Jan 25th storm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just for funsies, the snowfall below is NOT going to happen, but we can dream:



Translation: we might get a few snowflakes next weekend.

I don't understand. Why would you even WANT that scenario? Are you insane?

OP here. Sigh. You don't understand the mindset of a meteorologist, or amateur met. We live for extreme weather events, only tempered by the fear of death or injury to humans. On that note, we fear icing events way more than snow events. Ice kills more people.

Of course we won't have 30 inches of snow. But 3-8 inches might be within the realm of possibility with the data we have today. I would be thrilled to have a foot of snow.

Also: brace yourselves for 3 potential winter events from Jan 24 to Feb 1st. One of them may jackpot over our heads.

So sad Florida did not have a huge hurricane this year.

I am with you I would like a snow storm

Awful person alert.

Maybe. Maybe not. We are all waiting for it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just for funsies, the snowfall below is NOT going to happen, but we can dream:



Translation: we might get a few snowflakes next weekend.

I don't understand. Why would you even WANT that scenario? Are you insane?

OP here. Sigh. You don't understand the mindset of a meteorologist, or amateur met. We live for extreme weather events, only tempered by the fear of death or injury to humans. On that note, we fear icing events way more than snow events. Ice kills more people.

Of course we won't have 30 inches of snow. But 3-8 inches might be within the realm of possibility with the data we have today. I would be thrilled to have a foot of snow.

Also: brace yourselves for 3 potential winter events from Jan 24 to Feb 1st. One of them may jackpot over our heads.

So sad Florida did not have a huge hurricane this year.

I am with you I would like a snow storm

Awful person alert.

Maybe. Maybe not. We are all waiting for it.

Yeah a crippling snowtstorm sucks for a lot people, but is nowhere near a crippling hurricane. It's actually fun for a ton of people which is why it's being cheered on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. People in VA, or people driving to VA, particular the south, need to be aware of the potential for freezing rain. It can be catastrophic for that deep pink portion of the map, because of widespread power outages and ice all over the roads:

Oh, that would suck. I love a good snowstorm and have been cheering this one on, but freezing rain is horrible. Fingers crossed that the models move back to many inches of light, fluffy snow.

Thank you for all of the info, DCUM meteorologist!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Just for funsies, the snowfall below is NOT going to happen, but we can dream:



Translation: we might get a few snowflakes next weekend.

I don't understand. Why would you even WANT that scenario? Are you insane?

OP here. Sigh. You don't understand the mindset of a meteorologist, or amateur met. We live for extreme weather events, only tempered by the fear of death or injury to humans. On that note, we fear icing events way more than snow events. Ice kills more people.

I have lived through Hurricane Andrew and David in Florida so much worse than any snowstorm I have ever lived through.

Of course we won't have 30 inches of snow. But 3-8 inches might be within the realm of possibility with the data we have today. I would be thrilled to have a foot of snow.

Also: brace yourselves for 3 potential winter events from Jan 24 to Feb 1st. One of them may jackpot over our heads.

So sad Florida did not have a huge hurricane this year.

I am with you I would like a snow storm

Awful person alert.

Maybe. Maybe not. We are all waiting for it.

Yeah a crippling snowtstorm sucks for a lot people, but is nowhere near a crippling hurricane. It's actually fun for a ton of people which is why it's being cheered on.

[Anonymous]

I was concerned about the possibility of power outages due to freezing rain bringing down tree limbs and power lines. But as of right now (knock on wood), any changeover from snow to mixed precip seems like it would be sleet for us rather than freezing rain. Sleet bounces off trees and power lines and doesn’t accumulate on them like ice/freezing rain does. The models and maps are having a hard time differentiating between sleet vs. freezing rain. Freezing rain seems to be more of a concern right now on the eastern shore as well as south and west toward Richmond and other points much further west like in Tennessee and Arkansas and such. Snow changeover to sleet would lessen our snow totals though but we will still get a lot of snow before the changeover happens.

[Anonymous]

I’m waiting so see if the snow hole gets larger.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about the possibility of power outages due to freezing rain bringing down tree limbs and power lines. But as of right now (knock on wood), any changeover from snow to mixed precip seems like it would be sleet for us rather than freezing rain. Sleet bounces off trees and power lines and doesn’t accumulate on them like ice/freezing rain does. The models and maps are having a hard time differentiating between sleet vs. freezing rain. Freezing rain seems to be more of a concern right now on the eastern shore as well as south and west toward Richmond and other points much further west like in Tennessee and Arkansas and such. Snow changeover to sleet would lessen our snow totals though but we will still get a lot of snow before the changeover happens.

I so hope that’s right. I have no fireplace or generator. Massive amounts of snow are one thing, but ice is just a disaster.

As for OP above me, snow hole? I thought everyone was getting a foot of snow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about the possibility of power outages due to freezing rain bringing down tree limbs and power lines. But as of right now (knock on wood), any changeover from snow to mixed precip seems like it would be sleet for us rather than freezing rain. Sleet bounces off trees and power lines and doesn’t accumulate on them like ice/freezing rain does. The models and maps are having a hard time differentiating between sleet vs. freezing rain. Freezing rain seems to be more of a concern right now on the eastern shore as well as south and west toward Richmond and other points much further west like in Tennessee and Arkansas and such. Snow changeover to sleet would lessen our snow totals though but we will still get a lot of snow before the changeover happens.

Don’t we usually get sleet around here because we hover around the freezing point during winter events? Will the impacts of sleet be different because the temperatures will be in the teens?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I was concerned about the possibility of power outages due to freezing rain bringing down tree limbs and power lines. But as of right now (knock on wood), any changeover from snow to mixed precip seems like it would be sleet for us rather than freezing rain. Sleet bounces off trees and power lines and doesn’t accumulate on them like ice/freezing rain does. The models and maps are having a hard time differentiating between sleet vs. freezing rain. Freezing rain seems to be more of a concern right now on the eastern shore as well as south and west toward Richmond and other points much further west like in Tennessee and Arkansas and such. Snow changeover to sleet would lessen our snow totals though but we will still get a lot of snow before the changeover happens.

Don’t we usually get sleet around here because we hover around the freezing point during winter events? Will the impacts of sleet be different because the temperatures will be in the teens?

Yes, because it will freeze and stay frozen. I am down for snow but do not want any ice.

[Anonymous]

OP here.

As of Thursday morning, the forecast hasn't changed much from yesterday.

The minimum we are predicted to receive is 6 inches of snow in the DC area, in the night of Saturday to Sunday.

Followed by a wintry mix of snow/sleet and, unfortunately, a bit of freezing rain the more south you go.

If the forecast holds, some people to the south of DC will get 6" and some people to the north will get 12".

You all know what to do and how to prepare.

The real discussion and concern is how catastrophic the ice event will be for central VA. Those folks need to prepare for widespread power outages, and given it's going to be an exceptionally cold week... it's not looking good. There is a threat to life in that region.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here.

As of Thursday morning, the forecast hasn't changed much from yesterday.

The minimum we are predicted to receive is 6 inches of snow in the DC area, in the night of Saturday to Sunday.

Followed by a wintry mix of snow/sleet and, unfortunately, a bit of freezing rain the more south you go.

If the forecast holds, some people to the south of DC will get 6" and some people to the north will get 12".

You all know what to do and how to prepare.

The real discussion and concern is how catastrophic the ice event will be for central VA. Those folks need to prepare for widespread power outages, and given it's going to be an exceptionally cold week... it's not looking good. There is a threat to life in that region.

Yep the low is 5 Tuesday night.

[Anonymous]

I predict FFx county will close schools for the week. Announcement will occur Monday at the latest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

OP here.

As of Thursday morning, the forecast hasn't changed much from yesterday.

The minimum we are predicted to receive is 6 inches of snow in the DC area, in the night of Saturday to Sunday.

Followed by a wintry mix of snow/sleet and, unfortunately, a bit of freezing rain the more south you go.

If the forecast holds, some people to the south of DC will get 6" and some people to the north will get 12".

You all know what to do and how to prepare.

The real discussion and concern is how catastrophic the ice event will be for central VA. Those folks need to prepare for widespread power outages, and given it's going to be an exceptionally cold week... it's not looking good. There is a threat to life in that region.

Me again. I want to insist on the duration of the cold following this weekend's snow. Our area usually has a few inches of snow in March that melts quickly in the spring sun and warmth. We are not used to glacier conditions after a snowfall. Here everything will freeze solid for the entire week.

This means, in practice:

1. Schools will be closed for multiple days.
2. You want to shovel critical areas as soon as you can.
3. Sodium chloride salt works well above 15F. Calcium chloride, which works even at negative degrees, is toxic to plants and pets and can damage concrete and asphalt. Unsurprisingly, the pet-friendly urea-based crystals don't work as well.
4. If you live in a house with pipes close to exterior walls or poorly insulated pipes, you want to open interior doors/cabinets, possibly let faucets drop a tiny bit, and keep warm air circulating.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I predict FFx county will close schools for the week. Announcement will occur Monday at the latest.

Loudoun doesn’t have a pre-planned days off next week and I predict they will be out the week too. Maybe, at best a delay Thursday and Friday.

[Anonymous]

So what is everyone thinking for school closures? Monday/Tuesday with 2hr delay Wednesday? Or maybe Wednesday no school too if the ice is bad?