Inches Of Snow

Forecasters peering far into next week see much colder air ahead - the first real hint of winter. That raises the question: Will Baltimore see yet another Dec. 5 snowstorm this year? "Huh?" you say. Consider: On Dec. 5, 2002, BWI saw 7.4 inches of snow. The following year, 6.8 inches fell on the 5th and 6th. In 2004, winter took a holiday on the 5th, but 1.2 inches fluttered down over the next six days. Last year we got 3.3 inches on the 5th and 6th. The watch begins.

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.

Meteorologist Rich Hitchens was monitoring a winter storm headed for Baltimore on three computer screens last night. "It's on its way," he said of a warm-air system from the Gulf of Mexico on a collision course with the cold air over the Mid-Atlantic region. The storm could bolster this month's snow total significantly. It is expected to blanket Central Maryland with 6 to 10 inches of snow before midnight, when it would push north, Hitchens said from the National Weather Service office in Sterling, Va. Forecasters declared a heavy snow warning for 24 hours starting at 1 a.m. today but said the bulk of the snow would fall between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. The new snow was unlikely to set records, but even a little would push Baltimore over the average of 6.4 inches for February snowfall.

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.

A winter storm that forecasters said could bring as much as 8 inches of snow to the Baltimore area - and follow up with a dose of freezing drizzle - threatened to create a mess on the highways for today's morning and evening rush hours. As snow began falling across much of Maryland and encircled Baltimore late last night, city officials announced the first of what likely would be many area cancellations - trash pickup - and several schools systems decided to close. "It could get messy before this is over," Luis Rosa, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Sterling, Va., said of a storm that would be the biggest of the season if it lives up to expectations.

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.

A winter storm, billed as the second half of a one-two punch, delivered a softer blow than many expected yesterday, offering up a powdery snow that brought few new problems and some opportunities for fun. The storm lived up to the lower end of its forecast totals, depositing 3.3 inches at Baltimore-Washington International Airport and 4 to 5 inches around most of the rest of the area Friday night and yesterday morning, the National Weather Service said....

Go ahead and bronze those shovels, Baltimore. We've just survived not only the snowiest February on record, but the snowiest month by any name in this city since at least December 1883. February saw more snow dumped on the Pearl of the Patapsco -- more than 40 inches -- than all but 11 entire winters since Chester A. Arthur occupied the White House 120 years ago. And it may not be over. March has produced some of the region's worst weather, including the Palm Sunday Storm on the last weekend of March 1942 that dropped 22 inches of wet snow on Baltimore and 32 inches on Westminster.

BUFFALO, N.Y. - The relationship between residents here and their city's weather is much like one between relatives. You can belittle a cousin, but you defend her against others. "They're a little sensitive here about what people say," said weatherman Mike Randall, who has been giving his forecasts outside for 13 years at WKBW-TV. "If you're from Buffalo, you can complain and criticize the weather. As soon as somebody else does it, you want to jump on them." It's not easy being the unofficial Snow Capital of the United States.

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.