December 21 Winter Solstice Starts With Fog Advisory Ends With Rain

Monday December 21 2020

At 5:02 AM Earth reached the point in orbit that points us farthest away from the sun. Winter has formally begun, marked by the shortest daylight of the year and lowest sun angle.

In Baltimore:

• Sunrise at 7:22 AM
• Sunset at 4:46 PM
• Total Daylight = 9 hours, 24 minutes, and 1 second

*We gain 2 seconds of daylight tomorrow.

Mid Day Sun Angle = 27.3º above the horizon

 

 

Now add in a Fog Advisory, and the sun will not help much to burn it off.  Low visibility is also compounded by some areas near freezing, where ice may form. This may form a glaze on your car, or on the road.

The next weather system will bring rain tonight, that may end with some snow showers or flurries into early Tuesday. Then we focus on the arctic front for Christmas.

 

Morning Advisories:

Dense Fog: Central Maryland, but should be considered in PA.

Air Quality (Code Orange): Southern PA. Yes, stagnation of air with little wind has allowed some particulates to build up.

Winter Weather Advisory: A few inches of snow in Garrett County Maryland.  More snow in the higher elevations of West Virginia

 

Visibility 

Lower visibility (under 1 mile in RED) for many areas north and west of Baltimore. Also on Delmarva.

 

Temperatures 

Freezing temperatures are spotty for nearby suburbs, and could be below 32ºF between weather station locations.

More sub freezing air near and west of I-81.

 

Morning Surface Map

The next weather system will be intensifying as it heads east today.

 

 

Forecast

 

This afternoon snow will begin in the mountain, and spread rain eastward.  Most of the rain will fall after dark, and may end with some light snow or flurries from central PA to northern Maryland

Radar Simulation —> slider

 

 

Tuesday Temperatures 

 

 

 

Christmas Arctic Front

This is all about the timing to determine how much snow can fall and when we get into the deep freeze. We still see roughly a 12 hour difference between the two main models.

Click here to see my report on this

 

Temperature Outlook 

 

FITF Shop Open

My ‘bonus’ daughter Jaiden and wife showing off our popular Maryland Hoodies. Unisex and women’s items all produced in Maryland.

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