Wednesday, February 17, 11AM
Winter Storm Warnings are up pretty much the entire region for snow that begins before dawn tomorrow morning, becomes heavy in most areas after sunrise, and then may or may not change to sleet. Cold arctic air is in place, so it’s a pretty good bet that all of central MD will see all frozen precipitation throughout the day tomorrow. Surface temperatures will likely stay below freezing on northeasterly winds, and the only question now is how much warm air flows into the mid levels causing snow to change to sleet. For areas along and east of 95 that changeover is inevitable, and there could be a prolonged period of heavy sleet on top of any snow that falls. For the normally colder western and northern areas, the changeover comes later in the day or not at all. In either case, roads tomorrow will be very icy. Tomorrow will be a good day to watch the snow and sleet fall and do nothing about it. I wouldn’t recommend shoveling this mess until everything has fallen because the snow will make for a nice base for the concrete that will be falling on top of it.
Right now expect 2 – 4″ of snow and sleet to the south and east of 95, and 3 – 6″ west and north, with higher amounts possible west of route 15 and along the MD/PA line. Those amounts would be reduced significantly if the sleet change happens quicker than anticipated, but right now I think we all see a decent period of heavy snow.
I’ll update later this evening with any changes.
The Weather Mill 