A significant winter storm occurred across portions of the Mid-Atlantic on the 5th and 6th of December. The wintry weather was caused by a low pressure system that was located over the southeast states, which then moved off the North Carolina coast on the 6th.
Every event with a place to put it; 4 filed by county or forecast zone are drawn at its center, in a lighter ring. Tap one for its entry below.
Deaths and injuries are direct and indirect together, as the offices filed them. Damage is property and crops in the dollars of the year, not adjusted for inflation, and only where an office estimated it.
The episode as NWS LWX wrote it up.
A significant winter storm occurred across portions of the Mid-Atlantic on the 5th and 6th of December. The wintry weather was caused by a low pressure system that was located over the southeast states, which then moved off the North Carolina coast on the 6th. A swath of moderate to heavy snowfall occurred across portions of Southern MD and Northern VA. Storm total snowfall was between 4 to 6.5 inches. There were also reports of trees down in a few locations in Northern Virginia due to heavy wet snow accumulations in Stafford and Spotsylvania Counties.
The local office's own words before the first event, as it sent them, from the Iowa Environmental Mesonet's archive of National Weather Service text.
NWS Baltimore/Washington wrote its last area forecast discussion before the first event at Dec 5, 3:25 PM EST, 2 hours 20 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
325 PM EST MON DEC 5 2005
.SHORT TERM...
LOPRES ENTERING SC ATTM. 18Z SNDG LOOKING FVRBL FOR GOOD SNW...W/
WND ALOFT AND COLD PROFILE. HWVR... RADAR JUST ISNT PLAYING OUT
ATTM. AS MNTND ERLR... TRACK/STRENGTH OF LOPRES WL BE THE SAVING
GRACE. GFS/NAM STILL SIMILAR ON TRACK...BUT NOT ON QPF. GFS IS THE
LGTR OF THE TWO...AND APPRS TO BE VERIFYING BTTR. SO...WL START TO
SCALE BACK ON HEADLINES...DROPPING ADVSRYS ENTIRELY IN THE NW...AND
DWNGRADING IN THE SW. ELSW ACCUMS WL BE LWRD BY AN INCH OR TWO. 12Z
GFS/NAM STILL BOTH SHWG GOOD H7-5 FN FORCING...AND AM CONCERNED ABT
A STRONG ALTHO LCLZD BAND...SOMEWHERE IN THE DC/BALT METRO.
DENDRITIC GROWTH LOOKS VERY FVRBL...SO DONT WISH TO SCALE BACK TOO
FAR TOO FAST.
TIMING WISE...MOST EVERYTHING SHUD BE PULLING OUT ARND MIDNGT OR
SOON THRAFTR. GOOD MEAN LYR DRYING COMING IN THRAFTR. WLY FLOW CUD
ENHANCE UPSLOPE POTENTIAL IN THE FAR W...BUT THATS NOT LOOKING ALL
THAT GREAT EITHER. CHC POPS FOR THE WRN RDGS. SCT CLDS E OF THE
RDGLN.
&&
.AVIATION...
AT SNW ONSET...VSBYS HV DROPPED STRAIGHT TO IFR. DONT SEE MUCH ROOM
FOR IMPVMNT TIL AFTR 04-06Z. LOOKING AT MVFR CONDS THRU THE NGT DUE
TO RESIDUAL MSTR...THEN VFR TMRW.
&&
.MARINE...BORDERLINE SMALL CRAFT CRITERIA CONDITIONS ANTICIPATED
WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE SURFACE HIGH BUILDS IN. A HIGH END SMALL CRAFT
ADVISORY OR GALE EVENT IS EXPECTED LATE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY
NIGHT AS A CYCLONE DEVELOPS OFF THE MID ATLANTIC COAST.
&&
.LONG TERM (TUESDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY)...
SYNOPSIS...GOOD CONSENSUS LIFTING THE CURRENT SYSTEM FROM THE REGION
TUESDAY...BEFORE A TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE WEST THURSDAY (WITH
COASTAL SURFACE DEVELOPMENT). WEAKER WAVES ARE SHOWN TO DEEPEN A
PROGRESSIVE TROUGH TO OUR NORTH DURING THE WEEKEND...AS THE NEXT
SYSTEM BEGINS TO DEVELOP ACROSS THE MIDDLE MISSISSIPPI RIVER VALLEY.
OBSERVATIONS...500MB HEIGHT ANOMALY PATTERN DURING THE PAST 5 DAYS
SHOWS AN EASTERN CONUS RIDGE/CENTRAL CONUS TROUGH/NORTHERN PACIFIC
RIDGE PATTERN HAS SHIFTED TO A CENTRAL-NORTHEAST CONUS
TROUGH/WESTERN CONUS RIDGE...AS A STRONG JET ENTERS THE WESTERN
PACIFIC WATERS. WATER VAPOR LOOP SHOWS A BAROCLINIC LEAF DEVELOPING
ACROSS THE TENNESSEE VALLEY. AN ANTICYCLONE DOMINATES NORTH CENTRAL
CANADA...WITH A WAVE SHEARING SOUTHWEST TOWARDS LAKE WINNIPEG BEHIND
A COMPACT WAVE DIVING SOUTHEAST ACROSS THE WESTERN DAKOTAS. ACARS
400-250MB WIND OBSERVATIONS REVEAL A 150-175KT JET FROM TEXAS
NORTHEAST ACROSS SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND. 13Z SURFACE ANALYSIS PLACES
A 1023MB ANTICYCLONE OVER NEW JERSEY. A STATIONARY FRONT SNAKES FROM
THE WESTERN GULF OF MEXICO NORTHEAST INTO WESTERN SOUTH
CAROLINA...THEN EAST INTO THE ATLANTIC. A 1013MB CYCLONE WAS LOCATED
NEAR THE FLORIDA PANHANDLE...WHILE A 1012MB CYCLONE WAS ACROSS
WESTERN SOUTH CAROLINA (WITH AN INVERTED TROUGH EXTENDING NORTH
ALONG THE APPALACHIANS).
MODELS...THE 12Z NAM/GFS/CANADIAN ALONG WITH THE 00Z UKMET/EUROPEAN
WERE EXAMINED. IN GENERAL...THEY ARE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT
TO THE LARGE SCALE SYNOPTIC FEATURES. A WAVE IS SHOWN TO TRAVERSE
EAST FROM THE MIDWEST THURSDAY WITH COASTAL SURFACE
DEVELOPMENT...WHILE REINFORCING WAVES DEEPEN A LONG WAVE TROUGH TO
THE NORTH FOR THE WEEKEND. THE NEXT SYSTEM IS SHOWN TO DEVELOP
ACROSS THE MIDWEST WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ANOTHER COASTAL STORM LATE
DURING THE FORECAST CYCLE.
ENSEMBLE DATA...00Z GFS 500MB HEIGHT ENSEMBLES INDICATE A TROUGH
WILL BE LIFTING FROM THE CANADIAN MARITIMES MIDWEEK...WHILE A
TROUGH APPROACHES FROM THE OHIO VALLEY LATE DURING THE WORK WEEK
(WITH GOOD AGREEMENT). MEMBERS THEN SHOW REINFORCING WAVES DEEPENING
A TROUGH ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES REGION (WITH POOR DEPICTION OF THESE
WAVES).
MEAN HIGHS FROM THE 00Z GFS ENSEMBLE MOS BEGIN WITH MID 30S DURING
THE END OF THE WORK WEEK...RISING TO THE MID 40S SATURDAY AND
BEYOND. MEAN LOWS RISE FROM NEAR 20 DURING THE LATE WEEK...INTO THE
LOWER 30S BY MONDAY. MEAN POPS REMAIN BELOW CHANCE CATEGORY EXCEPT
FOR FRIDAY.
FORECAST RATIONALE...MODEL SUITE IN GOOD AGREEMENT WITH RESPECT TO A
TROUGH APPROACHING FROM THE WEST LATE THURSDAY. TOO EARLY TO GET
INTO TOO MANY DETAILS...BUT FETCH FROM THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO
AND ATLANTIC MAY SUPPORT THE RETURN OF THE BAROCLINIC ZONE AND
CYCLOGENESIS OF A COASTAL CYCLONE. POPS WILL HAVE TO BE RAISED AS
THE EVENT NEARS SHOULD THE GUIDANCE REMAIN CONSISTENT.
A SECOND SYSTEM MAY AFFECT THE REGION MONDAY. CONFIDENCE IN THIS
EVENT IS RATHER LOW AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE MODELS HANDLING THE
MID/UPPER LEVELS IN SEVERAL PIECES (THESE KINDS OF EVENTS TEND TO
HAVE MORE MODEL UNCERTAINTY THROUGH TIME).
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...SNOW ADVISORY FOR DCZ001 UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY.
MD...SNOW ADVISORY FOR MDZ004>007-009>011-013-014 UNTIL 7 AM
TUESDAY.
...HEAVY SNOW WARNING FOR MDZ016>018 UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY.
VA...SNOW ADVISORY FOR VAZ021-025>027-029>031-040>042-052>054 UNTIL
7 AM TUESDAY.
...HEAVY SNOW WARNING FOR VAZ036>039-050-051-055>057 UNTIL 7 AM
TUESDAY.
WV...SNOW ADVISORY FOR WVZ054 UNTIL 7 AM TUESDAY.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FOR ANZ530>537 FROM 7 PM MONDAY TO 8
PM TUESDAY.
&&
SHORT TERM/AVIATION...HTS
LONG TERM/MARINE...ROGOWSKIHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 400 PM EST MON DEC 5 2005 ANZ530>537-DCZ001-MDZ002>007-009>011-013-014-016>018-VAZ021- 025>031-036>042-050>057-WVZ048>055-061100- CHESAPEAKE BAY NORTH OF POOLES ISLAND MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM POOLES ISLAND TO SANDY POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM SANDY POINT TO NORTH BEACH MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO DRUM POINT MD- CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM DRUM POINT MD TO SMITH POINT VA- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM KEY BRIDGE TO INDIAN HEAD MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM INDIAN HEAD TO COBB ISLAND MD- TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND MD TO SMITH POINT VA- DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA-ALLEGANY-WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL- NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD-SOUTHERN BALTIMORE- PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS-CALVERT-HIGHLAND- AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE- NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-FAUQUIER-LOUDOUN- ORANGE-CULPEPER-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE-GRANT-MINERAL-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON- PENDLETON-HARDY- 400 PM EST MON DEC 5 2005 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR MARYLAND WEST OF THE EASTERN SHORE INCLUDING THE CHESAPEAKE BAY AND EAST OF GARRETT COUNTY...EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA...NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA... WASHINGTON DC AND THE TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER. .DAY ONE...THROUGH TONIGHT A HEAVY SNOW WARNING REMAIN IN EFFECT GENERALLY ALONG AND SOUTH OF A LINE FROM CHARLOTTESVILLE TO FREDERICKSBURG TO LAPLATA. IN THE WARNING AREA...3 TO 6 INCHES OF SNOW IS EXPECTED. SNOW ADVISORIES ARE IN EFFECT FOR THE BALTIMORE AND WASHINGTON METROPOLITAN AREA SOUTHWESTWARD TO WARRENTON...HARRISONBURG AND STAUNTON VIRGINIA. AMOUNTS IN THIS REGION WILL RANGE FROM ONE TO FOUR INCHES. IN SPOTS ALONG AND NORTHWEST OF A LINE FROM HAGERSTOWN...WINCHESTER...MOOREFIELD AND PETERSBURG WEST VIRGINIA... AN ACCUMULATION TOTAL OF AROUND AN INCH IS EXPECTED. THE HEAVIEST SNOWFALL IS EXPECTED TO OCCUR THROUGH 8 PM THIS EVENING IN THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA AND THROUGH 9 PM IN THE BALTIMORE METRO AREA. MIXED PRECIPITATION IS NOT EXPECTED WITH THIS STORM SYSTEM. THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO TAPER OFF IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY AND FOOTHILLS BETWEEN 11 PM AND 1 AM. IN THE WASHINGTON METRO AREA THE SNOW IS EXPECTED TO END BETWEEN MIDNIGHT AND 2 AM...ENDING BETWEEN 1 AND 3 AM IN THE BALTIMORE METRO AREA AND NORTHEASTERN MARYLAND. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND CHESAPEAKE BAY WATERS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...TUESDAY THROUGH SUNDAY THERE IS A CHANCE OF SNOW THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED TO CONTINUE THROUGH TUESDAY ON THE TIDAL POTOMAC AND CHESAPEAKE BAY. SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO RELAY THEIR SNOWFALL REPORTS TO THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN STERLING. END
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
4 heavy snow. Local standard time, as filed.
County officials reported several trees down on roadways due to heavy wet snow accumulations.
County officials reported several trees down on roadways due to heavy wet snow accumulations.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2005Every state in 2005This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, December 2005
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information, Storm Events Database, compiled from the National Weather Service’s monthly Storm Data. Complete through 2026-06; NCEI adds each month about 75 days after it ends and revises past years a few times a year. Rebuilt 2026-09-24. Each event’s entry at NCEI: 5483397, 5483398, 5483396, 5483399.