Heavy Snow in Maryland, February 2 to 3, 1996

The continuation of a strong upper-level jet streak, combined with additional mid-level dynamics, generated surface low pressure over central Georgia by evening on the 2nd. As the low moved to near Cape Hatteras overnight, a broad area of heavy snow overspread all of Maryland west of the Chesapeake Bay. Areas that were hit with 4 to 13 inches of snow during an early-morning event received an additional 4 to 6 inches, leaving most of lower southern Maryland with a grand total of 12 to 18 inches. Farther north, from the Potomac Highlands through the western suburbs of Baltimore and Washington, between 6 and 9 inches fell.Circulation around the surface system allowed arctic air to pour into the area during the heaviest snowfall. Much of the snow fell at temperatures below 20 degrees, making it powdery. The 6 to 9 inches were cleared by the next afternoon, but problems remained in lower southern Maryland, where snow removal (rather than plowing) was required.Very thin bands of heavy snow continued into early Sunday morning (the 4th) along the immediate western shore of the Chesapeake Bay, producing as much as 9 additional inches in southeastern Calvert (MDZ018) and northeastern St Mary's (MDZ017) Cos. Storm totals in these areas were as high as 2 feet.The storm's exit ushered the coldest air in two years into the region. Daytime temperatures on the 4th remained below 20 degrees, with wind chills ranging from 10 to 20 degrees below zero. Light winds and clear skies, combined with deep snow cover, allowed temperatures to fall well below zero by dawn on the 5th at most locations. Low temperature records were set on two consecutive calendar days at Baltimore/Washington International Airport (MDZ014), with 8 degrees late on the 4th and 1 degree below zero early on the 5th.