Winter Weather

A winter weather advisory is in effect through 11 a.m. Wednesday for northern Baltimore County, Carroll County and other parts of the state to the west, according to the National Weather Service. Little snow accumulation, if any, is expected, and freezing rain is more likely. That is because of warm layers of air aloft causing precipitation to melt and then re-freeze before hitting the ground. Temperatures were expected to rise above freezing mid-morning, the weather service said. The frontal system that brought the rain overnight is expected to move off the coast Wednesday, with rain and clouds tapering off through the day and highs in the 40s. Breezy weather is expected to move in during the evening and overnight, with wind chills in the mid- to upper 30s.  Gusts are expected to reach 20 mph Thursday, with highs in the upper 40s and wind chills in the 30s. Temperatures in the 30s and 40s are expected through the weekend.

It has been a year since the climate pattern known as La Nina ended, the longest period of so-called "neutral" conditions since 2004. And there is no sign of the phenomenon, or its counterpart El Nino, through summer, climate forecasters say. La Nina, known for bringing mild winters to the mid-Atlantic, was last active from August 2011 through April 2012. The phenomenon is marked by warmer-than-average Pacific Ocean surface temperatures around the equator. But since May of last year, those water temperatures have been in "neutral" territory, too cool for a La Nina but not cold enough for El Nino.

¿Q: Is it OK for our dog to play in the snow with our kids? A: Generally, yes -- with some caveats. A dog's normal body temperature is about 101 degrees, so they're a little warmer than us internally. But other factors explain why some dogs are better able to withstand winter weather. Small dogs with less body mass have a harder time staying warm. Dogs with double coats -- a top layer and a thick undercoat -- are naturally better insulated against cold (and heat, too, so people shouldn't shave dogs in an attempt to keep them cooler in hot weather)

1:51 p.m.:  The National Weather Service has now canceled the winter weather advisory about four hours early. Light snow and flurries are possible, but no additional accumulation is expected, according to the advisory. Drivers should still take caution on bridges and overpasses, which could remain slushy, the advisory cautions. The latest snowfall totals reported to the weather service include 5 inches near Pimlico, in Catonsville and near Westminster. Spotters reported 5.4 inches near Columbia and 5.2 inches near Garrison.

Though occasional flurries fell in Baltimore throughout the afternoon and evening, the city was spared the predicted snow accumulation that brought out the salt trucks and sent people home early from work and school. What happened to the winter weather forecast for Wednesday? "There was a larger mass of warm air invecting inland than expected," said National Weather Service meteorologist Matthew Kramar, who is stationed in Sterling, Va. That warm air coming off the ocean pushed the rain-snow line farther west, leaving Baltimore with a wintry mix that was mostly rain, he said.

Commuters should be cautious Monday morning as light snow falls across the Baltimore area, according to the National Weather Service. A winter weather advisory has been issued through 9 a.m. as snow is expected to spread from Carroll and central Howard counties into Anne Arundel County, Baltimore and areas north and east of the city, said Kevin Witt, a meteorologist in the Sterling, Va., weather service office. Snow is already falling in some parts of Baltimore and Baltimore and Harford counties, such as the Inner Harbor and Dundalk and up through Aberdeen, he said.

A winter weather advisory from the National Weather Service will remain in effect until 6 p.m. Saturday in the Baltimore region, as the metropolitan area braces for snow accumulations between one and three inches. Snow showers had been expected to end around noon. A small amount of snow had accumulated in downtown Baltimore on Saturday morning, though major thoroughfares appeared clear. It was the second-straight morning that residents awoke to find a light dusting. No major accidents were reported.

You may need your mittens more frequently than normal this winter. Or not, apparently. Maryland's winter temperatures and precipitation are equally likely to be above, near or below normal, according to an assessment released Thursday by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Across the southern United States, particularly Texas, this winter will likely be warmer and drier while the North and the Pacific Northwest will probably be wetter and colder than average, according to the report.

1:51 p.m.:  The National Weather Service has now canceled the winter weather advisory about four hours early. Light snow and flurries are possible, but no additional accumulation is expected, according to the advisory. Drivers should still take caution on bridges and overpasses, which could remain slushy, the advisory cautions. The latest snowfall totals reported to the weather service include 5 inches near Pimlico, in Catonsville and near Westminster. Spotters reported 5.4 inches near Columbia and 5.2 inches near Garrison.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for northern counties from 4 a.m. through 10 a.m. Friday, with up to an inch or two of snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain expected as a major snowstorm heads northeast to slam New England. The advisory applies to Carroll, northern Baltimore and Harford counties. The precipitation is expected to turn to rain for all of the Baltimore area by mid-morning. Forecast maps updated Thursday afternoon called for the heaviest snow, possibly 1-2 inches, in Harford County and northeastern Baltimore County.

The early spring snow falling on Carroll County overnight from Sunday into Monday has brought with it an extra vacation day for many local students. Carroll County Public Schools has announced that all public schools in the county are closed Monday due to the inclement weather. CCPS on Monday afternoon announced that a basketball game with the Harlem Wizards, originally scheduled for tonight at Manchester Valley High School, has been postponed until Saturday, April 13, at 7 p.m.  In addition, McDaniel College in Westminster has also closed for the day. The National Weather Service has a winter weather advisory issued for Carroll County through 6 p.m., and is forecasting that parts of the county could receive 3 to 5 inches of snow before the precipitation turns to rain this evening.

A winter weather advisory that had been in effect in parts of central Maryland was cancelled by the National Weather Service early Monday, as dry air is expected to limit the amount of precipitation in the area. The advisory had been in effect through Monday evening in Montgomery and Howard counties. A light snow is still possible in the morning, though accumulation is not expected, and rain or sleet are likely, the weather service said. Temperatures will likely remain in the upper 30s. A winter storm warning remains in effect in Western Maryland, with four-to-six inches of snow possible at higher elevations and two-to-four inches in the valleys, the weather service said.

It was supposed to be both winter's last blast and Baltimore's first significant snowfall in two years, but stubbornly warm air took the "snow" out of Wednesday's snow day for many Marylanders. While weather forecasts had the region preparing for the worst - as much as a foot of heavy snow causing potentially hundreds of thousands of power outages - what it got was little more than a nasty day of slushy rain, though several inches of snow stuck north and west of the city. Yet heavy winds toppled a tractor-trailer on the Bay Bridge, shutting the span down in both directions for about four hours.

Expectations of a storm to bring the heaviest snow in at least two years for the region have been dialed back as the National Weather Service has canceled its winter storm warning. High winds and wet roads remain a concern. Check here for live blog updates on conditions and forecasts. 4:36 p.m.:  Weather service meteorologists are no longer expecting any meaningful wintry precipitation Wednesday night, lifting the winter weather advisory for much of Central Maryland. Concerns remain over high winds in the Baltimore area and dangerous conditions along the coast, however, with rough surf and some rescues needed.

Baltimore appears in for its largest snowfall in at least two years. A storm that has dumped as much as a foot of snow across much of the northern Plains and Midwestern states is due to reach the mid-Atlantic overnight Tuesday. Stay tuned here for forecast updates Tuesday. 5:18 p.m.: National Weather Service forecasters said a tricky rain/snow line and surface air temperatures expected to be slightly above freezing could limit accumulations along Interstate 95. But to the north and west, intense bands of snowfall could form.

The National Weather Service issued a winter weather advisory in the Baltimore area until 6 a.m. Saturday, saying freezing rain and a trace accumulation of ice could pose travel hazards. With overnight temperatures in the lower 30s, sidewalks and untreated roads, especially bridges and overpasses, may prove slippery, the weather service said. Drivers were encouraged to exercise caution on the road. Text NEWS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun local news text alerts

It was supposed to be both winter's last blast and Baltimore's first significant snowfall in two years, but stubbornly warm air took the "snow" out of Wednesday's snow day for many Marylanders. While weather forecasts had the region preparing for the worst - as much as a foot of heavy snow causing potentially hundreds of thousands of power outages - what it got was little more than a nasty day of slushy rain, though several inches of snow stuck north and west of the city. Yet heavy winds toppled a tractor-trailer on the Bay Bridge, shutting the span down in both directions for about four hours.

A winter weather advisory is in effect for northern counties from 4 a.m. through 10 a.m. Friday, with up to an inch or two of snow mixed with sleet and freezing rain expected as a major snowstorm heads northeast to slam New England. The advisory applies to Carroll, northern Baltimore and Harford counties. The precipitation is expected to turn to rain for all of the Baltimore area by mid-morning. Forecast maps updated Thursday afternoon called for the heaviest snow, possibly 1-2 inches, in Harford County and northeastern Baltimore County.

An icy commute is expected Monday morning, with all of Central Maryland under a winter weather advisory and several hundredths of an inch of ice accumulation possible, according to the National Weather Service. It could be a treacherous start to a strange and varied week of weather. A wintry mix of precipitation is forecast to start in the early morning, but with some warmer air moving in overhead is expected to switch to freezing rain. Though precipitation is expected to be light, it could cause icing problems on bridges, walkways and highways.