A Long Time Since Major Snow Hit Mid-Atlantic...

One of the fascinating things about tomorrow's storm is how long it's been since these areas have had a major snowfall. For most locations we have to harken back to 2002-2003 to find a decent amount of snow during the winter (a season which ironically here in State College, PA matched this year with an October snow and may again with a White Christmas).

| 2003-04 | 2004-05 | 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2008-09

Take for example Roanoke, in the mountains of Virginia. I could find only two storms that dropped 5 inches or more in one day between 2002 and 2009, and we're predicting 12.5" for them tomorrow! The same is true in the North Carolina mountains (my old stomping grounds), and even the Piedmont up through Baltimore and Washington, D.C. If you know the history where you are, leave me a Comment... and enjoy the snow!

Comments (29): Zach:

while I haven't had as much snow as normal, I've had two double digit snowfalls since 05'. We had 11" from a storm that road the coast in 06', and then 11' last March. I live about 3,000' elevation in Southern Virginia along the Blue Ridge, Hillsville to be exact. When storms ride up the coast though, we usually get upslope enhancement.

Posted by Zach | December 18, 2009 9:00 AM oscar:

if this storm goes well, we will get the most snow since the 2003 blizzard(bethesda, MD)

Posted by oscar | December 18, 2009 8:41 AM Stephen:

Want snow? Come north to Montreal, Quebec, we have 12 to 18 inches on the ground from last week. You are most welcome to it, we are sick of it already and in all likelihood it will be around until late March!

Posted by Stephen | December 18, 2009 8:13 AM The Truth:

Jesse,

I read that you guys are predicting 8.2" for DC. This won't verify because the way they measure snowfall at DCA is stupid and it in no way represents the amount of snow that falls in the surrounding area.

Posted by The Truth | December 18, 2009 6:55 AM John:

Back in mid-2003 I bragged to my seven-year-old Alabama stepson about how much snow he'd have thanks to our moving to Maryland. And it's been pathetic! That storm in Feb. 2006 finished up with a large amount of ice -- we slid around on the sidewalks for a full week, but it wasn't much for playing in after the first day. We've gotten good at making snowmen with one inch of snow, like we used to do in Montgomery.

At least by leaving Alabama we left the fire ants behind -- one thing I hate about global warming is that it will make Maryland potential fire-ant habitat! Winter nights need to get below 18 degrees to stop those beasts.

Posted by John | December 18, 2009 6:29 AM Joe:

In all due respect Jessie, why would a snow comparison begin (and end) in the summer months? Why not January through December? That seems more logical since both months occur in the winter and begin and end in the same year. Just a thought!

Posted by Joe | December 18, 2009 6:01 AM Joe:

In all due respect Jessie, why would a snow comparison begin (and end) in the summer months? Why not January through December? That seems more logical since both months occur in the winter and begin and end in the same year. Just a thought!

FROM JESSE: That's a government decision from NOAA but it makes sense to me because the weather patterns surround the winter season, not the calendar year.

Posted by Joe | December 18, 2009 6:00 AM Lorenz:

Hi Jesse!

I live in Easton, MD on the Eastern shore of Maryland. We had our foot of snow this past winter of March 09. Are you serious that some says they had their last foot of snow 6 yrs ago. I guess it all depends on location.. location!

Posted by Lorenz | December 18, 2009 3:36 AM thextreme1:

My wife and I moved to Ocean City, MD in 2000 and it was either 2000 or 2001 that I remember a decent size snow of 4" or more. Since then, we are lucky to have seen 1-2" a year. I am very excited for this storm as my wife didnt get a chance to see the snow on the beach in 2000-2001 because of work and this time she will. So bring us as much snow as possible and we will hang out in the boardwalk arcade all day(it is open 365 days a year) and watch the wonderful, very infrequent large snowfall.

Posted by thextreme1 | December 18, 2009 3:24 AM Stephen Markiewicz:

Jesse,

Just wanted to wish all of you at Accuweather.com a Happy Holiday. I check the Web site daily. Whenever I can. I will be doing that mostly when I get back from work tomorrow. Which it all ready is, becasue for some odd reason, my Internet froze about 20 times in 15 minutes. Never in my life this year as it froze so many times. I don't even have that many things running and it froze. I was totally agervaated. I was just wondering what the snowfall forecast is going to be for the Chirstmas Storm that you guy's say we are suppost to get next week. I herd it's going to be a big one. I was just wondering what the snowfall forecast is for, for Western New York. (W.N.Y.) I'm really anxious to find out what's going to happen in this snowstorm that's going to affectd the whole Mid-Atlantic. I can't believe another one is coming either. Is the how the whole winter is going to be? At least that's what I herd.

Well, just had to say something. It's been a while since I made a comment, becasue I've had a lot of problems with my Internet lately. Been a pain in the but. Hope everything is going ok for you. It is so hard to get things done when it freezes and you have your things in a certin way on the Internet.

Keep up the good work at Accuweather.com. I'll be checking tomorrow for Chirstmas Storm updates when I get back from Christmas shopping for my Mom after work. Then we have a party to go to for my one cousion. He's having a Turdken (spelling) at the post. In North Tonawanda. Should be fun. I was really looking forward to it. Was never there before. Not that I can remember. I let you know the details if you want when I'm done. He's having 80 people over. He was pretty nervous about it, that's what my Step Dad said.

Again, just thought I would say those few things.

MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY NEW YEAR TO YOU AND (&) ACCUWEATHER.COM,

SINCERELY, STEPHEN MARKIEWICZ NORTH TONAWNADA, NY 14120

Posted by Stephen Markiewicz | December 18, 2009 2:21 AM Lynn:

The last BIG storm we had here in Charles Town, WV was in February 2003. I remember flying home early from Florida just in case in got heavy and boy did it... We recieved over 25" Loved it!!!

Posted by Lynn | December 17, 2009 11:59 PM Clint:

Hey Jesse if the carolina mountains are your old stomping grounds then you must remember the "SUPER STORM OF 83' Feb. 10,11 1983 this storm eerily reminds me of that storm which dropped 17.9 inches right here in the Capital of the Mid-Atlantic,....Richmond, Virginia ..CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS biggy ..bring on the blizzard.

Posted by Clint | December 17, 2009 11:56 PM Philip:

Wow a December Nor'Easter in NOVA? I'm STOKED! This is very rare. I remember Thanksgiving Day...1988 we had a FOOT of snow in Nokesville, VA (3 miles west of Manassas), after supper all my cousins and I spent the day sledding. That is the earliest "significant" snow I remember...I think in 2002 it snowed here on Christmas Day, but not enough to cover the grass...I dont remember a storm this big since January 2002 or 2003 (memory fails me on the year)...but the snow was hip deep and deeper in drifts....shortly thereafter the temperatures rose and the river I live on had a massive flood...one of the largest I've seen. But even that storm pails in comparason to the "Blizzard of 1996" where the snow was up to my belly button in drifts. However, storms of this size are for the most part outliars across the battlefields of Virginia's Piedmont. Still, I love em!!

Posted by Philip | December 17, 2009 11:37 PM mark holder:

I am ready for a good one!

Posted by mark holder | December 17, 2009 11:03 PM T Talley:

last march 2008 im not sure of the date but we had 10 inches here in louisa, va.

Posted by T Talley | December 17, 2009 10:55 PM Heidip422:

In 1969, we had a storm on Xmas day in Maryland (DC area) that required shoveling. My grandparents were visiting from Milwaukee and were even amazed by it!

Posted by Heidip422 | December 17, 2009 8:44 PM Hunter Outtem:

hey jesse,

Being in Frankford DE i can only remember 2 storms this century that even had 6in's or more. First go all the way back to the Presidents Day storm in 2003 where it dropped over a foot of snow. and the other just last march 1-2nd with 9in. now seeing u guys are seeing 10-12in for my area is absolutely phenomenal. Be glad to see our first snowfall a major one.

We are covering the storm aswell and if u wanna chat with us dont be shy.

www.analystwx.com

Posted by Hunter Outtem | December 17, 2009 8:34 PM Donnie Caputi:

I don't rememeber the exact year(maybe 2001 or 2002)but on Christmas Eve in South Jersey we had a good d 2-4 inches of snow before it was all washed away when the storm tracked inland and washed all the snow away and turned into a windy rainy mess Christmas day.

Posted by Donnie Caputi | December 17, 2009 8:06 PM D.C. Weather:

The last time D.C. saw over 12 inches in one single storm goes back to Feb. 03. If this event pans out - It will be the biggest snowfall event in 6 years for the D.C. Baltimore area.

Posted by D.C. Weather | December 17, 2009 5:29 PM Reggie Smith:

the last time we got a major storm in philly and the surrounding area was in february of 2006 when philly got a foot N/W got about 20 inches.

Posted by Reggie Smith | December 17, 2009 5:25 PM Andrew:

I moved to the DC area from Harrisburg PA in August 2005. Since that time i can count on one hand how many snow storms we have had since then. That 2 hour drive down RT 15 makes a world of difference. As a kid i remember having at least 6 storms a year and getting about 30 to 40 inches. can't wait to get some snow lets hope this and the christmas day storm happen.

Posted by Andrew | December 17, 2009 5:16 PM Brah:

I have waited patiently through high school for a decent snow storm in Sterling, Virginia and it looks like my patience has finally paid off. Still, it would be a little better if it was on a weekday, but hey whos complaining. Looking to enjoy this storm all day baby, bring on a foot!

Posted by Brah | December 17, 2009 4:49 PM Brandon L.:

Here just north of Baltimore a foot would, I believe, be the biggest snowstorm since the 2002-3 storm that gave us our record of 28.5 inches.

Posted by Brandon L. | December 17, 2009 4:22 PM tim nifong:

Hello Jesse. i live in Lexington NC ,and we have had only a dusting in the past 3 years,do you think we will get any this weekend,thanks tim

Posted by tim nifong | December 17, 2009 3:23 PM matt:

the ocean is pretty warm this time of the year, i expect as usual rain to mix in down by Atlantic Cit NJ as usual.

Posted by matt | December 17, 2009 3:23 PM Matt:

I live in Beckley, WV on the western slopes of the Apps. We're just under 2500 ft elev...it's been since March 2000 (I believe) since we've had a double digit snowstorm. Longest drought of my 33 yrs. We avg around 60" per yr...but in recent yrs most of our snow has been from Clippers and Lake effect/NW flow upslope (an ideal setup usu brings us 6-8"). If not for that...we'd be high & dry! Hope this yr gets back to Gulf storms here! The 6" on 12/5 was a good start.

Posted by Matt | December 17, 2009 3:23 PM tim nifong:

Hello Jesse. i live in Lexington NC ,and we have had only a dusting in the past 3 years,do you think we will get any this weekend,thanks tim

Posted by tim nifong | December 17, 2009 3:22 PM Anonymous:

Last year on March 1 in Lynchburg, Virginia we had about a foot of snow.

Posted by Anonymous | December 17, 2009 3:16 PM David:

Jesse, I get confused when people say that the Baltimore-Washington area hasn't had a major snowfall since the President's Day storm of 2003. There was a large storm on Feb. 12-13, 2006. http://bit.ly/4NkLrE I drove from Hanover, NH to Princeton, NJ right through it...the link indicates there was at least 10 inches from Northern VA through Boston. why does nobody remember this storm?

FROM JESSE: Thanks David! People's memories are short and looks like that one skipped over Roanoke which was the only example I had looked at in-depth. Baltimore got 13.1" our of that one and D.C. racked up 8.8 from the storm. Right now we're calling for 7.1 in Baltimore and 8.2 in D.C. so that "recent record" may stand... of course that was in February so this may still be a big December storm.

Posted by David | December 17, 2009 3:02 PM