Colder Air Is On The Way Today With Icing Delayed

Friday February 4 – Morning Report

I do hope my messaging was received. This event has always been about timing, and yesterday it become obvious that the cold air will would just a few hours later.  If you are checking in for a surprise, it has been the surge of warm air overnight. Baltimore reached the 60s AFTER 3 AM!

Cold air is on the way, and our northern counties still expect freezing rain and sleet. But since the arrival will be after sunrise, most roads will be OK.

We should watch for icing into metro Baltimore this evening. 

Headlines

• Warming Air surged in overnight
• Colder Air still on the way
• Winter Weather Advisory (North Central MD AFTER 8 AM)
• Roads will stay wet this morning.
• Some icing during day (In Advisory)
• Watch For Icing AFTER 5 PM into Central Maryland

Morning Set Up

The front is THAT CLOSE and THAT SHARP!  Freezing rain has reached western Maryland’s Garrett County.   The icing is just northwest of Harrisburg, with snow on the doorstep of Pittsburgh. 

This wave of Low Pressure slowed everything down, but the movement will resume this morning. 

See the animation below.

Winter Weather Advisory

Reminder: North Central Maryland engages at 8 AM.

Storm Animation

5 AM to 7 PM

There will be freezing rain and sleet developing in the Advisory Counties

Temperatures 

Observation at 6 AM

This is a wild swing!

• Baltimore is at 61ºF (down from 63ºF)!
• Westminster WAS AT 61ºF as well. See second map! Dropped 18 degrees in 20 min to 43ºF at 6:30 AM. The will reach freezing sooner!
•  York down to 36ºF and will reach freezing close to 8 or 9 AM
• Hagerstown down to 37ºF and will be close to freezing much of the day.
• Garrett County is at 30ºF with freezing rain and ice already!

Temperatures at 6:30 AM

Forecast Animation

5 AM to 7 PM

Temps will be FALLING A LOT! 

Some icing in the Advisory areas, but road ice will be limited during the day.

Due to rain lingering, Icing will develop after 5 PM where ground is wet.

Snapshots

Early Afternoon 

Icing during the day may still develop on:

• Shaded side roads
• Parking lots
• Sidewalks, steps, and railings
• Car windows and road signs
• Trees, power lines, etc.

Evening

Icing on wet pavement and salting may be needed NORTH of Rt 50. Near Annapolis but through metro Baltimore and northern Eastern Shore in Queen Annes, Kent, and Cecil County. Also north of Dover in Delaware.

Weather Almanac: Climate Data at BWI

TODAY February 4

Seasonal Snow: 13.3”; 

+4.7″ ABOVE AVERAGE

Normal Low in Baltimore:  25ºF

Record 5ºF in 1918

Normal High in Baltimore: 43ºF

Record 72ºF 1991

Saturday

There is a quick disturbance that will move through in the morning. This may produce a flurry, but more likely just cold winds!

7 Day Forecast

Next week will be quiet and seasonal. One coastal system on Tuesday will be weak, but could produce showers early. The warm up looks less impressive now.

Winter Lovers: Mid month we expect another Polar Vortex Disruption, which will send in more arctic air. Look for our next possible ‘event’ around Valentine’s Day. I will have more on that later.

ALSO SEE

What is Faith in the Flakes: History of December 5th Snow

ALL FITF GEAR

FITF THUNDERSNOW

Winter Outlook Series:

My Call For Snowfall

Last Winter Recap: My Old Outlook And Your Grades Of My Storm Forecasts

Winter Weather Page – Lots of resources

Solar Cycle Increasing Sunspots Suggests More Snow

Comparing 4 Different Farmer’s Almanacs: Majority colder winter outlook than NOAA

NOAA Winter Outlook- But Read The Fine Print

Signals For Early Start To Winter In November

Winter Outlook Series: La Nina Double Dip

Nor’easters May Give Hint For Winter La Nina Pattern

Winter Folklore Checklist

*Disclaimer due to frequent questions:

I am aware there are some spelling and grammar typos. I have made a few public statements over the years, but if you are new here you may have missed it:

I have dyslexia, and found out at my second year at Cornell.  I didn’t stop me from getting my meteorology degree, and being first to get the AMS CBM in the Baltimore/Washington region. 

I do miss my mistakes in my own proofreading. The autocorrect spell check on my computer sometimes does an injustice to make it worse. 

All of the maps and information are accurate. The ‘wordy’ stuff can get sticky. 

There is no editor that can check my work when I need it and have it ready to send out in a newsworthy timeline. 

I accept this and perhaps proves what you read is really from me…

It’s part of my charm.

#FITF