An area of low pressure passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the 10th into the early morning hours of the 11th. The track of the low was far enough north for warmer air to be drawn into the storm system above the surface.
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.
An area of low pressure passed through the Mid-Atlantic on the 10th into the early morning hours of the 11th. The track of the low was far enough north for warmer air to be drawn into the storm system above the surface. However, colder air remained trapped at the surface causing freezing rain to develop.
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 Jan 10, 1:13 PM EST, 1 hour 47 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
113 PM EST SAT JAN 10 2009
.SYNOPSIS...
A SURFACE LOW IN SOUTHERN INDIANA LATE THIS MORNING WILL TRACK
ALONG THE OHIO RIVER VALLEY TO A POSITION NEAR PITTSBURGH LATE
THIS EVENING THEN EAST TO NEAR LONG ISLAND EARLY SUNDAY. A WEAK
COLD FRONT WILL CROSS THE REGION TONIGHT. HIGH PRESSURE RETURNS
SUNDAY INTO THE EARLY PART OF NEXT WEEK. A COLD FRONT WILL CROSS
THE MID ATLANTIC REGION ON TUESDAY WITH MUCH COLDER AIR COVERING
THE REGION FOR THE MIDDLE AND ESPECIALLY THE LATTER PART OF NEXT
WEEK.
&&
.NEAR TERM /UNTIL 6 PM THIS EVENING/...
UPDT FOR WWA HEADLINE. PCPN ON NOSE OF THTE RDG MVG INTO PTMC
HIGHLNADS. TEMPS RIGHT ARND 32F...W/ POCKETS OF SUBFRZG AIR
TRAPPED IN VLYS. UPDTS WIBIS ASAP.
LOPRES APPCHG CVG ATTM. PCPN STRETCHES ACRS PA/OH IN DEF ZN...AND
KY/TN IN ADVC OF CDFNT. A WK WMFNT...BASED ON WND TRAJ...CAN BE
ANALYZD JUST S OF CWFA. FLOW N OF THIS BNDRY ELY. W/O ANY EVAP
COOLING TO CREATE CAD...WUD XPCT WMFNT TO MV N TAFTN AS LOW TRACKS
ACRS OH.
TRENDS AMONGST GDNC...SYNOPTIC/MESO/ENS...ALL QUITE CONSISTENT
JUST A LTL SLOER W/ CONSECUTIVE RUNS. THE END RSLT IN THE TANGIBLE
WX WL BE FOR A DRY MIDDAY...AND THEN PCPN TO SPREAD W TO E TAFTN.
YDA THOUGHT PCPN WUD MAKE IT TO I-95 BY DAYS END. WELL...FLLWG
THESE TRENDS...THAT PUSHES PCPN BACK TIL AFDK. HV BACKED OFF ON
POPS TAFTN...NOW PAINTING ONLY CHC CHO-DCA-BWI SEWD. CAT POPS NOW
CONFINED TO FDK-SHD WWD. IT APPEARS AS THO PCPN WL ONLY START
ENTERING CWFA IN THE 18-20Z WINDOW.
IN TERMS OF PTYPE...TEMPS IN THE LWR-MID 30S ATTM. BUT...W/ THE
FNT LIFTING N...AND MOST OF THE DAY TO DIURNALLY WARM /ALBEIT
SLOWLY W/ AMPLE CLDCVR/ W/O ANY EVAP COOLING PROCESSES...THINK
TEMPS SHUD BE ABLE TO CLIMB ABV FRZG JUST ABT EVERYWHR. SO...ONLY
PCPN MNTND WL BE RA.
HV INFUSED 06Z MAV TO GOING MAXT FCST. HV SHADED TEMPS DWN A
NOTCH...SPCLY WHERE LTST GDNC HIER THAN GOING FCST.
&&
.SHORT TERM /6 PM THIS EVENING THROUGH 6 AM SUNDAY/...
AM REASONABLY CONFIDENT THAT MOST LOCATIONS WILL MEASURE SOME
PRECIPITATION SOMETIME BETWEEN LATE THIS AFTERNOON AND MIDNIGHT.
AMOUNTS WILL BE BE ON THE LIGHT SIDE...MAINLY LESS THAN A TENTH
OF AN INCH OF LIQUID...A FEW SPOTS COULD SEE TWO TENTHS OR SO.
AS THE LOW MOVES EAST OF THE AREA AFTER 06Z...GRADUAL COOL DOWN IN
SFC TEMPS TAKES PLACE. NO BIG PUSH OF REALLY COLD AIR BEHIND THIS
LOW SO TEMPS WILL BE SOMEWHAT SLOW TO DROP OFF. EXPECT SKIES TO BE
MOSTLY CLOUDY EARLY TONIGHT...WITH SOME CLEARING ACROSS THE EASTERN
PORTIONS LATE.
EXPECT SOME UPSLOPE SNOW ACTIVITY TO BEGIN AFTER 00Z TONIGHT IN
THE WESTERN UPSLOPE AREAS. SOME MINOR ACCUMULATION POSSIBLE BY
DAYBREAK SUNDAY MORNING...BUT ATTM AM NOT CONFIDENT THAT AMOUNTS
WILL BE WORTH OF ANY ADVISORY MENTION.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD OVER THE REGION BEHIND THE COLD FRONT
SUNDAY AND MONDAY BRINGING DRY AND SEASONABLY CHILLY CONDITIONS TO
MOST LOCATIONS. WILL CONTINUE WITH THE CHANCE FOR UPSLOPE SNOW
SHOWERS SUNDAY AND MONDAY WITH LATEST GUIDANCE KEEPING WNW LOW-LEVEL
FLOW FROM THE OH VALLEY.
AN UPPER-LEVEL LOW WILL BUILD INTO EASTERN CANADA IN THE EARLY PART
OF NEXT WEEK. THIS WILL CARVE OUT A TROUGH OF LOW PRESSURE OVER THE
MID-ATLANTIC FROM TUESDAY THROUGH THE REST OF THE FORECAST PERIOD.
DISTURBANCES WILL ROTATE AROUND THIS TROUGH AFFECTING OUR REGION
WITH THE FIRST COLD FRONT CROSSING THE AREA ON TUESDAY PER GFS/EURO
GUIDANCE. TIMING OF SUBSEQUENT SYSTEMS REMAINS UNCERTAIN...THOUGH
ANY PRECIPITATION FROM THESE SYSTEMS WOULD BE LIGHT WITH LITTLE
MOISTURE TO WORK WITH.
COLDER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED BEHIND THE FRONT FOR TUESDAY NIGHT
AND WEDNESDAY AS HIGH PRESSURE BRIEFLY BUILDS OVER THE REGION. THE
NEXT DISTURBANCE...WHICH SHOULD PASS THROUGH THE REGION
THURSDAY...HAS AN EVEN COLDER SHOT OF AIR BEHIND IT. FOR
EXAMPLE...FRIDAY CURRENTLY SHAPES UP TO BE MOSTLY SUNNY WITH HIGHS
AROUND 20...ABOUT 20 DEGREES BELOW NORMAL...ACROSS THE BALTIMORE-
WASHINGTON METRO AREA.
&&
.AVIATION /18Z SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY/...
VFR ALL TERMINALS THROUGH THIS AFTERNOON. THEN WILL EXPECT SOME
MVFR/MARGINAL IFR LATE THIS AFTERNOON INTO THE EVENING HOURS
DEPENDENT ON COVERAGE OF LGT RAIN. NO FZRA XPCTD AT TAF SITES.
AFTER 11/06Z...EXPECT PRECIP TO MOVE EAST OF THE METRO
TERMINALS...WITH IMPRVMNT TO VFR EXPECTED SHORTLY THEREAFTER.
IN THE EXTENDED...VFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTEDSUNDAY AND MONDAY
WITH HIGH PRESSURE BUILDING OVERHEAD. THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL
PASS THROUGH THE TERMINALS TUESDAY. THIS WILL BRING THE CHANCE FOR
SUBVFR CIGS/VSBYS.
&&
.MARINE...
ELY WNDS HV BEGUN TO VEER SE IN ADVC OF WMFNT MVG N ACRS WATERS.
FLOW WL CONT TO VEER SLY AS LOPRES IN OHVLY APPROACHES THE REGION
TODAY. SOME CHANNELING OF SOUTHERLY WINDS IN THE LOWER BAY IS
EVIDENT IN FORECASTS FROM THE LOCAL 4KM WRF ARW MODEL. CURRENTLY
HAVE SMALL CRAFT UP AT 18Z...AND WILL CONTINUE WITH THIS. AS THE
LOW GETS CLOSE TONIGHT...WINDS ON THE LOWER BAY TURN MORE
SOUTHWESTERLY. WILL KEEP SCA UP FOR LOWER BAY/TIDAL POTOMAC
TONIGHT BUT WINDS MIGHT DECOUPLE OVER THE COLDER WATER. WL
REASSESS THAT ASPECT OF FCST TAFTN.
NORTHWEST WINDS TO NEAR SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY CONDITIONS SHOULD OCCUR
SUNDAY BEHIND THE STORM SYSTEM BUT THIS DID NOT WARRANT A HEADLINE
AT THIS TIME. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD INTO THE REGION FOR EARLY
NEXT WEEK. THE NEXT COLD FRONT WILL PASS THROUGH THE WATERS TUESDAY.
&&
.EQUIPMENT...
NWR RAINAINS DWN FOR ALL XMTRS ATTM DUE TO IN HOUSE COMPUTER
ISSUES. ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY SITUATION ONGOING. RTS UNKN.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR MDZ003-
501-502.
VA...NONE.
WV...WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 8 PM EST THIS EVENING FOR WVZ050-
051-055-501>504.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY UNTIL 6 AM EST SUNDAY FOR ANZ533-534-537.
&&
SYNOPSIS...BAJ/SMZ
NEAR TERM...HTS
SHORT TERM...SMZ
LONG TERM...BAJ
AVIATION...BAJ/HTS
MARINE...BAJ/HTS/SMZ
EQUIPMENT...HTSHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 133 PM EST SAT JAN 10 2009 ANZ530>537-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 111000- 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-NORTHERN BALTIMORE-HARFORD- SOUTHERN BALTIMORE-PRINCE GEORGES-ANNE ARUNDEL-CHARLES-ST. MARYS- CALVERT-PRINCE WILLIAM/MANASSAS/MANASSAS PARK-FAIRFAX- ARLINGTON/FALLS CHURCH/ALEXANDRIA-STAFFORD-SPOTSYLVANIA- KING GEORGE- 133 PM EST SAT JAN 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR THE MARYLAND PORTION OF THE CHESAPEAKE BAY...TIDAL POTOMAC RIVER...AND ADJACENT COUNTIES IN CENTRAL MARYLAND AND NORTHERN VIRGINIA AS WELL AS THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE TIDAL POTOMAC FROM COBB ISLAND TO SMITH POINT AND THE CHESAPEAKE BAY FROM NORTH BEACH TO SMITH POINT FROM 2PM THIS AFTERNOON...THROUGH TONIGHT. SURFACE LOW PRESSURE WILL APPROACH THE REGION AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION EARLY TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING THROUGHOUT THE AREA AND RAIN IS EXPECTED FOR LATER THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO THE EVENING HOURS. AS THE LOW MOVES EAST TONIGHT...COLDER AIR MOVES IN AND COULD CREATE A BRIEF BUT LIGHT WINTRY MIX OF SNOW SLEET AND FREEZING RAIN IN AREAS ALONG THE MASON DIXON LINE ACROSS NORTHERN MARYLAND. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE WARRANTED FOR THE WATERS SUNDAY AND AGAIN ON TUESDAY. AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL DESCEND OVER THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ021-025>031-036>042-050-051- WVZ050>055-501>504-111000- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-HIGHLAND- AUGUSTA-ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE- NELSON-ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-FAUQUIER-LOUDOUN- ORANGE-CULPEPER-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-PENDLETON- HARDY-WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL- 133 PM EST SAT JAN 10 2009 THIS HAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK IS FOR EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA... NORTHERN AND CENTRAL VIRGINIA...AND CENTRAL AND WESTERN MARYLAND WITH THE EXCEPTION OF GARRETT COUNTY. .DAY ONE...THIS AFTERNOON AND TONIGHT SURFACE LOW WILL APPROACH THE AREA...AND MOVE EAST ACROSS THE REGION EARLY TONIGHT. TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO RISE ABOVE FREEZING THROUGHOUT THE AREA...PRODUCING PREDOMINANTLY RAIN THIS AFTERNOON AND CONTINUING INTO THE EVENING HOURS. HOWEVER...THERE WILL BE POCKETS OF FREEZING RAIN INT HE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY HAS BEEN ISSUED. AFTER MIDNIGHT...AS THE LOW MOVES EAST...COLDER AIR MOVES IN AND COULD CREATE A BRIEF WINTRY MIX OF SNOW...SLEET...AND FREEZING RAIN IN NORTHERN MARYLAND AND THE POTOMAC HIGHLAND OF THE EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE. ALONG THE WESTERN UPSLOPE AREAS...PRECIPITATION WILL CHANGE OVER TO ALL SNOW THIS EVENING WITH SOME ACCUMULATION OF SNOW POSSIBLE OVERNIGHT. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FOR SUNDAY AND SUNDAY NIGHT...UPSLOPE SNOW IS LIKELY TO CONTINUE ACROSS AT HIGH ELEVATIONS OF WESTERN MARYLAND AND THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS OF WEST VIRGINIA INCLUDING GRANT...MINERAL AND PENDLETON COUNTIES AND HIGHLAND COUNTY OF VIRGINIA. AN ARCTIC AIR MASS WILL DESCEND OVER THE REGION LATE IN THE WEEK. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION WILL NOT BE NEEDED THROUGH TONIGHT. HTS
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
5 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
A light glaze of icing due to freezing rain was reported in Winchester and also across Cross Junction. Icy roads were also reported across the northern part of Frederick County.
A light glaze of icing due to freezing rain was reported in Lovettsville.
A light glaze of icing due to freezing rain was reported in Luray. Most of the icing was on trees and powerlines.
A light glaze of icing due to freezing rain was reported in Woodstock and New Market.
A light glaze of icing due to freezing rain was reported in Linden. Most of the icing occurred on trees.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Virginia in 2009Every state in 2009This day in weather historyWarnings in Virginia, January 2009
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: 147653, 147654, 147655, 147656, 147657.