Saturday, December 19, 2009

Washington DC Snow Breaks December Record

For full season data, see: Winter 2009-2010 Snowfall Review

For other related posts, including the latest record report, see:

Sunday Evening Update: Here are a couple of other statistics from the National Weather Service:
THE 15.0 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED YESTERDAY WAS THE THIRD
HIGHEST DAILY SNOWFALL ON ANY CALENDAR DAY AT WASHINGTON DC SINCE
SNOWFALL RECORDS BEGAN IN 1884.

THE 20.5 INCHES OF SNOW MEASURED YESTERDAY WILL GO DOWN AS THE FIFTH
HIGHEST DAILY SNOWFALL ON ANY CALENDAR DAY AT BALTIMORE SINCE
SNOWFALL RECORDS BEGAN IN 1893.
Sunday PM Update: Added monthly record chart, updated unofficial measurements.

Sunday AM Update: Final official daily and monthly (to date) snowfall amounts:
Washington National 15.0"/16.6"
Washington Dulles 16.0"/21.0"
Baltimore (BWI) 20.5"/22.2"
New records (previous in parentheses):
  • National: All-time December daily (11.5", 12-17-1932) and monthly snowfall (16.2", 1962)
  • Dulles: All-time December daily record (10.6", 12-12-1982) and second highest December snowfall (24.2", 1966)
  • Baltimore: All-time December daily (11.5", 12-17-1932) and monthly snowfall (20.4", 1966)
For Dulles and Baltimore, these are only the second double-digit daily amounts in December. For Washington, it's the fourth.

11 pm Update: As of 9 pm, Washington National reported 16.3" of snowfall from this storm. This brings the December total to 16.5", which is a new all-time December record, exceeding the 1962 amount of 16.2". This is also the 7th biggest snowstorm in Washington history. The 6 bigger ones are:
January 27-28, 1922 .... 28 inches
February 11-13, 1899 ... 20.5 inches
February 18-19, 1979 ... 18.7 inches
January 6-8, 1996 ...... 17.1 inches
February 15-18, 2003 ... 16.7 inches
February 11-12, 1983 ... 16.6 inches
9 pm Update: Yet another inch at BWI, now at 18". Light snow continues at all 3 locations.

8 pm Update: BWI reports another inch, 17" on the ground. No change at National or Dulles.

Given the inconsistency with the snow amount and the over 1" of liquid at Dulles, the National precipitation amount cited earlier (0.33") is most likely incomplete, possibly from freezing of the instrument or blowing of the snow away from the instrument.

7 pm Update: Dulles reports another inch, 17" on the ground. National is at 15", BWI no change.

6:30 pm Update: The National Weather Service preliminary climate reports have been updated. Here are the daily snowfall/storm total/monthly total amounts for the region as of 4 pm:
Washington National 14.0/15.4/15.6
Washington Dulles 15.0/15.0/18.0
Baltimore (BWI) 11.0/11.0/12.1
The 1.11" of liquid precipitation at Dulles is a record for the date.

6 pm Update: Baltimore (BWI) reports 16" on the ground in the latest hour. This would imply a total snowfall in the top 10 for Baltimore records dating back to 1891 and the highest in December. The 8th place snowstorm in the all-time record list is March 15-18, 1892 with 16.0".

Dulles is at 16", National no change.

5:30 pm Update: Updated unofficial reports.

5 pm Update: Dulles Airport now has an official report of 15" of snow on the ground; no increase at National. This puts Dulles close to the second highest December monthly total of 15.9" in 1969. The December record is 24.2" in 1966.

4:40 pm Update: The preliminary climate report for today has been issued with the snowfall amount listed as "MM" (missing), so the official record will be delayed. Interestingly, the precipitation amount is given as 0.33", which would have been only 3.3" at a typical snow/liquid ratio of 10:1.

4 pm Update: National adds another inch but depth on ground is still 14"; Dulles also at 14" on the ground with a cumulative amount of 16". Cumulative snowfall is probably now within the top 10 all-time biggest storms in Washington. Updated unofficial reports as of 3:23.

3 pm Update: Added snow depth chart and updated total to 14".

2 pm Update: National has added 1" to reach 13" on the ground, BWI 2" to 10". Considering that National had 1" on the ground at midnight, that's at least 12" of new snow today, which breaks the daily record, and the total amount breaks the December single-storm record. Here's the raw report showing SNINCR (snow increase) to 13":
KDCA 191852Z 35014KT 1/4SM R01/1200V1400FT +SN VV003 M03/M06 A2965
RMK AO2 SLP039 DRSN ALQDS SNINCR 1/13 P0005 T10331056 $

Original post:
As of 1 pm, Washington National is reporting 1/8 mile visibility in heavy snow and an increase of 2" in the past hour with 12" on the ground. Unofficially, this is a new December daily record, exceeding the previous record of 11.5" set in 1932. Other regional amounts include:
Washington Dulles 12"
Andrews AFB 11"
Baltimore (BWI) 9"
Patuxent River MD 5"
Roanoke 15"
Richmond 7"
Unofficial reports include:
********************STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL********************

LOCATION STORM TOTAL TIME/DATE COMMENTS
SNOWFALL OF
/INCHES/ MEASUREMENT

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

..DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

THE MALL 16.0 615 PM 12/19

MARYLAND

..ALLEGANY COUNTY

LONACONING 17.4 412 AM 12/20
NORTH BRANCH 1 N 17.0 1015 PM 12/19
CUMBERLAND 1 SSE 14.5 702 PM 12/19
FROSTBURG 14.0 700 PM 12/19

..ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY

GLEN BURNIE 22.5 915 PM 12/19
CROFTON 21.0 1030 PM 12/19
BALT-WASH INTL ARPT 21.0 1200 AM 12/20 KBWI
ANNAPOLIS 20.8 700 PM 12/19
OWINGS 1 NNE 20.0 845 PM 12/19
GREEN HAVEN 1 NE 19.9 424 AM 12/20
GAMBRILLS 1 NW 18.0 733 PM 12/19
MILLERSVILLE 18.0 815 PM 12/19
PAROLE 1 NNW 17.0 630 PM 12/19
RIVA 2 NW 15.0 933 PM 12/19

..BALTIMORE COUNTY

CATONSVILLE 20.5 847 PM 12/19
GUNPOWDER 1 WSW 20.5 933 PM 12/19
GARRISON 1 SE 20.4 1025 PM 12/19
ESSEX 20.0 1020 PM 12/19
PARKTON 20.0 655 PM 12/19
DUNDALK 1 SSW 19.5 700 PM 12/19
MONKTON 19.0 915 PM 12/19
REISTERSTOWN 19.0 945 PM 12/19
HAMPTON 1 W 18.0 618 PM 12/19
HUNT VALLEY 17.8 1005 PM 12/19
JACKSONVILLE 17.0 900 PM 12/19
RANDALLSTOWN 1 NW 16.5 715 PM 12/19
PARKVILLE 1 ENE 12.0 830 PM 12/19

..BALTIMORE CITY COUNTY

CARROLL 2 W 17.0 1115 PM 12/19

..CALVERT COUNTY

DARES BEACH 3 NW 19.0 800 PM 12/19
HUNTINGTOWN 18.8 1050 PM 12/19

..CARROLL COUNTY

LINEBORO 3 WSW 20.0 933 PM 12/19
MILLERS 19.0 1100 PM 12/19
WESTMINSTER 1 N 18.8 729 PM 12/19
LINEBORO 2 E 18.5 800 PM 12/19

..CHARLES COUNTY

BRYANS ROAD 2 ESE 21.2 1000 PM 12/19
DENTSVILLE 1 SW 13.5 1050 PM 12/19
WALDORF 4 SE 13.5 600 PM 12/19

..FREDERICK COUNTY

LIBERTYTOWN 2 N 22.5 931 PM 12/19
FREDERICK 1 ESE 22.0 1100 PM 12/19
NEW MARKET 2 NW 22.0 900 PM 12/19
MIDDLETOWN 21.0 930 PM 12/19
JEFFERSON 2 NE 20.2 931 PM 12/19
POINT OF ROCKS 19.0 930 PM 12/19
WALKERSVILLE 19.0 743 PM 12/19

..HARFORD COUNTY

EDGEWOOD 19.0 800 PM 12/19
FALLSTON 1 N 18.0 931 PM 12/19
BEL AIR 1 NE 16.5 840 PM 12/19

..HOWARD COUNTY

COLUMBIA 23.0 945 PM 12/19
SIMPSONVILLE 1 SSE 22.9 1200 AM 12/20
COLUMBIA 2 N 22.9 950 PM 12/19
ELKRIDGE 2 W 21.0 930 PM 12/19
GLENELG 1 ENE 19.5 1050 PM 12/19
SAVAGE 1 WSW 19.0 1128 PM 12/19
HANOVER 19.0 945 PM 12/19
SAVAGE 1 N 17.0 900 PM 12/19
ELLICOTT CITY 1 ESE 16.8 900 PM 12/19

..MONTGOMERY COUNTY

BETHESDA 24.0 500 AM 12/20
OLNEY 23.3 1030 PM 12/19
DERWOOD 23.0 900 PM 12/19
GLEN ECHO 22.8 930 PM 12/19
OLNEY 1 S 22.5 800 PM 12/19
GERMANTOWN 22.0 650 PM 12/19
GAITHERSBURG 1 NW 22.0 632 PM 12/19
NORBECK 21.3 1200 AM 12/20
ROCKVILLE 2 NW 21.0 932 PM 12/19
NORBECK 1 SE 21.0 1000 PM 12/19
COLESVILLE 21.0 900 PM 12/19
GLENMONT 21.0 737 PM 12/19
POTOMAC 3 ENE 20.6 1100 PM 12/19
DAMASCUS 20.3 918 PM 12/19
BETHESDA 2 NNW 20.0 743 PM 12/19
FAIRLAND 1 ESE 20.0 815 PM 12/19
ROCKVILLE 1 SSW 20.0 800 PM 12/19
NORTH POTOMAC 1 E 19.0 1000 PM 12/19
POOLESVILLE 19.0 1230 AM 12/20
DARNESTOWN 1 SW 19.0 815 PM 12/19
SILVER SPRING 1 ESE 18.0 1000 PM 12/19
GERMANTOWN 3 E 16.5 700 PM 12/19

..PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY

LAUREL 19.1 1000 PM 12/19
BOWIE 2 NNW 19.0 921 PM 12/19
BOWIE 18.8 802 PM 12/19
HYATTSVILLE 18.0 812 PM 12/19
GLENN DALE 3 ENE 18.0 1050 PM 12/19
FOREST HEIGHTS 1 SSE 17.0 720 PM 12/19
BELTSVILLE 1 SSW 15.0 1110 PM 12/19
ADELPHI 1 ENE 13.8 1000 PM 12/19

..ST. MARYS COUNTY

HOLLYWOOD 1 NNE 15.8 300 AM 12/20
HOLLYWOOD 14.5 950 PM 12/19

..WASHINGTON COUNTY

SMITHSBURG 21.0 742 PM 12/19
HANCOCK 16.0 630 PM 12/19

VIRGINIA

..ALBEMARLE COUNTY

EARLYSVILLE 3 NW 23.0 1045 PM 12/19
EARLYSVILLE 23.0 1010 PM 12/19
CROZET 22.0 600 PM 12/19
MONTICELLO 1 NW 19.0 1000 PM 12/19

..ARLINGTON COUNTY

BALLSTON 1 SW 20.5 100 AM 12/20
ARLINGTON 20.5 800 PM 12/19
BAILEYS CROSSROADS 1 19.3 945 PM 12/19
FALLS CHURCH 1 ENE 19.2 1100 PM 12/19
REAGAN NATIONAL AIRP 16.4 1200 AM 12/20 KDCA

..AUGUSTA COUNTY

STUARTS DRAFT 28.8 600 PM 12/19
FISHERSVILLE 26.0 600 PM 12/19

..CITY OF ALEXANDRIA

BARCROFT 2 ESE 20.0 1244 AM 12/20
ALEXANDRIA 19.0 741 PM 12/19
ALEXANDRIA 1 SE 15.0 614 PM 12/19

..CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE

CHARLOTTESVILLE 21.0 600 PM 12/19

..CITY OF WAYNESBORO

WAYNESBORO 28.0 600 PM 12/19

..CLARKE COUNTY

BERRYVILLE 1 NW 22.0 857 PM 12/19
BERRYVILLE 22.0 720 PM 12/19
BERRYVILLE 2 NE 21.0 700 PM 12/19

..FAIRFAX COUNTY

CENTREVILLE 1 SE 23.0 820 PM 12/19
CHANTILLY 1 N 22.0 1230 AM 12/20
GREAT FALLS 2 NW 21.8 1120 PM 12/19
HERNDON 1 NNE 21.0 1000 PM 12/19
BURKE 1 NNW 21.0 1200 AM 12/20
LORTON 20.8 1000 PM 12/19
VIENNA 20.5 700 PM 12/19
CHANTILLY 3 SE 20.0 845 PM 12/19
RESTON 20.0 845 PM 12/19
FAIRFAX STATION 1 NN 19.2 1100 PM 12/19
LINCOLNIA 1 W 19.2 940 PM 12/19
FRANCONIA 1 N 18.0 1227 AM 12/20
RAVENSWORTH 17.5 830 PM 12/19

..FAUQUIER COUNTY

OPAL 21.8 1035 PM 12/19
MARSHALL 21.0 1107 PM 12/19
WARRENTON 4 SE 20.5 900 PM 12/19
BEALETON 1 ESE 18.0 900 PM 12/19

..FREDERICK COUNTY

WHITACRE 1 ESE 19.0 600 PM 12/19
STEPHENS CITY 2 E 18.5 945 PM 12/19
WINCHESTER 18.0 930 PM 12/19
WINCHESTER 5 NE 17.8 800 PM 12/19

..GREENE COUNTY

RUCKERSVILLE 1 W 19.5 815 PM 12/19
MCMULLEN 16.5 702 PM 12/19

..LOUDOUN COUNTY

LUCKETTS 22.0 1000 PM 12/19
BLUEMONT 21.0 745 PM 12/19
DULLES INTL 3 NW 19.3 1200 AM 12/20 NWS OFFICE
ASHBURN 19.0 710 PM 12/19
LOVETTSVILLE 19.0 611 PM 12/19
ARCOLA 1 SSW 18.5 810 PM 12/19
DULLES INTERNATIONAL 18.0 1200 AM 12/20 KIAD

..NELSON COUNTY

WINTERGREEN 30.0 600 PM 12/19

..PAGE COUNTY

LURAY 1 SW 17.0 1130 PM 12/19

..PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY

WOOLSEY 3 NNW 19.3 932 PM 12/19
MANASSAS 18.0 1200 AM 12/20

..ROCKINGHAM COUNTY

GROTTOES 22.0 1100 PM 12/19
MASSANUTTEN 1 SE 20.5 607 PM 12/19

..SHENANDOAH COUNTY

TOMS BROOK 3 SSE 17.5 900 PM 12/19

..SPOTSYLVANIA COUNTY

BELMONT 4 SE 19.0 649 PM 12/19
CHANCELLORSVILLE 4 S 18.5 721 PM 12/19

..STAFFORD COUNTY

FALMOUTH 14.0 1000 PM 12/19

..WARREN COUNTY

LINDEN 2 N 26.8 800 PM 12/19
FRONT ROYAL 1 ENE 21.0 748 PM 12/19

WEST VIRGINIA

..BERKELEY COUNTY

VANVILLE 1 SSW 21.0 951 PM 12/19
BUNKER HILL 1 WNW 20.0 1000 PM 12/19
MARTINSBURG 20.0 800 PM 12/19
GERRARDSTOWN 19.5 622 PM 12/19
FALLING WATERS 2 N 19.5 613 PM 12/19
FALLING WATERS 1 NNW 17.0 1015 PM 12/19
GERRARDSTOWN 1 ESE 14.5 900 PM 12/19

..HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

SPRINGFIELD 22.0 739 PM 12/19
LEHEW 2 WNW 20.0 739 PM 12/19
CAPON BRIDGE 6 SW 19.0 936 PM 12/19

..JEFFERSON COUNTY

SHENANDOAH JUNCTION 20.0 900 PM 12/19

..MINERAL COUNTY

KEYSER 21.0 738 PM 12/19

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