Snow could sub for April showers

Marylanders may witness a rarity today -- an April snowstorm.

Weather forecasters last night were predicting an overnight snowstorm that could leave accumulations of 3 to 6 inches by morning. The snow is expected to taper off to flurries or drizzle by the afternoon, although an additional inch or two of accumulation is possible before it ends.

Snow in Maryland is not unheard of in April or even in May but it's usually just a few flakes. On April 9, 1985, almost an inch of snow fell on Baltimore and flurries were recorded May 1, 1963, and May 6 and 11, 1951, according to records kept by the National Weather Service at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.

"Every few years, a flake or two will come on down," said Amet Figueroa, a weather service forecaster. "But what we're looking at [overnight], that's another ballgame."

Because the ground temperature has warmed up in the past few weeks, "It will have to snow a long time before we get any accumulation on the road, especially in the city," Mr. Figueroa said. Snow is more likely to stick on cars and grassy areas.

Pub Date: 4/09/96