Inches Of Snow

The second winter storm in little more than a week dropped 1 to 5 inches of snow on the Baltimore region early yesterday, coating roads with a slick layer of ice and slush. The storm caused few serious problems before turning to rain late in the morning. But transportation officials warned that wet roads and falling temperatures overnight might complicate today's morning commute. "Our main concern ... is freeze-over," said Lora Rakowski, a State Highway Administration spokeswoman. Highway officials planned to watch the road temperatures overnight and "saturate" the pavement with salt.

Marylanders braced today for what is likely to be the biggest snowstorm of the season so far -- and the first snowfall in Baltimore in nearly two months. Forecasters warned that Baltimore could see 4 to 8 inches of snow by early tomorrow from a classic nor'easter that was taking shape in the Deep South. As much as 10 inches could fall in parts of Southern Maryland. The predictions drove shoppers to sweep snow shovels, de-icer, snack foods and toilet paper off store shelves. "This is the first threat of a real snowstorm, and everybody's picking up everything," said manager Jessica Langston of the Home Depot in White Marsh, where more than 80 snowblowers sold Thursday and yesterday.

A quick-hit storm dumped up to 6 inches of snow on the Maryland region yesterday, closing schools, snarling traffic and causing accidents that involved dozens of cars. Wind-driven snow and freezing temperatures 20 degrees below normal added to messy road conditions, triggering a 40-car pileup on Interstate 95 in eastern Baltimore County and another that claimed one life and involved 116 vehicles on I-95 south of Washington. In Anne Arundel County, a couple was rescued last night after their pickup truck slid off Fort Smallwood Road and plunged into frigid Rock Creek.

A cold front moving through the Baltimore area early this morning brought freezing temperatures and light snow showers to the region. According to the National Weather Service, the showers were caused by a low pressure front that began passing through Wednesday. Northwesterly winds followed the front, picking up moisture off lakes and cold air that caused today's flurries. While the morning snowfall seemed to come as a surprise to some, with some area school systems scrambling to decide whether to delay or cancel classes, forecaster John Darnley said the National Weather Service had anticipated the showers.

The season's first snowfall moved into the Baltimore are about dawn today, closing schools in at least three metropolitan counties, causing scores of accidents and shutting down Baltimore-Washington International Airport.Although snow was expected to accumulate to as much as 3 inches in the immediate Baltimore area, Ken Shaver, a Weather Service forecaster at Baltimore-Washington International Airport, said it likely would change to heavy rain in many areas, with a chance of thunderstorms later today.

A moment ago you were all right. You were a rational, thinking person. You had a job, a home, a late-model car, life insurance and a 401(k) plan. You had a remote for the VCR, a remote for the CD player. You had a beeper. You were in control. Then you heard the word and something snapped inside you. Now you have to do something. Because somebody on the radio said the word, then somebody on television said the word, then everyone at the office was saying it and now you have to DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.The word, the ungodly horrible word.

The last days of winter could bring Central Maryland its biggest snowstorm in a decade, with the first flakes falling tonight and continuing into Sunday, weather forecasters warned yesterday.How bad might it be?The customarily cautious Fred Davis, the area's chief meteorologist for the National Weather Service, does not use the word "blizzard" lightly -- but yesterday he went so far as to say that blizzard conditions are a possibility.In the Baltimore area, a blizzard -- defined as 35 mph winds, with blowing snow reducing visibility to 500 feet or less -- hasn't happened since Feb. 11, 1983, when the area was paralyzed by a near-record 22 inches of snow.

Now that the snow has stopped falling, weather forecasters are looking ahead warily at the danger of flooding as temperatures begin to rise and rain approaches later in the week. "Rain is a wonderful melter of snow," said National Weather Service meteorologist Michelle Margraf. "When temperatures start warming up a bit, and rain comes Friday ... we could have some river-type flooding." The forecast called for daily highs in the mid-40s beginning tomorrow, with a chance of rain developing by Thursday night and continuing through Saturday.

You didn't really think we'd make it through winter without a major snowstorm, did you?Snow began falling throughout the Baltimore area about 8 p.m. yesterday. By 2 a.m., 3 to 4 inches were reported on the ground in the western suburbs."It looks like Mother Nature is trying to catch up -- and she probably will for the next few days. It's going to be really bad," said Jose O. Marrero, a meteorologist at Baltimore-Washington International Airport.Heavy snow is expected through this morning before turning to flurries this afternoon, forecasters said.

When the executives of Maryland's biggest counties and the mayor of Baltimore got together yesterday for a "Big Seven" luncheon, they had one piece of advice for newcomer James T. Smith Jr. of Baltimore County: Plow or perish. Three to 6 inches of snow were forecast to fall on the Baltimore region last night and today. For most people, that means a more difficult journey to work or the store, but for a county executive or mayor, it's do-or-die time. No matter how extenuating the circumstances, no one else gets the blame if the plows are too slow.