bringing a period of precipitation to the area. There was enough cold air for snow across northern and western Maryland.
Every event with a place to put it; 3 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 upper-level disturbance moved through the area...bringing a period of precipitation to the area. There was enough cold air for snow across northern and western Maryland.
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 Feb 10, 9:22 PM EST, 38 minutes earlier.
AREA FORECAST DISCUSSION...UPDATED
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC
922 PM EST FRI FEB 10 2012
.SYNOPSIS...
LOW PRESSURE WILL GATHER ENERGY OFF THE CAROLINAS AND MOVE
NORTHEAST OVERNIGHT. IN THE MEANTIME...A COLD FRONT WILL RAPIDLY
APPROACH FROM THE WEST SATURDAY MORNING. BOTH FEATURES WILL
COMBINE TO PRODUCE WIDESPREAD SNOW OVER THE WEST SLOPES OF THE
ALLEGHENY FRONT AND A RAIN SNOW MIX EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS TO THE
METRO AREAS. THE COLD FRONT WILL SWEEP ACROSS THE FORECAST AREA
SATURDAY AFTERNOON BRINGING SNOW SHOWERS...MUCH COLDER
TEMPERATURES AND STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL BUILD
ACROSS THE MIDDLE ATLANTIC STATES FOR EARLY NEXT WEEK WITH A
MODERATION IN TEMPERATURES EXPECTED.
&&
.NEAR TERM /THROUGH SATURDAY/...
FORECAST REMAINS ON TRACK FOR THE FIRST TWO PERIODS. STRONG COLD
FRONT CONTINUES TO RACE EAST ACROSS INDIANA AND OHIO AS OF 02Z
WITH VERY COLD AIR SINKING SOUTH ACROSS THE GREAT LAKES. INITIAL
BATCH OF PRECIPITATION DUMPED 1 TO 2 INCHES OF SNOW OVER THE
WESTERN SLOPES OF THE ALLEGHENY FRONT WITH SOME LIGHT SNOW
REPORTED AND LITTLE ACCUMULATION FROM HAGERSTOWN TO FREDERICK.
ELSEWHERE...A LIGHT RAIN OR RAIN SNOW MIX HAS BEEN THE CASE WITH
PRECIPITATION YET TO REACH THE MAJOR METRO AREAS OF DC/BALTIMORE.
FIRST BAND SERVED TO MOISTEN THE COLUMN TOP DOWN. PRECIPITATION
WITH THE NEXT BAND SHOULD REACH THE GROUND AFTER MIDNIGHT.
WATER VAPOR AND SURFACE PRESSURE FIELDS CONTINUE TO INDICATE A
POSITIVELY TILTED TROUGH OVER THE GREAT LAKES WITH A SOUTHERN
STREAM SHORTWAVE MOVING ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH. JET DYNAMICS
ASSOCIATED WITH THE SOUTHERN STREAM SYSTEM HAVE ALREADY INDUCED
SURFACE LOW PRESSURE OFF THE NORTH CAROLINA COASTLINE. NO CHANGE
TO THE FORECAST REASONING AS THE LOW DEEPENS AND MOVES RAPIDLY
NORTHEAST AND OUT TO SEA ON SATURDAY. WRAPAROUND PRECIPITATION
WILL CLIP THE EASTERN CWFA FROM THIS SYSTEM SATURDAY MORNING WITH
A RAIN/SNOW MIX AND LITTLE ACCUMULATION OVER THE METRO.
THE SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT WILL TIGHTEN ON THE BACKSIDE OF THE
LOW AND WITH STRONG COLD AIR ADVECTION BEHIND THE FRONT DURING
SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND NIGHT. WINDS COULD APPROACH ADVISORY
LEVELS. STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW OFF THE GREAT LAKES WILL KEEP
WESTERN UPSLOPE EVENT GOING OVER THE ALLEGHENY FRONT THROUGH THE
DAY WITH VORTICITY AND COLD AIR ADVECTION AIDING IN SNOW SHOWER
DEVELOPMENT TO THE EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS AND THROUGH THE METRO
AREAS. LIGHT ACCUMULATIONS A POSSIBILITY.
&&
.SHORT TERM /SATURDAY NIGHT/...
SHARPLY COLDER TEMPERATURES ON STRONG NORTHWEST FLOW WILL BE THE
KEY PLAYERS SATURDAY NIGHT. VERY COLD WIND CHILLS FROM 5 TO 10
ABOVE EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS TO 5 BELOW OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN
WILL BE COMMON SATURDAY NIGHT ALONG WITH NUMEROUS SNOW SHOWERS
OVER THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE ALLEGHENY FRONT. WINTER STORM
WARNINGS WILL CONTINUE FOR THAT REGION WITH SNOWFALL ACCUMULATIONS
TOPPING 8 INCHES IN MANY AREAS.
THE STRONGEST PERIOD OF WINDS ACTUALLY EXPECTED OVERNIGHT SATURDAY
INTO EARLY SUNDAY. WIND ADVISORY CONDITIONS LIKELY ACROSS A MAJORITY
- IF NOT THE ENTIRE CWA OVERNIGHT/. STILL GUSTY ON SUNDAY AFTN/EVE
BUT POSSIBLY JUST A TIER UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS AS OVERNIGHT
SAT NIGHT.
&&
.LONG TERM /SUNDAY THROUGH FRIDAY/...
AS THE WINDS SUBSIDE INTO EARLY NEXT WEEK...THE TEMPS WILL RISE
AGAIN BACK TOWARD ABOVE NORMAL CONDITIONS. HIGH PRESSURE WILL ROLL
ACROSS THE DEEP SOUTH AND OFF THE SRN ATLC COAST MON-TUE...JUST
PEAKING INTO THE MID ATLC AND QUIETING DOWN CONDITIONS. A WEAK
SHORTWAVE WILL THEN TAKE THE SAME TREK OVER THE DEEP
SOUTH...POSSIBLY SPREADING SOME LIGHT PRECIP UP THE ERN SEABOARD
TUE. AS THIS FEATURE ALSO DRIFTS OFF THE COAST...A SORT OF
UNSETTLED SECOND HALF OF NEXT WEEK. ZONAL FLOW FROM THE PLAINS TO
THE ATLC COAST...WHILE SEVERAL UPPER LOWS /IN DIFFERENT AREAS AT
DIFFERENT TIMES/ BEGIN TO SPIN UP LARGER SYSTEMS TOWARD THE END OF
NEXT WEEK. QUITE A MODIFICATION FROM THIS TIME YESTERDAY FOR THE
FRI-SAT FRONTAL PASSAGE OVER THE AREA. INSTEAD...LONG RANGE
GUIDANCE DEPICTING A STRONG BUT STRETCHED-OUT SYSTEM /WEST-TO-
EAST/ OVER THE DEEP SOUTH AS OPPOSED TO THE MORE TYPICAL NORTH-
SOUTH ORIENTATION.
&&
.AVIATION /02Z SATURDAY THROUGH WEDNESDAY/...
MVFR TO IFR CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED AT AREA TERMINALS OVERNIGHT.
SNOW IS EXPECTED OVER THE HIGHER TERRAIN WITH A LIGHT RAIN/SNOW
MIX TO THE EAST OF THE MOUNTAINS AND ACROSS IAD-DCA-BWI AND CHO.
A WIND SHIFT TO THE NW WILL HELP TO USHER DRIER AIR INTO THE AREA
TOMORROW IMPROVING CIGS AND VISIBILITIES TO VFR EARLY IN THE DAY.
WITH A STRONG PRESSURE GRADIENT BUILDING BEHIND THE FRONT...WIND
GUSTS BY LATE TOMORROW AFTERNOON WILL INCREASE TO 25KT OR MORE
ACROSS THE AREA. ANOTHER ROUND OF SNOW SHOWERS IS EXPECTED TOMORROW
EVENING ALONG THE FRONT AND BEHIND THE DEPARTING LOW. AS P-TYPE
WILL BE ALL SNOW...IFR VISIBILITIES CAN BE EXPECTED FOR A FEW
HOURS SATURDAY EVENING.
WINDY CONDITIONS EARLY SUNDAY FOLLOWED BY HIGH PRESSURE SUNDAY
NIGHT THRU MON NIGHT. VFR CONDITIONS EXPECTED THROUGH MONDAY THEN
A STORM SYSTEM RAPIDLY APPROACHES FROM THE WEST ON TUESDAY.
&&
.MARINE...
STRONG COLD FRONT WILL PUSH THROUGH THE WATERS ON SATURDAY. TIGHT
SURFACE PRESSURE GRADIENT AND STRONG NORTHWEST WINDS TO TAKE SHAPE
DURING THE AFTERNOON AND THROUGH THE OVERNIGHT. SMALL CRAFT
CONDITIONS WILL DEVELOP THEN INCREASE TO GALE.
GALE CONDITIONS WILL BEGIN JUST A COUPLE HRS AFTER SUNSET
SAT...STAYING WELL INTO GALE THROUGHOUT THE OVERNIGHT HRS. WINDS
EXPECTED TO BE A TOUCH LIGHTER ON SUNDAY...BUT THAT MEANS HIGH-END
SCA. MAY LIKELY EXTEND GALE ON SUNDAY...IF TRENDS CONTINUE TO SHOW
+30KT GUSTS APPEARING OVER THE WATERS. WINDS WILL SLOWLY DROP OFF
SUN NIGHT AND THEN BELOW SCA ON MON. HIGH PRESSURE WILL MAKE A
BRIEF APPEARANCE EARLY NEXT WEEK BEFORE THE NEXT STORM SYSTEM
APPROACHES FROM THE WEST ON TUESDAY.
&&
.LWX WATCHES/WARNINGS/ADVISORIES...
DC...NONE.
MD...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR MDZ501.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY FOR MDZ502.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY FOR MDZ003>007.
VA...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR VAZ503.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY FOR VAZ504.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY FOR VAZ028.
WV...WINTER STORM WARNING UNTIL 7 PM EST SUNDAY FOR WVZ501-503-505.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY UNTIL 7 PM EST SATURDAY FOR WVZ050-055-
502-504-506.
WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY FROM MIDNIGHT TONIGHT TO 7 PM EST
SATURDAY FOR WVZ051>053.
MARINE...SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY FROM 8 AM TO 6 PM EST SATURDAY FOR
ANZ530>543.
GALE WARNING FROM 6 PM SATURDAY TO 6 AM EST SUNDAY FOR
ANZ530>543.
&&
KRW/WOODY!/SCHOORHAZARDOUS WEATHER OUTLOOK...UPDATED NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE BALTIMORE MD/WASHINGTON DC 703 PM EST FRI FEB 10 2012 ANZ530>543-DCZ001-MDZ006-007-011-013-014-016>018-VAZ052>057- 111215- 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- PATAPSCO RIVER INCLUDING BALTIMORE HARBOR- CHESTER RIVER TO QUEENSTOWN MD-EASTERN BAY- CHOPTANK RIVER TO CAMBRIDGE MD AND THE LITTLE CHOPTANK RIVER- PATUXENT RIVER TO BROOMES ISLAND MD- TANGIER SOUND AND THE INLAND WATERS SURROUNDING BLOODSWORTH ISLAND-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- 703 PM EST FRI FEB 10 2012 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...TONIGHT A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT LATE TONIGHT FOR HARFORD COUNTY. REFER TO THE LATEST HAZARD MESSAGE /WSWLWX/ FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM SATURDAY FOR HARFORD COUNTY. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WATERS SATURDAY...AND A GALE WARNING IS IN EFFECT FOR THE WATERS SATURDAY NIGHT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY WILL BE NECESSARY ON SUNDAY. A WIND ADVISORY MAY ALSO BE NEEDED LATE SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME. MDZ003>005-009-010-501-502-VAZ025>031-036>040-042-050-051-501>504- WVZ050>053-055-501>506-111215- WASHINGTON-FREDERICK MD-CARROLL-MONTGOMERY-HOWARD- EXTREME WESTERN ALLEGANY-CENTRAL AND EASTERN ALLEGANY-AUGUSTA- ROCKINGHAM-SHENANDOAH-FREDERICK VA-PAGE-WARREN-CLARKE-NELSON- ALBEMARLE-GREENE-MADISON-RAPPAHANNOCK-LOUDOUN-ORANGE-CULPEPER- NORTHERN FAUQUIER-SOUTHERN FAUQUIER-WESTERN HIGHLAND- EASTERN HIGHLAND-HAMPSHIRE-MORGAN-BERKELEY-JEFFERSON-HARDY- WESTERN GRANT-EASTERN GRANT-WESTERN MINERAL-EASTERN MINERAL- WESTERN PENDLETON-EASTERN PENDLETON- 703 PM EST FRI FEB 10 2012 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...TONIGHT A WINTER STORM WARNING IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR WEST FACING SLOPES ALONG THE ALLEGHENY FRONT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT TONIGHT FOR NORTHERN MARYLAND...THE EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...AND PORTIONS OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY. REFER TO THE LATEST HAZARD MESSAGE /WSWLWX/ FOR DETAILS. .DAYS TWO THROUGH SEVEN...SATURDAY THROUGH THURSDAY A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT UNTIL 7 PM SUNDAY FOR THE WESTERN SLOPES OF THE ALLEGHENY FRONT. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT THROUGH 7 PM SATURDAY FOR NORTHERN MARYLAND...THE EASTERN WEST VIRGINIA PANHANDLE...AND PORTIONS OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS AND THE NORTHERN SHENANDOAH VALLEY. SNOW SHOWERS MAY CONTINUE INTO SUNDAY EVENING ALONG THE WESTERN SLOPES. THE COMBINATION OF COLD AIR AND GUSTY WINDS MAY CAUSE WIND CHILLS TO DROP TO BELOW ZERO SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY MORNING AT HIGHER ELEVATIONS OF THE POTOMAC HIGHLANDS. A WIND ADVISORY MAY ALSO BE NEEDED SATURDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING FOR PORTIONS OF THE OUTLOOK AREA. .SPOTTER INFORMATION STATEMENT... SPOTTER ACTIVATION IS NOT EXPECTED AT THIS TIME.
The national radar mosaic for the moment the first event began.
6 winter weather. Local standard time, as filed.
Snowfall totaled up to 1.6 inches near Smithsburg and 1.5 inches near Cavetown.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.5 inches near Millers and 3.9 inches near Manchester.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.8 inches near Long Green and 1.6 inches near Glyndon.
Snowfall totaled up to 3.0 inches near Jarrettsville and 2.0 inches near Bel Air.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.7 inches near Damascus and 2.2 inches near Brighton Dam.
Snowfall totaled up to 2.0 inches near Sykesville.
After NWS Directive 10-1605, the rules offices file Storm Data by.
Every storm in Maryland in 2012Every state in 2012This day in weather historyWarnings in Maryland, February 2012
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: 366801, 366802, 366804, 366805, 366806, 366807.