time. Once again, the NAM 3 Km Model preformed the best here.

National Weather Service Snow Totals

See the local maps and spotter list below

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Local NWS Spotter Report Maps

See the list of reports below

********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION          STORM TOTAL     TIME/DATE   COMMENTS                   
                     SNOWFALL           OF 
                     /INCHES/   MEASUREMENT

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

...District of Columbia...
   American University    0.8   800 PM  2/17  Broadcast Media         

MARYLAND

...Allegany County...
   Ridgeley 1 W           5.0   730 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Ridgeley 1 NW          4.5  1120 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Frostburg 2 ESE        4.5   614 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Frostburg 2 ENE        4.0  1252 AM  2/18  Trained Spotter         
   Frostburg              4.0   900 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Brady 1 W              3.5   830 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Mount Savage           3.5   618 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Cumberland             3.0   655 PM  2/17  Co-Op Observer          

...Anne Arundel County...
   Bwi Airport            2.2  1200 AM  2/18  Airport                 
   Fort Meade 2 N         1.6   538 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Herald Harbor 1 NW     1.6   800 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Green Haven 1 ESE      1.5   656 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Crownsville 3 SSW      1.2   958 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Odenton 1 WNW          1.2   500 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Annapolis 1 NW         0.5   510 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         

...Baltimore County...
   Perry Hall 2 E         2.8   855 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Brooklandville 2 NNW   2.5   730 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Kingsville 1 NE        2.4   949 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Kingsville 1 E         2.1   900 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Long Green 2 NW        2.0   730 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Catonsville 1 SSE      2.0   700 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Glyndon 1 WSW          2.0   900 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Reisterstown           2.0   755 PM  2/17  County Emrg Mgmt        
   White Marsh 1 ENE      2.0   833 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Norrisville 3 W        1.8   714 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Perry Hall 1 NNE       1.8   940 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Bentley Springs 1 E    1.8   800 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Glyndon 1 SW           1.8   656 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         

...Baltimore City...
   Pikesville 3 SE        2.8   958 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Pikesville 2 SE        2.6   800 PM  2/17  CoCoRaHS                
   Lochearn 2 ENE         2.5   834 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Arlington 2 ESE        2.0   739 PM  2/17  Broadcast Media         
   Baltimore              1.0   700 PM  2/17  Broadcast Media         

...Carroll County...
   Oakland                2.4   830 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Eldersburg 1 SE        2.4   815 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Lineboro 2 E           2.1   904 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Westminster 2 SE       2.0   659 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Gamber 1 WNW           1.7   845 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Westminster 1 W        1.5   738 PM  2/17  CoCoRaHS                

...Frederick County...
   Thurmont 3 N           2.9   815 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Point Of Rocks 1 NE    2.8   851 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Frederick 3 NW         2.1   800 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   New Market 2 NW        1.5   700 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Bloomfield 2 WSW       1.3   625 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         

...Harford County...
   Norrisville 1 WSW      2.5   852 PM  2/17  CoCoRaHS                
   Bynum 1 SW             2.0   930 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         

...Howard County...
   Gaither 2 SE           3.0   715 PM  2/17  CoCoRaHS                
   Simpsonville           3.0   135 AM  2/18  Trained Spotter         
   Simpsonville 1 SSE     2.7   708 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Columbia               2.5   830 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Columbia 2 N           2.4   900 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Ellicott City 1 NW     2.0   628 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Elkridge 2 W           2.0   708 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Ellicott City 2 ENE    2.0   805 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Elkridge               2.0   842 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            

...Montgomery County...
   Damascus 3 SSW         4.1   657 PM  2/17  Co-Op Observer          
   Clarksburg 1 N         3.1   834 PM  2/17  Other Federal           
   Clarksburg 2 SE        3.1   630 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Germantown 1 NE        3.1   635 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Clarksburg             3.0   630 PM  2/17  Broadcast Media         
   Montgomery Village 1   2.6   745 PM  2/17  CoCoRaHS                
   Montgomery Village 2   2.2   735 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Germantown 1 ESE       2.0   800 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Damascus               2.0   555 PM  2/17  County Emrg Mgmt        
   Four Corners 1 NNW     2.0   526 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Gaithersburg 2 ENE     2.0   707 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Norbeck 1 ESE          1.8   800 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Germantown 1 NW        1.8   654 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Kensington             1.5   755 PM  2/17  County Emrg Mgmt        

...Washington County...
   Pecktonville 3 NNW     3.5   745 PM  2/17  NWS Employee            
   Long Meadow 1 SSE      2.0   736 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Hancock                2.0   800 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Boonsboro 3 NNE        1.9   800 PM  2/17  Trained Spotter         
   Maugansville 1 NE      1.0   821 PM  2/17  Airport

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